Follow The Yellow Brick Road

Several months ago my brother Glenn asked my daughter to come be a Munchkin in the Wizard of Oz, the show his Intermediate school was performing. As the Director I guess he was allowed to do that, just ask his niece to fly in and be in two of the performances! For anyone knowing Emeline it’s no surprise she was initially a little disappointed that she couldn’t be Dorothy but quickly realized she would be thankful for whatever she was asked to do. We all practiced the parts and sang the songs with her as she was preparing for the big show. Finally it came time to make the long trip to Dallas and meet cousins and aunts to travel along with us.

Going down south is always such a treat for us North East people. I thought using the term “Honky Tonk Town” was disrespectful but there are actually towns down there who pride themselves with that reputation!! In one of the towns everyone came out to see a Cattle Drive at 4:00 PM. Now that’s something we don’t see everyday up north! The food from what I could tell is either fried or barbecued. I was determined to enjoy the local food so fried okra, fried pickles, fried broccoli and lots of barbecue beef were included in my diet. I’m a little concerned about everyone’s cholesterol down there but they all seem fine and healthy!

As we arrived in Hillsboro for the show we went right to the school to meet my brother and his staff. The first friendly gal to greet us was Katie who was going to be the Lion in the show. Little did we know that Katie would steal the show! What personality and talent this young girl had and a whit that caused the audience to fall in love with her. Of course Dorothy was great but everyone knows Dorothy will be wonderful because she’s the star of the show!! She had one of the sweetest faces I’ve ever seen.

As the director my brother would only look as good as the people working for him. His Co-Director/Choreographer Judy was the one really running the show. She was a no nonsense kind of lady. You couldn’t help but be utterly impressed with her ability to delegate, multi task, and keep her eye out for anything not going quite right. While I was back stage I asked if she needed help painting circles on the Munchkins faces. She hesitated, not sure whether I looked capable to handle that job! When she reluctantly said yes I prayed I would not mess up!! She was a woman I wish I could have spent more time getting to know, quite a well accomplished lady!!

Finally came the show, I watched it twice it was amazing!! As one would expect it didn’t come off without a few forgetting their lines, falling down on the stage, or the curtains opening and closing at the wrong time. As I sat in the audience it occurred to me the trip to see the Wizard and all the hardships along the way represent so many of our lives (too bad they didn’t have a GPS!). It wasn’t that the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion were lacking, they just couldn’t see beyond the “Thorn in their side” All the Wizard did was show them they could overcome what they thought they lacked in their lives. That’s what God wants to do for us. Poor Dorothy had powers the whole time to take her back to Kansas but didn’t know it. How often are we looking over the rainbow for something better and yet all along our answers are so close? How often do we take matters into our own hands and not allow God to navigate our lives through prayer and devotion to Him? It says in Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path” I pray my Yellow brick Road is guided and directed by the best Navigator in the world!!

Thanks Uncle Glenn, you ROCK!! Love, Emeline

Sweet Blessings,

Debbie

Strength and Peace

I sat in the waiting room of the Infectious Disease doctor’s office with Emeline. Over the course of the last five weeks I have been to many doctors and surgeons with her, standing by her side through numerous tests. The most difficult appointment was watching her be sedated and then taken away. She looked dead and I sobbed! Most of the tests and doctor’s visits were urgent and unexpected so I would go alone. Anyone knowing me would think I almost preferred that because I’m such an independent woman, able to handle myself in most situations. Having a child with a questionable health issue was getting scary. I went through a time of great fear for the unknown. I was constantly running the “what ifs” through my head. I knew God was sovereign but what would the outcome of all this be? Whenever I’m at the hospital or going through tests with Emeline I’m anxious.

This day was different, I sat calm and at peace, my mind was clear. My husband was there with us that day. When we went in to see the doctor it wasn’t like Steve had these great words of wisdom but it was his presence, him standing beside me as a husband and father. I wasn’t in a panic that I would forget to ask the doctor a specific question or forget completely what he was staying. I didn’t fear bad news. I was confident Steve would manage whatever needed to be handled for that visit and we would take one more step toward finding out what was wrong with Emeline.

