Quote of the Day

Today at lunch with family, we were discussing future college prospects for some of the younger family members. Fe-Fe said she wanted to go to TCU, and we were trying to explain how expensive it was, and maybe she should go to TCC first to make sure she liked her chosen major.

Caleb chimed in and said instead of TCC, he wanted to go to 'Wii-C-C' so he could just play Wii all day but get college credit for it.

Then Cody told us that he needed about a billion dollars to put his "plan" into effect where he would tell everyone to stop going to college (by TV ads, newspapers ads, etc). Then when everyone stopped going to college, the colleges would have to lower their tuition to get people to come again, thus making college more affordable. I'm thinking "economics" might be in his future.

Beach Bums

A very dear friend of mine gave us the use of her family’s beach house in Galveston for our 13th anniversary. It was so nice, and relaxing, and fun, and relaxing, and restful, and did I say relaxing? In my book, there’s nothing like the sound/smell/view of the ocean to make you appreciate life, love, and God. If it were not for missing our little munchkins, we may have never returned to real life.

The Day that Will Live in Infamy

Today is the 13th anniversary of the day Steve and I vowed to stay together forever…so far so good. As I reflect back on that day and all the days since then, I can honestly say I love him more today than I did back then. He and I both are a lot different…been through some rough patches…and survived to tell about it! Most of you don’t know how we met, and it’s a sweet story.

We met at the church we used to go to…in the college department. He had just graduated from college, and I, well I was attending my 6th or 7th college and didn’t fit in anywhere else so that’s where I was too. He was a lot of fun…VERY funny…made me laugh, seemed pretty normal, responsible, etc. so we became friends. The kind of friend where we hang out and do life together…go to the movies (LOTS of movies), go out to eat with other friends, go play tennis, sit around my apartment and watch TV, go to college retreats, sneak out of college retreats…you know the usual. We were seriously just friends because I was (ahem) 9 years older than Steve…and that just wouldn’t work. The more time we spent together though, the more we really liked each other…as friends.

That all changed when he decided to start stalking me…yes I said stalking. Evidently, he was liking me a little more than I thought…because he would call my apartment and hang up without saying anything (he said he got nervous and didn’t know what to say…even though we talked to each other ALL the time)…and since this is pre-caller ID days, I had no idea who it was. Then one day I came home and found a bouquet of flowers on my door…with no card. Yes, I am definitely being stalked…but I liked it…the flowers were beautiful. Please stalk me anytime.

Anyway, long story short…Steve admitted to my sister, Tammy, his feelings, and asked her to kind of feel the situation out…no names, just hypotheticals. Seriously? He obviously didn’t know that as sisters…we’re tight, and there’s not much we don’t share with each other. At first, the age thing made me say no way. I mean when I was in college, he was in grade school. That totally makes me sound like a perve. But after a while, I realized I didn’t care about the age difference. I really liked this guy…and he made life fun.

And 13 years later, he’s still making life fun. “Thanks” seems so shallow…but thanks for loving me, putting up with me, protecting me, being on my side, giving me two scrumptious kids, and dreaming my dreams with me. How about we renegotiate our contract for another 13?

My MonSter

Fear is a dangerous thing. It can take you down roads better left untraveled. It can fill your mind with what ifs, and should’ve dones… so much so that you can’t focus on what’s in front of you today. I wish I could say I never feared my MonSter, but I’d be lying if I did.

I rarely discuss my MonSter. An occasional joke is made, sometimes by me…sometimes by others, but it certainly doesn’t fill my conversations. I’ve even been known to go a day without thinking about it. That doesn’t mean it’s not there…it just hasn’t reared its head to make me remember it. I try not to dwell on it. It wouldn’t do any good. I certainly can’t change anything about it…other than shooting up once a week and praying I’ll stay healthy. I am well aware that God is totally capable of removing it from my life…and He might. I’m also totally aware that God can use it for His glory and I hope He has and does. Wait…I think I want Him to use it for His glory…right? What if that means I’m in a wheelchair one day? What if that means I can’t use my hands one day to work or write…or hug my boys? Am I ready for that? My spiritual side says “Yes, of course I am. I can do all things…”. The carnal side of me says “I don’t want to go there.”

My MonSter is MS…Multiple Sclerosis. It reared its head today and forced me to think about it… about 5:30 this morning when I woke up with severe pain in my legs that kept me from sleeping. I got up and took a pain pill, which I hate to do at that time of the day because in just a few short hours I’m going to have to get up and function for the day. I also have to think about it once a week when I inject myself with God knows what, and wait for the headache and weakness to hit. And it does.

I know I’m blessed. I’m fortunate not to currently have many of the symptoms that go along with a chronic illness. To look at me, you wouldn’t know I had it. Other than the constant numbness in my feet and the killer fatigue that comes along with summer (and spring and fall since we’re in Texas), I’m really blessed. I know that, and I thank God for that. And most of the time I can dwell on that.

But sometimes it ticks me off… can I say that God? Like the times when I try to remember things and I can’t. Why is dishwasher and backpack so hard to say? Sure I can laugh it off…blame it on the MonSter and go on. But when I try to remember something I want to pass on to my kids, or tell my husband and I can’t find it…it hurts. That’s when I fear My MonSter the most.

I know…I know, one day at a time. I know in my heart God never gives us more than we can handle. I know I’m supposed to “take no thought for tomorrow.” I’m trying…but I’m not going to lie, it’s a constant struggle. When I consider all the brain space being taken up with the plaques that eat away at my memory and my nerve control…I struggle…and I fear…and I get mad.

And I know He understands. It’s those times when I feel His arms tighten up around me just a little more and I feel His love a little deeper. I love this excerpt from the book God's Blogs:

















It's okay... Daddy's in the room.