What's it like?

Anybody wanna take a stab at how long Craig has worked for Regions Bank?  Anybody?

Here's the answer: 13 years.  Craig's career pretty much 'grew up' working for the bank.  Starting next week, that will change.  Craig will be an employee of Southland Benefits Solutions.

The change comes after a couple of years of looking for a job here in town . . . well, sort of.  He wasn't really actively looking.  We were all just kind of keeping our eyes and ears open to any opportunities that might arise.  A few things came here and there, but until now, nothing popped up that seemed to work out.  So, starting next week, he'll be the new technical guru for Southland.

Most people know that Craig has been driving back and forth to Birmingham for the past several years with his work as a programmer for Regions.  Its a trip that all of us probably make from time to time, either to shop or eat at a special restaurant, but could you imagine making that drive everyday?  It's been a big source of inconvenience, car maintenance, and gas, not to mention just the thought of being an hour and 1/2 (almost) away from your family all day, every day.  My nightmarish thoughts usually turned to, "What if an emergency happened and it took him that long to get home?" 

Ok, so we're all happy Craig found a job in Tuscaloosa.  We'll enjoy him being closer to home and having lunch picnics on our blanket in Capitol Park.

 Screeeech . . .

What do you think about that last question I would occasionally think to myself?  Yeah, the one about the emergency, getting home, etc.  Let's say I asked you about the convenience of being WITH your family, all day everyday.  And let's say I asked you, oh, I don't know . . . what if you WEREN'T with your family at any time of the day, everyday?  Can most of you picture yourselves not seeing your family for months on end?  What about knowing that your wife if about to deliver your first baby, and you know you can't be there?  Not because you can't get there because you can't make it in an hour and 1/2, but because she's here safely tucked away in a hospital in the states, and you're stuck in a Humvee in Afghanistan.  I mean, really . . . what does that feel like?  What's it like to be the soldier, and what's it like to be the spouse, the kid, the parent . . . am I making my point?

So, here's the deal:  while I'm in my home with my kids waiting on my hard-working husband to come home everyday, I'm gonna be a little more thankful.  I'm also gonna be a little more appreciative to the sacrifice that a lot of people I know of make.  The inspiration for this blog comes from a couple of Facebook friends, Ken and Mitzi Cockrell.  She's the proud mama that stays home with three little boys, and Ken is the awesome soldier-man who loves his family, but makes that big sacrifice.  There's also Robby Davis,  who's another brave fighter that was away from his family for a year.  I won't leave out Mike Little, who I know also came back from Afghanistan a couple of months ago to his new bride, Margaret.  I could go on and on, but those of us who have never experienced this kind of employment have no idea what kinds of things these families deal with. 

To all of you who do this for the rest of us, I send out my sincere appreciation and a big ol' 'THANK YOU'.  You're all awesome, I mean, really . . . AWESOME. 

Love,

 

This Precious Child

I have seen God work today.  We've all had 'those' experiences.  The times when we've cried out and then we've seen the hand of God move as only his can.  Are those not the sweetest times?  When you can look up and smile and almost see his face lovingly staring back at you?

Yes, we've all had them, but I have to tell you of mine.  Last night, as we were attending the Ronald McDonald House benefit gala, I checked my phone for any messages.  My parents had the kids, so I just like to check from time to time and make sure that the walls haven't collapsed and know that everybody is still all in one piece.  We were done with our jobs for the night so I took a minute to check Facebook.  I'm friends with a sweet girl in Texas named Vanessa.  She and I have a special bond.  We both beat significant odds and gave birth to conjoined twin girls.  Vanessa and her husband, Jason, are in the process of trying to adopt a little boy with the same skin disease that little Tripp has (Vanessa is actually how I found out about sweet Tripp).  From time to time, she learns of other children waiting for adoption, and a week or so ago, she posted about a little girl named Liliana.  Her post literally, actually broke. my. heart.

Liliana is 11 years old, has down syndrome and weighs ten pounds.  My friends, that isn't a typo.  She weighs ten pounds.  She is in an orphanage right now that puts as much value on children with mental disease as I put on the dirt on the bottom of my shoe.  Its disgusting.  She and about nine other children have been wasting away in that horrible place.  A place where she isn't fed, lays in a 'metal cage' (according to Adeye's post), and apparently isn't exposed to any kind of love or affection.  Its hard to understand how these conditions are allowed, but somehow they are. . . and of course, that's a whole different post to write about.  I clicked the link that Vanessa provided and started reading about Liliana, and about this lady named 'Adeye'.  She has started a desperate attempt to raise funds for this little girl's adoption.  Apparently, (I haven't read all of the details), there is a family to take this precious girl, but funds were an issue.

