Pre-Game, George Washington and Braces

So we've started school ... sort of.  :)  We are trying something new this year and I'm trying my best to give it a shot, but I think I just exchanged one headache for another.  I'll post more when we get settled and when the real school season begins for us.  This time of year is always a bit stressful for me, but I do love it!  I enjoy the sun starting to shine differently in the kitchen in the afternoon, and setting a little earlier in the evening.  I love being able to spend time with the girls outdoors after dinner because it's not so hot (finally!) and there always seems to be a new one to teach the fight song to while pushing them on the swing.

This year I'm working on teaching this little BAMA girl to cheer on the team!

While waiting for cookies to come out of the oven tonight, I recorded this.  My Kate, quite possibly George Washington's biggest fan, has been learning a poem about him.  She's half way there!  (and by simple association, Olivia is learning too)
It really is under-rated what 2 & 4 year olds can learn!

Kate video

Olivia video

And an update on my 13 year old's orthodontist progress ... while the installed expander has made a gap the size of another tooth between her front two teeth, she did not get it out today, but did get her braces on (only on top).  Her poor little mouth looks like a roller coaster track!!  But she is so beautiful inside and out that it doesn't matter.  She's been such a great sport about all of this ... makes my heart so happy.

Hebrews 12:1-2

"Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith."

Wise Words

I know that many of you who read this blog are young mothers.  (and wow!  how odd to write those words realizing I am not longer in that category ... sigh ...) and may not be as familiar with Ginger Plowman as us seasoned mothers:).  So when I opened my cabinet door this morning to refer to the above chart, I thought I might pass it's information along.  It is a great tool that I honestly don't use as much as I should, but am blessed by when I do.  You can get your own here.  It is very user friendly and not only identifies the child's sin, but gives heart probing questions for your child and ways to put on the good, after they've taken off the bad.  And like all great teaching tools, it is as beneficial for the parent as it is for the child.

The Real Reason

Sometimes it all just sort of hits ya.  I know I posted a couple days back about how I just sort of felt numb to Richard coming home.  Well, that is, for me, a defense mechanism.  Now that we are so close, my heart is ready to take in the thought of him back for a while.  I don't wake up and say, "Okay, today is the day I'm going to start getting motivated about his return."  No, it just sort of happens.  And now that it has, I cannot express to you how happy this Momma of five is going to be to have her husband home this weekend and for more than just the weekend.  At the end of the day, after I've put everyone to bed and turned out all the lights upstairs, except for the laundry room b/c there is always laundry going:), I walk downstairs and see toys forgotten to be put up, dishes left to be done, the vacuum is still in the living room ... I push a chair in and there is something sticky on it ... and I see little drawings everywhere of sheep and happy people and Olivia's famous pages filled with nothing but the "O's".  I see books out that we've read and I remember giggles that were had.  I'm not happy to have Richard home because I need him here.  I'm happy to have him home because we are a family.  Sitting on beds and talking to big girls who I swear were little girls just yesterday ... feeling little arms reach around my neck and squeeze me tight ... Today was a day that happens only once.  I missed having Richard being a part of this day.  The girls missed having their Daddy being a part of this day.  And Richard, Richard just simply missed out.  He missed it.  I support my husband a million% and then some, but you know it would have been a blessing to have him here today.  Phone calls, Skype, Facetime, emails, letters, videos ... you name it.  They just don't replicate or capture the moment quite the way you wish they could.  The day to day is hard, no doubt about it, but that's not our number one reason for wanting him home.  It's not about what I need, but more about what he doesn't get.

I was so proud of Hanson Ellis today.  She grew up a little today; got a little stronger.  Tonight as I looked at her and listened to her talk and smile and just be herself, I was hit by what a blessing I've been given to be called "Momma."  She has been through so much without her Daddy and yet she is just the sweetest, cutest 13 year old I know.  My heart rejoices that her Daddy will be able to share in being here in her life and her sisters lives for the next couple of weeks.

We are a family and it is nice to know we'll be together again.  Very, very nice.

The Before

Today Hanson Ellis had her expander put in.  It is the first step in her orthodontic journey.  She'll be getting braces on in possibly three weeks.  She has dreaded this moment.  Maybe I was weird, but I was thrilled to get my braces!  Okay, don't comment on that:).  Hanson Ellis has not been looking forward to this day and so I have not been looking forward to this day.  I guess my emotions are just on a high level right now because when they had me come back to see her hardware installed and show me how to turn the key I literally almost passed out!  So not a Spartan moment:).  Surely it was because I didn't have any coffee before we left the house!  I'm almost positive that was the reason:).  But Hanson Ellis ... she has been amazing.  Such a trooper, smiling all day and really just positive about it all.  We talked last night about how we live in a fallen world so we have these little issues of crooked teeth and our jaws not closing properly.  We also talked about how blessed we are to have a God that gives us ways to repair the sin (orthodontics) and goes beyond that in making it a fun experience!  (where she is going is a super place that has all sorts of incentives for the kids and game rooms, movie rooms, free ice cream, popsicles and coffee for me:)!)  It was nice to talk about how God is so good always, down to the very last detail.  It was such a blessing to sit on her bed and see her smile and talk with her about some of the attributes of God and just see her peacefulness and strength in it all.  

