God Answers In A Big Way! May 29, 2009

So, yes, a few people had asked me lately if I remember my last post and what it said…what I had asked for.  I honestly had to go back, try desperately to remember my login ID and password, and re-read it.  It brought tears to my eyes to know that when I wrote those words in November of last year, God was setting in motion more than I could ever imagine.  (Funny how our minds think so small!) 

On January 6th, 2009, Brady was in an accident at work.  God was beside him that night…as horrific as it was, had he been thrown a different direction by the equipment, he would have fallen into a large drum of turning cable and lost his life.  Instead, he broke the transverse processes of two vertebrae in his back, all the nerves in his lower back were “un-nerved” and caused him INTENSE pain for several weeks.  The first three days were the worst.  I won’t go into all the gorey details, but I was having a very hard time trusting that God was going to bring something out of this that was worth all the pain.   I’m not ever really good at understanding or recognizing the process when I’m in the process.  I should know by this time that He is in control every step of the way. 

Well, through the process of pain, small workman’s comp checks, not being able to face Brady returning to do the same thing that nearly took his life, we started looking for different opportunities.  Southern Christian Home in Morrilton, AR seemed to be the lighthouse in the fog.  We’ve houseparented before, but it was so far from home.  So far from friends and family we lacked that support we needed to feel whole.  Could it be?  Could we do what we felt we needed to and not go but 20 minutes up the road?  Could we still see and be a part of our church family at UCC that bless us beyond belief time and time again?   YES! 

We started the paperwork and interview process and quickly accepted our newest mission that God has set before us.  Houseparents of a girls cottage at the Southern Christian Home.  Brady is completely, 100% healed, working doing what he loves, working with horses and being a tremendous help to the farm here.  We have had the opportunity to touch the lives of 8 girls, so far, that for whatever reason God had them in our path and us in theirs.  One has already moved on, spending some time at home before starting Harding in the fall, one is leaving next week to go to home, and another is leaving for college in the fall.  I’m sure this is just the beginning and we have many more opportunities to plant seeds for God’s Harvest. 

My prayer now, is that we are able to plant the seeds that need planted, we have the energy to attitude to do this all to God’s glory and service.  I don’t want my negative attitudes to kick a good seed on the rocks!  Thank you, God, for answering my prayers, being my God, and holding me every step of the way…

Asking for a prayer… November 12, 2008

And again, it’s been awhile! That seems to be my pattern!

 I’ve been doing some thinking the last several weeks.  God has equipped me with some amazing gifts that I know are only from Him and I just feel like I am wasting them away.  God calls for us to be “productive” with these gifts and I am too stuck in my comfort zones to step out and do the things God has called me to do.  Now, granted, I don’t know all the plans He has for me, but I want to be able to be more aware now.  I don’t want to pass by the things He throws in my lap, the opportunities He puts before me day in and day out. 

I want to be a productive member of His kingdom.  I want to serve.  I want to bless.  I want to embrace every opportunity that our Mighty Father puts in my path, no matter how big, small, or difficult. 

These are scary things to say, and pray.  I hesitate to pray them because I know He will answer in a big way, but I want to ask that you pray for me too.  Pray that I can see the things He has for me, that I have the courage to act on those things, and that I can be a blessing to others, whether seen or unseen.

Thanks!  I’ll give an update in the coming weeks to let you know how He’s working!

Happy Five Years! August 9, 2008

Today I will have been married to my husband, Brady Bunch, for five years.  Five years ago today, my Daddy walked me down some wood deck steps, down an aisle of grass, up to the man of my dreams.  I sit and think sometimes about how I got to be where I am right now.  How blessed I am that God “connected my dots” to put me right here, right now.  I thanked Brady today for picking me.  I’m glad that Brady picked me because I get to share my life with a Godly man who earnestly seeks to know God more.  Everyday I get the privilege of sharing my life with this man who is an example to others, serves others, puts others before himself, works hard for his family, and who is a wonderful husband. 

Not only is Brady a wonderful husband, he is a wonderful Daddy to his little princess.  I love to see Abby and her Daddy together.  Abby’s favorite days this summer have been Wednesdays.  Brady has off on Wednesdays so when I go to work he and Abby have had Daddy-daughter days.  There have been times when he has something to do that afternoon and so the sitter would come.  Abby would cling to Brady and just cry, not wanting to give up her Daddy.  (She waves bye-bye to me when I leave!)  Both of them have enjoyed these days greatly. 

So, handsome-man-of-my-dreams…thanks for picking me, I realize you had some other really attractive choices out there so I consider it an honor that you chose me!  Here’s to 5 years, 8 moves, 8 jobs, 10 vehicles, 3 dogs, 16 children not our own, 1 child of our own…I love you dearly and cherish the times we’ve had together and pray that God blesses us with many, many more good times.

Shoo-Shoo July 19, 2008

For those of you out there who are constantly complaining that I never write new posts, well…you’re right, I don’t ever write new posts.  Part of the reason is that it’s not really a priority so when I would have the free time to write one, I’d rather be doing other things.  Another reason is that I feel like all posts are supposed to be profound in some way.  Well, this one is not profound.  It’s about pee-pee and poo-poo, or otherwise known as “shoo-shoo” in our household. 

I just find myself being more and more proud of my 17 month old daughter every day.  I bought a potty seat last Friday for her, pink handles and all.  In this last week of time, I have had to change one, ONE, UNO, shoo-shoo diaper!  The very first day I had the seat she pee-peed twice and shoo-shooed twice.  I think when she pees it’s just an accident, but she has let me know all but one time that she needed to go shoo-shoo!  I think I have a gifted child.  Am I allowed to say that?    It’s just too cute how she says, “Nooo…” in that little shaky voice and pats her little diaper then runs to the bathroom, all the way on her tip-toes!

