Sometimes it's Family

Last week was wonderful. The day after Christmas we loaded up our Mini and drove for three and a half hours to my Uncle's ranch outside of Bracketville, TX. A much needed break from city life- beautiful, wide open spaces; and a refreshing time of family, friends, and food. The blessing this last week was to my heart words cannot even begin to express. To have people genuinely love and care for my children, to watch my kids' faces light up with utmost joy, and to sit back and drink it all in. Bliss.

Tucker in front yard at Ranch

Surrounded by not only my family, but my brother's in-laws (whom all of us consider family, really), and friends- and watching every single person love on my children. Truly love on my children... I mean, wow. Mothers will know what I am talking about. Especially when you have your baby with you, and your arms are beginning to go numb from cradling her and quieting her, and then you have this friend come up and whisk her away. They bounce her, talk to her, and rock her until she calms or sleeps. And that constant on edge feeling melts away and I am able to just breath deep and enjoy being with family. Because, ultimately, everyone really is...

Nicholas and Tucker on stairs in lodge 

This last week I realized how much good Christian company is truly needed for a healthy life. You need the time to voice your honest feelings, and to have honest Christian counsel in return. Women need that. Men need that. Couples need that. And it truly is a release of burden and a restoration of health to be able to have that. I think that's why counselors are so great- it's so healthy, to just talk, and to not be judged for it, but to have guidance in all of it. To talk to an impartial party, and yet someone who can give you sound advice, or even just listen. It's refreshing.

Tucker "riding" Samson

Fresh air is also refreshing. I know that's kind of a "duh" statement... But being out on thousands of acres, not seeing another soul other than those who are already with you... Seeing rolling hills, and just untainted space. A break from the crowds and the electronics (did I mention there was extremely spotty internet?) - I didn't check email or get on a computer the whole week! I felt like I was back in Lake City... sigh


The only downside to going on a vacation is that now we have come home... And Tucker is sick- has a fever for the second time in his life- and that in and of itself is pretty exhausting. But I am also discovering how draining homesickness can be. Maybe not so much for the city of Houston, more-so the people of Houston. So here's a "Hello" to all of our friends and family living there. Know we miss you all, and feel blessed to call you "friend," "family," "brother," and "sister."

Tucker sound asleep on ottoman in bedroom

You're Gonna Miss This

Ok, so for my first post on this blog you are going to have to forgive me. For you may just find me repetitive, redundant, and rambling. There is much to say, and I don't really know how to kick this off so... Here it goes...

The Thanksgiving holidays were about a week ago, and everyone knows what that means: pack up the car, strap the kids in their seats, and settle down for a long road trip to see the extended family. And my husband and I did just that. Starting two Saturdays ago we packed up my grandfather's Yukon, clicked our nine-month old's car seat into place, and began the semi-short treck to Austin, TX. (Yeah, I know, it's a great city.) 

I grew up travelling back and forth from Colorado to Texas, and occasionally from Colorado to Florida. I'm used to the roads, and, if I'm honest, I would say I love the road- because that means a nice, long nap- and, generally, a sound asleep baby. It's a chance to take a nice deep breath in, exhale slowly, and just let the stress slip down to the floor-mats. (sigh). 

If you travel to Austin by I-10 to 71, then you will be familiar with the old pumpkin carriage that will be on your right hand side. The airplane up by the fence line with Christmas lights on the propellor, and the Chocolat Chocolat Chocolat log cabin. The road to my husband's parents' house is one of my favorites. I get a kick every time we pass a certain restaurant- because every time we do it's changed its name, and I love the salon with the purple door that will probably never change. 

Travelling to Austin gave me time with my husband, time to laugh with him, admire him, and be thankful for him. It's hard to be thankful sometimes, really hard actually. This should have been our senior year of college. We should be feeling all kinds of sentimental with the thoughts of the previous holiday seasons, and knowing this would be our last before we entered the "real world." But, in June of 2009, our plans changed. It's funny how one little plastic stick, and one little word can set the universe spinning. 

That was a hard time, for both my husband and I. We kept the news to ourselves for about a week, trying to decide what to do. Pro-Choice suddenly seemed to appeal to me, it didn't sound like such a bad idea. I would be able to keep on the path I had set for myself, and my then-boyfriend now-husband would be able to live his dream as well. The more I thought about actually taking that choice into my own hands, however, I began to realize that it wasn't for me to decide. I had made the decision already, I chose to be in a physical relationship while being fully aware of what the result might be. 

It's still hard. And a lot of people say things like, "I wouldn't trade one minute of it," but I honestly don't know if I can say that, because it truly is difficult. It's complete surrender of the self, which isn't easy, and it's not something I can just do once- I have to choose to do it on a daily basis. And a lot of times I don't- I live in the day or week, just completely depressed by the fact that I am not able to live out my plan for my self. 

And then I see my son smile, or laugh, or make a funny noise, and suddenly I am thankful for my plan not working out. I know that God will use my son's life to make an impact for His Kingdom, and ultimately, (though I may never fully understand His plan), His plan for me is best. So my life isn't the life I planned, but may I be so bold as to say that the best moments of my life are the ones that have been unPlanned? 

It's true, think about it. The greatest things that happen in life, at least for me, are the things that I didn't plan on. And, yes, generally they are also the hardest things that happen. But I like to look back to the past, and when I do the times that I recall, and the instances that I reminisce most are those that, at that point in time, were some of the most difficult things that I went through. 

So, looking forward, I look forward to looking back at this time in my life, and saying, "Wasn't this a great time? I miss that..." I just hope that when I am able to look back at this time of my life, I won't regret missing out on one single thing. 

It's hard to die to self, and live for Christ. It's hard to give thanks in EVERYTHING. It is, trust me, I know, because I am so not thankful in everything.... But I need to be. 

Let me encourage you. In this time of your life, whatever time that it is for you, to live it. Don't take choices into your own hands that aren't yours to take, but rather see the unplanned forks in your road as a better alternative than what you had planned for yourself. Trust that what is unplanned to you, isn't to Him. He's got you, it's ok.