A little bit about my story, part one

Over fifteen years ago journaling became my release, passion, and way to communicate with my Father. I had endured the pain of divorce and the sudden loss of my dreams. I was raising a young son as a single parent and I was not happy about the prospect of that at all. What began as a journal, to keep track of what was taking place in my life, soon became my way of communicating with my Abba Father. At times, the feelings would become so powerful and the words would be swimming all around in my head that I would have to write them down, whether it was in the middle of a meeting, in the car waiting to pick up my son, in the middle of the night... it did not seem to matter when or where it was….when the Lord was speaking to my spirit, I stopped and wrote it all down.

When email became the instantaneous way to communicate with others, I began to send my musings/devotions via this wonderful medium. It was at this time that a friend from our singles encouraged me to write a book. She pointed out that I had the chapters and content if I would just compile my emails together. Life went on and I never got around to doing this. I played with it but felt that there was no end to the story. I could not seem to bring the book to an end. Besides I was no 'writer' or 'author' just someone who communicated in words with my Savior.

Fast forward to December 2000. My life was full and content. I had finally released my desire to remarry and had made peace with the Lord knowing that it was truly His will that I desired. I did not want to seek out a mate…that was for Him to take care of in my life. I was happy to be a single mom the rest of my life if that is where the Lord wanted me. The Lord truly has such a heart for his children! His plans are so intricately woven that it is hard to see how each event in one’s life has some purpose. We, in our humanness, can't seem to understand all the twist and turns our lives take, but each event, moment, heartache, and triumph has a purpose. There was a purpose in my pain. God had a reason for allowing the events in my life to take place.

December 6, 2000, was an ordinary day. I was thrilled it was Wednesday, because that meant I did not have to pick up my son after school at 2:30, since he had an after school enrichment class. I missed having a usual noon lunch hour since I had started using my lunch time to pick up my son each day from school. I did this in order for us to have a little extra bit of time together before I arrived home after work.

However, this day meant I could go out to lunch, run errands or various other things for that one hour. Around 2:45 pm I was suddenly startled out of my work mindset. I had been asked to do something for one of the VPs in our office and I had forgotten to do so. I jumped up from my seat and headed out of my office and up the hall to get the form I needed to fill out. I ran into our Russian student worker who had a confused look on his face. I asked him if he needed help and he said that he could not understand what the man at the front of the office wanted. I walked up and do not really remember much about how the man looked other than a very sweet smile, welcoming eyes, and that was about it. He needed to find the Athletic Director and wanted to know if I knew who it was. Of course I did! I had known the director since I was a young girl. He attended my church. I kept this information to myself but wrote down the AD’s information….that is all but his name! This nice man somehow made me a little nervous. Upon my giving him the post it note he then asked me, "And his name is?" I became flustered and said, "Oh my gosh, I am so sorry, his name is Mr. Wagnon.". I had written down everything but his name! As I pulled the note off the pad it flipped clear across the room! Man, I was really nervous for some reason. He thanked me and left and I turned and walked back down the hallway to my office. I never gave the man with the big, sweet smile a second thought. to be continued

Logan, the Sky Angel Cowboy!

This video is self explanatory. Oh to have the faith of a child. I heard this on the radio the other day and I could barely see to drive and had to pull over. It touched my heart so deeply. I pray that it will touch you as well.
Praising Him in All things,
Vickie

WFMW - Documenting Athletic Events for Kids

This fall two of my teenage sons played football. One played for the freshman team and the other, a sophomore, played for the Junior Varsity and Varsity teams. At times they both had games on the same night but different parts of the City. Most weeks we were gone three nights a week to games either at home or away. Some nights I had a hard time remembering which child I was watching and my saving grace was thankfully they had totally different numbers.

I really wanted to document their football season so that I could at a later date scrapbook all the pictures and add journaling. What really worked for me was to take a picture after each game of the scoreboard. Either that night or the next morning I would write up a synopsis of what happened and especially if one of our boys had a great play and his name was called out over the loud speaker I would add what he had done. I also went to the website for the football team and snagged the write up by the coach. I placed this information into a Word file with the name of the child and the date of the game. I also created a football folder and within that folder had subfolders for each boy. As I typed this up I would file it into the corresponding folder. I also linked to any articles that were in our local paper and dropped them into the folder as well so I could match up the actual clipping with the correct child. I created the same folders to hold the pictures that were taken of each son.

