I feel like Debbie Downer lately but hey, I guess if I'm going to blog my life then it needs to include the downsides of life too.
I'm not sure why but Management's traveling this year has kind of gotten to me. I'm so used to him being gone but I think there are a few changes this year that are making it harder. A) we've gone with him more often this year so now we all have the traveling bug and it's hard to see him go alone B) he's traveling more during May and June than he has in past years C) he's in school now so even when he is home, there isn't as much "comp time" as there used to be. Now he's studying or getting ready for the next trip.
On a totally different note...relationships can be draining and frustrating and a huge source of irritation for me! Already being down, it's even harder for me to engage in relationships that I would much rather kick to the curb and forget about. But God...I know He has these people in my life for a reason. I don't know what it is and I've done Bible studies and prayer time trying to figure it out but it has yet to be revealed. I just keep biting my tongue, praying praying praying, and trying to stay the bigger person. blah!
Good news...my relationship with WeeklyAd is getting better and better. She is identical to her daddy and if you all know him, please pray for her spouse! :) In so many ways she is my easiest and in so many ways, my hardest. Actually, there is so much to say about her and this book I just finished, Her Daughter's Dreams, that I think it deserves it's own post in the near future.
Went to Zumba class with my neighbors last Saturday. I was dreading it!!! Couldn't believe that I agreed to go and whined all night Friday about it. I had to be up at 7:15 to go and did not have a very good attitude. The class was good. It was HARD!!! But in the end, it felt good having gone through with it. I'm not excited to go again but think if you have to excercise, dancing is a fun way to do it. I'm gonna give it another go tomorrow night. We'll see.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Monday, June 20, 2011
Good and Bad
Good News:
~HomeAudio's team won their baseball game so they continue in the playoffs. He was so excited. WeeklyAd is not.
~Our new little friends continue to do well and are still pretty sweet and entertaining. H&G is quite adorable as she calls out "Pets" when trying to get their attention. She is even more adorable when she says "Lila and Gittles" for Delilah and Skittles.
~Traveling only makes you want to travel more. At least that is the case with me. I think Management has had his fill for the year (already racking up enough miles for 4 free tickets). I, on the other hand, am ready to go again. We will be heading out in about 20 days for Colorado and I can't wait. To be honest, there are some things here that I want to escape (more than just laundry and dishes) but more than that, I'm excited to see some new sites and have some family time away from home.
Bad News:
~It's a long story but the Worship Arts Pastor at our church resigned last week. It was not his first choice but the congregation voted and he really didn't have a choice. He and his wife are great friends (one of Management's accountability partners and also our small group leaders) and I just have such a hard time imagining our church without them. Again, there is such a long story there but I'm praying for their family and for our church as we all move forward. Blah! I just have such a pit in my stomach about it all.
~HomeAudio had 4 teeth pulled today. He was a real trooper and loved the dentist who pulled them so much (as did I) that we have decided to switch to them permanently. I guess that is good and bad news. :)
~Another tidbit of good and bad news is that I only have one Regent Board (school board) meeting left until my term is over. I've served a two-year term and it has been very interesting. Mostly in a good way! I really have enjoyed it and hope to serve again in the future but am looking forward to some time off.
~HomeAudio's team won their baseball game so they continue in the playoffs. He was so excited. WeeklyAd is not.
~Our new little friends continue to do well and are still pretty sweet and entertaining. H&G is quite adorable as she calls out "Pets" when trying to get their attention. She is even more adorable when she says "Lila and Gittles" for Delilah and Skittles.
~Traveling only makes you want to travel more. At least that is the case with me. I think Management has had his fill for the year (already racking up enough miles for 4 free tickets). I, on the other hand, am ready to go again. We will be heading out in about 20 days for Colorado and I can't wait. To be honest, there are some things here that I want to escape (more than just laundry and dishes) but more than that, I'm excited to see some new sites and have some family time away from home.
Bad News:
~It's a long story but the Worship Arts Pastor at our church resigned last week. It was not his first choice but the congregation voted and he really didn't have a choice. He and his wife are great friends (one of Management's accountability partners and also our small group leaders) and I just have such a hard time imagining our church without them. Again, there is such a long story there but I'm praying for their family and for our church as we all move forward. Blah! I just have such a pit in my stomach about it all.
~HomeAudio had 4 teeth pulled today. He was a real trooper and loved the dentist who pulled them so much (as did I) that we have decided to switch to them permanently. I guess that is good and bad news. :)
~Another tidbit of good and bad news is that I only have one Regent Board (school board) meeting left until my term is over. I've served a two-year term and it has been very interesting. Mostly in a good way! I really have enjoyed it and hope to serve again in the future but am looking forward to some time off.
