Hit the Wall

I have always used this little sacred corner of the world to be real, to share my faith, and to hopefully encourage another Momma out there to keep on keeping on in this hard but amazing world of motherhood.  We cannot do this without Jesus and tonight I am clinging to the One who can give Peace beyond understanding. 

This week has been an unusual one for this family.  We were off Monday for Spring break which we spent catching up at work for Mike, preschool for me, and our house.  We love feeling productive and organized:)  Monday evening my parents came down to help with the children because Mike and I had to leave early Tuesday morning for a day-long interview at a local community college. 

I have not shared this news here on the blog or on social media but Mike was chosen to be a finalist for the President of Wytheville Community College.  Each of the four finalists had an entire day at the college this week with several interview sessions, a public forum, tours of the college, local tours for me, and a chance to meet the folks that work at the college.

I would be lying if I said I was not scared to death!  Preschool teachers typically do not have an extensive professional wardrobe, so I got to buy a new outfit, cool new shoes, and many pairs of pantyhose!  The day was long and exhausting for me, but we came away with a total appreciation for the gem that is our local community college.  The campus is beautiful, the people were genuine and friendly, and we came away thankful for the opportunity. 

I, of course, was so proud of Mike.  During the public forum he presented his presentation and then the crowd could ask questions.  I sat in awe of how Mike handled himself  professionally.  Educational leadership is his spiritual gift and passion, and that came shining through.  We did not speak the entire thirty minute ride to the college early Tuesday morning.  We sat in silence in the car listening to Randy Frazee (co-pastor with Max Lucado from Oak Hills Church) preach on the subject of leading like Jesus.  It was perfect before a day long interview:)  We are both at peace over this decision-we have prayed for months that God will lead us where He wants us to go.  We were ourselves during our day long interview, we prayed extensively about it, and we rest in the knowledge that it is truly in God's hands.  Blessedly Mike has a job now that he loves, so we have total peace that God will guide us.

This is also scan week for David which is a huge emotional burden that Mike and I have carried around this week.  Once again God is in control. He carried us during cancer treatment, he can certainly handle a little IV for David and a chest and abdomen CT.  We will update as soon as we hear from the oncologist with the results.  We are so thankful for same day results!!!

On another note, I have been suffering from extensive poison ivy on my face this week, which required a trip to the doctor for me today with two steroid shots.  With the emotions of the week and extra steroids in me tonight on the eve of David's scan, Momma is feeling the heat.  David is also feeling punky tonight with a head cold.  This momma has hit the wall tonight emotionally.  Thank goodness we serve the Prince of Peace! 

Lastly, this week I took David and Hope to the eye doctor for their yearly exams.  Both of those cuties are far-sighted and Hope's eyes are now requiring her to wear her glasses full time to prevent a lazy eye.  David's prescription has amazingly improved but he is still in bifocals and without them he is cross-eyed. 

This week has reminded me that we never know where our paths will take us.  When Mike and I said "I do" fifteen years ago I never dreamed we would parent a special needs child, endure cancer treatments for our cutie, deal with vision issues, food allergies, and asthma!  Our last fifteen years have not been boring at all, we are just thankful on this amazing ride called life that our Prince of Peace has been with us each step of the way.  On nights like this, I am so thankful that He always has a listening ear for me. 

Easter 2015 and This Week

I love Easter so very much!  Christmas is awesome as we celebrate the birth of Jesus, but frankly Christmas is a month-long celebration that tends to wear a Momma out.  To me, Easter is the foundation of our faith in Christ.  He overcame the grave as a way to save us from our sins and to make a way to be with us forever.  That is truly amazing love.

 

Saturday  I took two sweet little girls, Hope and Sydney to the church Easter egg hunt.  It was sunny but very chilly, and they had a blast hunting eggs:)

 

These girls are hilarious together and I am so thankful for their sweet friendship.  God has certainly blessed our family with some great friends to do life with.  Before heading to the egg hunt, we had to stop at Walmart to buy a few personal items for me, and that was a riot with these two!  :)

 

Mike and I have never gotten into the Easter basket thing too much.  Hope wanted the movie Annie so we did get that, but we really have only done a few little things like candy, snacks, and a few school supplies that they may need. 

 

After Easter basket time, it is rush time to get to church by 9:00 so Hope and David could play handbells during church.  Kyle also had to run the projector for the early service.  Hope was SO excited to take flowers to the church to decorate the cross.  Adding beautiful and real flowers to the cross Easter morning is one of my most favorite things in the church ever.  To come into the Easter service to a plain cross and then leaving the Easter service  with a cross full of beautiful flowers takes my breath away.  It is a wonderful visual that our Jesus is no longer dead, we serve a living and risen Savior!!

