Mr. S and I

Monday, January 28, 2013

for the many

First of all.... I have been craving E.L. Fudge cookies for a solid week. You know the little vanilla sandwich cookies that look like the Keebler Elves with chocolate icing in the middle? I think it's because those were my FAVORITE when I was a little girl. When I was in third grade my mom was a teacher at my school. I kept asking if I could pack my own lunch, and one day she agreed that I could. I had a Lisa Frank lunch pail that would've made any 90's girl jealous. Unicorns, mermaids, flamingos, the whole gaudy Lisa Frank nine yards. I packed my lunch and got in the car to go to school with mom. I hung out in mom's room until it was time for me to go to my classroom. I guess at some point, Mrs. Thomas ( aka mom) checked my lunch, just to see what I had come up with. Mom usually packed a sammie, chips, fruit, drink, occasionally an awesome Lil Debbie Oatmeal Cream Pie, and a love note. ( Notes in your lunch really are the best!) I scampered off to class and dropped my lunch in my cubbie. 11:05 rolled around and we went to lunch. I opened my lunch box and found a note. It read as follows:

LB,
11 E.L. Fudge cookies does not count as a lunch. Don't do this again.
Love,
Mom

Ya'll I literally packed 11 E.L. Fudge cookies and NOTHING ELSE for my lunch. That's gotta be close to a whole sleeve. What's kinda cool is that my mom didn't take them away. I got to about cookie 3 and realized I was hungry for real food and went and got my school lunch card and ate Frito Chili Pie like any other healthy person... with extra cheese and canned peach slices... and chocolate milk.  I have not indulged my craving.. but if I do, I can eat as many as I want because I'm a grown up now...

Just don't tell Mrs. Thomas :)



When I found out I was pregnant I couldn't help but think about all the people who I knew had been trying, struggling, believing, begging and still were not pregnant. I know all too well the sting of seeing the Facebook announcement of another person sharing their joy. You want to be happy... you are happy for them... but their joy, and it IS joy, they should feel that way, is a reminder of your pain, your failure, your loss. It's an odd thing to be both genuinely happy for some one and jealous of them all at the same time. When I began to think about telling people, I knew that there were some who I would hurt. I knew that they would be happy for me, rejoice with me, but I also knew that this time, my joy would cause a sting, a twinge... it might even cause pain. That was a tough pill. I have bonded with countless women over loss, over grief, over understanding their darkest moments. We have walked a road that not everyone understands. When they told me about crying themselves to sleep or falling apart when a co worker announced an unplanned pregnancy I could share sobbing all the way home from baby showers and then feeling guilty because I loved the person who was pregnant, I really did, but that two hour come and go shower was torture. I could tell them about sitting in a bathroom stall weeping and keeping my hand tight over my mouth so that if anyone came in they wouldn't know that I was crying because once again, I wasn't pregnant. How could I possibly deliver a blow like that to them? I was the one that they could relate to. I was the one who wrote exactly what they were thinking, typed out their exact feelings, expressed their anger, their troubles, the ugly stuff that nobody wants to deal with.

I understand both sides of the coin. I understand the grief one can feel when it seems that every month it's not " your turn". I understand the smile you wear ( 99 percent real) when someone you love shares with you that they're having a baby. I understand the 1 percent that wants to scream and throw a fit and say " what about me?" And now... I understand the joy. The uncontrollable joy that comes with crossing the finish line to week 12 and thinking... we're doing this. This just got real. I understand sharing on Facebook and getting "likes" and tons of comments and feeling so loved. I understand just blurting it out to people at work and they scream and giggle and do little happy dances. I have now experienced both. Both are deeply emotional, both are real and you know what, both are OK. It's ok to be a little hurt, a little sad for yourself and maybe even a little mad. It's also going to be OK when it's your turn and you rent an airplane with a banner that says " We're pregnant!"

I guess tonight, this is for " the many". The many women who are still waiting, still praying, still hoping. For the ones who are weary. For the many who know that pursuing motherhood will be costly for them, whether it be financially, emotionally or both. For the many who swear that that stick is the last one they'll ever pee on and have closed the door for the time being. For the many who are looking to science, surrogates, adoption... whatever it takes to be called "mommy". This is for you, because I love you, because I have seen both sides, because I want you to know, you're not alone. For the many I love, the many I didn't want to hurt, the many I hope to inspire....


