When the World Shakes Their Fist

Agh!  Sunday was my blogoversary and I spent it in church. It was a great day! :)  This will be my 1,656th post.  Holy cow, that's a lot of posts.  That's how you know you enjoy writing.  I must've only took weekends off from blogging.

I have sooo much to be grateful for in blogging land.  Seriously, it's been a positive thing in my life and I've met some amazing blogging moms.  I love down to earth mamma's that tell it like it is rather than always sugar coat things.  I've met some amazingly smart ones that make me feel pretty "duh" in comparison.  I've met some that amaze me how many kids they have and they have the joy and stand up for what they believe in.  Children are a blessing no matter what the world says.  The world will mock you, spit at you, tell you that you're flat out nuts.  But remember, Jesus was mocked at and called crazy. He was crucified.  However, even His last words were of forgiveness.  So what if I feel "persecuted" by words for what I believe in? Every time I get down for how someone talks to me about my large family I have to remember that the world ISN'T going to agree and THAT'S THAT.  Even when we had to sell everything, move into a tiny apartment, just so I could stay home, the people shook their heads thinking it was nuts.  Why wouldn't I just get a job?  I had only $100 at the best for groceries every month.  No car.  It was a tough time but some of our very BEST memories.  Did the world agree?  Of course not.  But I had my babies and I knew they'd grow up fast.  Can everyone do that and stay home?  Of course not.  

Today I was  thinking about how grateful I am for my own mom that stayed home with us.  I know not everyone can do that.  Some, no matter how hard they try, have to work to make it.  I will never, ever take it for granted though that I was one of the lucky ones.  Every single one of us in this world can find something to be negative about in our pasts, make excuses because of them, find reasons to never trust again, but that's not a great way to live.  Who wants to live like that?  Sadly, a lot.  Bitterness, sadness, hurt, anger is what makes pharmaceutical companies so rich.  I choose to be grateful for the positives, learn from the negatives, and live for the here and now and of course the future.  The world hates a successful story, at least one lived for Christ.  Hollywood is praised but missionaries, working dads supporting their family, firemen, doctors, soldiers seem to be forgotten.  The real heroes.

Blogging has helped me pull out the positives by sharing my stories.  It's helped me to find the humor in tough day. It's been even better to receive encouragement and even reproof from other blogging friends.  Was a fun 6 years of blogging!

Taking Kids to Our Anniversary Dinner

We don't have sitters anymore and so we had to take our kids to our 13th wedding anniversary dinner.  It was definitely different because you kind of want the night to be about you and him but this time I had to adjust my thinking and just celebrate that we're having 7 kids in our 13 years together.  Well, it was still at our favorite restaurant and had romantic lighting like we love.

My camera broke so I've been stuck taking pictures with our cell phone. The quality isn't too great.

The boys loved their fancy glass dishes and the kids were sooooo well behaved.  I was so proud of them as they quietly ate and talked in whispers.  Ryan even said, "Mom, I will watch the kids while you and dad go sit at your own little table."  Of course we didn't take up the offer. Haha.

I'm soooo happy that I had my 2 girls together like that because they are such good buddies.  I love also how our older 3 boys are grouped together.  It works well for hand me down also.  Tee hee.

When we were dating, Charles took me to Macy's and bought us matching sweaters.  13 years later the sweaters still look new and we are so happy to wear them on special occasions.  It's just so neat they we've had them all this time.  

I've been going to this same restaurant since I was 16 years old.  I've never ordered a different plate.  However, the cost of our plate has gone up from $10 to $17.  It's still so worth it because it's DELICIOUS.

We always order:

Caleb was such a good baby but it was a little interesting since his first clear sentence he's learned is "Stop it, mom!"  Lovely.  He's DEFINITELY a two year old and showing it well.  He'll say no to his dad and then run and hide behind anything he can.

All in all the night went well.  Charles came home with some GORGEOUS flowers. I was so impressed when he told me that since the already put together flowers weren't so good, he picked 13 roses of his own to purchase.  13 for 13 years.  I still would have loved to had one night in a year alone with him but we made the best of it.  :)

Celebrating 13 Years Married and Adventures!

