Many Reasons to Celebrate

What a great weekend! Riley is home, on leave, from Afganistan. Jessie turned 13.....Complete with a family meal at Tequila's and a "Happy Birthday Panchita" song!

Jessica has grown so much, physically and spiritually. She made the decision, a month or so ago, to be baptized on her 13th birthday. So today, she marked the beginning of more than just her teen years. Click on the picture an see the tears in her proud Daddy's eyes and the happiness in hers.

Last night, the rival team was Cody's cousin's team! Both cousins kept the bench warm but fun was had in the stands. We welcomed Riley with a family reunion at the game!

On Friday, we celebrated with party number 1...her is Jess with her "other" grandparents..Bill and Cathryn.

And with Grandpa and Grandma.

Thirteen years ago is a blink of the eye. I remember the morning vividly...what a happy day! And today, yet again, another happy, happy day!

Multitude Monday--still counting!

Where to begin?

261. I'm thankful for healing...

262-269. for freedom, for stablility, for elation, for joy, for reassurance, for guidance, for confidence, for surety. For all good things that are given when a choice is the right choice.

270. I'm thankful for my "for now" daughter who came to us, last night, thanking us for taking her in. For the things she likes about our home, the things that make her feel safe here, the things she hopes to incorporate into her home when she returns there...or has her own home someday.

271. And as she was thanking us for things like not yelling, I jogged back to the days of early motherhood when I realized how much I hated that, when mothers/fathers yelled at lives they were supposed to nurture. Those "REAL" moments are what solidifies decisions like no yelling.

272. And for dinner around the table. It is one of my favorite times of day, every day possible. We all sit, eat and share our day. We did it growing up, so I jogged back to childhood days of kicking my sisters under the table and fighting for turns to talk as we randomly, quickly, happily jumped from subject to subject as our parents listened. I love that she loves this as much as we do.

273. For reassurance, again, that this was the right choice for our family. God has grown us all!

274. I'm thankful for the deep, crazy-passionate passion put into my husband and I when it comes to protecting our children. I love how that shows me a small example of how much God loves his children. His protection for us is soooo much more than ours for our kids and that amazes me.

275. I'm thankful for simple birthday celebrations...last night's soup and bread, then cake and ice cream. I love that it is enough to make "moment memories". The warm kind that come back later and warm my heart. I love our chosen family!

276-277. I'm thankful for Hebrews 11 with all those "By faith..." verses. In their weakness, they were made strong. It seems their weakness became their mission/ministry. I am thankful that verse 41. of that chapter says, "By faith Marlene...." I'm not sure what weakness he will make my ministry next, but I'm thankful for the ones that have helped me so far.

278. Tomorrow my daughter is back in the car with me. I missed her today. Our mornings are wonderful times!

279. ...and for ice cold lemon water.

280. ...and my long down coat for recess duty.

Memory Lane

I went to my hometown today...

Remember Kinney's shoes? GASS shoes that made you run fast and the GASS impression on the bottom looked so cool all over the playground? Kinney's Shoes building is empty and ugly.

Dunkin Donuts is still busy as ever in the same little spot. I think I still wear a few donuts on my hips from back then! Bavarian cream..YUM. I won't dare step in there anymore...it is a memory, sadly.

One Hour Martinizing...I wonder if they still have that same radio ad? Who would know what martinizing is?

My meeting was in the same hotel that hosted one of my friend's wedding reception almost 19 years ago. They aren't married any longer, but I recalled the day and our first trip home as married people...just being married two weeks before. It was that day, in the PACKED Catholic church, in my hometown, that my new husband loudly whispered "hiyo hitler!" when everyone raised one hand in prayer. Ay, yi, yi!!! We laugh about it now, but I couldn't believe it at the time!

I love memory lane!

Bare naked post

Stupid devil. I just hate him so much. More than ever. I admit, I have been in cahoots with him a time or two and kind of liked him once or twice. Not today. I hate him with a passion.

A little background information...My children encourage me so many times. I love their conviction and courage in their relationship with God. I love their boldness amongst their peers and their dedication to their convictions. I NEVER had that as a teen/preteen. I had a love for God but very little understanding of who He is and what His spoken word said/meant. I stand in awe of them, silently mostly, and am so thankful.

