Our Icey Weekend Adventure

Let me begin by saying I have not prayed for patience anytime recently. In fact when a friend of mine and I were praying together just the other day and making our list of what we were going to pray for I jokingly said that I did not want to put patience on the list. Hmmm...maybe that was my first mistake.
We have had one interesting weekend to say the least. For the last week the newschannels have been talking about the wintery weather that was headed our way. We knew there would be ice and snow so I began to prepare. My teacherfriend and I got online on our planning period everyday to get up to the minute updates on what to be ready for. I got groceries and made sure my gas tank was filled even though I wasn't planning on going anywhere when the bad weather got here. Josh and I went to Walmart after church to pick up duraflame just in case we lost power as well. Our superintendent even called school off for Thursday right before we dismissed Wednesday. I thought I was prepared. Wrong!!!
Thursday morning we woke up to rain. By noon it was beginning to freeze and icicles were forming on the patio, trees, and swingset outside. Then somewhere around 2pm in the afternoon our electricity went out. So I called the electric company to report it. No big deal...so we thought. Even some friends of ours came over when they lost electricity at their house since we had the fireplace. But after a few hours we began to realize the seriousness of our situation. More friends and family called to say they had lost power. We watched and listened as the trees in our neighborhood began loosing their limbs and branches. The tree in our backyard even took out a section of fence and made a nice dent in our patio covering. It nearly took out the kids new swingset that took nearly a month to put up because of two previous coldsnaps we recently had. After about four hours without power we decided our house was not the place to stay. So our friends made a different plan for themselves and we started calling family to see who had power and who didn't. Interestingly enough the only family who ended up having electricity was my mom and dad who live less than 1/2 a mile from us. So we packed our bags and what little food we could manage to save and headed to their house to spend the night. Mom was more than happy to have us and we were thrilled to have warm water, heat and electricity.
Friday morning I reported our outage once again to the power company. While talking with the operator he informed me that we were not scheduled to have any power back on until February 2nd! That is Tuesday...and that meant five days without any electicity! Ugh!!! So Josh and I talked and decided one of us had to come back to the house to check the dogs and let them out for a break. I volunteered out of my curiosity to see what further damage had happened while we were away. It was not the short little trip I thought it would be. After about 45 mins of deicing my truck and scraping the windows I was finally able to leave the driveway and begin the process of sliding all the way home. Now we live right off the snow route in town and they had obviously been sanding the streets all night but this did not help me out at all. God protected me though and got me to the house all in one piece. So once I got here I did what I came to do and grabbed some extra things that I thought we might need or want for the day. On the way out as I was shutting the garage door I smushed my finger in between the doors. I cried all the way back to the house. This weekend that I thought I was so well prepared for was turning out to be CRAPPY!!! Then around three Josh and I decided to make another trip back to the house to prepare for the night if we were still going to be without power. Half way down the road we got a call that our power was back on though! We were so happy...we were going to be sleeping in our own beds! Wrong, AGAIN!!! We were here for 30 minutes and within that time span the lights flickered on and off about three different times before they finally went out for good again, but I was full of hope. If they were on for that amount of time surely they would come back on during the night sometime. So Josh and I left D and L at my parent's and decided to camp out next to the fireplace in hopes that we would have an electrically heated house by the a.m. My poor dear husband was up all night fighting to keep the fire going and we got what little sleep we could but nothing happened. So we went back to mom and dad's to shower and hangout...I mean wait, and wait, and wait for another call that we once again had power. Around five we decided maybe we would get a room for the night at one of the local hotels with an indoor pool so the kids could get out and "play". No one had a room. We were bummed. To comfort ourselves we thought we would go get dinner out. Then we started getting phone calls and texts from people that their power was back on. I knew we were next. Sure enough, my mom called to say that a friend of ours had called her house to say that we finally had power in our neighborhood. Our neighbor called right after her to reaffirm it! Hallelugiah...we are home tonight and I am using the electricity that God has blessed us with to write this three days before we were scheduled to have it back on. I am praying for the men who are out there now working on getting everyone else's power restored. For their safety and protection. For their families who are missing them while they are away from home. I am grateful for them. I am grateful for my parents who took us in for a few days and listened to me gripe about my situation. Thanks mom and dad...I love you!!!

