Four or five bridesmaids in navy blue, the maid of honor in orange. Groomsmen in navy with orange cummerbunds or ties.
The bride enters riding a white steed, its mane dyed orange for the occasion.
The groom waiting at the front of the church, smiling at his bride.
Tim and Christi. TLA.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Sunday, November 06, 2011
Gratitude
I saw, not too long ago, a friend's post on Facebook, that said something to the effect of this: We aren't doing Thanksgiving this year... just don't have the money.
While I'm sure this person meant that their budget wasn't going to allow a big Thanksgiving feast, my first thought was how sad that was... that they weren't going to do Thanksgiving at all. Thanksgiving has nothing to do with turkeys or feasts, really, does it? It's an attitude - an attitude of the heart - and one that shouldn't be limited to just one day a year, anyway. Or even a month.
Indeed, Paul calls us to be thankful in all circumstances. Not only that, but it's God's will for us to be thankful in all circumstances. Every day, every hour, for every blessing, for every test.
When Grace is driving me nuts because she talks non-stop, I need to remember how thankful I am for her intelligence, humor, and health, especially given I was advised to terminate my pregnancy with her because it was likely she'd have Downs.
When Robert has to travel for his job and be away from us for awhile, I need to remember that this new job is allowing us to pay for a number of new financial obligations we have now - including dental work, Joshua's braces, and more.
When the scale doesn't move (or doesn't move in the right direction), I need to be thankful that I live in a place where the availability of food - and all kinds of it - is not an issue for us.
When I have to drive to a nearby town to worship with the body that God has called us to, I need to remember that many other believers around the world have to worship in secret, often walking many miles and with great fear because of the persecution that is still very real in our world today.
When the house is in constant disarray and I feel overwhelmed in keeping it up, I need to remember how God gave me this exact house and how He has showered blessings down upon us... many, many more blessings than challenges.
I could go on and on. So could, I suspect, you. So let me hear it... how are you thankful in the midst of a challenge in your life?
While I'm sure this person meant that their budget wasn't going to allow a big Thanksgiving feast, my first thought was how sad that was... that they weren't going to do Thanksgiving at all. Thanksgiving has nothing to do with turkeys or feasts, really, does it? It's an attitude - an attitude of the heart - and one that shouldn't be limited to just one day a year, anyway. Or even a month.
Indeed, Paul calls us to be thankful in all circumstances. Not only that, but it's God's will for us to be thankful in all circumstances. Every day, every hour, for every blessing, for every test.
When Grace is driving me nuts because she talks non-stop, I need to remember how thankful I am for her intelligence, humor, and health, especially given I was advised to terminate my pregnancy with her because it was likely she'd have Downs.
When Robert has to travel for his job and be away from us for awhile, I need to remember that this new job is allowing us to pay for a number of new financial obligations we have now - including dental work, Joshua's braces, and more.
When the scale doesn't move (or doesn't move in the right direction), I need to be thankful that I live in a place where the availability of food - and all kinds of it - is not an issue for us.
When I have to drive to a nearby town to worship with the body that God has called us to, I need to remember that many other believers around the world have to worship in secret, often walking many miles and with great fear because of the persecution that is still very real in our world today.
When the house is in constant disarray and I feel overwhelmed in keeping it up, I need to remember how God gave me this exact house and how He has showered blessings down upon us... many, many more blessings than challenges.
I could go on and on. So could, I suspect, you. So let me hear it... how are you thankful in the midst of a challenge in your life?
Wednesday, November 02, 2011
Out of the mouth of my babe
Otherwise entitled: The influence grandmas have on their grandchildren.
So I might have flipped out a bit, when, about a month ago, my husband dropped the bomb on me that his next work adventure to Montana would be three weeks long. He had been going a week here and a week there for a few visits, and I found those weeks to be quite the challenge. I don't think I'd ever make a good single mom. My hat goes off to those women whose husbands fight for our freedoms in the military - I don't know how they do it. I can't even handle him being gone a week or two at a time.
Anyway, I decided to take my mom up on an offer to help and asked her to come. She landed here in the middle of last week - partway into Ro's second week away. The first of this three-week jaunt was really, REALLY bad. Everything seemed to fall apart. You may remember my pity-party blog from that time. It was rough. The second week started off a bit better, and of course, you know that my mom was a big help, if nothing else, with entertaining my very emotional and energetic five year old. She read her many, many stories, carried on endless conversations, helped her dress and clean and eat and all that.
