This week has been an interesting one. Some good news arrived and some bad. Some lucky things happened and some unlucky. (If there is such a thing as luck!)
We hear alot about the circle of life. And it's true that people are born and die every day and that is life, but what happens, when that circle seems broken. When things seem to happen at the "wrong time"?
This week.... Lacey had her first baby. A sweet little boy who decided to arrive 7 weeks early!
A sweet friend from my Bunco group in College Station lost her husband in a car accident. 34 years old and gone in an instant. No time for goodbyes. Her toddler daughter lost a father she probably won't remember.
In things that now seem much less important, Lance's car was hit twice by a hit and run driver. The guy hit it and then backed up and hit it again! Fortunately for us, there was a witness and so we have the license plate number. Hopefully, this person has auto insurance and this will be nothing more than an inconvenience to fix!
Lance's parents were here with the kiddos while we worked this week. They took the kids to a movie yesterday afternoon and the fire alarm went off! So, the movie theater comp'd 4 tickets to use on a future visit. So, our family will be able to go to the movies sometime soon! This is exciting for us because movies are one of the items cut from our budget this year!
2009 has been a great year! We've had some super great times and moments this year and we've had some sad and hard times too --- just like all of you. We've said goodbye to great friends in College Station and hello to new ones here in San Antonio. God has blessed us greatly thru all of the transition.
In 2010, I don't have real "resolutions" although I do have a few things that are on my heart.
I'd like to:
do better on my eating and exercise
keep developing friendships here in SA
plan a "date" night with each member of my family separately --- one for Lance, N, and L --- a time to have one-on-one conversation with each
I pray that you and your family have a safe and happy new year!
See you in 2010!
Showing posts with label life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label life. Show all posts
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Life
Life is hard sometimes. This week is one of those times. This week, Lance and I've watched two young people make some poor decisions. One of them has very drastic consequences for his future. Both of these came from troubled homes. Homes where they weren't really wanted, homes were they were basically on their own. They've both worked hard and tried to do the right thing. Life is hard when you don't start out with a good foundation. My heart has broken over these and Lance and I were ready to welcome one of them into our home. Another place has been found, but we know we are both willing if she needs to come live with us.
It's so hard to understand how a family could not invest in their child. But, maybe, they themselves weren't invested in and so the vicious cycle begins.
It seems if you begin life poor and/or uneducated, there is alot stacked against you. Even if you try your best, there are obstacles at every corner. We've witnessed these first hand this week with these students and yet, I know there are thousands, if not millions more out there in the same situation or worse. I don't understand this. My heart aches over this. I want to fix it, but I'm one person. Lance and I still feel called to love and serve others, particularly young people, but sometimes it's just overwhelming. I know God doesn't expect us to save the world and thankfully there are many others who also feel called to serve and love. Sometimes, you just want to see the "success" stories and see someone overcome. And maybe, that's not for us to see right now. Maybe later.
So, this post is a little down, but quite frankly that's where we are today...a little down. Things will look up soon, they always do, but life is hard. And for many, it's hard most of the time. For us, we really have it pretty awesome most of the time. Some of this is because of parents who gave us a great foundation and are still supporting us when we need advice. Some is because we were able to get an education and provide for our family. But, none of it is because we are better than anyone else. We have to remember that and remember that To Whom much is given, much is Required. We have a responsibility to give back and to give without looking out for ourselves. To give as Christ gave for us.
And now, back to your regularly-scheduled lives...
It's so hard to understand how a family could not invest in their child. But, maybe, they themselves weren't invested in and so the vicious cycle begins.
It seems if you begin life poor and/or uneducated, there is alot stacked against you. Even if you try your best, there are obstacles at every corner. We've witnessed these first hand this week with these students and yet, I know there are thousands, if not millions more out there in the same situation or worse. I don't understand this. My heart aches over this. I want to fix it, but I'm one person. Lance and I still feel called to love and serve others, particularly young people, but sometimes it's just overwhelming. I know God doesn't expect us to save the world and thankfully there are many others who also feel called to serve and love. Sometimes, you just want to see the "success" stories and see someone overcome. And maybe, that's not for us to see right now. Maybe later.
