Monday, June 20, 2011
Elmo vs. Dr. Seuss
Okay, so I know it might sound weird, but I HATE characters. Like, sesame street characters, power rangers, buzz lightyear, ect, ect. I just don't like them on my kids clothes or anything. They're great for toys, but not for like curtains or bedspreads or anything. Not in my house. I know I'm weird. So I have been looking forward to Miller's 2nd birthday because I've had this great idea. I love Dr. Seuss stuff. I guess they are considered characters too? I don't know, but I don't mind Dr. Seuss. Anyway, I have been wanting to have a Dr. Seuss bday for Miller and have on the invite, "Horton Hears I'm Two." I have all of these great ideas for the party and know it would be super cute. However, Miller doesn't give 2 flips about Dr. Seuss. He is, however, in love with Elmo. Elmo. There is Elmo stuff EVERYWHERE. He sees Elmo and goes nuts. Nuts I tell you! So now I'm wondering, do I have the cutesy Dr. Seuss bday for him? Because I know that he really won't know and this might be the last year that I can pick the theme. Or do I go with something that I know he LOVES? Elmo. I know that this doesn't seem like a big deal. And in the grand scheme of things, it's not. I'm just trying to plan ahead for his bday and want some opinions. Thoughts?
Sunday, June 12, 2011
If ever I needed to blog....
it's today.
I'm hurt.
I'm vulnerable.
I'm speechless.
I'm sad.
I'm mad.
I'm confused.
So here's the deal. I'm very raw right now, so I'm just going to sit here, type, and lay out how I feel.
Let me start from the beginning.
My husband and I moved to Columbus almost 3 years ago with our (at the time) 2 year old son. Before then, we had been living 30 min's away and had yet to find a church home. When I say we searched, I MEAN WE SEARCHED. We visited so many churches that we started calling ourselves permanent church hoppers.One of my dear friends that I have been SO fortunate to have met here, Leah, invited me to join her Bible study. I'm just going to be completely honest here, I WAS NOT the "Bible study type." I had just found a new relationship with the Lord when I became pregnant with Merrit and my Christianity was fresh and new. I didn't want to be surrounded my "goody goody" girls who had never had a bad day and read the Bible like a good litle Bible study girl is supposed to. However, I valued Leah's friendship so much, and saw God in her every day. I wanted to be like her. Love the Lord like her. I figured I would give it a try.
THESE GIRLS CHANGED MY LIFE.
I found out real quick that they were all just as flawed as me, living day by day trying to be better witnesses for Christ. I found God here. Let me change that statement....I never knew that I could know God like I do now before this group.
Next came church. I tried the church that most of the girls in the Bible study attended. It was completely untraditional. Completely different from what me and J grew up in. After going once, we hopped on over to a traditional Baptist church the next Sunday. We went to this church for about a month, even tried Sunday school once. It had everything we thought that we were looking for. All of the traditional practices were right on target. The last time that we visited this church I remember it like it was yesterday. We were pulling out of the parking lot and I looked at my husband and said, "Did you get ANYthing at all out of that sermon?" He looked at me and said, "I never do. I just like the church." PROBLEM.
The next week, we went back to the church that was completely untraditional and out of our comfort zone. I can't even begin to explain the feeling that I had when we left other than, "We have finally found it. We have finally found our home." The preacher preached to us. US. I fell in love. With the feeling. The feeling that the Lord was in that place and speaking to me directly through that preacher. We have been there ever since and have fallen in love even more. With the people. With the church. With everything.
This morning I got up and went to church with nothing particular on my mind. The preacher blew me away, just like every Sunday. He was preaching on how we are all called by God to witness to others. Others that are far away. Not just in Lowndes County. We have some church members in Haiti right now, and I honestly thought that he was talking about them. I guess he was. But that wasn't it.
He is leaving. Leaving the church. Leaving me. Leaving my family. Leaving the Christianity that I have found through him that I never thought was possible.
