In my teens, I knew I would get married right out of college. I did. And he's still wonderful and the love of my life. God sent him to me, and my plan lined up with His plan.
Once married, I thought I knew my career path. My plan was okay. God's plan was better.
Once into my career, I thought we'd have children right away. A whole bunch of 'em! My plan was a dead end. God's plan was glorious.
Once pregnant with child #1, I was confident that I could go back to work ... just couldn't leave my job. God's plan was certain ... just couldn't leave my little girl.
Once child #1 entered school, a Christian education was a wish, a hope, a plan for the future. God knew the future.
Once child #2 was well into school, going back to work seemed possible ... but only on my terms -- to work during the school day, during the school year, with summers free ... just to help pay for the extras and to be with my children. God was two steps ahead.
Child #2 starts school this year. Didn't think I was ready to go back -- too soon. But, the door was opened ... part-time job at a Christian school. Not just ANY school, but THE ONE we had considered all along.
God is good. He is faithful. He is true. He knows the desires of our hearts; He is amused by our plans ... Jer 29:11 (NIV) "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Me. Trusting. Praising. Giggling with my Heavenly Father for His impeccable timing and love for little 'ole me.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Dis(ney)appointed ...
Funny how things work out, and always for good, even when we can't see the good at the time. Makes me wonder ... was this for our protection ... for something better to come ... for a little family time now and more family time later? Hard to say. All I know, is that letting Olivia play hooky from school this year has ended up coming back to haunt me both times!!
I let her skip 1/2 day on the day of the Knox County track event because I knew those not at the event would not be doing anything too academic. So, I scheduled time for us to have lunch, go to the Cupcakery for dessert, and then off to get her haircut in Maynardville -- yes, Maynardville, but that's another story. The plan was unfolding perfectly until I locked my keys in my car when we made a quick stop at the paper store on our way to get cupcakes after lunch. Randy had to come rescue us all the way from Maryville. Not good, but we rewarded him with a red velvet cupcake - we killed our waiting time by walking there and back, yes, on Kingston Pike. His one comment was, "This is what you get for skippin' school." Very funny.
Anyway, with haircut rescheduled for a little later, we start the drive to Maynardville and were running ahead of our new schedule. Get to the last leg of the trip and I make a wrong turn - the Garmin wasn't on; I was using my spiritual gift of navigation. So, now we're running late to the appointment. Once there, I whisk Olivia in and run back to the car to grab my checkbook - plastic not accepted here - and to get a Food Chopper our stylist had ordered on our last visit. I'm apologizing profusely for our crazy afternoon and start to write my check while O's enjoying her shampoo. Yep, you guessed it, there are NO CHECKS in my checkbook. Gracious! I ask Laura if she'll trade a Food Chopper for a haircut. She agrees. Whew! And, yes, I had brought her a cupcake, too. Afterward, on the way to pick up Hudson from Katherine's, I miss the exit for Chapman Highway and end up going toward our house instead. Had to alter plans once again.
Later that night, we saw Olivia's teacher at the ball field. I shared our story with her, and she said, "That's what you get for skippin' school!" Dejavu? Too bad I was all out of cupcakes.
SOOOOOOOO ... we've had this trip to Disney planned for months. It was originally scheduled to take place during Spring Break, but that foiled with the house flood. You'll have to go back to eariler posts to read up on all of that fun. This trip required that Olivia miss the last day and a half of school as we left on Wednesday night after Randy got off from work. Hudson has been dealing with a little cough since around the 23rd-ish of April ... no fever, no other symptoms, just an annoying allergy cough. Last week, Randy fell ill and it is thought that he had walking pneumonia. Great. Hudson was definitely exposed to this even though we tried to keep everyone apart as much as possible. We even put H on an antibiotic just in case, and he was prescribed a steroid to make the cough finally disappear. He had been seen by his doctor several times over the last couple of weeks, so this was the final option - and one that usually works.
Driving down I-75 Wednesday night, Randy quickly became concerned that H's cough sounded bad ... deep, frequent, more than an allergy. But, still no other symptoms. We keep driving. We make it to Cordele, GA, and find a hotel for the night; we load Hudson up on his medications and do a breathing treatment. He coughs a lot. A whole lot. Randy didn't sleep hardly at all, and I think H finally got about 4 hours worth. Randy is more concerned. I'm trying to stay optimistic. People go to Disney all the time with much more serious health issues, right?
We call the doctor's office, and they want to see H ... tomorrow. "Tomorrow" is our first day at the parks! It's breakfast at the Castle, parades, clear balloons with Mickey ears inside and rides on Pirates of the Caribbean and Small World. It's not a drive back to Knoxville. We decide to visit a walk-in clinic instead. Sweet doctor there said H's lungs sounded clear and that we were doing all we could do.
Tough decision.
Kids, crying in the back seat.
