Thursday, July 30, 2009

Vacation Bible School

My kids went to vacation bible school at a nearby church this week. They had so much fun, and I really enjoyed the time I spent there. It was free, and my kids came home with many different things every night. There was a lot of effort put into this week. The pastor said it is the biggest event that they have each year. It was a very different experience. The church consists of around 85 people. They have 1 service on Sunday. Everyone knows each other. The pastor made his way to every person that was there, and thanked us all for visiting his church. He knew we were visitors because if we belonged to the church, he would know us. It was actually a sweet, warm, intimate place to be. I have never visited another church before since I started attending church. I think I will visit this one some day. The kids performed several songs for us tonight. I will post them periodically. I picked this one, because there is a lesson in this song that applies to everyone. The young, and the old. Enjoy.

Alex is in the front in the 2 toned blue shirt. My nephew Noah is in the orange to the left.


Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Candy

Do you give your kids candy?

Alex and I were at the store yesterday, and I got a 100 Grand Bar, and I got Alex a Twix. Both delicious. People were looking at me crooked. We drove home and ate our candy in the car. It melted all over his little fingers.

When we got home, somehow it came up, and Robert was like: "You bought him candy?" I said, yeah, a twix bar. He said: "Why?" Me: Umm....because I got a piece and he got a piece too.?.

Then it hit me.........He's one of those.

As children, we had unlimited access to candy. I'm sorry, unlimited access to a candy isle. My parents owned a 7-11 for 12 years. Candy, chips, egg sandwiches, deli sandwiches, hot dogs...you name it, it was at our fingertips. We kept most of these things in our house too. We had soda with dinner. My parents were not the type of parents that gave us candy on holidays only, and a soda at a birthday party. And you know what? We never abused it. We never overdid it. None of us were overweight (except me, and I wasn't terribly overweight). They just didn't deprive us of anything.

I used to watch my cousins come over and literally GORGE and feast until their stomachs were sick because their parents never let them have anything. They would drink a 2 liter bottle of soda in a few hours because they knew once they left, it would be a looooong time until they met again.

I don't deprive my kids of anything, and they don't abuse it. I don't keep candy in the house, and they don't ask for it every time we go somewhere. I don't do gum, and I buy them chocolate, not hard/chewy/powdered sugar/stick in your teeth type of candy.

Quite frankly, I love to watch my kids enjoy food. All types. Candy, fruit, chips and salsa, steak, shrimp, an ice cold Dr. Pepper. I mean, we love all this stuff, right?

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Spinning

We just had the most emotional 24 hours of our lives. Where to start......

2 weeks ago, we find out we are pregnant! We are so excited. This is something we have been praying about since we got married. I'll get to that later.

2 days ago, I'm thinking something could be wrong. (the only reason you would think this in early pregnancy is ______)

Yesterday, not being able to be seen right away at the doctor, I went to the emergency room.

I had an ultrasound.

I was told that I have a 'blighted ovum'. definition? everything about my body is pregnant, but the sac is empty. There is no baby. They give me a number to call to have the procedure done today so that my pregnancy symptoms will diminish.

I call in sick, Robert calls in sick, the kids are at their Dad's, and we spend time together...in disappointment, in disbelief, in prayer, and then, in hope.

After a long discussion, we decide against the procedure. We wanted to let things happen naturally, and in the meantime, as Robert said, 'pray for a miracle'. I could still 'feel' pregnant for up to a month or longer, but we decided that I would continue to treat my body as if I were pregnant, and just pray. So we did.

Today I call to cancel the appointment. They suggested I come in anyway, and have an exam by a regular obstetrician.

In the meantime, I was calm all along. What was meant to be was going to be, and it was out of my control. Disappointed? Of course. But I just wasn't convinced that this was where this was meant to end.

I go to the doctor, I get ready for another ultrasound, and within moments, the technician was showing me our baby! And a heartbeat!

YES! That's what I said!


We ARE in the midst of a healthy, happy, amazing gift from God!!

We will welcome our baby in to the world in March, 2010.

God answers Prayer.

Monday, July 20, 2009

You are who you Roll With

One of the many lessons that my father taught us growing up was:

Protect your reputation and your name. Your name is the best thing that you have. In doing that, be careful who you spend your time with. It doesn't matter if you hang out with "Sandy" because you think she's cool, if everyone knows that Sandy smokes pot all day, even if you don't, everyone thinks you do. It's called "Guilty by association". If "Kendall" is promiscuous, and she's your best friend, guess what signal that sends when your with her morning, noon, and night?

Not to be confused with allowing what others think of you to run your life. That wasn't the lesson at all. However, you need to guard your reputation with all that you have. Your legacy depends on it.

I am teaching this to my daughter. There are children that she likes, that I simply do not allow her to spend time with outside of social situations such as birthday parties, school functions, etc. When she asks why, I simply tell her:

They are not kind to their peers.
They are disrespectful to their mother.
I am thrilled that they are a straight "A" student, however, their academics are not what I'm concerned with. It's their name, their character, and their integrity that is going to define who they are, not their report card.

