Earth Day

And God saw everything that He had made, and, behold, it was very good. Gen 1:31

This scripture was the last scripture I read to my kids this afternoon after discussing earth day. There were so many things on television and radio that reminded me of earth day and I heard Abbie say recycle about ten times today. Which I am very proud that her and Trever want to take part in that and have learned about taking care of our planet. However, there was this little voice that reminded me of why we have the priviledge to live on this great earth and I had to take a moment to sit with my kids and read from their Bible Story Book the story of Creation. We've read it so many times, but Trever still said "wow" throughout the whole story. Trever adored every picture, especially the page with all the animals. He said "God even created the ants, mommy. That's so cool. How did He do that? Is He a super hero?" Abbie answered very quickly "He's greater than a super hero, Trever." I found myself teary-eyed and in awe just like my children as Abbie and I took turns reading aloud. Abbie said "Jesus must love us a lot to create all of these things." Oh, how He does love us so much. The work of His hands is truly breath-taking.

I do wish that every creature great and small had thought of the Creator today. He is worth serving and living for.

Happy earth day!!

I feel complete again!!

I'm so happy to announce that my family is all together again and it brings me great joy. My dad brought Trever home on Friday afternoon and I thought I would just squeeze him to death. He said, "mommy, you said you were going to gobble me up when you saw me." Me and my dad just started laughing.
Abbie was suppose to be home on Saturday, but instead came home Sunday evening. I thought I was going to fall apart Saturday when I found out she wasn't coming home. Jeff kept me occupied by bringing home a trailer full of mulch and some new plants to put in the flowerbeds. It looks so beautiful. He definately knows how to make my heart smile. We also went to a wedding in the woods Sat. evening and I had the distraction of thinking of Edward and Bella the whole time during the ceremony--ha,ha. Jeff knew exactly what I was thinking the whole time and would just shake his head. I have no idea what Randy's message was during the wedding..........how terrible I know. It had something to do with trees.....
Anyways, Abbie had the life squeezed out of her when she arrived home and Trever wrestled her down to the ground. He told her if she wanted up she had to tap out--UFC unleashed--no, we do not let our kids watch it, but they do wrestle with their daddy and he knows all the lingo.
She was so wore out and I think she was somewhat dehydrated, but we got her fixed up and she was feeling much better today. Jeff and I got to snuggle with her at bedtime. I looked at her and she had tears in her eyes. I asked her if she was sad and she told me "no, I have happy tears because I'm with you." My heart just swelled with emotion. It was such a special moment. All I could do was wrap her in my arms and hold her close.
She says she had a wonderful time and wants me to post some pictures of her and RaeLynn at the Keys. I hope to get some pics from Dawn soon.

Have a great week everyone and squeeze your babies!!!

I truly love my life!

My kids left Sunday afternoon both going in different directions. Abbie went to the Keys with the Moses clan (lucky thing) and Trever went to my parents for the week. My kids are having such a wonderful time, but oh how I miss those little feet running on my wood floor. Jeff misses them so much that he just doesn't really know what to do with himself. We thought we would spend some great time together just the two of us , but the opportunity opened up for me to work fulltime hours this week so I have been working since Monday night and I haven't seen Jeff since Sunday. I crave the very sight of my family and my friends. I've not seen my closest friends or their kids either. I've not had my daily conversations with my mom and sister like normal and I feel like I'm on a whole other planet. I've always been thankful for my simple schedule and this week I've just been reminded at how blessed I am to be able to work very few hours. If I had to work this job full-time I would never see my family. I'm not saying working full-time is wrong so as you read please do not feel that way. If I worked the career path I chose full-time my schedule would literally be work and sleep nothing in between. So many people at work have asked me hundreds of times why I give up the money. They like to remind me that I could be affording cruises and fancy vacations and expensive clothes and shoes. Well, all I can say is that there is no pair of shoes (and we all know how much I love shoes!!!!!!!!!!!) that can be worth giving up my relationship with my kids and husband. We may not take fancy vacations and I may never walk in some high-end shoe or clothing store, but one thing I do know is that I will have lots of memories of my children's laughs and I will know what it feels like to sleep next to the man I love. That makes a "budgeted" life worth it for me.

So, thank you Jesus for:

1. My husband who values family and relationship as much as I do!

2. The opportunity to hear pitter-patter of little feet when I wake in the mornings

3. Trusting that Jeff and I could love and nurture your beautiful gifts, Abbie and Trever

4. The daily bread that you give because somehow it's always enough

5. The friends who feel like my sisters and their kids who feel like my own

6. Parents who crave my children's presence and find joy in them

7. The job my husband has that provides for us so that I can stay home and teach our children

8. T-mobiles favorite five so that I can call MY mommy, daddy, and sister everyday for free. Even though they are 4 hours away I can still hear their voice!

