It's late and I am just sitting down for the first time that day. Then his voice says "February 18, you said you were going to keep up on your blog better." The guilt almost makes me get up to go write a post... almost. But I tell myself that I deserve to sit and read or crochet and that tomorrow I will write a post. There has been many tomorrows that have come and gone and I didn't do what I meant to do.
I start my days fully and completely striving to accomplish all that I have commissioned myself to do. Then I get a phone call that changes the course of my day or a weather forecast changes my plans or I come across something else that seems to be higher on my priority list and I veer off course never to resume my original plan. It's frustrating and if I am left to my own thinking I could get stuck in a rut the size of the pot holes peppered throughout this city.
I have been doing a lot of soul searching as of late. I am working (slowly) through a devotional with one of my BFF's. I say slowly because although I am supposed to read it everyday, there are days that I don't. For many different reasons, but one reason is because it is causing me to look hard at myself and who really wants to do that?! I am not someone who will read a book just read it. I try and go deep with it. This devotional has really opened my eyes to some hard truths and there is only so much I can take at once. Some of those truths have a lot to do with our currant situation.
For the last year our family has been in a transitional pattern. We have been praying our way through some big decisions. We have been praying that our dreams align with God's and that He will bless them. So far we have yet to be released from where He has us. I have for the most part felt at peace with whatever God has planned for us. But where I have gotten off track is the timing. If He wants us to go then it will just happen and not take this long and if He wants us to stay, the doors will be slammed shut... But I have been reminded that everything in life is a journey.
God's plans for me might align with mine, but the journey to get there may look a whole lot different than what I thought and it might take a whole lot longer than I think it should. But isn't that often the case? I know that in my life, I would not have chosen the road God picked for me, but in the end His way was so much more sweeter than the way I would have chosen. I have gone through some very difficult seasons in my life, but without those I wouldn't be who I am today or have the relationships I have without those seasons. God knows and understands my heart's desires, but He is taking me on a journey that is growing and stretching me in ways that I wouldn't have grown and stretched had He just handed over my heart's desires to me. Trust me, the journey isn't always fun (especially this week!) but I am seeing beauty in the journey, I am finding peace here. I might be taking this journey and find it one big circle bringing me back to where I started or I might find this journey taking me to places I never dreamed. Only God knows, and time will be the story teller.
Friday, February 28, 2014
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Micah Turns 12!
Four days have passed since my oldest turned 12. Every year I feel the same... how can it be that my baby is this old?! My brother was so wonderful to point out that when his baby turns 12, my baby will be 24!! I am feeling older by the minute! This is also my last year of not having a teenager until all my children are grown.
Knowing Micah is growing older, is more than a date on the calendar or a marking of time. I see it in the way he conducts himself. I see it in the way he is starting to test the waters of making his opinions known. It is in the way that he has taken on responsibilities without being asked too. It is in the way he is starting to assert himself in different situations or even how he has tried out "grown up words" that he has heard uttered (and then he discovers he is still a child able to be disciplined for infractions). All the signs are pointing to a boy turning into a young man. It makes my heart happy and sad all at the same time.
I have found that all my children are very responsible, but Micah feels the weight of responsibility the most. Whether it is responsibilities that we have given him or ones he has given himself, he is always mindful of making sure he is meeting them all. He is also the first to step up to the plate when something needs to be accomplished. He comes to me and asks if anything else needs to be done before he goes off on his own.
Micah is my black and white kid. There isn't much grey area for him. It is either the truth or a lie, it is either right or wrong, it is up or down. There isn't much middle ground for him. Because of this trait I trust him completely. Even if he feels as if he might have done something wrong he will tell me. He is amazingly honest, I love that about him.
As I look at my children I know they all have a piece of their emotional Mommy alive and well within them. When Micah gets deeply disappointed he will often show it through huge tears that collect in his eyes. His face gets very red and he starts breathing harder. His excitement will make is stomach sick or give him a sleepless night (Christmas Eve, birthdays, exciting plans, and vacations are brutal nights for him).
Micah is fiercely loyal. If he calls you friend, then he has your back. He will go to very uncomfortable places to stand next to or stand up for a friend in need. He loves people and being with people (he got that from hisDaddy Mommy!), the more people over, the better. The more play dates, the better. He would keep our social calendar busy every day if I let him!!