Lord make a way
you always make a way


It's not always YOUR way reader, remember that.

Make a way for " the many". You know them by name.
You know their children's names
Your will be done


Baby Smith,
I was thinking about you today. I can't wait until you fall asleep with your mouth hanging open and drool on my shoulder. I can't wait until you hold my hand. I can't wait until you have so many little friends to play with. Their mom's read this blog and they prayed for you just like I'm praying for them. It's going to be so good. You can pack your lunch sometimes, but I'm checking it. I'll always check it.

We press on,
LB








Monday, January 21, 2013

and then there were three

Psalm 139:13
For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb.

You guys, there is some serious "knitting" going on inside of me. In case you didn't see my Facebook post... I'm 12 weeks pregnant. Even as I type it, I can't really process it. There is a human being in me. A little boy or little girl. We saw the little T- rex today. It's a t -rex because that's what it's arms look like and it has legs and no feet and it's the most beautiful thing ever. It was just kicking it's little stumps and in that moment, I could finally relax. Let me take you back. 3 months ago.

I knew I was pregnant before I even missed my period. I knew a few days before. I felt exactly like I did the last time I was pregnant. I knew then, and I knew this time around. It was terrifying. I wish I could tell you that I was so happy, and joyful and filled with peace, but I wasn't. After you lose a baby, you are changed. Never again can you find out your pregnant and just fall in love and not worry and think " Oh that won't happen to me." Because it has happened. It happened and it hurt like hell. If you're not pregnant, you can't miscarry. if you're pregnant, you are vulnerable to that pain all over again...

We waited a few days to test. I was scared. We went to Wal Greens because my once heavily stocked medicine cabinet was no longer a pregnancy test store room. We had been talking about our adoption options, looking at our finances, I hadn't even thought about a pregnancy test. I was so nervous walking down the " family planning aisle". I grabbed the tests, (Yes multiple. You always buy more than one, always.) and we headed home. I didn't want to take them. Confirming it meant acknowledging that there was something precious there, something that could be lost.

Tests taken. Wait.

I couldn't even wait the specified time. Three minuets may as well be three hundred years.

Two pink lines.

Two BOLD pink lines.

My eyes welled up. I walked out of the bathroom and into our living room. Kindal was waiting on the couch. We both knew before we took the tests. This confirmed it. " This baby will live and not die" I said. It was a plea to the father, a battle cry to the enemy and it has been my motto for 12 long weeks.

This first trimester has both tested and renewed my faith. It tugged at old wounds and crushed my pride and it has changed me. I spent the first two weeks so fearful I couldn't even rejoice. Every twinge was a sign of miscarriage. Stupid girl. Don't fall in love with this baby. It will be gone just like the last one. You're going to get hurt. I was incredibly sick and taking extra hormones to prevent miscarriage and most days I didn't feel anything. I didn't want to bond. Bonding means joining together with something, and once bonded, the pulling apart hurts. It leaves it's residue on you forever, and I didn't want that. I felt empty. This thing that I had prayed for, begged for and eventually given up on, was now reality, and It was the scariest thing I had ever experienced. Several of my friends announced their pregnancies within the first few weeks. I remember thinking, " They'll be holding their babies and I'll be blogging about another loss". The enemy had me.

We told our families around Christmas and of course, they were all over joyed. It didn't feel real to me. I had always envisioned myself pregnant, glowing and carefree. Not so much. I was nauseated, constipated ( these are facts) exhausted and barely functioning. I was the terrible as being pregnant. I was not the " pregnant goddess" I had envisioned. I was eating saltines three meals a day, sleeping constantly and miserable. You are failing at this. you aren't good at it. How can you give birth? How can you handle a new born if you can't even do this?  I was defeated.

And then, the Father stepped in.

" Oh Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up. You discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold O Lord, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me... Where shall I go from your spirit? Where shall I flee from your presence? If I say, surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night, even the darkness is not dark to you." Psalm 139 1-5 & 7, 11&12

"even the darkness is not dark to you"

did you catch that?

the darkness is not dark to Him.

