Little Bit is turning 5

Holden's big 5 year old birthday is on Easter Sunday.  He certainly has big things planned for himself this year. 
1.  Learn to swim
2.  Learn to read
3.  Learn to ride his bike without training wheels
4.  Blow a bubble with bubble gum

He has already accomplished 3 and 4... now as soon as Sunday arrives we can start working on 1 and 2!  (Some he is a little more eager about!)

He is already quite a big boy.  He must have his clothing picked out that he is 100% happy with, and he absolutely MUST have his hair wet, gelled and fixed perfectly every day before he leaves the house.  It is a little obsessive, quite honestly, but that is just Holden.  He brings so much joy to our hearts.  Thankful to celebrate his birthday Sunday!

Trip of a Lifetime...

I was blessed enough to experience the trip of a lifetime.  My mother-in-law took me along with her on a trip to England and Morocco.  After an orientation and a little touring in London, we flew into Morocco. What a true joy to get to experience life on the field in Morocco.  We met some of the most amazing families I have ever met, who have given up all the luxuries of living in the US, freedom from religious persecution, and closeness to family and friends. They have given this up to share the gift of truth about Christ to a desperate people.  Millions of Muslims are Muslim just because they are born into it.  There is no freedom to choose.  They are suppressed and deemed worthless, uneducated and desperate for Truth! 

What do I sacrifice to share this Truth that I know... Nothing!  Yet I do not share enough!  Lord, give me the strength to not be ashamed of sharing about Christ because I worry how others perceive me.

Next stop...Chesapeake VA

I finally got my laptop working again!  Yay!  So now I can write, write, write!  It's been quite a while and a lot has happened!  Lots of birthdays, lots of growing up, and a new assignment for us. 

After four years in Charleston, we will depart at the end of June for Chesapeake VA.  Russ will be working in Portsmouth, but we have found the schools to be better in Chesapeake, so Voila!  Next hurdle, find a house in a non-renters market.  I'm not worried yet... God knows our next house, He has a plan for us, and I trust that it will be revealed to us in His timing.  That is kinda huge for me, because at this point of uncertainty, I am usually a wreck.  Worrying about everything!
Ain't nobody got time for that! hee hee!

We are not eager to leave Charleston. We love it here, and love our church, and we finally feel like we have a place here.  The boys are really starting to have friends all around, and we just feel like we fit here... however, we will start over in Virginia this summer.  Russ has 3 years left in the Coast Guard until he can retire.  Most days, he says that he is 99% sure that is exactly what he is going to do.  However, we are also not stupid.  Who knows right now where and what God wants for us.  Maybe we will be back in Charleston, or maybe He will lead us somewhere else.  One day at a time.  It's all I can handle. ;-)

Been a While

I just realized that it has been 6 months since I have written. Our computers are crazy and evry time I try to type, somehow I delete everything I have written and then I just get frustrated. I am going to try using a different method, and see how that goes. I like to write. I like to get things out of my head and into writing, because then maybe I can: number one, remember that feeling or event and how it affected me, or number two, help someone else know they are not alone, or number three, make someone laugh. I'd rather laugh, but apparently, life is not always funny!

When God says...NO

Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:3-5

It is no secret that it was one of my greatest desires to have a daughter. After our third boy, I grieved not having a daughter, because 3 children was all the children we were planning to have. I grieved not having “girl time”, someone to huff and puff with about having to watch too much football, a girl to be “crafty” with, to go shopping with, to get manicures/pedicures with, to be able to relate to! Then, Russ, in his precious heart and desire to not see me hurt, said… “it’s not over, we can try again”… And we did. However, I knew that this was it! I was not going to read any ridiculous books on how/when to have sex to be able to choose the gender of my baby. I had my awesome God, and he knew the desires of my heart. HE would give me the girl, not standing on my head, or only being intimate with my husband on a certain day! He alone would give us that girl.

After two miscarriages, God blessed us with another healthy child! In faith, we gave away all of our boys stuff, as the fourth was going to be the girl. I mean, this was my last chance, right? No one was more surprised than me, when God said, “No!” Another sweet boy! I am not going to lie, it was a little hard to get used to, as I had faith that I would have a daughter. But, precious Holden came into our lives and he is a precious mess. He shows his love for me probably more than all the boys combined.

So, that was it! God said, “no!” Almost four years have passed. Four years to accept that God has blessed me with four healthy boys. Four years of people saying, “Be glad, girls are so much harder!” and “Boys are easy!” and “Look at the bright side, you don’t have to pay for any weddings!”
Number one, let me just tell you, life with four boys, is HARD! The fighting and competitiveness is unbearable at times. If two are oil, the other two are water… then it switches. Number two, boys are not easy! They still have drama, and hormones. Number three, I am a party planner. That is what I enjoy doing, and the greatest day of my kids lives, I will not be a part of planning.

I thought I had a peace with this. I thought I had contentment. When people would ask me if we were “done”, I would reply, “Yes!, Most likely!” My heart has been open to adoption, or fostering, but I do not know what that looks like, and with four children, we certainly do not have an over abundance of finances to use for adoption. But, I guess just having in my mind, that God can make it happen, if it is His plan, I have not worried with those details. Just knowing that the possibility is there has helped me be content.

