Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Saturday, May 24, 2008
The low-down on this week.
This week has been a little hectic with some sheer fun moments mixed in for good measure.
I started my weight-loss adventure this week by waking up and going to the gym every morning at 5:15 am. I feel better than I did Monday. Monday I was thinking that I had lost my mind!! Today I feel MUCH better. Nathan, by the ay, is leaving when I get back and going to the gym himself. He swam competetively in a former life :o) so he is doing some cardio and then some laps.
Our week got it's first shot of excitement on Tuesday when Nathan called me fromt he gym parking lot. He sounded awful and didn't insist I NOT come get him when I told him I was coming. He ended up at the Dr's office with a neck and head he couldn't move and a migraine headache. The Dr said that he had major infection (sinus, etc) that has been made worse by the swimming. He also recommended Nathan stick to freestyle swimming instead of trying some of the stokes he once could do with ease. He suggested that Nathan probably pinched or pressed a nerve doing the fly stroke and that it would ease with time. Nathan felt much better by the afternoon.
With gas prices being what they are, we are paying over 110.00 per full tank (no typos there!!). Therefore, we are trying to stay close to home as much as possible. I make one trip "into the city" as we call it now that it costs so much to get there.
ON Friday I had my final MOPs meeting of this year. It was so great. Our guest speaker had to leave town at the last minute to attend the funeral of their good friend's daughter, Maria (see post below) . So we had a fmailiar face speak. Her lesson was meant for my ears. She talked about similar struggles to mine and, of course, it was emotional for me. One thing she said that has resonated with me is that most everyone forms their idea of God from their earthly father. I had heard that before, but I just never really thought about it in terms of ME before. It is so true! And I think it is true for people in my life also when I think about their fathers. It makes complete sense. This will be a post of it's own in the future, but suffice to say that I have had moments of freedom in the past day that have been break-throughs for me; nothing public or overly emotional. I didn't realize how distorted my view of God was. I love Him and I knew he loved me. I have known Him and had a relationship with him for a while. I just NEVER even realized how wrong I was thinking in certain aspects of that relationship. Like I said, more on that later.
We ended the week, today, with a family tennis outing. It was fun once we convinced the kids that being ball-runners was a highly exciting job :o) Hehehehehehehehe. Seriously though. We played and taught them a little about the basics. It was fun and great excericise for us all. We took the kids to the playground after and they were so tired that THEY ASKED TO GO HOME!!!
SO now I am going to tuck them in and prepare for tomorrow.
Be blessed!! Oh, and think about what I said about your view of God being similar to your view of your earthly father and how you relate to him. It is interesting stuff :o)
I started my weight-loss adventure this week by waking up and going to the gym every morning at 5:15 am. I feel better than I did Monday. Monday I was thinking that I had lost my mind!! Today I feel MUCH better. Nathan, by the ay, is leaving when I get back and going to the gym himself. He swam competetively in a former life :o) so he is doing some cardio and then some laps.
Our week got it's first shot of excitement on Tuesday when Nathan called me fromt he gym parking lot. He sounded awful and didn't insist I NOT come get him when I told him I was coming. He ended up at the Dr's office with a neck and head he couldn't move and a migraine headache. The Dr said that he had major infection (sinus, etc) that has been made worse by the swimming. He also recommended Nathan stick to freestyle swimming instead of trying some of the stokes he once could do with ease. He suggested that Nathan probably pinched or pressed a nerve doing the fly stroke and that it would ease with time. Nathan felt much better by the afternoon.
With gas prices being what they are, we are paying over 110.00 per full tank (no typos there!!). Therefore, we are trying to stay close to home as much as possible. I make one trip "into the city" as we call it now that it costs so much to get there.