That was transforming for me. It's more than just " God is bigger than the darkness. He can handle the darkness..." The darkness does not even register to him. It's not even there. That is huge. That is awesome... that is good news ya'll. I spent the better part of my first trimester afraid. I let the darkness consume my thoughts. It weaved it's way into my heart, it wrapped its fingers around my throat and it stole joy from my life, from my husband's life and from my baby's life. When the Father came to me, I looked at him and I spewed out " Do you see all this? Do you see all this hurt? All this darkness? I can't do this! I don't want to lose another baby. I don't want to hurt again." He looked at me and he laid his hand upon me ( vs.5) and he said " What darkness? It is not darkness to me, daughter. Open your eyes and see the light."

And I did. I saw our journey. I saw this blog. I saw the hope my pregnancy could bring to others who are wrapped in darkness. I saw my baby growing. I saw myself in labor ( God help me). I saw myself as a mommy. I saw us adopting, because I still believe we will. I saw my children playing and I saw the goodness of the Father all over again. He knew how I would react. He knew I would doubt. He knew I would be afraid. " Even before a word is on my tongue, you know it all together". 

I just can't believe it.

I'm a mom.

Kindal is a daddy

My parents are online shopping addicts ( just kidding. They aren't making any purchases until we know the sex. February 18... we're shutting the stores down) Daddy says Ferris Wheels come in gender neutral colors :)

Thank you Jesus.

Little Baby Smith, you are the most beautiful thing I have ever seen even though you don't look 100 percent human yet. You are a joy to my heart. I can't wait to hold you! When I see you for the first time, I promise I'll kiss your sweet face and tell you " I'm sorry it took us so long." Do me a solid and have small shoulders and a dainty rib cage. Please don't be 10 pounds like your daddy when he was a baby. Please? Thanks. I love you more than you could ever know.

We press on,
LB


Monday, December 10, 2012

The thrill of hope

It's Christmas time. I love this time of year. When you're a child, Christmas is where it's at. Everything is magical and special and the most amazing thing you have ever seen... being a kid at Christmas is something we all experience, but we don't cherish it until we are older. We assume, as children, that Christmas is this great for everyone, young and old. We don't know anything about budgets and long lines and grumpy people, we only see the wonder of the Season. We saw the gifts under the tree and didn't even begin to comprehend their cost. We saw the stores full of shoppers and were excited by the hustle and bustle. We didn't even notice grumpy people because we ourselves were full of kindness. We can really learn so much from our children.

When I was 5 years old, my dad bought our first real live Christmas tree. Mom and daddy had just moved us into our first ever brand new home. I was convinced we were filthy rich because we had all white carpets and mom and dad had a JACUZZI in their bathroom. It was awesome. Just sayin. We had vaulted ceilings in the living room. I'm not quite sure how high they were, but I was pretty short back then ( because I'm a whopping 5'1 now, so I can use short like it's a thing of the past.) and it felt like the ceiling was miles above me. Daddy brought home a tree that was so tall, the Angel's head was squished against the ceiling. There she was, in all her white taffeta angelic glory, blonde curls cascading down her back and forehead pressed firmly against the white peak of the vaulted walls. Mom and dad went all out that Christmas. They bought fancy ( Wal-Mart) ornaments and daddy even bought some of the jumbo ornaments that were as big as my little chili bowl hair cutted ( not a real word) head. I remember sitting at the foot of that tree, listening to the Carpenter's Christmas album on my mom's old record player ( we kept it old school at the Thomas house) and just being in awe of my life. Here I was, 5 years old, and I lived in a house with all white new carpet AND a jacuzzi with a Christmas tree that was miles high and ornaments as big as my head. My life was simply too good. I had no idea the value of money. I didn't understand that my house was just an ordinary house and that there were many tree's that were taller... I just saw what I had and knew that it was enough. It was so much more than enough. The ending of this story is that I decided to take down one of the huge ornaments and dance around the room to some sort of impromptu interpretive dance and I dropped it and broke it and promptly hid all the evidence under the couch. Two lessons here: 1. clearly our fancy carpet needed a better padding system. How did it break on CARPET?? and 2. I had moments of goodness and moments of not so goodness. sue me.