That doesn't feel like a long time to some but in this world, it actually is!  Thank GOD I married my best friend.  Makes the ups and downs a bit easier to handle.  :D

We had so many fun adventures in our first year of marriage.  I can't  believe how much we did before we had kids.  I got pregnant our 11th month of marriage.  Just 3 months before I became pregnant with our first, we made a trip to the Grand Canyon and hiked down it 6 hours.  Our feet were completely blistered by the time we reached the bottom and made camp. We got to swim next to the Havasupai Falls and race down the river.  It was gorgeous.  No, I don't wear bikini's anymore. Since that picture is sooooo tiny of me, I'm not embarrassed to post it. :)

Eating at the Indian village waiting
for helicopter

The next day there was a warning of a flash flood coming from the ranger.  Even though the skies were clear like you see in the picture, there was definitely one coming and we weren't taking chances.  We threw back on our 80lb packs and raced uphill 2 miles to a nearby indian village.  Even while we were quickly racing to get to safety, muddy water was rushing closer and closer next to our feet.  Once we reached the village we were safe for a bit and away from water but we had to get out of there.

Once we reached the village we took a helicopter out to safety.  The year before people had died from a flash flood so we weren't taking any chances.  Two years after this picture was taken, this helicopter crashed and killed everyone inside.  Crazy, huh?


From there we headed to Vegas. For us, it wasn't to gamble.  We just basically went site seeing and visiting the yummy buffets. My husband forgot to inform me about this part of the trip so I did not pack anything fancy at all.  So here were were walking around in hiking clothes and boots. For some reason I have no pictures of us here.  A funny memory was getting locked out of our hotel in our pajamas.  We were with family and didn't know where they were so we just had to sit by our room on the floor till they came hours later with the key.  People in evening gowns kept passing us from the elevator looking at us strangely.  

Then we headed to Utah and got to experience being at a cowboy camp.  It was such a neat place where you stay in cabins and do lots of fun activities. We went shooting, zip lining, cliff repelling, rock climbing, riding ATV's, horseback riding, sitting around a campfire at night.  It was awesome!

3 months later I found out I was pregnant with our first.  We weren't trying, but hey, it got the ball rolling and I've had 6 other fantastic, life changing surprises after that.  Ever since then we have experienced so many adventures since having kids and I wouldn't trade any of it for anything in this world.  Having a family is so awesome.

Amazing Story: Firefighter Who Survived the Collapse of Twin Towers

This photo was taken exactly 23 days before the
 9-11 attacks Chaz was 1 and Ryan was 3
days old here.

(If you would like to hear the story of the firefighter who survived being inside the collapse of the twin towers, scroll to bottom of post)

I don't think anyone can forget and everyone knows exactly where they were and what they were doing when they found out our nation was being attacked.  Real people were being targeted.  Families being destroyed.  Sons, daughters, fathers, mothers, engaged, married, single, new moms, pregnant moms, children, were all being targeted.  It didn't matter if they were rich or poor, white or black, or religion.  A group of people thought Americans deserved death.  What would drive these people to such utter and bitter hatred?

I remember that day.  I was sleeping in my bed with my little newborn Ryan.  He was only 3 weeks old when I was jarred awake in the early hours by a phone call from my mom.  She was frantic.  At that time the news barely had any information.  Both towers were still standing.  I was confused.  Possibly a terrorist attack?  On American soil?  My gosh.  I'll never forget the wonderful feeling when President Bush called us to join together and fight.  For months afterwards there was such a unity among people it was comforting. We all put American flags wherever we could.  We all agreed.  This attack was not okay and we're gonna do whatever it takes to protect this nation for us now, our children, and our children's children.

Everyone has their theories of that day.  As with any major news, war, or attack, there are always theories that come with it or conspiracies.  I truly believe it was exactly from those it was reported to be since I KNOW people from that country that told me they were taught to hate America all growing up and to want death for us.  They hated our freedom and envied our blessing.  As shocking as it is that people would go so far as to kill others in the name of their god, it reminds me of why we are so blessed here in America.

Just imagine.  We have the right to attend a Baptist, Mormon, Pentecostal, Catholic, Satanist, Seventh Day Adventist, Jehovah Witness, Jewish, or Speedway Racing church.  Heck, you don't have to go to church at all if you don't want to.  We have the right because thousands of people died for us to have that right.  Of course we want to reach out to people looking for answers.  Of course we are passionate about sharing the good news and reaching out to lost souls.  I know I grew up witnessing to others and praying with people on the street.  Then following up on them, encouraging them over a meal or just over the phone.  That's the beauty of America.  You are free to share your faith and live out your faith.

