Dear Savannah

Dear Savannah,

You're eleventh birthday. It's here. And you are everything I could wish that you would be at this point in your life. You're a child of God, who is learning her way in her own walk with Him. It excites me to see the passion you have to learn about Him, with your note taking at church during your dad's sermons, to our daily devotions together, you're grounding your heart in God's Word. I'm so proud of you. Keep that close to your heart because there will come a day that is darker than today that you will need to grasp it with everything you've got and hold on to its truths.

Things are going to be changing in the next year. Physically you're going to be growing into a young lady and the world is going to try to explain to you what that looks like. They are going to show you pictures of girls your age who are skinnier, tanner, prettier, better dressed. But none will be more loved...and really that's what the world is trying to tell you...."You'll be loved better if you are skinnier, tanner, prettier, better dressed." But the truth is, you're loved as much as you're ever going to be loved right now. See, God has already loved you with an everlasting, immeasurable love. He can't love you any more than He does now because that would mean that right now, His love would be lacking. And that would mean that He isn't enough now. And that would be a lie. And that would mean God isn't God because He would be a liar. And He's not. So as you grow and change and mature...remember how loved you are just the way you are.

And what about boys....
Ugh...it's gonna happen, sometime. We're going to talk about it. It's going to be uncomfortable...more for me than you probably. But the fact is that...right now, there's no way you're having a boyfriend. It's just not right, not the time. You're eleven, you're still a kid and even though you're finding out how much God loves you, other than your family, there's not another person on the planet that you need to trust with your heart. A boy your age isn't capable of being careful with your heart. It's ridiculous to put that kind of pressure on him or you. So, let's just agree...boys aren't going to be part of the big picture yet. Sure, you can be friends, but let's keep it at that....whether you know it or not, you really don't want more than that anyway...besides, they still don't bathe on a regular basis without their mommy telling them.

What about friends? Well, from what I've seen over the last 20 years working and being around teenagers is that things might get a little rocky. I hate this for you and for your sweet gal pals that you hang out with. Here are a few things that might make this transitional time easier for you:

1. Watch your words. Be careful that the things that come out of your mouth encourage people. You can always find something nice to say about someone.

2. When/if you have a disagreement with someone, before you go and give them a piece of your mind, think about it. Ask yourself if this is really worth getting upset about? If the relationship is important to you, give it some grace, give offenses a pass, give second and third chances and let it go. Because sometimes people make mistakes and just need to be let off the hook. Give a hug and forgive.

3. But if you do have to go to someone who has offended you. Be sure your words are used wisely. When someone is confronted with an offense they will remember the words you say, and they will replay those words over and over in their head. Say what needs to be said in the most loving way. Forgive when others don't ask.

4. Just because you''re best friends now doesn't mean you'll be best friends when you're 16. Ugh, I hate this, but know that from my own experiences, as you grow, mature, change, learn your way, that you're friends might change. You'll make friends as you find hobbies and interests. And that's all good. But as those comfortable and uncomfortable changes come, don't treat your old friends poorly. There are seasons in our lives when we are closer to some than others. It's just the way it is. (However, I'd like to bottle a couple of your sweet friends up and keep them with us forever!)

Lastly, let's just go ahead and talk about modesty. You're going to pretty much hate me for the next 7 years or so of your life as far as fashion goes. The world is selling a bunch of goods that is trying to convince girls your age that showing off all your body parts is pretty. The world is trying to make money, sell a product, make money. They don't love you. I do. I'm trying to teach you to love yourself enough to save your body parts...all of them...for someone who God has made especially for you to spend your adult life with. Someone who is going to love you as Christ loved the church. Someone who isn't trying to make money on you or sell a product to you. Respect yourself and your future husband ....I know it's early to think about this...and of course it's not going to happen for a long long long time, but you need to know that how you dress says a lot about how you respect yourself. And since respecting yourself and God and others is essential to growing into a mature young lady, we're not going to budge on the modesty issue. I love you, that's why.

So happy birthday sweet tween. You are so special to your dad and me...but most importantly your God. These next years are going to fly!!!!!!

