lovely
Member
This morning I received a phone call from a very sweet woman who has been my mother for the past 17 years. "Happy 36th Birthday!", she says. She married my dad, and has treated me as her daughter ever since. I love her so much. She is a beautiful mother, and grandmother.
I tried to take a moment to reflect this morning, but I left home before sunrise to run errands for the day. I had lunch with my husband...PB and J's in a mini-van in the parking lot. lol I went to the Library with my children, and we read books and played checkers...I won every game. :wink: I browsed in a Christian book store for over an hour...dreaming of owning more books I will never read. I saw an amber cross that I thought was pretty, and decided that I will maybe buy it next week. I took a drive down by the banks of the Missouri river while the children napped, and I listened to Keith Green really loud. I picked my husband up from work, and we chatted about God, our day, us, and our evening all the way home. I came home this evening, had dinner, and spent time watching a video about Abraham, and reading, with my family. I am enjoying vanilla wafers as I type this for dessert. Everyone is sleeping, and I will be soon too.
Tonight as I reflect, I thank God for this life of love He has given me. For loving me, and extending His grace and mercy towards me, for changing me, and for giving me an abundance of Truth, Love, and Light with every footstep I took in Christ. That is amazing, and...glorious.
I grew up with a loving earthy father who gave to me everything he could. He was pulled out of his life to go to war, and when he returned home things were hard. He decided to attend college. He began a career, and raised a young daughter. I admire him, and am so thankful for him.
At a young age, I met my Heavenly Father, who would forever alter me, and the course of my life. As much as I love my dad, I had to turn from his atheistic beliefs, and follow Christ. This was a lonely path for a young girl, to be honest, especially since I wanted to please my dad so much...be like him so much, but I had to follow God's Truth at the cost of not being the daddy's girl that I desired to be. My dad was mostly supportive, but I knew he was disappointed.
I grew up in the inner city of St. Louis. South City. I went to the public schools there for most of my poor education, and graduated from one of the most violent schools in St. Louis. The atmosphere was crude, full of racism and hatred, metal detectors, yelling and physical teachers, drugs, and just plain rough. Yet, God protected me through my faith in Him.
I was shy, and spent my lunches in the library. I was president of the Physics club, the German club, and a photographer on the yearbook staff. I was voted prettiest nerd, and best singer, but I was neither. I sang in choir, and in a concert Jazz band, but never had a solo. I was also voted prom queen. I was shocked, uncomfortable, and didn't even have a date for the prom. I have a photo of myself alone in my prom dress...I forgot to wear my crown.
I had four jobs in high school. Haas bakery at night on Fridays, and Saturdays. Busch Stadium, during season. Goldie's Dept. Store a few evenings a week...service desk processing credit cards. And, Molina's Pizza as a fill in when someone was sick. I also volunteered at a nursing home on Sundays. I miss that.
At sixteen I bought a Toyota Corolla for $700.00. I drove it until my sophomore year of college, and then sold it for $250.00. I still love to buy and sell cars for some reason...I missed my calling as a used car salesman. I loved that car, though, and even did all the maintenance myself...down to changing the front brake pads. I bought a book on the car, and decided that I could follow the instructions! lol I could.
I was married while still in college to most honest, and sincere, person I had ever met. I went on to work for a Medical Technology company, and was trying to establish a career there. When my son was 10 months old, I left to stay home with him...eventually them. I believe this decision was born from my first child dying in miscarriage. God has a plan, even for a person who comes into the womb for only a little while. It changed my heart on motherhood. I think that this is bittersweet, and so true. It affected my choice. I have never regretted being with my children at home, though I thought I would never do that.
When my children were 6, 3, and 1, we moved to a small farm in rural Missouri to raise sheep, chickens, etc. My husband commuted to Edward Jones near St. Louis. I was lonely a lot. We lived here one year, and one day...then, Shaun died suddenly of an undetected birth defect in his heart. God was, in His grace, preparing me for a greater loneliness. I am now waiting to see my brother in glory. God's grace allowed me to remain spiritually poised when all of my dreams died. I am amazed, and thankful, when I look back at that miracle worked on my behalf.
I have now remarried a beautiful believer, and a person who practices true religion. And, I can say that even seeing his warts. I think it is an amazing gift that I have had two beautiful souls in my life time to join with in marriage, and that my children have had two very different fathers, but with the same vision. God is gracious, and neat too.
We are still trying to remodel this old farm, and hoping for more children. My dreams have been redefined, and our family rebuilt...added to really. God's path is not easy, but He always restores...and leads us to a place where we have surpassed all of our own dreams, and are able to walk in His vision for us with an even greater joy, and fulfillment, than we could have imagined for ourselves. This is so true in my life, I can't even describe it.
I am 36, and have a wealth of friends, a beautiful family, wonderful work that is fun and fulfilling, a small ministry for God here in my home with my husband and children...and hospitality to others, and The uncommon factor in all of it has really been my Father in Heaven, and His love for me. I am so grateful, and my heart is so full of Him today. I admit, I am in love, and have been for most of my 36 years. I so appreciate God's loving direction in my life. The Lord bless all of you, and thanks for reading.