 

I got teary watching David play the handbells.  They played Christ the Lord is Risen Today on the color-coded handbells and David was so precious concentrating so hard on his color.  I worried he would ring it the whole time, but he did not!! He waited patiently for the orange card to be held up! 

 

My sweet girl took her role seriously as well!  I love that sweet little face:)

 

Hope is putting her flowers on the cross.  We put some yellow daffodils out of our yard for Memaw who also loved this tradition of adding flowers to the cross.  We added some pink flowers for Susan Kilby and her sweet Momma who is currently in the nursing home and having a rough time. 

 

Simply gorgeous!

 

Daivd had a case of the sillies yesterday and it really was difficult to get a decent picture with all three.  He is a nut for sure, but we finally did sort of get this one!  Happy Easter!

 

This week is an intense week here in our household.  Friday is David's next scan.  I wish I could say these get easier, but they really do not.  It is a blessing that now he does not have to be sedated for them and that helps some, but waiting for those results is painful. 

 

Mike and I also have another important meeting this week as well that we could use your prayers for.  We thankfully trust in God's plan for our family no matter what the outcome will be.  God has held us in the palm of his hand since we said "I Do" back in 1999 and I know that if he has helped us navigate a special needs child, cancer, and a stressful job for Mike, he can handle this meeting and a scan for David.  Without Jesus I would be fretting, but it is a beautiful thing to be able to bring your fears and worires to a living Savior and lay them at his feet.  Amen.

Easter Festivities and The Story

I love  Holy week!  I am blessed that between two different preschool classes, our afterschool children at church, and my own kiddos at home, we get to talk all week about Jesus and how in one short week we went from parading into Jerusalem on that donkey to dying a cruel death on the cross. 

 

After school at church Wednesday, we made resurrection rolls which are a wonderful visual that when the rolls are baked Jesus truly is not there!  They are also super awesome to eat. Here is the recipe and explanation how to make them:) http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Resurrection-Rolls/

 

I have made them for years with preschoolers, big kids, and even the youth group made them last year. 

 

This little bunny loved all the easter festivities at her school.  She has an awesome teacher that makes every day so very special in kindergarten. 

 

Yesterday we had a fun family day here at our house.  GG and Pops came down for the day and we had such fun.  The kids colored easter eggs-Hope is still at such a fun age!  Pardon the Halloween table cloth:)

 

David and his best friend, Pops! 

 

We have been coloring easter eggs on Good Friday for twelve years now!  I know I will miss these days when my kiddos grow up:)

 

Instead of bringing the kids more easter candy that they really do not need, GG and Pops brought them this cute little greenhouse and seeds.  GG and Hope planted squash, tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers to grow in our little greenhouse.  Hope had  blast with it!!  What a cool and creative alternative to candy. 

 

Even though I have made a bazillion resurrection rolls this week, my own kids wanted to make them at home!  Hope rolled "Jesus" in the butter and cinnamon/sugar recipe and then we sealed him up in the tomb.  David and Kyle just wanted to eat them.  Kyle spent a good portion of time Friday afternoon at church with the praise band practicing running the projector for the Story last night.  He got home just in time for the rolls to come out of the oven!

 

After a fun crafting afternoon with GG and Pops and yummy steaks on the grill, we headed to church to watch the praise band perform The Story.  I really do not have the words to express how amazing this show was last night.  The Story told the life of Jesus through song based on different perspectives from the bible.  I was so proud of these musicians using their talent and gifts to bring glory to our God.  It was  a beautiful and powerful service. 

 

Of course, David had to show some love to his favorite guitar-player, Casey Price!  Casey and his sister Emily performed last night and they were amazing.  I am also in awe of how Bryan pulled all of this together and led this group to perform something of this magnitude.  We sat in front of Bryan's family and that was an added bonus of awesomeness!

 

I was very proud of my Kyle.  Kyle was a quiet and unseen part of the praise band last night running the projector for this event.  He ran all the videos for the event and all the lyrics for the songs.  It is not something I am knowledgeable enough to do, but with two practices under his belt, he did it beautifully last night. 

 

I had a hard time choosing my favorite song to feature here on the blog from The Story.  I love Be Born in Me about Jesus' birth but I also love this song Alive from the perspective of Mary Magdalene. 

Thank you praise team for providing us all with such a blessing on Good Friday.  Thanks to GG and Pops for coming down and having a fun family day with us.  Thank you to Kyle for making me proud and using his technology talents for God.  Thank you sweet Jesus for enduring that terrible death on the cross for our sins.  Amen!