On our way home from the hospital I thanked Steve over and over again for coming with us. He couldn’t understand how important his presence was for me that day. It made me think of how God wants to be there for us, and give us that peace that passes all understanding. “The Lord will give strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace”. Psalm 29:11. Wow! I pray that I can experience that strength and peace more in the midst of trials and uncertainty, sensing His presence, it’s a wonderful thing!!

Blessings,

Debbie

Last Mother's Day Tea

I sat blow drying my hair this morning wondering how I would “hold it together” for my last Mother’s Day Tea. At school, the Pre-K teachers put on a little show and have a tea party for Mother’s Day. Of all the concerts and dance recitals at school, this is my favorite event! I reminisced this morning back to the first tea with Emeline. All the songs were new; we had matching dresses and the day was a delight. The second tea was with Sam. I sat and prayed he would keep his hands to himself, and my camera broke right as the show started! Today was my last shot at making sure everything went as it should. Zachary picked out my outfit to wear, the camera was ready to go, and all I had to do was compose myself long enough not to make a fool of myself (crying) in front of the other moms.

The show was a success, my camera worked and I knew and sang all the songs along with all the kids. My only challenge was when the class came parading into the room to begin the show. I watched my little boy as he searched the small crowd for me. When those big brown eyes met with mine, he gave me the usual “Zachary” smile of delight because his mommy was there and watching him. My eyes filled with tears as I realized this chapter in my life was coming to an end. The baby phase is over for me. It wasn’t too long ago I was told by a doctor I would never have children, or at the very least, need a lot of help. I guess God had different plans for my life! I always knew that no matter what a doctor said, if my babies’ names were in the Book of Life, then someday I would be a mom. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope”. Jeremiah 29:11

After the songs we went and had tea with our children, and I was reminded of what servant hearts the teachers have. To see their love for the children made my heart humble and so very thankful that I had to fight back the tears once again. Our children created a list of things they knew about us like “what we like to eat” and “what color our eyes are”. They also guessed at telling everyone how old us moms are. Zachary gave me a ripe old age of 32, I LOVE IT!!

As any mom out there I am incredibly and “utterly” honored to be a mother. It is truly the highest calling a woman can have. I work harder today then I ever did in the corporate world. The older my kids get, the more I realize how quickly life is passing and we (as parents) only have these little people for a short period of time to nurture and teach them. There are times I struggle to choose them over what needs to get done in the house. I thank God everyday for them and I am humbled that God saw fit to make me the mom of Emeline, Samuel and Zachary.

At the end of the tea, the teacher read this poem “No More Oatmeal Kisses”

One of these days you’ll shout, “Why don’t you kids grow up and act your age!” And they will. Or, “You guys get outside and find yourselves something to do, and don’t slam the door!” And they don’t.

You’ll straighten up the boys’ bedroom neat and tidy: bumper stickers discarded, bedspread tucked and smooth, toys displayed on their shelves. Hangers in the closet. Animals caged. And you’ll say out loud “Now I want it to stay this way.” And it will

You’ll prepare a perfect dinner with a salad that hasn’t been picked to death and a cake with no finger traces in the icing, and you’ll say, “Now there’s a meal for company”. And you’ll eat it alone.

You’ll say, “I want complete privacy on the phone. No dancing around, no demolition crews. Silence! Do you hear?” And you’ll have it.

No more plastic tablecloths stained with spaghetti. No more bedspreads to protect the sofa from damp bottoms. No more gates to stumble over at the top of the basement steps. No more clothespins under the sofa. No more playpens to arrange a room around.

No more anxious nights under a vaporizer tent. No more sand in the sheets or Popeye movies in the bathroom. No more iron-on patches, rubber bands for pony tails, tight boots, or wet knotted shoestrings.

Imagine, a lipstick with a point on it?! No baby-sitter for New Year’s Eve. Washing only once a week. Seeing a steak that isn’t ground. Having your teeth cleaned without a baby on your lap.

No more PTA meetings. No car pools. No blaring radios. No more washing her hair at 11 o’clock at night. Having your own roll of scotch tape!

Think about it. No more Christmas presents out of toothpick and library paste. No more sloppy Oatmeal kisses. No more tooth fairy. No giggles in the dark. No knees to heal, no responsibility.

Only a voice crying, “Why don’t you grow up?” and the silence echoing, “I did”.

I pray all you moms out there enjoy each and every “Oatmeal Kiss” while you have them!

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!!

Sweet blessings to you,

Debbie