My son has been fighting a couple of tough battles. High school is an ugly place where immorality is a namebrand crown that seems to be the trend of the day. Cussing is cool, drugs are common and sex is a 15 minute passtime. It is not a Godly place. That said, I am thankful for the two or three friends my son has who do manifest their Christianity. My son doesn't wish to conform. He just needs strength to stand strong and understand God's purpose in being there...and if he should remain there or search out another option. And there is more, but it's to personal to blog. If you are a person who prays to God, we welcome prayers.

I am very thankful for the random calls, emails and visits to our home by people who don't know the "throw downs" with the devil, the tears, the prayers that have happened in our family. Last week, within one hour, two of my Bible study mom friends contacted me having felt a strong need to pray for Cody and our family...not knowing of the battle. We committed to pray for each others children and husbands, several weeks ago.I found comfort knowing God was calling in backups to help us. Also, I was reminded that my children are on loan. They are HIS not mine.

You might feel uncomfortable reading this personal blog post. I've learned something...often, I hold in the struggles and pain. I paint the outside a pretty color and pretend all is perfect. However, I've learned the power of prayer and the power in uplifting each others' hands in the battle. I'm learning, little by little, to live more honestly amongst those who love me and more honestly with that lady in the mirror.

The worst pain I've ever gone thru is not broken bones, major surgery, cuts or bruises. It is the pain of one of my children hurting. I used to have control of their hurts and healing, but God is weaning them away from depending on me and drawing them close to depend on Him; who is much more equipped to heal the hurts.

Top Braces are OFF!

I just cropped a picture that I already had on here..but I forgot to blog about my son's Christmas present! He got off his top braces!! This picture shows him wearing his retainer! How times have changed!! I LOVE his beautiful smile!

Multitude Monday-Counting my 1000 gifts...up to 260

I'm thankful for a new year! I guess it is hard for me to look at life as whole years..I prefer days, or even moments. But..2010 has great promise, day by day and I'm thankful.

Our holidays were nice and family was together..a wonderful gift! My sisters and their families, The Hickmans..our neighbors/soon to be neighbor/chosen family, Selina, our "for now" daughter and her family. If I count each one it is somewhere around 30 gifts! Each one unique and appreciated.

I'm thankful for unconditional love. I'm really thankful for that! The person that has made me most aware of this, this time, is my mother. Parents love unconditionally, and mine always have. I just appreciate my Mom's accepting of me, of my family, and of who we are. It is kind of personal, so I'll be vague here, but just know I am so thankful, and I hope I will ALWAYS, ALWAYS love my children unconditionally with respect for who they uniquely are.

I'm thankful for God's ability to continue miracles in modern times. In Mark 6, there is the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 with five little rolls and 2 fish. 12 apostles fed the 5,000. If my math is right, each one would feed about 417 people with an average of less than half a loaf and less than a quarter of a fish! Then, there were LEFTOVERS!!!

So I was thinking about this and thought about how we are fed, spiritually, in church, or in our quiet time with the Bible, or in fellowship with others. We might leave God's presence with about half a verse, or half a chapter from the Bible, and maybe a stanza of a hymn or worship song. With that, God can perform miracles and feed so many by our joy, our kindness, our fruits that come from HIM. It wasn't just in Bible days! And I love that and am so thankful!

Then, the next day, the storm hits, just like in Mark 6 and we are scared to death and forget the miracles of yesterday that we hardly recognized. Jesus appears in the storm and we don't recognize him! In some ways, times just don't change!

I am still alive, just lacking motivation!

I've lacked the motivation to update my blog, so this will be a long post...let me know your are still checking in on us! Okay?

Above: Jessie and Elizabeth at the Red River Christmas party, where they played with the band.

Christmas eve at our house...This picture of Wyatt, obviously wanting Laytin's toy, is soooo funny! I wasn't even taking this picture, I was aiming for Jess in the background!

Three happy kids who received ski passes!

I clearly remember the time MY baby was this age and now she's holding her cousin 11 years later....time flies.

Tyleigh and Wyatt...the cutest little elves on Christmas day at Grandma's and Grandpa's house.

When everyone left, it was so sad and quiet. We headed to the ski slopes where I ate lunch with these three....terrorists??? Nah..Just Selina, her cousin Jenise and Jess.

New Year's eve...four of my favorite kids ready to party all night long! I love these four so much!
Elizabeth, my part time daughter, Cody, my son, Jess my daughter, and Selina my "for now" daughter.

New Year's Day evening...we toasted to a good 2010 for everyone. (Pomegranate sparkling cider from Trader Joes)
Happy New Year everyone!