If you've been reading my blogs for the last week you know I have spent four days alone while my husband took the kids to ski.
This alone time has done WONDERS! The kissing is better, the smiles are more genuine, the love is free-er.
The trick was not falling into the trap of, "I need to get out of town." Or, "I need a pedicure!" At least that was the case for me. Initially I was making the ski trip plans for four people, but after Christian agreed that he could handle the children on his own I opted to stay home. The comfort of my home was so refreshing! I didn't have children to clean up after, I didn't have meals to prepare. It was one of the most rejuvenating vacations I've ever taken. I still got my laundry done, my Bible studies taught, my work-outs performed; I had a productive week, but I didn't have to multi-task to do it! It was awesome!
So, my advice is that the next time there is a 2 or 3 day trip planned, IF YOUR HUSBAND WILL AGREE, let him and the children go while you stay home and refresh. Your goal will be to get bored. After you've been bored you'll enjoy multi-tasking again! You'll get to refresh in the comfort of our own home.You can sleep in our own bed, on our own pillow. Fix low-fat, low-cal, low-carb meals without disgusting the children! Watch movies or listen to recorded books while you fold laundry. You may even clean out a closet... But that's ALL you'll be doing, not cleaning out a closet while you teach math AND while you are on hold with the pediatrician WHILE you mentally prepare for the children's service. ...you just clean out the closet. sigh.
The downside is fighting off those pesky maternal worries: "I hope he remembered her medicine." Or, "Oh, God, please don't let them blow a tire and die on the highway!" And there's always the fact that you know he's going to let them eat whatever they want! But, for a few days anyway, they'll be just fine. Ignorance is bliss when it comes to oatmeal or sugar donuts for breakfast. They could just as easily have a wreck with you in the car. And you'd be surprised how often kids remember their own medicine.
Our family has enjoyed the results of our "split vacation" so much we are crossing our fingers and hoping to be able to do this once a year...
I hope you get a chance to do it too.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Attempting the Ever Elusive "Me Time", 3
Today I have not yet been able to get to my desired place of boredom...
I woke this morning running late for my Bible study.
The Bible study went great! We talked about the creation of Angels and the fall of Satan & his angels... We talked about how we have authority over Satan and his imps. It was powerful! (The phone rang in the middle of it and my student nearly jumped out of her skin, she was so focused! LOL)
After my Bible study I ran home to write my Women of the Word Bible study, which takes several hours. (It may seem like a long time, but I'm not just studying for them, I'm writing them and I don't want to say things that are untrue... It takes a long time to research this stuff!)
I had a fun, quick dinner with my parents and sister, ran home & finished my Bible study. Ran to the church to teach the Bible study, and now I'm home blogging...
Of course everything I've done today I've enjoyed immensely! I LOVE teaching, writing, creating... But it doesn't bore me. It makes me want to do it more, and do it more ALONE! This is not the point of my "Me Time"!
I called & texted Christian several times throughout the day because I miss them. I wanted to make sure they slept alright, were safe, were having fun... The call kept going straight to his voice mail so I knew his power was off, which of course just made me more nervous! When he finally called me the signal was stinky. Bummer. So he texted me that they were fine, skiing, and they would call me when they got off the slopes. They did call and I feel more relaxed now. =)
So now, finally, my opportunity to get bored...
Wish me blessings!
I woke this morning running late for my Bible study.
The Bible study went great! We talked about the creation of Angels and the fall of Satan & his angels... We talked about how we have authority over Satan and his imps. It was powerful! (The phone rang in the middle of it and my student nearly jumped out of her skin, she was so focused! LOL)
After my Bible study I ran home to write my Women of the Word Bible study, which takes several hours. (It may seem like a long time, but I'm not just studying for them, I'm writing them and I don't want to say things that are untrue... It takes a long time to research this stuff!)
I had a fun, quick dinner with my parents and sister, ran home & finished my Bible study. Ran to the church to teach the Bible study, and now I'm home blogging...
Of course everything I've done today I've enjoyed immensely! I LOVE teaching, writing, creating... But it doesn't bore me. It makes me want to do it more, and do it more ALONE! This is not the point of my "Me Time"!
I called & texted Christian several times throughout the day because I miss them. I wanted to make sure they slept alright, were safe, were having fun... The call kept going straight to his voice mail so I knew his power was off, which of course just made me more nervous! When he finally called me the signal was stinky. Bummer. So he texted me that they were fine, skiing, and they would call me when they got off the slopes. They did call and I feel more relaxed now. =)
So now, finally, my opportunity to get bored...
Wish me blessings!
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
A Tribute To Lola Roehm Richardson
Of all the flavors and varieties of people on this earth Lola had incredibly deep respect for those fellow human beings with a handicap, most particularly, those that faced life with tranquility in spite of their more difficult circumstance. Lola never did realize how special she really was.
