Cheezing on the Tomorrowland Speedway
My three cuties outside the teacups
Sam on the Thunder Mountain Railroad.
This was taken right before his favorite hat blew off and great sadness ensued. But he did recover... eventually. : )
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Disney 2011-- Magic Kingdom
Today, we headed off to the Magic Kingdom. Although we expected this to be the busiest park, we were unprepared for the sheer number of people that arrived after lunch. The morning was great! We got to ride almost all of the rides that were on our list for the day. We stopped for lunch and by the time we finished eating half of Orlando had arrived at the park. It was very difficult to move through the streets, so as soon as we finished everything we wanted to ride, including two trips on Splash Mountain, we called it a day.
Disney 2011- Epcot and Hollywood Studios
After a marathon day in the car Saturday, we woke up Sunday morning in sunny Orlando, FL. When you combine the change in time zones to the wonders of Daylight Savings Time, we lost 2 HOURS on Saturday night! Yikes! But we were excited and determined. Sam woke up before 5:30 on Sunday morning. We had told him that he was not allowed to get up until 6, so instead of him coming in our room, we got catch the "Sam Miller Sings Disney Classics" live show from next door. But in his defense, he did follow the rule. He did not get up. Maybe we should have told him not to wake us up before six.....rookie mistake. : )
So we got there early....WAY before it opened. We used all that extra time to get some starter pics.
So we got there early....WAY before it opened. We used all that extra time to get some starter pics.
The boys also spent some time planning their journey. They do love a good map!
Since Keith missed out on Soarin' last time, we headed there first. Thanks to FAST PASS, we got to ride it twice. From that moment all, the Millers were all in---from the opening countdown to the final fireworks. It was a haul...but we had a great time. We got to see several of our favorites, including the Jamminators---think STOMP if it happened in Home Depot.
The next day, we headed to Hollywood Studios. This day was a challenge, as there are not nearly as many "rides" designed for kids. Toy Story Mania is awesome! We rode it twice! But other than that, most of the rides are designed for adults. There are a few kids shows, but my kids weren't so interested. If they didn't have Toy Story Mania, my advice would be to skip this one until your kids are older.
Keith and Sam on the tram to Hollywood Studios
Sam and Stephen rockin' the 3D glasses for Toy Story Mania
Actually, this ride really made the day worth it. It was great fun!
Friday, March 11, 2011
The week before the big week....
It's funny how the week before a school break seems like the craziest week of all. Somehow, in my mind, I always think that it will be a slow downhill slide to Friday. And I am always wrong. This week, I was running Mock Congress with my 12th grade Government students (and video taping it for National Boards), and completing my 2nd semester Teacher Evaluation, and giving Benchmark exams. In the middle of all of that, Sam had a first grade play AND we managed to keep all of the laundry done so we could easily pack for our Disney trip. That's in addition to all of the ordinary things that we do. It was nuts!
But in the midst of the craziness that is our everyday life, God never ceases to remind me of how precious and fleeting life really is. This week, at the end of what seemed to be a perfectly normal day, the world changed forever for the citizens of Japan. And this week, one of our friends from college learned that without God's healing, her earthly father is headed to meet her heavenly Father much sooner than she had planned. Through these events, God reminded me that we are temporary and He is eternal. And no matter what happens in my world, God is still God, and God is still good. He is in charge of this week....and every other week from now until eternity.
In the meantime, here are some pictures of my sweet boys enjoying the blessings that we have for now:
But in the midst of the craziness that is our everyday life, God never ceases to remind me of how precious and fleeting life really is. This week, at the end of what seemed to be a perfectly normal day, the world changed forever for the citizens of Japan. And this week, one of our friends from college learned that without God's healing, her earthly father is headed to meet her heavenly Father much sooner than she had planned. Through these events, God reminded me that we are temporary and He is eternal. And no matter what happens in my world, God is still God, and God is still good. He is in charge of this week....and every other week from now until eternity.
In the meantime, here are some pictures of my sweet boys enjoying the blessings that we have for now:
Indiana Jones after the 1st grade play
Sam's sweet teacher
Sweet Stephen had a few needs of his own this week. Specifically, he needed a picture of me and him for a school project. We hadn't taken one in a long time, so I decided we would give it a shot one night after dinner. Here's some artifacts from our quest for a "serious" picture.
Take One (wrong kid....lose the bunny ears)
Take Two (ummmmm..... no)
14 pictures later....success!
me and my baby boy
I like how Karen Kingsbury says it. On the dedication page in the front of almost all of her books, she talks about her family one by one and at the very end she gives the thanks "to God who has--for now- blessed me with these." I praise Him for the privilege of my sweet children and the love he shows us in weeks like this.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Stalling...
Right now, I am working on my National Board recertification. Well, obviously not right now, as in right this minute, as that is clearly NOT what I am doing. Therein lies the problem....
I originally earned my National Board Certification in 2001--10 years ago....2 moves ago...3 jobs ago....and last but not least, 2 kids ago.... My life is very different now. It is full of wonderful things that leave me with little motivation to sit and write about my ever-evolving teaching practice.
But now, here I am 10 years later with only 2 months left to finish my recertification portfolio. I really pondered whether or not it was even worth it to try. The process itself costs over 1100 dollars, and all that money is no guarantee that you pass. So I really did consider letting it go... However, I am just stubborn enough and just vain enough not to walk away. So here I sit staring at the helix-shaped Architecture of Accomplished Teaching and the Five Core Propositions.... procrastinating...again...sigh.......
At this point in my career, it would be easy to be satisfied. I have a great job at a great school, so what does it matter if I "coast" for awhile? But then, this week, Keith and I rented Waiting for Superman, the education documentary by David Guggenheim.
Have you seen this movie? Let me warn you in advance, as it is surely not for the faint of heart. The film sheds light on a variety of educational issues, but the most compelling storyline follows 5 different kids in impoverished areas as their families struggle to get them into higher performing schools. It underscores what anyone paying attention to education already knows to be true. Education in America is still segregated...maybe not based on race, but definitely based on income. The quality of your child's "free public education" depends heavily on where you can afford to live. Even in the seemingly "wealthy" schools, higher performing kids get higher performing teachers. Waiting for Superman also details how the tenure system tends to protect under-performing teachers at the expense of their students.
I was convicted as I realized how very much is at stake for this next generation of children, and as a result, what is at stake for our country. The reality of the situation is that I cannot afford to stall. I can't afford to be lazy and I can't afford to waste one single day in the classroom. No matter what students I serve, they deserve my best every single day.
Our educational system is overwhelmed with issues-- Keith and I have seen that firsthand as we have sought help for our own children. But I went into teaching for a reason-- because I really believed that all kids can learn. I still do. I believe education is essential to our nation's survival. I believe that students will rise or fall to the level of our expectations. And I believe that a life invested in students has intrinsic value. It is for that reason that I cannot imagine getting up in the morning and going anywhere else.
.
And it is for that reason that I will quit stalling and get back to work. Because I cannot expect more from my students than I expect from myself.
"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be."
-- Thomas Jefferson
I originally earned my National Board Certification in 2001--10 years ago....2 moves ago...3 jobs ago....and last but not least, 2 kids ago.... My life is very different now. It is full of wonderful things that leave me with little motivation to sit and write about my ever-evolving teaching practice.
