There was a debate earlier in the week on The Today Show (something I watch every morning) about a blogger that wrote about having a favorite child. His supposition was that no matter what parents said they really did have a favorite. Now, I wish I was sitting in front of every person reading this because I would love to know what your initial response is to that statement. I think that nearly everyone would have the politically correct words coming out of their mouth ("oh no, that's not true!" or "of course, I love all of them equally!") but I would be able to tell by the look on your face whether or not you really believed what you were saying. I'm pretty intuitive.
So, which is it? Do you have a favorite? Are you willing to admit it and name the child you favor? Is that guy full of it and, of course, no one has a favorite? I think the answer is slightly more complex than that.
Human relationships are complex. A parent's love is probably the strongest love there is among humans. People naturally feel drawn to or repelled by others and I think parents are the same....I mean, they are people too, right?
So, who is your favorite? Well, if it helps any I'll reveal my favorite.....
Adam is my favorite because he is my firstborn. We tried for many years to have a baby and were beyond thrilled when we became pregnant. I rejoiced every time I threw up with morning sickness....no kidding. He was a wonder and miracle and perfect all wrapped up in one chubby little boy. As he grew he was fun and sweet and loved to share his life with us. He filled our house with beautiful music and currently advocates for refugees. We are beyond proud of him. Absolutely my favorite.
Ryan is my favorite because we had two miscarriages before we got pregnant with him. We worked hard for that baby and had some heartbreak along the way. He was a sweet baby with an infectious belly laugh that echoed throughout our home. He has grown up to be a smart, logical, loving man that fills us with pride in the man that he is becoming. His passion for helping the students he teaches is amazing. Yep, definitely my favorite.
Taylor is my favorite because he gives the BEST bear hugs.....bar none. I defy anyone to show me someone who does it better. He is without a doubt the most mellow and laid back person I have ever had the pleasure to know. He has been that way since birth and I marvel that he came from my womb. His comfort level with himself is astounding. He is artsy, creative, and courageous. He never gives up. He is quite obviously my favorite.
Leah is my favorite because she is the only girl. She shops with me, gets mani/pedis with me and is really my clone. She is so much like me I sometimes feel like we are one person in two bodies. She is my friend and sweet girl. We never even had that classic mother/daughter conflict when she was a teenager. I enjoy her enthusiasm for life and her care and concern for others. How can she NOT be my favorite? Totally, my favorite.
Okay, so I cheated but let's be honest. As great as they all are, haven't they all gotten on my nerves at one point and I considered sending them back to the hospital? Oh, heck, yeah! (unfortunately there are no returns during the teen years) No relationship is without it's bumps. Everyone brings something different to the table and even if I don't get or like it, they bring it. It's important to value all of them for what and who they are. It's the whole of the picture that is the important thing. It's what we all are together. That is my favorite.
One last thing......my REAL favorite is their dad. Please don't tell my kids I said that.
Friday, September 28, 2012
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
My Shameful Confession
I'm going to confess a shameful secret here. Don't judge me. Please. I have to give a little background first so maybe you won't be so harsh in your judgement (because you will judge, that is the way of people everywhere).
I began to try to get pregnant in the Spring of 1980. My mom had no problem so I assumed I would have no problem.....that was a false assumption. Five years of tests, pills, surgeries, and sex every other night (whether you were in the mood or not) followed until we finally got pregnant. I became pregnant in May of 1985 and Adam was born in February of 1986. I won't bore you with the gritty details of what followed but I will say that I had three more babies by October of 1991. When Leah was born, Adam was 5 years and 8 months, Ryan was 3 years and 8 months, Taylor was 2 years and 5 months. In the middle of all of that I had 2 miscarriages and I nursed all of them (Leah for 13 months as she wouldn't put anything synthetic in her mouth....she has always been my pickiest eater)
It should be sufficient to say that these were exhausting years that stretched me to the utter limits of my patience, strength, and perseverance. As my children grew I developed a rich and wondrous fantasy life.....thus my shameful secret.