At church last night, we continued talking about Advent. Before the birth of Christ, the people were desperate to see the Messiah. They were eagerly awaiting the arrival of their King. It's funny because I know that they expected just that... a king. They weren't looking for a helpless baby to guide them to freedom. I love God's divine wisdom. He's so beautiful is all senses of the word. God sent the hope of the world in the form of a baby. When a woman is pregnant, we all wait for the birth. We anticipate it, we talk about it, we speculate about when exactly it will happen. Before modern technology and of course in Biblical times, there were signs of the pregnancy ( parrallel it to prophecies in the old testament) there were contractions ( angel visits Mary) and then there was the actual birth ( Jesus is born, this one isn't really abstract) You didn't know exactly when it was coming, only that it WAS coming. The people cried out to God for their Messiah. They begged him to respond, and he did... in a way they all could all relate to.

I love O Holy Night and we sang it last night at church. My favorite line is " the thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices for yonder breaks, a new and glorious morn"

The thrill of hope.

HOPE

Hope is a chance. Hope is a future, it is a shot, an opportunity, a way made. Hope is being one day late and thinking " this could be it". Hope is hearing testimony from couple's who tried to have children and thought they had lost hope, only to conceive. Hope is seeing the child you're going to adopt and saying "he's mine"

Hope is Jesus and his plan for your life.

This is the season of hope

God granted you salvation through a baby

He knows your desires and what's to say he won't grant you joy through a baby once again?

Keep hoping. The new morning is coming and it's pretty glorious my friends...

we press on,
LB

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Find me faithful

 Proverbs 31:10-31


10 [d] An excellent wife who can find?
 She is far more precious than jewels.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her,
    and he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good, and not harm,
    all the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax,
    and works with willing hands.
14 She is like the ships of the merchant;
    she brings her food from afar.
15 She rises while it is yet night
    and provides food for her household
    and portions for her maidens.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
    with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
17 She dresses herself[e] with strength
    and makes her arms strong.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
    Her lamp does not go out at night.
19 She puts her hands to the distaff,
    and her hands hold the spindle.
20 She opens her hand to the poor
    and reaches out her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of snow for her household,
    for all her household are clothed in scarlet.[f]
22 She makes bed coverings for herself;
    her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates
    when he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them;
    she delivers sashes to the merchant.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing,
    and she laughs at the time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
    and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
27 She looks well to the ways of her household
    and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;
    her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women have done excellently,
    but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,
    and let her works praise her in the gates.
I love this passage. It's really beautiful and powerful and just so well written. The Bible is full of beautiful, passionate, just awe inspiring sentences and passages. Every book needs a great introduction. Something to catch the reader, to hold their attention.
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
" And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters". I love that word, hovering. It so perfectly and eloquently describes the Creator moments before he began his work. Hovering... The second act of a play needs something equally engaging as the first. Something to unify both pieces and also to let the ones watching know that this is a new act entirely. 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life,[a] and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

I love how it starts off with the same familiar words. Words you recognize, you know them, you trust them.  " In the beginning" but quickly you see that this act is different. It is something more... " and the Word was God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made" If you keep reading, you'll find out exactly who the Word is.

 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

He became flesh. That's so much better than simply saying " He was born." or " He became man".  He literally took on flesh. The God of the universe took on flesh. He took on every experience, every emotion, every challenge spiritual and physical that the flesh presents... He did not merely present himself in human form.. he took on flesh... just beautiful.

I've gotten way off subject.  I do that.

Today I want to write for my future daughter. The thought of having a girl both delights and terrifies me. I am delighted when I walk through Target and see adorable tu tu's and onsies and headbands ( oh my) and I am terrified when I think about a teenage girl living in my home. She has to live there. I have to deal with a teenage girl 24/7. I can't afford boarding school and we aren't Catholic, so a convent is totally out of the question, so I. have. to. do. it. 
Teenage girls are dramatic and moody and believe that high school is the mecca of life and that if anything goes wrong in high school their lives are ruined and they'll never be happy ever again, ever. I know this thought process because I was once a teenage girl. In all seriousness, if I have a daughter, my goal would be to point her to Proverbs 31. I wish that I could tell you that my youth was filled with excellent choices. I wish I could tell you that I always behaved in a way that would have pleased both my earthly and my heavenly father. I wish I could tell you that I have no regrets... I can not. I spent my time chasing after acceptance, looking for redemption and truthfully not knowing who I was at all. I was, whatever someone needed me to be, but  very rarely myself.  I knew the Word in they way that most people interpret " the word" to be... the Bible. I knew what it said, knew passages from memory. I did not however, know the Word as it is referenced in John 1. The Word is Jesus, and I did not know him. 

