Many of you have heard me say that I am blessed before...but I have spent some time reflecting this holiday season and I am just So humbled by how blessed I truly am. First, I want to explain that our holidays are a bit different than most other people's are..this is by our choice, and has come from years of lessons learned and God showing us His plan. Holidays have always been a very stressful time for our family...people with autism/aspergers (ie. Justice ;) don't always do well with all the chaos, crowds (even if they are family), schedule changes, surprises, etc. And unfortunately not everyone 'gets' this... I truly believe that my mom's stroke happened almost 3 years ago for several reasons. It slowed us down and made us reevaluate all the running around, getting here and there, etc and made us cherish just BEING with each other. It made us realize that is it relationships, people, and serving...that truly matter, not things, stuff... On some level, 'losing' a part of my mom - saved me and saved our marriage. It wasn't until she got sick that I learned how to surrender to God, because of that Jay and I have undoubtedly grown closer than ever before. I know that before, I relied too heavily on my mom - now it is Jay and I, together with God...facing the world.
Our focus for the holidays is now on others, and spending time with each other. During the school year we are so busy, we don't have time for Family Game nights, movies, just BEING. So the kids have made their ornaments to give away, shopped for their needy children, and now we are just spending time together. We have watched movies, played games, snuggled, loved, made memories. We have relaxed, not been stressed, had a nice meal, will go see the Gingerbread Houses at Grove Park tomorrow, and then get ready to head to the Belk Bowl. Yes, our sports loving family has managed to fit in a sporting event into the holidays...part of our Christmas is getting together with some of our family in Charlotte to support NCSU at the Belk Bowl. I'm really going to see Daughtry and Edwin McCain, but Shhh, don't tell ;)
As I think about my blessings this year and some of the changes we have faced it is so comforting to know that God has placed us where he wants us to be. Jay is working back at East and that is such a blessing, for both our family and all of those students. There is nothing that I am more sure of than the fact that it is our mission to work with middle and high school students. One of the biggest and hardest changes of our year also had to do with students, middle, high school, and ours. We made the excruciating decision to change churches, and once again it was certainly a 'God thing'...lol We had been 'visiting '(First Baptist of East Flat Rock) Savy's church, as we called it for a long time, then it became our 'spare church'...and finally, long after it felt like home...it officially became OUR church. There is SO much that we love about our church - we love our youth, who we are very actively involved with...we love the Children's program...and their leaders Colby and Lindsey. But most of all we simply love our church family, they are such a blessing.
I believe that I am very blessed by the man in my life. I am not quite sure most days why he puts up with me, then again I guess that God knew we needed each other. I am also truly blessed with these sweet babies, even when they are driving me nuts. I wouldn't want it any other way...
I stole this part from a friend, but the following are just several things that through the years I have come to believe (many probably come from my MIL, she's the wisest lady I know ;)
I...
....at any given time, every person is doing the very best they can, with the resources they currently have.
....most people will have to kiss a few frogs before they find their Prince.
....that it is only through God's sweet and generous grace that I am where I am today.
....God has a master plan for us, that sometimes involves great pain...we must be willing and open to feel that pain in order to reap the benefits and great rewards.
....it is more beneficial for our girls to hear "You is kind, you is smart, you is important" and "You is strong, you is capable, you is funny" than to hear "You are a beautiful princess"
....forgiveness does so much more for the person doing the forgiving, than the one being forgiven. That being said...people move in AND out of our lives for a reason.
....that some of our closest 'family' members, were born to completely different families, and by the same token...it is OKAY for some family members to be strangers.
....that certain movies (Facing the Giants, Sandlot, Finding Forrester) will teach us 'Life's Lessons' better than life will.
....I will never be prepared to attend the funerals of my former students, and I have already lost too many.
....that children are our future, but raising them in today's world is the hardest and scariest job, well...second to teaching middle school ;)
....most people spend too much time being angry or bitter, if only they would push forward with a 'happy heart'...eventually the clouds would part.
....that I have the funniest, sweetest kids that I know, and they love Jesus - and THAT makes a Mama happy!
....that I did not come to know Jesus as my Savior until I was an adult...BUT it was mainly due to some key adults who invested their time, energy, love, and prayer into me as a child/teen, I am eternally grateful and determined to give back.
....that some of my strongest supporters are people who I rarely see, but interact with through social media, txting, etc.
....that one day I will find a way to have my group home for homeless teens...one day.
....that there is no such thing as being 'caught up' with laundry.
....some people, children, babies, will teach us more in 1 week, 3 months, 13 months, 8 years, 21 years...than some other people will teach us in a lifetime.
I believe that there are blessings every day as a Norton4...