She was born to a mother who had been in labor for so long she had passed out into a comatose state. (Or the doctors put her there, either way, she was out cold when the baby was born & for some time after.) She awoke to find that she had given the world a baby girl and her husband had dutifully named their firstborn after both their mothers, Bessie Lola. Both Lola and her mother, (who also happened to be named Lola) hated the name, Bessie.
Lola was a bright child who excelled in school. But she was not merely a "book-worm". She was a real, honest-to-goodness girly-girl, through and through. She loved lovely things. She delighted over fancy things. She couldn't resist soft things. As a matter of fact, one day as she was leaving school she discovered the most unique plant she had ever seen; it had rounded edges, no leaves, and was covered in the most sumptuous, irresistible fur. Wanting to take in the fur to its full extent she intended to rub that silky fur and grabbed the plant with both, wide open hands... only to learn what a cactus was! BOTH her hands were covered in the tiny needles and it took a very long time to extract them all.
Lola loved her children with the same abandon she displayed toward that cactus; her whole heart. She told me a story about how after her divorce from my husband's dad she began to see another man. She truly liked being with this man and entertained the thought of remarriage. One day she was in a car with her boyfriend and her son. Her little son did what I've seen countless boys do, he put his feet up on the dashboard. The scolding that she watched her son receive from her boyfriend grieved her greatly and she stopped seeing that man. Was she happier because of her decision? She thought so when she told me the story. Did her son turn out to be a better person because she put him before her own romance. I really believe so. I've seen so many single mothers desperate for a man to depend on sacrifice her children's confidence and futures on the altar of temporary romance.
Lola took great pride in her education. She earned her Masters degree while rearing two children alone. She taught elementary school for over thirty years. She was favored by the schools she worked for, she was admired by the interns lucky enough to work in her classroom, she was appreciated by her peers, and her children loved her. She was also an accomplished musician, singer, and music teacher. She had many piano students who will likely be playing in their respective churches this Sunday. There are many praise and worship singers in various churches who sang their first solo in her children's choir. Her love for music went beyond today's culture of ear buds stuck in our ears, blocking the world out. Her love for music was displayed by touching it as she did that cactus, all over, with wide-open hands, experiencing it to its fullest.
She was adamantly against abortion. Long before I knew her she had an abortion*. I sat in the backseat of a taxi with her once and she told me with tears in her eyes of her regret at having that abortion. She said, "When I look at Christian and Robin now and see how special they are I can't help wondering what my other two children would have been like." She's the only person who's ever talked to me candidly about her experience in having an abortion. She has convinced me of its evil.
Christian and Robin. Her two crowning achievements. She raised them on her own. It was never easy. Early in my husband's life he talks of the various homes they lived in, unlike myself who has lived in four houses my entire life. They have very few school portraits because she would always forget to turn the slip in with the check to get the pictures back. Christian says that their house was always messy. These are the things that blocked Lola from realizing how special she really was all along. As far as she was concerned everyone she worked with had a sparkling home with the Good Housekeeping stamp of approval. She truly thought that every other parent was kinder to their children than she was. From her vantage point no one else ever had their electricity turned off. Her outlook of mankind was in general so positive that she felt she could never live up to their standards. Little did she realize that, messy house and all, she was far exceeding the average qua.
Christian moved to central Florida to be with me and we started our family. Robin's husband is an engineer for GE and consequently they have lived in various states. (Each of Robin's four children were born in their own state!) Lola created the most amazing, magical moments for our families when she brought us together for Kousin Kamp. She got the idea from Focus on the Family. Every Summer all the grandkids came to her house. (The first year there were four grandkids, there ended up being six!) They had such a great time with their grandmommy! She made them all matching shirts with their names on them. Christian always stayed at her house to help; he was the Kamp Kounselor! Robin and I had what we dubbed "Sister-in-law camp". If a child was wearing diapers they were too young to be at Kousin Kamp, so they stayed with us. Those are memories that are deep-seated in me. They conjure the best of emotions and sense of belonging.
One day Christian received a call from the pastor's wife where Lola was one of the music directors. Evidently, while in the middle of playing the Hallelujah! Chorus in a church service she stopped. She simply could not play anymore. To my knowledge she never played the piano again. We rushed to Pensacola where she lived. Robin, Christian, and Lola's two sisters, Helen and Jaye, spent months with various specialists trying to come up with a diagnosis. She had a very rare degenerative brain disease called, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy.
We watched Lola, in the last five years of her life become the person she always admired; a handicapped person who faced life with amazing peace. Don't get me wrong, she was stubborn and independent, both qualities that make care-taking difficult. But mad at God? No. Sad and depressed? No. When Lola passed from this life she was found lying on her side, in her most comfortable position in her own bed, in her own house. Her face was relaxed and peaceful.
