Thinking of Hairy Armpits and Toys

My five year old drew this today. I couldn't hold back my burst of laughter when he added with his pen and his words, "Here's my hairy armpits." Yep, and that's a thought bubble colored in with so many full thoughts of his toys.  Should I be worried yet?

A letter (or two, or three) from my baby...Please don't grow up too fast.

Dear Mommy,
I will be sad when I'm a grown up. I'm going to have to go to my new house and I want to be happy with my new family but I will miss you. I'll be excited and when I'm excited I have to drive my new car so you'll have to have your own car and you won't be able to see me. So I'll be sad and you'll be sad. Don't worry.

So Mommy,
I will come back to you, and when I come home you'll see me have a very big smile. Then I'll come back and love my mommy with all my heart and I'll love my daddy and my mommy forever.
Love,
Nicholas

Dear Mommy and Dad,
I'm sorry I'm gonna move. I will be too excited and I will never see you again until I come back home. ANd so when I come back I will have so much fun with you guys.

I'm going to go somewhere and I'm never going to see you again.  I'll cry. Then I will come back home with you guys and when I do I'll spend a lot of time with you and I will  have a big smile on my face.

Mom and Dad, I love you with all of my heart...Mitchel, Lambeau, Willy. The end.

Thankful for Grandparents: Mine and Theirs!

Grandparents-

Laps for holding that never grow tired,

Hands for helping whatever your need,

Arms for hugging tighter and tighter,

Legs for following-anywhere you go.

Voices for reading your favorite stories once again.

Homes for crowding whenever you can,

Hearts that hold a special everlasting and           unconditional love!

                                                         ~TJH 11-14-2009

Not the power of a praying wife, but the power of Obedience to God and answered prayer.

The boys and I met Daddy for lunch down by his work (no small trek-60 miles). Everyone was excited for this is a rare but fun event. After filling up at Olive Garden, I wanted to do a bit of outlet shopping so the breadwinner had to head back to work. In the middle of trying on shoes for the little guy, I was urged to the bathroom. As I scurried down the barren hallway my heart began to think about my husband's return to work and how horrible it would be to have interrupted his day for lunch with the family and to get in an accident on the way back. The Lord was urging me to pray. Pray I did. I asked the Lord to keep him safe from injury and harm and thanked Him for a good time together that afternoon. Getting back into the car I paused to answer my phone.

"Hello?"

"I just want you to know I'm ok."

Then I knew something was wrong...and was about to find out just how much was right. Honey had been heading westbound on a two lane highway separated by a tree filled gulf when a car-carrier tractor trailer  bolted out of control and tore through that median. Crunching into the guard rail set off a cannon of debri and the Jeep was its target. Bulls-eye!

The state police officer could not understand how that metal pole held back a multi-ton vehicle.  Obedience.

Very unusual for this normally busy interstate, there was only one other car traveling west in tandem and the Marine driver considered it his civic duty to pull over and give an account of the accident to the police officer. Troy was able to talk at length to this man. Seems that he is not a believer but his wife is and she's been praying and loving him as they walk life's path. Today's path make it clear that someone was holding back that tractor trailer, because a single pole could not. Mr. Marine's rightful act allowed him to see God's protection up close.
Power.

No windows were broken. No blood was spilled. No tires were mangled.  Nobody was hurt.
Answered Prayer.

Not the power of a praying wife, but the power of Obedience to God and of 

answered prayer.  Thank you, Lord.

A friend loveth at all times. I'm so thankful for my friends.

The Lord has blessed me throughout my life in the realm of friendship.  I am privileged to have some of the worlds' most wonderful people as my friends. At Mom and Dad's surprise party, two of my best friends were able to come celebrate with us as well as my cousin who I count as one of my precious friends too. Here we are-way too many years pass between our visits and yet we pick up as if just yesterday we'd had lunch together. I miss and love you girls!

A GOLDEN FAIRY TALE

 A GOLDEN FAIRY TALE

10/31/1959 ~ 10/31/2009

Once upon a time, so the fairy tale goes-

Started just about fifty years ago.

No tiara or crowns as the story unfolds

Just young love, two hearts and rings of gold.

The bride and groom became husband and wife,

Together they couldn’t wait to start their new life.

The castle was small and the prince worked a lot,

but to wait on having babies? They simply would not.

