There are many definitions of family. Some are large, some are small. Some people don't think much of their family by blood, and instead choose to call those close friends family. Some think of their church family, their volleyball/basketball/football team family, their cheerleading squad family, etc...
Families in the traditional sense start off with a guy and a girl. Two people who join together to become one, marrying their likes and dislikes and their flaws and their talents. They somehow take their own eccentricies (I don't know if that is a word?) and make them work.
Sometimes they have kids, and that's the family. And sometimes they bring along their crazy in-laws and out-laws, and it still somehow works. Welcome to Twin Cedar Road, folks...
My Mom and Dad were here first. Actually, my Dad... and then they bought that old log cabin where his Mom's parents lived. I was six. I can remember the wooden floors... ok, maybe I can't, just from pictures. I can remember how cold it is sometimes, and how fun it always was to put the blanket over the door to camp out when we'd lose electricity. Snowmen and Christmas lights. Mom making breakfast on the weekend. Sitting at my Dad's desk while he worked on taxes. Curling up with a good book on the other end of the couch from Mom, Grandma's homemade afghan draped over us, freezing each other with our bare feet. Lots of memories in that house...
So many good memories that when I got married I didn't want to go too far from home. Wallace must love me or something, because he obliged. We started out small, in a singlewide. I've threatened to go home to Mom and Dad more than once. I learned my lesson once when he locked the door on me. We moved to a doublewide, then built the house when we learned our two would be three. Enter the next family on Twin Cedar...
Papaw William and Nana Helen fell in love with Caleb Bates from the minute they knew he was coming... and that was pretty early on, since Nana ran my pregnancy test! They moved out to the country so they could be close to him. Next came Greg and Regina... and now Baby Will is on the way.
I can't leave out Aunt Lisa E. and Greg, who round out Twin Cedar. I think they were actually the third family on Twin Cedar Road...
Anyway, as I go on and on what I'm trying to point out is that here we are, two sets of in-laws, and it works. We love each other. We like each other. The two Papaws and the two Mamaws save my life all the time... I seriously don't know what I'd do without them. Caleb is surrounded by so much love it isn't even funny... and I know that Baby Will is going to be, too.
Today, we threw Regina a baby shower. I'm not a party person... I'm an introvert and I have no clue about decorating or cooking or doing anything like that. My Mom does. And she does wonderfully. My aunts brought food. My Grandma Bert came and looked lovely; you'd never guess she'd been sick a couple of weeks ago. And as I stood there, I realize. I'm blessed. Not just because I have a wonderful family who cheers loud at football or soccer games, and binds together. But because I married into a family that is wonderful, too. Nana Helen and Papaw William and Mamaw Mary...
Wallace and I tell each other every day that we love each other. When the going was tough, we didn't, but we're making it a point to, now. And Caleb hears it from all sides. I may not tell my Mom or Dad, or Nana and Papaw, or my aunts how much I love them... but they tell me all the time. Not necessarily in words, but in actions. By putting his arm around me at Wed. night Bible study, by asking how my week is going. By chipping in and making whatever I need her to make, whenever I need her to make it, no matter how busy her schedule is. By loving Caleb and loving me and taking my side... as if I could ever be wrong.
I'm blessed... and I can't wait to squeeze Baby Will and welcome him to this crazy family. The new Vice-Mayor of Twin Cedar Road... oh, Lord, baby. Don't follow in your cousin Caleb's footsteps... well, maybe not all of them. He's actually a pretty cool kid. Of course, I'm a little biased... and above all, I'm blessed to be Caleb's Mama.
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Polishing Shoes
Today I went with my Grandma to the cardiologist. Actually, Mom and I had planned to go to Lexington to pick up my glasses and she just happened to have an appointment, so we killed two birds with one stone. Then we picked up stuff for Regina's baby shower... and picked up Kami to hang out for a little while. Anyway, I digress...
As I was sitting in the doctor's office waiting for Grandma and Mom to come out, I couldn't help but notice a couple sitting in the waiting room. They looked to be in their early 70s. What caught my eye, or my ear, actually, was when the lady told the man, "I polished your shoes for 40 years. I think it's your turn." Then she grinned...
In a couple of minutes, the nurse called her back. He got up and offered his arm, and she leaned heavily on it as she walked in. 40 years of polishing shoes... and who knows what else. I imagine she's leaned a lot on him in those 40 years, maybe not physically... and he's probably leaned on her a lot, too.