Adults, weighing out pros and cons.
Me, being supportive of whatever Randy decides (this was hard, thanks A.T. for help!).
Randy, torn between his head and his heart.
Heart wins. We keep driving south.
Finally check-in at our Disney resort around 5:30 p.m. Hudson is coughing so much that he can't finish a sentence. We unpack the car; I unpack all the luggage and set up our room. Randy takes the kids to the hotel playground ... H's cough makes all the other parents gather their kids and leave. Great. We go to Downtown Disney (in the rain) to visit the Lego store and to grab some dinner. Same thing happens at the Lego place ... parents looking at us like we're insane and steering their children away from us.
Still, hoping for improvement, we do medications and breathing treatments ... even hook up the humidifier we brought from home. Everyone is in bed. Olivia goes to sleep. Hudson proceeds to cough ... a lot. Me, awake. Randy, awake. After two+ hours of incessent coughing, I give in to reason ...
"I'm done making lemonade," I announce in the dark.
"What?" Randy asks, sure that I'm talking in my sleep.
"I'm done making lemonade," I say very confidently.
"I have no idea what you mean," says sweet husband.
"I'm done making lemonade out of these lemons. I vote that we go home."
"I couln't agree more"
Decision made.
Adults in harmonious agreement
Kids bawling.
Adults reassuring the sick little brother that this isn't his fault. Lots of hugs.
Adults comforting the healthy big sister that she is special and that this is for the best. Lots of hugs.
Morning dawns and kids are happy. After some calls to the front desk and to the Disney travel people, we rebooked for later in the summer. I repack all of our belongings, and we head north on I-75, arriving in Knoxville at 11 p.m. The doctor's office opens for us on Saturday, and H's cough is due to severe reflux - treatable with a short-term liquid diet and long-term doses of Zantac.
Today is Sunday. H's cough is still present, but much more infrequent. Breakfast at the Castle reservations are secured for trip #2. We have the next few days with little plans since we weren't expecting to be here ... came home to a clean house, clean sheets, and very little laundry. Unpacking seemed almost hilarious -- how many times can I fold/hang these same clothes this week?
I called Olivia's teacher today ... mainly to see when she's scheduled softball camp for this summer as I thought it was this week ... but also to hear her laugh. And she did. And she said, "That's what you get for skippin' school!" Thanks, Wendy.
I let her skip 1/2 day on the day of the Knox County track event because I knew those not at the event would not be doing anything too academic. So, I scheduled time for us to have lunch, go to the Cupcakery for dessert, and then off to get her haircut in Maynardville -- yes, Maynardville, but that's another story. The plan was unfolding perfectly until I locked my keys in my car when we made a quick stop at the paper store on our way to get cupcakes after lunch. Randy had to come rescue us all the way from Maryville. Not good, but we rewarded him with a red velvet cupcake - we killed our waiting time by walking there and back, yes, on Kingston Pike. His one comment was, "This is what you get for skippin' school." Very funny.
Anyway, with haircut rescheduled for a little later, we start the drive to Maynardville and were running ahead of our new schedule. Get to the last leg of the trip and I make a wrong turn - the Garmin wasn't on; I was using my spiritual gift of navigation. So, now we're running late to the appointment. Once there, I whisk Olivia in and run back to the car to grab my checkbook - plastic not accepted here - and to get a Food Chopper our stylist had ordered on our last visit. I'm apologizing profusely for our crazy afternoon and start to write my check while O's enjoying her shampoo. Yep, you guessed it, there are NO CHECKS in my checkbook. Gracious! I ask Laura if she'll trade a Food Chopper for a haircut. She agrees. Whew! And, yes, I had brought her a cupcake, too. Afterward, on the way to pick up Hudson from Katherine's, I miss the exit for Chapman Highway and end up going toward our house instead. Had to alter plans once again.
Later that night, we saw Olivia's teacher at the ball field. I shared our story with her, and she said, "That's what you get for skippin' school!" Dejavu? Too bad I was all out of cupcakes.
SOOOOOOOO ... we've had this trip to Disney planned for months. It was originally scheduled to take place during Spring Break, but that foiled with the house flood. You'll have to go back to eariler posts to read up on all of that fun. This trip required that Olivia miss the last day and a half of school as we left on Wednesday night after Randy got off from work. Hudson has been dealing with a little cough since around the 23rd-ish of April ... no fever, no other symptoms, just an annoying allergy cough. Last week, Randy fell ill and it is thought that he had walking pneumonia. Great. Hudson was definitely exposed to this even though we tried to keep everyone apart as much as possible. We even put H on an antibiotic just in case, and he was prescribed a steroid to make the cough finally disappear. He had been seen by his doctor several times over the last couple of weeks, so this was the final option - and one that usually works.