Although his love language is not touch, he will be the first person to give you a hug when you walk in the door and the first one to hug you when you leave. I have funny little story about someone trying to hug Micah when he didn't want to be hugged.
Saturday, on his birthday, he tested for his brown belt (one belt away from black). There is a section of testing where you have a partner and spar, which basically means you put on all your gear and get to try out all kicks, strikes, and blocks on your partner. Micah and his friend Dad sparred for 2 min. At the end of their time Dan walked over and gave Micah a hug... In less than a blink of an eye, Dan found himself flat on his back staring at the ceiling (Uncle Timmy would've been proud). I had taken video of the whole 2 min sparing time and had JUST turned the camera off when Micah flipped him! UGH!!! The boys started laughing along with everyone else who just had witnessed the exchange (including the instructor). Word of advice, let Micah initiate the hugs! He said that that moment was his favorite part of his test that day!
I could keep on going about Micah and all that I see in him, all the pieces that make up this wonderful boy that I get to call my son. But all of what he is and what he could be is nothing without the most important part of him.
He was a little boy getting ready to go to sleep in his Grandfathers cottage, the windows were open and we were listening to the waves break on the shore, when he asked Jesus into his heart. It was a beautiful night.
As a parent you always want the best for your children. You work hard to make sure they are exposed to all the "right" things. Feeding them the right foods at the right time, making sure they have the safest car seat, as they grow you make sure they get the best education. You allow them to try a sport or music, or do art, or karate... You spend money left and right making all this happen and you do it gladly because you love them so much... It's a kind of love only realized when you have a child of your own. Micah was the child that taught me first about this special love. He was the child that opened my eyes to how much God really loves me, all of us, that he would give his only son, so that my son could have eternal life. I know that in trying to get "it all right" I got so much more wrong. But the most important thing we got right, was introducing our son to Jesus.
Micah, God has given you a yearning to be with people, it will be interesting to see how He uses that in the years to come. Your gentle heart is open for all to see, especially those who take the time to really see it. I love your openness and your honesty. I love the look on you face when you are unsure of yourself, its a look of meekness. I love how you giggle at night when your brother is cracking jokes and how you can't fall asleep without a million blankets on you and your radio playing. I love how quickly you can fall asleep (that was especially wonderful when you were a baby) and I love how you get up early everyday. I love your passion for reading, and your willingness to always help me when I need it most. I love how you take time to play with and spend time with your little cousins, making them feel loved and special. You have the most wonderful mix of strength and gentleness that are essential in a good leader, husband, and father. Micah, as you continue to test your growing wings, never forget who made the wind currents that you are flying on. As your faith gets tested, which it will, hold tight to the One who formed you, who created you within me, the One who gave you life.
We Love you Micah!!! Happy 12th Birthday!!!
Knowing Micah is growing older, is more than a date on the calendar or a marking of time. I see it in the way he conducts himself. I see it in the way he is starting to test the waters of making his opinions known. It is in the way that he has taken on responsibilities without being asked too. It is in the way he is starting to assert himself in different situations or even how he has tried out "grown up words" that he has heard uttered (and then he discovers he is still a child able to be disciplined for infractions). All the signs are pointing to a boy turning into a young man. It makes my heart happy and sad all at the same time.
I have found that all my children are very responsible, but Micah feels the weight of responsibility the most. Whether it is responsibilities that we have given him or ones he has given himself, he is always mindful of making sure he is meeting them all. He is also the first to step up to the plate when something needs to be accomplished. He comes to me and asks if anything else needs to be done before he goes off on his own.
Micah is my black and white kid. There isn't much grey area for him. It is either the truth or a lie, it is either right or wrong, it is up or down. There isn't much middle ground for him. Because of this trait I trust him completely. Even if he feels as if he might have done something wrong he will tell me. He is amazingly honest, I love that about him.
As I look at my children I know they all have a piece of their emotional Mommy alive and well within them. When Micah gets deeply disappointed he will often show it through huge tears that collect in his eyes. His face gets very red and he starts breathing harder. His excitement will make is stomach sick or give him a sleepless night (Christmas Eve, birthdays, exciting plans, and vacations are brutal nights for him).