9. Loving me and giving your life for me

10. My life. I TRULY LOVE IT!!!!

A whole lot of nothing, yet so much fun

This past weekend all of our friends went camping and we did not get to go. We were all a little bummed about it, but we actually ended up having a wonderful weekend with just the four of us. The weather was just wonderful so we spent our whole weekend working and playing in the yard. I found the kids raking in the leaves and then throwing the leaves. At the time they didn't realize that all the leaves they raked were now everywhere once again. They had a great time so it was well worth it. I weeded my flower beds and Jeff of coarse played in the garden. We later took a walk out on the property exploring and watching the kids climb the trees. I snapped a picture or two and posted a lot of them on the side bar of my page. I know they aren't professional, but they are an expression of a wonderful family moment.

I posted a picture of the oak tree because that is the view from my front porch swing. Isn't it just beautiful? I just found myself in awe after I snapped it. It was just a moment to take in and reflect on how blessed we are to live where we live.

The last picture is of Trever playing his sister's leapster. His batteries died in his, but he knows he only is allowed so much leapster time so he couldn't give his playtime up. I noticed him nodding off and asked him if he'd like a nap. His reply was " no mommy, I am about to save Eve." He was playing Wall-E. I went back a few minutes later and this is what I found. I thought it was just too cute!

I feel so refreshed after this weekend. I wish everyday was just simply a playday with family!

Sounds like the Lord's Problem

I just feel like journaling some thoughts tonight and it will probably be a little long. If you choose to read then that will be great, but if you don't then that's fine too. I just need to share about my adventure's lately.

I have found myself for the last 5 months in a place of the unknown with several things including my job, Trever's speech issues, my Grandmother's cancer, where our family will go to church or if we will even go to church regularly, talking with Dr.'s about my health issues, and I could list more. It's all scary and some of these things hurt everyday. Some of these things make me angry everyday. When I think about the hoops and hurdles I've gone through with Dr.'s, schools, and therapist to get Trever what he needs it urks me to the core of my being. It is an unexplainable feeling when you know that there is really nothing else you can do for your child but try and be the therapist yourself. I wake up everyday with my Grandmother on my mind and I go to bed everynight with her on my mind. I constantly wonder how the very person who has taken care of all of us her whole life could have something that we can do nothing about. The one who's held my hair back when I was puking my guts up or put a bandaid on my finger and knees, the one who held my babies in the middle of the night while they screamed just so I could sleep for a few hours, the one who drove 4 hours with my father to get my kids and take them to her house for a week because I was in bed with pneumonia and couldn't even walk or take care of myself and Jeff had to work. There is absolutely nothing I can do to fix her. All I can do is lay it down before the Lord. The fears I have about my own health........well, that's a whole other blog post that I'm not quite ready to do it yet. It's just all hereditary stuff and all I can do is the best I can do with the options I'm given..........and once again, give it to the Lord.

Through all of this I've questioned if I've been in denial or if I've just not spoken about it at times because it's easier to repress it deeper and deeper. Have I been a terrible mother by not being able to get Trever help? Have I been the granddaughter who's had a lack of faith that God can take care of my Grandmother?

What I can say is that through all of this I have daily shared my thoughts with the Lord ( as if he didn't already know them-ha). I've learned that even if I don't speak of these things to another He has heard every cry and every request. He knows the day's I feel scared and He knows the days I feel angry about it all and He still loves me and I love Him.

I have not been on a stage, held a microphone in my hand, or touched a key on my piano in 5 months. I walk by my piano everyday and I look at it......and then walk away. Those of you that know me and my heart, know that it's not the spotlight I love, but instead it's the moment of freedom I feel when I open my mouth and sing to the one who created me. I also know that the Lord said it was time to sit and let Him do some new things in me and Jeff and that is what I've been doing. It's so hard. It's so hard to be in an uncomfortable place and it's hard to stop doing something that you love so much. I sing to my Jesus everyday, but now it's in the shower, car, or to my kids at bedtime. Jeff and I have no church job or title, and yet we feel closer to the Lord than we have felt in a long time. We've been able to extend ourselves to families who didn't think christian's cared. We've been able to spend time with people who hate the thought of church, but are so longing to be loved on and cared for. I've come to understand my husband's heart and his calling. He is a servant and he loves serving other people. He loves to cook for the hungry and fill their freezer full of vegetables. He can plant a garden let me tell ya! He loves to put swingsets together for a family who does not have the tools to do it. He loves towing peoples vehicles for them so they don't have to pay a wrecker. He does NOT enjoy moving people, but WILL do it because it meets their need. For years he's had to sit and "watch" me do my thing and never had the chance to do his thing. I know that there will be a time that we are both doing our calling at the same time, but for now the Lord is totally getting us on the same page and letting me see that awesome heart of Jeff's. Jeff is totally understanding what I feel when I'm part of worship instead of just being a spectator of worship. It feels GOOD! We now look at the "Living Room" (some call it church) as a place that is a safe haven. A place where your core group is.......you know the people you lean on and the people you worship with and the people you call upon to pray and agree with. It's the gas station, I guess. But, it's not to be a bubble that you lock yourself inside and it's not the place you force every person you run into to go to. It's a place that we are sent out from. Don't misunderstand me and think that I'm saying you have to go to church to get what you need because I'm not saying that either. We get our fuel from the Father. We didn't go to church for 3 months, but we still loved and obeyed the Lord the same. Hope that makes sense....... I'm truly captivated by what the Lord is doing.