A few days after Mom got here, Ro was able to come home for his conjugal visit. We were so excited to see him and gathered around the dinner table for a family meal. In the middle of the meal, Grace loudly announced, "And dad... whatever you do... you don't want to piss Memaw off!"
Ahem.
The following day Ro and I were at work in Grace's room assembling her new bed. The thing took up the majority of her room, and Grace was sitting on the outskirts, near the door, watching us, when she said, "Yep. That's a damn good-looking bed."
And then we had to have a talk with Memaw.
I'm just glad she didn't tell the pastor on Sunday that he preached a damn good sermon, I guess.
So I might have flipped out a bit, when, about a month ago, my husband dropped the bomb on me that his next work adventure to Montana would be three weeks long. He had been going a week here and a week there for a few visits, and I found those weeks to be quite the challenge. I don't think I'd ever make a good single mom. My hat goes off to those women whose husbands fight for our freedoms in the military - I don't know how they do it. I can't even handle him being gone a week or two at a time.
Anyway, I decided to take my mom up on an offer to help and asked her to come. She landed here in the middle of last week - partway into Ro's second week away. The first of this three-week jaunt was really, REALLY bad. Everything seemed to fall apart. You may remember my pity-party blog from that time. It was rough. The second week started off a bit better, and of course, you know that my mom was a big help, if nothing else, with entertaining my very emotional and energetic five year old. She read her many, many stories, carried on endless conversations, helped her dress and clean and eat and all that.
A few days after Mom got here, Ro was able to come home for his conjugal visit. We were so excited to see him and gathered around the dinner table for a family meal. In the middle of the meal, Grace loudly announced, "And dad... whatever you do... you don't want to piss Memaw off!"
Ahem.
The following day Ro and I were at work in Grace's room assembling her new bed. The thing took up the majority of her room, and Grace was sitting on the outskirts, near the door, watching us, when she said, "Yep. That's a damn good-looking bed."
And then we had to have a talk with Memaw.
I'm just glad she didn't tell the pastor on Sunday that he preached a damn good sermon, I guess.
Tuesday, November 01, 2011
Waiting for the storm to come
... and trying not to eat while I wait.
Funny how life is. I thought I'd have all this extra time when Grace started school. It is not to be. I still can't keep up with things and I spend as much time in the car it seems as I do at home, shuffling 3 kids to 3 schools and all the related errands.
Maybe I'll have it next year when she goes full-day?
Not likely. I'm sure something else will come up.
But, as I'm sure you would've guessed, she is eating up kindergarten. She loves everything about it. Her teacher says she wishes they were all like Grace. (That's because she only has her for a couple hours a day and she's on her best behavior. Ha!) She has met all the kindergarten benchmarks already and is loving every minute of it.
Joshua and Christianne and school? Well, as Josh would say, "Meh." Neither enjoys it all that much, really, which kind of saddens me because I always loved school.
Robert's been traveling to Montana way too much the past couple of months. He comes home on Friday and there is not another trip in sight (that he's told me of, anyway!). It will be so awesome to have him home every night. I am so not a good single mom.
And that's Wiggy life in a nutshell.
I keep looking out the window, waiting for the first flurries to start. Part of me hopes it's a good snow-day-caliber storm, but I don't think it will be. We got that last week. And I have to take my mom to the airport tomorrow, so too much snow would kinda suck. But I'm secretly keeping my fingers crossed anyway.
Funny how life is. I thought I'd have all this extra time when Grace started school. It is not to be. I still can't keep up with things and I spend as much time in the car it seems as I do at home, shuffling 3 kids to 3 schools and all the related errands.
Maybe I'll have it next year when she goes full-day?
Not likely. I'm sure something else will come up.
But, as I'm sure you would've guessed, she is eating up kindergarten. She loves everything about it. Her teacher says she wishes they were all like Grace. (That's because she only has her for a couple hours a day and she's on her best behavior. Ha!) She has met all the kindergarten benchmarks already and is loving every minute of it.
Joshua and Christianne and school? Well, as Josh would say, "Meh." Neither enjoys it all that much, really, which kind of saddens me because I always loved school.
Robert's been traveling to Montana way too much the past couple of months. He comes home on Friday and there is not another trip in sight (that he's told me of, anyway!). It will be so awesome to have him home every night. I am so not a good single mom.
And that's Wiggy life in a nutshell.
I keep looking out the window, waiting for the first flurries to start. Part of me hopes it's a good snow-day-caliber storm, but I don't think it will be. We got that last week. And I have to take my mom to the airport tomorrow, so too much snow would kinda suck. But I'm secretly keeping my fingers crossed anyway.
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