A Weekend at Solitude Pointe

It's been two whole weeks since I blogged...not good! Let me explain....we "lost" internet access for the time being (someone is very slow sometimes in transitioning between one cell phone/internet provider and another....from AT&T to Alltel) and I am having to learn to readjust to life without internet access at home for a few weeks (at least I hope that's all it is). I just means I've had more time to clean the house, read to Emma Grace, read my own books (currently Bringing Up Boys by James Dobson), do the taxes, write letters and cards to others to send through snail mail, and cook some pretty good new recipes! Not bad, eh?!

Jason and I were also able to go to the mountains this past weekend ALL BY OURSELVES. It was not the original plan (the original plan would have been a free place in the mountains or in Charleston), but it was amazing how God worked out all the details of us going to Solitude Pointe near Table Rock and Caesar's Head. Beautiful weather, great food (highly recommend Aunt Sue's!), and such a renewing of our love and our commitment to our marriage. How wonderful and refreshing it was to be together and not jump up every 10 minutes to see what a child needs and to be able to sleep soundly through the night. It was not the best bed in the world (we have high expectations coming from a Sleep Number bed at home), but we managed and really enjoyed the jacuzzi part of the cabin as well!

We met some of the nicest people at Solitude Pointe (http://www.solitudepointe.com/). The owners are Christians and Amy, the mom and former Guidance Counselor (go figure!) homeschools her two 7th grade twins. Every night they had a campfire and we sat around and chatted with Amy and Rodney and their 2 children as well as another couple and their children from Simpsonville (and Adam made Hobo pies!). It was wonderful to be encouraged in the Lord! Just a special time and people we hope we will one day see again and maybe even be able to take a group from our church to visit up there. I know Emma Grace would LOVE it! I wish I had taken pics of the cabins, lodge, hiking trail, etc., but we only took the pics above atop Caesar's Head. Another magnificent reminder of God's awesomeness!!! We highly recommend Solitude Pointe and furthermore just getting away as a couple by any means necessary. :) Thank you, Father, for allowing us to have this time together and also to Mimi for being willing to come care for our children while we were away. Thank you also to Matt for teaching Sunday School in place of Jason and to Katherine and Johnny for trading nursery spaces so we could be away! God can make a way when there seems to be no way...

#3 not on the way

The answer to the burning question is NO...negative!! Praise the Lord! I had been having symptoms of pregnancy in the last couple of weeks even though I am on the low dose of birth control, but now I know the answer is no...I took a test at 5am this morning to be sure. The good Lord knows I couldn't handle a 4 year old, a 17 month old, and a newborn! Last night in the chaos of getting kids to bed at 10:45pm (long story I wish to not relive!), I was still a bit scared of WHAT IF?! I know during intense, stressful times like last night that our family is not meant to expand to 5. Not unless you all want to visit me at the psych ward! And Jason would be the next one on the psych ward b/c he couldn't handle 3 children by himself either. That was evident last night as well. :) Love him to pieces, but men just don't do crying children any time of the day, much less 10:30pm! I was able to record the fiasco on video (part of it anyway) just for my sanity and to remind us all of how stressful having 2 crying/temper tantrum kids can be. Furthermore, I had to find some humor and laughter or I would have headed out the door to take a joyride til morning. Well, it's all over now and we're better for having lived through it. As my mom would say, "This too shall pass!" It did, mom, and I am oh, so THANKFUL that there isn't another one on the way to add to the mix. Lord, teach me, show me today that children truly are blessings from Your hand in some way. I need that reassurance and reminding. :) I know it in my head, but I need to feel it in my heart.

Less than two weeks and counting

I am just so excited to be going away with my husband for an entire weekend in less than two weeks. I mean Friday through Sunday!!! WOO HOO! We're going to spend Valentine's weekend in either the mountains of Table Rock (do have reservations for a cabin, but really hate to put a vacation on credit! and it's only $69/night, but even that I hate to do when we are about out of diapers and wonder where they'll come from) or down in Charleston at a relative's second home (which is the better option since it's free!). We just have to have time away by ourselves, so I had to go and make reservations in case the Charleston house is still under remodeling! Just too important!!

As I stated in a previous post, it's been since July 2007 that we've been away even one night without the kid(s). Is this normal for couples to not have time for each other? It's ridiculous in my opinion. Aren't marriages THAT important? If I remember correctly, it's supposed to be God as first priority, marriage as second priority, and kids as the third priority. So where did most of America fall off the train? More importantly, where did most Christians fall off the train? That's the question...and why aren't churches doing a better job of focusing on marriages and battling against the forces wanting to destroy marriages?! I don't mean just young couples...I mean older ones too.

I thought it was interesting that we watched the movie Fireproof again on Friday (it's out on rental now and I HIGHLY recommend it to all married couples and those who want to one day get married!), and after it was all over we were discussing its relevance to couples and Christian couples more importantly. My father-in-law says, "I think all young couples wanting to get married and the younger married folks should see that movie!" Again, I interjected that I thought the young married AND old married couples alike should see it...the devil isn't just interested in us young folk! He's breaking up well established marriages of 30 years or more!! It was just as much about how the older generation is to pass on their godly wisdom to the younger generation...the Bible clearly tells the older women to advise the younger women in matters. And it was a movie where the older couple was about to break up too, but was saved by the Love Dare (I won't spoil the whole movie for those of you who haven't seen it yet). I've seen it too many times lately where the parents invest all their time on their kids for 18+ years and then when the last one moves out they look at each other and say, "Who is this I married?"