At first, I was mad. I stood there with my arms crossed with a frown on my face. Then I became sad. I could not stop crying. I wanted to run out of the church, but didn't want to cause a scene. Then I felt guilty. Completely guilty for several different reasons. For one, it's not about me. His family has to be taking this so much harder that I ever could. Also the church staff. Hello, Abby. You are not the center of the universe. I also felt guilty for putting all of my faith in a man. I know that the "Christian" response would be..."Well, he was wonderful, but he is just a man. Your relationship with God is what is important. It's not about him. It's about Him, God, the one and only."
I am writing this because I know it's going to be tough. I don't know what's going to happen with our church. I hope and pray that we ban together and keep alive what we have become. I know one thing: No one can take away what I have gotten from this amazing preacher and I do not regret for a second being a part of his congregation.
I'm hurt.
I'm vulnerable.
I'm speechless.
I'm sad.
I'm mad.
I'm confused.
So here's the deal. I'm very raw right now, so I'm just going to sit here, type, and lay out how I feel.
Let me start from the beginning.
My husband and I moved to Columbus almost 3 years ago with our (at the time) 2 year old son. Before then, we had been living 30 min's away and had yet to find a church home. When I say we searched, I MEAN WE SEARCHED. We visited so many churches that we started calling ourselves permanent church hoppers.One of my dear friends that I have been SO fortunate to have met here, Leah, invited me to join her Bible study. I'm just going to be completely honest here, I WAS NOT the "Bible study type." I had just found a new relationship with the Lord when I became pregnant with Merrit and my Christianity was fresh and new. I didn't want to be surrounded my "goody goody" girls who had never had a bad day and read the Bible like a good litle Bible study girl is supposed to. However, I valued Leah's friendship so much, and saw God in her every day. I wanted to be like her. Love the Lord like her. I figured I would give it a try.
THESE GIRLS CHANGED MY LIFE.
I found out real quick that they were all just as flawed as me, living day by day trying to be better witnesses for Christ. I found God here. Let me change that statement....I never knew that I could know God like I do now before this group.
Next came church. I tried the church that most of the girls in the Bible study attended. It was completely untraditional. Completely different from what me and J grew up in. After going once, we hopped on over to a traditional Baptist church the next Sunday. We went to this church for about a month, even tried Sunday school once. It had everything we thought that we were looking for. All of the traditional practices were right on target. The last time that we visited this church I remember it like it was yesterday. We were pulling out of the parking lot and I looked at my husband and said, "Did you get ANYthing at all out of that sermon?" He looked at me and said, "I never do. I just like the church." PROBLEM.
The next week, we went back to the church that was completely untraditional and out of our comfort zone. I can't even begin to explain the feeling that I had when we left other than, "We have finally found it. We have finally found our home." The preacher preached to us. US. I fell in love. With the feeling. The feeling that the Lord was in that place and speaking to me directly through that preacher. We have been there ever since and have fallen in love even more. With the people. With the church. With everything.
This morning I got up and went to church with nothing particular on my mind. The preacher blew me away, just like every Sunday. He was preaching on how we are all called by God to witness to others. Others that are far away. Not just in Lowndes County. We have some church members in Haiti right now, and I honestly thought that he was talking about them. I guess he was. But that wasn't it.
He is leaving. Leaving the church. Leaving me. Leaving my family. Leaving the Christianity that I have found through him that I never thought was possible.
At first, I was mad. I stood there with my arms crossed with a frown on my face. Then I became sad. I could not stop crying. I wanted to run out of the church, but didn't want to cause a scene. Then I felt guilty. Completely guilty for several different reasons. For one, it's not about me. His family has to be taking this so much harder that I ever could. Also the church staff. Hello, Abby. You are not the center of the universe. I also felt guilty for putting all of my faith in a man. I know that the "Christian" response would be..."Well, he was wonderful, but he is just a man. Your relationship with God is what is important. It's not about him. It's about Him, God, the one and only."
I am writing this because I know it's going to be tough. I don't know what's going to happen with our church. I hope and pray that we ban together and keep alive what we have become. I know one thing: No one can take away what I have gotten from this amazing preacher and I do not regret for a second being a part of his congregation.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Pictures, Updates, Ect.
