My baby is going to camp!

We're just crossing milestone after milestone lately in our family. Just a few months ago my son was agonizing about the fact that he would "never have a loose tooth!" We are now wiggling furiously at his bottom two teeth and preparing for the tooth fairy. Hopefully, they won't fall out at camp, because I have been designated as the tooth puller of the family! (I've heard that teeth are worth much more now than when I was doing business with her.)

So, he'll be going off this weekend and again, I'm feeling a both anxious and excited. I look forward to what God has in store for my son, who recently asked Jesus into his heart. I have concerns about his health as his food and environmental allergies are severe, but I've prepared as best I can and, after all, he's in God's hands.

It's just hard to comprehend that we're already at this point in life! He's definitely on the roller coaster of growing up and, if I'm not careful, I'll miss precious moments without even realizing it until they're gone. I have to fight to stay focused on what really matters verses what is urgent in my life. It's so easy to get caught up in deadlines and "to do" lists.

My daughter is also at such a fun age, she's putting more and more words together, and can ask more detailed questions now. One of my favorite phrases of hers is, when she's run out of delay tactics at bedtime, she says "I wake up in the morning!" I find myself telling her, "you have to go to sleep before you can wake up".

God truly has been blessing my life with this new project He's given me. I feel honored and amazed at the work He has done and I desire to give it my best. I am resolved, however, to keep it in its proper place within my priorities. My beautiful children deserve a devoted and engaged mommy, and my husband deserves a companion that isn't overworked. So, pray for me this weekend as I try not to hover too near the phone and let the apron strings out a bit!

God's been using some serious Miracle Grow lately!

I'm overwhelmed at the blessing God has been pouring out on my life lately! Who am I that He should favor me so? I've had a burden for youth since I was a youth myself. Over the last several years, God has made their struggle for sexual purity vividly clear to me, and given me the desire to help, somehow.

Then He led me to begin writing a proactive plan for sexual purity, one that worked for me. I laughed when He first gave me the idea, but He persisted, so I told my husband about it, expecting him to think it was ridiculous. He thought it was a great idea, so I started writing. I told God the He'd have to lead me step by step, because this was completely uncharted territory for me!

God led me to a wonderful agent, who has been instrumental in growing my vision and improving my project. As the process continued, I began looking for online resources to help teens (girls, in particular) and I couldn't find what I was looking for. God began burdening my heart to create the site I had in mind. Again, this is completely out of my comfort zone and area of expertise, but I began sharing the idea and it was met with an overwhelmingly positive response.

I began asking people I know and trust for testimonies, not of their salvation experience, but of their dating and marriage. I have been amazed at the people who have willingly offered their stories! I had to get used to asking, but some testimonies have been given to me before I thought to ask! Others said "yes" almost immediately! I've asked people to become prayer partners for the ministry and have been again met with favorable responses. I'm finding that God is sending people my direction to meet the needs of the ministry exactly when I need them, sometimes even sooner.

I teach high school girls' Sunday School, and we've been discussing my "plan". Again, I'm seeing them receive the message eagerly and express a wish to share with their friends. I'm finding that when God is ready to move and the time is right, the way stretches out before you like a highway and things that seem like obstacles are removed with little to no effort. I guess this is what Isaiah 55:11 is all about: So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper [in the thing] for which I sent it (NKJV).

I cannot possibly give God enough glory and praise for what He has done! This was completely His idea, His plan carried out in His timing. I feel humbled and honored that He is allowing me to take part in it.

If you know any pre-teen, teenage or college age girls who need encouragement in this area, or parents who need resources for teens, please send them to our site:

www.armedandvirtuous.org

If anything has to go wrong, it must be this week!

This is the last week of school before spring break, which means time off for both my son and hubby.

Of course I'd get sick! I awoke this morning feeling awful and Jason had to get himself and my son off to school without me. I'm just hoping It will run it's course within the next few days and give me a reprieve by Sunday. My daughter managed to sit still for about 30 minutes with me and let me doze, but then she got bored and I'm just thankful that, at the moment, she's satisfied with coloring at the kitchen table. I don't have the energy to chase after her today.

