Momentous Monday

Tiffany over at A Moment Cherished is now hosting
Momentous Monday, a chance for all of us to cherish everyday moments. Please check out her beautiful blog for more precious moments.

It was cold. It was rainy. The Teen was being rude and defiant. I was feeling very blue.

Then a neighbor stopped by with tulips from her garden - just at the right time. Isn't it amazing how sometimes our friends just know when we need a little "something"?

Thank you, Lord, for special friends who stop in with a hug at just the right time. Thank you for reminding me that You know my tears and my sorrows. Thank you for the gentle reminder that the little things we do for others may mean more than we know.

Thankful Thursday

For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb. - Psalm 139:13

I just got home from my 20 week ultrasound. The baby is growing well (he's 13 oz already) and everything was 100% normal - exactly what I wanted to see.

I'm so thankful for this precious baby. I'm grateful for everyday he grows in my womb. Every movement is so precious.

Thank you Lord for the gift of life.

* A friend of mine has borrowed my scanner and not returned it, but I will post the pictures soon.

What are you thankful for this week?

Check out these other great blogs for more Thankful Thursday.

Spiritually Unequal Marriage

Following Him

Word-filled Wednesday

The purpose of Word-filled Wednesday to to share God's Word through photos and a verse.

To see other great Word-filled Wednesday posts please visit:

Critty Joy

The 160 Acre Woods

Momentous Monday

Tiffany over at A Moment Cherished is now hosting
Momentous Monday, a chance for all of us to cherish everyday moments. Please check out her beautiful blog for more precious moments.

Yesterday afternoon I had completely given up on having something to write about this morning. Could it be? A whole week and not one moment stood out, no matter how small. My husband was gone to help his father and the Teen was at his dad's so I decided to take some to do some weeding while thinking this over.

And then I came across this:

A three-year-old air soft pellet. A memory of the pre-surly teen times with the boy.

One of the things that I loved about this house when we bought it three years ago was the yard. It's a nice sized yard and had very well-maintained landscaping, a pristine lawn, and beautiful mature trees. A single man lived here before us and clearly he had taken great care of the yard.

That first summer I strived to maintain. I fussed over the lawn and the gardens, trying to keep everything just so. Then the Teen (who was only 12 at the time) came home with an air soft gun and shot millions of little plastic pellets into the yard.

Dare I admit I was mad?

 At the time I was so concerned with having plastic pellets in the yard that I failed to enjoy the time with the boy. I was so focused on appearances that I forgot what was important.

I also forgot about that incident until today when I saw that single air soft pellet, still laying where it landed three years ago.

One boy, one tornado, and three dogs have changed things.

The lawn now has dog spots.

We now have a yard full of baby trees since the tornado two years ago claimed the mature ones.

There are weeds in the landscaping.

And air soft pellets are still everywhere.

I realized in that single moment today that life is lived here. Memories are being made in this home that will last a lot longer than a perfect yard. The weeds will grow back, but kids are only young once. The memories of air soft wars in the backyard will last a lifetime but the lawn will need to be mowed again next week.

Thankful Thursday

Sometimes the little things are the biggest blessings.

* A husband who makes sure I get some daily cuddle time

* A family who will eat cheese and crackers for supper when I'm too tired to cook

* A teen who is in a good mood today

* The kicks and jabs of a growing baby

* Quiet time in the evenings to knit and listen to great gospel preaching

What are you thankful for this week?

Check out these other great blogs for more Thankful Thursday:

Spiritually Unequal Marriage

Welcome to the Nuthouse

Momentous Monday

Tiffany over at A Moment Cherished is now hosting Momentous Monday, a chance for all of us to cherish everyday moments. Please check out her beautiful blog for more precious moments.

The past two weeks have been really hard. We have had a very difficult time with the Teen and some big decisions are being made. Part of the upcoming changes may include me needing to let him go, and it breaks my heart (more on this here). It's been two weeks of worry, stress, and heartbreak.

The other night I was doing one of my most favorite things - sitting in our home library reading a great book. It was The Sacrifice by Beverly Lewis. I was listening to my son laughing down in his room, trying so hard to cherish the sound when I came to this line in the book (the one in italics):

"Things happen for a reason...therefore the sovereignty of God can be wholly trusted. You can throw your life on His mercy."

Peace filled my heart. While I knew this truth, I needed to hear it again - right then. I may not understand what's going on right now, but God does. I don't know what's best for the Teen, but God does.

While the situation is still sad, I feel so much better about it. God is in control. My job is to pray and to trust and obey.

This Week - A Mother's Heart

It's been a hard week. The Teen may be going to live with his father this summer and my heart feels like it's breaking. I love this boy so much.

I always knew the day would come when I would have to say goodbye, but I really never expected it to be so soon. While I'm becoming more confident that it's the right thing to do, it's still so hard.

How do I say goodbye after 15 years of loving him, caring for him, and praying for him? Right now he is down in his room playing video games with his friends via Xbox Live. I'm trying to remember every laugh and the sound of his changing voice. Will I remember it when the house is quiet?

What will it be like when the school bus goes by and it's not followed by his feet running up the driveway, his backpack being dropped right inside the door, and a shout... "Hey mom, can I have a fajita?"

Will I cry? Will I get used to it? Will I remember how precious these little things were?

For now I keep reminding myself:

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. - Psalm 28:7

God's hand is on this. He knows my thoughts from afar. He hears my prayers. He is my strength and my salvation.

Not Me Monday

  
Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

Reading Mckmama's Not Me post this morning has not caused me to seriously crave McNuggets, and I certainly won't be hitting the drive through as soon as I am done with this post...I am trying to grow a healthy baby after all!



Most Sundays I do not wear a dress to church because I dislike playing the organ in a dress. My organ has a full pedalboard and it just seems so unladylike. Since yesterday was Easter, I made an exception - which presented one problem - what to do about pantyhose. Since I never wear dresses I just could not bring myself to spend money on maternity pantyhose. My solution? Thigh highs. It seemed perfect.

It was not me who failed to realize that thigh highs just don't work for women with bird legs. I was not struggling to keep them up all through church. Nor was I horrified to realize one was down around my calf while I was going through the buffet for lunch. I was not certain that half the restaurant was pointing and laughing. Oh no...not me!

Thankful Thursday

Sometimes it's so hard to be thankful. This week my heart is heavy. I would really just as soon crawl back in bed and cry some more than think of all the ways I'm blessed. It's been a rough week with the Teen. Right now he is spending a few days with my parents. I'm sad that he's there instead of home, I'm sad that this "timeout" was necessary, I miss him, and I'm scared about how things will be when he gets home.

But I can be thankful that God knows my fears. He hears my prayers. He knows how this will end and he cares for me. Thank you Lord that you loved sinners such as me enough to send Your Son to live a sinless life, die an atoning death, and rise again on the third day. Thank you for loving me even when I fall. Thank you for Your word, the Bible. Thank you for wonderful friends and family.

Check out these other great blogs for more thankfulness:

Spiritually Unequal Marriage

Welcome to the Nuthouse