But now, here I am 10 years later with only 2 months left to finish my recertification portfolio. I really pondered whether or not it was even worth it to try. The process itself costs over 1100 dollars, and all that money is no guarantee that you pass. So I really did consider letting it go... However, I am just stubborn enough and just vain enough not to walk away. So here I sit staring at the helix-shaped Architecture of Accomplished Teaching and the Five Core Propositions.... procrastinating...again...sigh.......
At this point in my career, it would be easy to be satisfied. I have a great job at a great school, so what does it matter if I "coast" for awhile? But then, this week, Keith and I rented Waiting for Superman, the education documentary by David Guggenheim.
Have you seen this movie? Let me warn you in advance, as it is surely not for the faint of heart. The film sheds light on a variety of educational issues, but the most compelling storyline follows 5 different kids in impoverished areas as their families struggle to get them into higher performing schools. It underscores what anyone paying attention to education already knows to be true. Education in America is still segregated...maybe not based on race, but definitely based on income. The quality of your child's "free public education" depends heavily on where you can afford to live. Even in the seemingly "wealthy" schools, higher performing kids get higher performing teachers. Waiting for Superman also details how the tenure system tends to protect under-performing teachers at the expense of their students.
I was convicted as I realized how very much is at stake for this next generation of children, and as a result, what is at stake for our country. The reality of the situation is that I cannot afford to stall. I can't afford to be lazy and I can't afford to waste one single day in the classroom. No matter what students I serve, they deserve my best every single day.
Our educational system is overwhelmed with issues-- Keith and I have seen that firsthand as we have sought help for our own children. But I went into teaching for a reason-- because I really believed that all kids can learn. I still do. I believe education is essential to our nation's survival. I believe that students will rise or fall to the level of our expectations. And I believe that a life invested in students has intrinsic value. It is for that reason that I cannot imagine getting up in the morning and going anywhere else.
.
And it is for that reason that I will quit stalling and get back to work. Because I cannot expect more from my students than I expect from myself.
"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be."
-- Thomas Jefferson
Friday, February 11, 2011
"Valentime's" Day
In the interest of restating the obvious, it has been a long time since I updated the family blog. I have missed it. As I get older, the importance of devoting time for the things that you love is finally beginning to dawn on me. And I love to write....just love it. So thanks for reading.
This week, the celebration of "Valentime's" Day is in full force at the Miller house. I love that my kids still love holidays! Even more than that, I love that Stephen still has spotty pronunciation. When he says something incorrectly, a part of my heart just smiles-- one more piece of evidence that my boys are still little. They are growing so fast, and for now, I just want to cherish every moment of their "littleness."
Last night, Sam came home from school with early valentines for us. We both got a great heart-shaped doily covered in sparkly glitter, conversation hearts and the goofiest picture of him on the playground. He's sporting a super-cheesy smile where you can see the jagged bottoms of his two "big boy" teeth. Adorable, right? Just the perfect blend of goofy and manly.
He also came home with two handwritten cards-- one for me and one for Keith. For posterity's sake, I have recorded the text with its original grammar.
Mine: dear Mom Valentine's Day is next Monday and you are specail to me and I love you mommy. (sigh....)
Keith's: dear daddy Happy Valentine's day and your specail to me and what the heck Morgan just threw at bottle of glue and ty threw it back and it almost hit morgan in the head
Seriously, you can't make this stuff up! I asked Sam what was up with Daddy's "stream of consciousness" Valentine's card. He said, "Daddy's a funny guy. He needs a funny card." But he did indeed confirm that the events described in the card were historically accurate. So there you go...
We spent the rest of the evening preparing for Monday's festivities. If you have a kid in elementary school, you know what Valentine's Day means...24 cards with 24 names and a taped on piece of candy. Sam's preparations were smooth--15 minutes and all of his work was done...messy, but done. I knew Stephen's would take a little longer. To help him out, I offered to write his friends' names and he could just work on signing his--no easy feat since he writes REALLY BIG and valentines are really small. Nothing doing for my sweet boy. He selected a specific card for each friend and worked hard to write his name, as well as his friend's. It only takes 5 minutes per card. At this rate, we should be done in June. : )
Here he is...my busy bee.
Happy Valentine's Day to you and yours! Praise be to God for his indescribable gifts and unconditional love!
This week, the celebration of "Valentime's" Day is in full force at the Miller house. I love that my kids still love holidays! Even more than that, I love that Stephen still has spotty pronunciation. When he says something incorrectly, a part of my heart just smiles-- one more piece of evidence that my boys are still little. They are growing so fast, and for now, I just want to cherish every moment of their "littleness."
Last night, Sam came home from school with early valentines for us. We both got a great heart-shaped doily covered in sparkly glitter, conversation hearts and the goofiest picture of him on the playground. He's sporting a super-cheesy smile where you can see the jagged bottoms of his two "big boy" teeth. Adorable, right? Just the perfect blend of goofy and manly.
He also came home with two handwritten cards-- one for me and one for Keith. For posterity's sake, I have recorded the text with its original grammar.
Mine: dear Mom Valentine's Day is next Monday and you are specail to me and I love you mommy. (sigh....)
Keith's: dear daddy Happy Valentine's day and your specail to me and what the heck Morgan just threw at bottle of glue and ty threw it back and it almost hit morgan in the head
Seriously, you can't make this stuff up! I asked Sam what was up with Daddy's "stream of consciousness" Valentine's card. He said, "Daddy's a funny guy. He needs a funny card." But he did indeed confirm that the events described in the card were historically accurate. So there you go...
We spent the rest of the evening preparing for Monday's festivities. If you have a kid in elementary school, you know what Valentine's Day means...24 cards with 24 names and a taped on piece of candy. Sam's preparations were smooth--15 minutes and all of his work was done...messy, but done. I knew Stephen's would take a little longer. To help him out, I offered to write his friends' names and he could just work on signing his--no easy feat since he writes REALLY BIG and valentines are really small. Nothing doing for my sweet boy. He selected a specific card for each friend and worked hard to write his name, as well as his friend's. It only takes 5 minutes per card. At this rate, we should be done in June. : )
Here he is...my busy bee.
Happy Valentine's Day to you and yours! Praise be to God for his indescribable gifts and unconditional love!
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Easter 2010
It has been TOO LONG since I have blogged anything. Let's just say learning to balance two boys and a new full-time job has led to silence on the blog. But that's okay. I am learning to accept that there are seasons for everything. Hopefully, this summer, I will be back at it. But for now, here are some Easter pics of the little guys, who seem to get a little "less little" everyday.
Happy Easter! Thanks be to God for his never-ending love!
Happy Easter! Thanks be to God for his never-ending love!
Monday, November 9, 2009
Craft Night at the Miller's
During Sam's second week of Kindergarten, he came home with a burning question.
"Mommy, are we Alabama or Auburn fans?"
"Neither, sweetie."
"Yes, we are. We have to be. I HAVE TO KNOW!" Apparently, the brainwashing begins early here. : ) So I did what all good mommies do. I told him to call his father. Keith was still in Birmingham at the time.
Keith told him the truth, "Son, Daddy is a fan of Tennesee and anyone playing Florida." Apparently, that was not the right answer. So like all self-actualized parents, we told him to choose for himself.
By the next morning, he was an Alabama fan. His love of red won. He told me orange was not his favorite anymore. Apparently, this is how football love affairs begin.
What does this have to do with craft night, you ask? Well, Sam came home last weekend with a project. He was given one cardstock turkey and told to work with his family to come up with a "disguise." His class is decorating "tricky turkeys" to disguise them so they can survive Thanksgiving. Interesting....
