Well, the old kitchen is out! The paint is up on the walls and we are super excited about getting the kitchen cabinets today! Hopefully we'll get the kitchen cabinets and floor done this week so we can actually MOVE IN. At least that's my hope.....or else I'm gonna get desperate and start lighting candles on the front porch step....LOL
This has been a really long drawn out process. Mostly because with renovation, it never goes as planned. Something is always taking forever. So as it is we are about 2 weeks behind. But what's two weeks in the grand scheme of things right? *wink*
If only I could get a job and help pay for all this..../sigh
Oct 19, 2009
Oct 10, 2009
Floors!
We pulled up the carpet in our new house and found hardwood floors. As excited as we were they were in BAD shape....
And this is the end result below! I am so proud of him!!
So some MAJOR hard work from Joe....
And this is the end result below! I am so proud of him!!
The camera lens has some water drops on it so you'll have to look past that and the reflection of the window in the middle of the floor...LOL But they are beautiful. Pictures don't do them justice!
Random pics...
Gammaw with Jaclyn & Abby at the fair
Daddy & Jaclyn at the fair
Me holding Jaclyn and Mason. She's full of kisses for her baby brother! :)
Oct 8, 2009
Reality
Someone told me recently that if Joe and I didn't fight or whatever then either one or both of us was seriously repressing something or "reality hasn't hit yet". Hmmm. I have thought long and hard about this.
Why must reality be a negative? According to this person, if reality had hit our marriage then it would have had a negative effect. But I see it as quite the opposite. I see that reality has definitely effected us. Except that it isn't a negative but a positive.
Is this how our society views love, marriage...commitment? Something that is only good until reality hits? Then when reality hits it gets hard? Why must we be people that insist on reading marriage books and listening to "experts"? If we spent half the time with our spouse listening to them instead of to some stranger, I think life would be easier.
Don't get me wrong, it isn't that I don't believe in marriage help books or people, it's just that I truly believe that if you have 2 people that are willing to work at something, does it truly take someone else to help pull you together?
For us, it's easy to talk. Even if there is a problem, talking it out has never been an issue. Simply because we are 2 people who value each other, respect each other and most definitely doesn't want to be the cause of pain in the other. It's easier for me to talk to Joe about stuff than for me to go read a book on marriage.
I do feel that there are occasions when an outside point of view can help bring perspective on a problems. But I more strongly feel that if the 2 people would just desire to bring only good will on the other, lives would be easier.
It's much harder, I think when you have a spouse with a narcissistic attitude (when they view all of their relationships as being centered around them, parents, children, co-workers, church...). When this happens they will inevitably have that "teacher" tone, not exactly viewing you as equal, but as someone they possibly "saved" and can now teach and train. Sad, but happens all the time.
Reality is what is real. In my life, there are a lot of realities. In regards to my husband and family - they are positive. A negative? That I miss my older 3 kiddo's like crazy. As I am sure my ex misses Abby. A reality. Aside from that - my reality is that I have the chance to be a better wife this time around. To treat my husband the way I should. To be his help-mate, lover and friend.
And I married someone who truly loves me. He shows it everyday in his actions and his words. But anyone can say it, huh? I guess the true test is can they consistently display it? I get that now and even more I am blessed to be able to give it.
I hope that people can realize that reality doesn't always have to be a negative and that marriage doesn't always have to be so hard. ~
Why must reality be a negative? According to this person, if reality had hit our marriage then it would have had a negative effect. But I see it as quite the opposite. I see that reality has definitely effected us. Except that it isn't a negative but a positive.
Is this how our society views love, marriage...commitment? Something that is only good until reality hits? Then when reality hits it gets hard? Why must we be people that insist on reading marriage books and listening to "experts"? If we spent half the time with our spouse listening to them instead of to some stranger, I think life would be easier.
Don't get me wrong, it isn't that I don't believe in marriage help books or people, it's just that I truly believe that if you have 2 people that are willing to work at something, does it truly take someone else to help pull you together?
For us, it's easy to talk. Even if there is a problem, talking it out has never been an issue. Simply because we are 2 people who value each other, respect each other and most definitely doesn't want to be the cause of pain in the other. It's easier for me to talk to Joe about stuff than for me to go read a book on marriage.
I do feel that there are occasions when an outside point of view can help bring perspective on a problems. But I more strongly feel that if the 2 people would just desire to bring only good will on the other, lives would be easier.
It's much harder, I think when you have a spouse with a narcissistic attitude (when they view all of their relationships as being centered around them, parents, children, co-workers, church...). When this happens they will inevitably have that "teacher" tone, not exactly viewing you as equal, but as someone they possibly "saved" and can now teach and train. Sad, but happens all the time.
Reality is what is real. In my life, there are a lot of realities. In regards to my husband and family - they are positive. A negative? That I miss my older 3 kiddo's like crazy. As I am sure my ex misses Abby. A reality. Aside from that - my reality is that I have the chance to be a better wife this time around. To treat my husband the way I should. To be his help-mate, lover and friend.
And I married someone who truly loves me. He shows it everyday in his actions and his words. But anyone can say it, huh? I guess the true test is can they consistently display it? I get that now and even more I am blessed to be able to give it.
I hope that people can realize that reality doesn't always have to be a negative and that marriage doesn't always have to be so hard. ~
Oct 7, 2009
It's that time of year....
Out with the old, in with the new. It's fall cleaning time again. Why does it seem like I just cleaned out dresser drawers and closets? Yet here it is, time to replace the winter clothes in the attic with the summer clothes. Time to pull out my bread pans as this is the time of year I love to bake. There is nothing like walking into a warm kitchen with the lingering smell of pumpkin bread or apple pies or rising yeast rolls....the list goes on. Yum. :)
My favorite would have to be the constant orange spice tea that is being made from scratch. The smell of cinnamon and cloves bursting throughout the house. To me that just screams "fall is here"!!! *laughing*
Here is my famous apple pie recipe. It's absolutely no fail. Easy as...well...pie. *grin*
(the secret to the crust is that you will be using both shortening AND butter. Why, you ask? Because this way you'll achieve the crumbly AND the flaky.)
The Crust
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar
6 tablespoons butter
6 tablespoons shortening
6 to 8 tablespoons ice water
Leave the butter out until it is VERY soft - but not anywhere close to melted. In a large bowl mix your flour, salt and sugar. Then cut in your butter shortening and ice water. The trick here is to not overwork your dough. Cut it in gently while using swift strokes. For into a ball, wrap in saran wrap and stick in the fridge for about 20 minutes.
The Pie
1/2 cup unsalted butter
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 cup water
8 Granny Smith apples - peeled, cored and sliced
Melt the butter in a small pan on the stove. Then stir in the flour until it looks like a paste. Then add white sugar, brown sugar and water. When it comes to a boil, reduce temp and simmer for about 5 minutes.