Thankful Thursday

This week I'm thankful for:

1. A birthday celebrated...turned 41 last week and was showered with sweet messages and thoughtfulness all day long...and a few days afterward!

2. Cooler weather...let's face it...90 degrees is cooler than 100 degrees anyway you look at it. No, it's not the cool temps of Wyoming ....but this is Texas and anything less than 100 is a good thing!

3. A successful easy start to our school year. Kids are loving that the real schedule doesn't start until after Labor Day....but it's coming!

4. Friends who make me laugh and think and cry. I need them all.

Thanks Lord...for these and all your blessings upon my life.

Complete Cupcake Foolishness

Today was Bruce's 42 birthday. I had decided that regardless of whether or not he asked for a particular  type of cake flavor I was making cake. He deserves to celebrate. Right? He deserved a special treat. Right? He and the kids love cupcakes. Right? Mom wanted to use her fancy smancy cupcake cups. Right? Oh wait.

It's true. Right after Christmas I hit the motherload of cupcakery clearance sales at T J Maxx. Savannah and I had gone to Rockwall in search of a new dresser for Tucker. We ended up browsing through the shelves at the Maxx and I spotted these:

Because I'm going to go into the cupcake business....Right?

 Why is Valerie Bertinelli designing cupcake liners while on Jenny Craig?

Because big taste comes in mini cupcakes ...

like what I'm making for our ladies Taste of Home Night on Thursday!

 And I couldn't pass up the cuteness of these...butterfly, boots, floral and watering can toothpicks! 

All this goodness marked down to $2 and $3 a package...

and that's what caused me to go into complete cupcake foolishness.

So...I asked Bruce chocolate or vanilla? He said chocolate and here's what he got

Happy Birthday Bruce! 

The New 30

I've heard it said a million (ok, maybe not that many) times over the last year "40 is the new 30"...and in my near dread of facing the big 4-0 I was trying to convince myself that this was the case. However, I've been reading "The Resolution For Women" and the first chapter is all about embracing the moment you are in now and not wishing for a better time, a more stable time, a healthier time or a more profitable time. As I neared my birthday I had resolved that I would tackle this year with more contentment. Thankfulness for where God has brought me, that His grace will be just as sufficient for these days as the last. Contentment for those moments when I am sorely dissatisfied and markedly unthankful. And joy for this moment in the history of my life. And just when I thought things couldn't get any better...my friends showed up.

Yes..and my Dr. (who ordered me to stay in the wheel chair all night long)

These crazy girls along with 45 or so of the ladies in the church showed up to give me a really special welcome into the 4th decade of my life. Here's a glimpse into the evening:

We played some games....including "Are you smarter than a first grader". And there was poetry and music from the 70's.

I was given some charming accessories...what girl doesn't like that?!

Lasagna and all the sides were served

And of course...cake

And a very special devotion on the faithfulness of God.

Then this company of godly ladies gathered around and said a prayer over me. And that perhaps, was the best gift of all...That you are loved enough to be taken to the feet of Jesus and prayed over is a gift that I'll never forget. How blessed am I?

And one of my favorite parts of the party was when they told me what my "real" gift was...

They had all brought food to donate to our food pantry at church! This was such a thoughtful gift...knowing that our food pantry is so close to my heart. 

So, thanks Ladies of CBC. You made turning the new 30 easier than I could have ever imagined! I know lots of hard work and effort went into making it a night I will never forget! I think you successfully accomplished that! 

It's Your Birthday!

Happy to be celebrating Bruce's 41st birthday today! 

I am so thankful for the gift God gave me 18 1/2 years ago. I had no idea what a great catch I received that day. The years have only gotten better and I'm thrilled to have each day with this wonderful, godly, loving man. He makes life fun, interesting, comical and an adventure. He cares about people. Really cares about people and is the most loyal person I have ever met in my life! He's not afraid to do things out of his comfort zone...like motor bikes, shopping....2-seater airplane rides and the 12 days of Christmas dance which you can see here. (Be sure to watch it...it's hilarious!) 

