Friday, December 16, 2011
date night
Tonight is date night. My teenagers got movie passes from their aunts for Christmas so are taking their respective dating partners to a movie tonight. That means actually that I am doing the driving. Since that is happening and the movie theater is about 30 minutes or so from home, my husband and I are going out to dinner while the teens are at the movies. I am looking forward to some time reconnecting with this hardworking man that I married 20 plus years ago.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Thoughts of Christmas
Christmas is a special time of year for so many people. I have been reading posts that others write about visiting and decorating and what the different things mean to them. It made me decide to write a little of it myself. I had a friend ask on Facebook recently about what year you would go back to if you could pick any year to go back for Christmas. It too made me think.
I don't know if I could pick just one Christmas to return to. There are many that stand out in my mind. I remember that year that we woke up as children to find Gabriel our lab/setter puppy. He was black with a white spot on his belly and he sure did love us kids even if he was more my brother's dog than us girls. Or the year I was in Norway and my host family and I were snowed in. We opened our gifts on Christmas Eve because my youngest host sister was born on Christmas and they wanted her day to be special, so the tradition for them was to celebrate Christmas the day before and give her a good birthday.
I remember the year my daughter was two and my son was one. He took his first steps that morning in his great grandparents living room. He walked across the width of the living room from the couch to the chair so he could be with his Great pap. I think I wanted to cry.
The year when my daughter was 5 was a hard one for us. We had been in Georgia a short time and it was the first year we weren't with extended family. We didn't have much money and didn't know how we were going to give the kids anything. My husband's work helped provide the little we were going to be able to give them. Someone adopted us.... actually several someones adopted us and the kids had a great year.
A few years later we ran into problems again. I think that year really stands out in my mind because the woman that chose to be Special Santa for my children asked if there were only one thing they could have for Christmas what would it be. I asked them and they told me. A real looking doll baby for my daughter and a green power ranger for my son. The day she called to ask if she could bring the presents over will stand out especially. I thought it would be one or two presents for each of them. When she got there with her daughter they carried not one or two presents in but two large black garbage bags full of presents for each of them. I was amazed and kept telling her thank you and that she didn't have to do that. She said she hadn't done it all, that when her daughter found out what she was doing then her daughter wanted to do some too and then a neighbor and another friend wanted to do it as well. Before she left she handed me a gift card and told me to use it to buy Christmas dinner. My daughter got her real looking dolly and my son got his power ranger. That is the same year they got quilts from my grandmother that they both still use.
Not long after that Christmas, my daughter asked me if Santa was real. It almost broke my heart to realize she was growing up. I looked at her and asked what she thought. She said she just didnt' know. I told her that the man in the red suit and white beard didn't really exist anymore but that the spirit of him did, that each time someone helped another person or gave from their heart then that was what Santa wanted. She thanked me and took that to her heart. I explained it to my son the same way a year later.
Christmas isn't really about the presents although being able to give them to others is so nice. It isn't about Santa. It is about Christ and being with family in whatever way it works out. It is seeing the joy in a young child's face, the excitement of being together.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
This time 18 years ago I was at the hospital in active labor. My first child was about to be born. My husband and I looked forward to the new life about to join us with great anticipation and some trepidation. We were young with no experience of raising a child on our own.
We were as prepared as we could be. The crib was set up as was the cradle for the baby to sleep in while in the living area of the house. The cloth diapers were folded and ready for use. The blanket I had made for the baby was just waiting for the little life that it would cover for warmth.
At 2:15 in the morning of the 4th of December, our daughter entered the world with a little cry. The nurses took her right away to be warmed and checked over. My husband went over to the little basinnet and looked at her. He came back to me with her in his arms and he said for her to meet her mommy. How precious was this life that God had entrusted us with. How great a responsibility was placed upon our shoulders to raise this baby to be a woman with values and goals, to be a contributing member of society. The task seemed enormous.
Now eighteen years later, she is an adult. She is a beautiful, gifted, giving, smart, couragous, ambitious woman. She has goals in life and knows what she needs to do to achieve those goals. She is loving and gentle and kind. She is understanding, God-fearing and God-loving.
We were blessed when God gave her to us and are so blessed that we have been her parents
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Celtic Woman
Over the years while watching PBS we have enjoyed the concerts of Celtic Woman that were broadcast. My husband had become a fan on their webpage and kept asking me to get him tickets for the shows that were at the Atlanta Fox Theatre. I unfortunately kept having to turn him down as tickets were so expensive.