Now mother and father: their first born son had arrived,

That very moment the princess’ heart doubled in size.

And that was the start of the next twenty years,

Five sons and a daughter they would both hold so dear.

Many friends they would meet and invite to their homes-

No matter where in the country they’d roam.

So loving and generous straight from their hearts,

Any stranger met was a friend from the start.

Royal food from the kitchen was prepared in delight,

For the princess loved cooking, baking and serving it right.

Some dragons were slain all through the years; bringing sadness and heartache and too many tears.

But the prince and the princess showed themselves true, 

To their faith and the Lord and all the things that they knew.

Called to be servants, but heirs to the King,

God’s blessings upon them-His praises they sing.

Days turned to years and the castle was bare

They had no idea how they found themselves there.

Their dear little babies now grown on their own,

Brought the greatest of blessings they ever had known.

When voices call out these names, they sure stop:

Nanna and Pappa or Grandma and Pop.

All the inhabitants of the kingdom ~far and near,

Are so thankful for their presence here.

Happy 50th Anniversary; may the best be yet to come,

We love you and thank you for who you are and all you have done. 

Now we all know that fairy tales never end: 

So~Happily ever after!

(on that we depend)

  ~TJH~

10-22-09

Go Rest High on that Mountain

Autumn. With every leaf that dances from its branch to the ground below, I see God waving to me. If spring signals new birth, does that make fall a season of impending death? Why then would I look forward to all it has to offer: autumnal hues filling the horizon, cooler days, crisp nights, warm fires, simmering stews and pumpkin spice candles filling the room with pleasant aroma. No hints of doom. And here I sit waiting for the phone to ring with news of my mother in law's drawing nearer death. I've always wondered how God's goodness causes an unspoken request for a child to wish his or her parent absent from this world. At times, the thought seems  severe and inconceivable but right now it only seems gracious. And necessary.  Not my choice, as my brother would remind me, but life is over for her though her body waits in rest before the doctors can call time. Absent from the body and present with the Lord. I've heard it and I've read it. So tonight I read it some more. I know the Lord waits for us to be in His presence and for an eternity. After attending many funerals, I assuredly realize that the body is void of any life.   Often it's void of any semblance of ever living because the missing spirit leaves such a deep emptiness behind. However, I am not too convinced that though no death decree has been made, our loved ones haven't been ushered into heaven already.  Heart still beating, yet filled will the joy of angels singing. For us the symphony falls only on deaf ears as we anticipate our loved one's passing.  This earthly life is sure to break our hearts,  but our journey ends (and begins) in the Promised Land...all hurting then abandoned.

 Go rest high on that mountain, Ma-we'll see you there.

John 13:36

Simon Peter said to Him, 

"Lord, where are You going?" 

Jesus answered,

 "Where I go, you cannot follow Me now; but you will follow later."
 12/31/1915-9/29/2009

Weekly Schedule that didn't make my planner

 * Insomnia persists *wondering how many more straws before this camel's back breaks* Finally- our getaway is planned*Mom's still sick*Sister-in-law's sister died suddenly*School starts*Wood bat league schedule begins*Mother in law's dementia unveils in a big way* Baby begins kindergarten*Husband is traveling*Brothers are hurting*Mary put in hospital and on hospice*Friend's Sweet little girl diagnosed with diabetes*Mom's still sick*Getaway is cancelled*Meetings never-ending at hospital*Boys home alone all week*7 days of laundry undone*Library books late $13 fine*  

Exodus 14:14 

 **The LORD shall fight for you, 

and you shall hold your peace.**

Though I walk through the valley...

Overwhelmed. 

This week has been spent walking through the shadow of the valley.

 I will fear no evil.

 Uncertainty brushes with hypothesis and confounding thoughts with every step.

 My Father walks with me; His presence is comforting. 

My path grows increasingly dark.  

The Lord graciously guides me along, His light glowing ever brighter. 

Wishing to turn back, I trod forward.

  I know that His goodness will follow me and His love is sure.

 Staying by the Lord's side as I wade through this muck, I realize it's all going to be ok. 

I will dwell in the House of the Lord forever.

 Amen.

We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice,for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you.Ps 33:20-22

Hallucinations, Hospitals, Hospice and Headaches, oh my!

Thanking the Lord for His faithfulness as we embark and some tough seas.
I'll be back to blog about it soon.

What is a group of ducks called?