So, this post is a little down, but quite frankly that's where we are today...a little down. Things will look up soon, they always do, but life is hard. And for many, it's hard most of the time. For us, we really have it pretty awesome most of the time. Some of this is because of parents who gave us a great foundation and are still supporting us when we need advice. Some is because we were able to get an education and provide for our family. But, none of it is because we are better than anyone else. We have to remember that and remember that To Whom much is given, much is Required. We have a responsibility to give back and to give without looking out for ourselves. To give as Christ gave for us.
And now, back to your regularly-scheduled lives...
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
N's Success!
In case you haven't heard it before, my N, he is an active one. Always has been, probably always will be. Think Ty Pennington or Richard Simmons as a 7 y.o. As I've mentioned before, N struggles with sitting still and keeping his hands to himself.
1st grade has been a struggle in this area for him.
Well, yesterday, there was a great thing in his Monday Folder. It was a happy stamp and his best conduct grade of the year!!!! Yippee! This is a major accomplishment for my boy. I'm very proud of him. I know how hard this is for him!
We discussed some of these issues with N's pediatrician last week and I love how she put it, "When we're born, we don't all get to line up in heaven and decide what our "problem" will be. We don't get to choose cancer, heart disease, or dyslexia. We're all given something. Some are discovered at a young age and some show up later in life, but we all have something we have to deal with."
And not only did he have success in his conduct, he was moved up a level in his "take home" reader. And this new level, it has a table of contents and a GLOSSARY. Harvard, here we come!!!
Or not. Because what really matters the most to Lance and I is that our children are happy, good citizens, and loving God. Everything else is just gravy.
One of the things I read on an adoption blog yesterday spoke about how the children you've adopted may not be interested in the same things you are. They come to the family with different biology and different interests and talents. And it's up to the adoptive parents to either embrace those differences and broaden their own horizons OR try to manipulate their child into their own image. I hope Lance and I always remember to embrace the differences. We've already learned more about trains,origami, volcanoes, and earthquakes than I ever thought possible.
And interestingly enough, N does have my great love for architecture and design. He loves going to tour model homes and his latest book from the library? How to build a house. It has step by step instructions for everything from the foundation to electricity, cabinets, etc. Quite a selection for a 1st grader, huh?
N, I'm proud of you and I can't wait to see how God will form and shape your life. And for now, I'm just having fun watching you take it all in!
Love,
Momma
1st grade has been a struggle in this area for him.
Well, yesterday, there was a great thing in his Monday Folder. It was a happy stamp and his best conduct grade of the year!!!! Yippee! This is a major accomplishment for my boy. I'm very proud of him. I know how hard this is for him!
We discussed some of these issues with N's pediatrician last week and I love how she put it, "When we're born, we don't all get to line up in heaven and decide what our "problem" will be. We don't get to choose cancer, heart disease, or dyslexia. We're all given something. Some are discovered at a young age and some show up later in life, but we all have something we have to deal with."
And not only did he have success in his conduct, he was moved up a level in his "take home" reader. And this new level, it has a table of contents and a GLOSSARY. Harvard, here we come!!!
Or not. Because what really matters the most to Lance and I is that our children are happy, good citizens, and loving God. Everything else is just gravy.
One of the things I read on an adoption blog yesterday spoke about how the children you've adopted may not be interested in the same things you are. They come to the family with different biology and different interests and talents. And it's up to the adoptive parents to either embrace those differences and broaden their own horizons OR try to manipulate their child into their own image. I hope Lance and I always remember to embrace the differences. We've already learned more about trains,origami, volcanoes, and earthquakes than I ever thought possible.
And interestingly enough, N does have my great love for architecture and design. He loves going to tour model homes and his latest book from the library? How to build a house. It has step by step instructions for everything from the foundation to electricity, cabinets, etc. Quite a selection for a 1st grader, huh?
N, I'm proud of you and I can't wait to see how God will form and shape your life. And for now, I'm just having fun watching you take it all in!
Love,
Momma
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