Peel and cut your apples into a large bowl. Take you cinnamon and nutmeg and sprinkle over apples. Gently stir. Make sure you resist the temptation to add the cinnamon and nutmeg to the sauce on the stove. Seriously. What you'll end up with is an ugly dark pie. It'll be good but it won't look it. LOL
Roll out your dough to about 1/8 thickness (or however you like it). Place on bottom of pie plate. Fill with apples (using the "mound" method). Once full, very slowly and very gently, pour mixture from stove over apples.
Roll out top crust and place over pie. Make slits on top of crust. Using leftover dough to make cut out flowers or whatnots is a cute way to top it off. My kids have always loved the way I do that.
VERY IMPORTANT NOTE:
Make sure you have a completely pre-heated oven before sticking this in.
pre-heat to 425 and bake for 15 minutes. Then REDUCE to 350 and continue to bake for about 40 minutes.
Allow to sit for 10-15 minutes before serving. (also important step to not overlook...LOL)
ENJOY!!!
:)
My favorite would have to be the constant orange spice tea that is being made from scratch. The smell of cinnamon and cloves bursting throughout the house. To me that just screams "fall is here"!!! *laughing*
Here is my famous apple pie recipe. It's absolutely no fail. Easy as...well...pie. *grin*
(the secret to the crust is that you will be using both shortening AND butter. Why, you ask? Because this way you'll achieve the crumbly AND the flaky.)
The Crust
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar
6 tablespoons butter
6 tablespoons shortening
6 to 8 tablespoons ice water
Leave the butter out until it is VERY soft - but not anywhere close to melted. In a large bowl mix your flour, salt and sugar. Then cut in your butter shortening and ice water. The trick here is to not overwork your dough. Cut it in gently while using swift strokes. For into a ball, wrap in saran wrap and stick in the fridge for about 20 minutes.
The Pie
1/2 cup unsalted butter
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 cup water
8 Granny Smith apples - peeled, cored and sliced
Melt the butter in a small pan on the stove. Then stir in the flour until it looks like a paste. Then add white sugar, brown sugar and water. When it comes to a boil, reduce temp and simmer for about 5 minutes.
Peel and cut your apples into a large bowl. Take you cinnamon and nutmeg and sprinkle over apples. Gently stir. Make sure you resist the temptation to add the cinnamon and nutmeg to the sauce on the stove. Seriously. What you'll end up with is an ugly dark pie. It'll be good but it won't look it. LOL
Roll out your dough to about 1/8 thickness (or however you like it). Place on bottom of pie plate. Fill with apples (using the "mound" method). Once full, very slowly and very gently, pour mixture from stove over apples.
Roll out top crust and place over pie. Make slits on top of crust. Using leftover dough to make cut out flowers or whatnots is a cute way to top it off. My kids have always loved the way I do that.
VERY IMPORTANT NOTE:
Make sure you have a completely pre-heated oven before sticking this in.
pre-heat to 425 and bake for 15 minutes. Then REDUCE to 350 and continue to bake for about 40 minutes.
Allow to sit for 10-15 minutes before serving. (also important step to not overlook...LOL)
ENJOY!!!
:)
Oct 3, 2009
Simply Mine
My ex husband married my sister. (this wasn't a recent event, they've been married for over a year) Yep. Anyway it happened and it has changed so many things. Put a lot of tension where it wouldn't have otherwise been. Of course, if you ask some, they'll say "it's only tense because some make it tense".
Really that isn't true. There are times that people and their circumstances just make people uneasy. My sister and my ex being married certainly would have that effect on one hand. Like I have that effect on his family (or so it seems).
Some would think that it's an odd thing to happen. I've heard all the jokes about my kids being their own cousins and how my daughters Dad is her sisters Uncle. Yeah yeah yeah.
I also think that those two were meant to be married long long ago. They are a MUCH better fit than he and I were. We got 4 awesome things out of that marriage and that's it. And for those 4 kiddo's, I'm grateful.
I don't dwell on it. The way I see it, it isn't my story anymore. I cut that part of the book off and began a new chapter.
Sisters? Yes. Not that it really matters, we spent years apart, she and I. I had babies and never heard from her. Maybe there is a reason we've never been close. God knows every chapter of our lives long before it ever happens. Who knows.
It is, however, my kids story. How they feel about certain things, their relationships with family etc...all part of their story. Not mine. So how I "feel" about something or someone doesn't matter. I love each of those kids enough to allow them to have those relationships without my opinion weighing them down. Now, when it comes to right or wrong, that's a different story. It's my responsibility as their Momma to guide and teach them. But even that has to be done without bias. Or you run the terrible risk of creating more difficult issues that will encumber them later on in life.
And of course, it all comes down to this;
What you say to a child, what you do, how you act etc. are all things that child will remember. That is the most important thing to me. When a child is yelled at or embarrassed or lied to or someone talks bad about a parent (either parent) those are ALL things that will bury itself inside that child's memory and stay forever.
So that child grows up. And with it, stays it's memories. Don't be a negative part to that. The negative can not be undone. I have lots of happy memories with one of my Aunts. But there are also a couple of times that she said something that I have remembered, all these years later. And it hurt.
Children have this innate ability to deeply love. Even when you don't. So there are people my kids love that I do not. I do, though, deeply love my kids - therefore completely supporting their love for those people.
Because that's what grown-ups do.
So yes, my ex and my sister are married. And as difficult and complicated as that has been at times, it is what it is.
And my life now is too. I cherish where I am. Leaving the past where it belongs.
Like an old favorite book, worn, torn and tired pages with a soft and fragile spine, I will still continue on my story.....because it is simply mine.
Really that isn't true. There are times that people and their circumstances just make people uneasy. My sister and my ex being married certainly would have that effect on one hand. Like I have that effect on his family (or so it seems).
Some would think that it's an odd thing to happen. I've heard all the jokes about my kids being their own cousins and how my daughters Dad is her sisters Uncle. Yeah yeah yeah.
I also think that those two were meant to be married long long ago. They are a MUCH better fit than he and I were. We got 4 awesome things out of that marriage and that's it. And for those 4 kiddo's, I'm grateful.
I don't dwell on it. The way I see it, it isn't my story anymore. I cut that part of the book off and began a new chapter.
Sisters? Yes. Not that it really matters, we spent years apart, she and I. I had babies and never heard from her. Maybe there is a reason we've never been close. God knows every chapter of our lives long before it ever happens. Who knows.
