Tuesday, April 28, 2009

I Can't Keep Up!

Call it adult ADD, spring fever, senior moments, or just Too Much On My Plate, I can’t keep up! I’m the mom, I’m supposed to be holding it all together and I feel like I’m falling apart these last few weeks.

Once a teacher told me after spring break they "loose" the kids, they don’t want to work anymore! Any serious academic work must be complete before then. To top it off we have had mid summer weather which just fuels the outside activity over the top! Yesterday the kids came home and ran outside before I could catch them to do the normal homework and chores. Before I knew it they were in the stream catching critters, the hose was going, and newly caught bull frogs were jumping out of buckets!

During the school year my kids do not participate in any after school sports, only on the weekends. With the warmer weather here I stepped up the activities to include tennis then swim team, and flag football on the weekends. As it turns out Emeline has been asked to scrimmage with a travel soccer team (those gals can play soccer!), and Sam was asked to run for a track and field club. Fun right? Of course, but I’m only one person and can’t get everyone to where they need to go! Thank goodness for girlfriends and carpooling.

Normally, I’m an organized person managing to keep track of the schedule. So much is going on this last week I’m in a panic on a daily basis wondering if I forgot to take someone somewhere, or pick them up! Today I called school frantic asking them to pull Sam off the bus, he was supposed to be in carpool for a pick up to go to the T & F club, YIKES! Yesterday I was running late to meet the bus and the driver had to call me to find out my location, thankfully I was right down the street. That never looks good for a mom.

Tonight I took Emeline to Girl Scouts only to find out it was cancelled and I never got the message (ugh!). Liking the thought of going home, doing the dishes, getting some laundry done, and getting everyone and myself to bed early, what did we do? We threw caution to the wind and went to a local carnival, bought tickets for rides and had a blast!!

I’m as guilty as the kids wanting to go have fun, seizing the moment, gosh, they grow up so fast!! Dishes and laundry can wait for sure!

Blessings,

Debbie

Monday, April 20, 2009

"Have A Great Time In Heaven!"


Steve and I have been blessed to have both sets of our parents alive until today. Steve’s dad went home to be with Jesus at 6:24 PM EST. He was 84 years young and survived four strokes. This was Steve’s fourth trip to say “good-bye”. Every other time Steve made the trip to Missouri dad would rally, so happy Steve was there and he would recover! This time was different, we learned a few days ago he refused to eat or drink. Not knowing if Steve would make it all the way out to Branson again we all got on the phone Saturday night and said our “good-byes”. Dad couldn’t talk but a phone was held to his ear and we knew he could hear us. Everyone told him how much we loved him. Zachary told grandpa “Have a great time in heaven and we’ll see you again some day!”

Steve left this morning with Emeline and Samuel to make the trip west. Sam had prayed for months that he would have the opportunity to see grandpa one more time before he passed away, and Steve prayed that he would be there when the time came for dad to leave this world. I prayed that also for Steve but had doubts that it would all happen at just the right time, after all, Branson Missouri is not around the corner and there are no nonstop flights to the place!

I’m not a big morning person and was secretly hoping they would not wake me up at 5:30 am before they left, but of course I couldn’t tell them that. Sure enough they all marched in this morning ready to go, wanting another kiss and hug from mom! At 7:00 am I got the call they had missed their flight. I can’t help but say I was chuckling all day to imagine the three of them traveling together!

As it turns out God had a bigger plan then anyone! When Steve and the kids missed the first flight (because they were eating at the food court) they were re-routed from connecting through Denver to connecting through Chicago. When they arrived in Chicago Steve noticed there was a flight that would get them to Branson earlier then the original scheduled flight. They flew standby and successfully made the flight. Once in the nursing home and greeting dad it was 24 minutes before he passed on. Had they made their original flight out of Philadelphia, they would have missed seeing dad alive. How awesome is that? It was as if he waited until his only son arrived and then decided it was time to go…

Now the grieving process begins. Unfortunately so many of us have lost loved ones and are in different phases of the grieving process. I once heard someone say “The best way to get through grieving is to grieve.” As a mom we not only grieve for ourselves, but we grieve for our children, the loss they will feel.

Today was a day I wondered what people do when they don’t have God in their life. I recently spoke to someone who told me they believe they have a soul that goes somewhere when they die but they’re not sure where. How very sad, my heart hurts for that person. As Dr. Ken left this world today he knew where he was going and so did his family. It was and is very sad, but what a blessed experience to stand around a loved one, holding hands, praying, singing, tenderly ushering him into God’s throne of grace where he will spend eternity. Tonight is dad’s first night in heaven. We are sad he is not longer with us but know he is in a much better place.

We thank all our friends and family for their love and prayers.

Blessings,

Debbie

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Distractions

Talk about distractions, the other day I was enjoying my quiet time after the kids got on the bus. Getting three busy, loud children out the door by 7:30 with a full belly is quite a task. After they board the bus, and I throw kisses, there are days I want to collapse. Sitting down with a cup of coffee, having a devotional time with God is soothing to my soul.