He's a good dad...who has learned the art of juggling work, ministry and family. He's a good husband who keeps me laughing and smiling and loving. He's much more to many people but I feel like this post is getting a little too mushy for him and since it's HIS birthday I better stop! Love you Bruce! I hope we have 41 more birthdays to celebrate you!

Turning six

This month we celebrated Tucker's sixth birthday....some of my favorite things from this past year are...

- His new obsession with all things Lego
- His snuggles
- His funny faces
- His independence
- The way he takes care of Savannah in a "big" brother sort of way...even though he's 3 years younger
- His love for chocolate!
- His help in the kitchen (loves to bake with me)
- His sense of rhythm

He will change so much in this next year. Kinda makes me a little sad. But there are new and wonderful memories to be made during this leg of the journey that will make his lifesong sing. It's exciting to watch him grow.

My prayer is for myself as much as it is for Tucker this year. May I be the kind of mother that God wants me to be for him. And may Tucker come to know Jesus in His time. May I  teach by my life more than my words so that I don't confuse him or lead him away from the things that really matter in this life. May we have fun and laugh and enjoy each other and at the end of the day thank God that He gave us this gift of family.

When Time Flies

As I type this I am reminded that time flies....faster than I ever imagined....Savannah turns nine years old in just a matter of minutes and that bittersweet reflection of her birth floods my soul again, as it does every year.

Wasn't it just yesterday when I strolled through Walmart hiding a pregnancy test under other items just in case I ran into someone I knew, hoping to avoid that glaring question..."Are you pregnant?"

Wasn't it just yesterday that I was daily struggling with morning sickness? Having christened just about every store in Beaumont, Texas? And the Alabama State Line, Hoover Dam and well...you get the picture.

Wasn't it just yesterday that we found out you were a girl and all that shopping, and pink, and frills began?

Wasn't it just yesterday that we decided your name would be Savannah....from my GA roots and Malynne because it means "girl from God" and that's how we felt about you....a special surprise gift from God.

Wasn't it just yesterday that I started feeling bad? Really bad....like something wasn't right?

Wasn't it just yesterday that the Drs. looked uncertain and that friends surrounded us with worry lines and tears and prayers?

Wasn't it just yesterday that we welcomed you with fear, joy, hope, anxiety? Your 2 pound 6 oz frame so tiny and weak and frail and 3 months underdeveloped?

Wasn't it just yesterday that the ups and downs and sorrows and joys of 91 days in the NICU were over and Dr. Thompson hugged you and nurses cried over you with happiness and Dad and I took you home?

And wasn't it just yesterday that you stopped setting off the apnea monitor and you gained some weight and you took your first step and you spoke your first words and you learned to run and play and jump?

My, time flies.

I'm so proud of the young lady you are becoming. Your tender heart and sweetness makes me excited to see where God takes you.

Happy Birthday Savannah....may God's hand shelter you all the days of your life and may you be obedient to all He has in store for you!

The Last Birthday

This is what I woke up to on my birthday......

Yes....I do have some of the most amazing friends in my life. With Bruce's permission they broke into my car...filled it with 39 balloons and wrote this most hilarious graffiti on my windows. ...Oh and to their credit blessed me with a 2 liter bottle of coke and a card. 

Thankful for those friends who go out of the way to make you feel loved. 

Anyway...I'm getting older (not old) and at some point I think we all probably have that birthday that really makes you think about who you are. This has been that year for me. God has shown me things about myself that run the scope from horrifying to beautiful and in those moments when I realized the worst and the best of who I have become I was stunned. I look back (not too far) and see where God has brought me from and I see the beauty that He has created out of mere ashes and I hope, pray, desire for Him to take all the ugly that still resides in this imperfect, humans and deplorably sinful...yet forgiven life...and make it beautiful too. 


Here's to another 39!

Signs You're Loved

Over the past few weeks I've had several reminders of how much I'm loved. Sometimes you just need to be reminded. I've needed it and although the expressions of love might be comical to you...I think you'll agree that we all have that need to be affirmed. Here goes:

1. I had a birthday. Between the 100 people of facebook, my family and a couple of special friends, this day was celebrated rather than dreaded. It's nice to be remembered.