Then, later on, we stopped at Shell to get something to drink before we headed out. In the parking lot, a couple that looked to be in their late 60s were working together to get the top off their convertible. It looked to be difficult, but they were working together. And it hit me. That's what marriage, relationships, is all about. Teamwork. Leaning on each other through good and bad. Keeping the scorebook during the volleyball game when all you really want to do is read a good book in the bleachers. Saying you're sorry and accepting apologies. And knowing that no matter what... that other person will be there for you.
Even when you don't feel like polishing shoes anymore =)
As I was sitting in the doctor's office waiting for Grandma and Mom to come out, I couldn't help but notice a couple sitting in the waiting room. They looked to be in their early 70s. What caught my eye, or my ear, actually, was when the lady told the man, "I polished your shoes for 40 years. I think it's your turn." Then she grinned...
In a couple of minutes, the nurse called her back. He got up and offered his arm, and she leaned heavily on it as she walked in. 40 years of polishing shoes... and who knows what else. I imagine she's leaned a lot on him in those 40 years, maybe not physically... and he's probably leaned on her a lot, too.
Then, later on, we stopped at Shell to get something to drink before we headed out. In the parking lot, a couple that looked to be in their late 60s were working together to get the top off their convertible. It looked to be difficult, but they were working together. And it hit me. That's what marriage, relationships, is all about. Teamwork. Leaning on each other through good and bad. Keeping the scorebook during the volleyball game when all you really want to do is read a good book in the bleachers. Saying you're sorry and accepting apologies. And knowing that no matter what... that other person will be there for you.
Even when you don't feel like polishing shoes anymore =)
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Sick Day
Today I took a sick day. I've been feeling really crappy. Had a headache, fever, and chills last night. I know it is just that time of year, fall in Kentucky, and I also know it will clear up soon. I'm not really the take a lot of medicine kind of girl. I'd much rather just suffer until things go away on their own... or until it gets so bad I feel like I can barely make it.
Which leads to why I took the sick day today. We didn't have class scheduled, so it would have been a good day of working in my office. However, when I got up and realized I was dizzy and wasn't thinking clearly, I made the decision to suffer it out on my couch... which I did. I read my Bible and napped, read my Kindle and napped, and then napped some more. I'm feeling much better this evening. I even felt good enough to go to church...
Rest is essential to the human body. I don't get nearly enough. I have been going to bed much earlier than I usually do; I make it my goal to have my light out by midnight, and usually lights out are closer to 1130. However, during the time I'm up, I'm running, running, running. We haven't had a Saturday where there hasn't been something to do since school started, or at least I can't remember one. And that's ok, because it is all stuff I enjoy. I'm just tired. That's evident in that I went to bed last night at 930, slept until 8 this morning, and then was still drifting off to sleep on the couch today.
It'd be nice if we didn't need rest, but we do. I'm hoping that my lazy day today (even though I also chatted with students, texted with students, and met with an adjunct clinical faculty this evening means I didn't have an entirely lazy day...) means that I've nipped this sinus deal in the bud. We'll see tomorrow... now, I'm headed to bed =)
Which leads to why I took the sick day today. We didn't have class scheduled, so it would have been a good day of working in my office. However, when I got up and realized I was dizzy and wasn't thinking clearly, I made the decision to suffer it out on my couch... which I did. I read my Bible and napped, read my Kindle and napped, and then napped some more. I'm feeling much better this evening. I even felt good enough to go to church...
Rest is essential to the human body. I don't get nearly enough. I have been going to bed much earlier than I usually do; I make it my goal to have my light out by midnight, and usually lights out are closer to 1130. However, during the time I'm up, I'm running, running, running. We haven't had a Saturday where there hasn't been something to do since school started, or at least I can't remember one. And that's ok, because it is all stuff I enjoy. I'm just tired. That's evident in that I went to bed last night at 930, slept until 8 this morning, and then was still drifting off to sleep on the couch today.
It'd be nice if we didn't need rest, but we do. I'm hoping that my lazy day today (even though I also chatted with students, texted with students, and met with an adjunct clinical faculty this evening means I didn't have an entirely lazy day...) means that I've nipped this sinus deal in the bud. We'll see tomorrow... now, I'm headed to bed =)
Monday, September 24, 2012
The Creator
"For everything was created by Him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through Him and for Him."- Colossians 1:16
On this first Monday of fall, it was a beautiful day. I didn't get to enjoy it much, because I had clinical, but the sky was blue and the grass is still kind of green. The sun was bright and the wind was just barely blowing.
