A Privilege,An Honor, and A Challenge

Today I'm thinking a lot about prayer because two incidents in less than 8 hours have made the need for it necessary! Our oldest son(actually my step son) called us at about 11:30 last night. No calls at that time are ever good, right?! His mom (my dh's ex-wife) is in very poor health. Our son will be in town for a day or so helping her as she gets out of the hospital. She recently lost her house so the first order of business is to find her some place to live. My husband asked what we could do to help him and our son replied, "pray." Now this is a woman who left her husband and 2 children. When our son got married seven years ago, he asked me to be the mother of the groom.Even now I'm still in shock! Never once did she ever help us when I was sick or having four children in less than six years. Often she showed up late to pick up her children and usually brought them back early. She was never current in paying child support and even now still owes my husband support which he knows he'll never get. But still I feel called to pray about this even though my initial reaction is to ignore the entire scenario. My husband is feeling upset about this - I can tell! After all, they loved each other enough to get married and have two children. This is not something either of us expected to be thinking about after 22+ years of marriage.......so pray I will!

When I pulled up to my Crossing Guard post just before 7:00 this morning (some 7 1/2 hours later), I saw fire trucks and police cars in front of a house where 2 girls I cross live. My heart was in my throat as I asked the Lord to keep them safe. A few minutes later, I saw them come toward the sidewalk and head my way! I asked them if they were okay. They said that the house next to theirs had caught on fire and they were fine! Whew! I thanked the Lord that they were unhurt.

Both of these situations really made me think of how much I need to give everything to Him! I don't get much of a choice in either of these circumstances, in fact, I'm mostly just a witness to both. The privelege, honor, and challenge He gave to me is to pray for these folks. They'll most likely never know who was praying for them......but I know other Christians have prayed for me anonymously on my behalf. I'm happy to pass that legacy on!

Divine Intervention or A Really Dumb Kid?!

My son Jack had always been homeschooled until January of this year. At his request, he began attending public high school in January of this year. I really didn't want to send him there but homeschooling had become difficult with him. So I prayed and hoped for the best for him as I sent him off to school. A few weeks into the semester, Jack started giving hints that school wasn't all he had hoped it would be. Since I really wanted it to work out for him, I was dismayed but honestly a little bit happy that he preferred to be homeschooled. Last week his progress report came out. Jack had all A's and B's! This week was a little long for him as the entire state is testing. He only had 2 days of tests. The rest of the week consisted of 4 hour long class periods in the same subject. Yesterday, Jack walked away from the school after lunch because he was "so bored." Of course I didn't know this until I was on my way to my job as a Crossing Guard. As I turned a corner close to home, I saw a young man walking and said to myself,"that looks like Jack." It WAS Jack, with 90 minutes left in his school day. I stopped and told him to go home, which he did. I was upset with him but really wasn't surprised. This time he gets a warning with a threat of losing privleges if it happens again. What are the chances that my son would walk down the street I pass on my way to work? Also, he had to come very close to our home to be on that street. Our van was in the drive way and it was nearly time for me to leave to work. He HAD to know I would come by at that time or soon after as I've had the same post for nearly 4 years..........did he WANT to get caught? I'm just glad that God had Jack on that street and myself in the van at the same time!At the same time, I was able to thank God for allowing me to catch my son "in the act" and laugh a little bit at the inprobability of both of us being in the same place at the same time! I'm watching, Jack!!!!!

Happy Belated Birthday, George! The Path NOT Chosen......

My son George turned 16 on March 17. We worked on his Eagle project that day and the day before...as well doing the much needed preparations and finishing up work. So finally I will put up a few pictures of George at Denny's. My husband took George and two of our other children there later in the day. George chose Denny's because of the free pancakes on your birthday deal! Our lives changed when George was born, even more so than any child changes a family's life. I had a medical accident while pregnant with him. George was born with a number of challenges but as of this time he is doing remarkably well! At first I felt inadequate to be his mother, but God has given myself and my husband the strength we need to guide this young man. God also blessed us by sending the right people in our lives at the right time to help us with the issues in George's life. I've met people, gone places, and done things I would have never done if George hadn't come into our lives. Speaking for myself and my husband, we are much better people than we were before George's birth. I wouldn't have chosen this path for us or our son but God knew better and made HIS plans for all of us!

Eagle Scout Project

My son George is about 80% done with his Eagle Project. He chose to refurbish about 1100 crosses that his troop puts on Veterans' grave each Memorial Day. His "crew" also helped make about 100 new crosses and 10 Stars of David. George has faced many challenges in his life from birth. I often prayed when he was younger for God to bring him a "thing" to which he call his own...like a purpose for his life. Boy Scouts has become George's "thing" for the last 4+ years. Becoming an Eagle Scout will certainly be a major milestone in George's life! I couldn't be prouder! It will be at least another few weeks before the physical work is done. The paperwork make take even longer but he is nearly there! I am looking forward to George's Eagle Court of Honor which will probably be held later in summer 2011.

Field Trip Fun

On Friday, April 1, two of my sons and I took a tour of the Flagler Museum(also known as Whitehall) with our homeschool groupl. It's hard to believe that this house was a gift from Henry Flagler to his new bride Mary Lily or that something that large could be built in 18 months! We were blessed with a friendly, helpful guide and gorgeous weather. Here's a few pictures from the tour and a link to the museum.

http://www.flaglermuseum.org/

Changes.......

My just-turned 18 year old daughter's first pay check from Ross is stuck by a magnet onto our refrigerator. How did she get to be that old, that fast? When she was first born, people said things like "don't blink, you'll miss something," or "take lots of pictures." How right they were! I have no idea how fast my children (who were born in 1993,1995,1996, and 1998) would grow up. Ten years ago at this time we were still potty training, taking naps, and frequently visiting just about every playground in our county! Now there are 3 teens and a tween in this house. I can't remember the last time we went to the playground to meet friends or play. It makes me sad but also excited as the people who my children begin to emerge. There are challenging times ahead to be sure but I'm also eagerly anticipating the adults my children will be. Thank you, Lord, for loaning them to me as they belong first to you. Thank you for the playground memories, the trips to the Christian bookstore for the latest Veggie Tale video(haha!), AWANA, Good Shepherd Preschool,Mom's Club meetings, dance recitals, baseball games, library story time, the sprayground,Christmas pageants, Trick or Treating.........and for those memories still to be created!!