Micah is fiercely loyal. If he calls you friend, then he has your back. He will go to very uncomfortable places to stand next to or stand up for a friend in need. He loves people and being with people (he got that from his
Although his love language is not touch, he will be the first person to give you a hug when you walk in the door and the first one to hug you when you leave. I have funny little story about someone trying to hug Micah when he didn't want to be hugged.
Saturday, on his birthday, he tested for his brown belt (one belt away from black). There is a section of testing where you have a partner and spar, which basically means you put on all your gear and get to try out all kicks, strikes, and blocks on your partner. Micah and his friend Dad sparred for 2 min. At the end of their time Dan walked over and gave Micah a hug... In less than a blink of an eye, Dan found himself flat on his back staring at the ceiling (Uncle Timmy would've been proud). I had taken video of the whole 2 min sparing time and had JUST turned the camera off when Micah flipped him! UGH!!! The boys started laughing along with everyone else who just had witnessed the exchange (including the instructor). Word of advice, let Micah initiate the hugs! He said that that moment was his favorite part of his test that day!
I could keep on going about Micah and all that I see in him, all the pieces that make up this wonderful boy that I get to call my son. But all of what he is and what he could be is nothing without the most important part of him.
He was a little boy getting ready to go to sleep in his Grandfathers cottage, the windows were open and we were listening to the waves break on the shore, when he asked Jesus into his heart. It was a beautiful night.
As a parent you always want the best for your children. You work hard to make sure they are exposed to all the "right" things. Feeding them the right foods at the right time, making sure they have the safest car seat, as they grow you make sure they get the best education. You allow them to try a sport or music, or do art, or karate... You spend money left and right making all this happen and you do it gladly because you love them so much... It's a kind of love only realized when you have a child of your own. Micah was the child that taught me first about this special love. He was the child that opened my eyes to how much God really loves me, all of us, that he would give his only son, so that my son could have eternal life. I know that in trying to get "it all right" I got so much more wrong. But the most important thing we got right, was introducing our son to Jesus.
Micah, God has given you a yearning to be with people, it will be interesting to see how He uses that in the years to come. Your gentle heart is open for all to see, especially those who take the time to really see it. I love your openness and your honesty. I love the look on you face when you are unsure of yourself, its a look of meekness. I love how you giggle at night when your brother is cracking jokes and how you can't fall asleep without a million blankets on you and your radio playing. I love how quickly you can fall asleep (that was especially wonderful when you were a baby) and I love how you get up early everyday. I love your passion for reading, and your willingness to always help me when I need it most. I love how you take time to play with and spend time with your little cousins, making them feel loved and special. You have the most wonderful mix of strength and gentleness that are essential in a good leader, husband, and father. Micah, as you continue to test your growing wings, never forget who made the wind currents that you are flying on. As your faith gets tested, which it will, hold tight to the One who formed you, who created you within me, the One who gave you life.
We Love you Micah!!! Happy 12th Birthday!!!
Sunday, February 9, 2014
Do You See What I See??
We are cruising down the Grand Island coast and all of a sudden Captain Tim shuts the motors off. Tells us to look to our left and up in the top of the tallest tree was...
Two Bald Eagles!!!
More about the bald eagle a little later....
Two Bald Eagles!!!
Saturday, February 8, 2014
East Channel Lighthouse
Our first destination was the East Channel Lighthouse. We were flying up to it, when Captain Tim came over the loud speaker and told us to brace, I thought... wait a minute, we are going in a 360 now? We are too close to the shore! Well the Captain didn't think we were to close and promptly sent us sailing around in a circle. What a rush!!! Then he brought us right up to the edge of the water so we could get a good look at the old lighthouse.
Then we took off to enjoy some of the scenery as we flew down the side of Grand Island.
Blessings!!
Monday, February 3, 2014
TyTy Turns Ten!
A few days have gone by and I can't let another close before I make mention the importance of Friday, January 31, 2014.
Crazy Boy Tyler turned 10 years old!! To think that he is already 10! All you Momma's with babies, hold tight, the days fly by without even a blink and you will wake up looking at your half grown boy/girl and wonder where time went.
Tyler is the one child that usually holds his emotions inside, not letting you know what he is really feeling (unless it's picture time and then it's written all across his face). He uses humor to hide or reveal what he is thinking. He tests me in more ways that I can count. There are times when I know I am in for "a day full of Tyler" just by how he greets me in the morning when he wakes up. There are times that Kevin leaves for work knowing full well I will have my hands full and laughs his way out of the door.
