I'm Not in Kansas Anymore

I have to say parenting a teen is so different from parenting younger children. (To me anyway.) Everything is new and different. There are so many things that I don't feel prepared for. I just don’t feel as confident in my parenting as I did when he was younger. I mean I was always reading books and I had friends in the same life stage to talk to and compare ideas with and it was just easier to set boundaries. I struggle with so many decisions now. I mean, I don’t think I’m a push over; the basic principles are still there. Be respectful, be honest, honor and obey mom and dad. I think the battle I have is within me. Is it really okay for him to do that? Am I giving him too much freedom? If I say no will he rebel? Is he making good choices? Is he mature enough for that? Can he handle it? AAAAHHHH!!!!! And so, I PRAY! I pray that he will remember what he has been taught and not depart from it. I pray that he will keep God’s word hidden in his heart so that he won’t sin against him. I pray that he will own his faith and desire to please God in all he does. I pray for him to grow in wisdom, stature, and favor with God and man. I pray that I will trust God to fulfill his purpose in his life. I had to go through many trials in my own life that I know and believe God had and has a purpose for. As much as I want to shield my kids from their own trials, I know I can’t. I know God has a purpose for each of them. I have to trust that God will guide me as I seek to do the right thing for my kids.

Thursday Thirteen

13 reasons why I’m glad there is no school tomorrow

• get to sleep in
• jammie day!
• get to sit and drink a whole cup of coffee
• get to be home
• with my kids
• and my husband
• catch up reading your blogs
• comment on your blogs
• take a nap
• bake cookies
• eat cookies
• watch a movie
• did I mention stay home all day!!!!!
  
  
  
  

Tender moment

This morning at church we had a wonderful music and worship time. I felt such gratitude to God for all he has blessed my life with. At one point we were encouraged to just listen to the words as one of the women from the worship team sang this song by Marc James.

“I’m giving you my heart, and all that is within I lay it all down for the sake of you my King, I’m giving you my dreams, I’m laying down my rights, I’m giving up my pride for the promise of new life.

And I surrender all to you, all to you And I surrender all to you, all to you

I'm singing You this song, I'm waiting at the cross And all the world holds dear, I count it all as loss
for the sake of knowing You, For the glory of Your name
To know the lasting joy, even sharing in Your pain”

My fourteen year old son reached over and held my hand for the entire song. I can not even describe the emotion I felt. I just sat there and let the tears roll. Even now I am tearing up. It was such a precious time with my son. Okay now I am just down right crying. I love those special gifts from God.

Father Thank you for such a special moment. One that I will always remember. Thank you for all the ways you show me how much you love me. I love you and I surrender all to you.

So Much to Say, So Little Time...Take Two

Praise the Lord; Tod has a job! After 2 ½ months of job searching Tod has found what we feel the Lord had in mind all along. Our prayer from the beginning has been to be able to stay in the area, to be able to keep our house, and for Tod to find something he could be passionate about. He is going to be working for this company. This company helps children who wet the bed at night become dry. We have actually used this program for two of our children. It works! The seed was planted back in July when we found out that there were not any representatives in this area and Tod commented about what it would be like to work for this company. That was it until late December when everything else Tod looked at didn’t work out. We started talking about moving and we didn’t want to do that. Tod mentioned this company and we talked about it, he called and they hired him. He left today to go to Wisconsin for a week for training. The down side is that Tod will have to travel for this job. We really have had great peace about the whole losing his job thing. I will confess I did have a two day pity party in December. On my birthday Tod had a second interview with a resort here in town and we had high hopes that this was where God wanted him. Half way through the interview they told him they had already hired someone. I have to continually remind myself (out loud) that GOD IS IN CONTROL! He knows the plans he has for us, plans to prosper us and not to harm us, plans to give us hope and a future. And this may sound crazy, but I am also learning that applies to the small stuff just as much as the big stuff. We are so thankful for this new opportunity for Tod. Please feel free to e-mail me if you want more info regarding this company. I would love to share more with you.
Blessings!

So much to say, so little time...

It's been so long since I have posted; I don't even know where to start.

My B-day week was great! My husband surprised me at dinner with these wonderful friends.










I spent the weekend with Janelle. We had a blast just walking around the shops at the local hot spot. We had to stop here and have a foot massage. A word of advice: Don't buy your heavy Yankee* candles first thing.

And then we ate at the fabulous Fish* Market restaurant ( the guy in the picture is Janelle's step-dad)
Monday I spent time with my favorite girl.


And Tuesday I went to lunch with my parents and then to dinner with Tod and the kids.

I must confess... I was going to do a whole catch up post, but I am so computer challenged that this post (with all the pictures and stuff) has taken me way too long. So I must bid you farewell and I will post more later.