A Lifetime of Love

My life forever changed the day you were born.  I had no idea how being a mom could teach me so much about the character of God: I have a better understanding of God's love for me because of the love I feel towards you; I also better understand God's ability to forgive because I've been both the offended and the offender.   I am better able to serve others because of the many ways I watch you serve: each week you look forward to going to the pregnancy center to gather up the garbage and take it to the curb. It's a job that seems so menial yet blesses so many people who work at and visit the center. It is an important job that must be done in order for the pregnancy center to function on its core task: to save the lives of unborn babies. You do your work purposefully and to the best of your ability, and you don't mind that you don't get recognition for it. It is a reality check for me as a mother because so often what I do goes unnoticed yet is so cruci...

Our family changed for the better the day you were born. Although you faced many developmental challenges, you have managed to overcome them by God's grace and great therapists. I am so happy to say that you right where you should be in all areas of development, and you continue to learn and grow each day. You are so special and so sweet! We love you!! Happy 3rd birthday, baby girl!

I'm sure everyone who's old enough to remember the events of September 11, 2001 can describe vividly the details of the day and how it's forever changed our nation. I am no exception... TJ and I were living in California at the time. He was still in the Air Force, and I worked as an Administrative Assistant at the Regional Office of Marshalls Department Store. TJ woke up first, showered, and turned on the TV to watch the news as he ironed his uniform. I awoke to TJ telling me that an airplane had hit the World Trade Center, and I remember watching the TV while trying to process everything. Keep in mind, living in CA, we were 3 hours behind the East Coast so the first plane hit at 5:46am PT. We continued watching the news coverage, and like many, were horrified as we watched the second plane hit on live TV. Even to this day, as I watch the news footage, I still find myself thinking it looks more like a scene from a movie than reality. We both readied ourselves for work a...

I had a plan that, during the summer while on break from homeschooling and taxiing my kids around from place to place, I would: organize and file all of Th's schoolwork from last year sort through toys and prepare them for consignment/donation strip and refinish Th's school desk strip and refinish T.G.'s bedroom furniture (which includes a double headboard/footboard, dresser, night table, desk, and chair) sand and refinish Teagan's bed swap out & pack away the kids' clothes for the next size up unpack and sort through the pile of boxes in my dining room and bedroom that are leftover from our move (you know, over a year ago!) Items on my list that actually were completed: none Items on my list that are partially completed: Th's schoolwork from last year is organized but not yet filed Th's school desk is stripped and I'm in the process of painting it I had high expectations and am a little disappointed that I didn't completely f...