Half Way There

Gracey turns 8 in one week, and I am in complete shock.  You are warned when they are born that time goes fast- as in the blink of an eye fast- and you just shake it off in the haze of lack of sleep, and a sea of diapers and laundry.  But it does.  Time goes way too fast, except you don't realize it until your coming up on your firstborn, baby girl's 8th birthday.

She is half way to having the semi-freedom of driving a car.  She is half way to being in high school. She is half way to trying to deciding what college she wants to attend; what career path she might take.  She is half way to maybe meeting and falling in love.  She is half way to staying out late at night while we wait up for her to come home. She is half way to proms, senior carnival, and high school competitive sports. 

She is half way gone, and it tears my heart up, but makes me proud of who is she and who she is becoming- a young lady who loves her family, who is artistic, who is a good student and loves to read, who is more fashion conscientious then her mother ever was or will be, and who loves learning about the Lord. Happy Birthday baby girl!

Summer of Firsts- and LASTS!

These past few months for my little family have been one of growth.  We have been busy with all the normal things of summer- swimming, time at the lake, sleepovers, and various other things that make up the sounds and times of summer.  But, we have also had a lot of firsts this summer.  We lost a dear family friend.  Mr. Steve, as my children called him, was my sister's father-in-law, and the music minister at our church.  I also had the priviledge to travel the world with Mr. Steve and worship with him both overseas, and in our sweet church here at home.  It was my children's first experience with death.  Thayne is my thinker and he had a lot of questions and tears.  Gracey took it all with stride and after she made sure Mr. Steve was in heaven with Jesus, she asked what was for breakfast.  When I told Lissie, I told her that he was dancing in heaven with Jesus. She responded with a 2 year old's understanding of "ok" and that she wanted to dance too!  So do we, baby Lissie, so do we!

Gracey and Thayne also got to go on their first mission trip with us a few weeks ago.  We went with our youth group to Hicksville, Ohio and did some church beautification, and a 3 day VBS.  I have never seen my kids have so much fun.  Thayne in particular did really well.  He tends to shy away from people he doesn't know, but he really opened up that week to the youth and had a blast.  We weren't in the car for 10 minutes on the way home when they were asking if they could go next year.  It was such a blessing for my kids to get to interact with the youth who had been children and had gone on mission trips when Chris and I were youth.  It's so awesome to see the circle of growth throughout the age groups at our church- that the kids we have taught are now teaching our own.  I hope their first mission trip gives them a heart for missions, and that in the years to come, they will always have a "Here am I, send me" attitude.

We are now in the throes of VBS at our own church, and getting ready for back to school.  All my kids will be in school this year; Lissie in her first year as a preschooler, Thayne as a kindergartener, and Gracey in second grade.  We are fully OUT of the baby stage- good bye diapers,bottles, and spit up forever!  We are blessed!

Itchy Fingers, Anxious Heart

I've had a writer's itch in my fingers for a few days now.  It's a feeling that comes to me when I have thoughts that are moving so fast through my mind that I know I won't remember it all unless I write it down. It usually starts with a racing mind and loss of sleep, and then progresses to the itchy fingers.  It always  happens in the weirdest and most inconvienent times.  This is one of the many reasons I ALWAYS have a notebook and pen with me.  Alot of times, these thoughts come to me while I am in my car driving. As a result, I have crazy and blind looking notes that I have scribbled while trying to keep one hand on the wheel and an eye on the road. I am not claiming to be a writer who has great ideas that need to be heard by the world.  All I know is that sometimes something gets stuck on my mind and in my heart and the only way I can get it out is to write.

 That's exactly what I did at work this morning, between answering phone calls.

I have had a very anxious heart this week.  I love social media and am absorbed in it as much as the next person, but it has definitely pulled at my heartstrings lately. But, mostly, my heart has hurt for my children. I do not want them to grow up in a society that accepts actions that go against the Word of God.  However, we live in a world where that already exsist, so my job, as a parent is to be an example for my babies and stand FIRM in the truths of the Word- all of the Word.

I have been greatly encouraged by 2 girls who are in my junior high Sunday school class.  They have been bold in their faith this week in FB, and I do not say that lightly.  Social media, whether we like it or agree with it's use, is the way that the youth of our nation communicate.  So, for those two girls to make a stand in what God's word says and to share it on their facebook pages, make me proud and gives me hope. Because one day THEY will be my kid's teachers and mentors.  They have chosen the narrow path that does not include any grey. 

One of my friends on FB posted months ago that (to paraphrase) the Bible is not a bowl of candy in which we can just pick and choose what we like and leave the rest.  It has to be accepted as complete, and whole truth- as being God-breathed and accurate in it's entirety. 