Driving down I-75 Wednesday night, Randy quickly became concerned that H's cough sounded bad ... deep, frequent, more than an allergy. But, still no other symptoms. We keep driving. We make it to Cordele, GA, and find a hotel for the night; we load Hudson up on his medications and do a breathing treatment. He coughs a lot. A whole lot. Randy didn't sleep hardly at all, and I think H finally got about 4 hours worth. Randy is more concerned. I'm trying to stay optimistic. People go to Disney all the time with much more serious health issues, right?
We call the doctor's office, and they want to see H ... tomorrow. "Tomorrow" is our first day at the parks! It's breakfast at the Castle, parades, clear balloons with Mickey ears inside and rides on Pirates of the Caribbean and Small World. It's not a drive back to Knoxville. We decide to visit a walk-in clinic instead. Sweet doctor there said H's lungs sounded clear and that we were doing all we could do.
Tough decision.
Kids, crying in the back seat.
Adults, weighing out pros and cons.
Me, being supportive of whatever Randy decides (this was hard, thanks A.T. for help!).
Randy, torn between his head and his heart.
Heart wins. We keep driving south.
Finally check-in at our Disney resort around 5:30 p.m. Hudson is coughing so much that he can't finish a sentence. We unpack the car; I unpack all the luggage and set up our room. Randy takes the kids to the hotel playground ... H's cough makes all the other parents gather their kids and leave. Great. We go to Downtown Disney (in the rain) to visit the Lego store and to grab some dinner. Same thing happens at the Lego place ... parents looking at us like we're insane and steering their children away from us.
Still, hoping for improvement, we do medications and breathing treatments ... even hook up the humidifier we brought from home. Everyone is in bed. Olivia goes to sleep. Hudson proceeds to cough ... a lot. Me, awake. Randy, awake. After two+ hours of incessent coughing, I give in to reason ...
"I'm done making lemonade," I announce in the dark.
"What?" Randy asks, sure that I'm talking in my sleep.
"I'm done making lemonade," I say very confidently.
"I have no idea what you mean," says sweet husband.
"I'm done making lemonade out of these lemons. I vote that we go home."
"I couln't agree more"
Decision made.
Adults in harmonious agreement
Kids bawling.
Adults reassuring the sick little brother that this isn't his fault. Lots of hugs.
Adults comforting the healthy big sister that she is special and that this is for the best. Lots of hugs.
Morning dawns and kids are happy. After some calls to the front desk and to the Disney travel people, we rebooked for later in the summer. I repack all of our belongings, and we head north on I-75, arriving in Knoxville at 11 p.m. The doctor's office opens for us on Saturday, and H's cough is due to severe reflux - treatable with a short-term liquid diet and long-term doses of Zantac.
Today is Sunday. H's cough is still present, but much more infrequent. Breakfast at the Castle reservations are secured for trip #2. We have the next few days with little plans since we weren't expecting to be here ... came home to a clean house, clean sheets, and very little laundry. Unpacking seemed almost hilarious -- how many times can I fold/hang these same clothes this week?
I called Olivia's teacher today ... mainly to see when she's scheduled softball camp for this summer as I thought it was this week ... but also to hear her laugh. And she did. And she said, "That's what you get for skippin' school!" Thanks, Wendy.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Finally ... Easter!
Just a little behind on getting an Easter pic or two on here. It was a beautiful day in K'town - a little chilly, but beautiful. What a great day to celebrate our Saviour. Earlier in the week, I spent some time with Hudson making cookies in the shape of bunnies, chicks, flowers, and crosses - the only appropriate cutters I could find in my stash. Hudson really wanted to do an egg shape, but I didn't have one. He used a circle instead ... surprising since he's usually very particular and a stickler for protocol. Later, when he was putting on the icing and sugars, I told him I was sorry that his eggs were just circles. He replied, "Don't worry, Momma. Since they can't be eggs, they can be the TOMB!" Notice the 'tomb cookies' in with the others below ...
Olivia loves that hat! She's had it for several years and wears it every Easter. Will probably need to get her a bigger size before too long!
Olivia loves that hat! She's had it for several years and wears it every Easter. Will probably need to get her a bigger size before too long!
Friday, April 24, 2009
Sacrifical Rabbit
Yesterday morning, there was a rabbit in our front yard that Hudson spied out of his bathroom window while brushing his teeth. He yelled for me to come see it, and we talked a little about the rabbit -- it's size (it was fat!!), what it was doing etc. Always looking for teaching moments! The rabbit and Hudson made eye contact, and I think had a little mental telepathy-thing going on. Hudson was fascinated!
A few minutes later when we were getting in the van to go to school, he told me he wanted to go see the bunny. It was still there, but it hopped away as Hudson hopped toward it. He got in the van, and the following conversation took place ...
H: Mom, I think you need to discuss (big word!) with daddy us getting a bunny.
Me: Really?