February 13th, 2009, marked one year since her passing. It feels like its been five years since she left us. I truly miss her. But I see her clap her hands when I watch my daughter stand in choir and clap. I hear her teach when I listen to my husband explain mathematics or grammar to our children. Her voice will still echo through my thoughts critiquing something, and her giggle somehow is heard when my son says something funny.
...Oh yeah, and when I walk through my messy house I know it doesn't mean I'm a loser; it just means I have a lot on my plate.
Thank you, Lola.
*I can't remember if Lola told me she had two abortions or one abortion and one miscarriage. To her they were both traumatic.
She was born to a mother who had been in labor for so long she had passed out into a comatose state. (Or the doctors put her there, either way, she was out cold when the baby was born & for some time after.) She awoke to find that she had given the world a baby girl and her husband had dutifully named their firstborn after both their mothers, Bessie Lola. Both Lola and her mother, (who also happened to be named Lola) hated the name, Bessie.
Lola was a bright child who excelled in school. But she was not merely a "book-worm". She was a real, honest-to-goodness girly-girl, through and through. She loved lovely things. She delighted over fancy things. She couldn't resist soft things. As a matter of fact, one day as she was leaving school she discovered the most unique plant she had ever seen; it had rounded edges, no leaves, and was covered in the most sumptuous, irresistible fur. Wanting to take in the fur to its full extent she intended to rub that silky fur and grabbed the plant with both, wide open hands... only to learn what a cactus was! BOTH her hands were covered in the tiny needles and it took a very long time to extract them all.
Lola loved her children with the same abandon she displayed toward that cactus; her whole heart. She told me a story about how after her divorce from my husband's dad she began to see another man. She truly liked being with this man and entertained the thought of remarriage. One day she was in a car with her boyfriend and her son. Her little son did what I've seen countless boys do, he put his feet up on the dashboard. The scolding that she watched her son receive from her boyfriend grieved her greatly and she stopped seeing that man. Was she happier because of her decision? She thought so when she told me the story. Did her son turn out to be a better person because she put him before her own romance. I really believe so. I've seen so many single mothers desperate for a man to depend on sacrifice her children's confidence and futures on the altar of temporary romance.
Lola took great pride in her education. She earned her Masters degree while rearing two children alone. She taught elementary school for over thirty years. She was favored by the schools she worked for, she was admired by the interns lucky enough to work in her classroom, she was appreciated by her peers, and her children loved her. She was also an accomplished musician, singer, and music teacher. She had many piano students who will likely be playing in their respective churches this Sunday. There are many praise and worship singers in various churches who sang their first solo in her children's choir. Her love for music went beyond today's culture of ear buds stuck in our ears, blocking the world out. Her love for music was displayed by touching it as she did that cactus, all over, with wide-open hands, experiencing it to its fullest.
She was adamantly against abortion. Long before I knew her she had an abortion*. I sat in the backseat of a taxi with her once and she told me with tears in her eyes of her regret at having that abortion. She said, "When I look at Christian and Robin now and see how special they are I can't help wondering what my other two children would have been like." She's the only person who's ever talked to me candidly about her experience in having an abortion. She has convinced me of its evil.
Christian and Robin. Her two crowning achievements. She raised them on her own. It was never easy. Early in my husband's life he talks of the various homes they lived in, unlike myself who has lived in four houses my entire life. They have very few school portraits because she would always forget to turn the slip in with the check to get the pictures back. Christian says that their house was always messy. These are the things that blocked Lola from realizing how special she really was all along. As far as she was concerned everyone she worked with had a sparkling home with the Good Housekeeping stamp of approval. She truly thought that every other parent was kinder to their children than she was. From her vantage point no one else ever had their electricity turned off. Her outlook of mankind was in general so positive that she felt she could never live up to their standards. Little did she realize that, messy house and all, she was far exceeding the average qua.
Christian moved to central Florida to be with me and we started our family. Robin's husband is an engineer for GE and consequently they have lived in various states. (Each of Robin's four children were born in their own state!) Lola created the most amazing, magical moments for our families when she brought us together for Kousin Kamp. She got the idea from Focus on the Family. Every Summer all the grandkids came to her house. (The first year there were four grandkids, there ended up being six!) They had such a great time with their grandmommy! She made them all matching shirts with their names on them. Christian always stayed at her house to help; he was the Kamp Kounselor! Robin and I had what we dubbed "Sister-in-law camp". If a child was wearing diapers they were too young to be at Kousin Kamp, so they stayed with us. Those are memories that are deep-seated in me. They conjure the best of emotions and sense of belonging.
One day Christian received a call from the pastor's wife where Lola was one of the music directors. Evidently, while in the middle of playing the Hallelujah! Chorus in a church service she stopped. She simply could not play anymore. To my knowledge she never played the piano again. We rushed to Pensacola where she lived. Robin, Christian, and Lola's two sisters, Helen and Jaye, spent months with various specialists trying to come up with a diagnosis. She had a very rare degenerative brain disease called, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy.
