One Thousand Gifts - Gifts 1 - 5

I started a new bible study this week, "One Thousand Gifts" by Ann Voskamp.

I am hoping to commit to recording my gifts here.

1. The stillness of my classroom before students arrive.
2.  Technology to be able to Facetime my mom.  Being able to see her and talk to her is such a blessing.
3.  My bible study girls who encourage me and walk with me in growing our faith.
4.  Music...which can often put into words what I cannot.
5.  Sweet texts from Kyle during the day.

Calculus, Germs, and a Birthday

I'm a bad blogger.  Since early January, I have been covered up in Calculus, germs, and a birthday. 

I'm perhaps a lunatic for trying to take my Calculus class on-line.  It's one of my FOUR (EEEK!!!!!) remaining classes on my Middle Grades Ed degree.  It's been so long since I've had a math class that is this hard--probably high school.  (That was 15 years ago!  Geez, I'm getting old...)  And to say it's hard is an understatement.  Its been brutal and eating up every spare moment of free time I have.  And, well, with two children under four--who has free time to begin with!?!

Germs, germs, and more germs have invaded our house.  Since late November, my poor Kohen has had the stomach bug 3x, pneumonia, and the flu.  Kade has managed to stay well, with the minor exception of the stomach bug that he and the rest of my family shared.  Honestly, it spread to 12 people in my family in less than 2 weeks.  (I am the lone woman standing, which is good--because who has time to get sick with Calculus looming over my head?!?)


Kade turned 4 on February 10th!  I have tons of pictures I need to upload from his party.  Maybe I'll save that for another post...

For the past few weeks, that's my life in a nut shell.

I am...

I found this paper tucked away in some bible study stuff I was going through last week.  It's called "I am..." and it gives you all of these prompts to fill in your own information into the sentence.  Since my blogging brainstorming has been so uneventful lately, I thought, "Why not?"  So here you go...

I am...
I am the second daughter born in 1980 to parents who worked for a local food distribution company.  I am the child who played with Barbies, anything Bart Simpson, and baby dolls.  I am the child who loved to climb trees, play outside, and aggravate my older sister.  I am the child who dreamed of being a police officer and never thought I'd be a suicide surviovor.

I am the teenager who learned the hard way that my parent's are much smarter than I gave them credit for being.  I am the teenager who wore hand-me-downs from an older sister, Levi's Buttonflys, and tight-rolled my jeans.  I am the teenager who hated school, reading, or anything else that had to do with learning.  I am the teenager who spent too much time at Skateland, thinking about boys, and cutting myself off from my family.  I am the teenager who wanted to be loved deeply without facing heartache, and I knew that was impossible.

I am the woman who licks her finger to clean a smudge off her children's faces.  I am a woman who loves to be encouraged, spending quiet weekends at home, and Sunday naps. 

I am the mother who loves to hear her children laugh but loses all rational if they get sick.  I am the mother whose moments of perfect bliss come when she can bathe without interruption.

I am the career student who wants to be smarter than necessary and wishes to become a Middle Grades Educator.  I am the person who craves attention, but loves my independence.  I am the person wants a clean house 24/7 and watches too much reality TV in order to make the clean house 24/7 possible.

I am the women who still loves to lick the spoon when baking a cake, who still longs to travel the world, and still lives paycheck to paycheck.  I am the person who dreams of making a difference in other people's lives and who hopes that in all she does people will see little of her and more of Jesus.

Jan 4, 1998: The Day I almost Died...

I repost this every year, because I don't want to ever forget the unseen sovereign hand of a Mighty God who saved me.

*******************************************************************************

Jan 4, 1998 will forever be imprinted on my heart. It was the day before I would begin the second semester of my Senior year of high school. It was a Sunday, and I was on my lunch break from the part-time job I worked. I went home to grab a quick bite to eat. When I left my house to return to work, my mom said, "Keep it (your car) on the road and out of the ditches." I had no idea what she was talking about or why she even said that. She hadn't ever said that before. So, without much thought further I pulled out of the driveway and headed back to work.

I had driven this road countless times since getting my license almost 2 years prior. I had even made the comment "I can drive it (the road) with my eyes closed." Boy, at times we can be so foolish, can't we? The road I grew up on was very curvy--much too curvy for the 55 mph posted speed limit. As I was going around one of the curves, my pager went off (those were once the cool things to have). As I looked down, I ran off the road and over corrected. I hit another vehicle head on. Because I hit another moving vehicle, it was double impact. I hit my steering wheel at 110 mph.

This is the after math...or what I most often refer to as "the day I almost died."





Brace yourself... This picture takes my breath away every time I look at it....