H: Yes. I think we need one to keep at our house.
Me: Okay, but I don't think daddy is going to like that idea.
(we're now at the front of our subdivision where we can see a rabbit in a hutch at the house across the road)
H: I can see their bunny in its house!
Me: Yep, it's a bunny kind of day.
H: Of course, if we got a bunny, we'd have to SACRIFICE it.
Me: (not really believing what I just heard) What? Sacrifice it?
H: Yeah, you know, kill it.
Me: I know what it means, but why would you want to do that to a rabbit?
H: 'Cause that's what you do to rabbits ... you sacrifice them.
Me: What ever gave you that idea?
H: That song that daddy sings.
My mind is racing at this moment trying to put the pieces to this puzzle together. Going out on a limb I say ...
Me: Is it this song, (doing my best Elmer Fudd)"Kill the wabbit, kill the wabbit ..."?
H: Yes! That's the song!
I was laughing so hard and still get cracked up when I think of this!
A few minutes later when we were getting in the van to go to school, he told me he wanted to go see the bunny. It was still there, but it hopped away as Hudson hopped toward it. He got in the van, and the following conversation took place ...
H: Mom, I think you need to discuss (big word!) with daddy us getting a bunny.
Me: Really?
H: Yes. I think we need one to keep at our house.
Me: Okay, but I don't think daddy is going to like that idea.
(we're now at the front of our subdivision where we can see a rabbit in a hutch at the house across the road)
H: I can see their bunny in its house!
Me: Yep, it's a bunny kind of day.
H: Of course, if we got a bunny, we'd have to SACRIFICE it.
Me: (not really believing what I just heard) What? Sacrifice it?
H: Yeah, you know, kill it.
Me: I know what it means, but why would you want to do that to a rabbit?
H: 'Cause that's what you do to rabbits ... you sacrifice them.
Me: What ever gave you that idea?
H: That song that daddy sings.
My mind is racing at this moment trying to put the pieces to this puzzle together. Going out on a limb I say ...
Me: Is it this song, (doing my best Elmer Fudd)"Kill the wabbit, kill the wabbit ..."?
H: Yes! That's the song!
I was laughing so hard and still get cracked up when I think of this!
Friday, April 3, 2009
My Favorite Flower
Yesterday was a pretty day, and Hudson's class got to go on the playground during school. Last night, Hudson had a t-ball game and he came up to me before the game and asked where I'd put his jeans he wore to school. I told him they were in the den where he had changed into his ball clothes. Good, he said, because he had picked me a dandelion on the playground and had put it in his pocket to bring home. Sweetness.
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This morning, the bud had opened up into a full, yellow pom of beauty. I think the dandelion is now my favorite flower ... might just grow a yard full of them. You never know when one will be needed in the middle of the night!
When we get home from the game, he goes to his pants and starts looking in all the pockets for this forgotten flower. It's not there. He starts to stress, so Randy goes to help him look for it. Still no sign of the flower. He turns to me and has tears welling up in his eyes ... I'm sorry, Momma. I had you a flower and I must have lost it. Full-blown crying sets in. I hold him in my arms and whisper to him how special he is and how good I feel knowing that he tried to bring me a flower. I thank him again for all the flowers he's brought me in the past (he loves to give flowers - picked or purchased). He sunk his head further into my neck, his face hot and wet from his sadness. Randy suggests that he can pick one just like it in our yard the next day. Nope, this won't do. Hudson declares that he wants to go out in our yard right then to get the replacement.
So, out they go -- Randy with his head-lamp on (it's after 8:00 at this point); Hudson wearing PJs and house shoes. They're gone. And gone. It's now been 15 minutes or so. I'm thinking they jumped in Randy's car and drove to the grocery to buy a bouquet. At about 20 minutes, the pair comes in the back door ... dandelion bud held tight in a five-year-old fist. Look Mom - we found one! He hugs my neck, and I fuss over this flower as if it were the bouquet handed to Miss America. I find a little bowl to float in it, and Hudson goes off to bed ... bouncing all the way, proud of his accomplishment.
I asked Randy what took so long. Apparently, our yard didn't have any that they could find (he had just mowed on Monday), so they had to keep going yard to yard to finally find one at an empty house half-way across the subdivision. Randy said Hudson was determined to come home with a flower - and it had to be just like the one picked earlier in the day.
What love. What beautiful love. It was about this time 6 years ago that we finished up our last round of infertility treatments ... all with negative results. In May of that year, God blessed us with the conception of our now almost-ready-for-Kindergarten boy ... who loves me so much. Thank you, Lord, for showing yourself to me though the blessing of little Hudson. I pray that he continues to have a heart for giving and loving others.
This morning, the bud had opened up into a full, yellow pom of beauty. I think the dandelion is now my favorite flower ... might just grow a yard full of them. You never know when one will be needed in the middle of the night!
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