Monday, September 14, 2020

September Update

 School is back in session and Jonathan and Lily are attending face-to-face classes in spite of the Covid-19 issues. Jon is a 10th grader and Lily, a 5th grader.


Here are some things that we are soooo sick of:

1. Wearing masks, rememering to bring masks everywhere, trying to breathe, speak, function with a mask, basically, just masks in general. Highly overrated. So done with MASKS! (Yes, I still wear a mask...)

2. Hearing the phrase, "new normal". Admittedly, I have said it myself, once or twice, but it even makes me cringe when I say it...

3. Arrows on the floors in grocery aisles. First of all, if masks truly work, then why do I need "one-way" signs in every aisle? And why is it that I always need something at the wrong way end of an aisle? It is wrong to go backwards down the wrong way? Half the time, I don't even realize there IS an arrow on the floor because my mask blocks my periferral vision down below my nose. Halfway down the aisle, I realize that I am going against the flow of traffic and I am greeted by not-so-friendly stares and mask-muffled insults. (Ah, back to the masks again!)

4. Social Distancing. So let me preface this one by saying I actually don't mind this as much as 1-3. I mean, I like my space, my "bubble", if you will. But sometimes, it is taken to the extreme. Like today, for instance. We were travelling for a 2-day Rock Hill soccer tournament and the team decided to go to a nice little pizzeria downtown between games. We showed up a little late as we wanted to check in to our hotel early (which they didn't let us do-boo!). When we arrived to the pizzeria, people were waiting to be seated. When we walked up to the hostess, she said we would have to wait at least 15 minutes. Knowing we had another game soon,  I asked if my son could go sit with his teammates who were already seated at a large table. She said they had a "new system" and she didn't think he could. Wait, what? So these kids, who just played a soccer game together, sat next to each other without a mask at halftime and "high-fived" everyone after their game are now being restricted from sitting together? Ummm...ok 🙄 

All in all, I am thankful that we are all healthy and able to work and go to school. I know the virus has effected so many adversly, and we are very fortunate that things have stayed relatively the same throughout these last 6 months.

Josh absolutely loves college. We got to see him very briefly on the way to the tournament this weekend. I miss him terribly, but he is so happy. 


Lily had her first soccer game of the season this weekend too. She scored her first goal and was so excited. I hated that I missed it, and can't wait for her next game!


Ending this post with some of Jonathan's artwork. He impresses me with his talent!!







Sunday, September 6, 2020

On the Road Again

 Our middle son has begun the permit driving adventure...so far, so good! He is such a cutie!!









Saturday, January 25, 2020

Choose Life




What a beautiful truth.

Choice.

I was unexpected, not in the "plan". Money was tight. There were already 6 children. Dispair asked the doctor to discuss "options" with my mother. Options between life or death. Between living or dying. God had a plan. His plan was for good and not evil. To give me a future and a hope. She chose LIFE. Thank you Mom for keeping me. Inspite of the hardship, the fears, the uncertanty. Thank you for following God's plan and not man's. I am eternally grateful.

And while she carried me inside, with all of her emotions of fear and dispair, a search began that changed the course of her destiny forever. Not only her life, but of all those around her. While laying in bed, pregnant with the life she chose to keep, she heard a man on the radio explain about Someone that would change her life forever. One who would never leave her or forsake her. One who could take hard times and turn them into good. One who could forgive her of her sins, love her unconditionally, walk with her through anything. Jesus.

Her tough decision led her straight into the best choice she could ever make. Forgiveness. Freedom. Transformation. A new creation. It was contagious, and spread over time. Her mother, her sister, her brother-in-law. Her husband, her children. Her grandchildren. Her nieces and nephews. Even her hard-hearted father. She met the One who chose her from before time was. He accepted her just as she was. And she was forever grateful for the new life He gave.

So many lives touched and changed for all eternity by the choice of one mother who chose life. Both the life of the one she carried, and New life in Christ.

"This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live." Deuteronomy 30:19