This year, just before his birthday, he was at the website for Celtic Woman and all of a sudden let out a yell. They were again coming to the Fox Theatre but this time were filming their new video and tickets were to be $30 to $55 each. I told him I would order them the day they went on sale! I got four tickets since I knew that our almost 18 year old daughter would shoot us if we were to go without her and since she was going so was the son whether he wanted to or not. (turns out he did really want to go even though I didn't know he liked their music).
For a month now, we have been waiting for the show. My husband and I took the day off after the concert just to be sure that we weren't going in exhausted. The kids still had to go to school the next day regardless of the time we go home. Excitement was in the air as the day go closer.
Yesterday was the openning night for the two-day show which was being taped for the first video they have done in America. It was the night for us to attend. I stayed home that day as well and spent the day relaxing and getting myself ready for an evening in Atlanta. I picked the kids up from school about 15 minutes before the final bell and we drove to get my husband at work. He drove us down to Atlanta and we drove around Peachtree Street trying to find the theatre and then finding a parking lot that was close but reasonable in pricing. We were in line by 6 p.m. and excited as could be.
As we go to the door to have out tickets scanned, the usher informed us that we were going to have to go back to the ticket booth as there was an issue with our tickets. I was very upset since I knew that I had paid for them through ticketmaster and that they were valid tickets. I couldn't imagine what was going on but we wended our way through the crowd trying to get to the doors as we made our way back to the ticket booth. My son said "maybe they upgraded our seats" and I scoffed at him. After waiting at the booth for several minutes they came back and handed us new tickets explaining they had had to relocate us due to the taping. Our son was right... they were upgraded. The upgrade wasn't by much but it was an upgrade. Our original seats were on the right side in orchestra seating and we were to have been against the wall, our new seats were on the left side in orchestra seating, three rows closer to the stage and against center aisle! We had a good view of the stage and didn't have too many people in our way due to the boom camera that was set up off to our left and slightly in front. It wasn't in our way at all but it did keep people from being able to sit there.
Finally we were ready for the show to start..... Mairead came on the stage and the crowd went wild. She played her fiddle and danced about the stage as Chloe and the two Lisas joined her in song. It was an incredible start to the show and just fascinating to watch and hear in person. Tears sprang to my eyes as I was not able to believe I was actually there and getting to see this. There were many standing ovations throughout the evening as the women sang and the instumentalists played. There was even a spot where the crowd sang happy birthday to the drummer of the group. Costumes were amazing as well as the music. Bagpipers played along on several of the songs as well as a penny whistle and the bodran being played. I was in heaven. ( I honestly believe the haunting tones of the bagpipe will be played in heaven along with the harps and penny whistles and spoons and drums. How can they not be when they move my soul so much.) The Gwinnett Childrens Choir came on stage a few times to participate in the backup for the women. It was enjoyable to watch the women interact with the children. Mairead played and danced to her fiddle and the clogging man came out and danced along with her. It brought whoots from the crowd as my feet tapped and danced along with the music. (I am a fantastic jigger when my bottom is in a chair)
The show came to an end and we made our way out the side doors of the building and headed for our car talking about what we had seen. As we waited for the crosswalk to head to our car, our son caused several in the crowd to chuckle as he said " I liked the dancer, He is my favorite Celtic Woman" He was being silly but I knew what he meant. He really liked the energy that buzzed when the dancer came out on stage.
I know this is a night that none of us will forget and we look forward to watching the video time and again. I know we will be buying it the minute it goes on sale as well as watching it on PBA30 on December 3 when it airs on tv for the first time. The first time we watch it we will again be transported back to the Fox Theatre and watching the live taping of the video as well as looking for ourselves in the crowd!
This year, just before his birthday, he was at the website for Celtic Woman and all of a sudden let out a yell. They were again coming to the Fox Theatre but this time were filming their new video and tickets were to be $30 to $55 each. I told him I would order them the day they went on sale! I got four tickets since I knew that our almost 18 year old daughter would shoot us if we were to go without her and since she was going so was the son whether he wanted to or not. (turns out he did really want to go even though I didn't know he liked their music).