They are due tomorrow, so clearly tonight was the night. Sam wanted to turn his turkey into an elephant. So we had the idea to make it more than just another elephant...His turkey would hide out as "Big Al." I am thinking we should treasure the evenings while homework is still fun.
Roll Tide!
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Halloween '09
Although we are still adjusting to all of the details of the move, including how to juggle two working parents with two active kids, we love being so close to family. It was great to get to spend Halloween with Keith's family in Franklin, Tennessee. Franklin hosts a Pumpkinfest full of fun things for kids to do. So we headed out for fun...
With one Buzz Lightyear (check out the inflatable wings)
And one Red PowerRanger, which was a little too grown up for Mommy's personal tastes...
Stephen loved painting pumpkins
AND SAM RODE A HORSE!!
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Fall Fun
A few weekends ago, we headed to the Old Baker Farm in Harpersville for a little fall fun with the boys. We had a great time choosing pumpkins and just hanging out together.
HUGS!
The fruits of our labor--- pumpkins that the boys named after their best friends. Sam named his "Ty" and Stephen named his "Georgia" (after his girlfriend at school).
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Sweet Saturday Mornings
Obviously, I have not found balance between teaching middle school and keeping up with the blog. Actually right now, I haven't quite found balance between teaching middle school and much of anything, but I think that's an unavoidable part of the first year at a new job. I do love my job though. I missed teaching so much and being back just reinforces that this is exactly where I belong.
The weeks are CRAZY. So on the weekends, we really try to just relax and enjoy our kids. Some weekends that goes better than others. Last weekend was a nightmare, so this weekend, we are determined.
Right this very moment, you will find our entire family pajama-clad, with definitive plans to stay that way for as long as humanly possible. Outside, it is rainy and supposedly cold (we wouldn't know). But inside, there is coffee and garlic cheese grits and MarioKart pajama pants. What a great way to start a day!
For now, I will leave you with some of the latest goofy/sweet quotes from our boys:
"Look, Mommy, it's a telescoat." -Stephen
"I am super-tired, Mommy, so I must be super-British." - Sam
"Twenty-one, twenty-two, twenty-stree." -- Stephen
"Mommy, I finished my self-portrait at school. It is going all the way to New York, so it can turn into a magnet. I put lots of hearts on it, so that you can remember to always love me lots." -Sam
Latest conversation between Stephen and Mommy:
Stephen- "No one can serve two....what is it, Mommy? What is it? Starts with an M...Come on, Mommy! You can do it!"
Mommy- "Masters"
Stephen- "Yes, right! No one can serve two masters. Very good. "
Mommy- "I didn't know you knew that one. Who taught you that, Stephen?"
Stephen -"Church...Mrs. Pauwwwwwwla" (his Sunday School teacher)
Latest conversation between Sam and Mommy:
Sam- "Mommy, I want to go on a sea trip."
Mommy- "You mean you want to go to the beach? That sounds fun! Maybe next summer we can go to the beach."
Sam- "No, Mommy! I want to see Ocenia (pronounced "o-SHIN-ee-a") and New Zealand!"
Mommy- "Ummmm..."
The weeks are CRAZY. So on the weekends, we really try to just relax and enjoy our kids. Some weekends that goes better than others. Last weekend was a nightmare, so this weekend, we are determined.
Right this very moment, you will find our entire family pajama-clad, with definitive plans to stay that way for as long as humanly possible. Outside, it is rainy and supposedly cold (we wouldn't know). But inside, there is coffee and garlic cheese grits and MarioKart pajama pants. What a great way to start a day!
For now, I will leave you with some of the latest goofy/sweet quotes from our boys:
"Look, Mommy, it's a telescoat." -Stephen
"I am super-tired, Mommy, so I must be super-British." - Sam
"Twenty-one, twenty-two, twenty-stree." -- Stephen
"Mommy, I finished my self-portrait at school. It is going all the way to New York, so it can turn into a magnet. I put lots of hearts on it, so that you can remember to always love me lots." -Sam
Latest conversation between Stephen and Mommy:
Stephen- "No one can serve two....what is it, Mommy? What is it? Starts with an M...Come on, Mommy! You can do it!"
Mommy- "Masters"
Stephen- "Yes, right! No one can serve two masters. Very good. "
Mommy- "I didn't know you knew that one. Who taught you that, Stephen?"
Stephen -"Church...Mrs. Pauwwwwwwla" (his Sunday School teacher)
Latest conversation between Sam and Mommy:
Sam- "Mommy, I want to go on a sea trip."
Mommy- "You mean you want to go to the beach? That sounds fun! Maybe next summer we can go to the beach."
Sam- "No, Mommy! I want to see Ocenia (pronounced "o-SHIN-ee-a") and New Zealand!"
Mommy- "Ummmm..."
Monday, September 14, 2009
Four Years Old!
Our littlest Miller man turns four today! I can't even imagine when that happened. But he is four...and funny, and quirky, and goofy as can be. As is our custom in the Miller family, here's Stephen through the years.
Age One
Age Two
Age Four
We celebrated his birthday on Saturday with my parents. It was the first birthday that my parents had gotten to celebrate with Stephen, so that was exciting for both the boys and me. Stephen picked hot dogs and mac n'cheese for lunch (his favorite). Then, Keith and I gave him a list of activities to choose from, and he chose bowling for his birthday fun. So we had great time together at the bowling alley (Pop-Pop won!) followed by Hot Wheels cake and Oreo ice cream.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
The birthday obsession...
Every year, about this time, Sam becomes completely focused on his birthday. Since Stephen's birthday is coming up in two weeks, the issue is particularly acute. Today, when I picked Sam up from school, Sam had invited his new friend, Ty to Stephen's upcoming birthday party. It was a little awkward since Stephen isn't having a birthday "party."
Each year, one of our boys has a "friend party" and the other has a "family day." The "friend party" is the full deal...the friends, the balloons, the song, the kiddy place, the cake, the whole shebang.
Stephen had a friend party last year. So this year is his year for a "family day." On "family day" Stephen gets to pick wherever he wants to go with just his family. We go do something fun with him and then come home for his favorite dinner, cake, and ice cream. "Family day" allows us to do something really special that we might not choose to do with 15 other kids. We stole this tradition from my sister when we realized that our boys' birthdays were exactly 2 months apart. It seemed weird to invite the same people to a big blow-out party every two months. Honestly, the idea of two parties that close together seemed a little overwhelming. So we do it this way and we really like it.
Back to my akward moment today...I politely explained to Ty that Stephen wasn't having a party this year, but that Ty was welcome to come to our house and play anytime. The outrage among Sam's friends was immediate. "WHAT?!? NO BIRTHDAY PARTY?!?"
So I left school today with my head held high...forever labeled as the "mean, no birthday mommy."
Can't win 'em all...
Each year, one of our boys has a "friend party" and the other has a "family day." The "friend party" is the full deal...the friends, the balloons, the song, the kiddy place, the cake, the whole shebang.
Stephen had a friend party last year. So this year is his year for a "family day." On "family day" Stephen gets to pick wherever he wants to go with just his family. We go do something fun with him and then come home for his favorite dinner, cake, and ice cream. "Family day" allows us to do something really special that we might not choose to do with 15 other kids. We stole this tradition from my sister when we realized that our boys' birthdays were exactly 2 months apart. It seemed weird to invite the same people to a big blow-out party every two months. Honestly, the idea of two parties that close together seemed a little overwhelming. So we do it this way and we really like it.