My darling daughter,
Above anything else I could ask on your behalf from the Father, I would ask him to make you wise and faithful. I have a dear friend( you'll know her, trust me. She can't wait to squish you) who pointed out some hidden wisdom in the final chapter of Proverbs. Notice the 12th verse. She does him good ALL the days of her life. She doesn't not only do him good once she meets him, or once she has some fun and decides it's time to settle down. ALL. I want you to know how valuable you are. Your father and I waited so long for you. We prayed for you, wept for you, thought about you every day. I ask that you recognize your value and in all things, EVERY day, live with dignity and honor and know, that you my girl, are not like everyone else. I ask that you would have a helpful and willing spirit and that you would want to work for what you have. ( v 13) That you would be strong and modest and know that modest doesn't mean frumpy and out of style, it simply means that a boy would know the color of your eyes and the contents of your heart before he knows exactly how your body curves. (v 17). I ask that you would be kind. That you would recognize the blessings you have and not chase after the ones you do not. That you would not be selfish ( as I have been in the past) and that you would give joyfully, just like your dad. ( v. 20 and 26) I pray that you would always laugh and know that sometimes, it really is the best medicine. That you would never live in fear but always, always be willing to set your sails and risk the ocean. ( v.25) I pray that you would know that beauty is here for a time, but we all grow old. There will always be someone younger, someone prettier, someone who might make you feel as if you aren't enough... but you are. I guess it isn't really that age robs us of beauty, but that it changes it into something different. You are not defined by how you look. Something so easily lost can not define you. Be gracious, be humble, be loving and you will see real beauty all around you. ( v 29 and 30)


 I ask that you would continue to pray for me and for Kindal. We are pulled in a thousand different directions and I can honestly tell you that we waiver often on what our next step towards a family should be. We have moments where we are so sure of what we want to do, and then moments when it seems like we have been standing still. I know our hearts. I know we want to raise daughters that are set apart, the kind that are strong and feisty and at the same time humble and wise. We want to raise sons who look to their Father for council and are not " like all the other boys". ( Not in a weird, socially awkward way lol, in a good way) I want them to set the world on fire... to leave this place better than they found it. I hope they find me faithful in my calling. That they will feel happy that I was chosen for them, that they will rise up and call me blessed.... (v 28)

We press on,
LB





 

Saturday, November 3, 2012

something in the water

I have not been a very good blogger the last few weeks. Translation: I haven't blogged at all. Translation: I'm sorry... I'll do better this month. I had a pretty serious case of writer's block and I let life get in the way. Forgive me? In my defense, last week Kindal had a terrible car wreck AND our water line busted at our house, so I was kind of busy... but still. If I had time to Facebook, I had time to blog. ( See how I just disciplined myself? Beat ya to the punch!)


Tonight I wanted to write about something that came to my mind last week while I was at dinner with mom and daddy and Kindal. I was thinking about water. I try to drink lots of water throughout the day. If I'm feeling a little crazy, I add a lemon wedge. I'm nothing if not adventurous. Sometimes I eat cereal for dinner too. I hope you can accept that. I was looking at my water, lemon wedge floating freely... Water is an amazing thing because it can be so harmless, boring almost... " What will you have to drink tonight, ma'am? Oh I guess I'll have water." ( When you really want a coke but you aren't going to pay 2.79 for a drink. Ridiculous.) Water is actually an incredibly powerful thing. It can restore life, it can destroy man's creation in seconds. Things that took hundreds of years to build are erased... It can carve through stone, quench thirst... cleanse you.