What happens when those freedoms are attacked?  There is a group on Facebook, actually several, that continually attack a certain denomination.  They happen to be attacking my church and all the surrounding churches.  If you dare just make a comment that what they are saying about your group is not the truth, they will pounce on you, harass you, swear at you, and you are only grateful they have no idea where you live.  They will write you letters telling you that no matter how happy you "think" you might be, you are secretly miserable and don't you wish you could be miserable with us?  They will spend hours writing letters, posting hate speech, calling you names, and generally just trying to make you look like an idiot.  How dare you love your moral values and beliefs.  How dare you find happiness and peace in what you believe.  I wouldn't be happy in that religion!  If I hate it, why in the world don't you hate it?"  Sometimes I'm so shocked by just the hatred and bitterness that oozes from sites like these.  Facebook says they don't allow a hate group such as these, but yet somehow they still exist.

If we all spent our time shouting out names at each other and spent half our life trying to make anyone miserable that doesn't believe exactly like us, would we truly be living?  Whatever happened to just living out your faith, being a good example of your faith, sharing the good news with others, and if someone doesn't want to hear it, moving on to the next person?

American may take for granted what God gave us but we have to remember that sooo many have no idea what that's like.  Have they truly seen freedom?  Do they know the beauty of freedom?  How can you know when you've never tasted it?  Breathed it?  Lived it?  Oh, how I wish they could have that too.  My friend, who died fighting over there, said people thanked him daily for fighting to give them freedom. Imagine that.  We are told they don't want or need freedom.  But inside, whether or not we would be allowed to say it, every one of us long for it.


There is nothing wrong with having passion for our beliefs, but if it comes at the price of hurting others, calling names, threatening, verbally abusing, assaulting, something is really sick there.  Not too long ago those terrorist men were little boys that were indoctrinated at a very young age. Sitting in a class, cross legged, and forced to sing songs against America.  Wide eyed and cute little boys forced to learn hatred at a tender age.  Years and years of that can not only wax a heart cold, but can leave nothing but an empty shell.  A shell that will then serve as a killing machine.  My heart aches for those little boys.

My heart aches in hopes that America will not only pray for these people but will not become tools for spreading hatred in our own communities or within family.  So what if someone doesn't believe like you?  Act like you?  Dress like you?  Talk like you?  God created us all AND he gave us a free will.  Thank God America believed we should still have that.  I hope that never changes.

My heart aches today thinking about people crying for their lost loved ones.  Ones they lost 10 years ago today.  Children that will never know their dad/mom.  God, please be with these families today.


Courage in the Towers


Would you like to hear a first hand experience of a firefighter who was inside the towers when it collapsed.  HE was in a stairwell and SURVIVED.  His story is amazing and will bring tears to your eyes.


Part one:

Part Two: 

My 11th Anniversary of Mommyhood!

Holding my nephew just after I found
out I was pregnant with Chaz

Yesterday was my 11th anniversary of becoming a mother which means Chaz is 11!!!  Has it really been 11 years since that day he was placed on me by the doctor?  I remember that moment like it was yesterday.  I had the hardest time believing that he was actually mine.  I felt like I was in a dream or something.  It actually took several days for it to really sink in.  I don't know why, it just did.  I wanted to write this yesterday but didn't have a chance to get on the computer.

Chaz's 2nd birthday

Dear Chaz,

Thank you for being my son.  Thank you for your patience with me figuring it all out and how to do the simplest things.  Thank you for all the times you peed on me while I tried to figure out how to put the diaper on.  Haha!  Thank you for loving me even in my impatient moments or the times where I cried because I didn't know if I could be stretched anymore. And you were just my first! I've had fun playing with you, running around, buying you toys, games, teaching you.

I'm so grateful I even got to share your sorrows with you and issues on your heart.  Some times I wish I could go back and cuddle you as a tiny baby.  To truly appreciate how short that time was but it's gone forever.  All I can do now is love every single day left I have with you.  It took me awhile to figure out that I had to die to myself in order to truly love the gift God gave me.  I'm sorry I didn't get it from day one.  But I still remember your peanut face and tiny hands.  I remember what an amazing baby you were.  I had so many compliments about how content you were.  I love you so much I don't know how to write it completely.  But seeing you hurt makes my heart ache. Seeing you smile, makes my heart smile.  Happy 11th birthday!

Mommy

A post I wrote about Chaz on my 11th wedding anniversary.  :)