It's not like this week is a down week either. My son is now on allergy shots and tomorrow he's got not only a Dr. appointment, but a shot appointment as well. Wednesday is church and, like at Christmas, we're working toward a children's musical which absorbs much of my time. Thursday I've got a voice lesson with a student who will be auditioning for our local university and Friday is my son's kindergarten program! He needs to be dressed like a cowboy and prepared to say his one line: "The state bird is the mockingbird!" (I've got the cowboy hat and boots, but no shirt. If I'm better, we'll get one tomorrow.)

Jason has lately developed an interest in customizing blogsites, hopefully this one will get a facelift soon. We're working on a new site that will be promoting abstinence until marriage. I'm really excited about it and will post the link as soon as it's ready!

We have plans, both grand and small for Spring break. I'm praying that we all stay well. We need the down time, and my yard and home are in need of some TLC!

Hitting the Year Running...

Are you used to writing 2010 yet? I'm not. My friends and I were discussing this the other day. Fortunately, if you forget and write two zeros in a row, it's usually pretty easy to squeeze a "1" between them. :)

We're approaching the time of year when family together time is at it's premium. My hubby is particularly busy with work and I find myself often going solo with the kids. My patience runs thin and it all seems to go downhill from there. We came up with something over the holidays that I'm excited to implement and which might just help us get through this quality time "dry spell". I guess you can call this our New Year's Resolution:

Every month we are scheduling a special day for each child! This may not be a new concept to anyone else, but I'm realizing that quality time doesn't just happen, it must be planned. My son had his a few weeks ago. The boys went to Chuck E. Cheese, then to the mall and bought new outfits for the bear Santa gave him with his birthday money. The plan was also to go fly his new kite, but there wasn't enough wind. My son came home feeling special, my husband was more relaxed and I was able to spend quality "girl time" with my daughter; cooking at her toy kitchen and going through the contents of her purse. Next month, we'll switch kids! I plan on showing them ahead of time which is their special day and allow them to help set the "agenda". I'm sure they'll be looking forward to it all month!

My husband surprised me the other day with the announcement of my birthday present. I am to pick three locations I might want to visit within a five hour drive of our home and we'll spend a weekend at one of them! He's already made childcare arrangements and has a budget limit for our little excursion (which is almost a prerequisite to my relaxation, being the saver of the family.) I feel like one of the kids! It's been really nice lately when I'm in the fray of bickering children, messy kitchens and pinching pennies to know that I've got a weekend of freedom coming! I've got to figure out how to return the favor! (Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!)

We've had family game nights in the past and intend to continue that as well. Christmas was helpful in adding more gaming options. We received the Hasbro Family Game Night video game for the Wii and it's really fun! (More for Jason and me right now, but kiddos will grow to appreciate it too). It's a lot more fun playing battleship when you can watch the ships blow up! We also got Disney Grooves Dance, Dance Revolution. It's so much fun, such a good workout and so funny to watch! My son is really good considering his age. I'm getting pretty good at it myself! I keep thinking we ought to get a party together and play, but I'm not sure that I'm ready to make my dance moves public!

We'll see how it goes, but I'm proud of our efforts thus far and I'm hopeful that they will help us make it through this lean season. I'm also realizing that one of my most important jobs as a mother is keeping our family relationships a priority; fighting for their place among the other worthy, urgent, but less important activities that fill our lives.

Ho, Ho, Hectic!!!

I'm sure my story is no different than anyone else's at this time of the year. I've been asking God to make me fruitful and I believe He has. I've been given many opportunities recently to serve and hopefully, to bless others. The problem is, it all seems to be coming to a head this week!

My side of the family living across the country, and finances being tight all around, we had no plans to see each other during Christmas. I was sad, but looked forward to putting up a tree for the first time in several years and in my quest to enjoy an at-home Christmas, we offered to host the Anderson get-together on Christmas Day. I must, therefore, get the house in order and cook, but I usually enjoy such things, so, no biggie, right?