Why is it that I can never find time to blog? I love blogging, both reading them and writing them. For now, here are a few things we've been up to since my last post:
Easter and the never ending game of hiding and finding eggs :) We had a WONDERFUL Easter this year. My dad and sister came to my church and it was AMAZING. I love my preacher so much and am amazed that every time someone comes with me, it seems that he is speaking directly to them. I hope they feel it too.
T-ball.....oh t-ball. I have to say that the games were a ton of fun. The practices, not so much. Merrit learned a lot and really enjoyed it. His friend Evan from school was on his team, so he had a buddy to play with work really hard with. His friends Isabella and Landry from church were also on his team. I loved watching Isabella with her hot pink glove! Sweet friends make for a good season.
Merrit "graduated" from FBC. Not really. But we pretended. This is his last year there, so my grandmother made him a diploma since the 4 year old's leaving got one. Ha...no one really understood why we were acting like he "graduated." He's the first great-gran, so everything will always be a big deal. I like it that way.
We went on a cruise!!! We were able to go on a cruise for a whole 7 days in May! We went to Nassau and Freeport in the Bahamas and the Florida Keys. We went with some sweet friends from Starkville and their little girl. We took Merrit and he had a blast! He did much better than what I was expecting. He will definitely be going back with us WHEN we go on another one. It was great. God is good.
Little man got to stay with Ya-Ya for a few days and Gran and Pappy for a few days when we were on the cruise. I think he had fun too!
So now we're just hanging out enjoying our summer break! I'm teaching ESY this summer at my school in the mornings, so it's not an "official" break for me until the 22nd. We leave for the beach on the 24th and then have absolutely nothing to do in July. I don't know if I am looking forward to that or not. A part of me wants to plan something. I don't like not having a plan! But for now, it's sunshine, swimming pools, and popsicles by the box full at my house.
Happy Summer!
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Coupons...the devil or a lifesaver?
Okay, so I've been trying this coupon thing. I went to a workshop on how to get started with some friends a couple of weeks ago. Let me just say...the girl leading the workshop, had it going on! She knew all the tricks of finding a good deal and only buying what she needed (not all that other junk most people end up buying when they have coupons). I've been wanting to get into this for a while. My sister-in-law and my cousin are really good at it and have motivated me to start. This workshop was just the icing on the cake!
And then the problem....actually doing it. It can be EXTREMELY overwhelming. Especially when you don't have all of the resources and time that some people do. I know that these people say that if you just make time, then it will be worth it. Here's my question...how do you MAKE time? I didn't know that was possible.
Here's just a snapshot of my days right now.
5:30 a.m.-(I say 5:30, but I usually hit snooze about 4 times) wake up, shower, get dressed, get my children up, ready, dressed and in the car with breakfast in hands
7:00 a.m.- (again, I say 7:00, but am ALWAYS late) drop kids off at daycare and head to work
7:20ish-3ish - work, work, work; and let's just say, it's THAT time of year
3ish-4:30ish - either a meeting or the gym (the gym thing just started last week, but it's a must right now)
4:30- pick up kids
5:30- 2 to 3 days/week we're at t-ball, church on Wed. nights (again, another thing that just started last week, but we're really enjoying the Wed. night services) My family has become accustomed to crock pot meals on the days that Merrit has t-ball and something quick and easy the other nights.
6:30-8- play, feed, bathe, read, sing, put kids to sleep
8:00- SERIOUSLY, by this time, I am NOT going to get on the computer and look at coupons/store ad's/ect. When my kids go to sleep, I have to clean, pick out clothes, and pack bags for the next day.
All of that said, when I do it, I do actually enjoy it and I LOVE the savings. Take right now for instance, my husband is outside playing with the kids (I've had them all day while he's been playing in Starkville with his buddy), and I am about to "coupon" it up. I guess I just have to realize that I can not go to the extreme that some people go to, but just do what I can when I can. Another lesson I've learned: I can NOT take my kids shopping with me anymore if I'm going to figure out the best deals and use coupons. Not.Fun.