Water is used quite a lot in the Bible. God used water to cleanse the earth sparing only Noah and his family. The water was a death sentence for mankind, but Noah found favor and in the same span of 40 days and 40 nights, the water carried him to salvation. Moses floated down the Nile in a basket. The water carried him to his purpose. He must become a son of Pharaoh in order to lead God's people through, you guessed it, water. Moses would later part the Red Sea and the water that led the way to Salvation from a Godless nation, would crash down on the enemies of the Father and become their graves. Jonah ran from God. Where did he end up? In the water. Well, in the belly of a whale who lived in the water, but in a round about way, he was as deep in the water as one can be. He was vomited up on the shore and decided that perhaps his future was better left to the one who filled the seas with water... and whales. In the New Testament, Jesus turns water into wine. It is his first public miracle and it will not be his last involving water. The woman at the well went to draw water because she was thirsty, in more ways than one... Jesus met her there and revealed who He was and who SHE was. He knew her. Her secrets, her shame, her mistakes and who should would become in Him. She came because she was thirsty, the tangible water made way for Living Water and she left fulfilled, for the very first time. Jesus walked on water, demonstrating that while he was  fully man he was also fully God. I don't know if you've tried walking in water... it turns into swimming real quick for us humans... real quick. Jesus calmed the seas, the same ones where he declared he would make his disciples "fishers of men". On the cross, his side was pierced. The wound released both blood... and water.... a means to salvation once again...
I don't know why, but that really just amazes me. Water. The stuff I drink from a bottle, even though it's a free, renewable resource and I can get it from my sink for free and I'm probably going to get cancer from drinking out of plastic every day... that clear liquid that washes my clothes, waters my yard ( I never water my yard but you get my point, you also know why my lawn is dead) and helps me brush my teeth is the exact same thing that flooded the earth. The same substance that wiped away a city in Louisiana, that parted before Moses and his staff, that carved out the Grand Canyon, that carried a baby to his destiny, that has crushed nations, that Jesus walked on.... water. It's not much to look at in a glass, but stand along the shore of the ocean, and try not to be filled with awe. Watch it drip from your hose and then look at the wall of water caused by a tidal wave and know that you are very small.

Tonight, I just want you to be in awe of the Father. I want you to think about water and see it's vast purpose. Without it you die, but caught in it's storm you're likely not to live. I don't have much to say about children tonight. I want them, you want them. We've established that. :) I hope that they, and you, read this and think about the vast power of God. He, like the water he created, restores life, sustains life, creates life and in the same way, he deserves awe. He should be looked at like the tidal wave about to crash, like the sea parting, like the gaping mouth of a whale opening wide.... knowing him is all the difference in how you see " the water".... it is either your salvation, or  it is your end.

We Press On,
LB


Thursday, October 18, 2012

borrowed breaths

Job 7:7
Remember that my life is but a breath....

You breath 15 to 16 times in one minute. The Bible states that our entire lives are like one breath to God. ONE BREATH, Tonight's post is short and to the point and I hope that my children read it some day and that it inspires them and I pray it isnpires you too. I know that some of you reading this are hurting. You're depressed, you're defeated, you're tired of fighting, tired of trying to heal, tired of hearing people say things like " well at least you already have children." after you lost one that to some may not have really " counted". Tired of putting on a happy face at another baby shower where you aren't sitting in the chair opening gifts wrapped up in pink or blue. Tired of countng down the days until you "know". Tired of  tracking ovulation, tired of watching everyone and their sister get pregant on their first month trying. I know you're tired. I get it. I get tired too. The message tonight is not an easy one to deliver, but I needed to hear it and frankly, you do too. You're living on borrowed breaths my friends. The air in your lungs was a gift. You don't deserve it, it was an act of kindess from a loving God who saw fit to mold up mounds of dirt into human flesh and breath air into nostrils that otherwise would have laid dormant. What are you doing with what you have been given, which is quite generous? How are you ministering to others? How are you glorifying the Father in times of heartache? How are you investing in others lives, even when there is nothing to gain? How are you using your breath? Inhale and see how quickly the exhale ends. You can try to draw it out, force it to be a long release, but you and I both know, that it's mere seconds at best. You can spend your life convincing yourself that "if you just had this_______" you'd be fulfilled, you'd be complete... but if you don't recognize the one who filled your lungs with air, then you can't appreciate the breaths. Hold your breath. You won't do it for long. It's too scary. You panic, feel the slight burn that tells you that you need oxygen and you gulp in a breath. You have already been given the ultimate gift two fold. 1. Jesus and 2. Breath. Both undeserved, both necessary for life, here and in eternity. I want very much to hold my children, to make them laugh, to sing them to sleep, to watch Kindal throw them high in the air and then see them throw up all over him because I told him not to toss them around like that right after we ate dinner... oh did I type out that last part? My bad. I want that very much, but it is not why I have been given breath. I have been given life to glorify the Father. I can not spend it feeling sorry for myself, ignoring the hurts of others, categorizing why my hurt is " worse" or more important than theirs, and neither can you. Spend some time this week fulfilling your purpose here in earth. Loving others, serving others, examining the needs of others and meeting them. You may not like your circumstances, you may not understand why you're walking through this, but take a deep breath and be thankful... that one, along with the other 14 or 15 you had in the last minute weren't really yours anyway.

