Life Happens

It started as a desire for a 'little house in the mountains where I can hear a babbling brook" - dad.

But somehow we all (he has 4 girls to do that for him!) convinced him that if we got a bigger house, we could all be there together -- and it could be our get away -- and my parent's 'Big House' - since they had downsized to a townhome in Atlanta.

and so it was.... a place for our family to gather. a place to bring our friends to get a reprieve.

.... a place to do puzzles instead of worry about work.

a place to shoot guns and learn how to be OUTSIDE...

a place for FUN. FAMILY. FRIENDS. MEMORIES.



AC was potty trained here. And my neice lost her first tooth here.

"let's just go to Hiawassee" -- whenever the going got tough.

My grandmother and my Great Aunt LOVED being in the mountains ...surrounded by thier family.

Do not store up for yourself treasurese on earth....Matt 6:19

God had another plan.

He knew all along that we would enjoy this house for 7 wonderful years.

As they put that first log on the foundation, He knew that July 25th, 2011 would be the end of it.

And, if you believe like I do - God had the lightning strike at the exact spot at the exact time to start that fire.

He knew that my parents would leave just 4 hours before the fire started and that the house would be empty.

He knows that my parents put more stock in human life than they do in thier THINGS, although, it is so hard to remember all the sweet things that were there .... and the lives and experiences that those resembled.

So, the rebuild begins.

The mourning of the loss continues.

Memories run rampant in all of our minds....

But, my parents are already ready to start the process.

I'm not even sure how the "Big House" got the name big house. But it stuck. If you've been there, you probably call it that too! We are all looking forward to more memories, more fun times, more laughs, talks, and moments of serenity in the Big House #2.

(July 2011 - last family gathering at the Big House)

Memory is a way of holding onto the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose.  -The Wonder Years

Upping my Game

it's hard to explain - but i feel like it is time to up my game a bit.

having your kids in a Private, Christian school - it's easy to relax a bit in the teaching at home.
you know that they are getting solid teaching at school.
you know that they are learning how to handle things the correct way with the awesome instruction by teachers.

i some ways, i feel like i have taken a back seat to really TEACHING my kids at home how to react the way JESUS would react to certain things.

unfortunately, i feel like i haven't been as ON TASK of praying thru problems and for people.... WITH them.

with the change to public school this year, i have an overwhelming sense of wanting to be SURE that i am on my GAME. that i am instilling in them the truths of the gospel as well as the need for prayer, for church, for Jesus in their lives. Displayed ALL THE TIME -- to people who may not know Him.

i'm starting a new journey that i've never experienced before. of course, our home has always been a place where Jesus's name is spoken -- and where we try and live lives that are pleasing to Christ.

However......

i feel like it's time to really get my armour on. to teach my kids how to get their armour on daily. to be ready. to be on alert. to be a reflection of Jesus to their new friends. what an exciting place to be .

i love how life and parenthood are constantly causing you to be a BETTER YOU!

change

i've never been good with change.

maybe it's a middle child sort of thing.

(AC first day of school 2008)

although, i did change my furniture around a lot as a kid.... i wonder what that was all about.

this morning as i woke up to make lunches for my kids - the change hit me hard.

(T first day of school Kindergarten)

there will be a cafeteria.
 i don't 'have' to make the lunches everyday.
as i packed the lunches - i put a note in their boxes -- telling them both to ENJOY thier last day at Providence.

(AC first day of school 1st grade)

soak it in.

embrace the friends, the love.

(T first day of school 3rd grade)

crazy as i pulled up my pictures this morning to download some ... the first day of school folder was open.
wow.... change.

First day of school 3rd and 1st grade

change is good.

and i'm confident in this change.

i'm excited about this change.

emotionally - it's hard, but i know in my heart that it is best for our family.

so, as I pack up all the uniforms today and get them ready to give away  - i will know these things:

 change is necessary.

change is good.

 change brings growth.

change builds character.

 change brings new life.

change IS life.

last day of school with Bob the Bus Driver

graceful.

most of the time you sit back and watch.

you tell me 'i was so excited for him - i started crying'

you are the kind of sIsTeR that everyone wishes that they had.

this week... is your week.

your one activity all comes together on that one night.

when mom lets you wear a little makeup out of the house

where you are front and center because you know the dance and you love it.

people are there to see YOU.

you make me proud AC.

i can't believe your grace.

the way you hold your arms just right.

the way you make your fingers do that thing that make you look light as a feather.

we are so happy that you love ballet.

we love you sweet girl.....

swollen

it's a physical thing.

it happened to me REALLY bad when i was pregnant. i have a picture of me all swolled up - but i can't even bring myself to show you.

when i eat too much salt - i swell.
when i have wine - i swell.
when i cry - my eyes swell.

it's physical.

lately, i have felt the physical swell in  my chest.

when i watch my sweet girl be a good friend to a girl who is having a hard time. asking me to pray for her - seeing the tender emotions of my little one. knowing that she has a gift of listening. comforting. encouraging.





when i hear my boy's name win first place in something other than sports. and be just as excited for his friends who were there as participants, alternates, and second place winners

when i see my daughter with good friends. using her imagination. dressing up like her brother and belting out "the boys are back" ... and that being the most favorite outfit that she came up with -- cause it was wearing T's clothes

Seeing T make a sport's team - and not being able to celebrate like he would like to b/c he was sad for a few who didn't make the cut. Seeing the genuine concern for his friends. Knowing that he was excited - but anticipating the sadness for some of his friends.

I felt my heart SWELL with pride for these kids. Sometimes I just look at them and I wonder how on earth God chose Tommy and me to parent these kids.

iamthankful.



It used to be so easy ....

i remember when the biggest decision i had to make was if i'd finish my homework before or after cheerleading.

i remember when i feared what people would think about my outfit.

there was a time when i had to make choices between what to do on Friday nights.

i didn't worry about money - my parents gave me what i needed.

i didn't worry about big decisions - my parents helped me work thru them.

life was simple. life was fun.

i didn't even realize how good i had it.

i'm so blessed.

i don't want anyone to think that i think differently.

i have a beautiful family.

my kids are truly incredible.

my husband and i have worked thru some trials that some married people may never face --

and looking back, i'm so glad that we fought thru it ... and we are winning.

decisions get bigger.

we grow older.

consequences are different.

i'm not worried about what i wear -- i'm worried about the future of my kids.

i'm not worried about what my social calendar holds -- i'm worried who my kids will be friends with.

we are facing a decision that i wasn't prepared to make just yet.

the kids go to a school that i love.

my parents were instrumental in starting it.

it was formed in my parent's basement.

i scrubbed toilets there before it was ever open.

i graduated from there.

Tommy taught there.

it is part of my heart.

my life.

but it's 23 miles from our house -- and we are in traffic both ways -- everytime.

somedays, my kids could spend up to 1.5 hours in the car JUST travelling to school.

it's bound to get worse with middle school sports ---

we are making the hard decision to possibly start them in our local school next year.

i'm at peace with the possibility. - but the emotional part of leaving the 'safe' place is hard.

people know me there.

people know my family.

people know (and love) my kids.

but, family life is first for Tommy and me. 

and we know that we need a simpler life.

we know that we need to feel a sense of community.

Roots.

Family.

Simplicity.

i need this.

i crave this.

i just pray that this is the best and right decision for the kids.