Wind Up Toys

Its here. Its time. As a teacher, Spring means the days are longer and more grueling. We long to be outside, in the sun, with our families. As a student, well the same is true. As a parent? As a pastor's wife? Well, quite frankly I feel like a wind up toy. You know, the ones that you wind tighter and tighter until they just wont wind anymore. Then you set them of the floor and LET GO! You laugh as they stomp their little feet round and round.

I can feel it. The winding. The release is coming.

June will hit. Then it comes. Swim lessons, VBS, Fund Raiser, Camps, HEAT, camping, traveling, Birthdays and more birthdays, play dates, TEA, sprinklers.. Prepping for home schooling in the fall.. Just thinking about it makes me tired enough to stop typing!

Just 6 short years ago we were planning a wedding. With one week left, we had much to do.. who am I kidding, with one day left we had much to do. But it was done and what wasn't.. well.. it just wasn't and it was all fine.


That summer the stomping began with the wedding, then Mexico, Atlanta, New York, Israel, Connecticut, Washington State, Portland, and finally back home.

Just two years later the stomping began as I finished my final year of teaching. A baby was coming. There was a room to be painted, crib to be assembled, clothes to be washed, showers to be had, Dr's. visits much to be finished.. and what wasn't.. well it just wasn't and it didn't matter.. she came before the shelves were hung..


The following summer we were painting rooms in the new house and prepping yet again for another sweet girl. The stomping commenced again. The clothes had to come out of the attic to be washed, and hung, another shower, Dr's visits.. Seems as though we had just done this:) And again, what didn't get done.. didn't get done.. and this time, I was some what prepared for that.


Summer 2009 Yes, I know.. by this time you know the drill! But guess what?!?! There was NO WINDING! I spent much of the summer with my grandmother.. It was a girls summer. And, yes.. Pregnant again. I sewed. I made bows. I helped my grandmother through the drudgery of paper work.. but I did not WIND! And at the end of that summer, hot as it was, and the most painful of my pregnancies.. we had yet another baby.


Summer 2010 was fairly calm. The only winding was with VBS. We have such an awesome children's minister that there wasn't much winding or stomping. With no baby to get ready for we leisurely attended swim lessons for Micaiah and spent time in the gym pool. Due to much yard work in the spring, we had the home as we wanted it. Things were calm.




So as I embark upon this summer and the many activities that are planned (and those that aren't) I can feel a bit of winding. Yet I have learned.. that what doesn't get done, wont get done.. and that's okay..

Please remind me of that when I am stomping around like a wind up toy trying to get to get to wedding and baby showers, help with the VBS decorations, plan vacations, and spend time with my little ones!

Thankful for Thirty-Three

There are often times when I wish I was younger. Dont we all? Dont you sometimes wish that you didnt have that ache right there? or wish that you didnt have to go to work? or wish that you could be as carefree as you once were?

Sometimes I find myself wishing that I had more 'freedom'. I have a husband that I am SOOOO thankful for, but every now and then I wish I could not do his laundry. I have three BEAUTIFUL children that I would give my life for, but every now and then I wish I could run to lunch with a friend, or run out and grab a new shirt, or just RUN! Often times I dont have those 'luxuries' and I find myself wishing that my circumstances were just.. 'different'. Please dont get me wrong. I wouldnt want to live my life without my husband or children.

Today, as I sat in service, I found myself being so thankful that I am 33. As I surveyed the congregation I saw young mothers with more energy than myself, I saw grandmothers who were past the stage of having children at home, I saw women without children, women expecting babies, and I saw the carefree youth. And today, today I praised God for having me right where He has me. I know I have much maturing to do and I am FAR more willing to admit that today than I was 7 years ago. I know that I have much to learn. I know that I have room to grow. BUT today when I thought about how often I wish for youth and freedom, I thought about how ridiculous I sometimes am.

At 33, I am the wife to an amazing man who has a passion for putting the Word into the hearts of God's people. I knew that was his passion 6 years ago when I agreed to marry him, but today I have a deeper understanding of what that really means. And we have grown.. God has brought us so far. Yes, I still have much further to go.. but oh we have come so far.

At 33, I am the mother to THREE, YES THREE Babies! I have a three year old, a 2 year old and a 1 year old? Insane?? ABSOLUTELY! Would I have planned it this way?? ABSOLUTELY NOT! But God did. He knew just what I needed to be humbled. One baby? So sweet and SOO fun! Two babies? What a blessing and little girls I can dress and bow up! Three Babies? Sweet Jesus how I need you EVERY moment of EVERY day!! Praise God that in His humbling of my heart he provided me with dear friends and church members that are more than willing to befriend me and my sweet children.

At 33, many women are getting settled into their career. As am I!! My 'career' of teaching is behind me for the most part. Eight years and I was done! I lasted longer than most. BUT now for the real career. I am a mom! At 33, I am a mom that doesnt freak if my kids get sick because your kid was sick. I am a mom that can watch my toddler head straight for the corner of the table and not even flinch. I am a mom that can all of the sudden be missing one child and not completely come undone (especially when I am holding the child I was looking for:)! I am a mom that can educate my children and not compare them to other children. I am a mom that CAN serve up a healthy meal and a mom that can allow for pizza when necessary. Yes, I am settling into my career quite nicely, but I still have room to grow.