For a month now, we have been waiting for the show. My husband and I took the day off after the concert just to be sure that we weren't going in exhausted. The kids still had to go to school the next day regardless of the time we go home. Excitement was in the air as the day go closer.
Yesterday was the openning night for the two-day show which was being taped for the first video they have done in America. It was the night for us to attend. I stayed home that day as well and spent the day relaxing and getting myself ready for an evening in Atlanta. I picked the kids up from school about 15 minutes before the final bell and we drove to get my husband at work. He drove us down to Atlanta and we drove around Peachtree Street trying to find the theatre and then finding a parking lot that was close but reasonable in pricing. We were in line by 6 p.m. and excited as could be.
As we go to the door to have out tickets scanned, the usher informed us that we were going to have to go back to the ticket booth as there was an issue with our tickets. I was very upset since I knew that I had paid for them through ticketmaster and that they were valid tickets. I couldn't imagine what was going on but we wended our way through the crowd trying to get to the doors as we made our way back to the ticket booth. My son said "maybe they upgraded our seats" and I scoffed at him. After waiting at the booth for several minutes they came back and handed us new tickets explaining they had had to relocate us due to the taping. Our son was right... they were upgraded. The upgrade wasn't by much but it was an upgrade. Our original seats were on the right side in orchestra seating and we were to have been against the wall, our new seats were on the left side in orchestra seating, three rows closer to the stage and against center aisle! We had a good view of the stage and didn't have too many people in our way due to the boom camera that was set up off to our left and slightly in front. It wasn't in our way at all but it did keep people from being able to sit there.
Finally we were ready for the show to start..... Mairead came on the stage and the crowd went wild. She played her fiddle and danced about the stage as Chloe and the two Lisas joined her in song. It was an incredible start to the show and just fascinating to watch and hear in person. Tears sprang to my eyes as I was not able to believe I was actually there and getting to see this. There were many standing ovations throughout the evening as the women sang and the instumentalists played. There was even a spot where the crowd sang happy birthday to the drummer of the group. Costumes were amazing as well as the music. Bagpipers played along on several of the songs as well as a penny whistle and the bodran being played. I was in heaven. ( I honestly believe the haunting tones of the bagpipe will be played in heaven along with the harps and penny whistles and spoons and drums. How can they not be when they move my soul so much.) The Gwinnett Childrens Choir came on stage a few times to participate in the backup for the women. It was enjoyable to watch the women interact with the children. Mairead played and danced to her fiddle and the clogging man came out and danced along with her. It brought whoots from the crowd as my feet tapped and danced along with the music. (I am a fantastic jigger when my bottom is in a chair)
The show came to an end and we made our way out the side doors of the building and headed for our car talking about what we had seen. As we waited for the crosswalk to head to our car, our son caused several in the crowd to chuckle as he said " I liked the dancer, He is my favorite Celtic Woman" He was being silly but I knew what he meant. He really liked the energy that buzzed when the dancer came out on stage.
I know this is a night that none of us will forget and we look forward to watching the video time and again. I know we will be buying it the minute it goes on sale as well as watching it on PBA30 on December 3 when it airs on tv for the first time. The first time we watch it we will again be transported back to the Fox Theatre and watching the live taping of the video as well as looking for ourselves in the crowd!
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Updates on Lifes twists and turns
I wrote about a month ago about the concerns I was having with my father being in the hospital as I was heading even further away from him on a trip with my family to see my father in law.
God has truly answered many prayers regarding my father. Daddy is doing much better and I have been in touch with him via phone about once a week and he states he is doing really well. His weight is down as well as an assortment of ailments are being helped by that simple fact.
In the night as we slept before leaving PA to return to our home, lightning struck my mother in law's chicken coop. She had to file an insurance claim and is in the process of getting the coop fixed. I am glad and thankful that it wasn't the house.
We returned to our home in good time and were able to sleep well in our beds that night.
Shortly after returning home we got news that our daughter was accepted for the summer independant study course she would need in order to get the credit for the physics class that she had not passed during the regular school year. She had 12 days to do the coursework and was finished with it in 6. I am proud of her for the hard work and perseverence she had with this class. She tried her best and she just wasn't able to pass the class during the regular school year. I believe it is how it was taught and not through her failings since there were at least nine other students that had to take this summer course as well.