Anyway, that's my soap box today---don't get stale in your marriage...do whatever it takes to keep the committment there, the love there, the devotion. And if you or your spouse doesn't know the love of God, His saving love that loves you even when you did not deserve it, please know that until you surrender to Him, your marriage cannot work. It's hard enough with two sinners saved by grace who submit to His guidance and leadership; I can't even imagine trying to sustain a marriage with two sinners who plod around in selfishness all the while thinking they are the ones who have to hold it all together. You cannot do it. And with that, I will go think about the wonderful weekend ahead and how to rekindle that love with MY man. :) XXX OOO

Never too old to say you're sorry

I was reminded Friday night that I should always be able to tell my kids (and my spouse, but this time it was Emma Grace) that I am sorry. We can never be too big or too old to model for our children what it is that we hope they will learn and practice. I was convicted by the Holy Spirit to confess to Emma Grace that mommy lost her temper at bedtime--she was basically prolonging bedtime with "I need to go potty....I need a drink....I want to go weigh AGAIN....I need some shorts and not these long pants....I want to read the story this time (after I had already read it)." On average, this usually happens when I put her to bed, never when Jason puts her to bed. So I had already prepped both her and her daddy that if she "played" that night, then I'd walk out the bedroom door and it would be daddy's turn. I don't play at night; bedtime is bedtime. I will not be manipulated by a 4 year old...some parents allow their kids to manipulate every night and discipline with the counting to 3 or 10 or whatever method. Not me. Obey the first time or it's a spanking. Spare the rod and spoil the child. No thanks.

So, upon us having snuggle time, Emma Grace thought it would work to grab my neck and hold me in the bed while whining about how she "needs" this or that. So I had had enough and put my hands on her shoulders, looked her square in the face and lightly shook her (I know, it sounds a lot worse than it was...her head and shoulders didn't leave the bed). I knew I had to leave the room or I might grab the spanking spoon and it would not be a peaceful goodnight experience. I told her I was going to get her daddy and HE could finish putting her to bed!

Five minutes later I felt horrible..it was mainly the look of fright in her eyes that mommy was about to explode that I knew I didn't want the sun to go down with these feelings. I didn't care if she might already be asleep, but I wanted her to always know that my mommy practices what she preaches and she is able to say sorry when she's behaved wrongly. So I went back in her dark room and she wasn't moving. Even after saying her name lightly she didn't move. So I touched her on the arm and said her name again. Then she turned her head toward me and I could tell she had already dozed off! But I went ahead and told her I was sorry for shaking her and for losing my temper. I told her that I still didn't like when she wasted time at bedtime but that I shouldn't have gotten so angry at her. She hugged me and said she still loved me! I told her I always love her no matter what (that's our saying) and asked her to please forgive mommy. She said she does forgive me, so I could then go to bed knowing I had responded to the Holy Spirit and my soul was clean. What an awesome feeling! The truth really does set us free! As Christians, we are free to obey...free to live the life God has called us to. Praise Him for making us in His image!

I'm being heard

Emma Grace has been saying some really cute and funny things today while "teaching" her class or while dealing with her "baby" Laura. I want to remember them in the days and years to come....

"Olivia, if you don't come right now I will call your momma. Did you hear me? Read my lips..." (and she said it with a calm tone and demeanor, so I am not worried that I know those things came out of my mouth at one time or another).

"Laura, now you know things don't happen your way. That's just the way it is. You have to be ready to change." (FUNNNNY! At least it's sinking in...now I just have to be sure to remind her that it is God who plans our steps...was waiting for that to come out next.)

Our First Snow!!

We had a good time enjoying the inch or so of snow we got here in Winnsboro! Enjoy the pics!!

Learning through Experience

Last night we had some friends over for supper and fellowship. We played a round of Sequence (Daniel and Callie won the best 2 out of 3) and just generally chatted about anything under the sun. Yesterday I also got to spend time with my friend Tracy from Longleaf, which meant a great deal to me. Tracy is overcoming breast cancer, and she has so much to impart to me in even just going through the last 4 months (she found out in Sept.). I guess last night while spending time with such a young couple (well, Callie is young in age---Daniel is 30 I think, but they were recently engaged and will marry in June), I realized that there are so many things I want to impart to them. I would like to give them the knowlege and tools necessary for what they will experience in the years to come. But that is not possible. Only God can do that. You know how you want to tell your kids what to do and what not to do so they don't have to stumble and fall or get hurt in any way (emotionally, physically, etc.)...it was the same way with my wanting to tell them what to do and how to have such a wonderful marriage through what we have experienced. And truly it has been a WONDERFUL 8 1/2 years!

I am just so refreshed having spent time with a "new" couple and especially ones who will be living right here in Lebanon and being a part of our church (well, they are working out the details of that right now since Callie plays the piano at another local church but they know they cannot attend 2 different churches). It's good to know that God is working and moving right here in our little community. It's also good to rest in the knowlege that God will lead them through those experiences in life together and that I am not responsible for telling them everything they are to know. Yes, they will have marriage counseling up until they get married (usually 6 months I think, but theirs doesn't allow for 6 months), but even that won't teach them everything life will bring their way. They must do as we all do....learn through experience. Bathing it in prayer will be the best thing Jason and I can do and that they can do themselves. :) Funny how Tracy was imparting things to me without my really knowing it and how we were probably imparting things to Daniel and Callie last night, but I guess we don't truly know how it all will go until we walk a mile in someone else's shoes. May we have His faith, confidence, peace, and love through it all no matter what circumstances in life befall us.