The yearbook staff has informed us that it is time to write a letter to our senior. How do you condense a lifetime of memories into a paragraph? How do you put into words the love that you feel for your child? Here is my best shot:
My Precious Daughter,
I have to admit that I am approaching your graduation with all kinds of conflicting emotions...grief that our time with you at home is coming to a close, yet anticipation for what God has in store for your future. I am so proud of you! Being your mom has been one of the greatest privileges of my life. You are so much fun and so full of life. You are smart, talented, and beautiful. You are loving, and so easy to love. You have joyfully embraced the "craziness" of our big family. What a blessing to watch the relationship you have with your brothers and sisters! There is no doubt you will leave a hole in our hearts and our home when you go away to college. (Yes, even though there will still be 10 people living in this house...it will be lonely without you!)
Above all, I am so thankful for your walk with the Lord. You have attained many great honors and achievements through the years, however, as proud as I am of those successes,
"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth." (III John 1:4)
Despite the tears, please know that I really am excited to see what God has planned for your future, and I can't wait to be a part of it! (...because you know as well as I do, I won't know what to do with a quiet, clean house once all of my kids are grown! ha ha)
As you embark on this new journey before you, my challenge to you is this:
"So, then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." (Col. 2:6-7)
Congratulations on your impending graduation. I wish you the best of all God has for you!
In the words of one of my favorite books...
"I love you forever, I like you for always, as long as I'm living, my baby you'll be!"
Love Always,
Mom
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
He's still speaking...
This morning I was reading in Exodus 3 & 4 about Moses' encounter with God in the burning bush. In this passage, God tells Moses that He has a special task for him. He wants Moses to speak to Pharaoh on behalf of the Israelites. Moses responds that he could never do that! Speaking was not his "gift"...in fact, he was downright terrible at it! God's reply was this: "...Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now, go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say." (Exodus 4:11)
Now, I have read this passage many times and chuckled at Moses' lack of confidence. Surely, if God called me to do something, I would respond the right way...right? WRONG! In fact, God has called me to be a wife to my husband and the mother of 9 children. To be honest, I am not very good at it. Organization does not come naturally to me...neither does cooking...or housekeeping...in fact, like Moses, I often tell God that "I can't do this job!"
God gently reminded me this morning through this story that He is the One who made me. He knows my weaknesses. He will help me accomplish what He has called me to do.
"...If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ..." (I Pet. 4:11)
Now, I have read this passage many times and chuckled at Moses' lack of confidence. Surely, if God called me to do something, I would respond the right way...right? WRONG! In fact, God has called me to be a wife to my husband and the mother of 9 children. To be honest, I am not very good at it. Organization does not come naturally to me...neither does cooking...or housekeeping...in fact, like Moses, I often tell God that "I can't do this job!"
God gently reminded me this morning through this story that He is the One who made me. He knows my weaknesses. He will help me accomplish what He has called me to do.
"...If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ..." (I Pet. 4:11)
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Friday, August 15, 2008
Summer Break(down)
This week my kids started back to school. My fourth grader brought home a note asking that the kids bring something to share with the class that represented how they had spent their summer. We looked at each other and laughed because this has commonly been referred to at our house as our "terrible, horrible, no good, very bad summer." We have comforted each other with the fact that someday we will look back on this summer and have a good laugh. The truth is, we have had some real struggles; but we know that "... in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." (Rom. 8:28)
We knew the summer was getting off on the wrong foot when our air conditioner died. When I say "died," I mean beyond repair; cannot be fixed; i.e. bring out the check book/credit cards. Then, 2 of our 3 vehicles' air conditioning went out. Air conditioning the house was priority over the cars, so we took care of the house...but our 2 cars have been riding through the summer with their windows down...which in Mississippi doesn't really cool you off as much as just mess up your hair and let the mosquitoes in. Then, our riding lawn mower died. Now, we have approx. 1 1/2-2 acres to mow, and while a riding lawn mower is not exactly a necessity...it does help! But, since we had just shelled out for a new air conditioner, the squeeze on our finances called for creative cutting: 2 push lawn mowers. Not fun...but do-able.