Back to my akward moment today...I politely explained to Ty that Stephen wasn't having a party this year, but that Ty was welcome to come to our house and play anytime. The outrage among Sam's friends was immediate. "WHAT?!? NO BIRTHDAY PARTY?!?"
So I left school today with my head held high...forever labeled as the "mean, no birthday mommy."
Can't win 'em all...
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Off to Kindergarten!
Sam started Kindergarten a few weeks ago! In the midst of our crazy life, I haven't even posted pictures yet. So here is my precious big boy on his big day:
In Austin, his school had these big huge Crayon columns in front. So we always took his "first day" pictures in front of the crayon. No crayon here. So we settled for a bench.
Here's Sam and I in the school lobby. I wasn't crying that day until we got to school and I had to sit in the lobby with my boy for 15 minutes while sappy, instrumental movie music played in the background. Seriously, whose idea was that?
Here he is sitting in his seat at the "yellow" table. By this point, he was growing impatient with me. This was right before he said, "Mommy, I got it. You can go now." Nice!
Monday, August 24, 2009
Reversal of Destiny
I can’t believe that it has been over a month since I have written anything. But I guess when I think back over all that has happened to us in the past month, it shouldn’t surprise me. Keith and I have gone through what Beth Moore calls a “reversal of destiny.” In her Esther Bible study, Beth Moore talks about what happens when God shows up and in an instant simply changes everything. That is where we are…in a world where absolutely everything has changed.
Our story starts at the beginning of 2009. I felt like it was time for me to head back to the classroom and began to look for a teaching job. I filled out applications and waited…and waited…and waited a little longer. Spring Break came and nothing. School ended and more nothing. It was so frustrating. I continued to pray that God would lead me where I needed to me. My heart was longing to be back in the classroom, but I began to wonder if that was the plan. So I kept praying that God would either give me a teaching job, or change my heart. I prayed that I would be open to his plan, even if it meant that teaching wasn’t part of it.
By mid-June, I was totally frustrated. The one teaching job that I had a decent lead on disappeared, and I began to wonder if I was ever going to settle into professional life in Austin. Maybe God had something completely different in mind. I prayed for peace and acceptance, but the thought of not teaching was heartbreaking.
Around Father’s Day weekend, Keith and I were discussing our situation when he told me to look for a job in the Southeast. Since I couldn’t seem to find a teaching job in Austin and the desire of our hearts was to eventually live closer to family again, he told me go ahead and start looking. If I found a job in the Southeast, he would leave his job and we would try to make a life closer to home. Keep in mind that Keith leaving his job without having another one sounds NOTHING like ANYTHING my husband would ever do. I began to look a little, but honestly didn’t think Keith was serious.
About the same time, I began cleaning….that crazy, hopelessly obsessed type of cleaning. In my heart, something kept telling me to get the house ready because we were about to move. I cleaned like a crazy lady…I even had my little guys scrubbing the walls. I touch-up painted and did all sorts of things that make no sense to anyone outside the 8th month of pregnancy. And in my non-cleaning free time, I looked for a job.
More nothing.
I talked to school after school and contact after contact. A week went by and prospects looked bleak. I began to wonder why God would give me hope that I would once again be near family, only to let nothing come of it in the end. I listened and read and prayed and tried my best to trust that God is so much bigger than I imagine. I prayed that His will would be done and that I would be accepting, no matter what that meant. I couldn’t sleep at night, so I spent tons of time awake, reading Esther and trying to trust God for my destiny. The Lord, Beth Moore and I spent many early morning hours together.
I emailed a principal in Birmingham about an available job near where we used to live. It was a great school and would have been a great opportunity. When I heard back from the principal, I learned that he was a actually former colleague. He told me that he would be happy to interview me and put in a good word for me, if needed, since my Alabama Teacher Certification had expired. I thought, “This sounds promising. This is how it will all work out.” But then, two weeks went by and I had not heard anything. When I finally contacted him, he had already filled the position. Ugh! Back to square one…
Keith and I had made a deal that I would quit looking out-of-state if I had not found a job by July 10th. Realistically, we felt like that was as late as we could go and still be able to make the transition from Texas to the Southeast.
July 10th came and went with no job. So I called off the dogs and resigned myself to at least another year in Texas. My parents were coming to Austin the next day, so I distracted myself with the preparations. Determined to enjoy my week with them, I tried not to think about it. That Monday, my parents offered to watch the kids so Keith and I could go out to dinner. We don’t get to do that very often, so we took them up on it.
Right before we walked out the door that night, I checked the answering machine. There was a message from Irondale Middle School in Jefferson County, AL. I used to teach at Shades Valley High School in Irondale, so I was familiar with the area. The school secretary had called to see if I would be interested in interviewing for a social studies position there.
I was completely floored! First of all, it was past the deadline. Hello, God…we told you that you had to do this last week! Secondly, I was pretty sure that our dinner date was shot! Keith and I did go out that night and spent the entire evening debating about what to do. Should I take the interview knowing that we would be pushing it? Who would watch the kids? How would we pay for the trip? What if it doesn’t work out? What if it DOES? YIKES!
At the end of a VERY long night, we decided that I would talk to some friends and find out what I could about the school. If it seemed like somewhere I would want to work, I would go.
The next morning, I called Jane Baker, the principal at Shades Valley. She was the Assistant Principal when I was a Social Studies teacher there. She informed me that Irondale Middle School was a brand new school right next door to Shades Valley! After sharing a few more details about the school, she said she would call and put in a good word for me, and also ask if I could interview over the phone.
Long story short, I did the interview over the phone three days later. They offered me the job on Thursday, July 16th. Keith took a HUGE leap of faith and told me to accept the job, not knowing what that meant for his future at his job. Now I was sleeping and he was awake!
The next morning, he told his company about my new job and they agreed to let him continue his current position from the Birmingham office. By the end of that day, I had found a great school for Sam, a great school for Stephen and an apartment. I had also already met with our real estate agent concerning the sale of our home.
By the end of the next day, we had movers in Austin and Birmingham, as well as a moving truck.
Our sweet friend Belinda, showed up two days later to help me get the house ready. We packed and painted…truthfully, she packed and painted while I worked the phone. I spent hours and hours lining up the details.
Sunday, July 26th, I flew the boys to Birmingham to spend a week with my parents while we packed up the house. They spent one week with my parents and one week with Keith's parents while we made the transition. For me and the boys, being apart was by far the most difficult part of the move.
Thursday, July 30th, Keith and I left Austin with a 26 foot truck full of all of our stuff (except for the leftovers that didn't make it on the truck). Keith had his first "trucker" experience while I followed him in my car. We arrived in Birmingham late that evening, exactly two weeks after I got the job. Keith flew back to Austin on Sunday to take care of selling the house. When he left, we had no idea how long we would be apart. Again, being apart was still the most difficult part of the move. I kept praying that the house would sell quickly...that God would honor our marriage and our desire to be together.
Monday, August 3rd: I started New Teacher Orientation. I spent the first week working during the day and unpacking boxes at night. I was determined to have the apartment completely set up by the time I brought the boys home from Franklin. That happened on Saturday, August 8th.
Thursday, August 6th: Our house went on the market in Austin.
Monday, August 10th: The boys started school. Stephen is attending preschool down the street. Sam spent the first few days there until Kindergarten started.
Thursday, August 13th: Sam started Kindergarten. He did great!
Friday, August 14th: Our house was under contract. Praise God that He is bigger than a weak economy!