Creation sings His glory. Everything has a unique song that it sings. Why should we be any different? He created us, for Him... to be in companionship with Him, to bring Him glory through our actions. Through our love. Our song to sing is one of love, for Him, for others. We were created as God's masterpiece. We are marvelous, even in our mess, because we are fearfully and wonderfully made. No matter where you are, God made you just for this moment. He's working on us, continually. And no matter what we think, even when it appears that He's nowhere around, He's in control. He created all authority, all power, and all dominions... even those who appear to be in chaos. Thank You, Lord, for Your Sovereignity. We desperately need it.
On this first Monday of fall, it was a beautiful day. I didn't get to enjoy it much, because I had clinical, but the sky was blue and the grass is still kind of green. The sun was bright and the wind was just barely blowing.
Creation sings His glory. Everything has a unique song that it sings. Why should we be any different? He created us, for Him... to be in companionship with Him, to bring Him glory through our actions. Through our love. Our song to sing is one of love, for Him, for others. We were created as God's masterpiece. We are marvelous, even in our mess, because we are fearfully and wonderfully made. No matter where you are, God made you just for this moment. He's working on us, continually. And no matter what we think, even when it appears that He's nowhere around, He's in control. He created all authority, all power, and all dominions... even those who appear to be in chaos. Thank You, Lord, for Your Sovereignity. We desperately need it.
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Hard is not Impossible
How is it that another weekend has come and gone? I'm so not ready for Monday morning, but it will come regardless...
I'm starting Unglued by Lysa Terkeurst. Today I read the first two chapters and took notes. One quote that really resonated with me was, "Hard doesn't mean impossible." In Lysa's context, she is talking about controlling our emotions and how they lead us to react. This is nearly impossible for me. Lysa describes different reactor types (I've not gotten to them yet), and depending on the situation, I react differently, but it is hard for me to differentiate between my feelings and the truth. I feel like a failure, God tells me I'm chosen. I feel stupid, God tells me that if I call on Him He'll show me great things and that if I lack wisdom I should ask and it be given to me. I feel unloved at times, God says He's loved me with an everlasting love. So even though it is hard for me to seperate feelings from truth, I know that nothing is impossible for God and that His Spirit is working within me.
Needless to say, we'll still come Unglued. Case in point? I logged onto SPSS tonight and set out to do my first homework assignment. Now for those of you who are unfamiliar with Biostats, all I can tell you is that I would probably do just as good taking a boat to Africa, going into the deepest jungle, and trying to speak the native language. Ok, maybe it's not that bad. Sadly, though, I'm just not a numbers girl... never have been, never will. I got a headache. My heart started pounding. I worked on the assignment and just when I thought I had it figured out, I realized I didn't. So I started over. It still wasn't right. Wallace, calm as he is, was answering my questions, and I had my two books out. The tutorial video wouldn't work. Did I mention that I had a headache? ADHD Wallace decided that at that moment, it would be a good time to move the old couch out of the office so that he could move the treadmill in. So he proceeds to pick the couch up. It won't fit through the door. He pushes and pushes and shakes the computer desk. The whole time I'm sitting there staring at all these numbers and getting more depressed by the minute. More Unglued...
I didn't scream. I didn't even quarrel. I just decided that I'd done all of it I could. Tomorrow will be a new day. (For a procrastinator like me, that's an awesome plan. Scarlett was my hero). I saved my work and emailed it to myself so I could try to watch the tutorial tomorrow evening sometime. I even calmly expressed myself to Wallace. He had no clue he had upset me.
Yes, this class is hard. It's not impossible. I just need a new perspective. A good night's sleep, and it will seem better. And even if it doesn't, I'll make it through. All things work together, and God's got a plan =)
I'm starting Unglued by Lysa Terkeurst. Today I read the first two chapters and took notes. One quote that really resonated with me was, "Hard doesn't mean impossible." In Lysa's context, she is talking about controlling our emotions and how they lead us to react. This is nearly impossible for me. Lysa describes different reactor types (I've not gotten to them yet), and depending on the situation, I react differently, but it is hard for me to differentiate between my feelings and the truth. I feel like a failure, God tells me I'm chosen. I feel stupid, God tells me that if I call on Him He'll show me great things and that if I lack wisdom I should ask and it be given to me. I feel unloved at times, God says He's loved me with an everlasting love. So even though it is hard for me to seperate feelings from truth, I know that nothing is impossible for God and that His Spirit is working within me.
