Wow, time sure does fly!
Seriously?! How can it be 5 months since the last time I posted? Life has been busy busy busy for us lately. All 3 of my kids had birthdays. Jacob turned 8 in January, Daniel turned 10 in March, and Elianna turned 5 in May. We took a spring break vacation to Myrtle Beach in April and had an absolute blast. It was freezing cold so we didn’t get much beach time but we enjoyed our time together non the less. The boys finished school and will be heading to 5th grade and 3rd grade in August, while Ellie will be starting Kindergarten. Don’t even get me started on that…my heart just isn’t ready. Ellie had her 1st Dance Recital and did fantastic. Daniel went to sleep away camp for the first time. So many firsts…It’s been an exciting season for us and we are happy and fulfilled. Right now we are enjoying summer and the break from all the craziness but will be back in full swing soon. Daniel will be playing football again this fall and both Ellie and Jacob are going to play soccer. Between both Doug and I working full time, school for the kids, Soccer, Football and Dance plus church and family events, it should be a jam packed few months! I’ll end with a few pictures from the last few months and will try to be more diligent about updating more frequently.
There are no words…
I’m wrecked – completely wrecked by this. There really are no words to explain something like this, you will have to watch it for yourself. It’s long, around 9 min but I’m not sure anyone could watch it and not be changed in some way. I watched it last night with tears streaming down my face and my 3 children standing next to me with looks of horror on their face. My 8 year old said to me when it ended, “that didn’t really happen did it?” Yes, yes it did. And it happens every day all around the world. I think sometimes we just need to be reminded of it. Sometimes we need to stare it in the face and decide what we’re going to do about it. The thing is, we can make a difference. Will you consider sponsoring a child?
Conversations with a 4 year old…
Conversation with my daughter last night: Ellie (pointing to my make up on the vanity table as I am drying her hair after her shower) “Mommy, when I’m a grown up will I have all this stuff?” Me – “I’m sure you will” Ellie – “So I’ll have all your stuff?” Me – “No, you’ll have your own stuff” Ellie – “Well, when I’m a grown-up you’ll die right?” Me – “Well, I’m a grown-up and my Mom is still alive so I plan on not dying for a long time. Why?” Ellie – “Well, I think that you will probably die, so when you do can I have all your stuff?” Nice…
Reflections on 2008
It’s probably a bit early to be mentally wrapping up the year, but none-the-less, that is where I’ve been this week. I have to say that I did not particularly enjoy 2008. It was a very difficult year in so many ways. There was death, illness, money issues, depression, and going back to work full time for the first time in 6 years. It’s been hard! But yet, I can also see God’s hand in all of it. I can see the mercy and grace at the center covering everything. Sometimes, we just need to walk through difficult stuff. I have come to realize that it is in the difficult times that we see personal growth. Somehow God always uses the bad to teach us things we never would have learned otherwise (or maybe we would but it would just take a much longer time). I feel like I have learned a lot this year. It hasn’t all been bad. There were many wonderful things about this year as well. I have found myself to be in a place of Thankfulness that I haven’t seen in a while. I have so much to be grateful for. The money issues are resolving (God is so faithful), the depression taught me a lot about who I am and how I relate to others, and going back to work full time, although incredibly difficult mentally was a great thing. God blessed me with a wonderful job which I am so grateful for. My children are growing into amazing people. I love my husband more today than I did 15 years ago when we began dating. I have an amazing family who I love and good friends. So, life it still good – sometimes hard, but good. I’m ready to take on 2009 and whatever it brings with it.
What every man wants for Christmas!