I used to drive past apartment complexes and wish I lived there. Alone. Just me. In a little tiny apartment. Maybe a table to eat at with a few dishes for cooking. I'd only have to buy quarts of milk instead of a gallon a day. A loaf of bread would last me a month. I could watch whatever I wanted on TV and, even better, I could go to the bathroom in peace. No one would need me to wipe their bottom, blow their nose, clean up their messes, or mediate their fights. No one would expect me to know where the Blue Power Ranger was or use my tampons as weapons of mass destruction in their war games with their brothers. There would be no peeing on the floor around the toilet or unending loads of laundry. There would only be me....my stuff....what I want.
Now, you may be thinking my next sentences are going to be about the wonders of sweet children who you love and who love you so much....precious hugs and butterfly kisses.....the wonder of sleeping angels and belly laughing munchkins. You would be wrong.
Here is what I want to say.....hang in there. This too shall pass. Time will march on and the days when you are their sole source of entertainment, discipline and caretaking will pass. They will grow up. If you have done your job well they will be independent and productive people. They will leave you and this is a bittersweet thing. Sweet because you will get your life back.....bitter because you will remember those days when they needed you so much and be very, very glad you didn't actually have that little apartment.
It's tough when you are in the trenches raising children. Remember that this will pass, you are not alone, and apartment rent is much higher than you think.
I began to try to get pregnant in the Spring of 1980. My mom had no problem so I assumed I would have no problem.....that was a false assumption. Five years of tests, pills, surgeries, and sex every other night (whether you were in the mood or not) followed until we finally got pregnant. I became pregnant in May of 1985 and Adam was born in February of 1986. I won't bore you with the gritty details of what followed but I will say that I had three more babies by October of 1991. When Leah was born, Adam was 5 years and 8 months, Ryan was 3 years and 8 months, Taylor was 2 years and 5 months. In the middle of all of that I had 2 miscarriages and I nursed all of them (Leah for 13 months as she wouldn't put anything synthetic in her mouth....she has always been my pickiest eater)
It should be sufficient to say that these were exhausting years that stretched me to the utter limits of my patience, strength, and perseverance. As my children grew I developed a rich and wondrous fantasy life.....thus my shameful secret.
I used to drive past apartment complexes and wish I lived there. Alone. Just me. In a little tiny apartment. Maybe a table to eat at with a few dishes for cooking. I'd only have to buy quarts of milk instead of a gallon a day. A loaf of bread would last me a month. I could watch whatever I wanted on TV and, even better, I could go to the bathroom in peace. No one would need me to wipe their bottom, blow their nose, clean up their messes, or mediate their fights. No one would expect me to know where the Blue Power Ranger was or use my tampons as weapons of mass destruction in their war games with their brothers. There would be no peeing on the floor around the toilet or unending loads of laundry. There would only be me....my stuff....what I want.
Now, you may be thinking my next sentences are going to be about the wonders of sweet children who you love and who love you so much....precious hugs and butterfly kisses.....the wonder of sleeping angels and belly laughing munchkins. You would be wrong.
Here is what I want to say.....hang in there. This too shall pass. Time will march on and the days when you are their sole source of entertainment, discipline and caretaking will pass. They will grow up. If you have done your job well they will be independent and productive people. They will leave you and this is a bittersweet thing. Sweet because you will get your life back.....bitter because you will remember those days when they needed you so much and be very, very glad you didn't actually have that little apartment.
It's tough when you are in the trenches raising children. Remember that this will pass, you are not alone, and apartment rent is much higher than you think.
Monday, September 24, 2012
What is your definition of "Cute"
I want to say a word or two about what I think is "cute". Little puppies, kindergartners with no front teeth, smiling babies, Darlene's new mustard color pants. You may have a different criteria because there are lots of cute things out there in our world.
Now, I want to say something about things that aren't cute. It isn't cute when kids are sassy....I don't care how old you are or how young. My 77 year old mother doesn't think it's cute when I'm sassy to her and I don't think it's any cuter when my 20 year old daughter sasses me (thankfully neither of those things happen very often at all!). It isn't cute when married people put each other down, argue or in any other way disrespect each other. Jokes at another person's expense, especially one you have promised to love and honor, are not funny....ever.