Friday, June 17, 2011
So Many Moms
Baseball Mom: I can't believe another season of baseball is almost finished. It's gone by very quickly, mostly because several of the games were late and H & G and I had to miss them. H&G is not the biggest baseball fan and isn't usually thrilled about sitting and watching the game. HomeAudio's done well though and I'm always excited to see him play!
Tired Mom: I *think* last night might have been the first night that caffeine kept me up. I can usually drink coffee at 11:00 and be asleep by 11:30 but last night I couldn't sleep until about 2:30. I kept tossing and turning and then the kids were up around 2ish (HomeAudio had a stomach ache, WeeklyAd has a sore hand, and H&G had a coughing spell). Management was sleeping peacefully on the other side of the country in a magnificent hotel bed. I'm not bitter! Jealous maybe! But not bitter.
Medical Mom: So you know how your kids complain and complain that they "broke" something (WeeklyAd's sore hand)? Or maybe that's just my kids? Or maybe you think they broke something? Well, one of my attempts to find out if they are exaggerating or not is to squeeze, pull, pinch the area that hurts while they are sleeping. If they don't flinch or wake up then I assume it isn't as painful to the touch as they say it is when they are awake. I think it helps me to gauge the truth. Management thinks I'm nuts. Hey, it's worked for me for nearly 12 years and I'm not going to stop now.
Happy Mom: It's a beautiful day outside and we are having a lazy morning at home. It's Friday and Management comes home today! Tomorrow we are headed to the Liberty Fest to see the fireworks.
One of those Mom: We have two new little friends - Delilah and Skittles. Both are young, female guinea pigs and are actually very sweet pets. I'm one of those...who lets her daughter wrap a rodent in a blanket and swing it on the porch and let's her take the rodent with us to baseball games and grandma's house. I can't believe we are toting this pet around town! Well, at least I'm not the one wrapping it in a blanket....or blow-drying it's hair after a bath. ;)
Attachment Mom: H&G is doing so much better here at home! She still likes to be in the same room with me but isn't clinging to my leg or crying to sit in my lap. We are definitely seeing progress in the security department.
Thankful Mom: Oh.my.word! I have so much to be thankful for!
Tired Mom: I *think* last night might have been the first night that caffeine kept me up. I can usually drink coffee at 11:00 and be asleep by 11:30 but last night I couldn't sleep until about 2:30. I kept tossing and turning and then the kids were up around 2ish (HomeAudio had a stomach ache, WeeklyAd has a sore hand, and H&G had a coughing spell). Management was sleeping peacefully on the other side of the country in a magnificent hotel bed. I'm not bitter! Jealous maybe! But not bitter.
Medical Mom: So you know how your kids complain and complain that they "broke" something (WeeklyAd's sore hand)? Or maybe that's just my kids? Or maybe you think they broke something? Well, one of my attempts to find out if they are exaggerating or not is to squeeze, pull, pinch the area that hurts while they are sleeping. If they don't flinch or wake up then I assume it isn't as painful to the touch as they say it is when they are awake. I think it helps me to gauge the truth. Management thinks I'm nuts. Hey, it's worked for me for nearly 12 years and I'm not going to stop now.
Happy Mom: It's a beautiful day outside and we are having a lazy morning at home. It's Friday and Management comes home today! Tomorrow we are headed to the Liberty Fest to see the fireworks.
One of those Mom: We have two new little friends - Delilah and Skittles. Both are young, female guinea pigs and are actually very sweet pets. I'm one of those...who lets her daughter wrap a rodent in a blanket and swing it on the porch and let's her take the rodent with us to baseball games and grandma's house. I can't believe we are toting this pet around town! Well, at least I'm not the one wrapping it in a blanket....or blow-drying it's hair after a bath. ;)
Attachment Mom: H&G is doing so much better here at home! She still likes to be in the same room with me but isn't clinging to my leg or crying to sit in my lap. We are definitely seeing progress in the security department.
Thankful Mom: Oh.my.word! I have so much to be thankful for!
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Trust? Trust!
Management is in Seattle for a few days and I'm so jealous because he got to spend some time with Rich Stearns (President of World Vision and author of The Hole in our Gospel). Such a great great book! Management had the honor of speaking at World Vision's headquarters for one of their chapels and I'm anxious to hear how it went.
A few weeks ago I posted my two word story on Facebook. It was Trust? Trust! and I posted it right before one of Management's trips. You have to understand that the Lord has brought me SO FAR in this area! When Management and I were first married I was Terrified (with a capital T) to stay home alone. If he was out late then I would huddle under the kitchen counter and watch tv, scared to death to move an inch, until he came home. If he traveled over night then I would pack up and spend the night at my parents' house. I did that for years! I even packed up my dog and babies and inconvenienced all of us for the sake of some sanity and safety.