I have heard that it gets easier the more you do it and I'm hoping that that's true! For now, you will NOT be seeing me on Extreme Couponing. I'm just going to say it...those people are crazy (but I LOVE watching them)!
And then the problem....actually doing it. It can be EXTREMELY overwhelming. Especially when you don't have all of the resources and time that some people do. I know that these people say that if you just make time, then it will be worth it. Here's my question...how do you MAKE time? I didn't know that was possible.
Here's just a snapshot of my days right now.
5:30 a.m.-(I say 5:30, but I usually hit snooze about 4 times) wake up, shower, get dressed, get my children up, ready, dressed and in the car with breakfast in hands
7:00 a.m.- (again, I say 7:00, but am ALWAYS late) drop kids off at daycare and head to work
7:20ish-3ish - work, work, work; and let's just say, it's THAT time of year
3ish-4:30ish - either a meeting or the gym (the gym thing just started last week, but it's a must right now)
4:30- pick up kids
5:30- 2 to 3 days/week we're at t-ball, church on Wed. nights (again, another thing that just started last week, but we're really enjoying the Wed. night services) My family has become accustomed to crock pot meals on the days that Merrit has t-ball and something quick and easy the other nights.
6:30-8- play, feed, bathe, read, sing, put kids to sleep
8:00- SERIOUSLY, by this time, I am NOT going to get on the computer and look at coupons/store ad's/ect. When my kids go to sleep, I have to clean, pick out clothes, and pack bags for the next day.
All of that said, when I do it, I do actually enjoy it and I LOVE the savings. Take right now for instance, my husband is outside playing with the kids (I've had them all day while he's been playing in Starkville with his buddy), and I am about to "coupon" it up. I guess I just have to realize that I can not go to the extreme that some people go to, but just do what I can when I can. Another lesson I've learned: I can NOT take my kids shopping with me anymore if I'm going to figure out the best deals and use coupons. Not.Fun.
I have heard that it gets easier the more you do it and I'm hoping that that's true! For now, you will NOT be seeing me on Extreme Couponing. I'm just going to say it...those people are crazy (but I LOVE watching them)!
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Are you the mom who.....
1. pours juice into sippy cups from the grocery store, at the grocery store, before the sippy cups have been bought, brought home, and properly washed in order to avoid tantrums?
Guilty...although this has only happened once, I left the store completely flustered saying that I would NEVER, EVER take the kids shopping with me again right after picking them up from daycare. Other people were looking at me like, "I can not believe that that woman is doing that." We had no food. I had no choice. My kids did not get any crazy diseases. Everyone is healthy and fine.
2. gets in the tunnel at the park and then is unable to get out?
Yes, guilty again. And I have to say that this has not only happened once, but twice!
3. gives your 1 year old a chocolate pop-tart on the way to school?
Yes, and it will never happen again (unless of course he sees them, points, and says "pees, pees, peeeeees").
This is me these days. I choose my battles (but not in the grocery store, they win every time). I get down and dirty with my kids at the park (even when I end up in positions that I know are not meant for a close to 30 something person to be in). And when that baby boy with those big brown eyes and those chubby cheeks looks up at me and says "pees," I would give him the world if I could. So am I THAT mom? I guess so :)
Guilty...although this has only happened once, I left the store completely flustered saying that I would NEVER, EVER take the kids shopping with me again right after picking them up from daycare. Other people were looking at me like, "I can not believe that that woman is doing that." We had no food. I had no choice. My kids did not get any crazy diseases. Everyone is healthy and fine.
2. gets in the tunnel at the park and then is unable to get out?
Yes, guilty again. And I have to say that this has not only happened once, but twice!
3. gives your 1 year old a chocolate pop-tart on the way to school?
Yes, and it will never happen again (unless of course he sees them, points, and says "pees, pees, peeeeees").
This is me these days. I choose my battles (but not in the grocery store, they win every time). I get down and dirty with my kids at the park (even when I end up in positions that I know are not meant for a close to 30 something person to be in). And when that baby boy with those big brown eyes and those chubby cheeks looks up at me and says "pees," I would give him the world if I could. So am I THAT mom? I guess so :)
Saturday, February 12, 2011
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