Summer is Here!!!!! I always have mixed feelings about this. I love having my boys home and not having a schedule. I love that we can have a fire in the back yard and not worry about what times the boys are going to bed. I love that the boys can sleep in if they want to. I love that we can just pick up and go somewhere with out having to worry about it. What I don't like is the first 2 weeks when we have to learn how to be together all day long again. It is hard! They are playing well with each other right now so I guess that is good. I will wait and see how long the quiet last.
I cleaned out Shane and Mitchell's room and all that is left in there are bionicles(a big bucket of parts), lego, kinexs and tinker toys. They have been in there every day creating. Unbelievable!! They were just overwhelmed by all of the stuff. They never wanted to play in there before. Yippee for simplifying!! Maybe this transition time will be good.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Monday, June 28, 2010
Crazy Love
I met Linny by way of a wonderful friend who is adopting and had mentioned Linnys site in one of her post. Since that day I have been inspired and drawn closer to God by reading her blog. I am starting to Simplify my family's life (let me tell you...simplifying their bedrooms was TONS of work) and trying to focus on what is important! This is a very emotional journey for me as I am one of "those" people who hold on to everything simply because someone special gave it to me. God is moving BIG TIME in my heart and I know that where he leads is where I need to go!
One of Linny's blogs was about the CRAZY LOVE summer that her church is doing. That post came at exactly the right time. Our women's bible study had just finished reading the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan. Wow...an amazing book, a great blog post and a truly amazing God all of which motivated me to reach out and do some crazy love this summer!
I attend an inner city church which likes to claim that they "support other missions in the inner city financially". We do this, BUT sometimes I feel like it is a bit of a cop out. "I will give my $$ but don't ask me for my time." Don't get me wrong...the financial giving is right. "To whom much is given much will be expected." It just seems to easy. We want our safe lives in the suburbs. I have been struggling with this for quite a while now. What does this have to do with CRAZY LOVE? Let me tell you. As we were walking out of church last Sunday, there was a man sitting on the step. I was one of the last people out of the building. This means about 150 people walked by him before me. In our city one of the ways that unemployed inner city people can make $$ is to sell a paper that is written about the inner city. They buy it for $.50 and sell it for whatever amount people want to give. I have to admit, I walked by this man too. Me, and my beautiful family. As we got into the truck ready to head back off the the suburbs I heard God say "buy it". I didn't question, I told Jeff to stop and jumped out of the truck. Jeff had gotten chocolate bars for Fathers day (he got 2 because we still have 2 kids in Sunday School) . I grabbed one of those and all of the change that I could find, jumped out of the truck and walked over to this man. I handed him the chocolate bar first. Then I handed him all of the change that I had. I wished him a blessed Sunday and he said to me "it is the last paper that I have. I just prayed that someone would buy it so I could go. Thank You!" Crazy that something so little could show what an awesome God we have. Crazy that it took nothing but listening to God to show this man Crazy Love. Why was I the only one of about 150 people to stop and help? Why are we so judgemental and condemning when it comes to those in the inner city? I include myself in these whys because I have been there. Really, I am here to show God's amazing Love to others. I am trying to lay the "me" down and picking up a bit of "Jesus" everyday. CRAZY?!?! No doubt about it. Living for Jesus is crazy and that is just who I want to do!!
Thanks Linny for starting this crazy love blog!! Thank You Jesus for moving in my heart to want to show crazy love and please please help those in my bible study who have committed to showing crazy love this summer. Amen
I can't wait to read more crazy love post!!
One of Linny's blogs was about the CRAZY LOVE summer that her church is doing. That post came at exactly the right time. Our women's bible study had just finished reading the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan. Wow...an amazing book, a great blog post and a truly amazing God all of which motivated me to reach out and do some crazy love this summer!