It is, however, my kids story. How they feel about certain things, their relationships with family etc...all part of their story. Not mine. So how I "feel" about something or someone doesn't matter. I love each of those kids enough to allow them to have those relationships without my opinion weighing them down. Now, when it comes to right or wrong, that's a different story. It's my responsibility as their Momma to guide and teach them. But even that has to be done without bias. Or you run the terrible risk of creating more difficult issues that will encumber them later on in life.
And of course, it all comes down to this;
What you say to a child, what you do, how you act etc. are all things that child will remember. That is the most important thing to me. When a child is yelled at or embarrassed or lied to or someone talks bad about a parent (either parent) those are ALL things that will bury itself inside that child's memory and stay forever.
So that child grows up. And with it, stays it's memories. Don't be a negative part to that. The negative can not be undone. I have lots of happy memories with one of my Aunts. But there are also a couple of times that she said something that I have remembered, all these years later. And it hurt.
Children have this innate ability to deeply love. Even when you don't. So there are people my kids love that I do not. I do, though, deeply love my kids - therefore completely supporting their love for those people.
Because that's what grown-ups do.
So yes, my ex and my sister are married. And as difficult and complicated as that has been at times, it is what it is.
And my life now is too. I cherish where I am. Leaving the past where it belongs.
Like an old favorite book, worn, torn and tired pages with a soft and fragile spine, I will still continue on my story.....because it is simply mine.
Sep 30, 2009
Mason - September
(above)Mason with Gammaw :)
Mason :)
(above) Our sweet chunker monker
Gammaw with Jaclyn & Mason
Sep 11, 2009
Picked a peck of pickeled peppers...LOL
Wow! Summer has flown by! We had Mr. Mason make his grand entrance on June 28th. He's a cute chunky monkey now! LOL All the kids were here and Anna was able to be in the delivery room with us. It was seriously a precious precious moment in my life. To have her in there. Wow.
So I'll write more later but for now I'll update with pics! :)
Apr 19, 2009
Mar 18, 2009
Mar 15, 2009
Mar 5, 2009
Adventures of Christi....
I'm starting a new business making cloth diapers and wipes. I'm a proud owner of a brand new Singer sewing machine and I can't wait to get started. Here's an example of the cloth diapers of today and what I will be making....
They look like this on the inside. Again this is an example of a bum genius diaper. But the pattern I'm making is very similar to these. Eventually, after I get things off the ground with the diapers, I'll add things like hair bows and t-shirts to match the diaper covers. I'm getting ahead of myself though. :) For now, I am making simple fitted diapers and covers with a hidden PUL layer. I'll also make soakers out of Hemp French Terry. As I believe this is the best material for soakers. I'm really excited about this new adventure. I know it'll take a little while to get started but the best part is that this is something I enjoy, it's fun. And I can do this and be able to stay home with my munchkins. That is the BEST part about it. :) Speaking of munchkins!
I am proud to announce that Joe and I are expecting our son, Mason, to arrive July 29, 2009
Yeah! We are so excited about having another little boy running around. :) Abby has been saying all along that she's going to have a little "brudder". I guess she was right! We do go next Wednesday to Little Rock for a fetal echocardiogram. So we're keeping our fingers crossed that everything is fine with our little Mason Dobson. :) I'll keep you posted ~
Yeah! We are so excited about having another little boy running around. :) Abby has been saying all along that she's going to have a little "brudder". I guess she was right! We do go next Wednesday to Little Rock for a fetal echocardiogram. So we're keeping our fingers crossed that everything is fine with our little Mason Dobson. :) I'll keep you posted ~
Feb 21, 2009
Fell Into A Pool Of Purple Elephants
Joe and I took Abby to Wal-art last night to see about buying her a bike. We live in the perfect neighborhood for bike riding and she has outgrown her little tricycle. *sniff*. She cracks us up all the time with her little antics and sayings. We were walking through looking at the bikes and Joe reached up to get a bike off the really high hook it was hanging on and Abby says "Uh, I don't think so. That is a big bike for big humans." LOL I crack up at this. Then we stopped at the store because Joe was fixing his famous chicken/bacon/ranch (on the grill...YUMMY) Well, the girls and I waited in the car while he ran in. While we were waiting I saw that I had missed Mom's call, 4 times, so I called her back. Abby gets on the pone with her and asks "Mimi, are you a human?" LOL I have no idea what the deal is with the whole being a human but she is such a funny little girl.
Here recently she has refused to count right (1,2,3 etc). She claims that she is counting like her Dad. When I asked him about it we finally decided figured out that when she was visiting him they played hide and seek and they counted out of order just trying to be funny. Well, she took it seriously and now won't count right for anything. LOL Anyway, before wal-mart last night we went to a book store to pick up a book I had ordered. Abby was looking around at all the books for her age and all of a sudden I realize she's counting... 1,2,3,4,5... I look at Joe and say "Hey, do you hear that? He grins and says (in his deep voice drawing the word out) "yes". I just laugh but I did feel relieved knowing that she CAN do it, she just doesn't WANT to.
Took me back to the old laundry times I had where it was a struggle...wanting to do it and doing it, come to find out, were very different things. Ha!
Well, today is Saturday and we are taking the girls and heading out of town! Yeah!!! We're so glad to be able to get away and go do something! I'll post pics of our adventures after we get back.
Oh and a belly update.....I am 18 weeks pregnant today. Yes, my tummy definitely looks pregnant, Joe can now rub my belly and make wishes....LOL I have a dr's appt next Wednesday and will let ya know how it goes! So far, things have been drama free (thank God) and we are hoping for a plump little healthy baby. :)
~
Here recently she has refused to count right (1,2,3 etc). She claims that she is counting like her Dad. When I asked him about it we finally decided figured out that when she was visiting him they played hide and seek and they counted out of order just trying to be funny. Well, she took it seriously and now won't count right for anything. LOL Anyway, before wal-mart last night we went to a book store to pick up a book I had ordered. Abby was looking around at all the books for her age and all of a sudden I realize she's counting... 1,2,3,4,5... I look at Joe and say "Hey, do you hear that? He grins and says (in his deep voice drawing the word out) "yes". I just laugh but I did feel relieved knowing that she CAN do it, she just doesn't WANT to.
Took me back to the old laundry times I had where it was a struggle...wanting to do it and doing it, come to find out, were very different things. Ha!
Well, today is Saturday and we are taking the girls and heading out of town! Yeah!!! We're so glad to be able to get away and go do something! I'll post pics of our adventures after we get back.
Oh and a belly update.....I am 18 weeks pregnant today. Yes, my tummy definitely looks pregnant, Joe can now rub my belly and make wishes....LOL I have a dr's appt next Wednesday and will let ya know how it goes! So far, things have been drama free (thank God) and we are hoping for a plump little healthy baby. :)
~
Feb 15, 2009
Feb 12, 2009
She's crawling!