Anyway, we have one month left of summer before my teens go back to high school. My daughter is a senior this year and my son is a junior. That means aptitude tests for college as well as college applications and visits this year. We are also planning a trip to see my dad in October as well as a trip to camp over labor day weekend. I look forward to the times we still get to spend with our children as they are growing up.
God has truly answered many prayers regarding my father. Daddy is doing much better and I have been in touch with him via phone about once a week and he states he is doing really well. His weight is down as well as an assortment of ailments are being helped by that simple fact.
In the night as we slept before leaving PA to return to our home, lightning struck my mother in law's chicken coop. She had to file an insurance claim and is in the process of getting the coop fixed. I am glad and thankful that it wasn't the house.
We returned to our home in good time and were able to sleep well in our beds that night.
Shortly after returning home we got news that our daughter was accepted for the summer independant study course she would need in order to get the credit for the physics class that she had not passed during the regular school year. She had 12 days to do the coursework and was finished with it in 6. I am proud of her for the hard work and perseverence she had with this class. She tried her best and she just wasn't able to pass the class during the regular school year. I believe it is how it was taught and not through her failings since there were at least nine other students that had to take this summer course as well.
Anyway, we have one month left of summer before my teens go back to high school. My daughter is a senior this year and my son is a junior. That means aptitude tests for college as well as college applications and visits this year. We are also planning a trip to see my dad in October as well as a trip to camp over labor day weekend. I look forward to the times we still get to spend with our children as they are growing up.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Tell your problems how big your God is.
Instead of telling God how big your problems are, start telling your problems how big your God is. A friend of mine posted that as her status on facebook earlier in the week. I promptly decided that is what I need to do. I tend to get overwhelmed with the worries and concerns of life. It doesn't mean that I don't trust God or that I don't know that HE can take care of them all. I just sometimes give them to Him and try to take them back again instead of leaving them with Him.
Since reading my friend's status, I have told each of the problems that come my way that God is big enough to handle them even if I am not and that I know He will give me that peace and grace and ability to get past each and every one of them.
I have still been praying over them and trusting God to take them on His shoulders instead of me lugging them around everywhere. It isn't easy to not try to take them back, I have been doing it for so long. But I am really making an effort to let them go.
I wrote this wonderful piece of advice down and attached it to my computer monitor at work where I see it every day. It is a fantastic reminder that God is bigger than anything I might encounter. With that reminder I am calmer and more focussed. I am able to let the annoyances go and be the person I want to be.
Since reading my friend's status, I have told each of the problems that come my way that God is big enough to handle them even if I am not and that I know He will give me that peace and grace and ability to get past each and every one of them.
I have still been praying over them and trusting God to take them on His shoulders instead of me lugging them around everywhere. It isn't easy to not try to take them back, I have been doing it for so long. But I am really making an effort to let them go.
I wrote this wonderful piece of advice down and attached it to my computer monitor at work where I see it every day. It is a fantastic reminder that God is bigger than anything I might encounter. With that reminder I am calmer and more focussed. I am able to let the annoyances go and be the person I want to be.
Friday, June 3, 2011
Life's twists and turns
This has been a week of ups and downs and twists and turns. We had plans for a trip to PA to see my inlaws and were to leave last Sunday. On the Friday before we were to leave, I got a call from my sister telling me that my father in FL was at the emergency room. She didn't have more information than that but would call me when she got more. Now I was concerned about his health again.I just didn't know what was going on and I was trying to work and get the stuff done there because regardless of if I was going to PA or to FL I was going to need to leave my desk in order.
One of my other sisters called and said they had admitted Dad into the hospital and she was on her way to FL to see him. Then the sister that first called said she was on her way to pack for her and my third sister and they were flying down to FL from NY. Now I was really really scared and crying all the harder as I was trying to get my work done. I had no way to reach my dad and didn't know even what hospital he was at.
I called my mother for some much needed advice as to whether she thought I should go to Florida or keep my plans for going to PA. She didn't tell me which way I should go. Just gave me some advice to wait and see what the day brought. She did however remind me that my little brother who had dad's phone would probably know what hospital he was at and then i could maybe call the hospital.
I called him back and got the hospital name and then called the hospital where I hoped to get some information from a floor nurse or something. I got put straight to my dad's room and actually got to talk to him. He told me that he didnt know anything at that point other than they were waiting for test results. He told me that he thought I should go to PA and spend time with my inlaws.
I talked to my kids and to my husband and it was decided that we would see what the next morning brought but the plan was to continue with our current plans.
