Tag Archives: family

Gift day

My Matthew keeps us laughing and on our toes!  My mom calls and asks for “Matthewisms” to share with her co-workers, so I thought I’d share this one.  My boys share a room, and this morning I went in to wake Zach up for school.  Matthew sat up in bed, pulled the covers over his head and proclaimed, “it’s gift day mommy, that means you give a gift to someone you think is special and that you love ’em.”  OOOHHH, that was my gift!  How sweet and precious he can be!  He also told me it meant you didn’t have to go anywhere, but that doesn’t work well with the siblings.  They don’t want to be stranded at school, so we had to break that rule.  He was OK with it since his gift from me was a piece of candy and some cool sidewalk chalk. 

Mark it down on your calendars people, It’s sure to be a national holiday.  I think we could use it! 

New Do’

I guess you could call me a hip and happenin’ mom.  I took Brooke to the salon today and she got highlites.  She has beautiful blonde hair, but she wanted red highlights.  Strawberry blonde as she called them.  The stylist was like, Oh, are you sure, because your hair is blonde and pretty.  I said if it were up to me, we’d lighten it up a bit, but do what Brooke wants.  I was in the back of the salon and couldn’t really see what was going on, and then she came back and chatted with me while our hair was in foil, and she was so, so excited.  When she came back, she was beautiful of course.  Jackie, the stylist, said the red will tone down after a few shampoos.  She also tried to accomodate both of us and put in some blonde streaks too.  It’s cute, and bright, and funky, and bright, and pink in spots, and bright red.  Trying to put a photo up for you to check it out. img_0470.jpg

Ok, this only took me more than an hour to put up.  I learned that I needed to optimize the photo to make it fit.  HAH!!!  I feel good now.  So with all that work, please comment for me?! 

Scrap Fest

So, yesterday was the big day.  Scrapbooking with the girls!!!  We got off to a little bit of a late start, as none of us can seem to be on time.  I had packed way too much stuff, again.  And I bought way too much stuff, again. 

I had a little bit of a setback when all of my creativity left me, but I just looked at a couple of magazines and came up with a really cool layout.  Not much like any of my usual pages, but I LOVE IT!  It took me way too long to do, and only features two pictures.  But did I say how much I LOVE IT?  Yeah, if I told you I’d take a picture and post it, I know you wouldn’t believe me, so I won’t.  Trust me though, it’s good. 

Page totals-

K-?
Ki-12
S-19
me-21
Kr-27

We got some serious scrappin’ done!   For lunch they provided ham or turkey sandwiches, with chips, cookies and snacks.  Olive Garden soup, salad and breadsticks were brought in for dinner, then strawberries,cookies, hot fudge, two different kinds of cake, and angel food or dessert.  I was surrounded by chocolate and diet cokes, the two things I’ve totally given up for this 40 day fast.  It was hard, but I didn’t cave.  We scrapped, ate and laughed until 10 p.m.  and boy was I tired!  I love you girls, and we have to do it again very soon.  The future of our childrens’ heritage being documented depends on it. 

I came home to a house that was a wreck!  Obviously everyone had a great time while I was gone, so I’ve spent most of the afternoon after church picking up and tackling the laundry pile.  Boring!  Brooke went with a friend to the mall, and then sleep over at her house.  The boys went with Brian to Grammie and Grandpa’s to work on race cars.  I’ve been flying solo doing this cleaning thing, and finally took a break to fill all my loyal readers in on the excitement of my life.  (Hey Mom and Dad, Love You!) 

Well, my kitchen’s still a disaster, the dishwasher needs unloaded and then loaded again with what is in the sink.  Counters and floors need cleaned.  My work is never done….

Fasting

I’m in a 1 Peter 3 group that is taking today to fast and spend in focused prayer for our husbands and families.  I’m sending this out to open the floor up to your prayer requests, and I’ll add you to my list.  I would be happy to cover you in prayer, so just comment on this with your requests and I’ll pray.  I look forward to this time of worship and prayer, and can hardly wait to listen to what God has in store for us.  I’ll be blogging about it throughout the day, with verses regarding fasting, so check back for updates. 

A tearful goodbye/celebration

I don’t know what else to call it, besides the best funeral I’ve ever been to.  It sounds crazy to say that, but that’s how I feel.  I was dreading this funeral so badly, but was blessed by attending it in so many ways.  My dad’s cousin Jimmy died on Saturday.  He was only 52 and it was totally unexpected.  Married with three beautiful boys, the oldest is a teen.  It’s so hard to think about sometimes, but I urge you to take the time to talk with someone about what you would like to happen when you’re gone.  Jimmy and his wife did that, and I want to do it too.  There were 3 songs sung by two women, and then we sang two hymns.  These were songs that he had wanted.  The pastor opened up the floor for people to talk, and I was amazed by the outpouring of love to the family.  Everyone spoke of how much he loved his family, and how much he loved the Lord.  He touched so many lives, and didn’t even realize it I’m sure.  That’s just the kind of person he was.  He cared.  People from his church, and people from his workplace all loved him, and were blessed by the Holy Spirit within him.  One woman was talking about how he always lifted them up if they were struggling at work, and then she broke out singing Wind beneath My Wings!  It was beautiful!  Another person spoke highly of Jim, and didn’t know his wife, but said he knew her potato salad, and to fed ex it to them every now and then if she had to.  That made her laugh!  There were tears and there was laughter, and I guess the difference that I felt in this funeral was this.  We were a room filled with more believers in Jesus Christ than not.  We know that his earthly presence will be missed, but that he is truly home with God right now.  We may not understand it, but God has a plan for Jim, and it includes him at His side.  The pastor then preached, because he said that’s what Jim wanted him to do.  He preached about salvation, and that doesn’t mean just doing good things.  We have to confess, repent, and ask for fogiveness of our sins, and He will forgive.  We need to ask Jesus into our hearts and lives, and commit to follow Him.  And it’s too late when we’re in the coffin.  I had some family members sitting right there with me that needed to hear that, but I’m not sure they did.  I don’t understand it, but I don’t need to.  I just need to continue to pray for them.  (Off on a tangent again!)  Anyway, even in his death, Jim was witnessing to others.  He  planned that all out, and he knew who needed to hear it!  One person that stood up said we might ask why?  We should turn that around and we get YHW.  That stands for Your Holy Will!  Isn’t that great?  WHY= Your Holy Will 

