A Little Thinking and a LOT of Catch-up...

Since it's Sunday, I'm going to use my Sunday Seven (plus) to do some thinking and some catch up today:

1.  I found this quote while doing some study the other day:

"Grace isn't a little prayer you chant before receiving a meal. It's a way to live. The law tells me how crooked I am. Grace comes along and straightens me out.” -Dwight Lyman Moody (1837-1899)

It struck me as such a powerful thought that God's grace continually helps improve who I am.  It also covers me in those times when I am SO crooked.  I love that thought!

2.  I let it come and go and I really shouldn't have!  DH and I have been married for 23 years as of last Sunday evening.  Sunday morning someone congratulated us and said, "23 years of married bliss."  I thought about that.  It's been 23 years, though not always blissful.  Sometimes marriage is just hard work and commitment.  Other times bliss abounds and you know that the hard work and commitment are so worth it.  I think THIS is what defines us and our marriage.  God is good and I am so glad to be married to this wonderful man!

3.  Teachers returned to duty last Monday.  This meant a week of learning about our new Principal and hearing how things were going to run this year under her leadership.  It will be different.  I know she made a HUGE effort to balance the week with a little fun, a little dose of her expectations, and celebration for who we are as a school staff.  It was busy, but good.  Her theme this year is "Cruisin' to Success" and everything is being built around the metaphor of cruising.  There is no question that it will be a year of learning to navigate my role on the ship.  And that's OK with me.

4.  Students returned on Friday for our Open House and "Meet Your Teacher".  Our church has formed a really neat partnership with the school and has done several servant events for the families there.  Each year, we have donated school supplies to be distributed to children without them.  This year, the new Principal gave us permission to actually set up a location and distribute them during this event.  We had 11 adults and 9 youth there distributing school supplies!

5.  This event is definitely worth two bullets in my list!  I have to say that watching it was absolutely amazing! I would check kids off a list and then a volunteer would get that student and help them choose one of 350 backpacks donated by the Rotary Club.  Then they would take their school supply list and let them go select five more things for the backpack!  I loved hearing the connections people made with the kids.  I loved watching parent's faces as they realized that the list would be met without financial strain.  It was an amazing outpouring of love!

6.  I went school supply shopping for my own kiddos this week.  I am so thankful that we have the resources to assure that our kids go to school lacking nothing.  I don't take it for granted.  I remember days when it would have been much more difficult for us and thus, for them.

7.  We had a lovely trip to see my family yesterday.  I love just visiting, sharing food, and laughing with them. Though I had a terrible headache all day long, it was a highlight of my weekend.  I am blessed that we are so close.  And I love the fact that we can just BE together with no other agenda.

7+.  And an extra blessing I received this week...was a lovely gift from Edie over at Rich Gifts.  She sent me a beautifully crafted initial "S" to hang on a wall.  (I will take a pic of it and post...my camera is dead and I can't get any pics off of it right now.)  Anyway, Edie surprised me with a note a few months back and said that she had created this piece for an Etsy shop she was going to start.  God took her in another direction and she was wondering what to do with it.  Then she said she thought of me and wondered if it had been meant for me all along.  Edie, it is absolutely GORGEOUS and I was BLESSED beyond belief that you thought of me. And actually when you did, it was a very rough time where I was struggling with WHO I am and whether God was always listening to me.  It is going to serve as a reminder that  he DOES know my name and is always there.

So, there you have it...some thoughts...and a catch-up all here on a Sunday morning.  Doing the Sunday Seven reminds me just how richly blessed I am!

Planning for Balance

By nature, I am not a planner. I've learned to be, and become, less spontaneous over the years thanks to my DH. I CAN plan when I need to. And some people might be surprised to hear me say that I'm not a planner by nature.

When I married my DH, it was obvious that he is our financial guru. I don't want to have to worry about it. I trust him implicitly with this task in our marriage. So over the years he's done it for us and done it well.

While he does the day-to-day finances, I am particularly referring to those long term financial decisions that every couple should be making. It's been hard for me in my 20's, 30's and 40's to be thinking about our retirement. DH loves it though.

Recently he's been meeting with a financial planner and making some decisions about our future. It's interesting to note that he started meeting with us more than 18 years ago when we were newlywed and poor and really had little or nothing to plan WITH!

As they've revisited our plans, DH has kept me in the loop---even when I only listen with one ear! He's asked me if I want to sit down with them. I don't. He's asked me if I care if he plans one way or another. I don't. (This is primarily because I know he's not going to do anything crazy or outrageous.)