At 33 I feel just as passionately about things as I did when I was 22. That hasnt changed. It is the THINGS that have changed. I dont feel as passionate about THINGS as I do about people. Wait wait.. yes, I would still like the NEW Honda mini-van... at 22 it was a Honda Accord. Okay, so that aside, I find that I am much more passionate about the souls of people and the lives of the unborn than I am about Sign Language or selling jewelry. Priorities maybe?

At 33, God is doing a new work in me. He is bringing me to a place where I have never been. That is EXCITING! AND I have NO desire to go BACK!!!

Late Turns Perfect

We have all been there. The event starts at 4:40. It is currently 4:51 and we are stuck on the freeway, no way off, and no movement. Typically, we are late for work. Yet, today's event was of far more importance. The back seat held my beautiful 3 yr old daughter who was explaining to me that, "Mommy, if you roll down my window I will yell at all these people to go cause we have to go see Tangled. " Ah! The easy solution..
Did I dare confess that I didn't quite know how to get to where we were going even if the traffic did start to clear out, which it obviously wasn't because we were in a 'construction zone'? No, instead I praise God when my dear friend, Jonna, calls to the rescue telling me to take the next exit and then zips me right over to the mall. Now, the theater is in the mall and I follow the signs telling me where to park. BIG mistake! The time is currently 5:10. We still have to walk 1/2 of the mall to get to the theater, get tickets, and go potty. Did I mention the movie started at 4:40? I am realizing this is just not going to happen without us missing half of the movie. At this point I am a bit disheartened. I have already spoken to God. "Lord, I know that there is a reason for this.. I just don't like being late. Did you have me miss a car accident? I know you are going to bring good out of this. Can I see that good now? Before I tell my daughter we have missed the last 3D showing of Tangled?" Okay, so it wasn't really the last. There were 2 more showings. One at 7:10 and one at 11:00. I broke down and called the dear husband, letting him know our situation. We decide that Micaiah and I would have dinner and attend the 7:10 showing despite the fact that she did not nap and that bed time is at 8.

After stopping at the Disney store for a Tangled shirt, we picked up a few flowered tiaras. Micaiah decides she wants to eat at the Alligator Place AKA The Rain Forest Cafe. Our table mate was a gorilla with the elephants near by. We chatted about the animals and waterfall over our shared burger and fries. What a pleasant evening this is turning out to be!

After leisurely roaming the restaurant we head to the theater to grab our tickets and super cool glasses. We stop for a quick photo shot as we enter the theater. And then another before the movie starts. Check out the new shirt and Isnt she ADORABLE?!?!



The movie was very cute. Micaiah's first princess movie, our first 3D experience, and our first Mommy/Daughter date.

I praise God that there was construction on 114 today. I thank Him that we left when we did and not a moment sooner. I am so grateful that HE recognizes how very special mommy/daughter time can be and that HE makes it happen in even Bigger ways than I plan. My God knows just what I need, when I need it, and He provides. Tonight, He provided in spite of my questioning and grumbling.. just as He often does. What a precious Savior I have and what a Precious little girl He has entrusted me with!

The first of many..

The first of many.. doesn't that define most of our lives? Each day seems to be filled with the 'first of many's. With three small children, I am realizing that I should have started blogging years ago, but alas time escaped me as it does most of us. This year I have decided that I will blog. I don't know at which point I become a actual blogger.. is there an initiation? criteria? specifications? I don't know rules or vocabulary or what is proper. I guess this will be a learning experience!

Back to the first of many.. Lately, our lives have been filled with many firsts. Micaiah has started reading her first book. Okay, so it is mostly memorized or pictures..but she gets the words right and points to them:) Being a teacher, that makes me proud. She is always eager to do school work. Sweet Charis (I put that descriptor there to remind myself) has start saying many things that just amaze us. She has always been eloquent. Speaking clearly has been a blessing for her since she was 1, and a curse for Micaiah who struggles with certain sounds. But it isnt always HOW Charis speaks that is so amazing.. it is WHAT she says that blows most of us away..just under a year ago while sitting in Chick-fil-A she saw the cow and says, 'COOOOOWWWW!!! EAT IT!" okay.. what 1 year old knows that you eat cows? seriously?? Just yesterday as I helped her clean up her blocks it was "Oh Mommy! Good Job! You cleaning the blocks!! You like that, huh? You a GOOD helper, Mommy!" Yes, she is two.. TWO!!! And lets not forget my sweet little man who nicely said "cook" as I walked into the kitchen two days ago.. at 14 months old that word should NOT be in his vocabulary! He is now running instead of walking and is one of the happiest babies I have seen..well, as long as I am in sight. He is becoming more of a Daddy's boy and it is super sweet to see him light up and yell at the sight of Daddy.

Another first this year is the church.. Yes, it is our first church.. no, it isnt our first year and it is definitely not going to have its first struggles. Yet, this is the first year that we have been fully staffed and ready to reach out and DO ministry. We are so excited to see what God is going to do in and through Maplewood. With Gary's love for the Word and getting it into peoples lives and the talent that we have coming in along with the servant hearts that fill our staff, I know God has good things in store for us.