Mother's Day

Well, it took all week to find the time to write this post. I have thought about it all week. It started Sunday and hasn't stopped all week. I just have not taken the time to write it (maybe I have just now completely processed it).

It all started with the preacher saying he knows that some women sitting in church on Mother's Day absolutely dread that day. He then said all women are that mother figure to someone. This brings up so many hard memories for me. I can remember praying, crying, begging for God to give me a baby. I grieved on Mother's Day like no other. I know I should have been thankful for my mom and I am so thankful for my mom. But you see, I wanted to be that mom for someone else and for some reason God wasn't ready for me to be that yet. Yes, it is true. I teach school. I have been a mom to many children. Before Darin and I had children, I always had someone else's child with me. I pray I made the difference I was supposed to for those children. BUT holding your own child is something I longed for and wanted. I remember the morning I found out I was pregnant. Darin made me take 3 pregnancy tests before he let me get my hopes up. I had taken so many and none were positive before, but we didn't want to believe until we were for sure. I laugh at the memory of our first doctor's appointment when the doctor came in and gave me all my new literature and Darin asked if he was sure I was pregnant! Now my boy is almost ten.He had a shaky start with NICU and all, but he is as healthy as they come. Kailyn has been another story. She came along much easier. I did take a false negative, then took another a week later and it was positive. We just had many surprises along the way- my high blood pressure that ended up being toxemia and meant a magnesium drip during labor to assure my blood pressure did not rise. Talk about nausea. I threw up and she came out, literally. I laugh and say she is probably the only child who can say her mom threw her up! It took us two miraculous years for her to become completely healthy. I look at her and can't help but use the word miracle!!! So as I sat there Sunday, I felt so blessed to have my beautiful, healthy children.

Then, of course, I look at my mother and think how blessed I am. I have the kind of mother that loves unconditionally and gives up her time for both her children and grandchildren. What an example she is! My children have the best Nana. I feel so lucky to have her. I can't even begin to count the times she has dropped things to come and help us out.

My grandma is another precious example of love. She has been there for us through so much I can't even count the ways!

I have had some good examples!!!

My mother- in-law is another great example. Talk about a woman who loves her children and grandchildren. She is there for all of us in so many ways.

So, on this Mother's Day week, I am thankful for my children, my family, and all of the women in my life that have shown me how to mother by example.

Easter

I thought I would finally post Easter pics. We had the traditional Easter lunch at my grandparents. It was really cold!

Baseball and growing up!

It's baseball season around here. I love it and I hate it. Kobe has great fun playing. It's good exercise. It also opens my baby up for criticism. He plays catcher and sometimes doesn't catch the ball. He strikes out. Tonight I watched him strike out and then have a dad son talk with Darin. He was trying not to cry. After all, he had to hurry up and get his catchers gear off then head straight to bat. His friends hit before him. Why couldn't he hit? Just get a little piece of it? As a momma, I wanted to take him home right then and save him from the criticism. He is perfect. He is a miracle baby. If you don't believe it, just ask his poppa. BUT he has to grow up. He has to learn that you don't always hit every time. You don't catch all of the balls. You can't be perfect all of the time and neither can anyone else. It's still hard. Growing up is hard, but being the momma is too. The world is not perfect. It's not meant to be.

Speaking of our imperfect world, I just read Beth Moore's blog. It was about a dear friend of hers that died of cancer and how our bodies are not made for eternity. It made me think of my friend Sherry Wise. It's really worth reading!

Well, we play baseball again tomorrow. Pray for me to let go of my baby. In my eyes he will always be the little chubby faced boy who loved his mommy with his whole heart. Man, letting go is hard!

Where has the time gone?

Where does the time go? I think over the last 4 years and ponder this question. It seems like yesterday that our little princess made her debut. Yet she has taught us so much over the last four years.

Four years ago, I was a scared mom who was very sick and had a daughter who was very sick as well. Over the next few days, things just kept getting worse for her. She ended up with jaundice, a heart condition, a hormone disorder, an ulcer and so much more on top of the breathing condition she was born with. We left the hospital on meds, with multiple doctor's appointments, and very scared!!!