Today, it is Saturday, August 29th. I am sitting here in our new apartment amazed at God's love for me. He promises that if we trust in him, he will give us the desires of our hearts. I never prayed to be in Birmingham, even though it has been "home" to me since college. I prayed to be closer to family. Yet here I am, back in my"home." Close to my family and my church family. Even better, my husband is on his way here right now. Our house is under contract and moving toward closing. So Keith is in his car right now, on his way to us. Praise God for bringing my family to the same place!
Here's the thing...From my time in Austin, I learned to trust God's will. I want to be where He wants me to be, even when it feels so foreign to what I would want. He is faithful. And He does lead us. My family needed to be in Austin. God did a mighty work in our lives there. We are grateful.
But we are also grateful to be here for as long as the Lord sees fit to leave us here. Now I know that if we are blessed to he here, it is not so I can be "happy." I praise him for giving me the desire of my heart. I praise him for the opportunity to minister to kids again. But that's not why I am here. I am here because He has plans for me here. He has plans for my family here. We are to bring glory to God here. For this season of life, He has called us here. And we will trust Him and we will do our best to honor him.
Our story starts at the beginning of 2009. I felt like it was time for me to head back to the classroom and began to look for a teaching job. I filled out applications and waited…and waited…and waited a little longer. Spring Break came and nothing. School ended and more nothing. It was so frustrating. I continued to pray that God would lead me where I needed to me. My heart was longing to be back in the classroom, but I began to wonder if that was the plan. So I kept praying that God would either give me a teaching job, or change my heart. I prayed that I would be open to his plan, even if it meant that teaching wasn’t part of it.
By mid-June, I was totally frustrated. The one teaching job that I had a decent lead on disappeared, and I began to wonder if I was ever going to settle into professional life in Austin. Maybe God had something completely different in mind. I prayed for peace and acceptance, but the thought of not teaching was heartbreaking.
Around Father’s Day weekend, Keith and I were discussing our situation when he told me to look for a job in the Southeast. Since I couldn’t seem to find a teaching job in Austin and the desire of our hearts was to eventually live closer to family again, he told me go ahead and start looking. If I found a job in the Southeast, he would leave his job and we would try to make a life closer to home. Keep in mind that Keith leaving his job without having another one sounds NOTHING like ANYTHING my husband would ever do. I began to look a little, but honestly didn’t think Keith was serious.
About the same time, I began cleaning….that crazy, hopelessly obsessed type of cleaning. In my heart, something kept telling me to get the house ready because we were about to move. I cleaned like a crazy lady…I even had my little guys scrubbing the walls. I touch-up painted and did all sorts of things that make no sense to anyone outside the 8th month of pregnancy. And in my non-cleaning free time, I looked for a job.
More nothing.
I talked to school after school and contact after contact. A week went by and prospects looked bleak. I began to wonder why God would give me hope that I would once again be near family, only to let nothing come of it in the end. I listened and read and prayed and tried my best to trust that God is so much bigger than I imagine. I prayed that His will would be done and that I would be accepting, no matter what that meant. I couldn’t sleep at night, so I spent tons of time awake, reading Esther and trying to trust God for my destiny. The Lord, Beth Moore and I spent many early morning hours together.
I emailed a principal in Birmingham about an available job near where we used to live. It was a great school and would have been a great opportunity. When I heard back from the principal, I learned that he was a actually former colleague. He told me that he would be happy to interview me and put in a good word for me, if needed, since my Alabama Teacher Certification had expired. I thought, “This sounds promising. This is how it will all work out.” But then, two weeks went by and I had not heard anything. When I finally contacted him, he had already filled the position. Ugh! Back to square one…
Keith and I had made a deal that I would quit looking out-of-state if I had not found a job by July 10th. Realistically, we felt like that was as late as we could go and still be able to make the transition from Texas to the Southeast.
July 10th came and went with no job. So I called off the dogs and resigned myself to at least another year in Texas. My parents were coming to Austin the next day, so I distracted myself with the preparations. Determined to enjoy my week with them, I tried not to think about it. That Monday, my parents offered to watch the kids so Keith and I could go out to dinner. We don’t get to do that very often, so we took them up on it.
Right before we walked out the door that night, I checked the answering machine. There was a message from Irondale Middle School in Jefferson County, AL. I used to teach at Shades Valley High School in Irondale, so I was familiar with the area. The school secretary had called to see if I would be interested in interviewing for a social studies position there.
I was completely floored! First of all, it was past the deadline. Hello, God…we told you that you had to do this last week! Secondly, I was pretty sure that our dinner date was shot! Keith and I did go out that night and spent the entire evening debating about what to do. Should I take the interview knowing that we would be pushing it? Who would watch the kids? How would we pay for the trip? What if it doesn’t work out? What if it DOES? YIKES!
At the end of a VERY long night, we decided that I would talk to some friends and find out what I could about the school. If it seemed like somewhere I would want to work, I would go.
The next morning, I called Jane Baker, the principal at Shades Valley. She was the Assistant Principal when I was a Social Studies teacher there. She informed me that Irondale Middle School was a brand new school right next door to Shades Valley! After sharing a few more details about the school, she said she would call and put in a good word for me, and also ask if I could interview over the phone.
Long story short, I did the interview over the phone three days later. They offered me the job on Thursday, July 16th. Keith took a HUGE leap of faith and told me to accept the job, not knowing what that meant for his future at his job. Now I was sleeping and he was awake!
The next morning, he told his company about my new job and they agreed to let him continue his current position from the Birmingham office. By the end of that day, I had found a great school for Sam, a great school for Stephen and an apartment. I had also already met with our real estate agent concerning the sale of our home.
By the end of the next day, we had movers in Austin and Birmingham, as well as a moving truck.
Our sweet friend Belinda, showed up two days later to help me get the house ready. We packed and painted…truthfully, she packed and painted while I worked the phone. I spent hours and hours lining up the details.
Sunday, July 26th, I flew the boys to Birmingham to spend a week with my parents while we packed up the house. They spent one week with my parents and one week with Keith's parents while we made the transition. For me and the boys, being apart was by far the most difficult part of the move.
Thursday, July 30th, Keith and I left Austin with a 26 foot truck full of all of our stuff (except for the leftovers that didn't make it on the truck). Keith had his first "trucker" experience while I followed him in my car. We arrived in Birmingham late that evening, exactly two weeks after I got the job. Keith flew back to Austin on Sunday to take care of selling the house. When he left, we had no idea how long we would be apart. Again, being apart was still the most difficult part of the move. I kept praying that the house would sell quickly...that God would honor our marriage and our desire to be together.
Monday, August 3rd: I started New Teacher Orientation. I spent the first week working during the day and unpacking boxes at night. I was determined to have the apartment completely set up by the time I brought the boys home from Franklin. That happened on Saturday, August 8th.
Thursday, August 6th: Our house went on the market in Austin.
Monday, August 10th: The boys started school. Stephen is attending preschool down the street. Sam spent the first few days there until Kindergarten started.
Thursday, August 13th: Sam started Kindergarten. He did great!
Friday, August 14th: Our house was under contract. Praise God that He is bigger than a weak economy!
Today, it is Saturday, August 29th. I am sitting here in our new apartment amazed at God's love for me. He promises that if we trust in him, he will give us the desires of our hearts. I never prayed to be in Birmingham, even though it has been "home" to me since college. I prayed to be closer to family. Yet here I am, back in my"home." Close to my family and my church family. Even better, my husband is on his way here right now. Our house is under contract and moving toward closing. So Keith is in his car right now, on his way to us. Praise God for bringing my family to the same place!