To stand for the Word will cause heartache.  It will cause loss of sleep.  It will cause loss of friendship, and possibly even family.  It will cause you to step outside of your comfort zone and be the minority.

But it IS worth standing for.

So, this Easter, I am remembering that Christ has ALREADY OVERCOME.

Savior, worthy of honor and glory, worthy of all our praise, You overcame

Jesus, awesome in power forever, awesome and great is Your name, You overcame

Power in hand speaking the Father's plan
You're sending us out, light in this broken land

We will overcome by the blood of the Lamb
And the word of our testimony, everyone overcome

(Lyrics from Jeremy Camp, "Overcome")

All the Single Mommas

If you are a single mommy for whatever reason, I applaud you.  You deserve a gold medal.  You deserve to be placed on a pedastool, and be pampered like the rock star you are.  You deserve all the respect in the world.

I have been a semi-single mommy the last two weeks.  The hubs has been traveling to WV, and was home for the weekend in between.  I've had LOTS of help from my family and friends, but WHEW!!! I know I could not do this full time!  Stressful, tired and haggardly have been the words of the week.  My kids have actually been weirdly good and healthy, which has helped tremendously, but carrying the load of baths, dinners, homework, prep, cleaning, laundry, school notes and every day life are HARD with my hubby- much less when I am flying solo.

Now don't get me wrong- I know it's not the same as being a single momma all the time. 

I still had the hubs who I could talk to on the phone.

I could count down the days until he came home.

I came from a single momma home, and I KNOW how hard it was for my mom, but experiencing it as a child and experiencing it as a mom is a whole other playing field!

So, if you are a single momma, whether it be temporary or for the long haul, know that you are awesome and God doesn't give us anything we can't handle as long as we rely on Him for our strength!!!

(And if you sang the title of this post to the tune of Beyonce's "Single Ladies", it's all right because I geeked out and did it too- her half-time performance in the Super Bowl actually gave me the idea for the title to this post!)

Slugs and Snails, and Puppy-dog Tails

I think I can honestly say I am not a parent who plays favorites.  I love all my children uniquely, and try to treat them equally. 

I love Gracey for her "mothering" heart and her artistic flair. 

I love Lissie for her spunk and sense of humor. 

But, I will say, there is something extra special about a mother's bond with her son.  If you don't have a son, it's almost hard to even understand.  It's like he makes me feel special for being his mommy.  He is the one who will NOT go to bed without giving me a kiss and hug.  He is the one who needs my approval.  He is just my little man!

Last Thursday night, we had a "mini date night".  It consisted of us going to pick out a birthday present for a friend of his for this weekend, and going to the grocery store.  We were riding home in the van, when he suddenly grabbed my hand and asked me to turn down the radio because he "had something serious he needed to talk to me about" (his words- not mine).  After I turned down the radio, he started asking me questions about marriage.

"Why do people get married?"

"What kinds of people get married?"

"Can boys marry their mommies?"

"What things can you do after your married?"

"Do I have to kiss her after I get married?"

"Why do you kiss daddy?"

After I had satisfied his curiosity, he then told me that he had decided that he wanted to be a police officer (yeah, my heart lept a little in fear on that one), then get married, and then be a daddy.  At that point I felt a little relief in the fact that he at least got the sequence of events in the right order.  He then told me that he was sorry he was going to get married and leave me, but that it would be ok because he would live next door to me and I could watch his kids!

And that's just fine with me!

 

 

 

Little Boys

Little boys come in all shapes and sizes,
Shy and adventurous, full of surprises,
With misshapen halos and mischievous grins,
Small dirty faces, and sweet, sticky chins.
They'll keep you so busy, and yet all the while
Nothing can brighten the world like their smile.
And no greater treasure has brought homes more joy
Than a curious, active, and lovable boy!

 

15 Years and Counting

For some reason, it's so weird to me to think that next month on February 10th, Chris and I will have been together 15 years- half our lives!  We dated 6 years before we got married, and have been married for 9 years this past December.  We literally grew up together.  You hear a lot of times of how when people grow up, they grow apart.  I feel truly blessed that that did not happen to us.

The Bethothed Couple

I was dating someone else when I went on a mission trip with our church youth group to Noblesville, IN in 1996, and was honestly not looking to date anyone else at the time. That mission trip was the first time I really spent any time with Chris.  We were lovingly "pushed together" by two friends who we are still close with today, and Thayne happens to be betrothed to their daughter.  :)

We dated other people for about 6 months before we started dating each other, but Chris was right in the end.  We knew right from the beginnning that this was it.  We never even really discussed getting married- we just knew it was a given right from the start.  And yes, 16 year-olds really can meet "the one"!