Like a kid in a candy store, I kissed my guys goodnight and headed out for a much anticipated girls' night at a friend's. I turned the key, clicked my seat belt, pulled the gear shift to R, opened the window above to bask in the moonlight and began my drive down the road that seemed to lead everywhere.  I could drive this familiar road blindfolded, winding with its ease as I go.  The cool autumn air settled in from the moon roof as my freshly brushed hair waved to the sky. This would be a good night.

Realizing the backseat was vacant, aka-silent,  I clicked on the radio. Looking ahead, I was perplexed to see headlights stalled in formation and at a standstill coming up on my left. No sirens, no flashing red or blue lights. Yet, something about the dusk's glow caused me caution as my foot pressed ever so gently and my car slowed down to a crawl.  I peered out my window to see the roadblock. DUCKS. Right there in the middle of take-me-anywhere -thoroughfare a badelynge of ducks clogged traffic waiting for them to waddle across several lanes. They have wings, don't they know? Continuing my drive forward, I chuckled aloud as I thought to myself, "What is the value of a duck?" My shoulders shrugged, but I did think that the armadillo, raccoon and squirrel wouldn't have fared so well as a roadblock. What do I value? Of course, I stopped for those ducks-and I'd like to think I'd do my best to sacrifice a hawk's next meal and stop for the raccoon, too. But I had to really think about what my life manifests as   worthy to me. I'll stop in the middle of a road for a few ducks; what else do I show I value?

~Worth repeating~

"Mom, last night I slept with my eyes closed." N-2009  A person's a person, no matter how small. ~Dr. Seuss  Children are likely to live up to what you believe in them.                              ~Ladybird Johnson  Great spirits have often encountered violent opposition from weak minds. ~Albert Einstein  How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand. Psalm 139:17-18  I dunno...she fills gaps. (What's gaps?) I dunno, she's got gaps, I got gaps; together we fill gaps. ~Rocky <3

Sleepless musings and a full moon

King Size. Full moon, half moon, new moon...I see the moon's phases almost nightly as my youngest taps my arm somewhere between moon rise to moon set. (is that even correct?)

"Can I sleep in here for a few minutes?"

Silently and automatically, I stretch my arm out a bit and he grabs on and climbs up. Seconds later my brown-eyed, freckled-face, curly-topped son is sounding off his sleep signal with one of his audible contented sighs.

I wish I could get my husband to realize the warm body he's holding is no longer mine and move to  his side of the bed . Slated deep into his own dreams he's oblivious to our visitor's ordinary presence. Now, Daddy and son take up my half of the bed while I stare at the moon's light while clenching the sheets hoping I don't capsize.

So is the most coveted luxury for a mother, sleep? Since motherhood began for me almost 16 years ago, I can't remember, however, if I were a betting woman...

This morning that adorable little boy came bouncing down the steps, "Mom, I sure got a great lot of sleep in there last night."

I smiled. Chances are it wasn't my hot cup of coffee that warmed my heart this early morning. Yawn. ;)

Coffee? Meet ya there

I left, my cup nearly empty from a second refill of diet soda. With my thirst quenched and my stomach in knots, I started the car. Pinching myself wouldn't work. In my daze and continued disbelief I drove toward home. This was my friend. A wonderful Christian woman who, like me, has been busy with raising her sons and being a wife for the past 20 plus years. SHE made my wedding cake! How did her life get to this point?

Distracted by the fluttering of a hungry bird on the patio, I  listened to some updates to her story as the morning sun tried to warm me. An icy sip of soda took a slow route through the straw trying to wash that lump down my throat as Dee continued. How does she go on? How does she go home? ...A woman's heart is in her home and I hear echoes only of heartache from hers. Like so many of us today, this woman I've grown to love more with each prayer offered on her behalf, sits across from me, her fourth finger now barren. Its  absence screams the demise of her marriage. Not long ago she told me of their separation over breakfast. That day my unsuspecting bottom jaw  plunged into my coffee cup as my heart raced to my feet. NO WAY this had happened to her. To her family.

My day began with plans  starting at the top of a 759 item to-do list, yet when Dee asked what my day looked like, the paper cleared with the exception of meeting with her. I'm glad I did.

There are many blessing in the middle of this raging battle she's fighting. And like most battles, the casualties lie bloodied all around and their effects are numerous and overwhelming.