Enjoy Your Children!

So I'm up early in the morning.  It's 6:30 right now, but I was actually up at 5:30.  Not sure what gives.  Anyway, I guess I will give this time to writing now that I've done some reading.  I am still reading.  I've put away A Call to Spiritual Reformation for awhile.  Honestly the author uses some big vocabulary words.  I am half way through it though and I will try to finish it this summer.  Instead I've started reading Femenine Appeal and I must admit the author has some good things to say about being a wife and mother.  The part that I've been most impressed by is that she says "we are to love our children with a tender, affectionate, and passionate love." She comments that as mothers we're committed to caring sacrificially for our children, yet we neglect to enjoy them.  This part was very personal to me.  I find myself doing this often.  In my mind I have cooking, cleaning, laundry, etc to do.  My kids need food, a clean home, clean clothes, etc.  This is my way of showing them love, but what I am forgetting is that I need to sit down and play with them, read more than just one or two books before bedtime, and ENJOY them.  I've said it before but I have been blessed with two amazing children.  They are funny!  They along with their daddy can make me laugh like nobody else.  Sadly I must admit that I've put my responsiblities of caring for them ahead of taking pleasure in my status as their mother.  After I read this part the other day I kind of sat back in my mind and observed myself the next day.  I got the kids up out of bed, made their breakfast and got them ready for school, gave them kissess and told them I love them in between, dropped them off at school, went back after school to pick them up, got them home, started laundry, cooked dinner, gave them their baths, watched a tv show or two with them, read a book to them, said prayers with them, and put them to bed.   Yes, I told my kids I love them.  In fact they probably get sick of how much I say it.  Yes, I read a book with them.  Yes, we prayed together.  But it felt more like I was checking things off a list.  We never really sat down together, outside of watching tv, and played or enjoyed each other.   In my defense this is not so everyday.  Josh and I are good about planning activities to do as a family.  We sit down and eat dinner together at the table most nights.  Sometimes we eat out.  Sometimes we take the kids to the park.  We've also been to the zoo, the museum, etc. But as far as daily quality time with each other I can't say I've done that.  So that is something that is going to change in our house.  You may find me on the computer less and playing trains with D or baby dolls with L.  You may find us baking cookies together.  You never know.  The point is...I'm going to put my children ahead of all my responsibilities where they belong.  I believe this is the time where I can be teaching them meaningful life lessons and gently directing them towards God.  Especially while they are young I need to develop my relationship with them.  Mothers have an enourmous influence on their children, whether it be good or bad.  And I will stop there because that is a whole different soap box!


 

1 Book a Month for 2010

I don't make New Years Resolutions.  I think they're dumb...everyday is a new day.  A day that we can decide to do something new or change a behavior.   So I don't make them, BUT this year I have made a goal.  My goal is to read one book a month this year.  I love reading, but with two kids and all the responsiblities that I have as a wife, mother, teacher, judge, jury, nurse, doctor, warden, councelor, etc. (I think you get the point!)  it is difficult to find time to read.  Last summer though I made it my goal to get through one book no matter what it took.  During those 2 1/2 months or so I made it through one book in two weeks...I was so proud of my accomplishment!!!  It felt good too.  So I read another one and another.  I made it through three books the entire summer.  In short I rediscovered just how much I love reading.  Some people I've told about my goal look at me surprised.  Some of them are encouraging and some of them just think I'm crazy. One person already told me it's pretty much unaccomplishable with all I have to do.  Now that's a challenge!!! Hey, I know its a big goal.  I also know I may not make it and that's okay.  I just want to start reading again. 
One book I started reading before the new year.  It's called A Call to Spiritual Reformation: Priorities From Paul and His Prayers by D.A. Carson.  This book investigates the Epistles to see what lessons Paul taught in his "school of prayer".  I'm only through a few chapters so give me some time and I might share some of it with you later.
Another book I ordered recently on Amazon so it's not here yet. It's called Femine Appeal: Seven Virtues of a Godly Wife and Mother by Carolyn Mahaney.  Amazon's product description says this book identifies the challenges facing women today and meets them with the guidance of God's word through the femine virtues described in Titus 2.  I'm not a huge fan of self help books but I will read anything that uses scripture to help me be a better mother/wife/person. Stay tuned for my thoughts on this book.
And finally there is another book I plan on reading that our pastor has suggested for an apologetics class he is going to begin teaching at our church...I'm kinda nervous about this one, yet I am feeling convicted about reading it.  It's called Tactics by Greg Koukl.  This book offers practical strategies for communicating the compelling truth about christianity with confidence and grace. You ask "Why would you be convicted to read a book?".  Let me explain...The sermon in church this morning really touched my heart, especially as a mother. I Peter 3:15 says that we should always be prepared to make a defense for the hope that is in us (Christians).  That means that one of my responsiblities as a parent is to give my children a firm foundation for what I am teaching them.  I need to give them reasons to believe what they are being taught in church and through the Bible. In order to do that I need to be able to do it though. So not only will I be reading this book, I plan on taking this class.  I guess now that I am posting this I am accountable to that too!  So ask me about it, please :)
It's getting close to bedtime.  L and I have school tomorrow too.  I'll post this and let you know how the reading's going at a later date.  Hope you decide to make some goals of your own!

