Thursday, June 29, 2006

ONE YEAR

One year ago today we pulled into Florida to begin our new life. I remember it like it was yesterday. It was about 5:45 pm and big thick black clouds loomed over us. As we pulled into our community and found our apartment the rain started to fall. Brian's brothers were waiting to help us and were none to happy to find out we were on the third floor. Especially considering it was raining. But this was Florida and afternoon showers were normal, surely this would soon pass. Boy, was I wrong. Before we knew it the sky was as black as night and there was a torrential down pour. As we all struggled to unload the moving truck I began feeling more and more over whelmed. It didn't help that not only did the rain not let up it was literally like a hurricane and everyone and everything was soaked. Then as we opened a few boxes several were soaked through b/c there had been a hole in the truck. I was just thinking, not a good start. Finally I told Brian just get the beds in and leave the rest til tomorrow. We set up our bed and as I looked around our little house it was all too much. I went in my room and sat down in the furthest corner of the room and had a meltdown. I called Jeanette, Bawling..."I think we've made a BIG mistake." Of course she would hear none of it. It was as if I was talking to my mother. :) Anyway, somehow I, or rather we, made it through that first night and when we woke up the weather was so beautiful and where we lived was so picturesque I just felt hope this could all be OK.

Well, you've all been there. Here we are one year later and all I can say is WOW!!!! The goodness of God. I won't lie and several of you know the truth, it hasn't been easy but one thing I can say is God has been faithful and we have learned so much I wouldn't trade this experience for anything in the world. Thank you so much to all of you who have prayed with us and for us and who gave us hope to keep on keeping on. You are awesome and we love you and appreciate all your support.

Wednesday, June 28, 2006

Things Left Unsaid

Having just celebrated the third anniversary of my mom's home going I really wanted to share with you these lyrics to a song called "Things Left Unsaid" (don't be discouraged b/c it's a myspace page, just click on the song name and you can hear it) by Disciple. When I first heard this song it made me cry because I felt everything in it was just my story. Here are the words. I encourage you to hit the link and listen to the whole thing.
It's just a matter time a few days ago, I saw you, you were fine
Remembering what you said about the book you read the one I got you
The Beginning of the End
Oh how we'd talk for hours upon end,
What I would give just to do that again
But you're lying here in this hospital bed, won't you open your eyes and let's talk once again
If you fly away tonight I want to tell you that I LOVE YOU, I hope that you can hear me, I hope that you can feel me
If you fly away tonight, I want to tell you that I'm sorry
That I never told you when we were face to face
Well, I've been here all night and I'm watching you
Breathe in and breathe out, is it really you or just a machine that's giving you life and it's making it seem
That there could be hope I could say to your face, if it weren't for you there would be no grace, that covered my life
You took the time to speak into my mind and my heart words of life.
If you fly away...........
So, goodbye for now and I'll see you again some way somehow
When it's my time to go to the other side I'll hold you again and melt at your smile
Now all I have are the ones that I'm with and you taught me not to take for granted
The timethat we have to show that we care, speak into their minds and their hearts while they're here and say I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!
If you fly away...............

These words are so precious to me. One of the things my mother's death has taught me is to really hold on to people and to treasure my time with my family and those close to me b/c you never know when your time will be over. Say I love you whenever you can. Don't sweat the small stuff, let people know you care and stop being so busy.

Monday, June 26, 2006

In Loving Memory...



I would like to take this moment to remember my mother. She departed this world much to soon on Thursday June, 26th 2003 at 10:45 am surrounded by everyone who deeply loved her.

She was my mother. She was so much more than that, she was my mentor, confidante and bestfriend. She was the most godly woman I have ever known. I strive to be like her and can only pray to have a faith like hers.

As I walk through this day my biggest fear is forgetting. In an effort not to I have been journaling. The first thing I chose to journal was the beginning of the end which is her last 5 days on this earth. It's very long and wasn't ready to post today but I am hoping sometime this week it will be.

I miss my mother. I miss her laugh, hearing her talk (she was very loud, like me) her amazing smile, her infectious personality, her playfully scold my dad and most of all I miss listening to her talk about the Lord. She loved God so much and always knew despite her disease and what it was doing to her she was victorious b/c if she lived it would be a testimoney and if she died she was still in HIS arms. The most amazing thing about mom was that you never knew she was sick. Even in the worst times she was so upbeat and positive, never complaining or whining about anything. She was a ROCK. I wish I had her strength. If you are reading this and you knew her and have any kind of memory of her or just something you would like to share please do b/c as I get further from her home going the more I feel a need not necessarily to hang on but to just have lots of things to help keep her memory alive for me. Thanks.

Friday, June 09, 2006

Exciting, thrilling, new, and answers to prayer...

Those are just a few of things that come to mind when thinking about the past couple of weeks. I am not even sure where to start. Ok, well first off the kids are on summer break and finished the year strong. I can't believe in August I will have a second, third and eighth grader. Mind blowing how fast the time goes. Our oldest kid just found out he was nominated to try out for the All Star Team. At the end of May our adorable middle child turned 9 and we celebrated with some of his friends at Celebration Station. It was an awesome day filled with lots of competetion on the go karts. I never knew I had it in me. ;) A week later the man and I celebrated 11 years of marriage. WOW!!! Someone told us we must not be celebrities since we made it past 10. I thought that was interesting since most of them don't make it past 5 but whatever. We celebrated in style...spent the day just the 2 of us acting like kids again at Busch Gardens. We even rode their newest rollercoaster Sheikra and let me tell you, even with my eyes closed that was THE scariest ride I have ever been on but at least I did it once. I encourage you to watch the little video link. Anyway, it was some much needed one on one time for us since his job has allowed us very little of that lately. Which brings me to THE most exciting news...Brian has a new job!!! Praise the Lord and thank you to all who have been praying for us and with us. He starts in a week and it's no longer with a restaurant. His hours will be M-F and weekends off. This is a huge change for us since he has always worked weekends our whole married life. I am thrilled for him and this oppourtunity. We will keep you posted how things go. In a few days I will do a post just for pics since today blogger is acting up. Hope you all have a fantastic weekend.

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