Then, the thing that just about pushed us right over the edge...one of my younger kids came home from day camp with lice. Now, let me just say that this is my absolute worst nightmare. Well, when you have nine kids...even if one kid has lice, you have to treat the whole family. So we had to strip all beds and bedding, wash anything that anybody had come in contact with, vacuum EVERYTHING (oh, did I mention that my vacuum cleaner broke, too? Oh, not the whole thing, just the part that allows you to stand up and comfortably walk around while you're vacuuming...so yes, I have been vacuuming on my hands and knees with the little round hose all summer, too!), treat everyone with lice shampoo, and then pick microscopic nits out of their hair. Well, just to give you an idea of how long this process takes...one of the lice shampoo bottles said that it takes 1-2 hours to go through one person's hair properly. Okay, just imagine...I have 10 people to go through, and then I have to find some willing soul to go through my hair. Are you feeling a little of my stress yet?
Well, the instructions on the bottle of shampoo say that all you have to do is shampoo once, pick out any remaining nits, then shampoo 7-10 days later and waa-lah...no more lice. Well, it wasn't quite that easy. Our new pets evidently liked their new home, and they were determined to stay. We began to shampoo every 7-10 days with the pesticide (all the while cleaning, laundering, vacuuming, and nit-picking) to no avail. Finally, I researched the internet, and found that you can break the cycle of persistent nits by smothering them in olive oil. So all of us, from my 6'1" husband down to my 1 mo. old newborn baby had to have olive oil slathered in their hair every 3 days and sleep in it. Well, if you have never before been "anointed with oil," it does not just "stay put" on your head. It rolls down your face, your neck, everywhere. The first time we did it, I asked my hubby to bring home shower caps for everyone to sleep in. Well, the only ones he could find were pink shower caps. Shower caps themselves are not very cool to wear when you are a teenage boy (or a grown man) anyway...but a pink shower cap is the bottom of the barrel! So, to try to be nice to our boys for having to do this...he tried to find a more "manly" alternative. He brought home the black knit caps that you basically see on your stereotypical gang member/hoodlum (yes, they sell these at the local Walmart). Well, unfortunately for the boys (and him), if you have never before tried to be a gang member or hoodlum, you wouldn't know until you tried it on that it is basically like putting black pantyhose on your head. It does nothing for keeping oil from sliding down your face. So, we did get our first real laugh of the summer looking around at each other with 11 pink shower caps on our heads. We were glad we weren't on a reality series that showed what we looked like to the whole world. (Kudos, Jon & Kate!)
So, this continued pretty much all summer long. I cried. I prayed. I cried and prayed. I tried thanking God for the lice. Hey, at least we weren't praying for God to kill cancer cells...just annoying microscopic critters that made your head itch. But, they still wouldn't go away. My husband asked (at the risk of getting smacked) if I had "rejoiced" in the lice yet. He pointed out as nicely as possible that the Bible tells us to "...consider it pure joy when you go through all kinds of trials...". I had thanked God, but I definitely had not rejoiced.
The turning point in my summer break(down) came when I came across the following verse:
"...we were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us. On Him we have set our hope that He will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many." (II Cor. 1:8b-11)
Now, I know that broken air conditioners and lawnmowers and lice are not life-threatening, but I had to admit that I was absolutely overwhelmed. I began to devour God's word this summer more than I have in a very long time. I forgot to mention that another item that broke this summer was our cable...which meant no computer...which was probably a good thing in my life. Time that I normally spent on the computer, was now spent in God's Word. My kids began spending time in God's Word. It became our priority...not an afterthought. So now when I look back on my summer, I have come full circle... I realize that:
" It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees."
( Psalm 119:71)
And, yes, I rejoice in the fact that God got my attention....even if He had to use little critters to do it.
We knew the summer was getting off on the wrong foot when our air conditioner died. When I say "died," I mean beyond repair; cannot be fixed; i.e. bring out the check book/credit cards. Then, 2 of our 3 vehicles' air conditioning went out. Air conditioning the house was priority over the cars, so we took care of the house...but our 2 cars have been riding through the summer with their windows down...which in Mississippi doesn't really cool you off as much as just mess up your hair and let the mosquitoes in. Then, our riding lawn mower died. Now, we have approx. 1 1/2-2 acres to mow, and while a riding lawn mower is not exactly a necessity...it does help! But, since we had just shelled out for a new air conditioner, the squeeze on our finances called for creative cutting: 2 push lawn mowers. Not fun...but do-able.