Well, after learning words like endocrinologist and pediatric cardiologist and some visits to the dermatologist and pediatric opthamologist we can say you are completely well. We have been waiting a long time to hear you are "normal". I have been through MRI's with blood all over me where you have ripped out IV's. I have sat in a cath lab holding your leg completely still until they are sure you are fine. I have cried over you, prayed over you and felt God heal you through my prayers (and the prayers of our church). Now we see you as a whole beautiful human being who has been healed in so many ways. I can't wait to see what your future holds. I love you little missy!

Kailyn's Party

Here are some photos from Kailyn's birthday party yesterday. Her birthday is not until tomorrow so I can still be in denial that she will be four. In my mind, she is three until 3:15 tomorrow.

It has been a big week for her. Along with the birthday hype, I have enrolled her in our 4 year old program. Huge step in loosing my baby and admitting she is a little girl. It is harder with her than with Kobe. I wanted him to experience the next new thing constantly. With her, I know she will experience it and I am in no hurry for her to do so. Funny how your parenting really does change from one child to the next!

Family

We have had an interesting past week. My parents have been planning a trip to the Virgin Islands for some time. My cousin has a rental there and they wanted to see him and take advantage of a good deal on the rental. I have to admit that for some time now, I have had a certain amount of anxiety about this trip. Maybe it has been all of the plane crash news on the TV.

Well, they left out on Wednesday for Dallas. They were flying out from there. They had some deal where they could keep their car there cheaper than in a parking garage. When I got home from church, I got one of those "your dad is fine, but he was taken by ambulance because we have been in a finder binder. Oh, the doctor came in I'll call you back". Well, a van owned by some kind of hotel/ convention center rammed them from behind. They were hit so hard that it pushed them into another car and somehow another car was involved. I'm still not sure how straight I have the story. Anyway, they loaded Mom, Dad and their luggage into the ambulance and took them to the hospital. Mom tried to assure everyone that she was okay, so she did not get checked out. Dad was dizzy and his neck was sore, so they took him in a neck brace and backboard to the ambulance. Thankfully, my Uncle Jack called in the middle of this (he knew none of this was going on) and sent my precious cousin Will to meet them at the hospital. Will has no idea as to how relieved my sister and I were to know that he was there. Thanks Will. The doctor gave them the go ahead to travel, so they are basking in the sun (a little sore and stiff) at St. John's island. Speaking of Saints named John, my Uncle John has come to the rescue with handling the insurance. Since it all happened in Texas and it costs so much money to call from the island, we are so thankful he could do it. He also met them at the hospital. He and Will then proceeded to stay with them, go to dinner with them, drive them to the hotel and basically make sure they were physically and emotionally okay for the rest of the evening.

As far as we can tell, the car (a brand new Expedition) is in bad shape and I don't know if they are going to total it or not. There was fluid leaking, lots of broken glass, and damage done to the body. Mom and dad weren't even sure where the car was. We figured that out and took it to a Ford dealership. Thank you John and Will for your advise on where to take the car.

Family always comes through in the end and this was definitely the case with this incident.

Thanks Will, Steph, John and Rhonda!

Power Team, Kite Flying, and Bubbles

We have had an interesting week this week weather wise. It went from ice and snow to no coat weather. Only in Oklahoma!

We took the opportunity today to fly kites and blow bubbles. The wind was strong so it was a perfect day. Kailyn of course has a Barbie kite. Kobe's was a Blue Angels. The differences between boys and girls! We got them up pretty high! Kailyn loves bubbles. She didn't have to blow very hard at all to get lots, so she was in heaven!

We also saw the Power Team last week. They are an amazing group of people (there is one woman). They go around and break blocks, bend metal, and basically do anything that has to do with strength. They also tell the message of Christ in the process. It is an unusual ministry, but an effective one. We had seveal people saved because of their ministry. Pray for them. They reach folks that no one else could!