October 22, 2007 by Kelly.

Recently, I shared in a discussion about how to be the best wife possible. One woman stated, “This is my first and most important ministry, even above [caring for my children]!”

How true! Like I always tell my kids, “Someday you’ll grow up and move away, but I’m stuck with your father for life!”

Seriously, this is something I’m passionate about. The anonymity of the Internet has made it so easy to complain about our husbands to others. Once we’re in a complaining mood, it’s easy to make a snide or snippy comment to his face, too. Is that honoring God?!

Eph 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

Col 3:18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.
Col 3:19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.

You’ll notice in the above passages that we are never told to “love” our husbands, but to submit to them. Proper submission is a form of respect. Men need respect! Men are told to love their wives. We need love — they need respect.

That is not to say that men don’t need love and women don’t need respect. But, it’s our inherent perceptions of the above that make us feel loved. For years I would do things that I thought would make my husband feel loved… but I was doing what would make me feel loved. Once I changed my way of thinking, and held my husband in the highest respect, his attitude toward me changed as well.

Yesterday we celebrated 19 years as husband and wife (24 years as “us”) and I must say, I have never felt more loved than I do at this point in my life!!

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September 20, 2007 by Kelly.

I have a new friend. She is different than the friends I’ve made over the past 10 years. I can see her smile, hug her… and only talk with her when it’s convenient for both of us. She is not a cyber-friend–I don’t even know her email address! This is an in-the-flesh friend. Other than my husband, I’ve not had a close friend for … oh, my … probably over 20 years! I sound pitiful, I know.

High school was full of friendships. I had two close girlfriends, but after high school, we seemed to drift apart. They had their lives and I had mine. Once I met my husband, he became my best friend. Any female friends I had were co-workers, neighbors, relatives, and eventually cyber-friends. The longer I stayed home, the more I relied on the Internet for interaction.

The Internet was ideal, really. It still is! I have become friends with people that I may not have otherwise associated with because of our church affiliation, employment status, or children’s ages. But all of those friendships are long-distance. I cannot invite them over for lunch, or ask them to be the emergency contact for my children. I cannot hug them, or cry on their shoulder, when the need arises. I can only write to them, and wait for a reply.

As I mentioned, my husband is my best friend. I can hug him, or cry on his shoulder, when the need arises. I can go to lunch with him and talk about anything and everything. But, my husband thinks differently than I do. He’s a man. I understand him (probably better than he understands me) but sometimes I long for a girlfriend — a best friend who’s a girl.

We’ve known these new friends for about a year, but lately we’ve been spending more time with them, planning times together outside of church (that’s where we met). Three days ago I spent a little over an hour at a coffeehouse with my new friend–just she and I–getting to know her. We’ve decided that if it weren’t for the discrepencies in our physical appearances we would be twins!

Last night at church I felt different toward her. More comfortable. This is my friend, and at the end of the evening she will still be my friend. I needed to ask her something (she works with the kids in AWANA while I attend the Pastor’s Class for Bible study, so we don’t see seach other except for before and after services) so I approached her and we talked while we walked to her room. It took a matter of minutes to discuss my question, so we parted ways. I didn’t feel obligated to make small-talk. It was comfortable, familiar.

I have a friend!

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September 9, 2007 by Kelly.

I have about 10 minutes to write this post. If I don’t get it done, will my life be any worse? No, probably not. Will I feel that I’ve not accomplished something? Yes, definitely! This morning I was reminded that Jesus could come at any moment — in the twinkling of an eye. When I’m caught up in the clouds with my Lord, will I be saying, “Wait! I have to finish that post!” or “Wait, can I take a moment to be sure all the ladies on my email lists are saved?” No, I can’t do that. Will I even want to? Probably.

If I feel I can’t leave these things, maybe they are too precious to me. Or, maybe I’ve not been doing the job that God has set before me. Perhaps I haven’t been telling enough people about Him. Or perhaps I feel He can’t do things without me — like I’m the only person who can do the job, and if I don’t do it then God’s plans will not come to fruition.

Ha! I can’t believe I think that highly of myself! But, seriously… are there things in my life that I’m leaving ‘undone’ that I’ll regret not doing if I’m called away from this life tomorrow… or later today… or in a few minutes? This is what I’ll be thinking about over the next few hours.

How about you? Are you ready?

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September 5, 2007 by Kelly.

I thought I was busy last year. I feel busier this year! A few years ago I didn’t want to travel all over the place, hauling kids here and there for activities unless it was a family activity. But, my husband challenged me to do so, in order to give our children as many opportunities as possible for the best education.

Last year the two oldest boys did some co-op classes, plus the oldest took classes at the local tech center. This year will be the same, almost: the oldest is still at the tech center, but only the second oldest is doing co-op classes… at least, he will be, when we get him all signed up. He’s also getting a job (oldest already has one) which means I’ll be transporting him there, too.

It’s getting harder to juggle things like appointments and shopping trips. Our cable box isn’t working so someone is coming tomorrow to fix it. Hopefully I’ll be home from taking son #3 to the doctor for his sore throat. If I’m really lucky I’ll have time to stop at Sam’s Club and pick up Spaghetti-O’s and milk after the appointment and still get home in time for the cable guy.