These two have literally spent HOURS together pouring over the numbers, the possibilities, the options in recent weeks. It makes my head spin just to see the materials that have been produced while planning for our future. There is now a 200 page document in our house with all of it recorded for us. I glanced at it. It's pretty and colorful and, I'm sure, interesting. DH dug in, though.

Today the planner dropped by for a meeting unannounced (which I find a little funny). It appears this visit is in response to an email from my DH regarding the planners thoughts/ideas in said 200 page document. I'm listening to them rehash some of the plan and finding myself SO thankful that I don't have to "do" this part in our family.

It's another glimpse into the ways that DH balances me. We will be married for 23 years in a few weeks. 23 years. And I am still so thankful for him and his presence in my life. We could have spent more time planning our eventual lives together before getting married. We could have started out more financially intact. We could have entered our relationship more methodically. But we didn't. Still, it's worked. I'm pretty certain it's because God had, and has, a plan.

Just like I'm thankful for DH's planning, I'm even more thankful for God's plan! It simply doesn't get better than that!

Thursday Thirteen--Anniversary Edition

In honor of our 20th Anniversary yesterday, I decided to follow in my SIL,Heather's footsteps. She had a lovely "Thursday Fifteen" post on their anniversary. I've decided to do a "Thursday Twenty" in honor of ours. Thanks, Heather, for your inspiration!!

1987 - We are married and go away for a QUICK two days in my hometown before returning to Kentucky where DH was in seminary and I taught Kindergarten in a small private school.

1988 - DS 1 is born 9 months and ten days after our wedding. He is a true "Honeymoon Baby". We LOVE being parents, however and are excited when DH graduates and we head back home to Florida to be with all the doting Grandparents and Uncles.

1989 - DS 2 is born just 15 months after DS 1. DH begins his job as an associate pastor in the church in which I grew up.

1990 - DH and our boys move to our first "parsonage". He is the senior pastor of a small country church. Through circumstances that were beyond our control, we move to another church only six months later. I teach first grade in the public school system for one year before I decide to stay home for a while. DH and I begin taking a Foster Parenting course.

1991 - DH and I have our first Foster Child, Mallory. Mallory was 19 months old when she came to live with us. We quickly fall in love and enjoy seeing the many ways she grows each and every day. We are only two weeks away from adopting her, when a Grandparent shows up and "claims" her. It is a VERY sad time for us. By the end of 1991, we have three more Foster Children: Tiffany (age 3), William (age 2) and Katherine (age 9 mos.). DH also is given a trip to the Holy Land this year. It is a blessing for him to be able to go walk where Jesus walked.

1992 - Our Foster children have to move and we decide that we will put that phase of our lives on "hold". I go back to work as a Kindergarten teacher in a small private school with preK. It is so exciting because I am able to take DSs 1 and 2 with me. We go on a vacation to Kentucky to visit relatives and see Uncle Dan.

1993 - DH continues pastoring our little "country" church in Tampa. I have the opportunity to teach DS 1 in Kindergarten. This is a sort of "legacy" as DH's Mother was HIS K teacher. It is very special for me to be able to teach DS 1. We take our first "real" family vacation to North Carolina. It is a great time of fun and adventure for us.

1994 - DS 3 comes along and we move to a larger church. We are so blessed because all of our moves have been in my hometown and only one hour away from DH's hometown. Our children are able to grow up around their Grandparents and other relatives. I move to the Public School System and teach First Grade in the school where DS 1 goes.

1995 - The older boys begin playing soccer and DH helps coach. We spend many many weekends on the soccer fields. Both DS 1 and 2 go to school where I teach which is only two miles from our house. It is a blessing to us all.

1996 - With DH's support, I finish my Master's degree. It is exciting for me as I never expected to do this. DH also finished his doctorate. We take a family trip to the mountains and end up staying at the Ritz Carlton in Atlanta. (Someday I'm going to have to blog about this one...it is a VERY funny story!)

1997 - I change schools and move to an inner city school. This is quite an eye-opener for me as I had been working in a great suburban school. I realize that THIS is my calling in education...working with those who are in poverty and struggling. As I seek new knowledge, DH continues to support us at home. We are blessed because our parsonage is right next to the church which gives him some flexibility.

1998 - We learn that we are expecting DS 4. While I spent time in shock, DH was so very supportive as we planned to expand our family. We begin a new contemporary service at church and are laying the groundwork to expand the ministry. It is a VERY exciting time as we continue to connect with our community. DH takes a mission trip to India.

1999 - Just after the birth of DS 4, DH is called to the superintendent's office and told that he is moving. We are SHOCKED. Before we leave our church, however, DH and DS 2 take a mission trip to Hungary and Romania. This is DH's second time there. We moved to DH's hometown to start a new church. Again, we are blessed, because our children are near their Grandparents.