Well! Moving on to other "fruitful" activities. This Wednesday is our church's Children's Choir debut and, yes, I direct them. We have an adorable program, the music is fun, the acting is precious, but it has been monumentally labor-intensive on my part. We filmed the acting to help with memorization, (my husband's life-saving idea!) but that left us editing scene after scene! It looks great, all things considered, but we still have some odds and ends to finish and they must be done before tomorrow because that's our only opportunity to run it on church equipment. (Can't have any technical difficulties on performance day!) Last night, my hubby and I were up until midnight editing the most involved scene. The good news is, there is much support and enthusiasm for our little group. I just hope we meet expectations!

Then there is my son's Christmas party at school. I volunteered to be room mother because my son is allergic to several kinds of foods. I figured if I make it, he can eat it along with everyone else. I'm making gingerbread cookies and giving each child a ziplock bag with frosting and another with sprinkles to "decorate their own cookie". (I thought it was both a creative activity and a way to avoid another pastry disaster!) I've recruited other mothers to bring drinks, chips, plates, etc. I still must stuff the treat bags, though. That must be done tomorrow, because there is no other time!

I then find out, to my utter delight, that my mother is coming for Christmas after all! I'm thrilled! We all miss her terrribly, but I must pick her up from the airport, (several hours away), on Thursday evening. This means cookies must be made before then, childcare must be arranged, because, my husband being director of music at the high school, must attend the Choir concert that evening and all other class party arrangements confirmed. Oh! And the house must be ready earlier than I expected!!

Friday, party day, is an early out day. School ends at 1:00. The party will take place at 11:30ish. I will basically have enough time to take my son to school, come home and gather all the party items, return to "party" and bring him back home. We will then, finally, come home and enjoy spending time with "Grand Mama". Saturday actually has nothing planned, but Sunday morning is church as usual and that evening will be our "encore performance" of the Children's choir, followed by our Candelight Christmas service.

I still need to mail my Christmas cards, pick up some packages from the post office, buy my Angel tree gift, acquire stocking stuffers, plan Christmas dinner and I'm sure there's something else I've missed....

So, Merry Christmas to all and here's hoping your benevolent endeavors succeed (and mine too)!

It's the thought that counts, right?

Today is my son's sixth birthday party. He's into Mario right now, so the party is Mario themed. I thought I was being a well-prepared, considerate mother regarding my son, at least I tried to be. His party was originally planned for Saturday, but the football team advanced to the next round of playoffs and therefore the whole town will be gone on party day. Another child is having her party on Friday, so that's out. Sunday's not an option, because it's the month of Christmas and everything in the world is planned. I had no other option but to reschedule for Thursday. We booked the church playground because kids his age usually desire the following schedule for a birthday party:

1. Run, swing, slide, get dirty
2. Open presents
3. Eat cake, ice cream, etc..
4. Run, swing, slide, get dirty
5. Go home

The weather has been rainy and cold until today. This morning dawned sunny and bright. The playground, however, is wet and muddy, a little more dirt than I think my friends would like their children to ride home with. We can use the gym, but now all of a sudden, I must come up with party games!!!!! I'm throwing together ideas for races around the perimeter of the gym floor with self-propelled vehicles, calling it "Mario Kart" and maybe some type of obstacle course with tables and chairs, but we're 0 for 2 on Mommy appearing to have prepared for this momentous day!

Finally, at his elementary school, all the mothers who truly love their children bring cupcakes on their child's birthday. I had the great idea of decorating his cupcakes to look like mushrooms, to follow the Mario theme! I had it all planned out: color the frosting red and melt white chocolate, cut it into small circles to place on top of each cupcake. First attempt at purchasing white chocolate fell through. ( Too long a story to relate) Second attempt was successful, but at the point of no return, (the night before), I couldn't figure out how to cut out these little circles. My husband eventually came up with the solution. Using his playdough skills, He had me pour the chocolate onto wax paper and roll it into a "snake-like" shape to dry. Then we were to slice the circles.