This day haunts me and often makes me wonder and reflect on what God's purpose is for my life? Why was I spared?  It's partially the reason I chose my One Word for 2013 to be:

So, you may be wondering how on Earth I could survive the mangled mess that was once my car.
It's simple: God's grace and mercy. The one characteristic that I hated so much about myself--my petite size--saved my life. The space between my steering wheel and seat was just enough space for my broken, beat up body.  I was trapped in my car for two hours as rescue works called in the "jaws of life" to free me. (I met a former friend of my grandpa's who told me that he tried to pull on my car so much his hands were bleeding. That's before the rescue crews arrived. Thank you Mr. Willis!)

Once, I was finally freed, I was airlifted to Mission Memorial Hospital in Asheville where I spent about a week in ICU. I had 8 hours worth of surgery the day of the accident to implant metal rods in both of my legs. I had broken my left femur and right tibula. I also broke my pelvis, my lung was collapsed, and I had countless staples and stitches.

Finally, I was conscience and moved to a regular room.

From Left to Right:
Amber Seagle, Carrie Houston, Me, Jessica Reitzel

Me and My Grandpa

Me and my Aunt Marie

On January 30, after 25 days in the hospital, I finally was allowed to go home. Home, sweet home. It was 2 days before my 18th birthday.

Me holding my niece Kenleigh

I spent the rest of my Senior year being a home-bound student, attending physical therapy 3 times a week, and learning how to walk again.....Oh! And being so very grateful and undeserving of being alive.

So even 15 years later, I can say without reservation

"I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well."

Psalm 139:14

Happy Anniversary to me! It's good to be alive!

It's okay Thursday...

I'm linking up once again with Amber who hosts "It's Okay Thursdays."

It's okay that

• My three year old out lasted me on NYE.  He made it until 11:45, and I was in bed shortly after 10pm.  To be fair, I had to work New Years Day.

• I start Calculus on Monday and I'm scared!!!  I haven't had a math this hard since high school.  Y'all pray for me and my sanity.  Pray for my family too :)
• I *thought* I lost my TI-83 calculator, so I purchased a used one...Then, guess what?! I found it.  (I'm selling one by the way if you know someone who needs one.)
• I picked my One Word for 2013 and I'm very excited to try and determine what Gods purpose is for my life.

• I chose to exercise my 2nd Amendment right yesterday and purchase my first pistol.
• I'm taking a concealed weapons class later this month, and I'm very excited about it.
• I failed at all of my 2012 New Years Resolutions.
• Instead of making New Year's Resolutions for 2013, I have noted a few things I want to improve on: growing closer to the Lord, taking more pictures, sending more cards, and showing acts of kindness.  I'm thinking I may find my purpose somewhere along the way...
• I found this chicken nugget smiling at me in my freezer.  It must be thinking of my inability to cook...lol

That's all for now!  Happy Thursday Friends! :)

Reflecting on 2012

I wrote this post last year on New Years Day.  It was fun (and often difficult) to reflect on 2011.  I will use the same questions to reflect on 2012.

I received an email from (in)courage concerning personal reflection... In the email, 20 questions were given as a spring board to get the reflection gears grinding. You can click here to get a free pdf. printable of the questions if you want to answer them yourself or with family. If you aren't on (in)courage's mailing list, please consider doing so. Every email is so uplifting and glorifying of the Lord.


1. What was the single best thing that happened to you this year?
Being asked to teach Sunday School--God revealed Himself to me in a big, BIG way at that time.  I was struggling with finishing some last minute classes on my Middle Grades Education degree, and I was beginning to question whether God was saying "No" or "Not now."  God opened a window into my being able to do what I'm passionate about (teach).  It's even more special that I get to teach on Who I am most passionate about:  Him.

2. What was the single most challenging thing?
I'm still challenged daily in my walk with the Lord.  I strive to live a life that is pleasing to Him, and I tend to fail more often than succeed.  The most challenging thing for me was most likely being at the hospital with my friend Shellie when her newborn son passed away.  I wanted to be there for her because I love her and her family dearly.  However, during this time I was taken aback at how ill-prepared I am to handle tragedy.  I completely froze in this moment.

3. What was an unexpected joy this year?
My job was outsourced in late 2011, so I began working for a new department within our company in late February.  It was a forced demotion for me, and I'll be the first to admit that I wasn't very happy with the transition.  However, it has been so much better than I ever imagined.  I love my co-workers, and we have blended so well together.  I get to work 4 ten hour days so I have every Wednesday off (probably my most favorite unexpected joy).  And, my boss is so great to work for. 

4. What was an unexpected obstacle?
The death of my friend's son, Styles.  He was born 8 weeks premature, and he lived 28 days.  He was so tiny, but absolutely perfect.  I've never experienced anything like this so close to "home."  It's be so hard on Shellie, his mom.  Will you help me pray for her?