Eventually, I started staying home but still was terrified. There were several steps that started with me sleeping on the couch with lights on, moved to me slowly moving upstairs and becoming more and more brave and ended with me sleeping in my own bed with all the lights out and actually not fearing too much at all. It was a loong process!
But I did continue to put some chairs under the door knobs just to be safe.
Well, wouldn't you know that right after I posted my two word story, the Lord put me to the test. I had gone upstairs to put the kids to bed and started working on some laundry. Several hours later, ready for bed, I remembered that I didn't put the chairs in their protective places. I was lamenting how tired I was and how irritated I was to have to go all the way downstairs when the Lord spoke to me...
"Do you trust me or not?"
And I realized I was a hypocrite for posting those words on Facebook if I didn't follow through with trusting Him. And I also realized how He had delivered me from my bondage of fear and wouldn't settle for partial freedom. He wanted it all. And from past experience, I know that He doesn't stop until He has it all.
So that night, knowing that I could trust Him even if someone broke in, I went to bed without the chairs in their place. And the next night I did the same thing. And it has continued to this day.
And I'm amazed how far the Lord has brought me. I've always struggled with fear but I'm so thankful for His deliverance in this area! I'm thankful that He is trustworthy and He reminds me of that!
And most importantly, I'm thankful that He has made me a good sleeper! A person who falls asleep before their head hits the pillow and their mind can wander!
And with a husband who travels as much as mine does, I'm thankful that we aren't packing up and spending the nights away from home anymore. I know my parents miss us but with Management's schedule we would practically be moving in.
Oh well, tonight, I'm thankful for His goodness and patience and trustworthiness!
A few weeks ago I posted my two word story on Facebook. It was Trust? Trust! and I posted it right before one of Management's trips. You have to understand that the Lord has brought me SO FAR in this area! When Management and I were first married I was Terrified (with a capital T) to stay home alone. If he was out late then I would huddle under the kitchen counter and watch tv, scared to death to move an inch, until he came home. If he traveled over night then I would pack up and spend the night at my parents' house. I did that for years! I even packed up my dog and babies and inconvenienced all of us for the sake of some sanity and safety.
Eventually, I started staying home but still was terrified. There were several steps that started with me sleeping on the couch with lights on, moved to me slowly moving upstairs and becoming more and more brave and ended with me sleeping in my own bed with all the lights out and actually not fearing too much at all. It was a loong process!
But I did continue to put some chairs under the door knobs just to be safe.
Well, wouldn't you know that right after I posted my two word story, the Lord put me to the test. I had gone upstairs to put the kids to bed and started working on some laundry. Several hours later, ready for bed, I remembered that I didn't put the chairs in their protective places. I was lamenting how tired I was and how irritated I was to have to go all the way downstairs when the Lord spoke to me...
"Do you trust me or not?"
And I realized I was a hypocrite for posting those words on Facebook if I didn't follow through with trusting Him. And I also realized how He had delivered me from my bondage of fear and wouldn't settle for partial freedom. He wanted it all. And from past experience, I know that He doesn't stop until He has it all.
So that night, knowing that I could trust Him even if someone broke in, I went to bed without the chairs in their place. And the next night I did the same thing. And it has continued to this day.
And I'm amazed how far the Lord has brought me. I've always struggled with fear but I'm so thankful for His deliverance in this area! I'm thankful that He is trustworthy and He reminds me of that!
And most importantly, I'm thankful that He has made me a good sleeper! A person who falls asleep before their head hits the pillow and their mind can wander!
And with a husband who travels as much as mine does, I'm thankful that we aren't packing up and spending the nights away from home anymore. I know my parents miss us but with Management's schedule we would practically be moving in.
Oh well, tonight, I'm thankful for His goodness and patience and trustworthiness!
Thursday, June 9, 2011
This Week
Last day of school today! Can't wait for lazy mornings, evenings without homework, backyards full of neighbors, days at the pool, community festivals, and empty calendars!
Today we end the school day with a 5th grade swim party. HomeAudio's grade is one of the largest in the school and is a really good group of kids. Every year they plan something for the last day of school and I'm thankful for that. I'm so thankful that HomeAudio and WeeklyAd have really good, quality friends! Praying that continues throughout their school days -
Dance recital Saturday and then Management leaves for a few days in Seattle. I wish that I had planned to go with him. I know, I know....we've been on so many trips this year but I would love to visit Washington and would absolutely love to sit in on some of his meetings with World Vision. I believe there are some exciting things ahead for World Vision and InterVarsity.
Instead of traveling, I will be working on a new look for this blog and also updating the side bar. I gasped when I saw that it still says "married 11 years" under Management. Apparently I haven't updated that in the last 3 years. Oops!