But the thing that is really not cute....ever or for any reason....is misbehaving children. I will admit that sometimes they do funny things when they misbehave. I remember one day my mom was trying to give my little sister a well deserved spanking. My sister was running around the back yard with her hand on her bottom screaming at the top of her lungs, "don't beat me....don't beat me". My mom started laughing and had to sit down she was laughing so hard. It was a very funny moment and my mom had her laugh. Then she caught up with my sister and spanked her. She didn't let the funny stuff get in the way of discipline.
And that's really what one of the main purposes of parenting is....isn't it? Discipline. Discipline that leads to your children learning to be self-disciplined. Self-discipline is what helps them be organized about their school work, it helps them make good decisions and proper choices, it helps them filter what they think and feel into socially appropriate behaviors. People with no self-discipline are difficult people to be around.
So often when we hear the word "discipline" it has a negative connotation. We think of harsh punishment...spanking perhaps, tears certainly. Our kids will dislike us and after many years talk bad about us on Oprah. Well, that is not true....trust me. Kids want boundaries. They appreciate knowing where the line is and exactly what you will do if they cross it. Harshness isn't a requirement....consistency and intentionality is. Your discipline of them should lead to their own self-discipline.
Don't fool yourself....bad behaviors at 3, 4, and 5 lead to completely unmanageable behaviors at 13, 14 and 15. You plant seeds when they are little. Please plant seeds of respect, honor, obedience, and self-discipline. I saw a sign in a church fellowship hall once that said, "Thank you for controlling your children. Their manners are a reflection of your love for them." I thought that genius.
Now, I want to say something about things that aren't cute. It isn't cute when kids are sassy....I don't care how old you are or how young. My 77 year old mother doesn't think it's cute when I'm sassy to her and I don't think it's any cuter when my 20 year old daughter sasses me (thankfully neither of those things happen very often at all!). It isn't cute when married people put each other down, argue or in any other way disrespect each other. Jokes at another person's expense, especially one you have promised to love and honor, are not funny....ever.
But the thing that is really not cute....ever or for any reason....is misbehaving children. I will admit that sometimes they do funny things when they misbehave. I remember one day my mom was trying to give my little sister a well deserved spanking. My sister was running around the back yard with her hand on her bottom screaming at the top of her lungs, "don't beat me....don't beat me". My mom started laughing and had to sit down she was laughing so hard. It was a very funny moment and my mom had her laugh. Then she caught up with my sister and spanked her. She didn't let the funny stuff get in the way of discipline.
And that's really what one of the main purposes of parenting is....isn't it? Discipline. Discipline that leads to your children learning to be self-disciplined. Self-discipline is what helps them be organized about their school work, it helps them make good decisions and proper choices, it helps them filter what they think and feel into socially appropriate behaviors. People with no self-discipline are difficult people to be around.
So often when we hear the word "discipline" it has a negative connotation. We think of harsh punishment...spanking perhaps, tears certainly. Our kids will dislike us and after many years talk bad about us on Oprah. Well, that is not true....trust me. Kids want boundaries. They appreciate knowing where the line is and exactly what you will do if they cross it. Harshness isn't a requirement....consistency and intentionality is. Your discipline of them should lead to their own self-discipline.
Don't fool yourself....bad behaviors at 3, 4, and 5 lead to completely unmanageable behaviors at 13, 14 and 15. You plant seeds when they are little. Please plant seeds of respect, honor, obedience, and self-discipline. I saw a sign in a church fellowship hall once that said, "Thank you for controlling your children. Their manners are a reflection of your love for them." I thought that genius.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
The Care and Feeding of Myself
Re-read the title of this installment, please. This is something that I fail at....miserably. It's really easy for me to get caught up in the next project, the minutiae of the day, and/or simply putting one step in front of the other. I tend to have a more outward focus on the people, places and things around me. I'm an extravert....through and through. That's not a bad thing (IMHO) but it does have a dark side (sort of like the Force). I tend to ignore my own need to stop occasionally and be at peace. Frankly, it's hard to hear what God is saying to me when I'm yammering all the time.