Yep! Jaclyn has mastered the art of crawling. Although she kind-of looks like a little frog sometimes. LOL She gets up on all fours and rocks and then she plops down on her tummy and low crawls across the floor. What she really wants to do is walk.....but let's hope she waits a while to do that!
The good news here is that work has picked back up at the electric company Joe works for. *Thank God*. Seriously. So hopefully it will stay that way. We have school tuition to pay for and Jaclyn's medical bills!
Well, Abby's in the tub and Jaclyn is now all over the place so I had better get off this computer. Hopefully I'll get a video on here soon of both of them :) ~
The good news here is that work has picked back up at the electric company Joe works for. *Thank God*. Seriously. So hopefully it will stay that way. We have school tuition to pay for and Jaclyn's medical bills!
Well, Abby's in the tub and Jaclyn is now all over the place so I had better get off this computer. Hopefully I'll get a video on here soon of both of them :) ~
Feb 11, 2009
Growing up
Jaclyn is trying so hard to crawl. She gets up on both her hands and her knees and then she just rocks back and forth. Poor girl, she gets so upset when she doesn't go anywhere. LOL
She's just so curious about everything though it's so funny. Just like her Daddy, if there is a cord or gadget laying around that's what she goes for. You could have her surrounded with toys and she'll bypass them to get to someone's cell phone they left out or the computer cord or whatever else looks cool. :)
She's fun, it's going to be so neat to see what kind of personality she has. I've loved that about being a Momma. Being able to watch them all grow and exert their individual personalities. That's one of the best parts of being a parent. it's just so neat to watch these little people become big people, inside and out! I love being a Momma. It's what I've always wanted to do. Since I was a little girl I wanted to grow up and be a Momma. So how cool is it that I get to be one to 6 kiddo's?!?! *huge grin*
Feb 10, 2009
For my new readers...
I want to share with you this post before you start reading the last 4 years of my life.
So no one will read anything on here and get offended, I want you to all understand that these blogs that I've spent 4 years writing were a documentation of my life. I was married to a military guy and we did *try* to treat each other as husbands and wives should.
I thought about deleting a lot of posts but then a thought came over me. I'm not ashamed or anything else for any of these posts in regards to my first husband. It was my life, and I appreciated it for what it was. So I blogged about it. Writing has always been my way to escape, vent or otherwise relax.
And as you will read, life took a sharp turn. And we began on new paths. And I will blog about it, because I appreciate my life now even more than before.
This blog is particularly special to me. It represents who I was and who I am now. So beginning a new one, after some thought, just wasn't an option. There are a lot of old posts on here that I cherish and I didn't want to delete them.
To the right you will see an archive of months. Scroll down and you will see August at the bottom of the list. I began this blog on August 15, 2005. When you click on a month you may see a list of blogs. If you scroll the page down and start with the last blog first and then read up, they will be in order and make more sense...LOL
Again, this is me. The past and the present.
~ Christi
So no one will read anything on here and get offended, I want you to all understand that these blogs that I've spent 4 years writing were a documentation of my life. I was married to a military guy and we did *try* to treat each other as husbands and wives should.
I thought about deleting a lot of posts but then a thought came over me. I'm not ashamed or anything else for any of these posts in regards to my first husband. It was my life, and I appreciated it for what it was. So I blogged about it. Writing has always been my way to escape, vent or otherwise relax.
And as you will read, life took a sharp turn. And we began on new paths. And I will blog about it, because I appreciate my life now even more than before.
This blog is particularly special to me. It represents who I was and who I am now. So beginning a new one, after some thought, just wasn't an option. There are a lot of old posts on here that I cherish and I didn't want to delete them.
To the right you will see an archive of months. Scroll down and you will see August at the bottom of the list. I began this blog on August 15, 2005. When you click on a month you may see a list of blogs. If you scroll the page down and start with the last blog first and then read up, they will be in order and make more sense...LOL
Again, this is me. The past and the present.
~ Christi
Feb 9, 2009
Divorce
Reading some of the older posts on here lately really has had me thinking! Some of the posts I had forgotten about and was laughing so hard while reading them. Some made me sad. All in all, I realized that this blog really has been a documentation of my life. Pretty much the past 4 years. There is a lot of good documented, a lot of funny, some serious, some sad. But it's my life. It's my thoughts.
The one thing I'm going to do differently is be a little more real about the not so great stuff. There are too many Christians walking their walk who put on smiles and act like life is great and they don't struggle with anything. My friend, Kim, made a beautiful point the other day. I'll post it here:
If you don't have struggles or hard times then maybe you should ponder that. If Satan never attacks you then maybe you should ask yourself "am I a threat to him?". Quite simply, if you are not a threat, then he will not see the need to attack. If you ARE a threat, then he will attack.
I think I've learned to take my attacks as a compliment. Satan knows I want to live my life for God. And knowing that makes him really angry. And I've learned that he'll stop at nothing to get at me. The thing is, he won't win. Because even when I felt like I was in my darkest deepest moments at the bottom of the pit, I relied on God.
I kept reminding myself of Romans 12. Trying to not be conformed but transformed. And holy cow have I messed things up! But I would continue to say to myself "out with the old in with the new". And it has helped me keep my eye on the goal.
I am a divorced/remarried woman/momma. As sad as divorce is, I'm grateful that my ex-husband and I have come to the conclusion that we want to make this as easy an experience for our kids as we can. Is there anything easy about divorce? Nope. But it doesn't have to be a huge nasty fight. And I think we've learned that when you ignore the ill advice of people encouraging you to "go after or fight" and you put the kids first remembering that fighting in any way will hurt them, things are better.
It just doesn't matter any more what happened in our marriage. The divorce dissolved the marriage and it's contents. And what we have left are these 4 beautiful children who deserve only the best that we can give them.
That means putting aside what we want, what we think we deserve, and put the kids first. It's amazing how just doing that can clear up so many issues.
I also think that there were a lot of well meaning friends and family who were encouraging a nasty fight. Court or otherwise. I find that interesting seeing as how we both come from a long line of Christians.......
My point is that we all have our struggles. Some people have secret struggles and some have open struggles. We choose to be real about them or not. Sometimes we get angry when someone doesn't do things the way we want.
I've certainly had people angry with me because they think I'm doing things wrong. Of course, My family supported me and his family supported him. That's probably generally how it is.
Funny though, not very many at all were simply on the kids side. No one told us BOTH, hey pull your head out and look at how you are making this worse.....no, it seemed that it was either his side or my side.
Personally, I think the right thing to do would have been to just be on the kids side. It's important to our kids for their family members to be supportive of the other. It's important for my kids to know that my parents support a relationship with my ex's parents. It's a huge deal, because this is THEIR life. And ALL of these people are a part of their life. Even if they are not a part of my life, or my ex's life. it's about the KID'S life.