Recently, several friends have become pregnant, and one in particular Satan has used to rock me. She too, had this great desire for a girl. After 2 boys, she begged her husband to try again, and after a while, they did. She would say how desperately she wanted a daughter, and I would tell her, (in that oh so spiritual tone), “Well, God gives us what is best! And having all boys is really special!” etc… Who am I trying to minister to… hmmmm… myself!
Well, God said, “Yes!” to her. Wait… What? How did that happen? The responses of congratulations just chisel into my heart, “Oh, so happy that God gave you the desire of your heart!” and “Girls are so much fun and sweet!” the list goes on and on. So wait a minute… what about my greatest desire?

So as I sit here, crying, praying, writing out my thoughts and confessing my selfishness and ungodliness, what now? I honestly do not know. I am just praying that I will focus on how much God does love me, and how He uses all things for good, and that He can give me peace, and take away my tears. That I am so blessed and thankful for four healthy boys, and I pray that I can be the kind of mother to them that God would have me to be. I pray that God will use them to become great Godly leaders! I pray that although I cannot see Gods plan for my tomorrow, that I can have the faith to trust Him today. I pray that I will put off envy and rejoice with those who rejoice! I pray that I will put off the sin of discontentment, and put on contentment.

Hebrews 13:5
Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

James 3:14-16
But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.

1 Corinthians 12:26
And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

Summer Rocks

Do you love summer as much as I love summer? 'Cause I LOVE summer! I believe I have done a good job keeping the boys busy when on the way to the beach for the 7th time in a week and a half, the boys say, "The BEACH! AGAIN?" ahhhh, I have worn them out. They are begging for a stay home and do nothing day! You got it boys! But I still heart summer!

Holden turning 3

I cannot believe my sweet "baby" is turning 3! He was determined to have a Woody cake... not Buzz, but Woody! So here it is!

Relax!

This past weekend I went to Wilmington for a little mother/daughter time. Wow! She was all about spoiling me rotten! She set up a massage, manicure, pedicure... I did not know what to do with all the pampering! I had to get over the fact that I worried so about my masseuse! Does she get pampered, does she get to enjoy being on the receiving side of her awesome work? I sure hope so! Once I became an official noodle, I was over feeling guilty... just relaxed! My fingernails look better than they have in years... not to mention my poor neglected... for oh so long... feet! I am quite sure Mylee (sp?) is THE BEST nail person in Wilmington!

The weekend was also filled with food, food, and more food! Indochine, Terazzos, and Smithfields. WoW! Lots of talk time with my mom, yummy food, and fun. It was a little weird being without my boys and Russ, but I am thankful for a family who loves me and wanted to give me a weekend off. It certainly does refresh the mind, body and spirit!
Blessed!!!

Praying for Zack

I have shared with anyone that will listen about the sweet boy Zack Mayo, who is from my hometown of Wilmington, NC, who is suffering from cancer. I follow his families CaringBridge site and our family prays for them. His mom is such a precious testimony for how God wants us to cry out to Him in our pain, so that He may give us comfort. This is a posting she had a week or so ago that really spoke to my heart.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011 10:26 PM, EST
Revival in Zack’s Room…The hospital is under “flu season watch”. This means if you are under the age of 14, they think you are a flu carrier and you are not allowed to enter the units. So Nick can’t be in Zack’s room which means we can’t all be together. Before “flu season watch” he had to have his temperature checked upon entering the unit. By the way, I think they should make adults get their temperature checked….I hear them hacking all over this hospital and nobody is freaking out about that. ( Am I the only one who ever notices that when adults are sick they say “it’s my allergies”. Hmmmmm?) Any way Mayo and I have to switch off. He was here all day and night yesterday. I have been here all day and will spend the night tonight. (Never fear – we have family on the way -arriving tomorrow to help as I type this).

Last night I had quite the pity party about Zack’s n/g tube which was not a good prelude to being here alone with him today. I got really nervous when the doctors started telling me various numbers, tests etc…..but I got really freaked out when I “googled” what they were talking about!! (Google is not always a good thing.) See – usually Mayo and I bounce off each other and remind each other how doctors always have to tell us the absolute worst case scenarios and how we have to stay positive, focused and trust God. But he wasn’t here to remind me all that and I didn’t do such a good job saying it to myself. As a result, for the first time in a while, I was really, really scared. I’m talking the kind of scared where your throat is dry and your stomach is knotted up but you know you can’t lose it because then your child will be scared so then you just get nauseous. So I did the only things I knew I could do to relieve my feeling of helplessness. First, I asked my momma to come to Cincinnati. Next, I sent out a prayer APB to my prayer warriors!! (Love me some technology!!!) Then, I prayed and I got in the Word and I spoke Word Out Loud – for a couple of hours!! I’m talking WOW – the kind of praying that makes you feel invincible! I put on the whole armor of God as this battle is still raging! I read so much scripture out loud praying over my child. Then I logged in and read your prayers out loud and your encouraging scriptures out loud! That’s right! We had a REVIVAL in Zack’s room – complete with some great music. (I even got an AMEN from the housekeeper) I’m sure the nurses think I’m a Jesus Freak and Zack thinks I’m a little crazy but when he’s all grown up and witnessing to people, he will be able to say “my momma prayed scripture over me daily and one day she got started and I didn’t think she would ever stop.” And I’ll be ok with that.