This summer I had several people ask me what I do to nurture my own spiritual self. This is a question that took me off guard every time it was asked. The third time I heard it I began to figure that God was trying to tell me something. Maybe something like this...."Please slow down and stop doing....planning.....thinking...just be." I think He's trying to tell me something and I'm too busy to listen. This is not a good long term plan.
So, here is my short term plan. I'm going to Summit at ACU. Today. Abilene Christian University holds this event every year. It used to be called "Lectureship"....they wisely changed the name to Summit and bill it as "a conversation where life and faith converge in Christ." It's a series of lectures (really) and worship times. Summit offers renewal and refreshment. Part of me cannot wait....part of me dreads it (it's been a long time since I sat and listened to an adult talk for any length of time....not sure I can do this). All of me knows this will be good for me. I need this so I'm going.
Please pray for me (and Jeff, as he will be with me). Please ask God to give me patience and an attention span longer than your average 3 year old. Please ask God to give me an open mind and that renewal indeed be the outcome. Finally, pray for a safe journey there and back again. Thanks.
See you later in the week!!!
This summer I had several people ask me what I do to nurture my own spiritual self. This is a question that took me off guard every time it was asked. The third time I heard it I began to figure that God was trying to tell me something. Maybe something like this...."Please slow down and stop doing....planning.....thinking...just be." I think He's trying to tell me something and I'm too busy to listen. This is not a good long term plan.
So, here is my short term plan. I'm going to Summit at ACU. Today. Abilene Christian University holds this event every year. It used to be called "Lectureship"....they wisely changed the name to Summit and bill it as "a conversation where life and faith converge in Christ." It's a series of lectures (really) and worship times. Summit offers renewal and refreshment. Part of me cannot wait....part of me dreads it (it's been a long time since I sat and listened to an adult talk for any length of time....not sure I can do this). All of me knows this will be good for me. I need this so I'm going.
Please pray for me (and Jeff, as he will be with me). Please ask God to give me patience and an attention span longer than your average 3 year old. Please ask God to give me an open mind and that renewal indeed be the outcome. Finally, pray for a safe journey there and back again. Thanks.
See you later in the week!!!
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Perspective
As I consider where my thoughts are going today I'm struck with the word "perspective"..... so much of our life is about perspective. Our perspective of the world.....how others see us.....how we see them. You know what I mean. I tried hard to teach my kids to think in the other person's shoes or see out of another person's eyes.
Sometimes my perspective is skewed and I'm okay with that. There is a door I walk in every day as I come to work. It's double doors, actually....two glass doors. You will NEVER see me walking up to the left door. It offers a true reflection of myself. The right door, however, offers me a reflection that is at least 15 pounds lighter. What rational woman wouldn't choose the door on the right?
Sometimes other's perspectives of me are skewed and that hurts. I probably don't have to give an example. We've all been there. Someone assumes something about you, acts upon that assumption in an unpleasant way, and you are hurt. Perspective can be skewed.
How we as Americans are being seen is especially hurtful these days. People are protesting and people are dying. I'm haunted by the deaths of the Ambassador and other personnel in Libya. One of the men had children....that always makes it worse. And, we are told this is all over an independent film that has a message the protesters don't appreciate. News reports indicate this is untrue, however, as the nature of the attacks look more organized than the "angry protesting mob" type. Regardless, people are angry and violent.
How we see the protesters isn't much better. I don't know about you but I tend to think of that whole area of "middle east" as dry, dusty, and full of violent, hateful people. (That is perhaps overstating my impression as I have a child that works with refugees from this area and he helps me see these things differently) Certainly if you watch tv or other media that is all you see.....screaming, torch wielding madmen hating on America. Yet surely there are peaceful, loving families that live in that region of the world.
How do the protesters/terrorists see us? The world's police....moving into other countries wielding our big stick and telling them how they must govern/live/work/drill their oil? Secretive and powerful? Sending spies in to topple governments or assassinate leaders? Allies of those that would make others homeless? I'm not saying any of this is true (or not true) but I am saying we must consider the perspective of others.