As I read Liliana's story and looked at her pictures, I began to cry.  I just couldn't believe something this atrocious was happening to a person . . . and a child, at that.  If this were an animal, some crazy protest group would be all over it, but there's no urgency here.  There's SO MANY children in these circumstances.  Anyway, since reading more of her story last night, I've been praying nonstop for the Lord to somehow intervene in this (I'm providing the link to her story below).  Daisee woke up around midnight last night and she didn't want to lay back down in her crib.  I took her out (which I NEVER do.  She usually puts herself back to sleep in a minute or two) and went to rock her.  As I rocked her and rubbed up and down her chubby legs, I prayed to Jesus that somehow, just somehow, Liliana would feel it, too.  I know it sounds silly, but my thoughts for this little girl were so consuming.  All I wanted was to know that somehow she would feel the arms of her heavenly father reaching for her and holding her little fragile body.  I have to believe in my heart that babies and children have a sense for Jesus that we can't understand. Just something or someway that allows them to understand him and experience his love in ways that, to us, maybe wouldn't even make sense.  In the bible, Jesus talks about children and their importance (Matthew 19:14) so I can just imagine him, in his grace and mercy, providing that kind of security for a helpless, unwanted child. 

This morning, I checked Vanessa's Facebook page again.  I covered my mouth with my hands when I read that in ONE DAY, Liliana's adoption had been COMPLETELY funded, and there was a family that was prepared, ready and approved to take her home.  I have no idea when this will actually take place, but I get the sense that its in the not-so-far-away future.  THANK GOD that this sweet girl has a way out.  Praise the Lord for the answered prayer.  I mean, PRAISE THE LORD!

I'm so unbelievable happy for Liliana.  However, my heart still breaks for the countless number of children still in these situations.  This is happening all around us, and my main comfort right now is knowing that, one day, the Lord is coming back.  He's coming back, and he's gonna gather all of these precious souls and show them the kind of love that they each deserve.  And its not gonna be for a day or two.  People, its forever.  How wonderful of a day will that be?!  I hope I'm close by to see the faces of those sweet babies as he takes them all into his arms.

I'm providing the link (http://www.nogreaterjoymom.com/) for anybody who is brave enough to read this little girl's story.  Its hard to read, and the pictures are even harder to see, but its reality.  Hopefully, enough people will see this and decide to do something.  I don't know what, just something.  God calls each of us to do something different.  Just listen and see what he wants for you.

Praising Jesus today,

Homeschool has (began, begun) . . . pick one

Yeah, you got the jist of it?

We've been in the throes of school for a week now, and ooooohhh, the joys.  I mean, why not?  How awesome is it to rise from your pillowtop mattress at, oh, I don't know, 8:30?   You then make your way down the stairs to your gourmet breakfast of A) Captain Crunch B) Pop Tarts C) whatever crumbs Daisee has left in her wake of bobble-headedness.  Once you inhale your meal and manage to clear your windpipe of your food remnants, you then simply walk to school.  Not another building.  Just kinda . . . uh, down the hall.  Not to mention (sshh . . .), you're still in your (wait for it, wait for it . . . )PAJAMAS!  Its the good life.  I've just gotta say it . . . the GOOD LIFE.

The boys are doing fabulous.  They've already gotten into the swing of things, and the adjustment time has been nothing like it was last year.  According to them, last year was going to be a big party.  I'm sayin', a hang-the-balloons-and-live-like-Pippi-Longstocking kind of party.  It took some pretty serious talks and steam blowin' to make them realize that this was for real.   This time, though, its been a go for them from day one.  They've been reasonably serious about their work, and I'm nothing but proud of them.