ON Friday I had my final MOPs meeting of this year. It was so great. Our guest speaker had to leave town at the last minute to attend the funeral of their good friend's daughter, Maria (see post below) . So we had a fmailiar face speak. Her lesson was meant for my ears. She talked about similar struggles to mine and, of course, it was emotional for me. One thing she said that has resonated with me is that most everyone forms their idea of God from their earthly father. I had heard that before, but I just never really thought about it in terms of ME before. It is so true! And I think it is true for people in my life also when I think about their fathers. It makes complete sense. This will be a post of it's own in the future, but suffice to say that I have had moments of freedom in the past day that have been break-throughs for me; nothing public or overly emotional. I didn't realize how distorted my view of God was. I love Him and I knew he loved me. I have known Him and had a relationship with him for a while. I just NEVER even realized how wrong I was thinking in certain aspects of that relationship. Like I said, more on that later.
We ended the week, today, with a family tennis outing. It was fun once we convinced the kids that being ball-runners was a highly exciting job :o) Hehehehehehehehe. Seriously though. We played and taught them a little about the basics. It was fun and great excericise for us all. We took the kids to the playground after and they were so tired that THEY ASKED TO GO HOME!!!
SO now I am going to tuck them in and prepare for tomorrow.
Be blessed!! Oh, and think about what I said about your view of God being similar to your view of your earthly father and how you relate to him. It is interesting stuff :o)
Thursday, May 22, 2008
So sad this morning.
In my previous post, I said
This morning, I woke up and found another example of just that. I cannot imagine the suffering that these families are experiencing right now. I pray that Lord provides comfort that only He could provide in this.
Maybe even WHILE I was penning my previous post on struggling, events were happenening that would introduce struggling to the family of Steven Curtis Chapman in a way that I can't even begin to imagine. Click on the photo for the story from Fox news.
After I finished writing posting on my blog, I checked my bloglines and found this story about Lilli Grace on my Sister-in-law's blog.
Please join me in praying for these two families. One has pain that is new and is probably still proccessing. The other is about to reach a birthday without a birthday girl here to celebrate it. I cannot imagine this kind of struggle...
Lord, be with them.
"Some people suffer MUCH greater than I have or ever will and I know that."
This morning, I woke up and found another example of just that. I cannot imagine the suffering that these families are experiencing right now. I pray that Lord provides comfort that only He could provide in this.
Maybe even WHILE I was penning my previous post on struggling, events were happenening that would introduce struggling to the family of Steven Curtis Chapman in a way that I can't even begin to imagine. Click on the photo for the story from Fox news.
After I finished writing posting on my blog, I checked my bloglines and found this story about Lilli Grace on my Sister-in-law's blog.
Please join me in praying for these two families. One has pain that is new and is probably still proccessing. The other is about to reach a birthday without a birthday girl here to celebrate it. I cannot imagine this kind of struggle...
Lord, be with them.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
HOORAY! Another Semester O-V-E-R!!
Christmas Eve 2007This picture sums up our Spring 2008 Semester...Sick. I don't mean that in the way "kids" say it today either. We were all really SICK through most of the semester. Because of that, we had to move in the middle of the semester with very little notice. It was physically hard to due with our five little ones in tow, but today we are praising the Lord for our good health; which has returned (with little to NO illnesses in the entire month and a half) since leaving our previous rental.
Every time we go through a rough semester, someone somewhere asks us if we think that "God might be trying to tell us something?" Everytime I hear that I have to fight the urge to stand in my chair and scream :o), as if being called into full-time ministry is supposed to garuntee us some added level of...I don't know...comfort. Or that struggles (with a full-time work, school, and family load) are some indication of a needed change of course; a "sign from God.". Usually, I am able to calmly answer by reminding the person that the Lord hasn't led us anywhere else and we are still alive, so unless we hear differently, we are here until the end. Then I again have to fight an urge to stand on my chair , but this time to ask anyone in the building (be it the mall, a restaraunt, or even the church,) who HAS NEVER felt stretched thin and pressed to please raise ther hand. Follow?
Everyone struggles in one way or another. I realize that it is all relative, but like someone once told me, "Puppy love is pretty important if your the puppy." Some people suffer MUCH greater than I have or ever will and I know that. Other people may not feel the strain of balancing family with academics and career, but they feel strain in other areas of life. In all cases, resistance is what makes us stronger, more prepared individuals.