5. Pick 3 words to describe your year?
I said this last year, but it still fits:  Overall, I'm blessed!

6. Pick 3 words your spouse would use to describe your 2012 (Don't ask them! Guess based on how your spouse sees you).
Busy, Tired, Grouchy

7. Pick 3 words your spouse would use to describe their 2012 (Again without asking them).
Busy, Tired, Grouchy :)

8. What were the best books you read this year?
I would love nothing more than to read, but I seriously don't have the time.  When I pick up any book, Kade will say "Read me the 'This Little Boy Named Kade' book."  Every book I try to read, he thinks is about him.  Instead of reading, I make up stories like, "This little boy named Kade really needs to get his sleep at night so he will grow up to be a big, strong man like Daddy."  Precious moments--and wouldn't trade them for anything!  I do plan to "try" to read more this year.

9. With whom were your most valuable relationships?
My husband--we've had an open line of communication this year.  It's nice to know that I can go to him and talk about absolutely anything.

My mom--she goes above and beyond to take care of my children so I can work.  She has a hard job keeping my two boys and my niece Sarabeth.  I honestly have no idea how she does it... 

The Women of Grace at my church--I've developed so many friendships in 2012, and I'm thankful for the wisdom, guidance, and prayer of these women.

10. What was your biggest personal change from January to December of this past year?
My job transition in early 2012 and still monitoring/eliminating all the trash I'm taking in...

11. In what ways did you grow emotionally?
I said this last year, but it's still relevant:  I learned to have lesser expectations of people and to expect more from myself.  The only thing I would add for 2012 is:  Some people will never be your friend no matter how much you wish/want them to be.  Move on to the people who will and appreciate every second of those friendships.

12. In what ways did you grow spiritually?
I completed the bible study "No Other Gods" by Kelly Minter with my church.  It opened my eyes to some present day idols I have in my life.  I realized that I was putting so many things before the Lord, and even though I've completed this study--I still feel like there is something I missed, so I plan to do it again sometime in 2013.

13. In what ways did you grow physically?
I trained for and completed my first 5k.  My goal wasn't to be the fastest.  My only goal was to survive.  I've had to stop running right now because with my asthma, I can not breathe in cold air.  I do plan on restarting the Couch to 5k in early spring and (hopefully) I will be able to run the entire 5k next year.

14. In what ways did you grow in your relationships with others?
The biggest growth in my relationships occurred by taking time out to appreciate the people in my life and their differences.  I have prayed about ways I can be a better friend, mother, wife, daughter, etc and I can see God working in those areas of my life.  So, although the relationships themselves may not have experienced growth, my role in those relationships did.

15. What was the most enjoyable part of your work (both professionally and at home)?
Professionally:  My co-workers.  We have a great time and work well together.
At Home: Hearing the laughter of my kids and husband.  Knowing that we are all safe, together, and happy.

16. What was the most challenging part of your work (both professionally and at home)?
Professionally: Staying on Task =) (same as last year)
At Home: Keeping my house up (also, same as last year).  This year, I plan to accept that with two small children, there will always be something that needs to be cleaned, tossed out, or put away.  I.Will.Find.Balance.In.2013!

17. What was your single biggest time waster in your life this past year?
Same as last year:  Probably all the time I spent on Facebook.  Shocking, I know.  A close second would be all the time I spend watching TV.

18. What was the best way you used your time in this past year?
I tried to send more cards this year.  I tried to text people more often too.  Edifying others.  (There will be more of the same in 2013!)

19. What was the biggest thing you learned this year?
Life, as unfair as it may be at times, is so precious.  We should literally approach each day having purpose.  Another biggie is that it's time to let some things go.

20. Create a phrase or statement that describes 2011 for you.
I copied this Facebook status in 2011, and it's still very relevant for my 2012 year:
"(2013) is hours away.  As I reflect on (2012), there have been highs and lows, good and bad times, tears and laughter, losses and gains, deaths and births.  Through all of it, I have been gently cradled in the Lord's arms as He carried me through the lows (and blessed me with the highs).  His footsteps were visible as He walked beside me in the good and bad times.  In (2013) I will continue to trust "His Unseen Hand" (and give Him the honor and glory that He rightly deserves.  I will commit to living my life with purpose.)
**I added anything in ( ) for 2013.


Happy 2013 Sweet Friends! May this be the year the Lord returns!  Looking for the King in 2013 =)

When the Children Cry...

Somehow this song seems entirely appropriate for the recent events...As the family and loved ones prepare to say their final goodbyes to their sweet sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, grandchildren, mothers, aunts...may we always remember that this did not take our Lord by surprise. He is waiting to help heal the broken hearts of so many...please continue to pray for others as you would want them to be praying for you.


The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart..." Psalm 34:1