Needless to say, we'll still come Unglued. Case in point? I logged onto SPSS tonight and set out to do my first homework assignment. Now for those of you who are unfamiliar with Biostats, all I can tell you is that I would probably do just as good taking a boat to Africa, going into the deepest jungle, and trying to speak the native language. Ok, maybe it's not that bad. Sadly, though, I'm just not a numbers girl... never have been, never will. I got a headache. My heart started pounding. I worked on the assignment and just when I thought I had it figured out, I realized I didn't. So I started over. It still wasn't right. Wallace, calm as he is, was answering my questions, and I had my two books out. The tutorial video wouldn't work. Did I mention that I had a headache? ADHD Wallace decided that at that moment, it would be a good time to move the old couch out of the office so that he could move the treadmill in. So he proceeds to pick the couch up. It won't fit through the door. He pushes and pushes and shakes the computer desk. The whole time I'm sitting there staring at all these numbers and getting more depressed by the minute. More Unglued...
I didn't scream. I didn't even quarrel. I just decided that I'd done all of it I could. Tomorrow will be a new day. (For a procrastinator like me, that's an awesome plan. Scarlett was my hero). I saved my work and emailed it to myself so I could try to watch the tutorial tomorrow evening sometime. I even calmly expressed myself to Wallace. He had no clue he had upset me.
Yes, this class is hard. It's not impossible. I just need a new perspective. A good night's sleep, and it will seem better. And even if it doesn't, I'll make it through. All things work together, and God's got a plan =)
Friday, September 21, 2012
Welcome, Fall
Fall means football and nippy weather and hoodies and Ugg boots. It means the end of volleyball season and open gym for basketball and preparation for Christmas shopping. It means birthday shopping for October babies and presents for my November baby. It means Thanksgiving with no room at my Mom's and touch football that sometimes turns into tackle with brothers fighting. Lots of fun things about fall...
Even though summer is my favorite just because I have time to read and there are trips to the beach and the swimming pool to relax, sleeping in and lazing around, I really like fall. I don't necessarily like the cold weather, but I do enjoy watching the leaves change color... and have I mentioned how much I like football? High school, college, professional... that pretty much takes up my weekend. It's during this busy time between volleyball games and practices that Wallace and I get to hang out. We always grow closer during football season...
Tomorrow is the first official day of fall. While I hate to see summer go, and warm weather go by the wayside, I'm embracing football season and fall. Here's to Halloween and touchdowns and laughing with TO's fan club, with snuggling in my hoodie and my Bobcat blue Uggs, to cheering so loud that I lose my voice... to leaves changing and being surrounded by orange, yellow, and red... Happy Fall, Y'all =)
Even though summer is my favorite just because I have time to read and there are trips to the beach and the swimming pool to relax, sleeping in and lazing around, I really like fall. I don't necessarily like the cold weather, but I do enjoy watching the leaves change color... and have I mentioned how much I like football? High school, college, professional... that pretty much takes up my weekend. It's during this busy time between volleyball games and practices that Wallace and I get to hang out. We always grow closer during football season...
Tomorrow is the first official day of fall. While I hate to see summer go, and warm weather go by the wayside, I'm embracing football season and fall. Here's to Halloween and touchdowns and laughing with TO's fan club, with snuggling in my hoodie and my Bobcat blue Uggs, to cheering so loud that I lose my voice... to leaves changing and being surrounded by orange, yellow, and red... Happy Fall, Y'all =)
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Live Like That
My Caleb is something else. He's funny and smart. I am amazed by him every day of my life. Sometimes it's a good amazement... sometimes, not so much. Tonight, it was the good kind.
There are days when we fight like cats and dogs. Caleb is stubborn and can be very sassy. He likes to call me "Woman" and sometimes he means it in a not so nice way. He doesn't like to do homework and he likes to stay at home and watch TV, which totally contradicts my lifestyle of run, run, run... He gets mad at me and I get mad at him and we tend to explode. I'm trying to work on this. I know he gets a bad temper from both me and his Dad and I can't get mad at him when it's my fault, right? Especially when you consider that he's seeing me model some of the very same behaviors that I'm quarreling at him about.
Even with his temper and his sassiness, he's still a great kid. He is compassionate and caring most of the time, and he is just too funny. He looks at life in his own unique way. He's a whiz at technology... any kind. Yesterday, he got a notecard from his teacher talking about how fun it was to have him in the classroom and how caring he is. He got the biggest smile on his face, and my heart stretched just a little bit to think that I might have had just a little bit to do with that... let's face it, it takes a village, and Caleb has a very supportive village: Grandparents and great-grandparents and aunts and uncles and great-aunts, and all of these girls he calls his sisters...
