I usually do not post things like that post that I am about to write on my blog. Usually, my blog is to keep everyone update on what's going on with our family or to share things that I am learning in my life. But I feel like this post is something that is really important to share and that maybe someone in Blogland needs to hear it.
If there is one thing that I can say about my life is that I have been through many changes. Good things, bad things, hard things, happy things. But the one thing I can say is that nothing in my life would have ANY value without Jesus. I've tried doing life without giving much regard to God. I went through a time when I thought I was doing okay on my own. I have never turned my back on Him, but have put him last on my priority list. Folks, let me tell you something. You cannot compare life without Jesus to life with Him. And I'm not talking about going to church most of the time or saying you're a Christian when someone asks you, I'm talking about life WITH Him. Having a relationship with Him. Making Him a priority. Reading His word. Talking to Him. I look back at my life and the times when I distanced myself from God and it literally makes me sick to my stomach to think about it. I know if a day goes by now that I am too "wrapped up" in something that seems important that it causes me not to spend time with him, I feel lonely. I feel a longing inside to be with Him. And that drives me to spend time with Him everyday. I know what it is like to try to find happiness in this world. Through other people, through your job, through having nice things. It still all leaves you feeling unfulfilled. There is still always something missing. Because there is not a single person in this world that can fill the void in your heart and soul that is meant for Jesus. I promise you. People will always let you down. This world will always let you down. He will NEVER let you down. Although I chose to follow Jesus when I was a child, I am at a point in my life where I have never felt closer to Him. And it has changed my perspective on things that I never really gave much thought to before. It makes me view the world differently. Our world seems so broken now. I look at people who are in the same places I have been before and just want to tell them to stop fighting the one thing that will change their life forever. They don't have to keep feeling let down, or discouraged, or disappointed. All you have to do is reach out to Him because His hand is ALWAYS extended to you. And its not about raising your hand at church or following strict rules or giving up things. I think that is a huge misconception about God. That following Him means giving up things. Things that you enjoy. But I am here to tell you that when you choose to completely give your life to Him, you will find how those things you "loved" pale in comparison to what He gives you. You WANT to do things for Him. He doesn't make you. You CHOOSE to give up things because He is changing your heart. There is so much freedom in knowing that He loves you so much just the way you are- dirty, broken, sinful - that He would still send His son to die for you. It isn't something you have to earn or spend your life "paying Him back" for what He has done for you. It is just grace. I spent a lot of my life thinking I had to live a certain way to deserve the gift of salvation but that couldn't be further from the truth. And there are still times when I get discouraged about parts of my life that I wish were different. But then I look back at the way God has changed my heart and life and I can see that He is changing me into being more like Jesus. And I am so thankful for that. I am so thankful that I don't have to be who I was but that I can become who He is.
So please, stop looking. Stop trying so hard to please people. Stop trying so hard to find happiness on your own. This world cannot offer you any of that. But God can offer you everything. He will never leave you. He is always there. That doesn't mean that your life will magically change and you will never have a care in the world. It means that when life is hard, He will be there to carry you. He will help you overcome it. He will lead you through it. So if you haven't met Jesus yet, do it. Just reach out to Him. I promise you it will be the best thing you will ever do. Go to Him dirty- He will clean you up. Go to Him broken- He will put you back together in a new way.
When I think about how unworthy I am in the eyes of God, I remember that when God looks at me, He sees Jesus. And because of that I am loved completely.
Don't waste another second.
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Sunday, August 18, 2013
A Letter to Brian on His First Day of Kindergarten
On the night before your first day of kindergarten, Brian, I thought I would put together a little list of helpful advice. I know that it will be many, many years before you will probably ever think of your mama as "wise" but I promise you that the advice I am going to give you is from my heart. And writing this post is probably more like therapy for me, anyway. I am not gonna lie- I am having a hard time knowing you are growing up. You will understand one day. So here are 5 tips for your first big year of school:
Tip #1 - Always smile at your teacher when you walk through the door every morning. Teachers are people too (yes, really) and sometimes they get sad, angry or sick. Just like you. A smile on the face of their students can sometimes turn their entire day around and pick them up. Just like that. I know, because I used to be a teacher myself. I know you have heard me say many times about how I used to teach when you were still in my tummy (Math was your favorite subject then. Well, you sure moved around the most when I would teach math. So even if you think you hate it now, just remember that it used to be your favorite). And giving your teacher a hug every now and again, just because, can also do wonders. It reminds them of how special they are and how what they do everyday makes such a big difference, even if it doesn't always feel that way.