Then, the thing that just about pushed us right over the edge...one of my younger kids came home from day camp with lice. Now, let me just say that this is my absolute worst nightmare. Well, when you have nine kids...even if one kid has lice, you have to treat the whole family. So we had to strip all beds and bedding, wash anything that anybody had come in contact with, vacuum EVERYTHING (oh, did I mention that my vacuum cleaner broke, too? Oh, not the whole thing, just the part that allows you to stand up and comfortably walk around while you're vacuuming...so yes, I have been vacuuming on my hands and knees with the little round hose all summer, too!), treat everyone with lice shampoo, and then pick microscopic nits out of their hair. Well, just to give you an idea of how long this process takes...one of the lice shampoo bottles said that it takes 1-2 hours to go through one person's hair properly. Okay, just imagine...I have 10 people to go through, and then I have to find some willing soul to go through my hair. Are you feeling a little of my stress yet?
Well, the instructions on the bottle of shampoo say that all you have to do is shampoo once, pick out any remaining nits, then shampoo 7-10 days later and waa-lah...no more lice. Well, it wasn't quite that easy. Our new pets evidently liked their new home, and they were determined to stay. We began to shampoo every 7-10 days with the pesticide (all the while cleaning, laundering, vacuuming, and nit-picking) to no avail. Finally, I researched the internet, and found that you can break the cycle of persistent nits by smothering them in olive oil. So all of us, from my 6'1" husband down to my 1 mo. old newborn baby had to have olive oil slathered in their hair every 3 days and sleep in it. Well, if you have never before been "anointed with oil," it does not just "stay put" on your head. It rolls down your face, your neck, everywhere. The first time we did it, I asked my hubby to bring home shower caps for everyone to sleep in. Well, the only ones he could find were pink shower caps. Shower caps themselves are not very cool to wear when you are a teenage boy (or a grown man) anyway...but a pink shower cap is the bottom of the barrel! So, to try to be nice to our boys for having to do this...he tried to find a more "manly" alternative. He brought home the black knit caps that you basically see on your stereotypical gang member/hoodlum (yes, they sell these at the local Walmart). Well, unfortunately for the boys (and him), if you have never before tried to be a gang member or hoodlum, you wouldn't know until you tried it on that it is basically like putting black pantyhose on your head. It does nothing for keeping oil from sliding down your face. So, we did get our first real laugh of the summer looking around at each other with 11 pink shower caps on our heads. We were glad we weren't on a reality series that showed what we looked like to the whole world. (Kudos, Jon & Kate!)
So, this continued pretty much all summer long. I cried. I prayed. I cried and prayed. I tried thanking God for the lice. Hey, at least we weren't praying for God to kill cancer cells...just annoying microscopic critters that made your head itch. But, they still wouldn't go away. My husband asked (at the risk of getting smacked) if I had "rejoiced" in the lice yet. He pointed out as nicely as possible that the Bible tells us to "...consider it pure joy when you go through all kinds of trials...". I had thanked God, but I definitely had not rejoiced.
The turning point in my summer break(down) came when I came across the following verse:
"...we were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us. On Him we have set our hope that He will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many." (II Cor. 1:8b-11)
Now, I know that broken air conditioners and lawnmowers and lice are not life-threatening, but I had to admit that I was absolutely overwhelmed. I began to devour God's word this summer more than I have in a very long time. I forgot to mention that another item that broke this summer was our cable...which meant no computer...which was probably a good thing in my life. Time that I normally spent on the computer, was now spent in God's Word. My kids began spending time in God's Word. It became our priority...not an afterthought. So now when I look back on my summer, I have come full circle... I realize that:
" It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees."
( Psalm 119:71)
And, yes, I rejoice in the fact that God got my attention....even if He had to use little critters to do it.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
"Hair-doo"
My husband is recovering from the flu. He has been "quarantined" in bed all week, away from the rest of the family in an effort to protect us from catching it. Tonight, he was feeling well enough to join us in the den for a little "family time." He has really missed being with the kids, and in an effort to entertain them (without too much energy exerted on his part)...he consented to allowing my 2 year old play with his hair, while he reclined on the couch. My toddler loved it! He got gel, and a comb, and a brush, and rubbed and brushed and fixed Dad's hair. He was very gentle, and so I think it was relaxing for Dad as well. He would work for a little while, then leave for a few minutes, and then come back and work some more. This went on for about 20-30 minutes. On the last trip out of the room, my 9 year old happened to follow him, and quickly came back yelling: "Mom! Come quick! "C" is dipping the brush and comb in the potty water...and the last person to use it must not have flushed, because the water is YELLOW!!!!" The fact that he was sticking his hands in the yellow potty water was bad enough, but then the realization hit us all about the same time...That's why Dad's hairstyle has the wet look!