Anyway, back to today... we had a really good evening together. He went and hung out with my Grandma Na while I went to a parent meeting for the academic team. I'm always flabbergasted by how mellow Mamaw is with Caleb (and Dylan and Mason and Landry...) If we had done some of the stuff they do when we were little, Jen, Glenn and I would be cutting our own switch, or at the very least sitting on opposite ends of the couch (which is hard when there's three of you. Which is why we would usually catch Mamaw with her back turned and high-tail it down to Jen's, leaving Glenn to face her wrath... we really were mean cousins sometimes...) After I got finished, we went to McDonalds and just had a good conversation. After church, Caleb cranked up his Ipod in the car. He is like me and has an eclectic taste in music... but tonight it was all about Francesca Battestelli and the Sidewalk Prophets, who are going to be in town tomorrow night. He likes to tease me about "This is the Stuff", which really could have been written for me, dealing with lost car keys and lost phones and running late. We sang it at the top of our lungs, and then he selected one by the Sidewalk Prophets. "This is my favorite one, Mom. Let's sing it, he said."
Tears came to my eyes (and are right now as I'm typing this) as I listened to my little boy, who will quickly become a man belt out these words. I know he doesn't know exactly what they mean, but then again, maybe he does. Maybe that's why sometimes he will give up money so someone else can have something or why he prays so fervently for people he knows that are in trouble. Maybe that's why he wanted to give the little girl the skateboard at Christmas time when Mission of Hope came last year. Sure, he can be selfish, but I'm thinking maybe he gets it a little... "I want to live like that
And give it all I have So that everything I say and do Points to You If love is who I am Then this is where I'll stand Recklessly abandoned Never holding back."
Train up a child in the way he should go and when he gets old he won't depart from it... (my paraphrase). When he gets old, he'll live like that... Lord, this is my prayer.
There are days when we fight like cats and dogs. Caleb is stubborn and can be very sassy. He likes to call me "Woman" and sometimes he means it in a not so nice way. He doesn't like to do homework and he likes to stay at home and watch TV, which totally contradicts my lifestyle of run, run, run... He gets mad at me and I get mad at him and we tend to explode. I'm trying to work on this. I know he gets a bad temper from both me and his Dad and I can't get mad at him when it's my fault, right? Especially when you consider that he's seeing me model some of the very same behaviors that I'm quarreling at him about.
Even with his temper and his sassiness, he's still a great kid. He is compassionate and caring most of the time, and he is just too funny. He looks at life in his own unique way. He's a whiz at technology... any kind. Yesterday, he got a notecard from his teacher talking about how fun it was to have him in the classroom and how caring he is. He got the biggest smile on his face, and my heart stretched just a little bit to think that I might have had just a little bit to do with that... let's face it, it takes a village, and Caleb has a very supportive village: Grandparents and great-grandparents and aunts and uncles and great-aunts, and all of these girls he calls his sisters...
Anyway, back to today... we had a really good evening together. He went and hung out with my Grandma Na while I went to a parent meeting for the academic team. I'm always flabbergasted by how mellow Mamaw is with Caleb (and Dylan and Mason and Landry...) If we had done some of the stuff they do when we were little, Jen, Glenn and I would be cutting our own switch, or at the very least sitting on opposite ends of the couch (which is hard when there's three of you. Which is why we would usually catch Mamaw with her back turned and high-tail it down to Jen's, leaving Glenn to face her wrath... we really were mean cousins sometimes...) After I got finished, we went to McDonalds and just had a good conversation. After church, Caleb cranked up his Ipod in the car. He is like me and has an eclectic taste in music... but tonight it was all about Francesca Battestelli and the Sidewalk Prophets, who are going to be in town tomorrow night. He likes to tease me about "This is the Stuff", which really could have been written for me, dealing with lost car keys and lost phones and running late. We sang it at the top of our lungs, and then he selected one by the Sidewalk Prophets. "This is my favorite one, Mom. Let's sing it, he said."
Tears came to my eyes (and are right now as I'm typing this) as I listened to my little boy, who will quickly become a man belt out these words. I know he doesn't know exactly what they mean, but then again, maybe he does. Maybe that's why sometimes he will give up money so someone else can have something or why he prays so fervently for people he knows that are in trouble. Maybe that's why he wanted to give the little girl the skateboard at Christmas time when Mission of Hope came last year. Sure, he can be selfish, but I'm thinking maybe he gets it a little... "I want to live like that
And give it all I have So that everything I say and do Points to You If love is who I am Then this is where I'll stand Recklessly abandoned Never holding back."
Train up a child in the way he should go and when he gets old he won't depart from it... (my paraphrase). When he gets old, he'll live like that... Lord, this is my prayer.
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