We never could get perfect circles out of them. Most had a dip in the middle, making them look slightly heart-shaped, but I was undaunted. I told myself that mushrooms have irregular shapes on top, no big deal. Then we had the frosting disaster. According to the food coloring directions, I needed 24 drops of coloring per 16 oz. of white frosting. I tried that amount, then doubled, then tripled the drops. I finally came to the conclusion that the frosting would never achieve the shade of red. I was left with bright pink frosted cupcakes with white hearts on top. At this point it's about midnight, my husband is sleeping in the recliner and any store that's nearby in my small town has long since closed.

I managed to put on a happy face this morning, wish my son a "happy birthday" and act excited about the cupcakes. He actually didn't seem to mind their "non-mushroom" look. We had to lug two cake pans full of muffins into the school, little sister in tow. I turned them into the office for his class and, without thinking, did the one unforgivable thing a mother can do.

I kissed him at school! He's never acted this way before, but I felt him stiffen, say "I love you too" as quietly as possible and head for his classroom without looking back.

Hopefully the party will go well, and at least God knows I planned this event to the best of my ability!

First Day of School!!!

To all you mothers out there, mine especially, I salute you. This entire process of raising children seems like one long series of emotional moments. I have been preparing my son for Pre-K since the beginning of the summer. My son is actually going to an all day Pre-K because all my elementary teacher friends extolled its virtues. "Children who attend preschool all day are SO much more prepared for kindergarten!"

We recently went through our first round of purchasing school supplies, (MAJOR learning experience!) next time I will definitely shop at the beginning of the summer. As the big day drew nearer we tried to get to bed early (tried being the key word) and I began building up how much fun it would be by joking with him "You don't want to go to PRESCHOOL do you? Wouldn't you rather just stay home and fold clothes?" He got a big kick out of the idea that he was going to have fun all day while I stayed at home doing housework! The night before we picked out what he would wear, packed his lunch and his special pillow and blanket for naps and went to bed perfectly on time.

The next morning was predictably crazy: feeding the baby, getting everyone ready and taking pictures. We got off on time (shock of shocks!) to sit outside the school with everyone else. When they opened the doors I tried to let my son lead me (now which way do we turn?) and until the moment we turned down his hallway, I was just as excited as he was!

Then it hit me like a ton of bricks! My baby is going to school! I'm about to leave him in this place with all these other children! We're approaching classrooms with various colored flags outside to designate one room from the other to non-readers. I, being a former teacher in the district, know every teacher on this hallway and it's taking everything in me to put on my happy face and not cry while they comment "Oh, you're on the other side now!" "I can't believe he's already this big!" We enter the room and his teacher smiles, says "hi" and directs him to his chair. I turn in all his paperwork, give her all his alternative treats to use for good behavior or if a parent brings treats he cannot eat, hug my boy (who is already driving his teacher crazy by repeating her name over and over) and leave to deliver his epi-pen to the nurse's office.

I get stopped in the hall several times by teachers who want to "coochy-coo" my daughter. Normally, I love letting people admire her, but at this moment all I want to do is head for the door so I won't cry in public! I actually had a few teachers ask if I was doing okay. This almost put me over the edge, the LAST thing I needed was sympathy!

Somehow, miraculously, I made it out to the car with my little one, ( asleep on my shoulder, exhausted from all the commotion and attention she received) and got us both inside before the tears began to flow.

Next came the barrage of questions and silly yet real fears: "What if someone gives him something he's allergic to? What if he runs out of a door and into the street? What if someone takes off with him? Is his teacher going to be able to keep up with him among all the other kids? Is he going to remember his 'special number' so he gets into my car and not someone else's at the end of the day? Have I prepared him for this?"

Then I drove off and realized: from 7:55 to 3:25 every day, I'm the mother of ONE! I drove home, got my sleeping child out of the car (still in her car seat ) and sat down to read a book!