I could go on and on, that’s how amazing it was!  I’ll stop, but I ask for prayers for his family.  I know they have a great church family that will lift them up, but you can never have too many prayers! 

I have one more funeral to attend this week.  A friend who passed away on Sunday, unexpectedly at the age of 36.  He too has a wife and 2 kids, the oldest is 12.  I just ask that these families be lifted in prayer, and that God would wrap His loving arms around them and provide comfort to them, that only He knows how. 

Gotta Pray

Dear Heavenly Father,

 You know what I am struggling with right now.  It feels so overwhelming and incomprehensible to me, but I know You have a plan.  Your plan will work out for me, and I just need to follow it.  Help me to seek you, and be ever present for Brian.  I pray that he will hear Your call for him, and open his heart.  Thank you for your blessings and forgiveness.  Thank you for your Word. 
In Jesus Name,

Amen

A different experience

There’s something that’s been bothering me since Sunday. I just need to get it out, and I have prayed about it, but I also want your oppinion. Let me start off by giving a little family background. My maternal grandparents took me to church when I was a kid, and I was baptized around age 9 I think. My mom would attend sometimes. During my teen years I went to a much smaller church with my best friend. We were active in the youth group there. I went off to college and strayed away from church. (There are two branches to this tree, so bear with me please. ) The first branch is my husband. I actually met Brian at college. I shared an apartment with two friends, one who left me way too soon! Love ya Stace!! Brian also had an apartment two doors down. It was my first year, and his last. He graduated and went to Purdue for two more years. I finished college and moved back home to start my nursing career. I was working crazy hours, and church never seemed to fit into my schedule. Brian proposed on Christmas day, and we were married in July after he graduated. We didn’t have a church, so we picked one that was about halfway for both our families to drive to. We met with the pastor, and had one session of pre-marital counseling. It was really good. We later received a phone call that the pastor had left, no details, but if we wanted to get married, we needed to provide a pastor, or take their fill in. We chose my uncle, and he flew in and performed a beautiful ceremony.

Skip forward about 8 years. This is the second branch, and it involves my dad. I don’t recall him ever attending church when I was little. My mom’s dad told him he had to be baptized to marry my mom, so he did that, but wasn’t much of a follower. He believed in God, but wasn’t living it. Long story short, I wish you could meet him and hear his testimony. He is filled with the Holy Spirit, and it flows out of him when he speaks. Dad was at a low place, and he cried out to Jesus, and instantly dad felt His presence. From that moment on, he has been an inspiration to me and many others. So Brian and I started taking the kids to church. A really big church, where it is easy to get lost in the crowd. I joined a small group for a bible study, but Brian wouldn’t go because it’s not his thing. He was baptized 4 years ago, on the same day as his brother.

This is where the story gets hard. I feel like just attending church on Sunday is not enough, and he has a different view. I have tried many times to initiate a bible study with him, and failed. I pray for him, and I try to be the good example for him, but it seems like everywhere else he goes, there is more darkness than light. He is in a constant struggle in the sand, and it is very hard for us both. Well racing has taken quite a few of our weekends, and church attendance has not been up to par. This past Sunday was the first time we had been in 3 weeks, I think. The sermon series is on the “one anothers” in the bible. Love one another, forgive one another, be compassionate to one another, and this week was about Colossians 3:16. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. So we sang, we praised, and we worshipped for the whole hour. It was amazing, and I could feel His presence with us. It was powerful and moving. I could not stand still. Deep down I knew that the only One who hears me singing and thinks it is a joyful sound is the Lord, but it didn’t matter. I just can’t describe to you how great it was! Now, Brian was standing right next to me, but the only time I really noticed him was when I heard his big sighs. I was filled with joy and gratitude. My feeling lasted until later that night when I was trying to talk to Brian about it. I wanted to know if he felt it too. I was disappointed to hear that he had a different experience. He doesn’t like to sing, and was bothered that it lasted the whole hour. He was irritated that he didn’t see the pastor, and so self focused that his back and feet were hurting. I know that the experience was different because my heart and eyes are open, and his aren’t. That doesn’t make it any easier. My dad has told me that I can’t push Brian, he has to come to it on his own, and that is so hard. I wanted to tell him that God was in that place, and maybe if he wasn’t so self absorbed in his own thoughts, he would have noticed. I just keep praying for him to open his heart, and for the Holy Spirit to fill him with such force that he knows what an awesome gift we’ve been given. I know I can only continue to pray, and I will, because I love him, and want him to be the spiritual head of our household. If anyone has any suggestions, or could just pray for Brian as well, I would greatly appreciate it.