All at once I began to both thank the Lord for my blessings (I am so richly blessed) as well as cry tears out to Jesus once again for my girlfriend.

Dee, now that I have this new opportunity to be obedient to our heavenly Father, just know that I count it an honor both to Him and to you to help carry your burden. He will remain faithful:  a promise keeper. 
In life, in coffee breaks, in heart to heart talks, in tears, in laughter, in hurt, in prayer, I'm with you my dear friend.

Matthew 12: 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

Translucent Tuesdays: Polar Opposites.

No greater joy

That's my boy! Of all the things a mom would want her son to be: compassionate, passionate, loving, generous, forgiving, quick to right any wrong...Mitchel is. They are him. Have you heard it said about big guys, They're just big teddy-bears? It fits. Shhhh, don't tell his friends. His dad often gets lost as he watches Mitchel doing whatever he's doing at the time and he'll muse aloud, "He's everything we'd dream of when talking about having a son." It's true. God's been so good to us- and to him. So many possibilities and so much potential in that six foot plus body of his; I can't wait to see what the Lord has planned. But for this mom; I have no greater joy than to hear my children walk in truth. 3 John 1:4. That's my dream for him. My dream for me.

Mascots, Dogs and Embossing Powder

He's struck again and while I was talking to a girlfriend about meeting for coffee because we both need to a break, what I thought was a need has be confirmed. During that phone call, Nicholas was busy.

I didn't even wonder what he was doing because we'd been cleaning together all day.

My bad.

Bouncing into my room as if he'd just won the toy-lottery, he shouts, "DO YOU WANT TO SEE HIM? I colored Lambeau."

I pictured an entire 500 sheet tablet of new construction paper cut and glued to the poor dog. Wrong. Soooooo wrong.

Recently I'd been digging through my rubber stamp collection and left out the inks. My bad seems to be a good fit here, too. Guess who found them? But it wasn't the stamps that intrigued him this time. Maybe it was, but if so those thoughts didn't linger. I swear, this child has an insatiable curiosity and an imagination to match. No, today it was the sparkle of the embossing powder: five jars of blue, red, gold and iridescent filled to the brim embossing powder to be exact.

Had there been a contest for most patriotic dog, mascot, (or spirited boy), I envision a blue ribbon hanging proudly around Nicholas' neck as he drags a reluctant dog through the grandstand, himself joining in with the cheers of the crowd. He helped clean up. Mitchel rescued the dog's once brown eyes and honey-gold fur from the remnants of his brother's art project and all is once again back to normal in the house.

How quickly can a get a shower?

Sunshine

He has fun no matter where we are or what we're doing. Here, rolling down the hill waiting for Mitchel and a friend to finish hitting balls. He's such a joy in my life. Thank you Lord for my boys.

My Top Ten and Troy

He's a 10 in my book!

1. I love my husband's eyes which truly show me his soul. He is my soul mate.

2. I love my husband's heart. His heart is both quick to seek forgiveness and the first to forgive.

3. I love my husband's ability to get along with everyone he meets: he is well liked by nearly everyone who knows him-and rightfully so.

4. I love my husband's drive to be a great father as well as a respected and successful businessman.

5. I love that my husband loves me, not for all I do for him (though he does love that about me), but because of the person I am.

6. I love my husband's sensitivity.

7. I love my husband's strength.

8. I love my husband's steadfast and unwavering faith. He is a man of God and I love that about him.

9. I love that I've never had to question, even in the heat of an argument, his heart's intention. He has never set out to hurt me in any way.

10. I love that he is a man I can admire and respect in so many ways, and I do.

Quality Control

The list.

I've been amazed at how many young women have "the" list. Asterisk after asterisk they've penned the prerequisites necessary in any man before they'll even consider calling him Husband. Hmm, should I have thought of that? In retrospect, even without such earmarks there were certain things I always imagined I'd find in the man who would eventually win my heart.

Endearing and enticing, my godly man would indulge in humor, a vie for life, integrity, compassion and a growing and undying love for me. In a name,Troy. I knew when I met him that I had indeed met my knight: the one who God had set apart for me. He knew this was God's appointment for us too! Just days after we met, both of us a bit fearful of this immediate connection, he would inaudibly whisper his love for me, and in turn I'd ask him what he was going to do about it. Thus began our journey together.