Mission Trip, 2001

I have learned so much over these last 15 years, but here is my top 5 lessons learned when it comes to marriage...(from the funny to the serious, in no particular order)

Ginny's Prom, 2000

1.  You can not change the other person just because your want them to.  You will both change and grow when you're supposed to.  For example, he still puts the toilet paper on wrong, and it took a lonnnngggg time for me to get him to close the cabinet doors in the kitchen in our apartment when we first got married.  And my tendancy to rearrange furniture at the drop of a hat drives him crazy!

2.  Admit when you're wrong and move on.

3.  Don't get mad when he has to travel out of town out for work (even if he did have to go out of town for a week after each baby was born!!!).  He is doing it for you (but he will probably come home to a house of rearranged furniture).

4.  Have date nights as often as possible and don't feel guilty about it- you will be a better parent because of it!

5.  Christ really does need to be the CENTER OF IT ALL for it to work.  If your relationship with Christ isn't where it needs to be, your relationship with your spouse won't be either.

 (Sorry about the quality of the pics- I took pictures of the pictures with my Iphone- I still haven't invested in a scanner!)

And that, people, is probably the mushiest entry I will ever post!!!

2013 Goals

I finally made it back!  It took me two weeks to find what kind of blog I had, and then to remember my log in and password, but I finally made it! What better way to kick-start my blog back into action than by sharing my goals for this year?  None that I could think of, so I'm just going to jump right back into it, so here we go....

(Btw, these have no order of importance- my brain doesn't tend to think that way when I am doodling my notes!  And this is a lengthy list, so read on, or you may want to wait till the next post to join back with me!)


1. Blog at least once a week.  Why?  Because I think the world wants to know what's going on in my life every day? No.  Simply because it is theraputic for me (and it's soooo much cheaper than shopping!). I love to read other mom's blogs, if for no other reason than to see that "I am not the only one who....", and hopefully this can do the same for some other mom out there.  If someone thinks this is ridiculous, then don't read! :)

2.  Let my house be messy once in a while without flippin' my lid- God bless my hubby who has dealt with enough flipped lids to last many lifetimes.

3. Be healthy-  1 Corinthians 6:19---- no other words needed!

4. I realized about a month ago that I am really bad at looking people in the eye when I am talking to them.  I try to multi-task at every available moment, but it all boils down to me being present.  Whomever I am speaking to deserves all my attention, and that includes eye contact.

5.  Friendships...this will be a hard one for me.  I tend not to be a big "friend" person.  I'm sure there is some deep, dark reason that some psychologist would have a hay-day with, but I want to be a better friend to those who I have not connected so well with lately, and to those I have reconnected with.  I am looking forward to some girl days where we can sit and talk and watch our kids play.  I am looking forward to some girls days that include studying the Word and praying over each other.  I know God wants me to have more out of my friendships, and I am ready!

6.  Date night once a month- and this is more complicated that it sounds!  My best, and most favorite babysitter, for my kids is my sister Katie, because I know she wants to spend time with my kids and loves them as much as I do.  But, Katie is currently growing up and away at college (I know- the nerve!), so I need to trust some new people with my babies and learn to let go a little so me and the hubs can have some fun.  Easier to type than to do.

7.  Participate in the Lay renewal my church is having in March.  To be honest, I'm not sure what all this entails, but I know God is going to do big things with it, so I want to be a part of it!

8.  Sing a solo at church.  I used to do this all the time.  I used to sing with a group almost every Sunday in front of the church.  But, for some reason, I have let a deep-seated fear grow in me the last year about doing this.  I know its a fear to keep me from doing something I love, so I am determined to whoop it!

9.  I desperately want to re-do my bedroom.  It has never been completed finished since the house was built.  It has all the bones- it just needs some love and style.  It is my inside house project this year.

10.  Have a youth girl's bible study at my house this summer.

11.  Write out and share Lissie's story - may be the single hardest thing on my list, because it's really my story too, but there is so much that goes with it that it will be gut wrenching, ugly, and the one of the most beautiful things I can do for myself. 

12.  Start reading chapter books with Gracey- she loves to read and I want to share with her the childhood stories that took me to another time and place.  (Did anyone else have an old, old Sandy Patty song go through their mind when they read "another time and place"?  If not please ignore because you are wayyyyy to young to even know who I am talking about!)

13.  Go to ALL Thayne's tball games this year- last year I think I only went to a handful of games, for many different reasons, but I felt the loss and I know he did too.  He needs to see his mama in the stand cheering him on!

I know it's a long list, but I have 11 months left, right?  I can do it!