Then there is the video I saw of Curiosity's landing on Mars. Thanks, Alan Chapman, for posting. It is frightening how small and insignificant this video makes me feel. How far away and inconsequential our world is from the perspective of Curiosity and Mars. Then my mind goes to God and I wonder about His perspective. He created and his creation fell.....we fuss, argue, kill one another, hate each other....we are broken people. We are fatally flawed....doomed. And yet, He loves us. He came here for us. He came in the most humble, weak and vulnerable state in which a person can find themselves.....a newborn baby. We don't appreciate that enough.
We continue to fail Him as we sin and re-sin and still....He Loves. He loves with unbounded compassion and mercy without end. If we are striving for God's perspective (which we definitely should be doing!!) these are traits we must attempt to fill our hearts with.......love and compassion and mercy. That's not always easy considering our perspective and what we perceive to be other's perspectives but Jesus didn't give up and neither should we.
Sometimes my perspective is skewed and I'm okay with that. There is a door I walk in every day as I come to work. It's double doors, actually....two glass doors. You will NEVER see me walking up to the left door. It offers a true reflection of myself. The right door, however, offers me a reflection that is at least 15 pounds lighter. What rational woman wouldn't choose the door on the right?
Sometimes other's perspectives of me are skewed and that hurts. I probably don't have to give an example. We've all been there. Someone assumes something about you, acts upon that assumption in an unpleasant way, and you are hurt. Perspective can be skewed.
How we as Americans are being seen is especially hurtful these days. People are protesting and people are dying. I'm haunted by the deaths of the Ambassador and other personnel in Libya. One of the men had children....that always makes it worse. And, we are told this is all over an independent film that has a message the protesters don't appreciate. News reports indicate this is untrue, however, as the nature of the attacks look more organized than the "angry protesting mob" type. Regardless, people are angry and violent.
How we see the protesters isn't much better. I don't know about you but I tend to think of that whole area of "middle east" as dry, dusty, and full of violent, hateful people. (That is perhaps overstating my impression as I have a child that works with refugees from this area and he helps me see these things differently) Certainly if you watch tv or other media that is all you see.....screaming, torch wielding madmen hating on America. Yet surely there are peaceful, loving families that live in that region of the world.
How do the protesters/terrorists see us? The world's police....moving into other countries wielding our big stick and telling them how they must govern/live/work/drill their oil? Secretive and powerful? Sending spies in to topple governments or assassinate leaders? Allies of those that would make others homeless? I'm not saying any of this is true (or not true) but I am saying we must consider the perspective of others.
Then there is the video I saw of Curiosity's landing on Mars. Thanks, Alan Chapman, for posting. It is frightening how small and insignificant this video makes me feel. How far away and inconsequential our world is from the perspective of Curiosity and Mars. Then my mind goes to God and I wonder about His perspective. He created and his creation fell.....we fuss, argue, kill one another, hate each other....we are broken people. We are fatally flawed....doomed. And yet, He loves us. He came here for us. He came in the most humble, weak and vulnerable state in which a person can find themselves.....a newborn baby. We don't appreciate that enough.
We continue to fail Him as we sin and re-sin and still....He Loves. He loves with unbounded compassion and mercy without end. If we are striving for God's perspective (which we definitely should be doing!!) these are traits we must attempt to fill our hearts with.......love and compassion and mercy. That's not always easy considering our perspective and what we perceive to be other's perspectives but Jesus didn't give up and neither should we.
Monday, September 10, 2012
What Does "Embody" Mean?
He asked the following question, (I'm going to put it in quotes but you understand it's probably not exact....this is how I remember it) "How do we embody Christ if we sit in church on Sunday morning, worshipping God, and then act rude to our waitress at lunch?"
I call them "heart twinges" but, honestly, it's gotta be guilt. I do come to church and worship on Sunday! I check all the boxes. Dress appropriately? (check) Say "Hello, how are ya?" to my fellow members? (check) Ask an obviously lost visitor if I can help them find their way? (check) I'm nice. I love God. I worship. That all makes me feel real good......