On the treadmill at the gym each morning, I have watched people working out. Whether on machines or using free weights, the idea is the same. These people are placing heavy objects at the end of the muscles they desire to see stronger and they are forcing those muscles to move them. Thinking on that, it makes perfect sense that the Lord would see fit to allow struggle and resistance for us right now as we prepare to go into careers of ministry; or for ANY Christian for that matter. We are made stronger when we push through the resistance and come through on the other side.
Also, just as I watch those people working out and get inspired to get off the treadmill and pick up the weights myself, pushing through our trials in life are a fantastic testimony of our desire to please God. As I am writing this, I know that my testimony through trial has not always been one to admire. But, I am learning. I think it would be fair to say that those "muscles" were once very weak . The good news is that, after semesters like this one, they have gotten a good workout :o). If you have ever excercised when you didn't want to, then you know how good it feels to have pushed through and feel the physical benefits of persisting.
It feels good to be at the end of this semester and to "feel the burn" of well-worked spiritual (AND physical) muscles.
Dear Father,
Thank you for providing for my family. Thank you for providing my children a safe, clean place to move to, so that their lungs could heal and they could be well. Thank you for giving Nathan the wisdom and comprehension to be able to LEARN through the chaos and to come out of this semester having had one of his best academic semesters (in terms of his growth and comprehension) yet. Thank you Lord that you have held me through this. Sometimes you have held me while I cried and sometimes you have held me up, so that I could be here for my family and be stronger for them, but all the while You held me and I knew that. I felt you here. I love you for causing me to meet this resistance. I wouldn't have chosen the struggles that have come to us since we became a student family of 6 (then 7!), but I am a better wife and mother than I was before we came here. We, as a couple and as a family, are stronger. I know that.
I love you!
Monday, May 19, 2008
Feeling "Veclempt" this morning.
I started my early morning work-outs this morning, so here I sit at 7:25 am having already run a couple of miles on the treadmill (easing into it), showered, and dressed 4 of my 5 munchkins. I feel GREAT already, so I know that this is going to be a good thing. I think that , this first morning, it is making me a little emotional too. Not in a "the world is coming to an end, because I don't have a peach yogurt left"-kind of way, but in a "God is so good to me and I want to spend my life on my knees in praise and worship to him"-kind of way.
I logged on to the computer to find that two of my favorite families had posted photos. One was of an everyday dinner out with the famiy and one was of our dear friend's ordination service. Although one was an everyday event and one was a major milestone in this friend's life, I was moved to tears looking at both. God has been so good to me. For as much as I pray that some of the relationships in my life will be restored, I am SO blessed by God's provision of fellowship and LOVE.
Looking at these photos this morning has caused me to ponder some of the great blessings that God has put in my life in the way of relationships and to find joy (to the point of tears) in God's love for me THROUGH these (and other) relationships. I have SO MUCH to be thankful for.
So, now that 5 out of 5 munchkins are now up and HUNGRY, I am going to start my day with them and make sure that they know how joyful I am for them too :o)
I logged on to the computer to find that two of my favorite families had posted photos. One was of an everyday dinner out with the famiy and one was of our dear friend's ordination service. Although one was an everyday event and one was a major milestone in this friend's life, I was moved to tears looking at both. God has been so good to me. For as much as I pray that some of the relationships in my life will be restored, I am SO blessed by God's provision of fellowship and LOVE.
Looking at these photos this morning has caused me to ponder some of the great blessings that God has put in my life in the way of relationships and to find joy (to the point of tears) in God's love for me THROUGH these (and other) relationships. I have SO MUCH to be thankful for.
So, now that 5 out of 5 munchkins are now up and HUNGRY, I am going to start my day with them and make sure that they know how joyful I am for them too :o)
Friday, May 16, 2008
Things heard around the house this week:
Cooper: "Tickle my foot again Mama. It tickles so good."
