Life stories...

I have been playing around on Facebook tonight and linked to a group of former Shorter students. Check out the link http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=11263359004
I have really enjoyed reading about where different people have ended up, especially spiritually. I am so impressed by the things that God is doing in the lives of people that I had no hope for. It is amazing what HE can do, after he breaks us. It is awe inspiring what can happen when we stop trying to do everything, ANYTHING, on our own, and just wait on HIM. This is going to sound very negative, but I had very little hope for the Christian Ministry majors during my time at Shorter. I knew they were learning lots of interesting Greek, and theology, but I had not seen much "ministry". Thankfully, God sees a lot farther than I, and had huge, amazing, wonderful things for some amazing men and women, and those amazing men and women came through. I am humbled by my lack of faith in them. I guess when it all boils down, it was a lack of faith in God. He called them... I should have trusted that He would shape them too! I feel like a cheerleader... Go God!!! Yeah!
I just re-read this before posting, and I am afraid it sounds like I think I was more mature, more in touch with God, more something, while I was in college. I truly don't mean it to sound that way. I just knew of too many people that were too worried about rules and regulations, and were convinced to forget about grace and mercy. I am so glad to see that grace and mercy and simply loving are priorities for them.
I should go to sleep before I say something stupid. I hope this makes sense!

More wedding plans

It is so much fun to be in on planning a wedding. I think it is a lot more fun to just be part of it, without being the person who is getting married. I get to have all the fun and excitement, without nearly as much stress! Kelsey's wedding it less than a month away now, and things are really starting to pull together. She still has finals, so poor thing, I don't think she is having any fun yet, but I think there is only one week left of school, so then she can really just enjoy her wedding plans. The sisters are throwing her a "personal" shower tomorrow. A bunch of giggling girls, with pretty lingerie. That is going to be a blast!
I am heading back to South GA on Sunday night. I miss my Andy, and I can promise you he has missed me. (6 phone calls a day, on average!) We will be home for about 3 weeks, then be heading back north again for the last week pre-wedding. Fun times!
Tonight I am going to a birthday party for my friend Carrie. I am amazingly excited. I haven't been to a birthday party that wasn't for a child in YEARS! I think that since we are leaving our children at home, all of us ladies may act like children ourselves! If you happen to be in Marietta tonight, don't laugh too hard at a bunch of crazy women wearing princess crowns at the ice skating rink!

Due Date

Today was supposed to be my due date. Surprisingly, it really wasn't bad at all. I remembered it this morning, because when I first found out I was pregnant, Carrie commented that my due date was the same day as a wedding her kids were going to be in. So, since the wedding was today, that reminded me that today was my due date. I really didn't feel like I should have been having a baby today though. I already went through that, several weeks ago, and today just felt like.... well, it just felt like today. Just like any other day. I commented to Andy about it being my due date this morning. I think I was starting to feel a little mopey. He was not sympathetic at all, which was the absolute best thing for me. It was much easier to be a little grumpy with him for a few minutes, then to be mopey all day. So, even though he slightly annoyed me, I am really grateful to him for being "uncaring" about it. The thought stuck around all day, and struck at random moments, but it wasn't a heavy thought, and it didn't weigh me down. God is so faithful.

Today is almost done, and I have mourned my baby very little. I did my mourning at other times. Today I celebrated the children I have with me, and the man I love. I needed to celebrate today. Enough said.

Normal

This morning around 8:15 one of my best friends called me and said, "I just want to have a normal day." She has had a lot of drama in her life recently, and when it was finally starting to slow down, her baby woke up with a fever of 105 degrees this morning, and she was rushing to the doctor. I totally understood what she meant... normal sounds nice. But, I really don't think it exists. Normal for her is not the same as normal for me, and probably not like normal for you either. It just got me thinking again about that word. NORMAL. Seriously, how can anyone define that? We had a lot of discussions about normal when I was growing up, since we were homeschooled, preacher's kids, who moved almost every year, and lived in a foreign country for awhile. We never even attempted to think that we were normal. But, we had our own normal. Our normal could be thrown off balance, just like anyone else's normal. Maybe what I am trying to get to is this question: "How do I want my children to define normal?" I don't want them to think that it is normal to use dirty, nasty, useless and pointless words. I don't want them to think it is normal to shout and scream at each other every time you have a disagreement. I don't want them to think it is normal to threaten violence to solve problems.