Tip #2 - Be friends with everyone. I think this will be really easy for you because you have always been this way since you were a little guy, but I just wanted to remind you anyway. Always be willing to help someone, even if you don't really want to. Never forget to include someone when you are playing. Someday, you might be the one who gets left out and it doesn't feel good. Always be polite- that will go a long way. Share. Play something you might not like. Let someone else have their turn before you. Don't make fun of others or join along because someone else is. It might be hard sometimes, but I promise you that Jesus will help you do these things if you just ask Him. Don't be friends with someone just because of how they look on the outside. Get to know them and see what is on the inside first. Most importantly, always be yourself around others because they won't be able to stay away from you if you do. Trust me, you are the coolest kid I know and I always want to be around you.
Tip #3 - Don't forget your manners. Always say "please" and "thank you" and "yes, ma'am" and "yes, sir." Always open the door for girls. Compliment your teacher. Tell someone they did a good job. Clap for someone when they succeed at something. Be an encourager.
Tip #4 - Eat all of your lunch. You might be too excited to eat or you might not really like what I packed you. But you are going to be at school longer than you've ever been (and knowing you, it will seem like forever) and if you don't eat, you are going to be starving. And Tip #4B - Rubbing your tummy as a "secret sign" that you are hungry will not work with your teacher like it works with me. She is going to be more concerned about teaching you to read then finding you some Cheez-Its.
Tip #5 - Know when to keep quiet. This isn't to sound mean but, my friend, you come from a long line of talkers (trust me, I've seen your Ninny's report cards). Don't be a mute like your mom was in school and hardly ever say a word, but choose your time to talk wisely. Do it at recess or after you've raised your hand and your teacher calls on you. Or if you are in a group working on something. But don't do it when you are supposed to be working. I promise you can talk my legs off as soon as I pick you up from school. Just put a lit on it until then :) And try to keep the entertaining to a minimum. Yes, you are VERY entertaining, but entertaining during school hours might not earn you the applause you are looking for!
There are so many other words of wisdom that I could tell you about, Brian. And little secrets, too. Like how I am sure that there will be days when your brother will destroy your room while you are gone, but how I promise I will fix it and you won't even know it happened. Or how tomorrow morning when I am taking pictures of you and pumping you up for your first day, I will be trying really hard not to cry because my baby boy is growing up. You will never have another first day of kindergarten again and I plan on soaking up every bit of it. And when I drop you off at your classroom door and kiss you and hug you and tell you to have a good day? I can assure you that there will be a gigantic knot in my throat the size of Texas. And even though I'll be able to go home and do some things around the house and maybe even just enjoy some quiet time, I will looking at the clock all day and counting down the minutes to come get you. Because I know this will be a lot harder on me than it is on you. And I will feel like a kid at Christmas whenever I see your smiling face and get to hear all about your wonderful day.
I hope you have the best first day of school ever, Brian Joshua! And if I am smart, I will start writing my list of advice to you for high school now because I am sure that it is going to be much longer than this one.
Tip #1 - Always smile at your teacher when you walk through the door every morning. Teachers are people too (yes, really) and sometimes they get sad, angry or sick. Just like you. A smile on the face of their students can sometimes turn their entire day around and pick them up. Just like that. I know, because I used to be a teacher myself. I know you have heard me say many times about how I used to teach when you were still in my tummy (Math was your favorite subject then. Well, you sure moved around the most when I would teach math. So even if you think you hate it now, just remember that it used to be your favorite). And giving your teacher a hug every now and again, just because, can also do wonders. It reminds them of how special they are and how what they do everyday makes such a big difference, even if it doesn't always feel that way.
Tip #2 - Be friends with everyone. I think this will be really easy for you because you have always been this way since you were a little guy, but I just wanted to remind you anyway. Always be willing to help someone, even if you don't really want to. Never forget to include someone when you are playing. Someday, you might be the one who gets left out and it doesn't feel good. Always be polite- that will go a long way. Share. Play something you might not like. Let someone else have their turn before you. Don't make fun of others or join along because someone else is. It might be hard sometimes, but I promise you that Jesus will help you do these things if you just ask Him. Don't be friends with someone just because of how they look on the outside. Get to know them and see what is on the inside first. Most importantly, always be yourself around others because they won't be able to stay away from you if you do. Trust me, you are the coolest kid I know and I always want to be around you.