I tried to take a moment to reflect this morning, but I left home before sunrise to run errands for the day. I had lunch with my husband...PB and J's in a mini-van in the parking lot. lol I went to the Library with my children, and we read books and played checkers...I won every game. :wink: I browsed in a Christian book store for over an hour...dreaming of owning more books I will never read. I saw an amber cross that I thought was pretty, and decided that I will maybe buy it next week. I took a drive down by the banks of the Missouri river while the children napped, and I listened to Keith Green really loud. I picked my husband up from work, and we chatted about God, our day, us, and our evening all the way home. I came home this evening, had dinner, and spent time watching a video about Abraham, and reading, with my family. I am enjoying vanilla wafers as I type this for dessert. Everyone is sleeping, and I will be soon too.
Tonight as I reflect, I thank God for this life of love He has given me. For loving me, and extending His grace and mercy towards me, for changing me, and for giving me an abundance of Truth, Love, and Light with every footstep I took in Christ. That is amazing, and...glorious.
I grew up with a loving earthy father who gave to me everything he could. He was pulled out of his life to go to war, and when he returned home things were hard. He decided to attend college. He began a career, and raised a young daughter. I admire him, and am so thankful for him.
At a young age, I met my Heavenly Father, who would forever alter me, and the course of my life. As much as I love my dad, I had to turn from his atheistic beliefs, and follow Christ. This was a lonely path for a young girl, to be honest, especially since I wanted to please my dad so much...be like him so much, but I had to follow God's Truth at the cost of not being the daddy's girl that I desired to be. My dad was mostly supportive, but I knew he was disappointed.
I grew up in the inner city of St. Louis. South City. I went to the public schools there for most of my poor education, and graduated from one of the most violent schools in St. Louis. The atmosphere was crude, full of racism and hatred, metal detectors, yelling and physical teachers, drugs, and just plain rough. Yet, God protected me through my faith in Him.
I was shy, and spent my lunches in the library. I was president of the Physics club, the German club, and a photographer on the yearbook staff. I was voted prettiest nerd, and best singer, but I was neither. I sang in choir, and in a concert Jazz band, but never had a solo. I was also voted prom queen. I was shocked, uncomfortable, and didn't even have a date for the prom. I have a photo of myself alone in my prom dress...I forgot to wear my crown.
I had four jobs in high school. Haas bakery at night on Fridays, and Saturdays. Busch Stadium, during season. Goldie's Dept. Store a few evenings a week...service desk processing credit cards. And, Molina's Pizza as a fill in when someone was sick. I also volunteered at a nursing home on Sundays. I miss that.
At sixteen I bought a Toyota Corolla for $700.00. I drove it until my sophomore year of college, and then sold it for $250.00. I still love to buy and sell cars for some reason...I missed my calling as a used car salesman. I loved that car, though, and even did all the maintenance myself...down to changing the front brake pads. I bought a book on the car, and decided that I could follow the instructions! lol I could.
I was married while still in college to most honest, and sincere, person I had ever met. I went on to work for a Medical Technology company, and was trying to establish a career there. When my son was 10 months old, I left to stay home with him...eventually them. I believe this decision was born from my first child dying in miscarriage. God has a plan, even for a person who comes into the womb for only a little while. It changed my heart on motherhood. I think that this is bittersweet, and so true. It affected my choice. I have never regretted being with my children at home, though I thought I would never do that.
When my children were 6, 3, and 1, we moved to a small farm in rural Missouri to raise sheep, chickens, etc. My husband commuted to Edward Jones near St. Louis. I was lonely a lot. We lived here one year, and one day...then, Shaun died suddenly of an undetected birth defect in his heart. God was, in His grace, preparing me for a greater loneliness. I am now waiting to see my brother in glory. God's grace allowed me to remain spiritually poised when all of my dreams died. I am amazed, and thankful, when I look back at that miracle worked on my behalf.
I have now remarried a beautiful believer, and a person who practices true religion. And, I can say that even seeing his warts. I think it is an amazing gift that I have had two beautiful souls in my life time to join with in marriage, and that my children have had two very different fathers, but with the same vision. God is gracious, and neat too.
We are still trying to remodel this old farm, and hoping for more children. My dreams have been redefined, and our family rebuilt...added to really. God's path is not easy, but He always restores...and leads us to a place where we have surpassed all of our own dreams, and are able to walk in His vision for us with an even greater joy, and fulfillment, than we could have imagined for ourselves. This is so true in my life, I can't even describe it.
I am 36, and have a wealth of friends, a beautiful family, wonderful work that is fun and fulfilling, a small ministry for God here in my home with my husband and children...and hospitality to others, and The uncommon factor in all of it has really been my Father in Heaven, and His love for me. I am so grateful, and my heart is so full of Him today. I admit, I am in love, and have been for most of my 36 years. I so appreciate God's loving direction in my life. The Lord bless all of you, and thanks for reading.
