All Grown Up

Last night before going to bed I set the coffee maker to make coffee at 6:45am. I figured this was PLENTY of time to have it be ready and for the smell to trickle down my hallway and into my bedroom reviving my senses to get out of bed.

I should have known...at 6:30am I was up in the kitchen pushing the "on" button not wanting to wait for it to go off on its own in 15 minutes. What is it about children that causes them to wake up early on Saturday mornings and then sleep in on Sunday mornings? One of life's little ironies I guess.

This morning as the sun was coming over the horizon :-) I couldn't help but think of what I was doing a year ago today. My little sister Katie was preparing to leave the name Graydon behind and become a McGee for the rest of her life. I can't believe it's been a year already. It's weird watching your little sister walk down the aisle wearing a wedding dress. I remember the first time we went dress shopping, I felt like we were little kids and she was playing dress up. How could she be old enough to get married? I am blessed to have a special bond with my sisters. It is that bond that makes me pray that Randol will have a sister one day. It's weird how growing up I considered myself anything but equals with my younger siblings because I was SO much older and wiser than they were :-) But now, now we are equals, both wives to two wonderful men.

Now she will call me and tell me about working in her garden...Katie, working in a garden? We'll swap recipes...Katie, cooking? Our relationship has gone to a whole new level, yet it is still as unique and special as before. I look at her and I see this grown woman going on adventures with her hubbie, not really needing mom and dad anymore b/c her alliance is to her husband. Isn't that the mark of a parent that was successful?

Life changes and I have no choice but to change with it. I can look back on the last five years and my life is TOTALLY different. What will change between now and the next five years? A whole lot I bet! I must hold on to the One who is in control of my future, who has my best interests at heart. I know that I have absolutely no control over what happens tomorrow. So I'll keep dreaming, keep wondering and keep waiting to see what the Lord has in store for me next!

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

~Jeremiah 29:11

Don't Blink!

Today we went to a friends house for a play date. She has boy/girl twins that are 2 months older than Foster. As we sat there watching our children splash each other and take turns squealing, it made me think of how fast time goes. Today I am taking pictures of them in diapers while tomorrow I'll be taking pictures of them graduating high school.

I always joke and say "You blink and they are grown". So many people come up to me when I have the baby and tell me how it seems like yesterday that their son was that small, to enjoy and savor every moment. It's so hard to remember that in the midst of the day of changing dirty diapers and listening to crying babies. Even now as I write this, Will is fussing off and on, Randol and Foster are throwing a ball up and down the hallway making all kinds of loud noises and Wesley is trying to concentrate on the Braves game. And I have to tell myself, "You blink and they are grown," to remind myself that sometimes making memories is more important than how quiet they are or what time they got into bed. When it's all said and done memories are what you are left with. Before I know it, I'll find myself standing in the grocery store line telling the young mother in front of me that my son used to be that little.

"For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations."

~Psalms 101:5

P.S. It took me two hours to write this post because of my busy house!

Runny Noses and Painted Toesies

Recently I have been going to different people blogs and reading about their lives. There is something about connecting with other people that is satisfying. So many people post these neat stories and pictures of all these exciting adventures. It made me think I had to do the same. Then I realized that I'd probably only write once or twice a year when we go on vacations!

My adventures consist under my own roof. My adventure today aside from the normal stuff consisted of wiping my poor son's runny nose, painting toe nails with my 8 year old and watching Cinderella. Not very exciting huh?

I also got to cuddle and sing to my little man Foster as he cried on my shoulder and would quiet down just enough to hear me sing. Soon he forgot about crying and just listened.

I got to snuggle with my daughter who is growing into a young lady so fast I can't stand it. I know my days of snuggling on the couch and watching movies with her are limited.

Then there was the first cooing from, as my husband calls him "our teeny tiny man". He laid on a pillow and watched me making funny faces at him and then rewarded me with his sweet voice for the first time (aside from crying!).

To end my day, my children were nice enough to go to bed in time for me and my honey to snuggle on the couch and watch a movie and eat a bowl of ice cream.

This is my life, this is the stage I am in. I can't go travel to exotic places or jump in the car at a moments notice to go somewhere on a whim. But I can hold on to the adventures I have under my own little roof. One day, my kids will be grown and it will be just my husband and I...then I'll go to exotic places, but for now, I'm content with where I am.

The Blessed Request

Has someone ever asked you to do something and you walked away feeling so blessed for being asked? Tonight I was asked to pray for someone. Not a big deal you may say. This is definitely not the first time I've been asked to do that.

But this time was different. There was something in her eyes when she asked. It was as if she was trusting me, counting on me to do something so important, something that meant a lot to her heart. I walked away and immediately started praying as I left. Someone once told me that when you commit to pray for someone it is like making a contract with God. Now I think that "contract" might be the wrong word. I think "accountable" is more like it. Prayer is so important to God. There have been so many times I have said I would pray for someone and then forgotten, only to remember the next time I see them or hear something about their situation.

Guilt.

That's the only word I know to explain how I feel in those moments. My mother writes prayers to people anonymously and then mails them. I like this idea. I've started telling people I've prayed after the fact, not before~in case I did forget. I am ashamed to admit that. I never want to tell someone I'll do something and then forget to do it.

Tonight I feel as though I was given something very special. The chance to pray for someone who was hurting. I could have prayed without her asking me-I know that, but God used her simple request to remind me how important it is for God's people to pray for one another, to lift each other up.

"...the prayers of a righteous man are powerful and effective."
~ James 5:16

The Gift of Today

I have been longing to start a blog, but kept talking myself out of it. Who would read it? What's the purpose? There's no time etc. I finally realized that my need to write had nothing to do with others reading or responding, it was for me. If others do read or respond, that's just an added bonus! I feel at times like Dumbledore in Harry Potter and I wish I could borrow some of his pensive to get rid of so many thoughts in my head!

Yesterday a dear friend lost his 25 year old son. It's hard not to wonder how such tragedy can come to such wonderful people. People often ask where is God in a situation like that. It is easy for me to say sitting here that He's right there, holding them in His hand. When my Gramma died, my husband Wesley had to tell our 6 year old daughter. What he said will always stay with me. He told her God had been working so hard to build Gramma her house in heaven. Today, He finished it and called her home. I think that is the most beautiful explanation to hold onto. You can also relate it to right now. Right now, I know He is working to build my own house and only He knows when it will be finished.

As I held my precious 6 week old son in my arms this morning I couldn't help but think of my friend, knowing he used to do the same with his son 25 years ago. Being a parent is the greatest privilege and the greatest heartache. I have no idea what lies ahead for my little one. All I can do is treasure today and make it count. Let go of the stress of laundry and cleaning and bills...none of that matters to eternity. It will all still be there tomorrow. But today...today is a gift worth unwrapping.

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Fathers house there are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you may also be where I am."
John 14:1-3