Here's the thing...From my time in Austin, I learned to trust God's will. I want to be where He wants me to be, even when it feels so foreign to what I would want. He is faithful. And He does lead us. My family needed to be in Austin. God did a mighty work in our lives there. We are grateful.
But we are also grateful to be here for as long as the Lord sees fit to leave us here. Now I know that if we are blessed to he here, it is not so I can be "happy." I praise him for giving me the desire of my heart. I praise him for the opportunity to minister to kids again. But that's not why I am here. I am here because He has plans for me here. He has plans for my family here. We are to bring glory to God here. For this season of life, He has called us here. And we will trust Him and we will do our best to honor him.
He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden, I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realize just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.
And oh, how He loves us so,
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all.
And we are His portion and He is our prize,
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,
If his grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.
And heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss,
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest,
I don’t have time to maintain these regrets,
When I think about, the way
He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all.
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all.
- John Mark McMillan
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Calling all chickadees....
A few weeks ago, The boys and I picked out some wooden birdhouses to paint as a summer project. Stephen has been a little focused on birds lately, which he calls "chickadees." So we put a birdfeeder fill of "chickadee seed" in the backyard to attract more of our little friends. This project was phase 2: the installation of a chickadee hotel.
Sam's finished product (with a little humidity on the lens of the camera)
Sam's finished product (with a little humidity on the lens of the camera)
Stephen's finished product
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
It may not seem like a big deal to you...
Today, I took the boys to the park in the morning. Due to the heat, we are struggling to find things to do without spending every waking second at the pool. So early today, we got ready and headed to a park with good shade to take full advantage of the cooler morning.
We spent the first hour playing in the sand. The boys were excited to find some sand toys in the garage from a trip to the beach a few years ago. They had been begging to try them out for awhile, but I kept forgetting. Today was the day!
We were knee deep in sand, leaves and rocks, when a little boy came over to talk to us. He instantly started talking about Mario Galaxy, his favorite video game. I talked with him for awhile and tried to engage Sam in the conversation, since he is such a fan of video games.
Before long, Sam wandered off with this little guy. I watched them walk around the playground, all the while engaging in a deep conversation about cars, Mario and video game strategy. To most people, that may not seem like a big deal. But to us, what a blessing! Sam has been in speech therapy for over 2 years, specifically working on social speech. Conversation has always been a struggle for him. But there he was, my boy chatting with another kid for over an hour.
Every day, it seems like we notice one more area where Sam seems to be turning a corner. Things that used to cause major blow-ups, like losing a game, are no longer a big deal. We see him handling more and more things with maturity. And today, an hour long conversation!!!
So far, this summer has been full of uncertainty. God constantly uses moments like this to remind me that He is faithful in the midst of uncertainty. Although some things don't seem to be working out the way I thought they should, he is still working for my good, and the good of my children.
An hour long conversation...priceless.
We spent the first hour playing in the sand. The boys were excited to find some sand toys in the garage from a trip to the beach a few years ago. They had been begging to try them out for awhile, but I kept forgetting. Today was the day!
We were knee deep in sand, leaves and rocks, when a little boy came over to talk to us. He instantly started talking about Mario Galaxy, his favorite video game. I talked with him for awhile and tried to engage Sam in the conversation, since he is such a fan of video games.
Before long, Sam wandered off with this little guy. I watched them walk around the playground, all the while engaging in a deep conversation about cars, Mario and video game strategy. To most people, that may not seem like a big deal. But to us, what a blessing! Sam has been in speech therapy for over 2 years, specifically working on social speech. Conversation has always been a struggle for him. But there he was, my boy chatting with another kid for over an hour.
Every day, it seems like we notice one more area where Sam seems to be turning a corner. Things that used to cause major blow-ups, like losing a game, are no longer a big deal. We see him handling more and more things with maturity. And today, an hour long conversation!!!
So far, this summer has been full of uncertainty. God constantly uses moments like this to remind me that He is faithful in the midst of uncertainty. Although some things don't seem to be working out the way I thought they should, he is still working for my good, and the good of my children.
An hour long conversation...priceless.
Monday, July 6, 2009
I'm a Dork...
Today, the boys and I were doing our usual thing...allergy shot for Mom, speech therapy for the boys. On the way, I was listening to the radio. This song called "Beautiful One" was playing. So I was listening and soaking in the quiet moment.
Suddenly, Sam says,"Mommy, did he just say, 'I'm a dork?'"
"I don't think so," I replied.
"Yes, he did." So I listened harder. Then, I heard it. "Beautiful One I love. Beautiful One I'm a dork.." No wait...that can't be right.
"Beautiful One I love, Beautiful One I adore" Ahhhh... much better.
So I explained it to Sam. "I can see how you thought that, sweetie. But he was saying, 'Beautiful One I adore.'"
"What's adore?" he asked
So I explained how when you adore someone, you love them very, very much. So in the song, the artist was explaining how beautiful God was and how much he loves him. Then, as an example, I told him how much I adored Daddy, Stephen and Sam.
Then, he says, "Oh, I get it, Mommy. Like I adore Stephen. Sometimes he really bothers me and makes me really, really mad. But I still love him. Basically, I really just adore him."
Praise you, Jesus!
Our boys don't always get along, like every other set of brothers on the planet I would imagine. But from day one, Sam was NOT excited to have a little brother. Anyone in our family can testify to how true that really was. There were so times when a toddling Stephen played the role of King Kong and rocked Sam's very ordered little world. In those moments of chaos and screaming, I would ask God, "Lord, are they going to hate each other forever?!?" So many prayers have been lifted for brotherly love in our home. I am not nearly naive enough to think there will always be smooth sailing ahead. But today, I am praising God for a little boy that adores his little brother.
"Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4
Suddenly, Sam says,"Mommy, did he just say, 'I'm a dork?'"
"I don't think so," I replied.
"Yes, he did." So I listened harder. Then, I heard it. "Beautiful One I love. Beautiful One I'm a dork.." No wait...that can't be right.
"Beautiful One I love, Beautiful One I adore" Ahhhh... much better.
So I explained it to Sam. "I can see how you thought that, sweetie. But he was saying, 'Beautiful One I adore.'"
"What's adore?" he asked
So I explained how when you adore someone, you love them very, very much. So in the song, the artist was explaining how beautiful God was and how much he loves him. Then, as an example, I told him how much I adored Daddy, Stephen and Sam.
Then, he says, "Oh, I get it, Mommy. Like I adore Stephen. Sometimes he really bothers me and makes me really, really mad. But I still love him. Basically, I really just adore him."
Praise you, Jesus!
Our boys don't always get along, like every other set of brothers on the planet I would imagine. But from day one, Sam was NOT excited to have a little brother. Anyone in our family can testify to how true that really was. There were so times when a toddling Stephen played the role of King Kong and rocked Sam's very ordered little world. In those moments of chaos and screaming, I would ask God, "Lord, are they going to hate each other forever?!?" So many prayers have been lifted for brotherly love in our home. I am not nearly naive enough to think there will always be smooth sailing ahead. But today, I am praising God for a little boy that adores his little brother.
"Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Fireworks...
Today is the 4th of July. As much as we love our country, the 4th of July comes and goes pretty much like any other day at our house. Both of our boys are terrified of fireworks! Just the mention of fireworks is enough to invoke some pretty serious anxiety and non-stop earplugging. I have mentioned before that raising two kids "on the spectrum" leaves us to deal with some interesting fears, and one of the biggies at our house is loud noises. No loud noises, no fireworks.