We watched Lola, in the last five years of her life become the person she always admired; a handicapped person who faced life with amazing peace. Don't get me wrong, she was stubborn and independent, both qualities that make care-taking difficult. But mad at God? No. Sad and depressed? No. When Lola passed from this life she was found lying on her side, in her most comfortable position in her own bed, in her own house. Her face was relaxed and peaceful.
February 13th, 2009, marked one year since her passing. It feels like its been five years since she left us. I truly miss her. But I see her clap her hands when I watch my daughter stand in choir and clap. I hear her teach when I listen to my husband explain mathematics or grammar to our children. Her voice will still echo through my thoughts critiquing something, and her giggle somehow is heard when my son says something funny.
...Oh yeah, and when I walk through my messy house I know it doesn't mean I'm a loser; it just means I have a lot on my plate.
Thank you, Lola.
*I can't remember if Lola told me she had two abortions or one abortion and one miscarriage. To her they were both traumatic.
Attempting the Ever Elusive "Me Time", 2
On my way to have coffee at BD Beans I spent $2 and washed the bird poo off my car. I figured that if I were going to be pampered for the next few days I might as well not do it in a poo-laden chariot. (I don't have a garage & my parking place abide beneath a canopy of oak trees.) By the time I got to BD Beans it was 12:30pm, so rather than only have coffee I ate their amazing chicken salad croissant sandwich. Waaaay to expensive for a chicken salad sandwich... But I only had to buy one, (instead of at least two, & usually four,) so I SLOWLY ate it with pleasure. I read an entire magazine which included an article before I even touched the sandwich. I actually let it sit there for at least five minutes while slowly munching on the chips that came with it. The waitress asked with concern if the sandwich was to my liking. I smiled and told her about my goal to get really bored. I tried to ignore her envy since that only brings me guilt, NOT an emotion conducive to relaxation.
I got about a 1/4 of my research done for my Bible study while there, paid my bill & went to the grocery store for a "single woman's" grocery list; 6 frozen dinners & lemon Italian ice! I also stopped at the DollarTree for some cheap-o "get bored" supplies; bubble bath, pedicure supplies, a couple books, (neither one of them for relaxing. I need a few "the cat who..." mysteries for that.) I have fed my horses, cats, & dogs, spoken to my husband (they made their plane!)
Now I think I'll go toward my first step of boredom; a bubble bath. A bubble bath is virtually useless. You can't work on your computer from there for obvious moisture reasons. If you start a really good book in there your arms get tired. If you talk on the phone in there you risk NOT relaxing. I'll think I'll try to watch a movie... Maybe Stargate. Christian hates it but M&M love it... I'll figure out why.
I got about a 1/4 of my research done for my Bible study while there, paid my bill & went to the grocery store for a "single woman's" grocery list; 6 frozen dinners & lemon Italian ice! I also stopped at the DollarTree for some cheap-o "get bored" supplies; bubble bath, pedicure supplies, a couple books, (neither one of them for relaxing. I need a few "the cat who..." mysteries for that.) I have fed my horses, cats, & dogs, spoken to my husband (they made their plane!)
Now I think I'll go toward my first step of boredom; a bubble bath. A bubble bath is virtually useless. You can't work on your computer from there for obvious moisture reasons. If you start a really good book in there your arms get tired. If you talk on the phone in there you risk NOT relaxing. I'll think I'll try to watch a movie... Maybe Stargate. Christian hates it but M&M love it... I'll figure out why.
Attempting the Ever Elusive "Me Time"
So, a rare event has occurred for this homeschooling mother of two: I AM ALONE!
Really! For four days my husband and children have gone on a vacation without me. Let me tell you how it came about...
About two weeks ago I had come to the realization that I needed some SERIOUS "Me Time". An hour long pedicure might help, but I knew sixty minutes of fluff were not the real need. I told my husband and we were planning how to exactly remedy the situation. ...then we found CHEAP plane tickets!
I like me. But other people sound so much more compassionate, warm and fuzzy than I seem to myself. The cold, hard truth is that I'm a loner. My "love language" is Acts of Service, not Touch, or Quality Time... Do a job for me and leave me alone and I am IN LOVE, baby!!! Because this is my nature to homeschool requires real focus to present an environment of warmth and fun. I could tell that I was not enjoying my children properly, nor presenting myself in a manner for them to enjoy. I needed a break.
So, when we found these tickets my first impulse was, "Yipee! LETS go skiing!" I love skiing. I've done it since I was nine years old. One of the first trips I took with my husband was a ski trip. My kids were on skis by the time they were four years old. But I had to do what I had to do... Christian was completely comfortable taking the kids by himself to ski and thus remedy every one's needs... (He's such an amazing man.)