So, that's my view on this whole divorce thing. LOL
The one thing I'm going to do differently is be a little more real about the not so great stuff. There are too many Christians walking their walk who put on smiles and act like life is great and they don't struggle with anything. My friend, Kim, made a beautiful point the other day. I'll post it here:
If you don't have struggles or hard times then maybe you should ponder that. If Satan never attacks you then maybe you should ask yourself "am I a threat to him?". Quite simply, if you are not a threat, then he will not see the need to attack. If you ARE a threat, then he will attack.
I think I've learned to take my attacks as a compliment. Satan knows I want to live my life for God. And knowing that makes him really angry. And I've learned that he'll stop at nothing to get at me. The thing is, he won't win. Because even when I felt like I was in my darkest deepest moments at the bottom of the pit, I relied on God.
I kept reminding myself of Romans 12. Trying to not be conformed but transformed. And holy cow have I messed things up! But I would continue to say to myself "out with the old in with the new". And it has helped me keep my eye on the goal.
I am a divorced/remarried woman/momma. As sad as divorce is, I'm grateful that my ex-husband and I have come to the conclusion that we want to make this as easy an experience for our kids as we can. Is there anything easy about divorce? Nope. But it doesn't have to be a huge nasty fight. And I think we've learned that when you ignore the ill advice of people encouraging you to "go after or fight" and you put the kids first remembering that fighting in any way will hurt them, things are better.
It just doesn't matter any more what happened in our marriage. The divorce dissolved the marriage and it's contents. And what we have left are these 4 beautiful children who deserve only the best that we can give them.
That means putting aside what we want, what we think we deserve, and put the kids first. It's amazing how just doing that can clear up so many issues.
I also think that there were a lot of well meaning friends and family who were encouraging a nasty fight. Court or otherwise. I find that interesting seeing as how we both come from a long line of Christians.......
My point is that we all have our struggles. Some people have secret struggles and some have open struggles. We choose to be real about them or not. Sometimes we get angry when someone doesn't do things the way we want.
I've certainly had people angry with me because they think I'm doing things wrong. Of course, My family supported me and his family supported him. That's probably generally how it is.
Funny though, not very many at all were simply on the kids side. No one told us BOTH, hey pull your head out and look at how you are making this worse.....no, it seemed that it was either his side or my side.
Personally, I think the right thing to do would have been to just be on the kids side. It's important to our kids for their family members to be supportive of the other. It's important for my kids to know that my parents support a relationship with my ex's parents. It's a huge deal, because this is THEIR life. And ALL of these people are a part of their life. Even if they are not a part of my life, or my ex's life. it's about the KID'S life.
So, that's my view on this whole divorce thing. LOL
Feb 8, 2009
Well another year's gone by.....
Wow, I can't believe another year has gone by. Well, I did give birth to a beautiful baby girl on June 8th, 2008. She had Transposition of the great arteries with VSD. You can read about her open heart surgery here...
www.caringbridge.com/visit/jaclynclairedobson
I am married to a wonderful man, Joe. He's my best friend. Plain and simple. ;)
We actually are expecting again! This time due in July.
So much has happened over the last few years. I'm hoping to be able to write to help through some of the healing process. So much healing has already taken place and God is such a good and gracious God. For that I'm grateful.
I'll start writing more soon, until then...
~C.
Apr 10, 2008
Wow, a whole new life
Wow, well things are certainly in a completely new place from where things were the last time I blogged.
Let's see, I'm divorced.
That's the first very different thing. As sad as divorce is, I think it was the best thing that could have happened. I was married to someone who is a good person, just not good for me. I'm sure there is someone out there who will be able to appreciate him and all his needs/wants/desires.
The second very different thing is that I am in love with the most caring, gentle man. And we are having a little girl here in just a few more weeks. It's so exciting, this whole new life.
Here is a picture of our little girl. :)
Let's see, I'm divorced.
That's the first very different thing. As sad as divorce is, I think it was the best thing that could have happened. I was married to someone who is a good person, just not good for me. I'm sure there is someone out there who will be able to appreciate him and all his needs/wants/desires.
The second very different thing is that I am in love with the most caring, gentle man. And we are having a little girl here in just a few more weeks. It's so exciting, this whole new life.
Here is a picture of our little girl. :)
Apr 4, 2007
Sometimes
Sometimes life throws us a curve ball that we were not prepared to catch.
So it hits us in the face.
Sometimes our plans don't happen in the order that we planned them.
So life hits us in the face.
Sometimes we get so caught up in the poems of life that we forget reality.
So reality hits us in the face.
Sometimes we dream so big, that we leave everyone else out of our dreams.
So our dreams hit us in the face.
Sometimes we think we're doing the right thing.
So the wrong thing hits us in the face.
Sometimes we need so much that we forget that other people have needs too.
So needs hits us in the face.
Sometimes we want so badly to be loved that we forget to love.
So love hits us in the face.
Sometimes we hold so tightly to "ourselves"... we forget all about God.
So, maybe, just maybe, God hits us in the face.
And sometimes while we're getting hit in the face, we lose our vision and all the people we thought we loved.
And so those people get hit in the face.
So it hits us in the face.
Sometimes our plans don't happen in the order that we planned them.
So life hits us in the face.
Sometimes we get so caught up in the poems of life that we forget reality.
So reality hits us in the face.
Sometimes we dream so big, that we leave everyone else out of our dreams.
So our dreams hit us in the face.
Sometimes we think we're doing the right thing.
So the wrong thing hits us in the face.
Sometimes we need so much that we forget that other people have needs too.
So needs hits us in the face.
Sometimes we want so badly to be loved that we forget to love.
So love hits us in the face.
Sometimes we hold so tightly to "ourselves"... we forget all about God.
So, maybe, just maybe, God hits us in the face.
And sometimes while we're getting hit in the face, we lose our vision and all the people we thought we loved.
And so those people get hit in the face.
Mar 20, 2007
Changes, Changes, Changes....
Wow. Life has certainly taken me down a different path than I expected to find myself on.
That's all I'm going to say for now. Until I find my words. Right now, I seem to have lost them.
That's all I'm going to say for now. Until I find my words. Right now, I seem to have lost them.
Nov 23, 2006
Thanksgiving
First of all....
Sunnydale, I missed you SO much today!! I luv and mis you ;)
Now...
The best part of thanksgiving was being with my sister, Melody, her husband, Doug and their boys, Vince and Mark. The second best part was being there for my nephew Mark's baptism....and my Dad baptizing him. *huge grin*
And being with my sis..... Melody... *I love you*
And here is me and Vince, my oldest nephew....
And I promise to put some on here of all my kiddo's and them too!We had a ton of food and a ton of fun. This was a great Thanksgiving! All we needed to make it perfect was Sunnydale.