Tip #3 - Don't forget your manners. Always say "please" and "thank you" and "yes, ma'am" and "yes, sir." Always open the door for girls. Compliment your teacher. Tell someone they did a good job. Clap for someone when they succeed at something. Be an encourager.
Tip #4 - Eat all of your lunch. You might be too excited to eat or you might not really like what I packed you. But you are going to be at school longer than you've ever been (and knowing you, it will seem like forever) and if you don't eat, you are going to be starving. And Tip #4B - Rubbing your tummy as a "secret sign" that you are hungry will not work with your teacher like it works with me. She is going to be more concerned about teaching you to read then finding you some Cheez-Its.
Tip #5 - Know when to keep quiet. This isn't to sound mean but, my friend, you come from a long line of talkers (trust me, I've seen your Ninny's report cards). Don't be a mute like your mom was in school and hardly ever say a word, but choose your time to talk wisely. Do it at recess or after you've raised your hand and your teacher calls on you. Or if you are in a group working on something. But don't do it when you are supposed to be working. I promise you can talk my legs off as soon as I pick you up from school. Just put a lit on it until then :) And try to keep the entertaining to a minimum. Yes, you are VERY entertaining, but entertaining during school hours might not earn you the applause you are looking for!
There are so many other words of wisdom that I could tell you about, Brian. And little secrets, too. Like how I am sure that there will be days when your brother will destroy your room while you are gone, but how I promise I will fix it and you won't even know it happened. Or how tomorrow morning when I am taking pictures of you and pumping you up for your first day, I will be trying really hard not to cry because my baby boy is growing up. You will never have another first day of kindergarten again and I plan on soaking up every bit of it. And when I drop you off at your classroom door and kiss you and hug you and tell you to have a good day? I can assure you that there will be a gigantic knot in my throat the size of Texas. And even though I'll be able to go home and do some things around the house and maybe even just enjoy some quiet time, I will looking at the clock all day and counting down the minutes to come get you. Because I know this will be a lot harder on me than it is on you. And I will feel like a kid at Christmas whenever I see your smiling face and get to hear all about your wonderful day.
I hope you have the best first day of school ever, Brian Joshua! And if I am smart, I will start writing my list of advice to you for high school now because I am sure that it is going to be much longer than this one.
Monday, August 12, 2013
Meltdown City, USA
I know what I am about to write about is something that every parent has to deal with in their life. I know that I am not the only one to have to go through it. And yet, just the thought of it makes me want to take a trip to Meltdown City. Why, you ask? Because in exactly a week from today, Brian starts kindergarten.
Is this his first time to be away from me and go to school? Nope. So why I am so berserk? Because he will be gone all.day.long. Brian has a very late summer birthday, so because of his young age, I wanted him to do pre-k twice. Now, he is closer to the same age as the other kiddos and this will put him at graduating when he is 18, not 17. I didn't want him to struggle in school because he was so young and I didn't want him to end up being the last one of his friends to be able to do things like drive a car and date. Wait, yes I do want him to be the last one of his friends to date. Which should be no problem since he will be 30 when I allow that to happen. Anyway, making that decision was great for him. He is excelling at school, is already reading quite a bit, and had an extra year to get a little more mature. But it kinda spoiled me to the whole two-hours-at-school thing. He got to go to school and then be with me for the rest of the day. For TWO years. And now, come Monday, he will be gone all day. I think it is going to be wonderful for him. He is Mr. Social Butterfly and is going to love being around kids his age all day. He is going to finally get to eat in the cafeteria and go to gym and music. But what am I going to do with myself while he's doing all this?
Hudson and I are going to have a lot of time together, just the two of us. But, boy, are we going to miss our bubba. It is going to take some major adjusting for the both of us. There are times during the day now when both kids are being as loud and ornery as they can possibly be and I will think, "Man, a little peace and quiet sure would be nice." But then in that rare moment when they are both gone and I am alone, all I do is wish they were back making noise. I miss them so bad.