I attend an inner city church which likes to claim that they "support other missions in the inner city financially". We do this, BUT sometimes I feel like it is a bit of a cop out. "I will give my $$ but don't ask me for my time." Don't get me wrong...the financial giving is right. "To whom much is given much will be expected." It just seems to easy. We want our safe lives in the suburbs. I have been struggling with this for quite a while now. What does this have to do with CRAZY LOVE? Let me tell you. As we were walking out of church last Sunday, there was a man sitting on the step. I was one of the last people out of the building. This means about 150 people walked by him before me. In our city one of the ways that unemployed inner city people can make $$ is to sell a paper that is written about the inner city. They buy it for $.50 and sell it for whatever amount people want to give. I have to admit, I walked by this man too. Me, and my beautiful family. As we got into the truck ready to head back off the the suburbs I heard God say "buy it". I didn't question, I told Jeff to stop and jumped out of the truck. Jeff had gotten chocolate bars for Fathers day (he got 2 because we still have 2 kids in Sunday School) . I grabbed one of those and all of the change that I could find, jumped out of the truck and walked over to this man. I handed him the chocolate bar first. Then I handed him all of the change that I had. I wished him a blessed Sunday and he said to me "it is the last paper that I have. I just prayed that someone would buy it so I could go. Thank You!" Crazy that something so little could show what an awesome God we have. Crazy that it took nothing but listening to God to show this man Crazy Love. Why was I the only one of about 150 people to stop and help? Why are we so judgemental and condemning when it comes to those in the inner city? I include myself in these whys because I have been there. Really, I am here to show God's amazing Love to others. I am trying to lay the "me" down and picking up a bit of "Jesus" everyday. CRAZY?!?! No doubt about it. Living for Jesus is crazy and that is just who I want to do!!
Thanks Linny for starting this crazy love blog!! Thank You Jesus for moving in my heart to want to show crazy love and please please help those in my bible study who have committed to showing crazy love this summer. Amen
I can't wait to read more crazy love post!!
Monday, June 21, 2010
Ian
Ok...stressful!!! I go to the dentist(this was not bad at all) and thinking that I should use cell phone manners I turn off my cell. This is the right thing to do right? Well...let me tell you, my phone will not be going off anymore. I will have it on vibrate in my pocket if I am in a place where cell phones are taboo!
Here is my story... I am happily getting my teeth cleaned and the find a cracked filling. It is on a root canaled tooth so they decided to fix it on the spot. I a get done at about 9:50 (my appointment was not until 10:00 I messed up and went in at 9:00 so they said sure 9:00 is fine) then I go to buy a few groceries. As I am standing in the store I get this feeling that I should just go to the school." HMMM " I think "ok, there must be pictures there for me to get done." I leave and head off to school. As I walk in the front door I get. "He's in the back" ,"Shanna he is laying down you need to get to him" , "Shanna did you get our message?" I look blankly at the many faces saying my name and finally a friend says "she doesn't know what happened!" She looks at me and says " Ian had a seizure in class he is laying on the couch in the staff room." In that instant my little boy's life flashed before me. By the time I got to him he was just tired. An after effect of having a seizure. The teacher came down and talked to me. Ian seized for about 3 minutes and then was disoriented for about 30mins. He would not talk and did not recognized his teacher. He came out of it and walked down to the office where I found him. He was pale as a ghost when I got to him. I brought him home and he slept for 1 1/2 hours. This is normal for someone who has seized. When he woke up he was fine. He wanted to go play...I made him lay on the couch and watch soccer(yippee for world cup soccer!) I phoned my doctor and got him in to see her today. She thinks that it is some kind of seizure disorder and is ordering a ekg and a visit to a pediatric neurologist.
Wait time?? who knows. I know that God was involved in getting me to the school to get Ian. I know that he can get this appointment for me fast! I am praying that my God will move mountains and get us in ASAP! God is good and I know that he loves Ian more than I ever can and he has his hands wrapped around him. That is what I am clinging to as all kinds of things play out in my head. The devil is trying to trap me in the "what if" trap and I am not going to fall for it. My God is Greater than this and will support us no matter what!! God is good and his love endures forever!!