2000 - DH, the boys, and I ring in the new millenium with little fanfare. They love their new neighborhood and schools. DSs 2 and 3 get to come to school with me which is, again, a blessing. My first book is published. We take the boys on a family vacation to Atlanta, Georgia.

2001 - Our new church is gaining momentum and things are "hopping" in our world. Of course, 9/11 hits us all hard. We are shocked just before Christmas when DH is called to the superintendent's office and told that he is being moved to a church that is "in trouble". My second book is published and I begin a relationship writing teacher's guides for a national publishing company that continues today.

2002 - We begin our new year in a church that is 35 miles from our home. They have had some turbulence over the previous months, and DH is called in to help bring some healing. We are blessed beyond measure with this appointment (although I didn't go happily). We also take our first family cruise for my brother's wedding in November. We have a wonderful time!

2003 - We decided to take another family cruise for our summer vacation. This time we do the Western Caribbean. It is a wonderful time of renewal for all of us. DS 2 is homeschooled this year by DH. DS 2 has a back problem and DH helps take on the responsibility of seventh grade. It is a blessing, in the end, as DS 2 is really able to gain some life experiences.

2004 - DH is with me as I receive the honor of being our District Teacher of the Year. His support is such an important part of what I do. This Summer is one that will live forever in our memory. Things are moving along with the church. It is growing and healing has taken place. In August, however, Hurricane Charley moved through the area and the church suffered devastating loss. It is flooded and in the end there is over 2 million dollars of damage to the building. DH and I learn exactly what it means to BE the church for others.

2005 - DH continues to rebuild the church bit by bit. The process, however, is very slow. It requires a great deal of time from him. DS 2 goes on another mission trip. This time to the Bahamas. DH begins more and more travel to coach and consult with churches around the country.

2006 - DSs 1 and 2 go on a mission trip to Belize. We find ourselves at a crossroads at the end of the year. DH is traveling more and more. By November of this year, we know that DH will become a full time consultant and leave the full time church ministry. It is a transition that will be different for each member of our family. DH surprises me with a fantastic trip to New York City. Our first trip alone as a couple to anywhere significant. We have a wonderful time! Our last day at our church would be New Year's Eve. My third book is published just before this.

2007 - DH and I go on our Anniversary Cruise---a real blessing. I think as we watch our boys grow and our lives change around us, we continue to realize just how special it is to be able to be together. And as we celebrated with our quiet dinner last night, I found myself continually thanking God for such a precious gift!

Happy Anniversary, Again, Hon! I LOVE YOU!!

It's Quiet....except....

It's 11:31pm on August 14th and all's quiet in my house. The crickets and frogs are singing outside, but inside it's peaceful. Except in my mind.

There are a million things floating around inside my head. Thoughts of things I have to do, places I have to go, people I have to see, along with other minutia that is really too trivial to mention. In the midst of all my thoughts, my mind drifts back to this night 20 years ago.

I wonder...

• was I lying awake on my bed wondering about the next day?


• were there butterflies in my stomach?


• did I forget any important details?


• how did I sleep on that night?


• what was it that made me feel I was so "old" and mature?

These, and at least a hundred more questions are relevant to ask on this night as I look back twenty years. For, you see, it was the night before my wedding.

Twenty years

So much time has passed and so many wonderful memories have been made. I only WISH I could remember every single detail of that most special wedding eve and the day that followed!

If you've read my blog lately, you know I've been watching my boys grow their wings and prepare to leave our nest. I wonder if my own Mother had similar feelings as I truly "flew her nest" on that day. I'm certain many thoughts and questions passed through her mind. She is, after all, a Mother. And I'm guessing my Father had similar moments...because he is a Father.

No, I can't recall many of the details. But I DO know that walking down the aisle that day to marry my "forever friend", who would become such a wonderful husband and father, is by far the BEST decision I EVER made!

I hope to post some more before and after pictures later. For now, I'll have to leave you with one I posted last year on our anniversary...Here we are 20 years ago...so young...so naive, yet so in love!

Happy Anniversary, Hon!! I LOVE YOU MORE TODAY than EVER!!

Monday Memory....

Did I ever tell you....

About my first date with my DH? I've been thinking about it in light of watching my DSs "do the dating thing". Here's my abridged version. Of course he wasn't my H then, he was just a guy I knew at school. We were very good friends and hung out together in a group of friends a lot.

My sorority was going to have a semi-formal just before the Christmas break. I really wanted him to go with me...but I was SO AFRAID to ask. My two friends, L and B, took matters into their own hands and asked him for me! Gotta' love friends like that.