Have you ever prayed that way? If not – I highly recommend it! When I was done, I wasn’t scared anymore. And bonus – I feel closer to God than I have ever felt in my life. “Greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world”!!! ~ 1 John 4:4 He has overcome the world!! My family and I are so very thankful to be trusting God and to be God’s property. And by the way, I’m still wearing the armor. Thank you all for always lifting us up.


I LOVE IT!!! The faith and perseverance and the love and bravery.

Love Song

Last weekend I got to go visit my mom and Tim in Wilmington. It was filled with pampering and fun. However, on my way there and my way home, I had a lot of just "me" time. I enjoyed spending that "me" time with the Lord, and listening to podcasts and a rediscovered Third Day CD. One song on the Third Day really touched me, and when I found out the name of the song, it makes so much sense. 'Love Song' as in a love song from Jesus! WOW! I do not know about you, but back in the day when I would make a "mix tape" for that someone special, I think about how much thought and feeling went into me trying to express how truly, madly and deeply I felt about that person. This song spoke to me because it is exactly what Jesus did for me... loved me so much that he died for me. This love song is written for you too!

Show and Tell

I found this bible at Barnes and Noble before Christmas and immediately, it went on my wish list. Thank you to Russ's mom and dad for this gift! I love this family bible so much that I wanted to share it with everyone!

Every page to every other page has blue side bars. These sidebars have a scripture verse for you to read, and then questions for you to answer and discuss. There is then a short path or a long path for you to take to go to the next page.

We read this each night at the dinner table while the kids are finishing up eating. They look forward to it and really enjoy this discussion time. I love love love this family bible, and highly recommend it to everyone with kids ages 4 and up! Great family time coupled with great bible learning = BLESSED!

Forced Surprise Christmas Joy!

For the past couple of days, late in the evening, the UPS man has been making a stop to deliver some Christmas orders. Not sure if anyone has had my same experience, but sometimes Amazon will ship out a box that has a big ole picture of the product on the side. So, Russ and I have been trying to meet Mr. UPS at the door and not let the kids get a glimpse of the boxes.

Well, Landon has about as much self control as an dieter in Krispy Kreme (in case you have never had to diet, that equals 0), and he is so beyond hyped up this holiday season. Soooooo, when the truck is in the neighborhood, Landon knows it and he is at the door screaming, "IT IS THE DELIVERY MAN!!!"

To which, I am in another room yelling, "DO NOT GO TO THE DOOR!"

TO which HE IGNORES!

Then I continue, "I AM SERIOUS LANDON! GET AWAY FROM THE DOOR!!!"

Ignored!

Until I finally yell, "I WILL TAKE BACK EVERYTHING AND YOU WILL NOT HAVE CHRISTMAS! I WILL CALL SANTA! I MEAN IT!" Extreme? Possibly! ;-)

Russ started making fun of me and my extreme "holiday cheer" saying, "YOU WILL HAVE A SURPRISE ON CHRISTMAS MORNING, BUT YOU WILL NOT HAVE JOY UNTIL THEN...OR NO CHRISTMAS FOR YOU!"

Ok, I see that I may be a little too controlling when it comes to forced family fun! I just want them to be surprised, but I guess it does not really matter when they are surprised, right?

Praying for Zack

Landon and I watched this video this morning, and I stood their sobbing like a broken child! It is unbelievable how far this little boy has come, God is amazing! I am so touched by the unwavering faith that his family holds onto, they have truly claimed God's Word every step of their journey thus far. Amazing testimony for Him!

Also, I as I stood watching, I was reminded that when all things seem to be going well and "normal", it can all change in the blink of an eye! We are not guaranteed tomorrow, not even an hour from now. So thankful for the gift of health, my family, for four crazy, drive me insane boys, and for this day!

Fishing with Math...

This afternoon Landon was working on a homework math worksheet and was having trouble with some of the problems that were on there that he had not yet learned. He asked Blake to help him with the sheet, and Blake agreed. So, Landon asked Blake what the answer was to one of the questions, and Blake replied, "Landon, I will not tell you the answer! ... If you give a man a fish, he will eat for one day. If you teach a man to fish he will eat forever!"

Hmmmmm!

Kill Santa?

This afternoon Blake informed me that he needed to speak with me in "private"! So we went into another room and he very seriously informed me that he thought in order to preserve his brothers' beliefs that Christmas is about the birth of Christ and NOT all about Santa, he thought we should... "metaphorically of course!" KILL SANTA.

To which I replied just as calmly and seriously... "Blake, we are not going to kill Santa."

He said, "OK, I just really wish Nicki Sprecklemieier had not told me the truth in
2nd grade!"

;-(