Richard and I also talked about it last night.  He mentioned how great our Country is, in that there are many that "hey, forget crooked teeth, some people don't even have any teeth" because dental care is just not up there on the priority list!  America is a very blessed nation.  Richard knows it better than I.  He's seen so much of the rest of the world first hand.  It is sad how far we've gotten from God and how many blessings we have taken for granted here ... or have decided are rights, rather than privileges.  

So here we go.  Hanson Ellis started a new journey today.  The above is the very hastily took before photo (one day I AM going to be organized again!).  I can't wait to look back at this in a couple of years.  I'm sure the time will be over before we know it!  

Love this girl!

Moments

As I sit here waiting to make sure little ones settle down in their beds, I'm enjoying having a moment to think about the upcoming week.  In five days I will go to bed prepared to wake up to a day ... to a period of time that I once thought was so far away.  As I sit here, I think about all the many, many events we've had here at 57 leading up to this.  I think about how a short period of time seemed like such an eternity at the beginning, and I think about how I just couldn't envision then the now.  Life is like that sometimes.  And you know, I think that's good.  As I sit here I think about when I took the above snapshot.  I remember that moment.  I remember how badly I wanted Richard to be home that day.  (I took this on a Saturday ... my last post will explain.)  As I sit here and think about getting to climb in bed next to Richard (as opposed to my cell phone) for more than a couple of nights, I can't help but take a moment to remember all of the moments I felt like the hill I was climbing only kept increasing in it's steepness.  Well, come to think of it, I still think that hill is pretty darn steep, but as I sit here, I can look back on the little that I've climbed and see so clearly how God has made the climb a success thus far.  I feel good about being at the mile marker that I am and I'm happy to be moving forward to the next one! 

I had a tough couple of hours today ... just so frustrated with so much.

I have to say that I have the best SIL in the world!  Rebecca had sent me a couple of texts and ended up calling me and we talked for quite some time.  I am so thankful for her.  I am thankful for her listening ear and I am thankful that despite all the craziness going on in my world, she downloads on me, too!  I LOVE that.  Love it!  How refreshing to know that she knows I need to get things off my chest and mind, but that I need to be a part of other's lives, too.  While so many seem to take a step back as to not "put more on my plate," Rebecca is always there.  As I sit here, I think about what  blessing that moment on the phone with her was today.  I'm thankful for that moment and I'm thankful for the tough moments that open my eyes all the more to the gift of the good moments!  

Thank you Lord for providing for me and for a moment to think about how you sustain me the way that you do.

Fulfilled, Tired, Excited and Numb

It's been just one month short of a year since Momma and Peggy (her oldest sister ... my aunt) drove over to our house.  Momma's been busy and sick and then, we can't forget, half her house was destroyed when the tornado ripped through Tuscaloosa (another post I've got in the line up).  But this weekend they finally made the trip for a much over due girl's weekend at 57.  They arrived Friday afternoon and will leave in the morning.  Momma made it through the weekend without getting sick once.  Yeah!  And we've had a lot of fun doing not much of anything but spending time together and wearing each other out.  The girls love seeing their Gran and Hanson Ellis giggles so much whenever Peggy's around.  Oh how I LOVE to hear those giggles!

This time next week Richard will be home.  I'm excited, but knowing that this is it before things really get started on his end just makes me feel, well, numb.  I guess numb is the best way to describe my emotions right now.  I know what's coming.  All too well I know what's coming.  I don't dread it because I know God is Sovereign.  I don't wish it to be here sooner because the memories of what it's like never become stale.  So I'm stuck in the middle right now just feeling so much and nothing at all.  Numb.

I've always thought that Sunday's were my hardest days.  But lately I have been realizing that Saturday evenings are my worst.  That's when Richard and I watch old movies or documentaries or football games.  That's when we stay up way to late talking about old times and plan out our dreams.  Saturday night is our time and I really like our time.

Six more days and a wake up.
Holding my breath, and yet still breathing.
All at once I am fulfilled, tired, excited and numb.

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Sola Gratia