Ella (while I was trying to have my morning prayer time and Cooper wanted my attention): "Cooper! MAMA IS TALKING TO GOD RIGHT NOW!!!!!"
MaryEvelyn (in response to consequences for getting out of her bed to tell Ella to get back in hers.): "I'm sorry Mama. I forgot I wasn't the parent."
Graycen: "You mean when I get my ears pierced next week they won't use a DRILL?!?!?!?!? Whew! I have to say that I was a little worried about that drill."
Saturday, May 10, 2008
HAPPY MOTHERS' DAY!!
To all my Mommy Bloggy-friends, I found this at my sister-in-law's blog adn I stole it : ) It is too perfect for the day.
Friday, May 9, 2008
A Chance to SAVE A LIFE and Gettin' Out of this BOX!!
***FIRST**** On Saving Lives:
If you have ever thought about registering and getting typed as a possible marrow donor, now is your chance!!! As a tie-in with Mothers' Day, the national marrow organization is offering free registration and a free typing kit for the first 10,000 registrants. It is normally $52, but if you go here and register (and meet the minimal health requirements) they will send you a home-typing kit in less than a week. If you get matched with someone, anyone, you will have the opportunity to SAVE SOMEONE'S LIFE. What a WONDERFUL thing to be able to do this Mother's Day weekend. Nathan and I just registered and expect our kits sometime next week :o)
It has been so nice to get out and just watch them play together. Annagail is coming along and growing like a weed. She is now fully walking and the kids think she is a "real" child now (as if she wasn't until she could walk!, Hahahahaha) The problem with this new realizatin of their's is that I keep finding them playing with her as if she is as big (and sturdy) as they are. She LOVES it and, after she gets over the fear you see on her face pictured above, she giggles and goes right along with it. She and Ella are quite the pair. Ella wants her to run and climb with her :( , so I can't leave the two of them together for even a minute or Ella will have her...oh...ON THE PIANO!!!! That is a picture I didn't get, because I was too busy having a HEART ATTACK!!!
HAPPY MOTHERS' DAY!!!
If you have ever thought about registering and getting typed as a possible marrow donor, now is your chance!!! As a tie-in with Mothers' Day, the national marrow organization is offering free registration and a free typing kit for the first 10,000 registrants. It is normally $52, but if you go here and register (and meet the minimal health requirements) they will send you a home-typing kit in less than a week. If you get matched with someone, anyone, you will have the opportunity to SAVE SOMEONE'S LIFE. What a WONDERFUL thing to be able to do this Mother's Day weekend. Nathan and I just registered and expect our kits sometime next week :o)
We have SOOOOO enjoyed the gorgeous weather we have been having here in NC. I have purposed to get the kids out each day for some excercise. Some days we have had to wait out a little rain, but we have managed to get out for some fun each day. We have walked around the neighborhood twice before dinner. We have gone out back with a blanket and some balls for relays and we have made it the park once or twice.
It has been sweaty, but fun and it has made for many, many, many baths this week :o) Tomorrow we are going strawberry picking and I am SURE there will be a few baths after that!! It will be funny to see if any of the kids get any berries actually IN baskets before they eat them all :o)
It has been so nice to get out and just watch them play together. Annagail is coming along and growing like a weed. She is now fully walking and the kids think she is a "real" child now (as if she wasn't until she could walk!, Hahahahaha) The problem with this new realizatin of their's is that I keep finding them playing with her as if she is as big (and sturdy) as they are. She LOVES it and, after she gets over the fear you see on her face pictured above, she giggles and goes right along with it. She and Ella are quite the pair. Ella wants her to run and climb with her :( , so I can't leave the two of them together for even a minute or Ella will have her...oh...ON THE PIANO!!!! That is a picture I didn't get, because I was too busy having a HEART ATTACK!!!
So get outside this weekend and enjoy the nice weather that we will all (hopefully) have! To all the Mamas:
HAPPY MOTHERS' DAY!!!
I hope that you have a great day on Sunday, but I hope more that you know each and everyday how blessed you are and how much you are loved and appreciated.