Co-op started this past Friday.  I don't know what in the world it is about co-op, but that is their life-ring in the big sea of homeschool.  They absolutely love it.  Ryan jumps in his classes feet first and is great about participating with discussions and all that jazz, which is something I thought I'd never live to see him do.  It's just hard to get him to talk in a setting that has more than, oh, himself and a wall.  I mean, not really, but unless its just him and his buddies shootin' the bull, it ain't happenin'.  Gavin, too.  Those of you that really know him know how what a hard adjustment it was for him to start kindergarten a few years ago.  He would never DREAM of talking to someone he didn't know.  Nowadays, though, he's just like a little social butterfly. 

Ryan is all into the Civil Air Patrol cadet program.  He got one of his uniforms last week.  It's a battle dress uniform, and it makes him look like he's about to head off overseas somewhere.  I'm talkin' combat boots and all . . .the sho' nuff real things.  ASK ME what that does to a mama's heart . . . to see her twelve-year-old wearing that get-up.  Not to mention that he actually WANTS a career in the military.  A Navy pilot, to be exact.  I'm proud of him and all, but, sheesh . . . do I NEED to say more? Honestly, though, the CAP program seems like such a perfect fit for him.  It teaches self-discipline, respect for authority, a little bit of survival training . . . a whole spectrum of beneficial information.  I'm tickled that he's so excited about it.

We're not really sure, right now, about what Gavin's 'extra-curricular' is gonna be.  He wants to try and play Upward basketball this winter, so we'll definitely encourage that.  Right now, he just lives for co-op . . . and for church.  The boy loves some church, and he LOVES his Jesus. Just ask him. He'll tell you, and THAT, my friends, also makes for ONE. HAPPY. MAMA.  When we went to camp, his little goal he set was to tell our whole neighborhood about Jesus.  Tissue, anyone?

Sweet Daisee . . . she'll be starting Dayschool next week, and she'll have a lovely time.  I think she's gonna blow some people away with her ever-expanding little vocabulary she's got goin' on.  My favorite phrase?  The 'thank you, you're welcome' in the same little sentence.  Oh, so precious.

That's it.  Stay tuned for more adventures, 'cause they will ABSOLUTELY arrive.  Just wait and see.

Love,

School Bell's A Ringin' . . .

It's time.  We were going to wait another couple of weeks, but oooohhhh . . . it's time. 

Did you ever think that your kids would actually admit to being bored during the summer?  Did you ever think you'd look at them, they'd look at you, and they'd say, "When are we starting school"?  Really?  You didn't?  Well, me either.  And it hasn't actually happened that way, but Ryan did admit to being bored with TV (and the heavens glowed and shouted the 'Hallelujah' chorus . . .) and that never, EVER happens. 

I think that, up until a week ago, we were so on-the-go that nobody even had time to think, let alone be bored.  When this past Monday arrived, though, things got quiet . . . except for the TV and Xbox.  It was too bloomin' hot to do anything outside and I needed some quality time with my toilet brush and broom so keeping the roads hot just wasn't gonna happen this week.

All was well until yesterday, when 'Pair of Kings' just wasn't gonna cut it anymore.  It was then that I decided . . . that its time.  But you know what?  I don't think they care!  I really think my munchkins are ready, too!  I mean, how exciting is that?! 

This is our second year of homeschool.  We had a few bumps last year, but hopefully some of the kinks are worked out and we can feel a little more confident.  Our school room has been painted a nice, bright color (thank you, Dan . . .)

and the instructor's tools are all in place, complete with even the classroom pet.  Co-op will begin on Friday, and the kids (Gavin, especially) are totally psyched about getting back with their buddies there. Ryan has entered the Civil Air Patrol cadet program, and that's going to give him all sorts of opportunities to explore the career he thinks he wants to have, which is being a Navy pilot someday.   Daisee will begin dayschool five days a week (1/2 days) and, voila!  Hello, routine!  So NICE to see you again!

I have to tell you how thankful I am to my fabulous, understanding, helpful, and totally supportive husband.  He's the absolute BEST!  He's never questioned my abilities in being able to do this, and I couldn't do it without his help . . . especially when it comes to that middle school math.  God has blessed us with an income that allows me to stay home with the kids and give them that one-on-one time that is really proving to be exactly what they needed, and I truly count my blessings in that.  We really believe that this is God's perfect plan for our family and I'm thrilled to see what he has planned for us in the future.

So, let us all begin our school year next week with a big "heave-ho" and we'll all work toward next May . . . or we'll think short-term and just go for Christmas break for now!

Best wishes for a GLORIOUS year!  Stay tuned for all the exciting details!

Love,