So, here I am. I've been alone for about 45 minutes. The things I plan to do besides my regular activities (orchestra rehearsal, bible studies, Hadassah meeting, etc.) is reorganize the Christmas storage closet and possibly begin the first draft of the All New 2010 Easter Drama. If I get bored enough I may touch my ever-growing To Do List, but the most important thing for me to do to get recharged for my family is.... (are you ready for this? This is the key to recharging...)
GET BORED!
If I get bored enough (or so I've learned from experience) it'll be like the last few weeks of Summer vacation when I was a kid. I couldn't wait to see my friends, I couldn't wait to use my new pencils and paper! (Christian always laughs at me for that one.) I couldn't wait to do the most dreaded thing of all: GO TO SCHOOL! So, I plan to get bored so I can enjoy what is truly a delight, a fulfillment, and a passion; being a good mom. (Hey! Even chocolate can get mundane without a break! LOL)
So, I'll blog more than usual to keep track of my activities. If I succeed or fail you can learn from my example! (Ain't I so sweet, looking out for you that way?)
I'm off to BD Beans for coffee while I prep my Bible studies, then to the grocery store for grub for me and the pets, maybe to the library.... hmmmm the possibilities are limitless.
Wish me blessings!
Really! For four days my husband and children have gone on a vacation without me. Let me tell you how it came about...
About two weeks ago I had come to the realization that I needed some SERIOUS "Me Time". An hour long pedicure might help, but I knew sixty minutes of fluff were not the real need. I told my husband and we were planning how to exactly remedy the situation. ...then we found CHEAP plane tickets!
I like me. But other people sound so much more compassionate, warm and fuzzy than I seem to myself. The cold, hard truth is that I'm a loner. My "love language" is Acts of Service, not Touch, or Quality Time... Do a job for me and leave me alone and I am IN LOVE, baby!!! Because this is my nature to homeschool requires real focus to present an environment of warmth and fun. I could tell that I was not enjoying my children properly, nor presenting myself in a manner for them to enjoy. I needed a break.
So, when we found these tickets my first impulse was, "Yipee! LETS go skiing!" I love skiing. I've done it since I was nine years old. One of the first trips I took with my husband was a ski trip. My kids were on skis by the time they were four years old. But I had to do what I had to do... Christian was completely comfortable taking the kids by himself to ski and thus remedy every one's needs... (He's such an amazing man.)
So, here I am. I've been alone for about 45 minutes. The things I plan to do besides my regular activities (orchestra rehearsal, bible studies, Hadassah meeting, etc.) is reorganize the Christmas storage closet and possibly begin the first draft of the All New 2010 Easter Drama. If I get bored enough I may touch my ever-growing To Do List, but the most important thing for me to do to get recharged for my family is.... (are you ready for this? This is the key to recharging...)
GET BORED!
If I get bored enough (or so I've learned from experience) it'll be like the last few weeks of Summer vacation when I was a kid. I couldn't wait to see my friends, I couldn't wait to use my new pencils and paper! (Christian always laughs at me for that one.) I couldn't wait to do the most dreaded thing of all: GO TO SCHOOL! So, I plan to get bored so I can enjoy what is truly a delight, a fulfillment, and a passion; being a good mom. (Hey! Even chocolate can get mundane without a break! LOL)
So, I'll blog more than usual to keep track of my activities. If I succeed or fail you can learn from my example! (Ain't I so sweet, looking out for you that way?)
I'm off to BD Beans for coffee while I prep my Bible studies, then to the grocery store for grub for me and the pets, maybe to the library.... hmmmm the possibilities are limitless.
Wish me blessings!
Friday, February 13, 2009
True Love...
Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, 5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, 6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Don't ask yourself is this describes your spouse's actions toward you, but rather, your actions toward your spouse.
Love is NOT a feeling. Feelings are nice, but they are merely chemical reactions in your body. No, love is not a feeling, IT IS A CHOICE! You CHOOSE to humble yourself & show patience, kindness, not be provoked, and all the other attributes 1 Corinthians 13 shows us.
Make this Valentines Day one of TRUE love. One of forgiveness. One of DECISIONS.
And don't forget that when the decision to love is more difficult than you can bear; GOD IS LOVE. Seek his face & he will help you.
Don't ask yourself is this describes your spouse's actions toward you, but rather, your actions toward your spouse.
Love is NOT a feeling. Feelings are nice, but they are merely chemical reactions in your body. No, love is not a feeling, IT IS A CHOICE! You CHOOSE to humble yourself & show patience, kindness, not be provoked, and all the other attributes 1 Corinthians 13 shows us.
Make this Valentines Day one of TRUE love. One of forgiveness. One of DECISIONS.