Here is my story... I am happily getting my teeth cleaned and the find a cracked filling. It is on a root canaled tooth so they decided to fix it on the spot. I a get done at about 9:50 (my appointment was not until 10:00 I messed up and went in at 9:00 so they said sure 9:00 is fine) then I go to buy a few groceries. As I am standing in the store I get this feeling that I should just go to the school." HMMM " I think "ok, there must be pictures there for me to get done." I leave and head off to school. As I walk in the front door I get. "He's in the back" ,"Shanna he is laying down you need to get to him" , "Shanna did you get our message?" I look blankly at the many faces saying my name and finally a friend says "she doesn't know what happened!" She looks at me and says " Ian had a seizure in class he is laying on the couch in the staff room." In that instant my little boy's life flashed before me. By the time I got to him he was just tired. An after effect of having a seizure. The teacher came down and talked to me. Ian seized for about 3 minutes and then was disoriented for about 30mins. He would not talk and did not recognized his teacher. He came out of it and walked down to the office where I found him. He was pale as a ghost when I got to him. I brought him home and he slept for 1 1/2 hours. This is normal for someone who has seized. When he woke up he was fine. He wanted to go play...I made him lay on the couch and watch soccer(yippee for world cup soccer!) I phoned my doctor and got him in to see her today. She thinks that it is some kind of seizure disorder and is ordering a ekg and a visit to a pediatric neurologist.
Wait time?? who knows. I know that God was involved in getting me to the school to get Ian. I know that he can get this appointment for me fast! I am praying that my God will move mountains and get us in ASAP! God is good and I know that he loves Ian more than I ever can and he has his hands wrapped around him. That is what I am clinging to as all kinds of things play out in my head. The devil is trying to trap me in the "what if" trap and I am not going to fall for it. My God is Greater than this and will support us no matter what!! God is good and his love endures forever!!
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Molly
12 1/2 years ago we went to the SPCA and saw her. For Wesley it was love at first sight. I had to think about her and Jeff had to be convinced she was right for us. We went back the next day and she was still there. We brought her home. It was not a 2 way love relationship at first. She had to go to dog training because she had VERY bad doggy manners. We worked with her. She worked her magic on us and we fell in Love! Now, 12 1/2 years later we had to say good-bye!
I told the boys yesterday after school that we were taking her to the vet today. Their response was to be expected. Wesley was sad...she was his dog. Ian did not say much. Braden was even quieter. Shane was MAD!! Mitchell really did not understand. My heart broke not only for me but for my boys as I struggled watching them deal with death up close and personal for the first time. They love.cuddled.snuggled.spoiled and played like crazy with her yesterday. Today was different. We woke them up and they did not want to go to school. Shane was crying and so was Ian. Wesley was just plain sad. Braden wanted to go to school so he did not have to deal with what was to come and Mitchell did not really understand. I let them stay home. They laid on the floor with Molly. They took pictures. They loved her with all the love they had left to give her and she loved them! They said good-bye. I cried some more.
I took the boys to school. Shane had his last swimming class today. I went with. I came home and cried some more. I snuggled, loved, cuddled, and spoiled her. I cried some more. Jeff came home from work at 1pm. We got Molly in the car. Jeff had to pick her up. I cried some more. We dropped Mitchell off at Rhys' house and went to the vet. Jeff stayed in the car with Molly. I went in and made all of the decisions and paid. I went to the door and saw Jeff walking Molly. I cried some more. Jeff brought Molly in and we took her to the room. I was not just crying, I was bawling. The vet came and talked to us. She told us what would happen. I just kept pouring out all the love I could to Molly. She was in pain and I had to do what was right and stop that for her no matter how hard it was for me. She is gone. There is an empty spot in my heart. I know that not everyone can understand it. She was part of me. Even when I was mad because she got into the garbage, or did her business on the floor...I. LOVED.HER! I already miss her like crazy!
It is going to be hard, and some days will be better than others. I will cry, I will be sad, I will be lonely BUT I will continue on and remember the love that she gave to me. Unconditional, pure and sweet!
I miss you Molly girl. You were the best dog ever!