Sometimes these fears bring family fun to a quick halt. For example, Wednesday night we tried to take the boys to a Round Rock Express Game. The Round Rock Express is Austin's minor league baseball team. Each year, Keith's office gets invited to a family fun night there hosted by one of the insurance carriers. They set up inflatables in the parking lot, grill out and give free tickets to the game. Keith almost didn't get tickets this year, since Family Fun night fell on my 34th birthday. He was sure I wouldn't want to spend my birthday at a ball game. Maybe not, but it was something fun for us to do and it was free. Why not, right?
On the big day, Sam asked if there would be fireworks at the game. I assured him that any fireworks would come after the game. So if they were planning fireworks, we would be sure to leave the game early. He seemed satisfied with that answer, and off we went.
We arrived well before the game started so that the boys could enjoy the inflatables. Principal Financial Group had set up all sorts of fun things to do. There were bounce houses and slides, as well as places to practice batting, pitching and catching. There were also photo booths where you could get your picture on the "cover" of Sports Illustrated, or your very own baseball card. Sam was having a blast, but I noticed Stephen was reluctant to participate in anything. I took him around to various stations trying to entertain him, but no luck. He was so focused on the noise from the generators and air blowers that fill up the inflatables that he just wouldn't play. Keith took Sam around from station to station, while I tried my best to find anything that would light Stephen's fire. No luck. He just stood there terrified until I gave up and we took a "field trip" to the bathroom.
Once we got inside the stadium, we got dinner and headed to our seats. The boys were pretty bored at first, but once the pregame activities began (and the cheeseburgers were distributed) they settled down a bit. The first inning began and I thought, "okay, this is going to work." And then, Round Rock hit their first home run. Apparently, it is traditional for them to shoot off fireworks to celebrate home runs! No warning...just BOOM!
Needless to say, our cubs were not happy. Both of them immediately plugged their ears and Sam started to cry. As a parent, sometimes I am really tempted to get frustrated. I mean really, can it be that bad?!? But knowing what I know now about kids with sensory issues, I can't even imagine how loud and scary these noises are to them.
Either way, the boys were NOT HAPPY. We tried assuring them every way we knew how, but they were just not having anymore of this baseball thing. Eventually, I gave up and took the boys to the stadium playground. But even the play scape wasn't much fun for Sam. It's apparently pretty hard to climb anything with your fingers in your ears...and those suckers weren't coming out for anything!
Eventually, Keith and I relented and took the boys home. I think what was so frustrating for us is that we really try to accommodate for our kids. We know what their needs are, we know what their fears are, and we really try to make special memories for them in spite of those fears. But somedays, no matter how hard you try to protect your kids, you are still hit with the unexpected.
The more I think about it, the more I know that's true for every parent. It's frustrating when you can't explain your child's fears away. But then I think about how frustrated God must get with me sometimes. I am 34 years old and still holding on to some irrational fears of my own. I can hear God encouraging me to let them go. I know that he is not a god of confusion and his plans for me are pleasing and perfect. And scripture is full of his promises to protect me. But most importantly, I know that nothing surprises God. He is never "hit with the unexpected."
So on this 4th of July, I am thankful for freedom, the freedom that comes from living in this great nation, but also for freedom from fear.
"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1
Sometimes these fears bring family fun to a quick halt. For example, Wednesday night we tried to take the boys to a Round Rock Express Game. The Round Rock Express is Austin's minor league baseball team. Each year, Keith's office gets invited to a family fun night there hosted by one of the insurance carriers. They set up inflatables in the parking lot, grill out and give free tickets to the game. Keith almost didn't get tickets this year, since Family Fun night fell on my 34th birthday. He was sure I wouldn't want to spend my birthday at a ball game. Maybe not, but it was something fun for us to do and it was free. Why not, right?
On the big day, Sam asked if there would be fireworks at the game. I assured him that any fireworks would come after the game. So if they were planning fireworks, we would be sure to leave the game early. He seemed satisfied with that answer, and off we went.
We arrived well before the game started so that the boys could enjoy the inflatables. Principal Financial Group had set up all sorts of fun things to do. There were bounce houses and slides, as well as places to practice batting, pitching and catching. There were also photo booths where you could get your picture on the "cover" of Sports Illustrated, or your very own baseball card. Sam was having a blast, but I noticed Stephen was reluctant to participate in anything. I took him around to various stations trying to entertain him, but no luck. He was so focused on the noise from the generators and air blowers that fill up the inflatables that he just wouldn't play. Keith took Sam around from station to station, while I tried my best to find anything that would light Stephen's fire. No luck. He just stood there terrified until I gave up and we took a "field trip" to the bathroom.
Once we got inside the stadium, we got dinner and headed to our seats. The boys were pretty bored at first, but once the pregame activities began (and the cheeseburgers were distributed) they settled down a bit. The first inning began and I thought, "okay, this is going to work." And then, Round Rock hit their first home run. Apparently, it is traditional for them to shoot off fireworks to celebrate home runs! No warning...just BOOM!
Needless to say, our cubs were not happy. Both of them immediately plugged their ears and Sam started to cry. As a parent, sometimes I am really tempted to get frustrated. I mean really, can it be that bad?!? But knowing what I know now about kids with sensory issues, I can't even imagine how loud and scary these noises are to them.
Either way, the boys were NOT HAPPY. We tried assuring them every way we knew how, but they were just not having anymore of this baseball thing. Eventually, I gave up and took the boys to the stadium playground. But even the play scape wasn't much fun for Sam. It's apparently pretty hard to climb anything with your fingers in your ears...and those suckers weren't coming out for anything!
Eventually, Keith and I relented and took the boys home. I think what was so frustrating for us is that we really try to accommodate for our kids. We know what their needs are, we know what their fears are, and we really try to make special memories for them in spite of those fears. But somedays, no matter how hard you try to protect your kids, you are still hit with the unexpected.
The more I think about it, the more I know that's true for every parent. It's frustrating when you can't explain your child's fears away. But then I think about how frustrated God must get with me sometimes. I am 34 years old and still holding on to some irrational fears of my own. I can hear God encouraging me to let them go. I know that he is not a god of confusion and his plans for me are pleasing and perfect. And scripture is full of his promises to protect me. But most importantly, I know that nothing surprises God. He is never "hit with the unexpected."
So on this 4th of July, I am thankful for freedom, the freedom that comes from living in this great nation, but also for freedom from fear.
"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1
Friday, June 26, 2009
The Big 10!
Keith and I got married ten years ago today at Riverchase United Methodist Church in Birmingham. Beautiful day...beautiful marriage....beautiful man.
To celebrate our 10th anniversary, Keith and I went on a cruise earlier this month. To give you a little background, Keith had traveled pretty extensively when he was a kid. I had not. He had been to Alaska, Europe, the Caribbean, and Israel. I had been to Washington, DC, North Carolina and Florida. Oh, and I did fly to Michigan once. My sister was headed to debate camp there (Yes, we were nerds--but it totally paid the bills, ok?). Since my dad worked for Northwest Airlines, we all flew her up to the University of Michigan. That day, my dad drove us across the border to Canada so that I could say I had been in another country. To top it all off, I was totally giddy about it, but I was a pretty goofy kid. Don't get me wrong, I am not complaining. I had a great childhood and got to experience a ton of amazing things. We were just not big travelers outside of the Southeast.