Recently our front door broke, a part on the door snapped and Steve had to send away for a new one. Certainly Steve and many would wonder what the big deal is not having a front door? “What about the garage door?” some would ask. Good question, that is broke too! My only way in right now is the back door.

A few days ago I sat in my pajamas having my coffee, right after the kids left looking forward to my quiet time. I soon heard the dog start to throw up. I quickly jumped out of my seat to get him out of the house. Before I got to him he threw up on the kitchen floor and his bed. I hoped to get to the cover off the bed fast enough that it didn’t penetrate to the padding. No such luck, the padding had throw up all over it too (ugh!). Slightly annoyed that I now had all this cleaning to do, and did I mention that I do not tolerate throw up very well? I got everything to the laundry room and realized that when the padding needed to be dried I would need some tennis balls to throw in the dryer, you know, to fluff it up! Realizing that I did not have tennis balls in the laundry room I went to the closet where I keep my tennis racquet to get the balls. Then I realized that I forgot my tennis racquet in the car and that is not good for the strings! I marched right out to my car to get the tennis racquet and locked the door behind me. So, there was the dog and I outside my house (me in my red pajamas!) All from the dog throwing up!

My world is made up of distractions. It can be annoying if I choose or I can accept the distractions and let God teach me through each and every one of them. Having three children, sometimes I wonder how on earth anything gets done. Forget about trying to keep a steady train of thought when they’re home! Talking on the phone or trying to write a serious e-mail is suicidal!

I’m learning to embrace the distractions. I use to think I was entitled to my space and time and I still am within reason yet the distractions are what makes me grow, helps me to see things differently. I look at them more now as opportunities then annoyances.

Sweet Dreams,

Debbie

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Where Did He Go?

Us moms never get use to loosing a child. For all the times I have lost someone whether it be in a toy store where they had to lock the store down, at the Jersey shore where lifeguards, the fire department, and police were all on the look out or in a busy airport with people rushing to their destinations, it’s a terrifying experience. You can’t help but think the worst! Where are they? Has someone taken them? Will I see them again?

Today as we celebrated Easter, a risen Savior, I thought all day about what it must have been like for the two Marys to experience the empty tomb and then an angel of the Lord telling them He is not here He is risen. What on earth went through their heads? Confusion and terror I’m sure. They were most likely wanting to just visit the tomb where Jesus was buried, still numb from what happened three days ago and now this?

Driving to church today we passed a large cemetery buzzing with family members paying their respects, some with flowers, some carried beach chairs to stay for a longer visit. I wondered what would happen if one of their deceased loved ones was gone, out of the grave, what a shock that would be.

Jesus was gone, missing, and who could believe all that was unfolding so quickly for the Marys? We now know and understand all of what happened. God sent His son to die on the cross and after three days He would rise, and RISE He did!! He paved the way for us to spend eternity with God and not be judged for our sins. Jesus took our sins, all of them to the cross and paid for them. Our only job is to accept that gift (John 3:16)

There are not too many stories of loosing a loved one, and it having a happy ending. This story not only has a happy ending, it was the beginning of freedom through Jesus Christ.

While in Israel sixteen years ago I had the privilege of visiting the empty tomb…an amazing experience for sure.

“He is not here; for He is risen, as He said….” Matthew 28:6

Happy Easter to all!

Blessings,

Debbie

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Parablelooza


As I sat watching “Parablelooza” this morning, I couldn’t help but make it a point to observe almost each and every child up there. We went to see Emeline perform but she was in the back and it was impossible to see her. Attending two long performances left some room to observe for sure!

Parablelooza is a children’s musical centered around a game show called P A R A B L E L O O Z A, yet with a bigger story about the parables in the Bible.

I love to watch kids. Years ago I often felt inadequate and unsure of motherhood, but through understanding God’s grace in my life I have a lighter heart. Like every other family we have our ups and downs. Times when our kids are lovely, and times when they’re awful. Times when I feel in control with them and times when I have no clue what to do other then pray (which I do often!). Just last week one of my sons was taken to lunch by the principle for receiving so many rewards. Two days later he was in the principle's office for putting up his middle finger in the lunch room (ugh!).

Before I had children I was critical of other mothers. Surely a mother should be able to control her screaming kids in the super market…then I had kids who screamed in the super market and many other places!! Motherhood is one of the most humbling jobs I can imagine yet the most rewarding job of all.

Observing almost seventy children this morning included laughing at some, praying for others, hoping my daughter turns out like one, and most of all realizing that God made them all so wonderful and vastly different. Some with short hair, some long, some fashionable, some (like Emeline) seem to not care at all about how they appear. Some obviously had a stage presence and confidence about them, others looked like it was a big deal for them to be up on stage.

I also spent some time thinking and praying for the parents of all these kids. Only the Lord knows what types of homes they come from. Ours certainly is not perfect, but one thing is for sure.. we love our kids, we pray for them and with them. My everyday prayer is that my kids will see a need for Jesus in their lives and that they will see that we, their parents rely on and need Jesus every step of the way. If they can grasp that I’ll be thankful, and they’ll be fine.

“I will praise You for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are Thy works, and that my soul knows well.” Psalm 139:14

Parenting: Hang in, Hold on, Hug tight!

Blessings,

Debbie