We press on,
LB



Saturday, October 6, 2012

pupcakes and ferris wheels


One of the many reasons I am so excited to become a parent, is because I had such great parents myself. My mom and dad are two incredible people who really " did it right" when it comes to raising kids ( which is why I'm so great... and humble....) When you begin considering parenting you start thinking about your own childhood. You ask yourself, " how would I do it differently from my mom and dad?" Truthfully, I wouldn't  change anything. My parents laid out an awesome blue print for me as a parent. They should write a book, or a blog, or a pamphlet. Something. My childhood was overflowing with happiness, and fun and make believe and laughter. One of the most difficult things for me in not having my own child, besides my own longing, is knowing how great my parents will be as grandparents and not being able to give them that joy. My parents were MADE to spoil grandchildren. It's really true. My father will erect ferris wheels, buy ponies, shut down Disney World, the whole nine yards. My mom will bake cookies, ( which by the way, her cookies are just so good. It's wrong really. I never eat them, I work in health and fitness, but I've been told. That's a lie. I always eat them. ALWAYS.) play hide and seek and read books until she loses her voice. They're going to be the best " Gigi and Poppy" ever. They might even wear the cute little sweatshirts that say " Gigi" and "Poppy" in plaid lettering. You know what I'm talking about. They sell them at a kiosk in the mall. They probably won't wear those. My parents are too cute and trendy and look 35 years old....
 
Things my mother did right:
She helped me fall in love with reading. I spent most of my early childhood in the Collinsville Public Library. We didn't have much money and my mom was great at finding things to do that didn't cost much, if anything at all. Every week, usually Monday, we loaded into the blue mini van and made the drive to the library. I had an orange plastic crate, yes crate, that I filled with all the books I wanted. Mom would patiently walk down each aisle of the children's section reading me every title of each book that I could get my grubby little fingers on. ( I wasn't really grubby, my mom bathed me.) We would sometimes sit in the over sized chairs and she would read a few to me while I snuggled up with her. She always let me ask questions and she always let ME turn the page. That's a big deal when you're little. Mom is such a great " out loud reader". It must be the teacher in her.
She let me be creative. I was always in costumes when I was a little girl. I loved wear slips and tutu's over my regular clothes, because you never know when you'll need to bust out a dance routine in the middle of your living room... or Reasor's. Mom always encouraged my writing. I use to spend hours on my Gramps' computer typing stories up and then illustrating them. She read them all.  Mom still encourages me to write. She still wants me to write a novel, and I think I will and I'll dedicate it to her. She let us get messy and play games. Once she let my sister and I make a giant spider web out of yarn in our " toy room". I just about died from the joy of it. It's the little things. She took us to the Nutcracker ballet when I was 6. We had the cheapest seats, nose bleed. She kept her arms across my body the entire time because we were up high and at an angle and I kept leaning forward with my binoculars. I wore a black velvet dress and fancy patent leather shoes and I was sure we were filthy rich because we were at the ballet and mom had on lipstick and looked beautiful. I remember thinking just that. I had no idea that I was in the cheap seats. A lesson in perspective. the " cheap seats" are only cheap if you let them be. I had the time of my life. Best seats in the house.
She was cool because she didn't try to be cool.  I've always genuinely liked my parents. My mom probably just laughed out loud at that sentence because when I was a teenager I didn't always portray that well with her, but I really did. I was never embarrassed of them. I was proud of them and I still am. My mom was cool but not " I wear the same clothes as my teenage daughter and let kids drink at my house" cool. She was pretty and fun and awesome but without trying too hard. I love being with my mom. We go to lunch, we shop, we see movies. She comes to work out at Healthzone, where I work out and people say " Hey is that lady who looks just like you, your mom?" To which I always reply, " Well I look just like her. She was here first.. and yes she is"
 