Through the years, I've come to learn even more about myself (and a lot more about him) and much more about living life. "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." John 16:33 God's Word can be proved true throughout my life. Tribulations and trials have come. And they have passed. My feet have trod on the peak of the mountains leaving me breathless as the thin air of awe surrounded me. I have trudged through the valleys gasping to catch my breath wondering if even Jesus himself would be able to sustain me. He would. He did. He is a Promise Keeper. I need a promise keeper in my husband and I need so much more.

My husband does possess so many of the qualities I find myself continually longing for, but to go through the ebbs and flow of this life, I need the dependability and certainty of them ALL and all the time. That is an impossible expectation for anyone.

I need to be loved, I need hope. It didn't take long for me to realize that if I'm going to be able to handle what life throws at me, I need a safe place to fall and on someone who doesn't fall Himself. I need rest and restoration, a helper and healer, a teacher and one who can pull me back into the group when I go astray. Physically I have needs too, not just for intimacy, but also for nourishment. Sometimes I thirst for water, other times for knowledge and wisdom. All the time, I need to be loved even when I don't seek out my lover. Forgiveness and to be forgiven are the sources of my hope and future especially when I feel there's no reason or way to go on. His redeeming grace gives me humility to live a life that mirrors all that He is for me.

I have all of this and more in the Lord: my husband, For your Maker is your husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and your Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called Is 54:5.

My greatest blessing in life is the husband God gave to me. He's not perfect, no. He is also not meant to meet all of my needs. In August 1987 as I began my teaching career, the Lord put Troy and I together. No doubt it was God's hand orchestrating quality control for my listless self, but somewhere along the line I put Troy in God's spot. I don't remember when and I do not know why. God had been, was being, and is continuing to be everything I need.

I miss the blessings doubly when I displace Troy and God's roles in my life. Troy can't be God, and what a recipe for disaster that thought pattern is for both me as a woman and for my beloved who wants nothing more than to please me and make me happy. Why would I even want to limit God and all that He is? He chose me for Troy and Troy for me. It isn't always easy, but it is what is perfect and right.

No matter how shiny the armour or how white his noble stead, our own knight will pale in comparison to our Lord. Though my husband may fail to meet each of my needs all the time; that is not to be counted a failure to him, but to me. My expectations are set on the wrong man and my eyes are gazing in the wrong eyes.

Jesus will not fail me. He can and wants to meet my every need, every time. He IS my All in All. I'm so thankful in His infinite wisdom and love, He gave me Troy. I just need to keep Troy on his horse and God on His throne!

Point Of Grace says it so well~

You are my strength when I am weak

You are the treasure that I seek

You are my all in all

Seeking You as a precious jewel

Lord, to give up I'd be a fool

You are my all in all

Taking my sin, my cross, my shame

Rising up again I bless Your name

You are my all in all

When I fall down You pick me up

When I am dry You fill my cup

You are my all in all

Trash Can Party: You're Invited!

This was downpour worthy of some photos, so I hurried out the front door mumbling something of my plan to my boys. That was code for I'll be right back in; behave. It was wasted breath as my screech brought them both to my side in a flash. We all stood there in amazement laughing as our trash can sailed down our street like a boat on the sea its journey halted only as it joined the beginnings of a trash can party hosted by our neighbors. Talk about crashing a party! Thankfully no damage was done to the car they used to block off the unknown festivity lines but I bet they'll use caution tape next time. Had they not parked in the street, our little boat likely would have not stopped before Maryland. Donning flip-flops and draped in a green striped towel, Mitchel set out to be the party pooper. His face peeked out enough to see through the blinding rain as he sloshed through the minute made swamp. Time stood still but the rain did not as he rowed the reluctant party goer upstream and back home where he belonged.

Who would ever have thought that torrential rain, a racing trash can, a flash flood, flip-flops and two boys on the porch with their mom could amount to such a fun time?

Three strikes and you're out!

Lightning strikes again, and that again ended tonight's tournament game in the bottom of the second inning. Mitchel's team had to come out and play tough if they wanted to get a W over the favored Richmond team, and they did just that...for awhile.

I'm listening to the pouring rain,and as much as I love the sound (and we need the rain), I type with hopes and prayers that tomorrow evening will be clear and player-ready. It would be wonderful to hold our 3-0 lead for the remainder of the game. What a long game this one is already!

...to be continued.

Get 'em, Chesterfield!

Translucent Tuesdays