I'm pretty sure that I will be a basket case on Monday morning. Wes has a dentist appointment and is taking a half day so he will get to go with me to drop Brian off on his first day. I am sure that will be the only thing keeping me in line because I know that if I bawl and cause too big of a scene that Wes will make fun of me for the rest of our lives. But you can bet I will have my camera in tow and some Kleenex stuffed in my purse. It's moments like these that are so, so precious but make the reality that Brian is growing up even more obvious. I am so proud of him and the young man he is becoming but I just want to treasure every single moment and milestone he has while he is still little and actually doesn't get embarrassed by his mom :) And then I'm going to have to do it all over again with Hudson. Waaaaaaaaahhhh!!!!! :(
Is this his first time to be away from me and go to school? Nope. So why I am so berserk? Because he will be gone all.day.long. Brian has a very late summer birthday, so because of his young age, I wanted him to do pre-k twice. Now, he is closer to the same age as the other kiddos and this will put him at graduating when he is 18, not 17. I didn't want him to struggle in school because he was so young and I didn't want him to end up being the last one of his friends to be able to do things like drive a car and date. Wait, yes I do want him to be the last one of his friends to date. Which should be no problem since he will be 30 when I allow that to happen. Anyway, making that decision was great for him. He is excelling at school, is already reading quite a bit, and had an extra year to get a little more mature. But it kinda spoiled me to the whole two-hours-at-school thing. He got to go to school and then be with me for the rest of the day. For TWO years. And now, come Monday, he will be gone all day. I think it is going to be wonderful for him. He is Mr. Social Butterfly and is going to love being around kids his age all day. He is going to finally get to eat in the cafeteria and go to gym and music. But what am I going to do with myself while he's doing all this?
Hudson and I are going to have a lot of time together, just the two of us. But, boy, are we going to miss our bubba. It is going to take some major adjusting for the both of us. There are times during the day now when both kids are being as loud and ornery as they can possibly be and I will think, "Man, a little peace and quiet sure would be nice." But then in that rare moment when they are both gone and I am alone, all I do is wish they were back making noise. I miss them so bad.
I'm pretty sure that I will be a basket case on Monday morning. Wes has a dentist appointment and is taking a half day so he will get to go with me to drop Brian off on his first day. I am sure that will be the only thing keeping me in line because I know that if I bawl and cause too big of a scene that Wes will make fun of me for the rest of our lives. But you can bet I will have my camera in tow and some Kleenex stuffed in my purse. It's moments like these that are so, so precious but make the reality that Brian is growing up even more obvious. I am so proud of him and the young man he is becoming but I just want to treasure every single moment and milestone he has while he is still little and actually doesn't get embarrassed by his mom :) And then I'm going to have to do it all over again with Hudson. Waaaaaaaaahhhh!!!!! :(
First First Day of Pre-K - 2011
He had only been 4 for 2 weeks. Look at those cute little baby fat cheeks...
Second First Day of Pre-K - 2012
He gained a baby brother that year and lost some of that baby fat...
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Cruel, Cruel Summer
Somehow, a summer cold has hit the Powell home. Well, part of us anyway- Mama and Huddie. Huddie started it! Poor baby has been feeling miserable with a constant runny nose and cough. Plus, he's getting another tooth so that has just made things worse. Hudson is always such a good baby. I mean, like REALLY good. Near perfect. But, oh boy, has he been cranky for the past two days. Poor guy. And a mom who feels like crud is never a good thing.
Brian and Wes went to visit some good friends of ours tonight, and Hudson and I stayed home so we wouldn't infect anyone. Hud is asleep now and I'm alone so I decided to post some pictures of my family from this summer that I actually haven't posted on Facebook! Shocking, huh? Since I post EVERYTHING on Facebook! Ha.
Brian had his end-of-the-season pool party with his Cubs. Hudson enjoyed swimming, too. And Dad. I honestly didn't know a grown man could have so much fun. He was like an honorary Cub that day in the pool. And he threw so many kids into the water, he couldn't move the next morning. No joke.
Brian and Wes went to visit some good friends of ours tonight, and Hudson and I stayed home so we wouldn't infect anyone. Hud is asleep now and I'm alone so I decided to post some pictures of my family from this summer that I actually haven't posted on Facebook! Shocking, huh? Since I post EVERYTHING on Facebook! Ha.
Brian had his end-of-the-season pool party with his Cubs. Hudson enjoyed swimming, too. And Dad. I honestly didn't know a grown man could have so much fun. He was like an honorary Cub that day in the pool. And he threw so many kids into the water, he couldn't move the next morning. No joke.