Looking back now I have a great history of each game, the score, specific plays that our boys participated in plus the pictures that go along with each. It sounds very confusing but believe me it is not (see example below). I am excited to have the chance to give each son a disc of all this information one day. I have also added film from the coaches and a couple of slide shows that were shown at the football banquet two weeks ago. It has been a breeze to journal their pages. Our son that is a freshman in high school went on to be undefeated this year. I am very happy that I kept such detailed records so that I can document this feat that has not happened in our school district since my brother played for the same school nearly 25 years ago! Works for me! To see more Works for Me Wednesday ideas, visit Shannon at Rocks in My Dryer.
Example:
Football 2007 Folder
Seth football2007 Folder – write ups, journaling, newspapers
Sethpictures2007 Folder
Zach football2007 Folder – write ups, journaling, newspapers
Zachpictures2007 Folder

Tonight my heart hurt

Tonight I had an hour to kill while waiting for my youngest to be out of FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes). I thought I would check out Dollar Tree for a bit. Boy did I have many memories come flooding back to me right in the aisle of this great little dollar store. I saw two different moms pushing their carts with little children inside. Each Mom had a harried, exhausted look about her that I all too well remember. It was more than the usual busy Mom look. In an instant I felt my heart quicken inside my chest because I just knew these two moms were carrying the load by themselves. Sure enough they were each single mom's. I walked that road for nearly ten years. I remember those dark, cold, lonely times when I had more month than money. I remember how my own little boy would say the same things these two little ones were saying to their own Mommy's.

I have been remarried now for nearly seven years to a most wonderful Godly man. The Lord answered the cries of my heart and He most certainly did not disappoint. He not only brought me a helpmate but He provided for me three more little hearts to love, nurture and cherish. This season is especially hard on my crew. Their wife and mom died from cancer shortly after the holidays ten years ago. It is always a little bittersweet this time of year and now that the children are teenagers they deal with their grief in different ways.

All I know is that tonight my mind went back to that place, not so long ago, when I was pained in my spirit, wondering what the next day would bring, how the Lord would refine me and when I would feel some peace.

I remember those times of fear, loneliness, and despair. I remember the shame I felt that my husband had walked out of our marriage and chose a life that was so far removed from what I had been taught. I felt let down and discouraged but never did I critize or blame the Lord. I knew He had a plan and that He would work out His will in my life even when I felt like I could not go on another day. I won't even go into the pain I felt in my heart for my little boy who was four when his dad chose to abandon his family.

The Lord was always faithful. He never left my side, but all the while I had to run after Him, surrender to Him...that is the hard part...SURRENDER. Surrendering hopes, dreams, desires, plans all to the One that is control of each of those things. I had to learn to TRUST Him to bring about His perfect plan for my life.

Tonight I wanted to wrap my arms around these sweet ones that were hurting and tell them, "Regardless of what takes place in your life....there is a way to find peace and fullfillment". Each time I tried to strike up more of a conversation we were interrupted. Lord tonight I pray for those two sweet families. You know them and their situations. Please provide for them this season. May they know You and please give me continued opportunities to share your love.
Praising Him in ALL things!

Brrr it's cold outside!

This morning all the men in my home, which is four total, all headed out for Denton, Texas, to attend the North Texas football game. I am thinking they will be quite cold and a little wet before the day is done. My husband played football for North Texas and has been wanting to share this moment with our boys for quite some time. I pray that it is a wonderful day full of memories that will last a lifetime. Perhaps the warmth my man will feel inside upon sharing this day with his three boys will help keep them all nice and cozy.

It is very cold out today and the forecast is calling for snow. Nothing like this type of weather to get me in the mood to decorate my home for Christmas! However, right now I would rather cuddle up with a big mug of steaming hot chocolate, my quilt, and a great book OR instead of the cuddling up with a book, getting out the craft supplies and creating something new and exciting. Choices....hmmm...oops Baby Girl aka my youngest is wanting to get on the computer. More later!

Trying this again

I have tried over the past two years to blog. I have become a very committed reader of blogs and share what I read with my friends and family, however, I just can't seem to carve out the time to keep one of mine up to date. Maybe it is the intimidation factor since the blogs that I have read have grown to be so popular and such great reads that I feel my little corner of blogdom would not really matter. I have decided to give it a whirl again.

This past week I have been sick and I have had a lot of time to think. The one thing that I know about is research and trying to live life more simply. Now what I mean is not what most think of when they hear 'the simple life'. I have strived for quite some time to slow down even though with four teenagers it makes it very difficult to go slow but to make each day count. I also look at living life simply to be debt free. My husband and I are Dave Ramsey fans and over the past seven years have relieved ourselves of all our debt and only owe on our home! Talk about freedom!!! This will be our 7th Christmas without credit cards. I guess in my mind that is what led me to try again. I am almost through with my shopping and this year did something completely different for Black Friday....I did it all online! It was more out of necessity since I was so sick with the flu but WOW will I ever do it again next year! There was not one thing that I was not able to get online and I saved money in the process too!

I look forward to trying to keep this blog going and sharing what goes on in the life of a 40 something Mom that has four very busy teenagers, a full time job, and a husband that has a very demanding job in law enforcement. Join me as I pursue simplicity.
Blessings,
Vickie