I was looking at my college journal last night and here's what it says about "the big date"...

It's 1:00am and the "big date" is over. I don't know what to
think. He came over around 8:30 and we got to the dance around 9:00.
We stayed until midnight or so. It was nice ~~ we didn't dance, but we
still had fun.

We were coming home and we saw an accident. It was some guys from D's
section [in the dorm]. We stopped and went to check it out. One guy
needed stitches and he is a minor. D decided to go to school and call the
guy's parents and meet them at the hospital.

Needless to say, we rushed back here, and he didn't even say goodbye!
Oh well, I'm glad he's responsible, but I am worried about him. I wish he
weren't all alone.

Fast forward to today....I am pretty sure that event...set the tone for the rest of our 20 years! There have been dozens of times over the years when one of us has had to "rush somewhere" in the name of helping and have had to focus somewhere besides each other. The entry for the next day says--in part:

He called around 4:45pm and said he was sorry for not saying goodbye last
night, and that he had a really good time. I was touched!

Here's the part in the journal that I also think defined and continues to define our relationship:

Lord, I think tonight you've perfected our friendship. I thank you
for it and I receive it. I pray our friendship will continue to
grow.

I can honestly say that it is the friendship that we developed so long ago that has been our strong foundation. I am thankful that I went on that first date with my "best friend" and that we continued to seek each other even when we get distracted by other events.

I love that man!!

Photographs and Memories

Do you remember that song?

I am finally home and want to share my week of memories in photos:

Here I am with Mary in front of California Dreamin. We had a WONDERFUL visit! I knew she was neat before I met her face to face, but now I am certain of it. She is a true bundle of JOY!
After I met Mary and Mom and I hung out in Charleston a bit, it was off to Greensboro, NC for work! This is the view from our hotel where we could see the leaves starting to show off their Fall colors for us. I LOVE Fall...so was thankful we got to see some color while there. It was a REAL treat. And then we were off to Savannah to meet Sandy (aka Flip Flop Floozie) at Lady and Sons. Mom and I are standing in the line at 9:30 to get a number at 10:00 only to come back at 11:00 for lunch! If you have not read about Paula Deen and her great restaurant, here's a link: Lady and Sons.

Here's the line...to the front door...and it got much longer than this!
And here's Sandy (on the left taking a picture) and Mom watching the lady that steps into the street and asks "Are ya'll ready to eat?" She doesn't ask once. Nope. She asks it until she's satisfied that the crowd is REALLY ready THEN she rings the dinner and says, "Come and get it!" (We obeyed!)

I had to add another post below to allow me to get all the pics in. Blogger wasn't cooperating...keep reading....

More Photographs and Memories...

I'm going to see if blogger will let me continue my story in this post.

Here's Sandy and I at Lady and Sons.
Here's Sandy showing off the buffet. She was good and didn't eat from it. Being visitors here and knowing it will be a long time before we come to Paula Deen's again, Mom and I had the lunch buffet. MMMMM!!!!


After we left Sandy, Mom and I toured the city. We enjoyed the many sites of Savannah. My favorite was the St. John the Baptist Cathedral and it's gorgeous stained glass windows!
I also quite enjoyed the tour of the Juliette Gordon Lowe Birthplace. You might know that this is the lady who founded the Girl Scouts. What I didn't know before is just how artistic she was. It was amazing. She painted, sculpted, carved wood AND she handmade this iron gate for her garden:


We rounded out our trip with a visit to a lady who was our neighbor when I was a child (more than 30 years ago). She is now 91 and lives in Savannah with her two daughters. It was so neat to see her after all these years.


As you can see, it was a WONDERFUL trip that will live on in these photos (and the many others that I took) for years to come. Thanks to everyone who let us drop in and visit a while. It was GREAT!!

Savannah Smiles!!

I have gone from Charleston Charm to Savannah Smiles!! Today I met Sandy for lunch. I can't wait to post all my pics from my "blogroll tour"....but will have to do it when I get home. I didn't bring my chord to upload pics.

We had a DELIGHTFUL time eating at Lady and Sons. It was wonderful. And what a trooper Sandy is for pressing on to find a parking space! This is a task that is nearly impossible here in Savannah I understand. I KNOW she looked for one for at least 30 minutes after the first time she passed us on the corner...so, Sandy, thank YOU for persevering!

I so totally enjoyed our time together. Yes, I do think it's a great idea to get together with those "friends" we've made via the Internet....

And, no, Sandy is NO axe murderer (even though I DID think about stopping a buying a plastic axe to bring with me)---DS 2, I am TOTALLY fine!

