Today's the day!!! Today, our oldest son started high school, and our youngest son, middle school. I shared devotions with them this morning. I felt their excitement; I understood their concerns. My babies are embarking on the most exciting years of their lives.
Our oldest son has been practicing football for the past 2 months. He's living out his lifelong (14-year's now) dream!!! He played a practice game last week and I noted other players on the sidelines chatting and making numerous trips to the water cooler, but NOT him. He was intently scrutinizing every play, watching each move of the football. Yesterday though, his plans for the next few weeks changed.
He was riding his bike around our neighborhood, enjoying the last bit of summer vacation, when he took a detour. That detour consisted of a nose dive as he flipped over the handlebars of his bicycle, and "caught" himself with both arms. We ended up in the ER, once again, and the recurring news, "Yes, it's broken!"
Today, I am feeling an assortment of emotions. I asked one of my co-workers if this was a parental response to children embarking into the world of high school/middle school, OR, if it was because, into that journey of adulthood, one child is entering a little "handicapped". His response was, "Jody, just how many times have you had to deal with broken arms", my answer was unfortunately, "6 times", he said, "therefore, I'm sure you're feeling a normal parent's response because you should be a pro at dealing with broken arms!!" True enough, point taken. Thanks for the encouragement!!
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
S-T-R-E-T-C-H
I apologize that it's been awhile since I've updated. So much has been going on in my life!!! I sense our family is in the middle of birthpains. It is absolutely BEAUTIFUL!! God is doing exceedingly more than I have ever asked or imagined!! I feel as if I am being called to do things that are out of my comfort zone....but the cool part is "I'm willing to do them!" God is calling me to S - T - R - E - T - C - H!! The following scripture comes to mind. It's from The Message...
Isaiah 54
Spread Out! Think Big!
1-6 "Sing, barren woman, who has never had a baby.
Fill the air with song, you who've never experienced childbirth!
You're ending up with far more children
than all those childbearing women." God says so!
"Clear lots of ground for your tents!
Make your tents large. Spread out! Think big!
Use plenty of rope, drive the tent pegs deep.
You're going to need lots of elbow room
for your growing family.
You're going to take over whole nations;
you're going to resettle abandoned cities.
Don't be afraid—you're not going to be embarrassed.
Don't hold back—you're not going to come up short.
You'll forget all about the humiliations of your youth,
and the indignities of being a widow will fade from memory.
For your Maker is your bridegroom,
his name, God-of-the-Angel-Armies!
Your Redeemer is The Holy of Israel,
known as God of the whole earth.
You were like an abandoned wife, devastated with grief,
and God welcomed you back,
Like a woman married young
and then left," says your God.
Isaiah 54
Spread Out! Think Big!
1-6 "Sing, barren woman, who has never had a baby.
Fill the air with song, you who've never experienced childbirth!
You're ending up with far more children
than all those childbearing women." God says so!
"Clear lots of ground for your tents!
Make your tents large. Spread out! Think big!
Use plenty of rope, drive the tent pegs deep.
You're going to need lots of elbow room
for your growing family.
You're going to take over whole nations;
you're going to resettle abandoned cities.
Don't be afraid—you're not going to be embarrassed.
Don't hold back—you're not going to come up short.
You'll forget all about the humiliations of your youth,
and the indignities of being a widow will fade from memory.
For your Maker is your bridegroom,
his name, God-of-the-Angel-Armies!
Your Redeemer is The Holy of Israel,
known as God of the whole earth.
You were like an abandoned wife, devastated with grief,
and God welcomed you back,
Like a woman married young
and then left," says your God.
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Barely Escaped Death
A Miracle happened in my home today!!
About 4 months ago, my oldest son began complaining of back pain. We had been to the Doctor numerous times for this reason and one day, I noticed his mattress was in HORRIBLE shape!! I went to a local furniture store and purchased new beds for both of my boys.
About 2 months ago, I noticed one of the beds was starting to sag in the center. I called the furniture store where I purchased the beds. Today, the gentleman came from the furniture store to look at the problem. He took one good look at it, got down on his hands and knees, and exclaimed, "here's the problem". Granted, I had threatened my boy to have his room clean for this man, but I NEVER suspected that he would find something under his bed. The furniture man and I proceeded to lift off the mattress and stand the box springs upright. It was then that I saw the problem. This bed was broken!! This bed that was three months old, this bed that I bought for my boy and I cried because it was so expensive, this bed that I made him promise he would not jump in, this bed that I am still working to pay it off, this bed...is broken!!
