Friday, August 24, 2012

Happy Birthday to ME!!

Today is my birthday!
I know I'm not 2, but I LOVE this cake that my friend Rachel made!

When my kids have a birthday I like to write a mushy post and tell them how much I love them and how proud I am of them.  I was reading someone else's birthday post - they were having the birthday blahs and I thought to myself, "Self, why don't you write something to yourself, about what you like about you!"  Weird, thought I, but why not...it might be interesting.  So today I am attempting to write about why I love myself and am proud to be who I am...

Deep breath, this is harder than it looks!

It would be the easiest thing in the world to complain and whine about all the things I don't like!  But when it comes right down to it...I think I like being me, and here are 44 reasons why I love to be myself, one for every year that has passed.

1.  I was blessed from the beginning with a set of parents who love me and love God and have sought the best for me my whole life...they even moved close by to help us out with out RAD son!
2.  I have some great sibs who are very different from me but I love them.
3.  I know how to pack!  Seriously, I've moved a ridiculous amount of times and I am GOOD at it.
4.  While I am no brainiac, I'm pretty smart and don't need to worry about my intelligence levels.
5.  I'm blonde (my hair that is, not my brains).
6.  I know how to work hard...thank you Mennonite heritage!
7.  I love that I'm a Menno, even though I can't speak German, being a Mennonite is a rich part of my heritage.
8.  I can cook (cause Mennonite girls CAN cook) even though it's not my fave thing to do.
9.  Lots of people say they don't have a creative bone in their body.. (totally not true, but I won't go into that right now)  My whole skeleton is made up of creative bones!!
10.  I love to sew...and I'm good at it.
11.  I like to design quilts and I'm good at that, too!
12.  I like to design and make purses.
13.  I'm a good writer.
14.  I love, love, love to teach...and I've been told I'm a good teacher, which is why I love to homeschool!
15.  We have produced 6 amazing children - they are part of who I am and I like them!
16.  While my house may not be clean and organized to the naked eye, I AM a good organizer.
17.  I can clean really fast if I need, too.
18.  I make the best chocolate cake in the world..REALLY, I do (don't ask me to make a pie, though :)
19.  I'm funny.
20.  I have great legs (that's from my husband)
21. I know how to have a good laugh.
22.  I can still learn new things...
23.  I play piano
24.  I play flute (not so much anymore, but it's still part of my repetoire)
25.  I sing!
26  I'm an introvert...yes I like that about myself, most days.
27. I am a really good actress.
28.  I like my hair.
29.  I love to laugh
30.  I'm pretty dependable.
31.  I'm way too responsible
32.  I remember details and I like that I can!
33.  I can type pretty fast.
34.  I make excellent bread.
35.  I am a ministry minded person and I like that about me, too.
36.  I love it that I am married to a pastor.
37.  I can be spontaneous and that is a lot of fun.
38.  I love to read and get totally caught up in whatever book I'm reading.
39.  I can find a 'flower' in most situations.
40.  I am learning to be a much more thankful person.
41.  I'm a great driver and I love to drive!
42.  I'm friends with some really great people.
43.  I'm married to the best guy on earth...still find it hard to believe he picked me.
44.  I'm the daughter of the king and that really is the best part of me!

There it is, a list of 44 things that I like about myself.  I truly would not want to be anyone else even though there are some things about me I'd like to change.  I haven't thought through any goals I might have for this next year but perhaps I'll post them if I come up with some.  I really am enjoying (for the most part) the place I am in in my life.  My kids are getting older and more self-sufficient.  I can enjoy a day out with my youngest (she's 6) without any diaper bags and all that stuff.  I enjoy excellent conversations with my older kids regularly.  Yup, life is good and tonite my husband is leaving the farm behind and taking me out to dinner and a concert...looking forward to seeing Leland live!!

Happy Birthday to me!
and a gift for you...

I decided after I posted this to do a give-away!  I'd like to give one of you something on my birthday, not sure what it will be yet but that's okay, it should be a surprise right!! So, to enter the give-away, comment and tell me something you love about yourself!! 
I'll leave it open for the weekend...

Blessings, have a wonderful day!!

Monday, August 20, 2012

For My Chosen Son

After a few days of technical difficulties I am finally getting my son's birthday post on here!!  Still true today...