Home tomorrow....I'll update then.

Top O' the Mornin' To Me....

I tried to post this last night, but blogger wasn't cooperating. I know it's Thursday and time for TT, I'll have to do that later on this evening.

Yesterday morning, I received the most wonderful call from my sweet husband! I picked up the phone and heard these words, "Good morning love of my life!" Those words rang in my ear the rest of the day. I love that man!!!

So, to dh....

"Thank you for the wonderful wake up call....love of my life!"

I love that man!

Charleston Charm...

OK, I rolled into Charleston last night at Dusk and must admit I found myself wondering, "Where's that Charleston Charm that everyone talks about?" Mom and I went to the Mall, we drove a bit around in the dark, but still couldn't quite see it.

This morning I drove down to the Visitor's Center to see what we could find before our lunch "date" with Mary. I still didn't quite find the "charm" that I was looking for until we went to California Dreamin' at lunch. Mary is FILLED with charm!!!! It is so funny to meet someone in real life and already know so much about them. We shared a wonderful meal...including soup and salad that wouldn't go away despite the fact that I kept chewing and swallowing...and super conversation.

My Mother commented as we drove out of the parking lot, "It was as if you had always known each other." I think no higher compliment could be paid. She's right.

Mary, thanks for a delightful and CHARMING meal!! We had a great bus tour and found all the historic homes after we left our lunch...but the memory that shall remain dearest is actually meeting this person that I have considered "friend" over the Internet for the year.

Now, I CAN'T WAIT for Thursday when I get to meet Sandy!!

(I can't post any pics while I'm on the road, so you'll have to hop on over to Mary's Place to see them.)

A Long Time Coming....

Nineteen years ago....

And today....

(OK really 11 months ago...but we don't look all that different)

And we're still in love!!

Need I say more?

Happy Anniversary, Hon....I LOVE YOU!!

I Almost Missed It!!

As some of you may have read in my post from earlier today, I did a training yesterday and came home with aching feet! I really came in and crashed in bed at 6:00pm and moved as little as possible until this morning. DH left for a two-day trip today. He'll be back on Tuesday night.

This morning I woke up and went to the kitchen...which I hardly graced last night. There, on my bar, was a beautiful vase with some pretty yellow flowers (my favorite color of flower). I never even noticed them last night. So, this morning, I whispered a prayer of thanks for the blessing that my husband is to me.

Then, this evening, the younger boys and I were at the grocery picking up a few things...and I went to the Sushi section. As I got ready to pick up a pack of Sushi, DS 3 said, "Dad got you Sushi yesterday." I was floored.

When I came home, I found my favorite Sushi waiting for me in the fridge.

If only I hadn't been so focused on my sore feet! I almost missed these two little blessings from my sweet husband! He probably thinks I did miss them totally...Tonight, when he calls to let me know he's safely on the ground at his destination, I am going to tell him again what a blessing he is to me!

And, maybe the next time I feel like focusing elsewhere....I'll try looking up...there just MAY be a blessing waiting!!

World's Best Husband

I am married to one of the best husbands in the world! Today, we have been married for 18 years. I can't always say it has been roses...I am sure most married couples would say this. I CAN say that I KNOW God meant for us to be together. I also know that those storms that we have weathered in the past have brought us to a place of wonderful "wedded bliss" beyond my wildest dreams. And in many ways, I wouldn't trade any of those years. It is those experiences that brought us to a greater understanding of who we are and who we are supposed to be.

I know that I would not be where I am today without this man. He has encouraged me to reach for my dreams. And because of this, I have accomplished and experienced more than I could have imagined. He has given me the strength to say, "I think I can, I think I can..." while he is whispering in my ear, "I KNOW you can, I KNOW you can!" For this, I am so thankful.

And, of course, without him we would not have our four wonderful children. They are such a blessing to us. We watch them grow and are amazed at the young men they are becoming. I know much of that is due to his example of being a wonderful husband and father. I pray that they will be a blessing to their wives and children someday.

I am so proud of my husband. I don't tell him often enough just how much I appreciate all he does for us and for others. He gives tirelessly. He provides for us. He even cooks for us most of the time (thank goodness---because this is NOT my gift)!! But he also gives to the world around us. He works with others helping them create and establish churches that are relevant and meaningful to today's culture. He knows that by working with these places, he may be helping someone he never meets to have hope and faith.

God knew just what he was doing when he gave me this gift 18 years ago and for that, I will always be eternally grateful. I am looking forward with great anticipation to what the next 18 years will bring.

Happy Anniversary, Hon. I love you!!