Beginning Again

Life has a way of snagging you and pulling you into a whirlwind when you least expect it especially if you have three teenagers living under your roof as well as a college student three hours away! Much has taken place since I last posted in March. We had one son severely injured in his last home football game on Senior night and who only this week went back to school after being out for more than eleven weeks! We had another son injure his ankle in a farming accident that only by a miracle of the Lord did he not lost his foot or worse his life! Our baby girl started driver's education and now has her permit! One son acquired his first job! So many other things I could have documented and did not. I had written only sporadically before March and mainly focused on great sales that I had found or books that I was reviewing. I will still do some of those same things but this year feels different.

I really want to re-focus and begin to journal again. It is in those times of quiet repose that I can hear the Lord speak to me ever so softly amongst this chaos called life.

This year...2010...is going to be a huge one in our home. Our second son will be graduating from high school in May and heading off to college in August. I will turn an age that I even hate to write down or utter for fear that I realize it is really happening...I am arriving at middle age! EGADS! I will turn 50 in June! How can it be? I mean in my heart I feel young, vibrant, full of life and yet in reality I am at a crossroads...mid-life. Soon we will have an empty nest and while I am very excited to see my children growing into young adults I find myself worrying if I have raised them right, given them the tools to make it in this life that is so full of uncertainty and strife. Have I pointed them to Jesus enough and His Word?

It feels good tonight to be up late pounding on this keyboard. The thoughts that are rolling around in my mind have taken up my precious sleep at night so perhaps the best way to solve those quiet conversations in my head late at night when everyone is asleep is to write them all down.

I first started this blog because I wanted to pursue a simpler life in all areas. My blog tag line says "A Christian Mom in pursuit of a more simplified life in all areas body, mind, spirit, finances, and health." I don't feel that I have pursued much of a simplified life in the last year. In my heart I long to but in reality I have felt like I have been on a bullet train speeding along praying I can keep all the various events of my life in balance. I have not done a great job of that at all. So begins the journey anew. That is one thing about our Father that I love....He can refresh and renew our hearts, minds, and lives. I am ready to get my plan of action going but the plan will have to wait until tomorrow. Until then...

Goals in 2008

I can't believe another year is about to end and a new one is ready to take flight! The older I get the faster the years seem to appear.

Yesterday, in church, I was listening to the sermon and as our associate pastor was speaking about 2008, it dawned on me that in two more years, 2010, I will have my second child graduating from high school. What really blew my mind was the next year, 2011, our third son will graduate and then in 2012, our little princess will be ready to face the world with high school graduation! As I pondered these things in my heart I became so emotional. I began to wonder if I had prepared them enough for life away from us. I began to feel that overwhelming fear that only satan can impart to ones heart and life. It is all the woulda, coulda, shoulda's that I just did not want to cloud my mind during this wonderful time of worship.

I quickly brushed the thoughts away and knew they were an attack from the enemy. However, I still was in awe that in a very short amount of time I will have an empty nest! I want to make the next few years life changing for my children. They have certainly changed my life.

I have several goals for the next year. I decided to not call them resolutions. My goals for the coming year are:

Strive daily to maintain a quiet time of worship, thanksgiving, Bible study and prayer.

To not sweat the small stuff. I tend to want my home perfect and with our busy lives it all too often is not up to my expectations. This tends to stress me out and in the end cause my husband and children undo frustration.

To exercise twice daily for 30 minutes. I find this works for me better than one hour at the gym.

Continue on my eating pattern of veggies, fruit, and whole grains.

I want to get out our sewing machine and begin to teach my daughter how to sew. Sarah at In the Midst of It has inspired me!!

and finally to spend as much time as I can with each of my children individually and collectively plus maintaining a consistent date night time with my husband.

I pray each of you have a blessed start to this new year. My family is excited to spend time together tonight. I look forward to seeing what God has in store for our family in 2008.

Richest blessings to each of you!

Part 4 of Our Story

I was so excited to hear his voice! I had enjoyed my evening, even though it had been so stressful, and I was filled with hope that Saturday morning although I had been up most of the night. As I talked with him, it became apparent to me that the preceding evening had been filled with emotion for Mike. I had no way of knowing that on that particular night, December 15th, would have been his tenth anniversary to Jennifer. When he shared with me that it had been such a blessing to have spent the evening with me, on a night that had been filled with such heartache the past three years, I had no words that would come out of my mouth at first. I was trying to find the words that would be appropriate and that would not sound trivial.

I finally remembered my dear friend at work who was also a single parent but had lost her husband suddenly years before in a car accident. She had given me great advice a few days before. She had told me to be myself, to ask questions, and to not fear talking about Jennifer with Mike. She told me that at times in her life different men she dated would become upset if she mentioned her late husband or his family. She told me to not to feel jealous. She shared that Mike would want to talk to me about Jennifer and it would make all the difference in the world if I could be supportive in this manner. Her wisdom that day gave me the courage to listen to Mike when he shared his story and to have a desire to know more.

We talked a long time on the phone that day and he asked me to join him and his children for lunch after church. I was hesitant at first because I had always said I would never involve my child until I knew it was ‘the one’ but I decided to trust my gut and go.

That first meeting with those three precious children could not have been more perfect. They are very close in age and at the time that I met them Seth had just turned nine; Zachary was getting ready to turn eight, and Hannah was six and a half years old. My son Matthew was twelve and a half. I will never forget that day. I had worn a purple outfit and so had Hannah. She has the most amazing blue eyes and has glossy brown hair and the purple just set off her features. As Mike helped me from the van I felt little fingers grasp my hand and I looked down to see her smiling up at me and hanging on to my hand. She told me she loves purple. I told her, “I do too” and we walked off hand in hand into the restaurant. Inside my heart melted and I knew that no matter what I was going to trust the Lord and that He alone knew what was going to take place. I wanted to let Him guide this budding relationship. To be continued…

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