Sometime I have to call about those co-op classes, and I should schedule a “yearly” for myself, as well. Wouldn’t a trip to a museum be nice? Yes, well, sorry, I don’t seem to have time this week… maybe next week. Did I mention my email provider is currently experiencing difficulties so I can’t access my mail to see if the teacher of the co-op class wrote back? {Technology is wonderful.}

I wonder what will happen at church tonight. Amazingly, I’m not having any palpitations today, but I fear they will start soon–maybe at church.

Lord, could you slow things down for just a few hours? I’d sure like a little rest. Keep my mind from wandering to all the ‘what if…’ scenarios that are playing out in my mind. Help me to live one day, one moment, at a time. Amen.

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August 17, 2007 by Kelly.

That’s the question my son posed to me on his fifteenth birthday as we were on our way out to lunch. Being the Mom that I am, I assumed he was trying to sort out some of his own feelings. As we continued the conversation over lunch, he remarked that he wasn’t asking because of anything he felt personally, but that he sensed “an air” about me!

I’ll be the first to admit that his question brought back many feelings and thoughts that I haven’t felt in some time–at least, I thought I hadn’t felt them in some time…

Being lonely feels small. It feels painful behind my eyes (probably the pressure of tears struggling to get out) and heavy in my chest. It feels invisible, yet vulnerable. It feels alone.

Am I lonely? Sometimes. My husband travels at times, and I feel very lonely then. I miss his hugs, and his conversation. He’s my best friend. I like to know he’s in the house, even if we’re not in the same room. I feel safe when he’s here–protected. I feel he is safe when he’s here, and protected. Our home, wherever it may be, is our haven.

Am I alone when my husband travels? Hardly! My children are with me constantly, and they gravitate to my office or the kitchen, or wherever I am at the moment. And I have Jesus.

No, I’m never alone, and I’m not lonely as often as I may think I am–for even when my husband is gone, I always have my Savior. The enemy may whisper in my ear that I’m alone and feeling lonely, but I know a lie when I hear it! I am never alone because Jesus is with me!

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August 1, 2007 by Kelly.

What you’re hearing is the sound of a heartbeat. But, I don’t think it’s mine. My heart skips and stutters during the day, causing it to pound against my chest and race at times. It used to be only once in a great while — like, once a year or less — but for the past two months it’s been pounding multiple times during the day, everyday. Over the past three days I’ve also been experiencing tingling in my left pinkie. It’s a cold sensation… followed by that “just woke up” tingling feeling.

I’m trying to sit up straight, and change my arm/hand position frequently. The palpitations seem to be lessening, which is good.

Getting older is the pits!

Wearing a Holter monitor is also the pits. But, hopefully it will show if my heart is having any problems. Perhaps it’s all in my head. Perhaps I’m just over-stressed and this is how it’s manifesting.

Lord, take my fears and my anxiety. Hold me close and care for me. My life is Yours. Use me as You see fit. 

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July 29, 2007 by Kelly.

I kinda like one candidate in particular… you can probably guess who it is… Mike Huckabee. From what I’ve read and viewed, he shares many of the same beliefs that my husband and I share.

And he’s got a catchy name, don’t you think?

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July 27, 2007 by Kelly.

I’m a little disappointed, though, at what they’ve said they experienced at camp. I thought church camp was a place with more structure, more focusing on God and getting fired-up for Him. I wasn’t expecting shaving cream on pillows (which I’ll probably have to throw away because they get so yucky after you wash them) or personal belongings on rooftops.

I know not all camps are like this, since my oldest went to a different camp last month and didn’t seem to have this kind of experience. My third son is saying he wants to go to camp next year… I’ll probably push for Bogg Springs instead of Cedar Hills!

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July 19, 2007 by Kelly.

Thanks for stopping by and viewing my blog. I’m not sure where I’ll go with this blog right now, as I have two others I’m trying to keep up with. Because those two are both specific to Weaver Curriculum, I do not post chatty notes there. I try to keep it all related to Weaver. But, here, on this blog, I can get chatty!

For those who do not yet know me, I’d like to share a little about myself. I’m the mother of five, wife of one, child of God who probably sits near you in Sunday school. Or maybe you’ve seen me shopping at Walmart, or Hobby Lobby. I live just down the street. I get so excited when my children accomplish something–sometimes I even get teary-eyed–and my heart hurts when they hurt, either physically or emotionally–and I almost always get teary-eyed.

I love to write. I’m told I write just like I talk. I didn’t know there was any other way to write!  I also like to figure out puzzles, like jigsaw puzzles, Sudoku,  word searches, and Websites.  “But wait,” you say.  “Websites are not puzzles!” Have you ever tried to put one together?! They are a huge puzzle, which can turn into just about any picture you want it to be–and the owner sometimes doesn’t know what he or she wants until it’s finished. I love the challenge! I love getting to know the people behind the puzzle.

If you’d like to see some of the sites I’ve done, you can do so at my HOMEWriter site. Perhaps seeing the sites will help you to see some of my creativity, and then you’ll get to know me a little better. I’m glad you stopped by, and I hope you come back again soon so we can get to know each other better! Leave me a comment and let me know you’ve been here.

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July 17, 2007 by Kelly.

Our dining room is going to look SO fabulous when we’re finished! I can’t wait to start decorating in there when all the painting is done. I want to put two hammocks on the walls, and maybe more of the Brazil stuff. I may place some doilies around the room, too. I think I may get some tropical bird material for valances.

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