Brian getting his trophy from Coach Nickell
So proud!!
The Cubs!
Having a blast!
One of my favorite pics of all time!
Brian LOVED his first season of playing t-ball and so did we! We can't wait for fall ball to start. I know I may be a little biased, but this may just be the cutest baseball player EVER....
And the cutest team EVER...
And the cutest Cubs fan EVER.
And last, but certainly not least, what I like to fondly call my boys' "model-looks." They are pretty good, don't you think? They definitely have the poses down :)
Believe it or not, Wes has a senior pic with this EXACT SAME POSE. Except he is standing in front of a fake bookcase and looks a little ridiculous.
And Brian? Well, psh. He's been doing this for years already. Absolute pro.
See? Already knows how to work a prop :)
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
The Blog Is Back
If we are friends on Facebook, then you probably already know that we got a new computer! And by "new" I don't mean an upgrade. I mean got a new computer, period. I haven't had a home computer in about 4 years. When I was still working, I had access to one all day and didn't feel the need to have one at home, too. But now that I am at home, doing everything online that you need to by way of your iPhone just isn't that easy or practical. I am excited that my poor neglected blog will be able to be reborn. I miss blogging but it is just too difficult to blog on my phone when you are as long-winded as I am. Not to mention the plethora of typos...
Even though I doubt I'll be able to blog as frequently as I used to, I can still keep everyone updated on the happenings here at our house. When I pulled up my blog tonight, I noticed that the pictures I have on here are so outdated it's pathetic. Wes and my pics are from our wedding day in 2011. Brian's too. And Hudson was like 2 months old in his. So to kick off this little re-launch, I will change my photos if I can remember how to :))
What's Been Going On-
Since my last blog (which was difficult because I had just lost my Lady Girl) we traveled by car to California for our very first trip to Disneyland! Wes and I were like 2 large kids at the most magical place on earth. It was kinda sad how excited we were. The boys loved it too. We also got the idea to tour some famous places in LA. I had never felt so scared in my whole life. Talk about a fish out of water. I felt like my life was in danger about every 2 seconds. It was a blast.
We have all been pretty busy the last few months. Here is a little of what each of us has been doing:
Wes- This guy is just climbing the ladder at work. He got another raise and is just being a rockstar at his new position. You shouldn't be surprised if the next time I blog, I tell you that he's running the whole company. He also volunteered to take over as head coach for Brian's t-ball team this fall. What a brave, brave soul.
Brian- This kid is getting taller by the second. He is reading (really well) and just finished his first season of t-ball which he loves. He is a few weeks away from turning the big 6 and will be starting kindergarten next month. This means he will be at school all day instead of just 2 hours. I know it will be great for him and he will love it, but it is going to be hard for this mama to get used to not having him around as much. He is still loving being a big brother although he's become quite bossy towards the little bro ;) Oh, and he's in the process of riding a bike with no training wheels. But that has been a disaster and will need an entire blog entry dedicated to THAT debacle.
Hudson- Our little baby just turned 1! Time has literally flown. I love watching him grow and his personality develop, but I sure hate how fast it is happening. He is walking and talking up a storm. His language skills baffle me. Even his pediatrician said that it is very uncommon for babies to be saying as much as Hudson is at his age (TRANSLATION: HE IS A GENIUS). He is becoming a lot like his mom in some ways, like being scared of silly things and liking books. And he is becoming a lot like his daddy too, like being ornery and stubborn :) He says "yeah" "mama" da-da" "bubba" "bye bye" "hi" "baby" "ninny" "uh-oh" "Shhh" and "Pa-pa" and learning more each day. He is really such a joy to all of us. And as for that blood disorder...yeah, God totally took care of that!
Me- I am having a blast staying home with my babies. There are days I watch the clock until Wes gets home, lock myself in the bathroom for 30 seconds to just get a little peace, and watch Alvin and the "Chicknuts" (Brian) until I want to scream. But I wouldn't have it any other way. I love it. These are precious times and even if I sometimes want to purposely get amnesia, I truly am grateful for them. And when you are chasing around 2 boys all day, you rarely have time to eat out of boredom so it makes it easier to lose weight :)
So there's the update so far. Hopefully, this little blog will finally have some life in it again.
