Sometimes God Says, "Wait"

I remember as a new mom, the excitement and joy at sharing the wonders of the world with this new precious and beloved lil person.

I remember feeling at times, that it was like a "do over" of my own childhood moments and yet even better because I was sharing it with my own child. It was as if we had "new eyes" to experience God's creation.

These days, she is anxiously awaiting so much. Colleges, scholarships, summer jobs. Fervent prayers envelop all of our graduating youth.

Last night an Email came. The dreamed of summer job. WAITLISTED. I see that wrinkled forehead look, the one that is disappointment, why wouldn't God want this for her?

I say it although she has heard it a million times, I say it even though she already knows it. I say it with tears in my heart for her. As the words come out, I wonder if it sounds rote, insensitive. "If it is God's will for you to be there this summer, you will be there. If it is not his will, then he has other plans for your life for this time. You can trust him". I'm not sure that it's enough. But it is all I have. It is who I am.

I have learned that God's will is better. He is faithful in all things. His grace is sufficient.

Sometimes we ask for things and His answer is yes.
Sometimes we ask for things and His answer is no.
Sometimes we ask for things and He says, wait.

I think the "wait" one is the hardest.
Ask, Seek, Knock.



we smiled together when a peer messaged the same response as I had conveyed (she has beautiful friends too). Sometimes you can hear it better when it's not your own mom.

It Bears Repeating...

DEAR GOD:

I want to thank You for what you have already done. I am not going to wait until I see results or receive rewards; I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until I feel better or things look better; I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until people say they are sorry or until they stop talking about me; I am thanking you right now.. I am not going to wait until the pain in my body disappears ; I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until my financial situation improves; I am going to thank you right now. I am not going to wait until the children are asleep and the house is quiet; I am going to thank you right now. I am not going to wait until I get promoted at work or until I get the job; I am going to thank you right now. I am not going to wait until I understand every experience in my life that has caused me pain or grief; I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until the journey gets easier or the challenges are removed;

I am thanking you right now. I am thanking you because I am alive. I am thanking you because I made it through the day's difficulties. I am thanking you because I have walked around the obstacles.


I am thanking you because I have the ability and the opportunity to do more and do better.

I'm thanking you because FATHER, YOU haven't given up on me.

God is just so good, and he's good all the time. THANK HIM.

Graffiti in My BATHROOM!!!!!!!

Yeah, funny things happen at my house.
Blogs get "hacked" into and embarrassing video's appear for all the world to see.

This morning I'm taking a shower, washing my hair. I look up to see graffiti all over the tile!!!

Someone (obviously) "borrowed" the granddaughters soap crayons, "Have A Great Day".
I smile
I laugh
I almost cry

The people I live with are such a blessing.

The Cook

Tonight's dinner was brought to you by.............


TACO BELL

rofl

Lift in Prayer

Baby Luke and his family

God Speaks

I spent some time this morning trying to contact Jennifer.
She was released from the hospital; I am told that she is refusing placement and treatment recommendations.

A few moments ago, I flipped the page on my "desktop" devotional:
"When we release our children into the Father's hands, and acknowledge that He is in control of their lives and ours, both we and our children will have greater peace."

Thank you, Lord.

Giving Up More ....

#2 will be leaving home in a few weeks, and I have finally resolved to give up "mother guilt" about cooking.

Because of OUR schedules, many nights we get home from our day, 7 or 8 p.m. or later - even if it's not a night of late meetings or events, I'm just not emotionally into preparing, cooking and cleaning up a traditional MEAL. Thus far, no one has starved to death.

After all these years, I'm changing my attitude. Instead of feeling like I failed at this aspect of parenting, we'll just have fun with our peanut butter and banana sandwiches, and CELEBRATE the few days when we do cook a meal.

Boar's Head is my FRIEND!!!

February 17, 2009

I took you from the ends of the earth,
from its farthest corners I called you.
I said, "you are my servant"; I have chosen you and not rejected you.

So do not fear. for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous hand.
(Is 41: 9-10)

He speaks to me, in His promises to the ancients
Lord, what is your will for me today?

Happy Birthday, Walker!!

Walker John arrived by C-Section at 9:09 p.m.
weighing in at 6 lbs 7 oz and is 19 inches.

Mom and Dad and baby are well.

Praise God!

Bumper Sticker Philosophy

it's a wooHoo day. again.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

please disregard the black sock which is hanging on the side of my purse (hmmmmmmmm which child is wearing only one sock today???) And yes, it is "sock weather" in South Florida today.

Hi From South Florida in January!!