She gets it. I think at times she may even agree. She can hate me now, but she will thank me later. Right now, I have to protect my daughters name, until she is old and wise enough to do it for herself.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

For A Season

We have all heard this phrase before, right? We go through seasons in our life. In those seasons, there are the people that define them. Some seasons are good, some seasons are amazing. Some seasons are bad, some seasons are the worst seasons of our lives. Regardless, there is a reason for every season.

Sometimes, we want to know: Why? Why? What is the purpose of this season of my life? What good is going to come out of this? Why did that person decide to disconnect themselves from me? The season was a lesson, and the person was just meant to be a part of that particular season.

Sometimes a season can be seemingly great, when in reality it's a 'selfish' season, and while it seems like it's benefiting you, most of the time when actions come from selfishness, nothing good comes out of it. The season will inevitably come to an end, along with the relationships that came with it.

Sometimes you are used in someones season/lesson, and it's not even about you. Often, you won't see your purpose until long after it's over.

I once went through a season of my life where I thought I hurt somebody. When I went to that person to apologize, they accepted my apology, and then they said something to me that I will never forget. "Through you, the prayers that I have been praying for 6 months have been answered". I would have never known that if they did not share that with me. I went through a season in my life so God could use me to answer someones prayers.

What type of season are you in right now? An amazing one? One filled with sorrow? One filled with worry? Whatever the season, sit back, and take it all in. Be sure not to miss the reason for the season. After all, that's what it's all about.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Play Date

Today I managed to combine a play date and a long awaited morning with my friend Lisa and her daughter. We had such a nice time. I got to hold her baby Thomas for a while. He's such a beautiful, big boy. He can pass for a 6 month old, and he's only 4. He takes after his Daddy. He is such a happy, chill, baby. I really enjoyed him. Alex and Arden play so well together, that Lisa and I were able to talk for 3 hours while they played and went swimming. We are making a commitment to do play dates at least once a month if not every two weeks. I'm pretty excited about that. Here are a couple of pictures from our day, and just so there is no mistake, Arden has a ring pop in her mouth, not a pacifier. She and Alex managed to charm the ring pop and an ice cream bar from the concession stand for free. Lisa went back and paid, but if anyone can scam something for free with their personalities, it's these two, for sure.



Sunday, July 12, 2009

Out of Steam

My blogging has been lame. I can think of a few reasons.

1. Summer recess.
2. Pool.
3. Lack of interest in the computer.
4. House full of kids all the time. Some are mine, some are not.
5. Spending more time reading.
6. Spent some time fasting and focusing on God.

Huge things are happening. HUGE. Amazing things in such a short period of time. Eventually I will share. Until then, I'll see ya when I see ya.....don't give up on me.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Shoes

There is that pair of shoes, that are your most comfortable pair. Old reliable. You have had them for years. At times, you don't really appreciate the comfort, and even take it for granted. They get tossed on the back burner, never forgotten, but tossed on the back burner for maybe something new, or more exciting. Inevitably you realize that although they may not be new, shimmery and glamorous, they are reliable, and the best fit for you.

There is the pair that for whatever reason, you were drawn to. You had to have them. Maybe there was a high price to pay, but you didn't care. You wanted them, and push come to shove, you were going to get them. Turned out, their not all that comfortable. They hurt you. They even leave scars. You persist. You try to push through, but the blisters and scars keep coming. And they hurt. Eventually you accept reality after the high price was paid, and the scars are permanent. You walk away from them. Even if you go back once in a while, that fades, and they become a painful memory, and a wasteful investment.

There's that pair that only goes with certain things. Only the right place, only the right time, only the right crowd. Cute? Yes. A crowd pleaser? Sure. But with all of those boundaries and regulations, they really don't scratch the surface to become one of your favorites, or ones that hold too many memories. Kind of a 'serves it's purpose' type of shoe. But not a pair you hold near and dear.

If you're with me, I'm not talking about shoes. What am I talking about? Could be several things.

Relationships
Friendships
Financial decisions
Being real

Take your pic. Maybe the post means something completely different to you.

Maybe you thought this post was really about shoes. Bless your heart. I now know what it really means when a southern person says that to you thanks to this guy.

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Tore out the Frame

This guy right here, he's shot, and has been since we got home. Do your kids get all funk-da-fide when their routine gets altered? Alex went to NY for 4 days, and then he was here with my mother for 3 days. He sat in the car for 11 hours each way. He went to see Papa who gives him whatever he wants, and lets him call the shots. Then he spent 3 days with Nana. Ditto. He needs some type of detox. He doesn't want to go to school, he can't get up in the morning, (not always a bad thing) he's been more 'persistent' than usual, he's whinny( I don't do whinny), he's clingy, he's just not himself. We have been home for 5 days, and I'm still not seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. I'm hoping for some progress tomorrow. Wish me luck.