GOD BLESS YOU!!!!
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
On the road for a week, back home, and not SUPER tired!!
I spent last week on the road with the kiddos. Nathan had work and a research paper to work on, so he stayed here. I started off the trip a little skeptical of how it would all go. Luckily, I have great friends that hosted us on the way down one night. It was a great releif to see our good friends again and it made for a great break on the road for some pretty awful weather we were having on Monday.
I have to say that, for being without "Daddy" for a week away from home, we had a wonderful week! I was able to attend a surprise birthday luncheon for a very dear friend. We were able to participate in my neice's 8th birthday party. We had some GREAT down time with my inlaws; I nearly gave my FIL a HEART ATTACK, because he saw a business card on my dash from a pregnancy support service that I have been raising money for. Hahahahaha!! After I explained, we had a good laugh about it. We went on a great girls-only shopping day with my MIL, while my little Cooper got some priceless Papa-time with his Grandfather. Sunday we left and I decided to drive straight home instead of stopping for a night at our firends' home. I missed getting to see her again, but little Annagail was running a fever and Ella was showing some symptoms as well. I just figured that if we were going to be sick, I wanted to have them all sick at home.
The ride home was beautiful and felt as if the Lord was sitting right there in the car with us. There was no crying, no fighting, just a peaceful and beautiful drive home. Witht he ages of my crew, a trip to the Starbucks down the street can errupt in an all out warzone, so that is one of the reasons I know that are trip was blessed. The other reason is that I got home (from GA to NC!!!) on 3/4 of a tank of gas. I don't know how else THAT could have happened than with the Lord's hand on it.
I think that the trick of my trip was that I didn't over schedule. I had a couple of set events before going down, but everything else was just ideas of things that I would like to do. I didn't "pencil in" every minute, like I am usually guilty of. We ended up getting a lot of things done and getting to do a lot, but we just did them as they happened and I didn't STRESS and get CrAzY trying to shove a million things into our week.
My advice: Next time you plan a vacation or trip. Pick the destination, find two or three things to schedule for the family, and then just let the rest happen. If I can come back from a week of being a single parent to five children (under 8) and still feel relaxed then it has GOT to work, right?
I have to say that, for being without "Daddy" for a week away from home, we had a wonderful week! I was able to attend a surprise birthday luncheon for a very dear friend. We were able to participate in my neice's 8th birthday party. We had some GREAT down time with my inlaws; I nearly gave my FIL a HEART ATTACK, because he saw a business card on my dash from a pregnancy support service that I have been raising money for. Hahahahaha!! After I explained, we had a good laugh about it. We went on a great girls-only shopping day with my MIL, while my little Cooper got some priceless Papa-time with his Grandfather. Sunday we left and I decided to drive straight home instead of stopping for a night at our firends' home. I missed getting to see her again, but little Annagail was running a fever and Ella was showing some symptoms as well. I just figured that if we were going to be sick, I wanted to have them all sick at home.
The ride home was beautiful and felt as if the Lord was sitting right there in the car with us. There was no crying, no fighting, just a peaceful and beautiful drive home. Witht he ages of my crew, a trip to the Starbucks down the street can errupt in an all out warzone, so that is one of the reasons I know that are trip was blessed. The other reason is that I got home (from GA to NC!!!) on 3/4 of a tank of gas. I don't know how else THAT could have happened than with the Lord's hand on it.
I think that the trick of my trip was that I didn't over schedule. I had a couple of set events before going down, but everything else was just ideas of things that I would like to do. I didn't "pencil in" every minute, like I am usually guilty of. We ended up getting a lot of things done and getting to do a lot, but we just did them as they happened and I didn't STRESS and get CrAzY trying to shove a million things into our week.
My advice: Next time you plan a vacation or trip. Pick the destination, find two or three things to schedule for the family, and then just let the rest happen. If I can come back from a week of being a single parent to five children (under 8) and still feel relaxed then it has GOT to work, right?
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