Oct 30, 2006
Life in the ummmmmm slow lane
Well, I'm a recovering chickenpoxian. LOL Actually, I got the lab results back from my dr. today and it wasn't the chicken pox after all, but a staph infection! ACK! Holy Cow, how did that happen? Well, it's going away, and I suppose that's all that really matters.
The girls are enjoying school! Adri is making friends and Anna is doing SO much better in school. The classes here are very different from your traditional school and we are loving that!
The little people are doing really well too. They have made friends now with Justin, Katie and Samantha. While she's not taking away Samantha's binky, Abby, is especially loving Justin, she calls him "jon jon". She likes to tell him "no no!" and "shhhh". She has been cracking me up. Sunnydale has had a blast running around and playing.
We all miss Daddy and are counting down the days until he gets here! Love you Sunnydale!
I agree with him too, that we'll start saving now for the John Deere Car. *laughing* That will be great!
I'll try to update more often with pictures.
The girls are enjoying school! Adri is making friends and Anna is doing SO much better in school. The classes here are very different from your traditional school and we are loving that!
The little people are doing really well too. They have made friends now with Justin, Katie and Samantha. While she's not taking away Samantha's binky, Abby, is especially loving Justin, she calls him "jon jon". She likes to tell him "no no!" and "shhhh". She has been cracking me up. Sunnydale has had a blast running around and playing.
We all miss Daddy and are counting down the days until he gets here! Love you Sunnydale!
I agree with him too, that we'll start saving now for the John Deere Car. *laughing* That will be great!
I'll try to update more often with pictures.
Oct 21, 2006
Getting Settled
Well, we are slowly but surely getting settled here in the South again! Sooo glad to be here! The girls are so funny, they get excited about all those wonderful little things that us adults overlook. Such as the fact that you can hear the band practicing and you can listen to the football games outside in the front yard on Friday night! They get so excited, it's funny and so very nice to see their sweet smiles and hear their laughter.
Here is a picture of Anna and Adri's room....
It's actually a light pink, but it comes out darker in the picture.
Here is a picture of something you'd only see here in Mississippi
It's a John Deere Car....*laugh*
Oct 7, 2006
Cheap Shot
For all of you out there wondering what to get us for Christmas, I've added a wish List in my Profile. *grin*
Well, today is Saturday and Monday afternoon, I need to be completely done with the house. I've pretty much wasted my morning playing around with my new cell phone and working on this blog. Even though I'll be computerless for a while. LOL I need to clean up the blog before it gets packed away. That's how I feel about my house!
I'm pretty much done though. All I have to do now is wash the bedding from all the rooms , take down the trampoline, drain all the oil/gas from the lawnmower and we should be good to go.
I think I'll be glad when we actually get on the road, then I can breathe cause there won't be anything to do except drive! :)
Thanks for the prayers, keep em going up! ~C.
Well, today is Saturday and Monday afternoon, I need to be completely done with the house. I've pretty much wasted my morning playing around with my new cell phone and working on this blog. Even though I'll be computerless for a while. LOL I need to clean up the blog before it gets packed away. That's how I feel about my house!
I'm pretty much done though. All I have to do now is wash the bedding from all the rooms , take down the trampoline, drain all the oil/gas from the lawnmower and we should be good to go.
I think I'll be glad when we actually get on the road, then I can breathe cause there won't be anything to do except drive! :)
Thanks for the prayers, keep em going up! ~C.
Oct 6, 2006
Ma Ma Ma Ma Mary, this ones for you!!
I've enabled comment moderation. Basically that just means that anyone can post a comment now, you don't have to be a registered user. This way, if any of that nasty spam comes up, I can delete it before it's published.
*grin* - Mary, this means that you click on "comments" at the end of this post. Then you type your message, then click on "other", type your name, type in the word verification and then you're done! *hehe, I'll be expecting you to reply now* LOL
I thinking about switching over to the Beta form, so we'll see.
Today I'll be crazy busy trying to fit everything into my schedule as we are fast approaching "The Move". I have to say we have some very special family members who are making this move easier than I ever thought. *thanks*
Hopefully, Jamie, can keep the blog updated for me since I won't have a computer until....... I have no idea how long it'll be. March??? Wow, I hadn't given that one any good thought until now, huh? Hmmm. Note to self - need computer before March.
Ok, well I'm rambling. I've been up since 2:30 am. Can't sleep. The house is clean and the laundry is almost complete. I mean, complete, complete. Where there is no dirty laundry hiding anywhere in this house! All I have left to wash is the bedding. I'm waiting until Sunday to do that since we're sleeping on it and the point is to pack it clean. *grin*
I suppose since it's 4:43 and my hubby hasn't left for work yet, I should go and see if he's sleeping late on purpose. *wink*
~C.
*grin* - Mary, this means that you click on "comments" at the end of this post. Then you type your message, then click on "other", type your name, type in the word verification and then you're done! *hehe, I'll be expecting you to reply now* LOL
I thinking about switching over to the Beta form, so we'll see.
Today I'll be crazy busy trying to fit everything into my schedule as we are fast approaching "The Move". I have to say we have some very special family members who are making this move easier than I ever thought. *thanks*
Hopefully, Jamie, can keep the blog updated for me since I won't have a computer until....... I have no idea how long it'll be. March??? Wow, I hadn't given that one any good thought until now, huh? Hmmm. Note to self - need computer before March.
Ok, well I'm rambling. I've been up since 2:30 am. Can't sleep. The house is clean and the laundry is almost complete. I mean, complete, complete. Where there is no dirty laundry hiding anywhere in this house! All I have left to wash is the bedding. I'm waiting until Sunday to do that since we're sleeping on it and the point is to pack it clean. *grin*
I suppose since it's 4:43 and my hubby hasn't left for work yet, I should go and see if he's sleeping late on purpose. *wink*
~C.
Oct 5, 2006
Jamie's whole family
We went to Burney,Ca for Hailee's 1st birthday with my parents and took many pictures,so you'll probably see many of them. In the other picture Hailee was probably 7th months old,she is the princess of THIS house.
Forever friends
I just want you all to know that I've invited my best friend, Jamie, to post on this blog. This will enable us to keep in touch and transfer pictures and stuff back and forth.
Jamie and I met 9 years ago here in Monterey and have become the best of friends over the last 9 years. She has 3 boys and a girl and we have 3 girls and a boy. I'm going to miss being so close, even if it is a 5 hour drive that I refused to make...*laughing*
I love ya, Jamie and we'll get our families together before too long. I'll miss you and I love how we've been through everything together. *smack*
Kiss those kids for me,
Christi
Jamie and I met 9 years ago here in Monterey and have become the best of friends over the last 9 years. She has 3 boys and a girl and we have 3 girls and a boy. I'm going to miss being so close, even if it is a 5 hour drive that I refused to make...*laughing*
I love ya, Jamie and we'll get our families together before too long. I'll miss you and I love how we've been through everything together. *smack*
Kiss those kids for me,
Christi
Christi's best buddy!!!