Then there are days that he is the most cuddly lovable boy who is so kind and gentle. He is the child who opens my car door and makes sure I am OK. He is the child who will just sit next to me while I have a cry or tells me how beautiful I am.
Then there are days that I spend time listening to his stories, he somehow always slips in something about butts or what comes out of them. Why is that topic so funny to boys?? There are days that I can't help but laugh at his jokes even though I shouldn't and days that I end up giving him the full talk down about how somethings we just don't joke about.
Tyler is so special to me in so many ways. Ways that will forever remain closely guarded in my heart. That little boy has given me the gift of joy and laughter since the day he was born.
Out of all the things Tyler is, there is one that is the most important. Tyler is a child of God. In the Bible it speaks of how there is no greater joy than to know that your child is walking with the Lord. I never really understood that verse until my children had each asked Jesus into their hearts. Right now, my children are all safe at home in my nest. Someday soon they will each take the jump out of the nest and learn to fly on their own. My prayer now and will always be that they will continue to walk with the Lord.
Tyler, I have no doubt God has great and amazing plans for you, what those plans are, I have no clue. You are more of a mystery to me than your siblings. I can kind of see where God might take them, but for you, it could be anything from a preacher, to a stand up comedian, to a business owner, to an engineer, to following in your uncle's law enforcement footsteps. You are strong in who you are, you are strong in what you like and don't like. You know your mind and keep others guessing. I love your smile and your giggle. I love how you at times are telling us a joke and just start cracking yourself up so hard, you can't finish your joke. I love how think outside of the box and use your special gifts to enrich our lives. You are an amazing young man, you will go far in life if you keep Christ as your corner stone! Daddy and I can't wait to see where He takes you!!
We Love you Tyler!! Happy 10th Birthday!!!
Crazy Boy Tyler turned 10 years old!! To think that he is already 10! All you Momma's with babies, hold tight, the days fly by without even a blink and you will wake up looking at your half grown boy/girl and wonder where time went.
Tyler is the one child that usually holds his emotions inside, not letting you know what he is really feeling (unless it's picture time and then it's written all across his face). He uses humor to hide or reveal what he is thinking. He tests me in more ways that I can count. There are times when I know I am in for "a day full of Tyler" just by how he greets me in the morning when he wakes up. There are times that Kevin leaves for work knowing full well I will have my hands full and laughs his way out of the door.
Then there are days that he is the most cuddly lovable boy who is so kind and gentle. He is the child who opens my car door and makes sure I am OK. He is the child who will just sit next to me while I have a cry or tells me how beautiful I am.
Then there are days that I spend time listening to his stories, he somehow always slips in something about butts or what comes out of them. Why is that topic so funny to boys?? There are days that I can't help but laugh at his jokes even though I shouldn't and days that I end up giving him the full talk down about how somethings we just don't joke about.
Tyler is so special to me in so many ways. Ways that will forever remain closely guarded in my heart. That little boy has given me the gift of joy and laughter since the day he was born.
Out of all the things Tyler is, there is one that is the most important. Tyler is a child of God. In the Bible it speaks of how there is no greater joy than to know that your child is walking with the Lord. I never really understood that verse until my children had each asked Jesus into their hearts. Right now, my children are all safe at home in my nest. Someday soon they will each take the jump out of the nest and learn to fly on their own. My prayer now and will always be that they will continue to walk with the Lord.
Tyler, I have no doubt God has great and amazing plans for you, what those plans are, I have no clue. You are more of a mystery to me than your siblings. I can kind of see where God might take them, but for you, it could be anything from a preacher, to a stand up comedian, to a business owner, to an engineer, to following in your uncle's law enforcement footsteps. You are strong in who you are, you are strong in what you like and don't like. You know your mind and keep others guessing. I love your smile and your giggle. I love how you at times are telling us a joke and just start cracking yourself up so hard, you can't finish your joke. I love how think outside of the box and use your special gifts to enrich our lives. You are an amazing young man, you will go far in life if you keep Christ as your corner stone! Daddy and I can't wait to see where He takes you!!
We Love you Tyler!! Happy 10th Birthday!!!
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