Even though I doubt I'll be able to blog as frequently as I used to, I can still keep everyone updated on the happenings here at our house. When I pulled up my blog tonight, I noticed that the pictures I have on here are so outdated it's pathetic. Wes and my pics are from our wedding day in 2011. Brian's too. And Hudson was like 2 months old in his. So to kick off this little re-launch, I will change my photos if I can remember how to :))
What's Been Going On-
Since my last blog (which was difficult because I had just lost my Lady Girl) we traveled by car to California for our very first trip to Disneyland! Wes and I were like 2 large kids at the most magical place on earth. It was kinda sad how excited we were. The boys loved it too. We also got the idea to tour some famous places in LA. I had never felt so scared in my whole life. Talk about a fish out of water. I felt like my life was in danger about every 2 seconds. It was a blast.
We have all been pretty busy the last few months. Here is a little of what each of us has been doing:
Wes- This guy is just climbing the ladder at work. He got another raise and is just being a rockstar at his new position. You shouldn't be surprised if the next time I blog, I tell you that he's running the whole company. He also volunteered to take over as head coach for Brian's t-ball team this fall. What a brave, brave soul.
Brian- This kid is getting taller by the second. He is reading (really well) and just finished his first season of t-ball which he loves. He is a few weeks away from turning the big 6 and will be starting kindergarten next month. This means he will be at school all day instead of just 2 hours. I know it will be great for him and he will love it, but it is going to be hard for this mama to get used to not having him around as much. He is still loving being a big brother although he's become quite bossy towards the little bro ;) Oh, and he's in the process of riding a bike with no training wheels. But that has been a disaster and will need an entire blog entry dedicated to THAT debacle.
Hudson- Our little baby just turned 1! Time has literally flown. I love watching him grow and his personality develop, but I sure hate how fast it is happening. He is walking and talking up a storm. His language skills baffle me. Even his pediatrician said that it is very uncommon for babies to be saying as much as Hudson is at his age (TRANSLATION: HE IS A GENIUS). He is becoming a lot like his mom in some ways, like being scared of silly things and liking books. And he is becoming a lot like his daddy too, like being ornery and stubborn :) He says "yeah" "mama" da-da" "bubba" "bye bye" "hi" "baby" "ninny" "uh-oh" "Shhh" and "Pa-pa" and learning more each day. He is really such a joy to all of us. And as for that blood disorder...yeah, God totally took care of that!
Me- I am having a blast staying home with my babies. There are days I watch the clock until Wes gets home, lock myself in the bathroom for 30 seconds to just get a little peace, and watch Alvin and the "Chicknuts" (Brian) until I want to scream. But I wouldn't have it any other way. I love it. These are precious times and even if I sometimes want to purposely get amnesia, I truly am grateful for them. And when you are chasing around 2 boys all day, you rarely have time to eat out of boredom so it makes it easier to lose weight :)
So there's the update so far. Hopefully, this little blog will finally have some life in it again.
Thursday, March 14, 2013
My Little Girl
Oh, this post is hard to write but I want to get it all out because I need to...
I have been an animal lover my whole life. Dressed my cats up like baby dolls when I was little, took in every stray I could- you get the picture. After I moved to the city when I was 13, I didn't have any animals for several years. Then one day while my was working downtown, she called and said "There is a beautiful cocker spaniel down here that needs a home. Get down here."
When I first saw Lady, she was the most beautiful dog I had ever seen. Cocker Spaniels are my favorite dogs because my very first dog was one. I fell in love with her immediately. She had a heavy chain for a collar and was cowered down acing so timid. Her name was "GiGi" but she never came when I called it. So I named her "Lady" because she looked just like Lady from "Lady and the Tramp" but he was silky black.
I took that chain off immediately and she was a pampered pooch from that moment on. She followed me everywhere. Got all worked up if another dog even dared approach me. She would sleep next to me in bed with her head on the pillow. I took her everywhere I went.
We went through a lifetime of events together. When I started teaching, I had framed pictures of her in my classroom and all my students knew all about her. She made her way into lots of math lessons and English sentences. I got married and later divorced and then remarried with her by my side. She always knew when I was upset and she would never leave me and would always lick my tears away. We survived a tornado together- seriously. I held her on my lap as our house was destroyed and she peed all over my lap (and I probably did too!). She was there the first time I lost someone close to me- my beloved Granny Perkins. She was there for me when my Papa followed a few years later. She made it through me bringing two baby boys home. I remember when Brian was a newborn and she would race to his crib every single time he whimpered. I could type all night about my memories of her. Bless her heart, she endured so many doggie sweaters and bandanas before I had human babies to dress. But she loved it and let me do whatever I wanted.