Needless to say, Dad ran for the shower while the rest of us fell in the floor laughing.
...Anybody want an appointment with our newest hair stylist? He specializes in the use of "dippity doo."
Needless to say, Dad ran for the shower while the rest of us fell in the floor laughing.
...Anybody want an appointment with our newest hair stylist? He specializes in the use of "dippity doo."
Sunday, September 23, 2007
The List
This weekend, I had to referee an argument between my 8 year old and 6 year old girls. The final blow, however, came when the 8 year old proclaimed vehemently to her younger sister that she was "the worst sister ever!" I had a long talk with my 8 year old about how hurtful her words had been to her sister, and then I gave her a punishment that was worse than any spanking: Write 10 things that you like about your sister...and then read them out loud to her. I thought you might enjoy "The List."
1. She is good at games
2. She is nice sometimes (...I 'm pretty sure she was still mad at this point)
3. She's good at stories
4. She's good at telling the truth
5. She's good at hair stuff
6. She's funny (I hope that was meant as a compliment)
7. She has a great sense of humor (...isn't that the same as #6? Oh well, I let it slide)
8. I would be lonely without her (I think she's starting to "get it")
9. She's good at prettyness
10. She's good at golf (we may be stretching things here, but it's hard to come up with 10 nice things when you're mad!)
The reading of the list worked, and things ended happily...they even piled into the same bed last night to watch a movie.
Lord, help me guard my words this week! Help me to remember to tell the people I love why I love them.
1. She is good at games
2. She is nice sometimes (...I 'm pretty sure she was still mad at this point)
3. She's good at stories
4. She's good at telling the truth
5. She's good at hair stuff
6. She's funny (I hope that was meant as a compliment)
7. She has a great sense of humor (...isn't that the same as #6? Oh well, I let it slide)
8. I would be lonely without her (I think she's starting to "get it")
9. She's good at prettyness
10. She's good at golf (we may be stretching things here, but it's hard to come up with 10 nice things when you're mad!)
The reading of the list worked, and things ended happily...they even piled into the same bed last night to watch a movie.
Lord, help me guard my words this week! Help me to remember to tell the people I love why I love them.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Looking for Love in all the Wrong Places
My daughter and I had a bizarre experience at Walmart this weekend. Normally, because we have a long list and two baskets full of groceries to buy each week, my daughter and I split the list to try to get done a little faster. Well, she had gone to pick up some cokes, but she very quickly found me again and said, "Mom, some guy kept trying to find out my name! I'm staying with you for the rest of the trip." Well, we laughed about it, and went on our way. A few minutes later, I remembered that I wanted to pick up a booster seat for my baby while I was there. Now this is in a totally different area of the store. I didn't think for a minute that a single guy looking for a date would be hanging out in the baby section amongst the car seats and potty training devices, so I talked her into going to see if she could find what I needed. She hadn't been gone but a few minutes when my cell phone started ringing. It was my daughter. "Mom, he's over here! He tried again to talk to me, but I picked up my phone and called you. I'm coming back to you right now!" Now, this was getting a little eerie. This guy was REALLY trying hard. She got back to me pretty quickly, and we both agreed she needed to stick with me for the rest of the shopping trip. As we got back to our groceries, she whispered under her breath, "There he is again!" Sure enough, across the aisle was a young Mexican man with a blue jean shirt and a bright orange cap pretending he was looking for something, but all the while stealing furtive glances at my daughter. We moved along to the next aisle, and again, here came the orange cap. We tried skipping an aisle. He skipped an aisle. No matter where we moved, he moved along with us. I couldn't believe it. We were being stalked! This went on for the entire grocery trip. He didn't have a basket; he never bought a thing, but wherever we went from the dairy products to the kitty litter, he was right down the aisle from us. Finally, he got more bold. Instead of staying across the aisle, he began to walk along behind us on the same aisle. He would always carefully inspect the items on the shelves, but never pick up anything to buy. When we moved along, he would too. Looking back, we should have gone to the feminine products. That might have been humorous to see him checking out the sale price of tampons! My husband called me about this point, and I told him what was going on. He suggested that I call a security guard. At this point, I hated to do that, because he really hadn't done anything to us... he just had an affinity for whatever items were on the aisle we happened to be shopping on. I was afraid I would sound silly saying, "He's looking at us!" Well, to make a long story short, we wrapped things up quickly and headed straight for the check out line. I called my husband to let him know we were finally getting out of there, when who should appear right behind me in line (with nothing in his hands to buy, I might add) but Mr. Orange Cap himself. He waited as long as he could as I chatted to my husband, but finally he could stand it no longer. "Excuse me, ma'am, what is her name?" he asked, pointing at my daughter. I explained to him that I would not give him her name, and even though he asked a second time, I told him in no uncertain terms that she was not available. He looked at her and said, "She is so beautiful! Please tell her I think she is beautiful!" I guess he realized at this point that Momma Bear wasn't going to let him speak with her cub, so he finally gave up and went on his way. We got out of there as quickly as we could, scouring the parking lot for orange caps, and drove away. After several evasive maneuvers on the way home to make sure we weren't being followed, we were thankful to arrive home safe and sound. I think the whole thing rattled both of us, but the more we thought about it, the funnier it got. What was going on in his mind? Did he really think that this episode was going to have a happy ending? Was he really going to find love at Walmart?