Thinking About Santa

I realize it's a little late but I wanted to add the link to the blog Thinking About Santa from Desiringgod's website because it's author Noel Piper put mine and Josh's feelings about Santa into words so well. Some of our family and friends still do Santa with their children and don't understand why we've chosen not to with ours. Although I've tried to explain it I don't think I do a very good job. So check out this link. She's a very wise lady!

More time to write!

So I find myself with more time to write this afternoon, although I may not post this til a later date. Josh, his dad and mom and D are outside putting a swingset together that the kids got for Christmas and L is napping. That leaves one quiet house and a lot of time to think about what I want to put down.
I guess I will discuss my thoughts on being a Godly wife and mother. If you've read my blog and you know me then you know I am commited to bringing my children up knowing, loving and serving God. I have to admit I haven't done the best job. We've taught and continue to teach the kids how to pray, take them to church, teach them Bible verses and discuss the importance of God in our lives but I just haven't ever felt that it's enough. Personally I feel God leading me to spend more time in prayer and to obey him more often than not without question (difficult, I know!). I believe my children will learn by my example. I want them to see my faith in action. I want them to see me reading God's word and participating in opportunities where I am serving others. If I want them to become the adults that I pray from the bottom of my heart that they will become I have to be obedient to my God. Any mother reading this will understand just how difficult it is between cooking, doing laundry, running errands, doing dishes, blah, blah, blah, etc. However, responsibilities and chores are not an excuse. God wants us to put Him above everything else. He must be my first priority. If I obey Him then everything else will fall into place. So this year I'd like to open my Bible when the kids are in the room with me and allow them to see me taking in God's word as well as actively looking for those opportunities to put His love in action and have them with me as I'm doing it.
There is someone else just as important in my life and who I'm just as committed to. That would be my husband, Josh. A little over 12 years ago we met at the Howdy Party for freshman at the BSU (Baptist Student Union, now called the BCM) where we attended college. According to him it was love at first sight and he insists to this day that I snubbed him the first time we met. To tell you the truth I vaguely remember that first meeting. It was my first time at the BSU and I was shy. I still tend to be, but with an outgoing man such as Josh in my life it makes it hard to be. Anyway, we became friends through another couple we both knew and have been unseperable ever since. This past December we celebrated our 10 year anniversary. I don't say that to brag at all. Unfortunately we've both had several friends experience divorce and heartache. It's something we both fear for our marriage. Not that we've every considered it, but we both believe we must be on the defense for it. For instance we don't allow ourselves to be alone with anyone of the opposite sex if at all possible. We don't put ourselves in any position either that might appear or sound to be compromising. Don't get me wrong, we have our arguements like any normal married couple, but we've tried to make it a priority to never go to bed mad at each other. As Josh's wife my daily desire is to honor him and be his helper. I try to speak highly of my husband and praise him often in social circles. I'm not perfect...sometimes I do more griping than praising. However, as his wife I will submit to him and follow him when there is no agreeing with him. Thankfully over 10 years though that has been easy. We see eye to eye on most things. He is a wonderful husband. My best friend and I am more than thankful for him!