It’s okay, you can be jealous. I’ll be thinking of you when I’m NOT changing any shoo-shoo diapers…and if you don’t have kids, well, let’s just say that Abigail Elise is setting the bar awfully high…

Precious Souls June 20, 2008

I complain about my job a lot.  The unpredictability, the incorrect office info I receive, the people that I feel like aren’t doing their jobs correctly.  I am ashamed that I so often forget what my job is really about. 

These precious souls that I come in contact with every day should be my only concern.  These precious souls that come from broken homes, have been abused, and have no one to love them.  These precious souls that might not ever hear the name of Jesus unless I say it.

Then there are precious souls like Caleb.  Caleb’s parents would rather have drugs in their life instead of him, so he is being raised by his grandmother.  By no fault of his own, Caleb is one of the most difficult kids to spend a day with.  He is hyper, inattentive, does not take direction well, will not sit still, and has no social skills to speak of.  Yet, when he was asked what Jesus had done for him he answers, “He built.”  We said, “Built what?” And he responds, “Jesus built us with his blood.” As we smile, he adds, “He is precious and powerful.”  That last part he did hear from us, at the program, but he has it.  It’s in his head.  He might not fully understand the extent to which Jesus’ blood has saved us, but his little heart is trying, and that’s all we can ask.

I pray that I can remember these precious souls the next time I get frustrated.  The next time I want to quit because of worldly reasons, I pray that I remember the heavenly reasons God has me where I am right now.

Bump in the Night June 6, 2008

Okay, I’m going to say it…I’m a big chicken.  There.  It’s out.  Big surprise, huh?  I’ve always been a bit on the skiddish side and no, I don’t do very well in panic situations.  I’m not one you would want to have with you if you need a clear head to help you think as chaos grows around you.  My friends still make fun of me for a situation that played out in high school.  It was about 10 or 11 at night, me and 3 of my girlfriends are stopped at the intersection at Seibenmorgan and Hendrix.  When my friend in the back seat screams, I turn to look out my window to which she’s screaming at.  There at my door is a large, hairy, seeming to be drunk man trying to open the door!  I first scream, “GO! GO! GO!” to my friend that was driving, but there was traffic everywhere and we would most definitely have crashed had I been driving.  My next defense was, “LOCK THE DOORS! LOCK THE DOORS!”  In trying my best to press the lock button on the door, I instead turn down the radio…heaven forbid the man trying to get into our car with us hear what we are listening to!  So yes, I’m a chicken and don’t do well in panic situations.  I’m hoping for Abby’s sake that motherhood has somehow changed me and I would be able to do what needs to be done if faced with a panic moment involving her!

Right now, though, I would like to thank my personal “Boogie-Man-Hunter”, Brady Bunch.  Many, many times he has searched the house, searched the outside, and even talked me through what to do when he’s been away working when I got scared. 

Brady got to test his “hunting” skills just last night, too!  At 1:28 A.M. we were both awakened by a VERY LOUD noise.  The kind of noise that freezes you for a moment.  We both shot straight up in bed, and even though I knew he knew just as much as I did about what the noise was, I still asked him, “What was that?!”  My bodyguard says nothing, throws some shorts on, grabs his weapon of choice, and starts his tour throughout the house as myself and our “guard dog” sit huddled in the bedroom…listening. 

Of course my mind immediately goes to, “Someone just kicked the door in…” but as Brady goes from room to room checking the shadows and then the front porch and then the back patio and finds nothing, my nerves are calmed somewhat and my mind then goes to, “The wall stuff that I just hung in Abby’s room has fallen on her as she sleeps…”  So I then muster the courage to open her door and peer into her crib, fearing for what I might find.  Everything is still on the walls and her little hiney is in the air, she’s sleeping sweetly.

We go back to bed and Brady plays a game of Sudoku to calm his mind again as I lay thanking God for my wonderful, fearless, protective, “Boogie-Man-Hunter”.  Thank you, God, for the man you molded and refined and continue to make perfect, just for me.  May you bless him always and see his beautiful heart that he has for other people besides himself.

 

God’s little gift June 3, 2008

So, I’ve spent some weeks now following the easy links from Brady’s blog to the others I enjoy reading on a regular basis.  Brady suggested that I start my own blog – he said it would “be good for me”.  To me,  if you blog, it means you have something insprational or exciting to write about and I just haven’t thought of myself in that way.  I’m still not sure what I will write about or how often I will get an entry down, but here I am!

I do have one story I would like to share.  I was telling Brady the other day that I felt like God had given me my own special little gift that day.  Any one who knows our daughter, Abby, knows that she doesn’t stay still for very long at a time, if at all, during the day unless she’s napping.  Even though she’s only 16 months, I have been finding myself missing the times she would let me rock her to sleep, or when she was tiny and I could just hold her look at every precious feature she has. 

Since my baby now thinks she’s a big girl, those moments are few and far between, but the other day, God gave me my moment!  She had just got up from a nap, I heard her sweet crys so I entered her room and scooped her up.  I tried to sit and rock with her but of course she wanted down.  She wandered around for a minute then went and grabbed her lovie blanket out of her crib and then laid on the floor with it in her “sleep” position.  This was the first time she’s ever done that so it kind of surprised me.  I laid down on the floor facing her and started rubbing her back and little arms and little chunky legs.  She actually laid there for about 10 minutes and let me quietly love on her.  She even almost went back to sleep! It was great! It brought tears to my eyes…Thank you God…may you give me more moments!