It was at that very moment I asked the furniture store man to leave. I told him that there was about to be a miracle happen in my home. He looked at me...puzzled. I then told him that my boys (who were cowering in the hall by the way) were about to escape death!!
He kind of chuckled, but then he noticed "the look" in my eyes and he listened as I began to share my story. I told him that about 4 weeks ago, my boys used trash bags and a water hose to create "the coolest" water slide my front yard has ever known. Not only did they have a blast, but so did all the neighborhood kids. Do you know what numerous children sliding down your hill on trash bags does to your grass?? I then continued to share how the very day after the "water park" incident, my boys then decided to play "catch" in my living room with a quart of RED paint. Of course, the lid came off and of course, the RED paint spilt all over the carpet. The furniture store man then realized I was speaking truth, indeed a Miracle WAS about to happen in my house today!! He promptly excused himself and left, with me following short behind.
On my drive back to work, the Lord brought many thoughts to my mind. Most, I won't share with you, but this one was powerful. It's from a book I'm reading called Captivating and it's what I long for my life's mission to be. It is this, "Beauty offers mercy." The paragraph reads, "Beauty offers mercy. Boys-becoming-men are hard for a woman to understand. They act as if they don't need us anymore. Sometimes they act rudely in their emerging strength. I want to "come down" on him. But that is not what he needs from me. He needs mercy. A kind word, a smile. Grace at the end of the day. He softens toward me, and our relationship is recovered. A woman who is full of tender mercy and soft vulnerability is a powerful, lovely woman."
Lord, I want that for my life. I know I don't deserve it, I know that I've blown it, but I long for YOUR mercy Lord. How grateful I am when I realize that truly it's me who has "escaped death" from my own sin. Thank you Jesus for dying on the cross for me!! Lord, please forgive me for my shortcomings...Yes, there was indeed a miracle in our house today!!!
About 4 months ago, my oldest son began complaining of back pain. We had been to the Doctor numerous times for this reason and one day, I noticed his mattress was in HORRIBLE shape!! I went to a local furniture store and purchased new beds for both of my boys.
About 2 months ago, I noticed one of the beds was starting to sag in the center. I called the furniture store where I purchased the beds. Today, the gentleman came from the furniture store to look at the problem. He took one good look at it, got down on his hands and knees, and exclaimed, "here's the problem". Granted, I had threatened my boy to have his room clean for this man, but I NEVER suspected that he would find something under his bed. The furniture man and I proceeded to lift off the mattress and stand the box springs upright. It was then that I saw the problem. This bed was broken!! This bed that was three months old, this bed that I bought for my boy and I cried because it was so expensive, this bed that I made him promise he would not jump in, this bed that I am still working to pay it off, this bed...is broken!!
It was at that very moment I asked the furniture store man to leave. I told him that there was about to be a miracle happen in my home. He looked at me...puzzled. I then told him that my boys (who were cowering in the hall by the way) were about to escape death!!
He kind of chuckled, but then he noticed "the look" in my eyes and he listened as I began to share my story. I told him that about 4 weeks ago, my boys used trash bags and a water hose to create "the coolest" water slide my front yard has ever known. Not only did they have a blast, but so did all the neighborhood kids. Do you know what numerous children sliding down your hill on trash bags does to your grass?? I then continued to share how the very day after the "water park" incident, my boys then decided to play "catch" in my living room with a quart of RED paint. Of course, the lid came off and of course, the RED paint spilt all over the carpet. The furniture store man then realized I was speaking truth, indeed a Miracle WAS about to happen in my house today!! He promptly excused himself and left, with me following short behind.
On my drive back to work, the Lord brought many thoughts to my mind. Most, I won't share with you, but this one was powerful. It's from a book I'm reading called Captivating and it's what I long for my life's mission to be. It is this, "Beauty offers mercy." The paragraph reads, "Beauty offers mercy. Boys-becoming-men are hard for a woman to understand. They act as if they don't need us anymore. Sometimes they act rudely in their emerging strength. I want to "come down" on him. But that is not what he needs from me. He needs mercy. A kind word, a smile. Grace at the end of the day. He softens toward me, and our relationship is recovered. A woman who is full of tender mercy and soft vulnerability is a powerful, lovely woman."
Lord, I want that for my life. I know I don't deserve it, I know that I've blown it, but I long for YOUR mercy Lord. How grateful I am when I realize that truly it's me who has "escaped death" from my own sin. Thank you Jesus for dying on the cross for me!! Lord, please forgive me for my shortcomings...Yes, there was indeed a miracle in our house today!!!
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