Two weeks ago I heard Randy share a statement Lenny had made. The statement was "this sounds like the Lord's problem." At that moment I realized that I'm not so crazy afterall. All of this that I've been daily dumping on the Lord is because it's exactly what the Lord wants us to do. It's why He is who He is and it's for that very reason that when we lean on Him and cast our cares and confessions on Him we start to feel like our load is a little lighter. The truth is that it's all out of my hands and it's the Lord's to do. I can only pray,love, trust, and obey. It's all His.
I am happy to say that the report on my Grandmother is very good. The tumors in her lungs have shrunk 60% half way through her treatment and she has 8 more treatments to go. I'm very thankful. Trever is happy and improves weekly. He told me yesterday that he saw a frog instead of vrog. I just think that was a little present from the Lord:) I finally have guaranteed hours in my job. I have two beautiful children that make me laugh everyday and a husband who can't wait to get home to his family everyday. The Lord is hearing my heart and is sending just what I need...............

Happy Birthday to my boys!!

For some reason I can't get my pictures to post.......so I'll have to post some tomorrow.

I can not believe it, but Trever is 5! He is so excited, but I'm not sure about it. I told him that I was going to pray that he would be a baby again. He asked me why and I said because I wanted him to be my baby. He replied "Mommy, you so silly. I'm still your baby." My heart once again just melted. He had a wonderful birthday, or should I say birthdays being that he had 4 different parties. That's right, I repeat 4! That's what happens when your family lives far away. We first celebrated at the fish bowl with all of his friends and had a blast. Then we celebrated at our house with Jeff's family and then we celebrated in Blountstown with my family. He also had a party at school. Needless to say he is cupcaked out and has opened enough presents to think it's christmas. How blessed we are to have so many that love him!

Jeff also had a birthday on Thursday. We celebrated a little differently for his special day. Jeff's dad kept the kids and we went on a date to Bonefish and it was oh, so good!! Dawn was our waitress so the service was perfect. The food was delicious. We got to talk about whatever we wanted, but we mostly talked about our children......go figure. I'm so thankful for Jeff. He is such a wonderful dad and husband. I forget to often how nice it is to be taken care of and how special it is to have a husband who wants to hear about everything that's going on. He's a greater listener, helper, and encourager. He's also very STRONG and can move the furniture in my house over and over again even if it's back to the original place. He also does it without complaint! God knows how much us women need all of that and sometimes all at once-ha! We haven't celebrated his birthday with the kids yet because we had t-ball practice on the actual day of his birthday, but my kids are determined to have cupcakes with daddy so we are going to make that happen this weekend. Abbie thinks we need to make fun-fetti cupcakes and Trever wants Wall-E cupcakes for daddy. How cute is that!!

Happy birthday boys!! I love you so much T-man and I love you so much muscle man. I couldn't imagine this life without you. Thanks for loving me and Abbie unconditionally. Thanks for letting us be Queen and Princess 24/7 and thanks for dealing with all of our emotions!

WHOOPEE!!!

Thanks to the Symonds girls my children have literally laughed until they cried the last two days. Everytime I turn around Trever or Abbie have the whoopee cushion under their behind and are trying to sneak it under mine. They love for Jeff to put it behind his back. The sound is just horrific! I know, I know.................we are easily entertained, huh? I personally would like to strangle Samantha, but I also know that she probably sent it just to irritate the mess out of me. Trever's letter for this week at preschool is "W" so of coarse he had to take the whoopee cushion to Mrs. Angela today. She told me today that Trever shocks her on a daily basis. She was laughing as she said it so I suppose it's a good thing. Meagan Kornegay rode with us to school today and she was laughing just like Janet and Avery while Trever was sitting on it and that alone made me laugh. There is nothing like a Kornegay laugh. It can make anyone's day!
Some post, you say, but I've been in a boring orientation listening to hospital politics for 3 days and our children have been tossed around like hot potatoes this week. Thank you Dawn, Amy, Janet, Aunt Sam, and Aunt Jill ( I know Aunt Jill kept Trever straight during Abbie's dance practice). We've gone to bed very late by the time t-ball is done, dinner and baths are complete, and our mornings have also started much earlier than normal. Honestly with the week the Light's have had, I have to say the whoopee cushion is really all we needed. Thanks Emma Joy and Maddie Grace!!