When Keith and I got married, he was determined to change all that. I was determined to have kids. So Keith's global traveling plans have not been fully realized, but we have been to the Caribbean twice now. Progress! And one day, Italy! Sigh.....
Here's the story of our anniversary trip. We headed out in late May to Georgia to be there for my little sister's high school graduation. Since our move to Texas, we only get home about twice a year, so it was great to get to be there for her special day. The day after graduation, Keith and I headed to the Atlanta airport, while the boys spent a fun and exciting week with Nana and Pop-Pop.
We got to the Atlanta airport and hit our first snag. If you have never been to the Atlanta airport, let me assure you, it is huge! In fact, unless the stats have recently changed, it is the busiest airport in the nation. So we were pretty concerned when we realized Delta's conveyor belt system, the operation that gets your luggage from baggage check to the actual terminal, was broken. YIKES! We had arrived two hours early for our flight, but still....That is one busy airport and there were random bags stacked everywhere. We explained our issues to the ticket agent… how we were flying to San Juan to catch a boat leaving at 8:00 p.m. and how much we would really love for our luggage to leave with us. She helped us get our luggage directly to a cart headed to the terminal, but that was all she could do. We decided not to worry…surely it would work out, right?
We arrived in San Juan, Puerto Rico later that afternoon and boarded the Adventure of the Seas. It is a beautiful ship filled with all sorts of amazing amenities designed to make a stay-at-home mom forget about her day job.
We arrived in San Juan, Puerto Rico later that afternoon and boarded the Adventure of the Seas. It is a beautiful ship filled with all sorts of amazing amenities designed to make a stay-at-home mom forget about her day job.
Not the best picture, but it's hard to get far enough away to shoot the whole thing...this was taken out a bus window in Curacao
I mentioned that we arrived in San Juan on Sunday. Our luggage unfortunately did not. To add insult to injury, we would be without luggage for 2 days, since our first day was “at sea.” They kindly reassured us that our luggage would meet us in Aruba on Tuesday. Royal Caribbean was incredibly supportive and stayed in contact with the Delta authorities to get the issue resolved. They also gave us these handy-dandy hygiene kits (note contents below), a free tux rental for Keith (which would have gone nicely with my Capri pants and sleeveless shirt—the only clothes I had at that point) and free laundry services.
The only toiletries we had...note the black ponytail holder I made from ripping
the elastic band out of our luggage...how MacGyver of me!
We were bummed. Here we were on our big romantic 10th anniversary trip with no luggage, no formals for formal night, and did I mention that I had no makeup, shampoo, swimsuit, Chi or other girly vacation essentials?!? Keith had a few outfits in his carry-on (because despite what he may tell you, he IS the smart one). I had shoes…five pairs of shoes, only one of which actually matched my only outfit. : ) Once we pulled ourselves together, we bought me a swimsuit and cover-up in the onboard shop. On Monday, I ate breakfast in my only outfit, wore a swimsuit for the rest of the day while they laundered my only outfit and got it back to me in time to wear it to dinner. Needless to say, we skipped formal night on Monday. : )
Port One: Aruba
When we arrived in Aruba early Tuesday morning. Keith and I were scheduled to go snorkeling on a yacht. We headed off the ship that morning half-excited about the days events and half-focused on praying that our luggage would be there when we got back. Seriously, a girl can only go so long without proper makeup and hair care. If I had wanted to go au naturale, I would have planned an anniversary cruise to Survivor Island. But I digress…
In Aruba, we were met by a very interesting bus driver with fake dreads and a big floppy hat. We would have taken his picture for you, but alas, our camera was in our luggage. : ) He drove us to the beach, where we boarded the Mi Dushi, a Swedish ship built in 1925. They took us snorkeling at three different sites around Aruba, one of which was a shipwrecked German WWII vessel. They also fed us lunch onboard and gave us time to enjoy the ship’s rope swing. Keith and I both had fun swinging off the side of the boat into the water, along with a 75-year old woman who rode the swing twice by herself before riding one of the crew members piggyback on her third trip. She said that by the time you were her age, you either learned to enjoy life or learned to be content being miserable. What a lady!
After our fun day, we were tired, but anxious. We hurried back to the boat to find luggage!!!! Woo hoo!!! Since our bags would not have made it to Puerto Rico in time, they took a detour to Miami enroute to Aruba. I have never been to Miami, but I guess I can mark that one off the list since my underwear has now been to Miami. Surely that counts.
We missed our luggage so much that we photographed it. How sad!
Port Two: Curacao
Wednesday morning, we arrived in Curacao. The architecture there is super-colorful. The picture really doesn’t do it justice. But enough about the landscape…today was Jet Ski day!! Having never been on a jet ski before, I was pretty excited about the adventures ahead. I wasn’t nervous since Keith has driven one before, plus they promised us a safety lesson…ha ha. The safety lesson consisted of “here’s the on switch, and make sure you don’t let go of the kill switch.” With that, we were off, but we had a great time. We got to ride over the open ocean and through the coves on Curacao. We even saw some mangrove trees…reminded me of Harry Potter. We also stopped and snorkled for awhile.
Post Jet Ski Fun!
Port Three: Dominica
Nope, it’s not part of the Dominican Republic. Dominica, which the locals pronounce “Domineeka,” is mostly covered in rainforest. And it is GORGEOUS!
There was a day at sea between Curacao and Dominica, so we headed out for the day pretty well-rested (read—Misty and Keith were super lazy on Thursday). Our adventure for the day involved riding a bus to the top of a mountain and tubing down a river in the middle of a rainforest. Even the bus ride was completely breathtaking. I can say without a doubt that this is the most beautiful place I have ever been. After we tubed down the river, the bus took us to Emerald Pool. The waters at the Emerald Pool are legendary for adding 10 years to your life. Not sure if that’s true or not, but I do know that these healing waters don’t minimize fine lines and wrinkles. At least not immediately anyway : )
More shots from Dominica….so gorgeous!!!
The Emerald Pool
Port Four: St. Thomas
I’ll be honest, by Saturday I was waterlogged. Keith and I were scheduled to take a small yacht to nearby Buck Island to snorkel. I was not relishing the thought of snorkeling again. After all, this would be our third time in a week. But Keith assured me that St. Thomas has some of the best snorkeling in the world, so off we went. Our boat was pretty small. Since the other couple didn’t show, Keith and I got the boat to ourselves, with our friendly captain, Carl and his teenage first mate. Since small boats lurch more in the waves, I was pretty sick by the time we got to Buck Island. But I resisted the urge to nap below deck and jumped in the water. It was beautiful! The first mate, who I am convinced was part fish, swam around and brought different creatures from the ocean floor up to the surface for us to see . We got to see hundreds of different fish, sea urchins, starfish and my personal favorite…A SEA TURTLE!!!. The wonders of God’s creation were just blowing my mind. Here’s St Thomas….again, gorgeous!
Sunday, we returned to San Juan to catch a plane back to Atlanta. By that morning, I was itching to get my arms around my babies. It was an amazing trip and it meant so much to Keith and I to be able to get away for awhile, but momma was ready for her boys. That’s why it was that much more difficult when we got to Atlanta and our luggage did not! SERIOUSLY, PEOPLE!!!! So we were a little delayed getting home and the boys were asleep by the time we got to my parents house. The luggage was delivered to my parents’ house the next day.
Here’s to 10 years with the man of my dreams….
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