My heart hurts so bad. I hate when people say things like "it's just a dog" because it is so much more than that. She taught me to be a mama before I became a real one. This afternoon, when she was so close to the end, she still managed a tail wag when she heard my voice. When I called to tell my dad the news, he said "she wasn't just a dog. She was a gift" and he was exactly right. A gift that I am so thankful that God gave me to treasure for almost 14 years.
As bad as it hurts, the joy is greater than the pain. God gave man the joy of animals as just another way to show love. And I can't wait to see her again someday. My beautiful, Lady Girl. Thank you for your faithfulness and love to me.
I have been an animal lover my whole life. Dressed my cats up like baby dolls when I was little, took in every stray I could- you get the picture. After I moved to the city when I was 13, I didn't have any animals for several years. Then one day while my was working downtown, she called and said "There is a beautiful cocker spaniel down here that needs a home. Get down here."
When I first saw Lady, she was the most beautiful dog I had ever seen. Cocker Spaniels are my favorite dogs because my very first dog was one. I fell in love with her immediately. She had a heavy chain for a collar and was cowered down acing so timid. Her name was "GiGi" but she never came when I called it. So I named her "Lady" because she looked just like Lady from "Lady and the Tramp" but he was silky black.
I took that chain off immediately and she was a pampered pooch from that moment on. She followed me everywhere. Got all worked up if another dog even dared approach me. She would sleep next to me in bed with her head on the pillow. I took her everywhere I went.
We went through a lifetime of events together. When I started teaching, I had framed pictures of her in my classroom and all my students knew all about her. She made her way into lots of math lessons and English sentences. I got married and later divorced and then remarried with her by my side. She always knew when I was upset and she would never leave me and would always lick my tears away. We survived a tornado together- seriously. I held her on my lap as our house was destroyed and she peed all over my lap (and I probably did too!). She was there the first time I lost someone close to me- my beloved Granny Perkins. She was there for me when my Papa followed a few years later. She made it through me bringing two baby boys home. I remember when Brian was a newborn and she would race to his crib every single time he whimpered. I could type all night about my memories of her. Bless her heart, she endured so many doggie sweaters and bandanas before I had human babies to dress. But she loved it and let me do whatever I wanted.
My heart hurts so bad. I hate when people say things like "it's just a dog" because it is so much more than that. She taught me to be a mama before I became a real one. This afternoon, when she was so close to the end, she still managed a tail wag when she heard my voice. When I called to tell my dad the news, he said "she wasn't just a dog. She was a gift" and he was exactly right. A gift that I am so thankful that God gave me to treasure for almost 14 years.
As bad as it hurts, the joy is greater than the pain. God gave man the joy of animals as just another way to show love. And I can't wait to see her again someday. My beautiful, Lady Girl. Thank you for your faithfulness and love to me.
Monday, January 28, 2013
Here's What's Happening at the Ranch...
Okay, I stole that title from the Pioneer Woman. But that's okay, because she is our hero. She has never let me down with a single recipe. And because of that, she is the only other woman that I would allow my husband to spend time with. But only in hopes that she would make us something to eat. Anyway....
I haven't posted in such a long time that I thought I would bring everyone up-to-date on what's going on with our family.
Wes- Back in November, my super smart, super motivated husband got promoted at his job that he has only been at for less than 6 months. And got a pretty nice raise. Not only has this been a financial blessing to our family, but this job is providing some really great opportunities for him in the future with this company.
Me- Not much to report here. I'm enjoying my new line of work staying home and taking care of my two boys. Let me tell you, working full time was easier but not nearly as fun and fulfilling. I can think of no better way that I'd like to be exhausted. I have been feeding my addiction to Pinterest on the side and as a result have been making some delicious food and have a majorly organized house. I have a problem. I really do.
Brian- I cannot say enough about my firstborn, beautiful boy. Excelling at school like you wouldn't believe. Always making friends and will befriend anyone. We make a pretty good team too. I've been teaching him to read here at home and he is just amazing me. He has read 3 books by himself so far. We have about 4 sentences we work on each day which all include the sight word of the week. I love it because I get to be a teacher and who better to have as your star student than your son?