Today we end the school day with a 5th grade swim party. HomeAudio's grade is one of the largest in the school and is a really good group of kids. Every year they plan something for the last day of school and I'm thankful for that. I'm so thankful that HomeAudio and WeeklyAd have really good, quality friends! Praying that continues throughout their school days -
Dance recital Saturday and then Management leaves for a few days in Seattle. I wish that I had planned to go with him. I know, I know....we've been on so many trips this year but I would love to visit Washington and would absolutely love to sit in on some of his meetings with World Vision. I believe there are some exciting things ahead for World Vision and InterVarsity.
Instead of traveling, I will be working on a new look for this blog and also updating the side bar. I gasped when I saw that it still says "married 11 years" under Management. Apparently I haven't updated that in the last 3 years. Oops!
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Hello?
Hello?
Anyone out there?
I can't believe it's been so long since my last post. sigh.
Clearly I forgot how much energy it took to keep up with a toddler! I think I pretty much shut down mentally every naptime and am consumed with 3rd and 5th grade homework and countless other things every other waking moment. It seems like this blog is the easiest thing to let slide and yet is one of the most precious to me as it journals our family life and most treasured experiences.
The summer break has been highly anticipated by our household and my weary self. We can all use a nice long break from outside responsibilities and will enjoy re-grouping and just plain laziness!
I just have so much to share but honestly, hardly any energy to do so. I'm really hoping that the summer brings some renewed strength and ample time to catch up on things here. I have TONS of pictures and many many stories! If you follow me on Facebook, you're pretty much caught up I guess. It's easier to whip out 140 characters and upload a picture from my phone than it is to sit in an office and gather my thoughts. But even behind those 140 characters are greater stories, deeper emotions, and many praises to be given to our great God and Savior!
One day at a time...
Today we celebrate the day we met Gabriella Rae Moore! Here she was one year ago when we first laid eyes on her and marveled at her perfect skin, gorgeous lips, precious hair, ample arms, and round cheeks. I wanted to pack her up and take her home with us right then and there.
We had traveled 30 minutes to meet a baby that we hoped would one day be ours. Today, I'm still pinching myself at the fact that she is definitely ours and is far greater than we ever hoped or imagined!
It's amazing how long and yet, how short, a year can seem!
I'm so so thankful for this past year and so desperately wish that I was eloquent enough to express all of the goodness and faithfulness and joy that I feel. I have had some huge disappointments with the Lord and I've had some huge provisions from the Lord and one thing that I have learned for sure is that He is GOOD! I learned pretty early on in my life to praise Him for WHO He is and today, even though I could easily JUST praise Him for WHAT He has done (and I am....I'm delighted beyond belief that one year later I can rock this precious baby and bathe her in her own bathtub and tuck her into her own little crib HERE in her own home with us) I am still praising Him for who He is! He never changes! And He is good!
Anyone out there?
I can't believe it's been so long since my last post. sigh.
Clearly I forgot how much energy it took to keep up with a toddler! I think I pretty much shut down mentally every naptime and am consumed with 3rd and 5th grade homework and countless other things every other waking moment. It seems like this blog is the easiest thing to let slide and yet is one of the most precious to me as it journals our family life and most treasured experiences.
The summer break has been highly anticipated by our household and my weary self. We can all use a nice long break from outside responsibilities and will enjoy re-grouping and just plain laziness!
I just have so much to share but honestly, hardly any energy to do so. I'm really hoping that the summer brings some renewed strength and ample time to catch up on things here. I have TONS of pictures and many many stories! If you follow me on Facebook, you're pretty much caught up I guess. It's easier to whip out 140 characters and upload a picture from my phone than it is to sit in an office and gather my thoughts. But even behind those 140 characters are greater stories, deeper emotions, and many praises to be given to our great God and Savior!
One day at a time...
Today we celebrate the day we met Gabriella Rae Moore! Here she was one year ago when we first laid eyes on her and marveled at her perfect skin, gorgeous lips, precious hair, ample arms, and round cheeks. I wanted to pack her up and take her home with us right then and there.
We had traveled 30 minutes to meet a baby that we hoped would one day be ours. Today, I'm still pinching myself at the fact that she is definitely ours and is far greater than we ever hoped or imagined!
It's amazing how long and yet, how short, a year can seem!
I'm so so thankful for this past year and so desperately wish that I was eloquent enough to express all of the goodness and faithfulness and joy that I feel. I have had some huge disappointments with the Lord and I've had some huge provisions from the Lord and one thing that I have learned for sure is that He is GOOD! I learned pretty early on in my life to praise Him for WHO He is and today, even though I could easily JUST praise Him for WHAT He has done (and I am....I'm delighted beyond belief that one year later I can rock this precious baby and bathe her in her own bathtub and tuck her into her own little crib HERE in her own home with us) I am still praising Him for who He is! He never changes! And He is good!
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