The next morning I spoke with my sisters who encouraged me to continue with the current plan and to not go to FL. They were there and if I was needed they would let me know for sure. So I did the necessary oil change in the car and the shopping that needed to be done and the trip to the dog sitter who would be coming in so I could give final instructions. I got the packing done and the car cleaned up and proceded to wait for Sunday.
Sunday morning dawned bright and clear and was a good day for a road trip. We loaded up the car with kids, luggage and cooler and headed north. While on the trip I placed a call to my father who again told me he was doing better but didn't know results of the tests. He again encouraged us to enjoy our trip.
Each day of this past week I have called the hospital and checked in with my dad or with my sister. Today he is being released. My emotions have been on a bit of a roller coaster as i have been concerned for Dad's health as well as tried to enjoy this time with my inlaws.
My father in law had a major surgery two month ago and this was the first time my kids and i were seeing him since that had happened. We were uncertain how independant he might still be able to be and I know i was concerned about his spirits. I should have known better. He has such an abiding faith that God has a purpose for everything and that there is a reason that God allows him to go through the difficult times and health issues.
On Tuesday my husband took his parents up to Hershey hospital for a followup on his dad's surgery. They were given the news that he is healing well and is ready for his preliminary prostetic leg. We are so thankful that this is already in the works as we thought it would be at least another month. It will give my father in law more freedom and indepence of movement again.
He has enjoyed this visit a great deal in that he has been able to spend time with his son and grandchildren as well as being able to get some of the jobs done around here that he hasn't been able to do on his own.
Life is a journey that we all must travel and we never know where it will lead or what twists there are in store for us. We must trust God to not let us stray too far from the path He wants us on.
One of my other sisters called and said they had admitted Dad into the hospital and she was on her way to FL to see him. Then the sister that first called said she was on her way to pack for her and my third sister and they were flying down to FL from NY. Now I was really really scared and crying all the harder as I was trying to get my work done. I had no way to reach my dad and didn't know even what hospital he was at.
I called my mother for some much needed advice as to whether she thought I should go to Florida or keep my plans for going to PA. She didn't tell me which way I should go. Just gave me some advice to wait and see what the day brought. She did however remind me that my little brother who had dad's phone would probably know what hospital he was at and then i could maybe call the hospital.
I called him back and got the hospital name and then called the hospital where I hoped to get some information from a floor nurse or something. I got put straight to my dad's room and actually got to talk to him. He told me that he didnt know anything at that point other than they were waiting for test results. He told me that he thought I should go to PA and spend time with my inlaws.
I talked to my kids and to my husband and it was decided that we would see what the next morning brought but the plan was to continue with our current plans.
The next morning I spoke with my sisters who encouraged me to continue with the current plan and to not go to FL. They were there and if I was needed they would let me know for sure. So I did the necessary oil change in the car and the shopping that needed to be done and the trip to the dog sitter who would be coming in so I could give final instructions. I got the packing done and the car cleaned up and proceded to wait for Sunday.
Sunday morning dawned bright and clear and was a good day for a road trip. We loaded up the car with kids, luggage and cooler and headed north. While on the trip I placed a call to my father who again told me he was doing better but didn't know results of the tests. He again encouraged us to enjoy our trip.
Each day of this past week I have called the hospital and checked in with my dad or with my sister. Today he is being released. My emotions have been on a bit of a roller coaster as i have been concerned for Dad's health as well as tried to enjoy this time with my inlaws.
My father in law had a major surgery two month ago and this was the first time my kids and i were seeing him since that had happened. We were uncertain how independant he might still be able to be and I know i was concerned about his spirits. I should have known better. He has such an abiding faith that God has a purpose for everything and that there is a reason that God allows him to go through the difficult times and health issues.
On Tuesday my husband took his parents up to Hershey hospital for a followup on his dad's surgery. They were given the news that he is healing well and is ready for his preliminary prostetic leg. We are so thankful that this is already in the works as we thought it would be at least another month. It will give my father in law more freedom and indepence of movement again.
He has enjoyed this visit a great deal in that he has been able to spend time with his son and grandchildren as well as being able to get some of the jobs done around here that he hasn't been able to do on his own.
Life is a journey that we all must travel and we never know where it will lead or what twists there are in store for us. We must trust God to not let us stray too far from the path He wants us on.
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