I told the boys yesterday after school that we were taking her to the vet today. Their response was to be expected. Wesley was sad...she was his dog. Ian did not say much. Braden was even quieter. Shane was MAD!! Mitchell really did not understand. My heart broke not only for me but for my boys as I struggled watching them deal with death up close and personal for the first time. They love.cuddled.snuggled.spoiled and played like crazy with her yesterday. Today was different. We woke them up and they did not want to go to school. Shane was crying and so was Ian. Wesley was just plain sad. Braden wanted to go to school so he did not have to deal with what was to come and Mitchell did not really understand. I let them stay home. They laid on the floor with Molly. They took pictures. They loved her with all the love they had left to give her and she loved them! They said good-bye. I cried some more.
I took the boys to school. Shane had his last swimming class today. I went with. I came home and cried some more. I snuggled, loved, cuddled, and spoiled her. I cried some more. Jeff came home from work at 1pm. We got Molly in the car. Jeff had to pick her up. I cried some more. We dropped Mitchell off at Rhys' house and went to the vet. Jeff stayed in the car with Molly. I went in and made all of the decisions and paid. I went to the door and saw Jeff walking Molly. I cried some more. Jeff brought Molly in and we took her to the room. I was not just crying, I was bawling. The vet came and talked to us. She told us what would happen. I just kept pouring out all the love I could to Molly. She was in pain and I had to do what was right and stop that for her no matter how hard it was for me. She is gone. There is an empty spot in my heart. I know that not everyone can understand it. She was part of me. Even when I was mad because she got into the garbage, or did her business on the floor...I. LOVED.HER! I already miss her like crazy!
It is going to be hard, and some days will be better than others. I will cry, I will be sad, I will be lonely BUT I will continue on and remember the love that she gave to me. Unconditional, pure and sweet!
I miss you Molly girl. You were the best dog ever!
Monday, May 31, 2010
Camping and snow...
Sooo...How was camping?? Well, let me tell you. UGHHHHHHHHH. We woke up on Sat. morning to see snow on the ground and it did not stop all day long! Really, he last weekend of May and we had a beautifully, wonderfully snowy weekend?!?!? I do love the look of snow all white and fluffy BUT not in the end of MAY!! If I am gearing up for Christmas and have just experianced a wonderfully colorful fall waking up to snow is not all that surprising or sad. However, when I have just gotten out all of my capris and tank tops I do not like seeing snow.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Camping
What do I do for LOVE??
I make beds, do laundry, wash floors, clean counters, pick up messes, wipe tears, I changed poopy diapers for 5 boys, I STILL have sleepless nights, I laugh at stupid jokes, I snuggle them when they are sad, I laugh with them when they are being silly and I...WAIT...this is the best one of all...I GO CAMPING!?!?!
Anyone who knows me knows that I do not like camping. Why, Why do I need to do all of the work to pack everything up while my hubby is at work, go someplace, unpack, cook and clean, pack up again after a few days, come home and do piles of laundry??? Camping is not a holiday like my husband seems to think. It is a chore!! For him it is GREAT he doesn't have to go to work and he gets to spend time with us. What could be better?? UGHHHH
Now, let me just tell you that I do this all for love. How can I have 6 boys in my life and not go camping. O' and let me tell you they are all boy! This weekend we are going camping with out church. Yes, there are cabins so that makes life better but still...it is a good thing that I have such GREAT friends to hang out with. I do try really hard not to be bitter and crabby. I try to look at things on the positive side but what is the positive side when it is going to be rainy and cold all weekend. The best part is that there is even a chance of snow...SNOW???? This must be love that is all I can say!
Well, off to pack all of our winter gear! *sigh* I will write on Mon. how everything went.
I make beds, do laundry, wash floors, clean counters, pick up messes, wipe tears, I changed poopy diapers for 5 boys, I STILL have sleepless nights, I laugh at stupid jokes, I snuggle them when they are sad, I laugh with them when they are being silly and I...WAIT...this is the best one of all...I GO CAMPING!?!?!