And don't forget that when the decision to love is more difficult than you can bear; GOD IS LOVE. Seek his face & he will help you.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Saturday, February 7, 2009
What Miracles God Hath Wrought, Resurrection
My maternal grandmother was a full-time worshipper. But she was also a full-time praiser. When I tell you that she would squeal and dance everywhere, I do mean everywhere; grocery store, city bus, parking lots, amusement parks... Nothing was off-limits. All she had to do was start thinking about how good God was, or start humming a church song and after a chorus or two she'd delve into an old fashioned, pentecostal "fit"! I was nine years old when she died but I clearly remember helping my mom pick up her purse and its scattered belongings in various public places. (In her "spin dance" her purse would fling off her arm!)
Nellie Mae Butler had the grace to live in the era pre-birth control and she birthed fourteen children! No twins, just one baby after the other. (She raised 15 children because she took in her deceased sister's son.) All of her children knew the "get mom's purse" drill when she started dancing. They also had a system for guiding her out of the public eye if they could! They'd just surround her and start walking, she had no choice but to dance her way into the house if she was in the yard, or to the car if she was in the parking lot! One of the time I remember picking up her purse and its insides from the parking lot was right after she had her blood pressure checked. The nurse commented on how good it was for a woman her age. That was all it took! Nellie started telling her about how her health was attributed to God. How God had protected her so many times! How God had healed her and given her grace to face tragedy. She was telling my mother about the conversation when the joy of her God overwhelmed her and off she went!
However, tragedy is not held at bay merely because people are happy, thankful, or good people. One day Nellie was riding in a car along with some other people. There was no air conditioning in the car so the windows were rolled down. This was in the late 40's or early 50's so car seats for babies and children were unheard of. Nellie's newest child, Earl, was being held in the backseat. As they were crossing an intersection a person ran a stop sign and hit them square in the side, causing Baby Earl to fly out of the opened window and smash into the curb. It was a terrible wreck. Earl died on impact.
Nellie ran to the curb and picked up her baby. People gathered around. Emergency vehicles began to arrive. A police officer had confirmed that all hope was gone and they left the grieving mother her last few minutes to hold her baby. With tears streaming down her face Nellie told her God, "You've given me 12 healthy children. You've never taken any from me. If you want to take this one you can. I will love you anyway."
By surrendering her baby to God she was surrendering her own happiness. She was sacrificing her own emotions and maternal instincts. Nellie was not praising this time, she was worshiping.
When she uttered, "I will love you anyway." A miracle happened; That baby gasped for breath! People went running in all directions to get help when they saw all was not lost! The policeman was in shock! My grandmother was in shock!
When the doctors at the hospital saw him their diagnosis was that he would "be a vegetable all his life." (They had such tactful lingo in those days!) They said he would not walk or talk. But they didn't know Nellie's God!
My Uncle Earl is alive and well to this day! He is a husband, father, and grandfather. He was in the top of his classes in school, he was a star football player in high school. Every job he's ever had he's been a favorite of his employers and has excelled to management. He never misses an opportunity to tell people about how he was resurrected from the dead!
Nellie Mae Butler had the grace to live in the era pre-birth control and she birthed fourteen children! No twins, just one baby after the other. (She raised 15 children because she took in her deceased sister's son.) All of her children knew the "get mom's purse" drill when she started dancing. They also had a system for guiding her out of the public eye if they could! They'd just surround her and start walking, she had no choice but to dance her way into the house if she was in the yard, or to the car if she was in the parking lot! One of the time I remember picking up her purse and its insides from the parking lot was right after she had her blood pressure checked. The nurse commented on how good it was for a woman her age. That was all it took! Nellie started telling her about how her health was attributed to God. How God had protected her so many times! How God had healed her and given her grace to face tragedy. She was telling my mother about the conversation when the joy of her God overwhelmed her and off she went!
However, tragedy is not held at bay merely because people are happy, thankful, or good people. One day Nellie was riding in a car along with some other people. There was no air conditioning in the car so the windows were rolled down. This was in the late 40's or early 50's so car seats for babies and children were unheard of. Nellie's newest child, Earl, was being held in the backseat. As they were crossing an intersection a person ran a stop sign and hit them square in the side, causing Baby Earl to fly out of the opened window and smash into the curb. It was a terrible wreck. Earl died on impact.
Nellie ran to the curb and picked up her baby. People gathered around. Emergency vehicles began to arrive. A police officer had confirmed that all hope was gone and they left the grieving mother her last few minutes to hold her baby. With tears streaming down her face Nellie told her God, "You've given me 12 healthy children. You've never taken any from me. If you want to take this one you can. I will love you anyway."
By surrendering her baby to God she was surrendering her own happiness. She was sacrificing her own emotions and maternal instincts. Nellie was not praising this time, she was worshiping.
When she uttered, "I will love you anyway." A miracle happened; That baby gasped for breath! People went running in all directions to get help when they saw all was not lost! The policeman was in shock! My grandmother was in shock!