Thirteen and a half years ago we met a malnourished, cute-as-a-button, sickly black haired boy at my mother and father’s house.  He was my new foster brother and his name was Christopher.  A few months later my parents moved in with us with a much healthier, happier Christopher and he went from being my brother to being my son.
About eighteen months later he was moved into a ‘permanent’ home and seven months after that returned to our home and has been here ever since.  The journey hasn’t always been easy but I think it will be worth it in the end.
My Christopher was chosen for me by God to teach me some things about myself I never knew.  He was chosen for our family to teach us skills and lessons that we would not have learned any other way.  And somehow or other God decided we were the perfect place for this abandoned, angry little boy to grow up.
In his fourteen years of life the experts have stuck a lot of labels on him and he has managed to defy many of them.  Our prayer is that he wipes them all out and proves everyone wrong.  Already he has gone above the average age of children ‘like’ him.  Our social worker told us that most kids with his labels are already in detention centers, have records and their situations have fallen apart.  We are two years past those odds.
We are praying that we can work out a way to adopt him officially.  The status we have now is as close as you can get.  We’ve changed his name to help him feel more a part of the family.  At fourteen identity is pretty crucial and he is struggling for all he’s worth with that right now.  We pray we all survive the struggle even if our windows don’t!
Sometimes it’s hard to believe that a person can love someone that was not born of them.  But I love my husband, I love my in-laws and I have a few precious friends that I certainly wouldn’t want to be without.  And my God gave us the example…He adopted me.  He set His seal on me and said I was his, just like we put our name on this boy and said he is ours.
Tonite we had ribs and oven-roast potatoes and we sang loudly and ate chocolate cake.  Later on we’ll go to the drive-in and watch The Amazing Spiderman and hopefully I’ll stay awake long enough to drive home and every day I will try to remind myself that this wonderfully complex, difficult, generous, angry little soul is a gift to me.  He shows me my own anger, he shows me how poorly I deal with disappointment, he shows me that I am not so very different from him even though no one has stuck any labels on m.  I’ve just got a little more self-control, but some days I feel like throwing things and swearing when I’m frustrated and tired and hurting, too.  So I can’t be too harsh with him and I can’t be too harsh with me, because we, two, mother and son, are more alike some days than those born of my flesh.
I am so thankful today for this chosen one, who is causing me to chase grace and thankfulness.  Thankful for he who causes me to be more mindful of my words and my temper.  Thankful that I get to be his mom and hopefully one day get to see him embrace all that he has the potential to be!

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Guest Post...maybe??

If....and that's a big if...I am doing my first ever guest post at City Chick in the Country.

The if is because my internet hasn't been working, tried to send from my ipad, that didn't work either...argh, sometimes technology is just a pain!

Tomorrow I will, hopefully, post a lovely tribute I wrote for my son, who's birthday was yesterday!

UPDATE:  our internet is back up and running...who knew things had to be plugged in properly...phhhffft!

Saturday, August 11, 2012

When it's one of THOSE days...



It's one of THOSE days.  If you're honest with yourself you'll know what I'm talking about.  It's the day when you feel like a failure, like nothing you have done are currently doing or will do in the future will succeed.  It's the day where all around you are mountains to climb and the streams of refreshing feel so very far off.  It's the day where you feel like you'll never overcome the scale so who cares what you eat or if you ever exercise again.  It's the day where you feel like you cannot accomplish anything because your brain and your body will not cooperate.  It's the day where there is random leaking from your eyes and it seems like a good idea to dig a hole and just crawl inside until the day is done.

I hate these days.

Bible reading and prayer feel dry and dusty.  The little gray cloud is hanging overhead and it seems there is little I can do to dispel it.  I know it will pass and the day will seem doable again but in the midst of it...well, it isn't pretty.

These are not hard and fast rules, but perhaps some things that may help if you're having one of THOSE days:

1.  Garner as many hugs as you can.  Human touch is good medicine.
2.  Get outside and move a little, endorphins are a great way to counteract melancholy.
3.  Eat well, try to avoid the junk food that your brain is craving...it won't help... unless it's dark chocolate...okay any chocolate might help, not that I'm an expert or anything!
4.  Don't expect too much of yourself, shorten the to do list.
5.  Write down things you are thankful for and write down the things that get done...it's helpful to look back and see that you DID accomplish something underlining the fact that you are NOT a loser after all.
6.  Meditate on some good words, here are some I read this morning from the Message
7.  If you're up to it, call a trusted friend to pray for you.
8.  Turn on worship music, it will lift your spirit and speak to your soul.
9.  Gaze on something beautiful.
10. Cuddle up with someone you love.
11.  Read/watch something funny...a cheerful heart does good like medicine (straight out of proverbs!) One of my recent places to go for a laugh...A Slob Comes Clean she's funny!

Psalms 94 from verses 16-19

" If God hadn't been there for me, I never would have made it.  The minute I said, "I'm slipping, I'm falling," your love, God, took hold and held me fast.  When I was upset and beside myself, you calmed me down and cheered me up."

I hope you're NOT having one of THOSE days, but it you are, remember you are not alone there is One who sticks closer than a brother and is willing to help you through to the other side.

blessings,
the flower-lady
photo credit: photo.net Gallery Portfolio: photo.net/photos/ben.goossens