Happy New Year!

So I haven't blogged for a whole year. Lately, however, I've been doing a lot of thinking. Thinking about my health, excercising, and eating well, thinking about being the godly wife and mother God desires me to be, thinking about reading, thinking about the students I teach and their lives. I guess these two weeks of Christmas Break have given me the time to examine what I want for the new year and what direction God wants to lead me in. My desire is that my life and I would begin to reflect the glory of God. I will try to elaborate, but since there is so much I will have to do it in several posts. I've got a lot to get out of my head :)

2009 was an interesting year for me. It started off well, but immediately after I turned 29+1 (okay, 30!) in March I spent my first time in the hospital for something else other than a pregnancy which included a 3 day visit to the ICU. I was major sick and didn't know it. It all began in September 2008 and I suspect even back to when I was pregnant with L. Every 2-3 weeks or so I would get flu like symptoms, headache, muscle aches, extreme tiredness, etc. This all made it difficult to get anything accomplished, and more than that be a good mom to D and L. I felt quite guilty as well because Josh was taking on a lot of my responsibilties. Anyway as I attempt to make a long story short, I ended up in the hospital for pyelonephritis (hard to say, hard to spell!). Basically I had an infection in one of my kidneys that spread to my bladder. According to my doctor (who was an absolute gentleman and treated me as if I were his own daughter) it happened because I was born with one kidney that is smaller than normal. My first thought was "Terrific! My body has failed me once again!" This being brought on by (#1) I was born with a double toe. Btw if you don't know me this is not something I share with just anyone. It was something embarassing to me as a child and teenager. I also refused to wear flipflops for a very long time because of it, but my sweet husband helped me to overcome my fear and now I wear my flipflops with pride as well as have regular pedicures during the summer! (#2 &3) Yes, infertility and the fact that I couldn't achieve or even make it through pregnancy without drugs and doctor's watching closely over me and because I had gestational diabetes and (#3) when it came time for me to deliver the one pregnancy we were blessed with my body wouldn't allow me to have a normal delivery!!! Our God is wonderful though. He helped me to see, once again, that I am not in control! He knows our every thought, our hurts, our pains, and He is the Great Healer, the Almighty and who am I to question Him?! My experience caused me to look at my life and see what He has blessed me with, a wonderful family (both immediate and in laws), an incredible husband whom I do not deserve, and two gorgeous children that bring me so much joy and happiness.

So this brings me to my thoughts on my health. Bear with me my thoughts get jumpy...Because I have this "smaller than normal" kidney I am supposed to drink PLENTY of fluids and go to the bathroom OFTEN. Just so you know that is hard to do as a teacher with 18 first graders. I can't just up and leave the room whenever I want! So I try to do that like I should and take my vitamins everday (because if I don't Josh has threatened me with my life...ironic, don't you think?). I would like to start an excercising routine. A friend of mine who I swam with in high school and I have discussed going to our alma mater to swim/workout a few days a week. I'd like to replace my rediculous, useless, doesn't work eliptical with a stationary bicycle. Don't believe me that it doesn't work? Another friend who I sold it to is returning it to me this weekend because she and her husband couldn't get it to work. They looked online into replacing the part....$200 for a $300 machine! Now my thoughts on eating healthy may confuse some of my family and friends. I have been skinny my entire life. Even now one would say I am skinny, but here's the thing...I weigh as much as I did when I was 9 months pregnant (no, I will no tell you what that is). My husband thinks that's great! He says I look healthy, but healthy to me is not flabby muscle around your belly and a sagging butt (Oh my goodness, if there are males reading this...especially if you're a friend of mine)! I had rock hard abs and legs when I used to swim. It would be unrealistic of me to think I could achieve that once again though. So I'm thinking I should eat well and eat less. Less sugar, less preservatives, and more fruits and vegetables. I want to put pure things into my body that help me feel good and be healthy so I can be a good mom. Not only is this something I want but God desires it being that our bodies are temples of the Lord (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

For now I guess I'll post this and write more later. To be continued....