Anyone who knows me knows that I do not like camping. Why, Why do I need to do all of the work to pack everything up while my hubby is at work, go someplace, unpack, cook and clean, pack up again after a few days, come home and do piles of laundry??? Camping is not a holiday like my husband seems to think. It is a chore!! For him it is GREAT he doesn't have to go to work and he gets to spend time with us. What could be better?? UGHHHH
Now, let me just tell you that I do this all for love. How can I have 6 boys in my life and not go camping. O' and let me tell you they are all boy! This weekend we are going camping with out church. Yes, there are cabins so that makes life better but still...it is a good thing that I have such GREAT friends to hang out with. I do try really hard not to be bitter and crabby. I try to look at things on the positive side but what is the positive side when it is going to be rainy and cold all weekend. The best part is that there is even a chance of snow...SNOW???? This must be love that is all I can say!
Well, off to pack all of our winter gear! *sigh* I will write on Mon. how everything went.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Blog Stalking
Ok, Ok, I admit it...I am a blog stalker. I love to lurk in the dark cyber world of craft blogs. Unbelievable I know. Ha...there are so many of us out there that I am sure a self-help group will turn up soon!
The really funny part of my blog stalking is that they are all VERY feminine, lace and frilly, girly girl blogs that I like to read. Maybe it is part of me going..."really...why don't I have that little girl in my life to make that for?" or maybe it is just my feminine side jumping out and saying "let me shine." What ever it is, I could spend hours on the computer (much to my husbands dismay). I get great ideas AND the many little girls in my life (these are my girlfriends little girls who I will just randomly make things for, and my 4 beautiful nieces) receive gorgeous shirts, dresses, tutus, headbands, and the list go on.
Oh... how much more fun making girl stuff is!! Don't get me wrong. I love my 5 boys and my husband but now that the boys are getting older wearing things that mom makes is just NOT sick(this is the new word for cool). I don't think that I could get Wes, my 14 year old, to wear anything that I have made! Maybe, just maybe my 6 year old would still wear shorts if I made him some but there is no joy in making shorts...no ruffles...no pink(although I am told that pink is the new black and Wes has several pink shirts)...NO DRESSES.
This is why I blog stalk...I can see what everyone else makes for their little girls and I live vicariously through them all. So Thank You to all of you who blog and post you cute, cute, cute girly things. I love you all!!
The really funny part of my blog stalking is that they are all VERY feminine, lace and frilly, girly girl blogs that I like to read. Maybe it is part of me going..."really...why don't I have that little girl in my life to make that for?" or maybe it is just my feminine side jumping out and saying "let me shine." What ever it is, I could spend hours on the computer (much to my husbands dismay). I get great ideas AND the many little girls in my life (these are my girlfriends little girls who I will just randomly make things for, and my 4 beautiful nieces) receive gorgeous shirts, dresses, tutus, headbands, and the list go on.
Oh... how much more fun making girl stuff is!! Don't get me wrong. I love my 5 boys and my husband but now that the boys are getting older wearing things that mom makes is just NOT sick(this is the new word for cool). I don't think that I could get Wes, my 14 year old, to wear anything that I have made! Maybe, just maybe my 6 year old would still wear shorts if I made him some but there is no joy in making shorts...no ruffles...no pink(although I am told that pink is the new black and Wes has several pink shirts)...NO DRESSES.
This is why I blog stalk...I can see what everyone else makes for their little girls and I live vicariously through them all. So Thank You to all of you who blog and post you cute, cute, cute girly things. I love you all!!
Friday, January 22, 2010
Winter Camp
The idea of winter camping is one that I just do not understand. Why would anyone willingly subject themselves to the elements? Does it prove anything? I was sitting here pondering these things as Wesley walked in the door from his grade 8 winter camping trip. They were gone for 3 days and 2 nights. When I asked him if he had a good time, his response was "yeah it was fun!" He proceeded to tell about all that happened. I just can not stop thinking "REALLY, it was fun???" Being outside in the summer is one thing (although I do not love camping, I have resolved that with 6 boys in my life it is something I must do) but in the winter??? REALLY?? And to come back and say that it was fun?? Wow...I do not think that I would have said that even when I was in grade 8. I am glad that Wes had a good time. He will have great memories of his grade 8 year! I am defiantly NOT going on any winter camping trips. If any of my other boys want a parent to go with them (which Wes did not) it will have to be Jeff. I will stay at home, light a fire in my fireplace, make a f ew somores pray for warmth for them!
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