2. The youth girls from church forked our yard. I so wish I had a picture of it! Some people might have been ticked off by this expression, but for me it was more a feeling of acceptance. I'm glad they felt like they could prank us...but this is NOT an invitation to do it again:)

3. Last weekend....another group (hmmm....wonder who it could be????) TP'd our yard....while this expression was not as welcomed as the first, I still know that the naughty girls  people who did this feel a sense of security and fun around us (at least they did....the security issue should be in question now....watch your back people:))

4. I've been missed. You know when you have a friend you haven't seen or when you just haven't had the chance to get together with a girlfriend for a while? That friendship is missed...it's not gone...just missed. Late night Whataburger runs, phone conversations and facebook messages let me know just because there isn't time to talk everyday...or sometimes every week, I'm missed. (FYI- I miss them too)

5. Savannah made me a picture that says "World's Greatest Mom"....I figure the feeling I got when she handed me that was a fraction of the emotion I might feel if Christ says "Well Done". I can hardly fathom that thought!

It's the little things. No one spent a lot of money or time or even energy (Ok, maybe 2 and 3 did). But it's that attitude or action of making someone else feel like they are important to your life. It's acknowledging special times, embracing for no reason,  saying words that might usually be reserved for special occasions, remembering things that make someone else happy....perhaps an autumn candle or something that they've mentioned once or twice in front of you. It's taking care of their kids...asking about them, praying for them. All these things let another person know they are important in the scheme of your life.

So, thanks friends. You've filled a special place in my life!

The Woman I Want to Be.

If you've read this blog for very long, you know that my mom is an extraordinary person. Besides the normal great mom stuff...cooking, cleaning, shopping and decorating, she tops the chart in teaching, looking remarkably younger than her years and making the best homemade spaghetti sauce this sauce of Italy.

Her 60th birthday is Friday....the 13th. In just a few hours the celebrating will begin. I talked with her the other night on Skype and asked her how she was feeling about it and her response was "I'm trying not to think about it!" I'm pretty sure she will have no choice!

In honor of my mom's birthday on August 13th, I am listing 13 of my favorite things about my mom.

1. She has the most gorgeous thick hair.
2. She makes the most of what she has.
3. She is an incredible gardener.
4. She's a hard worker.
5. She can take a room of mix match elements and make it look like a magazine picture.
6. She was faithful to God during the worst part of her life.
7. She can hop on the counter and belt out the Murphy's Oil song better than anyone I know (and yes, mom, this IS true)
8. She wasn't afraid to homeschool her 3 kids when homeschooling was totally uncool in the 80's.
9. She puts everything but the kitchen sink in her potato salad and it always turns out good!
10. She is a great mother in law
11. She's an even better grandmother
12. She is wise
13. She thinks of others more than she thinks of herself.

I could go on and on....bottom line: she is the woman I want to be. Sure she has her short comings, but at the end of the day, I hope this apple doesn't fall too far from the tree.

Happy Birthday Mom!

Catching up....

Make a Smilebox slideshow

I'm ready....

1. to go to Atlanta to see my new niece.
2. to have a date night with my hubby
3. to give my house a good cleaning
4. to read a good book
5. to spend some time with friends
6. to clean out my van
7. to do some decorating
8. to get my haircut
9. to teach my kids about the art of being thankful
10. drumroll please......to wish the guy in this picture......

A HAPPY 39th BIRTHDAY!

You are loved.

Girl from God

When we were about 20 weeks along in our pregnancy with Savannah, we had an ultrasound, confirming she was indeed female. I was excited. We went and registered that day. I dreamed of pink bows and braids and spend the night parties and frills and makeup and more. When she arrived just 7 weeks later, all I dreamed and prayed for was that she would survive!

Today is her 7th birthday. I can hardly believe it's been that long! From 2 lbs 6 oz. to a healthy 2nd grader, she's a walking miracle. Thank you Lord. Happy Birthday Savannah Malynne (which means "girl from God").

If you want to read more about Savannah's story...check our my blog about it at Surprise It's Octuplets