When the doctors at the hospital saw him their diagnosis was that he would "be a vegetable all his life." (They had such tactful lingo in those days!) They said he would not walk or talk. But they didn't know Nellie's God!
My Uncle Earl is alive and well to this day! He is a husband, father, and grandfather. He was in the top of his classes in school, he was a star football player in high school. Every job he's ever had he's been a favorite of his employers and has excelled to management. He never misses an opportunity to tell people about how he was resurrected from the dead!
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
What Miracles God Hath Wrought, He's In Control
I know that God is a healer. I have seen him give sight to the blind. I have seen him deliver people's bodies of cancer. He has healed my body many times! He has healed my son's body many times. But, for whatever reason, he has not healed my son of deafness. Madison is not totally deaf, he is Severe Hard of Hearing. He is almost completely deaf in his right ear and his left ear hears fairly well without a hearing aid. But believe me, teachers, friends, & family KNOW when he's forgotten to put on his hearing aids!
Madison got his hearing aids when he was two years old. Because he wasn't talking yet we assumed he was born not hearing. However, a few years ago we ran across an old video tape of the Thanksgiving after Madison's birth, (He would have been around 3 weeks old,) and it certainly appears that he was hearing like a normal newborn. He would "startle" when the silverware drawer opened, which was often since it was Thanksgiving. He would turn to face the voices in the room. He would give his attention to the door when it opened or closed. There were so many indications that he was hearing normally.
As Madison was coming up on his 1st birthday we had a skiing vacation planned. However, Madison came down with a cold & I was concerned about taking him into even colder weather than we have in FL. I decided that I would have the rest of the family go without me and I would join them when Madison was feeling better. We were scheduled to leave early Monday morning. It was a Saturday and the pediatrician's office was closed. To keep from losing my plane ticket I went to the emergency room for the magical "doctor's note", that is suppose to make teachers, employers, & airlines give us a break! The doctor checked Madison out and said he had a low-grade fever. He wasn't concerned because there was a virus going around. He looked in Madison's ears and said they "might be a little pink", but certainly not infected. He told me to take the trip, Madison would be fine. So I took the trip along with everybody else.
Monday night Madison's temperature skyrocketed to a scary 104. I had a baby sister die of spinal meningitis; a fever TOTALLY freaks me out due to my experience with her. Believe me, I was not a little fearful - I was crazy afraid! Nothing brought his fever down; cold compresses, Tylenol... I honestly can't remember everything we tried, I just remember nothing worked. I was praying and praying for him. I would hold him and walk the hall praying for him. I would lay on the bed with him and pray. I fell asleep while rocking him and praying. God was well aware of me all that night and late into the morning on Tuesday.
Where we were vacationing was not in a luxurious resort; we were out in the boonies! It was a 30 minute drive to the closest store, & that was a tiny convenience store. It was over an hour drive to the nearest pharmacy, which was the Clarion, PA, Wal-Mart Pharmacy. So, after my very scary night I decided to call his pediatrician and see if he would prescribe some antibiotics. But just as I was about to call him my mother piped up with a good idea: "Go ahead and get the phone number for the Clarion Wal-Mart Pharmacy so you can give it to the doctor."
Brilliant! I picked up the old, rotary telephone and dialed three numbers; 4-1-1. It was a rotary phone, I didn't slip and punch more numbers . I didn't dial an area code. There's not a doubt in my mind that I dialed 4-1-1.
The phone rang... and rang... and rang longer than it usually does when you call information. When a woman finally answered the phone she said, "Clarion Wal-Mart Pharmacy."
I was in shock! I knew I was calling 4-1-1 TO GET Clarion Wal-Mart Pharmacy. I wasn't sure what was going on so I asked, "Where did I call?" She repeated, "Clarion Wal-Mart Pharmacy." I couldn't believe it! I knew this was a sign from God that he might not be handling things the way I wanted him to, but HE WAS IN CONTROL! I said quickly, "Can you please give me your number!" Not know that she was a part of an amazing act of God she very busily rattled off the number. I got off the phone shaking my head. I went and told everyone in the house. Then I remembered to call Madison's doctor who did indeed prescribe antibiotics.
After watching that video of Madison's first Thanksgiving I am convinced that Madison lost his hearing due to that severe ear infection. I don't know why God didn't heal him then. I don't know why God doesn't heal him now. But God showed me from the very beginning of Madison's hearing loss that HE WAS IN CONTROL.
He's been in control ever since! Madison's hearing aids can cost anywhere from $1,500 to $2,500. He's gone through 3 sets of hearing aids; we've not paid for a single hearing aid yet! God has made a way EVERY time! I can't count how many times he's lost his hearing aids. (I mean, he IS a hyper, little boy!) Every time I go to look for them, (in a completely freaked out state,) I pray, "God, you've either got to heal that boy or show me those hearing aids because you know I can't afford to replace them." I find them every time!