This is Christi's best friend Jamie that lives in Redding,Ca, Hailee is Jamie's 4th child. She also has 3 boys ,Braedon ,Andrew,and Zachary. Christi and Jamie have been friends since 1998.
Oct 3, 2006
Taking Care of His Soldiers....
It never ceases to amaze me how God's love works in our lives. He is always there, beckoning us to him. Wanting us, loving us, forgiving us.
Even those who don't believe, he's there, waiting for them to turn to him.
And when they do, he's ready for them. Always prepared, always taking care of things ahead of time.
Always picking up the pieces of his weary soldiers.
The military is very different. My experience, today, with the military went something along these lines.....
(Me walking into the finance office to fill out the paperwork for our travel pay)
"Yes, I have my husbands separation orders and I need to fill out the appropriate paperwork so that we will receive our travel pay"
her - "He's getting out of the Army?"
me - "yes"
her - "you have his orders?"
me - "yes"
her - "Well there is nothing I can do for you until he attends the separation briefings"
me - "He's not actually separating until Feb."
her - "then why are you here?"
me - "I have my husbands orders because I need to fill out the appropriate paperwork to receive our travel pay, we're leaving in a week, he's leaving in a few months"
her - "you can not receive your travel pay before his ETS date"
me - "yes, you can if you have orders"
her - "do you have orders?"
**rolling my eyes in my head and thinking how many times I've already repeated myself I reply...**
me - "ummm, yes" while pointing to the papers she's holding in her hand.
her - "yeah, about these, it doesn't specify that the travel pay is allowed for you and your children before the ETS date"
me - "orders are orders aren't they? They wouldn't have cut them this early if they were not for us to use."
her - "I'm sorry, but there really isn't anything I can do. Except I can tell you that in April you can fill out this form and send it in. Where are you driving to?"
me - "Mississippi"......"Grenada, Mississippi"
her - "let's see here..." punches in some info on a computer....."you will be allowed 20c a mile, 74.25 per day for yourself and 49.50 per day per child. But like I said, you can't even see if your eligible for that until April."
me - "ummm, well thanks for letting me know how much I probably won't be getting. That's always pertinent information."
her - stares at me over her little glasses
me- trying to think of something polite to say....
her - "anything else I can help you with?"
When did she help me??
me - "no, I suppose not for now"
her - "well......" then she gets real quiet and hands me a small stack of papers like they're holding some serious secret information...."take these, give them to your husband, it'll help him when he's out processing."
me - "ummm, thanks. Bye"
I get out to the truck and I open the stack of papers. What are they??????
WHAT ARE THEY????
She had handed me back his orders and my Power of Attorney I had given her. Good grief.
That was a sample of how my day was. I couldn't help but to compare how God is always prepared to take care of us, even if we are separating ourselves from him. He's always there, holding out his hands to us.
I'm done with that. The Army has a lot of really great perks that make it difficult to leave, but once you get past the comfort zone, and realize it's a security blanket full of holes, it isn't too hard to leave.
It is, disappointing.
God isn't like that. His promise is that even through the bad, he's going to be there with us. To love us to comfort us. He isn't going to take the hurt away, but he'll hold our hand when the waters rough. He'll prevent us from drowning. His deep and intense love for us will be our life raft.
What an incredible Father we have!! We're so very blessed. So blessed. ~
Even those who don't believe, he's there, waiting for them to turn to him.
And when they do, he's ready for them. Always prepared, always taking care of things ahead of time.
Always picking up the pieces of his weary soldiers.
The military is very different. My experience, today, with the military went something along these lines.....
(Me walking into the finance office to fill out the paperwork for our travel pay)
"Yes, I have my husbands separation orders and I need to fill out the appropriate paperwork so that we will receive our travel pay"
her - "He's getting out of the Army?"
me - "yes"
her - "you have his orders?"
me - "yes"
her - "Well there is nothing I can do for you until he attends the separation briefings"
me - "He's not actually separating until Feb."
her - "then why are you here?"
me - "I have my husbands orders because I need to fill out the appropriate paperwork to receive our travel pay, we're leaving in a week, he's leaving in a few months"
her - "you can not receive your travel pay before his ETS date"
me - "yes, you can if you have orders"
her - "do you have orders?"
**rolling my eyes in my head and thinking how many times I've already repeated myself I reply...**
me - "ummm, yes" while pointing to the papers she's holding in her hand.
her - "yeah, about these, it doesn't specify that the travel pay is allowed for you and your children before the ETS date"
me - "orders are orders aren't they? They wouldn't have cut them this early if they were not for us to use."
her - "I'm sorry, but there really isn't anything I can do. Except I can tell you that in April you can fill out this form and send it in. Where are you driving to?"
me - "Mississippi"......"Grenada, Mississippi"
her - "let's see here..." punches in some info on a computer....."you will be allowed 20c a mile, 74.25 per day for yourself and 49.50 per day per child. But like I said, you can't even see if your eligible for that until April."
me - "ummm, well thanks for letting me know how much I probably won't be getting. That's always pertinent information."
her - stares at me over her little glasses
me- trying to think of something polite to say....
her - "anything else I can help you with?"
When did she help me??
me - "no, I suppose not for now"
her - "well......" then she gets real quiet and hands me a small stack of papers like they're holding some serious secret information...."take these, give them to your husband, it'll help him when he's out processing."
me - "ummm, thanks. Bye"
I get out to the truck and I open the stack of papers. What are they??????
WHAT ARE THEY????
She had handed me back his orders and my Power of Attorney I had given her. Good grief.
That was a sample of how my day was. I couldn't help but to compare how God is always prepared to take care of us, even if we are separating ourselves from him. He's always there, holding out his hands to us.
I'm done with that. The Army has a lot of really great perks that make it difficult to leave, but once you get past the comfort zone, and realize it's a security blanket full of holes, it isn't too hard to leave.
It is, disappointing.
God isn't like that. His promise is that even through the bad, he's going to be there with us. To love us to comfort us. He isn't going to take the hurt away, but he'll hold our hand when the waters rough. He'll prevent us from drowning. His deep and intense love for us will be our life raft.
What an incredible Father we have!! We're so very blessed. So blessed. ~
Oct 2, 2006
Abby and Anna ready for their day
I remember when Anna wore this dress!! Wow, time flies. Getting ready for our move so the posts will be few for a while. Keep us in your prayers.