I DO want them to think it is normal to approach the throne of God with absolutely every issue in their life. I do want them to think it is normal to show affection openly to each other. I do want them to think it is normal to enjoy a good book, watch a good movie, spend time together as a family, help those less fortunate, and share love with everyone without exception.

There are so many things that can define normal. What is normal for you? Do you have a plan? You have to decide what your normal is, or you will end up following someone else's normal, which will be wrong for you.

On a lighter note... a piece of advice. If you remember really liking a movie as a child, yet haven't watched it since you were a child, don't watch it again. It totally ruins a movie to watch it again, after decades of memories! Canaan checked out the Ewok movie today at the library. The acting is absolutely horrid!!! I remember liking that movie. I think I just liked the Ewoks. Canaan thinks they are great. I guess I will let him love it, then make sure that he never sees it again, so he can hold onto the positive memory of it! It was scarier then I remembered too. Canaan is almost never scared, so I am not worried about him, but I am surprised that I was not scared by it as a child. We checked out both of the Ewok movies, so maybe the other one will be as good as I remember. Don't worry, I won't count on it! I have already planned to be disappointed.

Speaking of movies though, did anyone watch the PBS showing of Sense and Sensibility? It was so good. I liked it better then the one with Kate what's her name? Winslett? Titanic girl. Anyway, it was much better. S and S has always been my favorite, although Emma is a close second. I have always related to Elinor, so I was thrilled when that little survey matched me with her. The PBS version of the movie was very well done, and if anyone who reads this is someone who buys me presents (MOM, are you reading this?) I would love to have it on DVD so I can watch it again. If all else fails, Emilee will probably buy it for herself, and then I can borrow it!

Today was library day again. We were planning to ride our bikes, since my neighbor has a bike trailer for her daughter and Zion to ride in. When we were getting ready to leave it looked like rain, and my bike tire was flat, so we ended up driving. Story hour was great, and we stayed extra long, and when we were leaving the weather was absolutely gorgeous. Made me wish I had ridden my bike!! Next week I am going to plan ahead better, and have my tires ready to go!

Potty Training...

I just finished posting, and Zion came and brought me a present. It was his diaper, removed from his behind, and completely full. Just when I think we are finally making progress, that he is getting this potty thing, he proves me wrong. So, I clean him up, or so I think. A few minutes later he comes to climb into my lap, and I somehow end up with poop all over my pants. It seems he was hiding some behind his knee! How, I do not know, but he managed! Life as a potty training Mommy is quite an adventure!

A spring time walk

I feel like such a small town girl. Today my neighbor and I, and our kids walked to Story Hour at the local library. After story hour we walked down to the organic market and bought some fruit, then took a detour across the street to the thrift shop. By then it was 12:45 or so, and we were hungry, so we walked down to the tiny little diner and had sandwiches, then finally got around to walking home. It was nearly 2pm by then, and my stroller was fully loaded down with library book and produce, but I just felt so good! I love the fact that we can walk places! On the way home Canaan was not watching where he was going, and accidently ran his bike into a huge muddy ditch. The first person passing by in a car stopped and made sure I could get him out, and the people who came on the other side of the road waited patiently for us to get out of the way. Pretty much every car that we passed during the entire walk waved, and slowed down respectfully, and I never once felt unsafe, even though I was out with my four year old on a bike, and two two year olds in strollers. It has been a long time since I lived in a small town, and I had forgotten how wonderful it is.

I just wanted to brag about how adorable my little town is. In about 8 weeks, when summer gets here, I will not be bragging about walking anywhere. Summer here will be awful. But... I am surely enjoying the spring!