No, not that! I was having my breakfast this morning and was flipping through a catalog, and lo and behold, I stumbled accross the gift that I believe every man will be hoping is beneath their Christmas tree this year. Meet the Mangroomer, the Essential do-it-yourself Backhair Shaver. Now you don’t have to ask someone else to shave your hairy back, you can do it yourself! Also available are the Essential Private Body Shaver and the Essential Nose and Ear Hair Trimmer. Why not make it a Christmas to remember for that special man in your life and get him all 3! Won’t he feel special…
I love that girl…
As we were leaving my parents house tonight – Ellie asks my sister if she can go home with her. Auntie Tracy said, maybe a different night but not tonight. So a few minutes later as my sister’s family was getting in the car Daniel says “Bye Auntie Tracy, may God go with you” to which my daughter says “God is going with you?” Auntie Tracy replies “of course he is” and Ellie says with all all the indignation she can muster “well why does he get to go and I don’t?” My goodness I love that girl! 
Things a girl just never thinks of…
I arrived home the other night from work and as I pulled on to my street I see my 2 boys age 9 and 7 outside in the yard. I thought it nice that they were outside playing instead of inside with a video game. As I pulled closer to the driveway I see that they are both barefoot (and it was approx 55 degrees) and holding big sticks which they are now hitting at each other with. So, being the concerned mother I roll down my window and ask what in the world they are doing and why they are in their bare feet. To which my dear firstborn replies that they are both sword fighting and practicing karate and the reason they are in their bare feet is that if they kick each other with their shoes on it hurts worse. I have to say that is something that never in a million years would have crossed my mind. I am continually amazed at these creatures that God has put into my life and how vastly different they are. I am trying to learn to speak their language – but I have to say that it is a hard language to learn!
“Show me, O LORD, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life” Psalm 39:4
So I am struck this morning with the realization that life is so fragile. A person can literally be here one moment and gone the next. My husband and I were supposed to go to the movie Fri. night to see Fireproof. I had checked on the movie times Fri. morning and it was playing at a theatre near us at 9:15. So we went out to dinner and walked over to buy our tickets but when I got there the man at the booth said the last showing was at 6:20. I told him that the website said it was playing at 9:15 and he said that it wouldn’t have said that. I remember getting back in the car and being irritated at the man for telling me that I had not seen what I saw on the website. I was frustrated at the situation. We ended up going home since it was not playing anywhere else near us until almost 10:30. Last night while watching the news I saw a story saying that at 10:00 fri. night, a masked man walked up to the ticket booth and shot and killed the man in the booth. It said the motive was robbery but yet I don’t believe any money was taken. The story can be read here. It makes me so sad that the man I was speaking with at the ticket booth was murdered less than an hour after I spoke with him. He had no idea as he went about his routine at work that his life was about to end. I had no idea as I spoke with him that his time here on earth was almost up. Would I have used a kinder tone had I known? I’m certain that I would have. I wasn’t mean to him and yet I certainly wasn’t gracious and kind. I kind of rolled my eyes and sighed in frustration. I was upset that my date with my husband was not turning out as planned. I could have smiled and said it was ok – but I didn’t. Did that man even know Jesus? I’m fairly certain he did not see Jesus in me Fri. night…If nothing else, it is a fabulous reminder to make every moment count – to not leave things unsaid. My heart feels heavy this morning…
Kids’ Rock
Okay, maybe I’m just easily entertained. Or maybe I’ve been a mom way to long but this is just about the funniest thing I have seen in quite some time. I mean pee your pants funny. I don’t know why, but it is. Tell me what you think – is it as funny as I think it is?
(Old McDonald is totally my fav – fer shizzle dizzle yo)
The Things They Say…
So the other day Doug came into the kitchen and Ellie was drawing a picture. The picture was 2 stick figures with a large ball between them. When he asked what she was drawing this was her explanation. “This one is Jesus, this one is me and this is the earth (pointing to the ball). And Jesus is really real Daddy, he made the earth and he made me. Some people don’t believe he’s real but he is. And he lives in my heart” Then she thought for a second and said “I think he’s eating right now” It seriously made my day. I want to remember her like this forever. Someday the innocence will be gone and my heart will break a little.
Joy in the Journey 