The Difference Between A Man and A Woman

It started with an ear of roasted corn to share with Alana. He approached saying, "If you like corn, you should come back for the CORN FESTIVAL in April", then a comment on how beautiful Alana looks just like her "momma"; "oh! you're her grandma?!!"; I knew then. but when he commented that "some of us men"..."like a woman who doesnt look like a stick" I about lost it.

I'll admit that I do not, and have never been confused with a stick, but did that guy just call me fat???

ROFL

Chasing 25

(just couldn't seem to catch up)
but i did get angii sick on the rides (hehe)

An AT& T Day - for REAL!!

I was picking up another prescription for a kid. And really annoyed at how much money had been spent in the past few months for medical stuff...............in the past month, well over a month's income. savings depleted again. bills coming in. one step forward, two steps back in the finance arena that is..........

That's when it happened. Standing at the counter. a horrible, terrible, snarky IMPULSE buy. Dave Ramsey would have words for me, fer sure! The girls were confused. not typical mom behavior, not a typical mom activity. "Mom, we've never been to the SF Fair, are you okay?" "NO, but were going anyway". And a Monday off from work as well.

The teens of course, arranged to meet up with friends, So I asked her Dad if Alana could come. It may have been the best eighty-nine dollars I ever spent.

OH MY GAWSH!

MOM YOU'VE BEEN HACKED BY YOUR FAVORITE DAUGHTER!! ENJOY!!

(video deleted by mom)

Crazy K**** Girls

Playing rockstarz

The Day After Alana Moved Out

This came in my Emails today. I don't know who wrote it, but i know who sent it to me..........God's timing is perfect.

DEAR GOD:

I want to thank You for what you have already done. I am not going to wait until I see results or receive rewards; I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until I feel better or things look better; I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until people say they are sorry or until they stop talking about me; I am thanking you right now.. I am not going to wait until the pain in my body disappears ; I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until my financial situation improves; I am going to thank you right now. I am not going to wait until the children are asleep and the house is quiet; I am going to thank you right now. I am not going to wait until I get promoted at work or until I get the job; I am going to thank you right now. I am not going to wait until I understand every experience in my life that has caused me pain or grief; I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until the journey gets easier or the challenges are removed;

I am thanking you right now. I am thanking you because I am alive. I am thanking you because I made it through the day's difficulties. I am thanking you because I have walked around the obstacles.


I am thanking you because I have the ability and the opportunity to do more and do better.

I'm thanking you because FATHER, YOU haven't given up on me.

God is just so good, and he's good all the time. THANK HIM.

Britney Spears

Beautiful Alana wanted to help "dramma" check her Email today.

She was sitting on my lap, checking out the keyboard and pictures.........
when she pointed and said, "eegeee" (2 year old enunciation of "Angii")
I looked and there on the bottom right of the screen was some advertisy thing with a photo of Britney Spears.

lana thinks Britney is her aunt eegee.

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

"Winter Break"

(weird week it was)

This past week Jhinel was away on a ski trip with high school and college aged youth from our church. Each day of skiing ended with dinner and a youth conference. The musical group Shane and Shane performed. Jhinel was especially impressed with the speaker. It sounds like she had a fun trip, I like that my kids know that being a Christian includes fun. That our faith is a part of our everyday experience, and that when other's look in.....they don't have to see perfect, but they will still know that "there's something happening here". This was the snowiest and coldest year yet.

On Monday, she'll have all four of her wisdom teeth extracted. Then she can get back to the business of being a second semester high school senior - scholarship applications, IB exams, etc. In a couple of weeks we are sending her on a Chrysalis event, a spiritual weekend where she will have the opportunity to take another step in her faith walk with other young women. I feel like A finish line is just around the bend, and I'm hurryinging to equip her with additional resources for the next leg of the race. (like seventeen years of living it isn't enough all of a sudden!!)

LOL....pieces of our bible study sneaking in. Maybe the race is an "IronWoman" event.

And while she was out, Angii and I did some girl thangs together....things that typically have been MOM and NEL stuff, my Angii is growing into. Yesterday we set out for HOME DEPOT - including the Nathan's Hotdog Stand. I got A/C filters, Angii got black light bulbs for her bedroom. From there we just happened to be in the neighborhood of a spa and Angii had her first eyebrow wax. Well, she actually had both of them done. Then we took a left instead of a right and ended up at Sephora "to browse". Earlier in the week she had opted for a new hair style. The fun part is just waiting to see how long it takes folks to notice. Jhinel was pretty quick on all accounts.

When Nel's stuff came home into the shared teenage room, the new black lights came on to reveal "graffiti" all over the walls. from "I love Nick" to "Welcome Back Jhinizzle" (laundry detergent has phosphorescence which is revealed in black lights) (Today, they'll get to wash the walls)

Of course, as I type this, they are both getting back to the business of "normal", arguing like teenaged sistahs.

(Lord, have mercy!)