Do I embody Christ the other 110.5 hours a week? (Formula: 24 hrs X 7 days = 168 hrs - 56 hrs of sleeping = 112 awake hrs - 1.5 hours of church= 110.5 hours/wk I'm awake and not in church).
The dictionary says that "embody" means "represent" or "materialize". Synonyms include "actualize", "complete", "demonstrate", "epitomize", "exemplify". The one that really speaks to me is "stand for". Do I "stand for" Christ? Would the average person I run into on a daily basis know that I "stand for" anything? Much less Christ? I would hope so. And before you think I'm beating myself up too much, I think most days I do okay. I try to treat others the way I would want to be treated. I try to consider what Jesus would do in a situation and emulate that. I try to consider the fruits of my actions and life in relation to the Holy Spirit - do my actions bring or show love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness or self-control? (some of these 'fruits' I do better than others:)
It's easy at Church. My question is this.....do I live my faith outside of Church? Do I "embody" Christ? Do I behave like a child of God in my everyday life?
Here is where it comes to. I live in a place where people assume that if you are a Christ follower you believe certain things. Some of these people are pretty rabid about this notion. I don't always agree with them about what Jesus would have found to be important. I don't think Jesus would care about illegal immigration (after all, his parents fled to another country when he was a baby to save his life). I cannot believe that Jesus would care two figs for our economy. (he was an itinerant preacher) I can't believe Jesus would get caught up in arguments about stem cell research, birth control, gay rights or abortion. Matthew 25:31-46 tells me exactly what Jesus values. We are told that Jesus would care about the poor, the prisoner, the sick, the homeless and the hurting. What separates the sheep from the goats? Not if they went to church or where they stood on some political parties platform. It's how you treated "the least of these" (v. 40 & 45) This is a story that convicts me. This is where my guilt comes from. It's not enough to be nice and come to church. To embody Christ is to care about others in a way that is unusual for our times and culture.
I want to close by saying that I believe church is important. I think community is invaluable. Worship with other believers is food for our souls. But beneath it all let's not let our attendance at church make us feel better than or above _________ (you fill in your own blank). Let's not check off that box and feel satisfied with our own innate goodness. I'm grateful that God cares for sinners because I are one! I'm very grateful Jesus came to bridge the enormous gap between me and God because of my sin. I want to live a life that embodies Christ. I want to "stand for" Him.
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Is He Dragging You?
I saw this on someone's facebook page yesterday (sorry, can't remember who...you'll discover why if you keep reading). It made me laugh out loud. Not LOL...like virtual laughing but literally laughing out into the silence....out loud.
I think it made me laugh because of some struggles I've been having of late. He's been dragging me and I just hadn't recognized it or been grateful for it. I would like to rectify that.
Recognition Phase: If you are not a woman in the middle part of your life you may not get this. It's difficult for me to admit it but I've been having some....."issues" (think air quotes here). I've been anxious and jumpy. I haven't been sleeping....I have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep. I wake up tired (duh!). I'm a bit foggy in my thinking and I weep for no reason. The worst is I feel like ripping someone's head off....not anyone in particular, just anyone will do (I actually feel rather cheery about this). I finally admitted one day that my emotions had shrunk to a range of two - crying and rage. This is not a happy place to be and it isn't especially pleasant for those who have to live with me. No surprise there, either. I took myself to a doctor who performed some tests, made some recomendations and is organizing a plan of treatment that is holistic and organic (along with some really good drugs). I expect to be better any day now.
Grateful Phase: It goes without saying (although I AM saying it) that I am grateful to my husband for putting up with me for the last six weeks or so. He has lived with my snarky/don't touch me/quick give me a hug/weepy/angry/anxious self and he has been incredibly patient and loving. I married a good man. My kids are mostly out on their own so they aren't suffering as much although I did have an epic battle with my daughter one day that surpassed anything we ever experienced while she was a teenager at home. Bless her heart, she was so baffled by her crazy-acting mom....and me? I just couldn't seem to stop the insanity. Fortunately she has enough of her dad in her to forgive and love me. My co-workers have suffered (you know who you are, Van) and my friends have only done marginally better as I've largely ignored everyone as a mechanism to save friendships I cherish. I have a lot to be grateful for!!