...and Madison's speech is GREAT for a kid that can't hear! He gets along well with his friends who all hear normally! I could go on and on telling you the big and small things God has done to show that he is in control of this situation.
Can God heal Madison's deafness? Absolutely! Will he? I don't know... I fast and pray, but I always reiterate, "You know what's best for Madison."
I'm so thankful to serve a loving, compassionate, IN CONTROL God.
Madison got his hearing aids when he was two years old. Because he wasn't talking yet we assumed he was born not hearing. However, a few years ago we ran across an old video tape of the Thanksgiving after Madison's birth, (He would have been around 3 weeks old,) and it certainly appears that he was hearing like a normal newborn. He would "startle" when the silverware drawer opened, which was often since it was Thanksgiving. He would turn to face the voices in the room. He would give his attention to the door when it opened or closed. There were so many indications that he was hearing normally.
As Madison was coming up on his 1st birthday we had a skiing vacation planned. However, Madison came down with a cold & I was concerned about taking him into even colder weather than we have in FL. I decided that I would have the rest of the family go without me and I would join them when Madison was feeling better. We were scheduled to leave early Monday morning. It was a Saturday and the pediatrician's office was closed. To keep from losing my plane ticket I went to the emergency room for the magical "doctor's note", that is suppose to make teachers, employers, & airlines give us a break! The doctor checked Madison out and said he had a low-grade fever. He wasn't concerned because there was a virus going around. He looked in Madison's ears and said they "might be a little pink", but certainly not infected. He told me to take the trip, Madison would be fine. So I took the trip along with everybody else.
Monday night Madison's temperature skyrocketed to a scary 104. I had a baby sister die of spinal meningitis; a fever TOTALLY freaks me out due to my experience with her. Believe me, I was not a little fearful - I was crazy afraid! Nothing brought his fever down; cold compresses, Tylenol... I honestly can't remember everything we tried, I just remember nothing worked. I was praying and praying for him. I would hold him and walk the hall praying for him. I would lay on the bed with him and pray. I fell asleep while rocking him and praying. God was well aware of me all that night and late into the morning on Tuesday.
Where we were vacationing was not in a luxurious resort; we were out in the boonies! It was a 30 minute drive to the closest store, & that was a tiny convenience store. It was over an hour drive to the nearest pharmacy, which was the Clarion, PA, Wal-Mart Pharmacy. So, after my very scary night I decided to call his pediatrician and see if he would prescribe some antibiotics. But just as I was about to call him my mother piped up with a good idea: "Go ahead and get the phone number for the Clarion Wal-Mart Pharmacy so you can give it to the doctor."
Brilliant! I picked up the old, rotary telephone and dialed three numbers; 4-1-1. It was a rotary phone, I didn't slip and punch more numbers . I didn't dial an area code. There's not a doubt in my mind that I dialed 4-1-1.
The phone rang... and rang... and rang longer than it usually does when you call information. When a woman finally answered the phone she said, "Clarion Wal-Mart Pharmacy."
I was in shock! I knew I was calling 4-1-1 TO GET Clarion Wal-Mart Pharmacy. I wasn't sure what was going on so I asked, "Where did I call?" She repeated, "Clarion Wal-Mart Pharmacy." I couldn't believe it! I knew this was a sign from God that he might not be handling things the way I wanted him to, but HE WAS IN CONTROL! I said quickly, "Can you please give me your number!" Not know that she was a part of an amazing act of God she very busily rattled off the number. I got off the phone shaking my head. I went and told everyone in the house. Then I remembered to call Madison's doctor who did indeed prescribe antibiotics.
After watching that video of Madison's first Thanksgiving I am convinced that Madison lost his hearing due to that severe ear infection. I don't know why God didn't heal him then. I don't know why God doesn't heal him now. But God showed me from the very beginning of Madison's hearing loss that HE WAS IN CONTROL.
He's been in control ever since! Madison's hearing aids can cost anywhere from $1,500 to $2,500. He's gone through 3 sets of hearing aids; we've not paid for a single hearing aid yet! God has made a way EVERY time! I can't count how many times he's lost his hearing aids. (I mean, he IS a hyper, little boy!) Every time I go to look for them, (in a completely freaked out state,) I pray, "God, you've either got to heal that boy or show me those hearing aids because you know I can't afford to replace them." I find them every time!
...and Madison's speech is GREAT for a kid that can't hear! He gets along well with his friends who all hear normally! I could go on and on telling you the big and small things God has done to show that he is in control of this situation.
Can God heal Madison's deafness? Absolutely! Will he? I don't know... I fast and pray, but I always reiterate, "You know what's best for Madison."
I'm so thankful to serve a loving, compassionate, IN CONTROL God.
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