Orange Cap: "Pssst, excuse me, what is your name?"
My Daughter: "Sally"* (*name is changed to protect the innocent!)
OC: "You are beautiful! Will you go out with me?"
MD: "Why sure, my parents would have no problem with me giving my phone number to a complete stranger who barely speaks English that I met at Walmart!"
OC: "I know we will be happy together. You know, I am only here for a short while on a work visa."
MD: "Oh, that's alright! I've always wanted to live in another country!"
OR...maybe he noticed that he was rebuffed TWICE by this beautiful young lady, but he thought if he could just win over the mother...he would gain the daughter's affections...
OC: "Excuse me, Ma'am, what is your daughter's name?"
Me: "Well, I know you are a complete stranger, and my daughter is only 16...and you look about 20, but we have always hoped she would find a mature man to marry, so what the heck....her name is Sally*"
OC: "You're daughter is very beautiful, please tell her I said she is beautiful"
(...at this point, my daughter looks at him with a tear glistening on her cheek:)
MD: "He thinks I'm beautiful, Mom! Imagine what he would think of me if I had my makeup on and I was wearing something other than the tee shirt and shorts that I slept in last night!"
Me: "I agree, honey, he's a keeper!"
OC: "By the way, Ma'am, I am here for only a short time on a work visa"
MD: "Oh, that's okay! Her Dad will be just THRILLED when I tell him that we gave her name and number to a complete stranger at Walmart, and on top of that...he may take her off to Mexico with him to live happily ever after!"
Funny, huh? Okay, so I guess the moral of this story is "don't look for love in a discount store...because you'll probably get what you paid for."
Orange Cap: "Pssst, excuse me, what is your name?"
My Daughter: "Sally"* (*name is changed to protect the innocent!)
OC: "You are beautiful! Will you go out with me?"
MD: "Why sure, my parents would have no problem with me giving my phone number to a complete stranger who barely speaks English that I met at Walmart!"
OC: "I know we will be happy together. You know, I am only here for a short while on a work visa."
MD: "Oh, that's alright! I've always wanted to live in another country!"
OR...maybe he noticed that he was rebuffed TWICE by this beautiful young lady, but he thought if he could just win over the mother...he would gain the daughter's affections...
OC: "Excuse me, Ma'am, what is your daughter's name?"
Me: "Well, I know you are a complete stranger, and my daughter is only 16...and you look about 20, but we have always hoped she would find a mature man to marry, so what the heck....her name is Sally*"
OC: "You're daughter is very beautiful, please tell her I said she is beautiful"
(...at this point, my daughter looks at him with a tear glistening on her cheek:)
MD: "He thinks I'm beautiful, Mom! Imagine what he would think of me if I had my makeup on and I was wearing something other than the tee shirt and shorts that I slept in last night!"
Me: "I agree, honey, he's a keeper!"
OC: "By the way, Ma'am, I am here for only a short time on a work visa"
MD: "Oh, that's okay! Her Dad will be just THRILLED when I tell him that we gave her name and number to a complete stranger at Walmart, and on top of that...he may take her off to Mexico with him to live happily ever after!"
Funny, huh? Okay, so I guess the moral of this story is "don't look for love in a discount store...because you'll probably get what you paid for."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