Things my dad did right:
He did girl things with me.  I never felt like my dad wished he had a boy. He embraced his feminine side with boldness. We would do interpretive dance in the living room where moves such as " the ceiling fan", " the airplane" and just general balletic genius were born. He would play tea party and barbies with us. He filled up the jacuzzi to the brim with bubbles and plop my sister and I in and would then judge our " who can style the best outfit out if bubbles?" contest. He learned to fix our hair. ( His pony tails were tight. not tight like cool, tight like we looked like we had face lifts....tiiiiiiiiigggghhhtttttt) He came to every recital, every talent show, every cheer competition and not with that " I have to be here attitude. No, no. He came with signs, he came with the video camera. He came shouting things like " Shake what yo momma gave ya" and then chuckled at his hystericalness. ( Not a word. It's my blog though...)
He always made time for me. My dad was a busy man. Still is. He runs a successful company, serves in his church, models for GQ ( he'll love that). My dad was never too busy for me. He would pick me up from school to go to lunch. He would let me go to work with him and use his signature stamp to "sign off " on documents, aka: He would let me stamp his name on a thousand pieces of blank paper and pretend I was helping him do work. That was just last week actually. Kidding. He took me on my first airplane ride at 6. ( 6 was a big year for me people. the Nutcracker AND a plane ride.) We flew to Little Rock for a one day business trip and I ate peanuts and drank Coke and talked the ear off of the man next to me. He happened to work for a little company called American Girl, you may have heard of it, and I loved me some American Girl. he took me just because he wanted to spend time with me and take me on a plane ride. That's legit. He still meets me for " lunch dates" even though I'm a grown up and I still love it.
He loved me even when I was stupid.  It takes a lot to get my dad mad. You can screw up pretty bad and he'll forgive you. He won't bring it up or hold it over your head. he doesn't make you feel stupid even though you acted stupid. He taught me to forgive the way God forgives. It's like it never happened. Doesn't mean there aren't consequences here on earth, doesn't mean you get a free pass, but in the end, when he said "it's forgiven"...  he meant it. He had to extend pardon to me often. My sister and I were about as opposite as two people could be. She was born a forty year old puritan and I was born looking for the loop holes. I admire my sister's moral compass. It's made of titanium. Mine has improved greatly but daddy had to wear out the words " i forgive you" with me.
 
My parents drove me around listening to NSYNC and Hanson. They took me to sleepovers, carted my friends around to church events and served as sponsors at lock outs and church camp. They took me to Mexico my senior year and let me bring two friends. They took Kindal and I to Disney World and spoiled us rotten. They have blessed us with new cars, they have stayed up all night helping us move in, move out, paint, decorate, organize garage sales and so much more. When I was a nanny for my first full time family, they invested in the lives of the children I was caring for. We went to Merritt's at least once a week for " pupcakes" as the sweet baby girl who stole my heart called them. We went to movies and the zoo. We met for lunch and my parents always bought them Christmas and Birthday gifts. We I think of my parents becoming grandparents, it makes me cry. It brings me so much joy. I know my kids will learn from them, laugh with them and probably get a book crate.
 
I like writing out my thoughts to my kids. You should do it too. When you do get pregnant, or adopt, or both, you'll be glad you did. They can read it and see how much you wanted them.
 
To my baby(ies)
Hold on to your pants, or diapers, because when you I get to you, you will get your pants, or diapers spoiled off by your Gigi and Poppy. You'll play games, and bake cookies and dance and laugh and go see the movie in 3D because Poppy's paying and mommy isn't giving up her right arm for plastic glasses. We'll sit on their back porch and watch the nice delivery men set up the ferris wheel and then we'll eat pupcakes from Merritt's and take turns riding it and I'll tell you all about when I was little and about how I met your daddy and we fell in love and got married and started trying to find you. It'll be good. You just wait. Ask Poppy for anything, you'll get it. Gigi too, and if they ever take you to incredible pizza, don't hide from Gigi when she calls for you. She gets really mad and you'll get a spanking. I know. There was an incident at Showbiz pizza when I was little. It didn't end well for me and she doesn't think it's funny. Like at all.
 
We Press On,
LB