Hudson- Growing. Like. A. Weed. I would be totally fine with him staying this age for a couple of years. He is crawling all over the place, eating like a pig, and about to pop a couple of teeth. I am convinced he is a baby genius because even his pediatrician comments on how early he is doing everything. He babbles and babbles but distinctly can refer to his Ma-ma, Da-da, Bu-ba (Bubba), and his personal favorite, his Bah-bah (bottle). We haven't had a blood check since right after thanksgiving when his number was still a 9 (hallelujah!) and he doesn't go for another appointment until the 25th of February. I am expecting nothing but another good number. He is just my little miracle baby. I am so thankful he is doing so well. I'm hoping that the worst is behind us and his case will end up being mild. I even found a support group on Facebook and although most of the members are from other countries (spherocytosis is most common in people of European descent) it has really been a blessing to me to give and receive encouragement from others dealing with this disorder.
My mom is taking us on a special trip to Disneyland on spring break so Brian can see the new Cars Land. None of us have ever been and so we are so excited! We would never be able to do something like this without my mom's giving heart. Wes and I are planning on acting more like children than our actual children. And I am excited because I am planning on not doing a thing to my hair and wearing a hat all week. Because I can. Because Disneyland is the "happiest place on earth" and that, to me, means a place where you don't have to fix your hair. We are also driving, so please pray for us. Not only for our safety, but also our sanity. Two kids plus Wes and his energy drinks could be a little crazy. We are stopping at the Grand Canyon on the way out to CA and I can't wait to finally see it. Plus, Brian and Hudson get to have their first trip to the beach. I will definitely have a million page blog about his trip, I'm sure...dun, dun, dun... :)
Jessica
I haven't posted in such a long time that I thought I would bring everyone up-to-date on what's going on with our family.
Wes- Back in November, my super smart, super motivated husband got promoted at his job that he has only been at for less than 6 months. And got a pretty nice raise. Not only has this been a financial blessing to our family, but this job is providing some really great opportunities for him in the future with this company.
Me- Not much to report here. I'm enjoying my new line of work staying home and taking care of my two boys. Let me tell you, working full time was easier but not nearly as fun and fulfilling. I can think of no better way that I'd like to be exhausted. I have been feeding my addiction to Pinterest on the side and as a result have been making some delicious food and have a majorly organized house. I have a problem. I really do.
Brian- I cannot say enough about my firstborn, beautiful boy. Excelling at school like you wouldn't believe. Always making friends and will befriend anyone. We make a pretty good team too. I've been teaching him to read here at home and he is just amazing me. He has read 3 books by himself so far. We have about 4 sentences we work on each day which all include the sight word of the week. I love it because I get to be a teacher and who better to have as your star student than your son?
Hudson- Growing. Like. A. Weed. I would be totally fine with him staying this age for a couple of years. He is crawling all over the place, eating like a pig, and about to pop a couple of teeth. I am convinced he is a baby genius because even his pediatrician comments on how early he is doing everything. He babbles and babbles but distinctly can refer to his Ma-ma, Da-da, Bu-ba (Bubba), and his personal favorite, his Bah-bah (bottle). We haven't had a blood check since right after thanksgiving when his number was still a 9 (hallelujah!) and he doesn't go for another appointment until the 25th of February. I am expecting nothing but another good number. He is just my little miracle baby. I am so thankful he is doing so well. I'm hoping that the worst is behind us and his case will end up being mild. I even found a support group on Facebook and although most of the members are from other countries (spherocytosis is most common in people of European descent) it has really been a blessing to me to give and receive encouragement from others dealing with this disorder.
My mom is taking us on a special trip to Disneyland on spring break so Brian can see the new Cars Land. None of us have ever been and so we are so excited! We would never be able to do something like this without my mom's giving heart. Wes and I are planning on acting more like children than our actual children. And I am excited because I am planning on not doing a thing to my hair and wearing a hat all week. Because I can. Because Disneyland is the "happiest place on earth" and that, to me, means a place where you don't have to fix your hair. We are also driving, so please pray for us. Not only for our safety, but also our sanity. Two kids plus Wes and his energy drinks could be a little crazy. We are stopping at the Grand Canyon on the way out to CA and I can't wait to finally see it. Plus, Brian and Hudson get to have their first trip to the beach. I will definitely have a million page blog about his trip, I'm sure...dun, dun, dun... :)
Jessica
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