However, most of my gratitude is for God. Even though He is the one that created this body that is aging and falling apart, He is also the one that promises to strengthen me, give me rest and never be separated from me. He saves me.....on many levels and in many ways. It seems that I rarely walk beside him (as the trite little story goes). More often he carries me and sometimes he drags me....kicking and screaming or limp from weariness. I'll take his love and care any way I can get it. Thank you, Lord!!!
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Grant and Leah
We had planned a family trip to San Antonio for a weekend near the end of August. Leah left early Friday morning and drove to Austin (where Grant has a new job and new apartment). She was waiting for the delivery of a couch. When Grant got home from work they left Austin to join us in San Antonio. On the way there he stopped the car under the guise of a possible flat tire and when she got out to look he was down on one knee with "the ring". She said "YES!!" and did a happy dance all the way to San Antonio. We were thrilled. We love Grant.
The picture! Get to the picture!
So, the next morning (she's still doing the happy dance....I was afraid her cheeks would break from all the smiling) we go to breakfast and I'm sitting across from Grant. At some point as I'm looking at him I think to myself, "there he is. There's that little boy I've been praying for all of her life." And it's true. We prayed for him to be loving and love God, to be strong and brave, to be sweet and gentle, to be someone that could care about her happiness and her soul. And there he was....all that we had prayed for. It was a moment that had me swallowing back the lump in my throat. God is good and He answers prayers.
I know that someone reading this has a small child so let me encourage you to pray for your child's future mate. He or she is out there being parented, living a life, and becoming the person your child will love and make a life with. Don't let that be a scary thought...let that motivate you to pray for that child. You'll meet them one day and be glad you did!
By the way, that monstrosity sitting on the table between us? We were at a place that prides itself on its 3 POUND CINNAMON ROLLS!!!!! Oh yeah! Good stuff!
I'm back and my only excuse is I'm an ENFP!!
It has been 3 years, 2 months and 17 days since I posted on this blog. My only excuse is I'm an ENFP. This may make you scratch your head but I promise you my husband is smiling. He's smiling because he is a Myers-Briggs Personality Type consultant and he understands me.
I am an Extroverted, Intuitive, Feeling Perceiver and one of the things they do very, very well is start up a project and then move on to start another.....often giving little thought to the projects they are leaving behind in the dust of their mind. **let me take a moment here to apologize to everyone that has been left behind on a project I initiated or talked you into initiating. I am so, so sorry!!!**
And so this blog falls under that category. Unfinished business. Stuff I've left hanging. It sits in the back of my mind until I get tired of considering what to do and finally just...do. So, here I am....again...trying to get my thoughts on electronic paper. I don't know who will read this but I'm here and I'll try to stick.....no promises. Once an ENFP, always an ENFP after all.
What has finally brought me back is several things: the political climate of the day, the state of our marriages and families, other blogs I would like to share, and just generally some things I want to say. Social media and other blogs have me talking to my computer and I figured maybe I'd just write some of it down and share it. We'll see how it goes.
I am an Extroverted, Intuitive, Feeling Perceiver and one of the things they do very, very well is start up a project and then move on to start another.....often giving little thought to the projects they are leaving behind in the dust of their mind. **let me take a moment here to apologize to everyone that has been left behind on a project I initiated or talked you into initiating. I am so, so sorry!!!**
And so this blog falls under that category. Unfinished business. Stuff I've left hanging. It sits in the back of my mind until I get tired of considering what to do and finally just...do. So, here I am....again...trying to get my thoughts on electronic paper. I don't know who will read this but I'm here and I'll try to stick.....no promises. Once an ENFP, always an ENFP after all.
What has finally brought me back is several things: the political climate of the day, the state of our marriages and families, other blogs I would like to share, and just generally some things I want to say. Social media and other blogs have me talking to my computer and I figured maybe I'd just write some of it down and share it. We'll see how it goes.
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