Mother-Daugther Moments

What a sweet time Kat and I had yesterday! The weather here was gorgeous-something we don't take for granted, because it is usually either hot and humid or raining! Her wedding is so close; glad we told her we needed six months to prepare, or it would be even closer! She and I have had some precious moments shopping for wedding ideas, looking at what she might want in her house, and just being together talking about our life. I am getting to share with her all the minute details of her planning her new life together with Jon, and I am honored.

I knew the day would come when some dashing young man would sweep her off her feet. I thought it might have been someone else, but glad it wasn't. I don't know what I hoped as far as when she would get married. God's timing is not my timing; His will is not my will-both of which I am very grateful for since I can't see the big picture from the same perspective He does. A dear friend reminded me just recently that if God is in something, timing is all His, if God is not, no amount of time will make it right!

So...yesterday I didn't have to share her. We went to her first gynecology appointment. Doctor was fabulous, and Kat was such a blessing to me. I asked her if she had any questions for the doctor, and she said no, she could ask her "mommy." Then we popped into IHOP. She ordered a full breakfast-I had toast :). She had class after that. I came home and muddled around a bit. We did lunch and then Kat and I took off to the Boardwalk. She wanted to look at kitchen stuff. There is a new kitchen store down there that had me drooling (and I really don't cook much!). She discovered they do wedding registry-yea for her! We did a bit of clothes shopping, drifting around the area, and then stopped in at Cold Stone for ice cream. She ordered this massive oreo creation in a waffle bowl; I got a small cup of coffee lovers. We sat outside the parlor and people watched. We laughed as people qawked at her ice cream and made comments! Then I was off to work, and so was she.

Steve picked me up from work, and we went to a friend's to work on their wireless. I got to catch up on them, play with their precious little one, and eat strawberry pie (so delicious!). Steve and I headed to Logan's where he got a steak dinner, and I got a sweet potato! (I told him I had been a cheap date all day!). By then Kat was home again. I crawled into bed next to her and we watched Dancing with the Stars on her laptop...before calling it a night. Whew....it was a sweet day with lots of opportunities to bounce ideas off each other, vent a little, plan a little, and make memories!

To be a Teacher....

That is one of those thoughts that have come and gone for many years in my life. I have contemplated doing something else quite a few times....if not for the encouragement and prodding of my hubbie. I really drug my feet getting everything done to start the MAT, if it were not for my hubbie...:) He was determined I was gong to get in and get this done, even if he had to do the leg work to get me there....and he did.

Last night was my first class. My instructor is the principal of Tech's elementary school. She told us story after story of why she is a teacher and why it is important. I found myself tearing up and wondered if anyone else was...snuck a peak to see....couldn't tell. I have some similar stories about kids I have taught-since I started this over 18 years ago and many are grown with their own kids now. There is nothing more amazing than watching a child grow up and reach for what they weren't sure they were capable of achieving. Even thinking about my own children and our family history; my son was the first to go to college right out of highschool and on scholarship. 2 of my 3 kids are in college-not remarkable in itself except that in my family no one went to college. My husband and I are the first to hold degrees in our family.

My professor ended class last night by reading a children's book to us. The book was about a little girl that couldn't read and felt dumb until a wise teacher discoverd she had special needs. With his help she learned to overcome her disability and became a writer (the writer of this book) of children's literature. One teacher made a difference in her life. That is what I love about teaching-reaching the one, inspiring, encouraging, being that cheerleader. I wanted to jump up and shout when she got done with that story! I left class last night so encouraged. I know I have a lot of work in front of me and a lot of changes. I never like change and don't adjust well, but life is all change...and I just got to get over that. I am apprehensive about how I am going to accomplish something so big and manage the rest of my life, but....am also so excited about the possibility!

Wow....I am going to be a teacher.

Great Minds Think....differently

I am sitting here watching Good Morning America which is featuring a concert by U2. Hmmm...not that I know who that is mind you, but they certainly have control of the audience. The audience is doing everything they do, every hand motion...Now that is interesting to me. It makes me reflect on a conversation I had with a teen just recently.

We were talking about how difficult it is to find Christians who are really serious about their faith. So many "Christians" aren't any different than anyone else, not in dress, not in attitude, not in the way they live their lives. I was glancing on FACEBOOK at some photos of "Christian" kids and there is picture after picture of kids making the same looks and hand gestures as everyone else. It poses the question what is a "Christian?"

I can tell you what it is not. It is not someone who attends church of any denomination. It is not someone who can quote a passage of Scripture. It is simply someone who follows Christ. Where is Christ and where is He going? How did He live His life? How was He different from all that had come before Him and will ever come after Him? In God's Word we are told that we are predestined as born again believers in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ to be conformed to His image. God wants me as a believer to be Christ like not world like. To be friends with the world is to be enmity with God...not one of those things we can straddle the fence on...will love the one and hate the other.

Having a conversation with Taylor last week...one of my adopted sons who I love dearly. First let me tell you about Taylor. He appeared last year fresh out of tech school and has been in and out of our lives for over a year. He comes to church once in awhile and joins us for dinner on occasion. He is very real, making no excuses for his behavior. He is definitely my wild child! Anyway...he has an IQ higher than mine so we have this intelligence rivalry going. He really is pretty bright! I made a comment about how great minds think alike and he responded with, "No, great minds think differently." Aha...he is right!

As Christians, we are often accused of being of lesser intelligence, not being able to think for ourselves, being brainwashed and yada, yada,....I have a 3.89 GPA, a Bachelor's degree, a member of Phi Kappa Phi, and am returning to get my MAT. My IQ is higher than the average bear, and I am NOT brainwashed. I can think for myself and recognize truth when I see it. I am not swayed by a professor or my peers. I read and I think. Most importantly, I know that there is really only one absolute truth. History itself teaches me that man is always revising his thinking. What is accepted as fact one day is discredited the next. Man's ideas are finite. God is infinite. Why would I want to be like the world I live in? Why would I want to think like I am told to think? Why would I want to scream individuality while I dress and talk and act like the peers who influence me? Why......Not.....think differently?!

Impressed

This weekend my hubbie worked hard to build my new pantry. We lost most of last week because of revival at church-that and the weight of an upcoming wedding has motivated us to get busy!

I should have been painting myself, but instead ,watched him work and teach Alex. I was quite impressed. He has always been good working with kids on tasks other adults would have cringed at. He is patient, lets them play with power tools, and encourages them to try. I will always look back on my children's growing up years with confidence that my husband did a fantastic job teaching them how to be adults. Our independent sons testify to that fact. Both our boys jump right into whatever task lay before them. They read, research, get the info they need and just do it. Not even our daughter is afraid to pick up a drill, a hammer, or a saw. They can all balance a checkbook, make calls to enquire about banking situations, doctors appointments, insurance, etc. I smile when I think that my husband did accomplish that objective in their lives.

When he was still active duty, he would come home from work after dealing with these 18 yr. olds and say his kids were not going to go out into the world and not know how to take care of themselves. He set his heart on preparing them to be adults. He was and is an awesome father. He is an amazing man. He makes me a better person just because I share my life with him.

After nearly 26 years of marriage....I am still impressed. I am impressed by what he has learned to do over the years, how patient he is when he is working with young people, or listening to adults rant and rave about absolutely nothing. He takes time to listen to me, to hold me when I am hurting, to encourage me when I feel like a failure, to read books about marriage, or research something for someone else so he can help them. Yep, I am impressed. If his sons never completely understand who their father is, I will still know. I will still look at him with wonder, awe, and a heart full of love and respect.