~ Christi
Sep 28, 2006
Nothing would be normal if plans didn't change *grin*
I'm only going to say ONE thing right now, cause I don't have time to say much else......
It's going to be a long DRIVE home. Yep, drive. Not FLY, but Drive. *sigh*
It's going to be a long DRIVE home. Yep, drive. Not FLY, but Drive. *sigh*
Sep 27, 2006
"You Picked A Fine Time To Leave Me, Lucille...."
I told Chaplain Minjares the other day, that I thought he should write a song about me and sing it in church this Sunday for my Farewell. He stared at me blankly for half a second and then broke out into...."You picked a fine time to leave me Lucille......". Hahaha
This is one of the busiest times of the year at the Chapel. Everyone gearing up and preparing for all the fall/winter programs. Those take months to plan. And I'm leaving.
Tonight was the last night I will have any actual work to do. Tomorrow, Friday and Saturday I will spend cleaning out my office and tying up any last minute loose ends. Today, I finished typing up the inventory of my supply closet and the books, curriculum, CD's, DVD's and cassette tapes that are in my office. 6 long pages of detailed inventory. But it is done. I turned it in and went back to my office to have a look around. Making my list for what needs to be done tomorrow. I don't know who will be sitting at that desk next week. I have no idea what God has in plan for the Chapel here. I do hope that whoever it is and whatever their task, they fulfill it joyfully in the Lord. I hope that when they are faced with difficult tasks, or difficult people, they shine brighter than when things are running smoothly.
I'm proud of my accomplishments here. I'm proud of myself for finishing the task. For persevering even when my faith was stomped on, when my integrity was tested and when I very simply felt like I couldn't do it any more.
I have something, now, that is worth more than money can buy. It is more precious than the most precious gold or diamonds.
I've a new Girdle of Truth. And I'm wearing it proudly.
Yes, Girdle of Truth. You know, part of the Armor of God.
First mentioned because it denotes preparation for battle.....and holds together the other pieces of armor. Girdle of Truth is strength of our loins.....gives confidence....1 Cor. 16:13, Eph 4:14-15, 1 Sam 17:48. According to Mr. James Davis, it is sincerity in the innermost being, he describes scriptures 1 Cor. 5:8, Psa 51:6.
It's the girdle of truth because that's what I've found over the last year. A person inside of me that is slowly coming out of her shell. Probably more so to the people around her than to the people she loves, yet that is a feat that will be conquered also.
I'm realizing that I have a potential to be something bigger than I've ever dreamed. Because to me, God, Jesus, being a Christian was just a bottled up package that I bought.
Not anymore. It's my faith. It's who I am. It's why I'm alive.
We use to sing this song in church.....it's my Mom's favorite...(rolls eyes), Called Tempted and Tried....I know the words by heart...that's scary...LOL
Tempted and tried we're oft made to wander, Why should it be such all the day long? While there are others living around us, never molested, though in the wrong. Farther along, weÂ’ll know all about it farther along, weÂ’ll understand why cheer up my brother walk in the sunshine weÂ’ll understand it all by and by.
I may hate the song and it's oh so slow......... drawn.......... out..........music..............
But I think the lyrics truly are correct. I do understand more this year than I did last year. I have a better understanding of my faith and why I believe things the way I do. I can say that I know my Father. And I know why he loves me. I can't wait to see how much more I'll understand next year and the year after that and the year after that.
Ok. Well, I'm exhausted. And I'm still in pain. So I'm going to bed.
Did I mention that I fractured my knee cap? It happened Wednesday, but I didn't go to the Dr. until Friday. So now I have to wear this brace with a steel bar on both sides of my leg and another steel bar that runs down the back. Hopefully this won't hinder our plane ride too much.*laughing* This will be one for the books!!
~
This is one of the busiest times of the year at the Chapel. Everyone gearing up and preparing for all the fall/winter programs. Those take months to plan. And I'm leaving.
Tonight was the last night I will have any actual work to do. Tomorrow, Friday and Saturday I will spend cleaning out my office and tying up any last minute loose ends. Today, I finished typing up the inventory of my supply closet and the books, curriculum, CD's, DVD's and cassette tapes that are in my office. 6 long pages of detailed inventory. But it is done. I turned it in and went back to my office to have a look around. Making my list for what needs to be done tomorrow. I don't know who will be sitting at that desk next week. I have no idea what God has in plan for the Chapel here. I do hope that whoever it is and whatever their task, they fulfill it joyfully in the Lord. I hope that when they are faced with difficult tasks, or difficult people, they shine brighter than when things are running smoothly.
I'm proud of my accomplishments here. I'm proud of myself for finishing the task. For persevering even when my faith was stomped on, when my integrity was tested and when I very simply felt like I couldn't do it any more.
I have something, now, that is worth more than money can buy. It is more precious than the most precious gold or diamonds.
I've a new Girdle of Truth. And I'm wearing it proudly.
Yes, Girdle of Truth. You know, part of the Armor of God.
First mentioned because it denotes preparation for battle.....and holds together the other pieces of armor. Girdle of Truth is strength of our loins.....gives confidence....1 Cor. 16:13, Eph 4:14-15, 1 Sam 17:48. According to Mr. James Davis, it is sincerity in the innermost being, he describes scriptures 1 Cor. 5:8, Psa 51:6.
It's the girdle of truth because that's what I've found over the last year. A person inside of me that is slowly coming out of her shell. Probably more so to the people around her than to the people she loves, yet that is a feat that will be conquered also.
I'm realizing that I have a potential to be something bigger than I've ever dreamed. Because to me, God, Jesus, being a Christian was just a bottled up package that I bought.
Not anymore. It's my faith. It's who I am. It's why I'm alive.
We use to sing this song in church.....it's my Mom's favorite...(rolls eyes), Called Tempted and Tried....I know the words by heart...that's scary...LOL
Tempted and tried we're oft made to wander, Why should it be such all the day long? While there are others living around us, never molested, though in the wrong. Farther along, weÂ’ll know all about it farther along, weÂ’ll understand why cheer up my brother walk in the sunshine weÂ’ll understand it all by and by.
I may hate the song and it's oh so slow......... drawn.......... out..........music..............
But I think the lyrics truly are correct. I do understand more this year than I did last year. I have a better understanding of my faith and why I believe things the way I do. I can say that I know my Father. And I know why he loves me. I can't wait to see how much more I'll understand next year and the year after that and the year after that.
Ok. Well, I'm exhausted. And I'm still in pain. So I'm going to bed.
Did I mention that I fractured my knee cap? It happened Wednesday, but I didn't go to the Dr. until Friday. So now I have to wear this brace with a steel bar on both sides of my leg and another steel bar that runs down the back. Hopefully this won't hinder our plane ride too much.*laughing* This will be one for the books!!
~
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