tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39106102097964044882024-02-07T15:56:09.219-08:005 Minute Fridays with Lisa-Jo BakerJessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16865980130685452228noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3910610209796404488.post-55955843121610850802013-04-05T08:41:00.000-07:002013-04-05T08:42:51.014-07:00After <img alt="" class="rg_hi uh_hi" data-height="194" data-width="259" height="194" id="rg_hi" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSt8d3-ZAa86xxrEq6cXThga_QHX0l_lKnLn2XQmwZ-LBzypQj8" style="height: 194px; width: 259px;" width="259" /><br />
<br />
I am quickly approaching an after moment. A defining moment.<br />
In 7 weeks, I will no longer be a resident of the state where I was born and raised. I will no longer be a resident of the town where I have spent my whole life.<br />
In 7 weeks, my boys and I will be joining my husband on an adventure.<br />
My husband accepted a job a few weeks ago in Missouri. He starts in 10 days.<br />
The boys and I have things to finish up. The Cub Scout year, complete with final awards. AWANA and BSF. The child birth class I am teaching. They all wrap up between now and Memorial Day weekend. Then, we are off.<br />
I haven't thought much about after. After we move. After we find a new home. After we find a new church family. After I learn how to go about registering to home school, vote, and get a new driver's license. Those things will come.<br />
Today, I am looking at the, after we list our house. It goes on the market Monday.<br />
And, I'm living in the today. Enjoying the boys who will not be 7, 6, and 4 forever. My husband who willing be missing from our daily lives for a few weeks starting in 9, to short, days.<br />
So, I'm off to live in the now...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://lisajobaker.com/2013/04/five-minute-friday-after/"><img alt="" class="alignleft" height="180" src="http://thegypsymama.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/5-minute-friday-1.jpg" title="5 minute friday (1)" width="179" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16865980130685452228noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3910610209796404488.post-78402553917582978212013-03-30T20:08:00.001-07:002013-03-30T20:09:16.991-07:00Broken <img height="225" id="yui_3_3_0_1_1364699165149815" src="http://skitguys.com/images/video_images/god-of-the-broken.jpg" style="margin-left: 39px; margin-top: 63px;" width="400" /><br />
<br />
So, I debated to do or not to do this 5 minutes. I am late. It is Saturday night. Then, I read the word. Oh, I should answer that prompt. So, here I sit...<br />
I attend BSF, Bible Study Fellowship. We are studying Genesis this year. I have had many struggles this year in my lesson.<br />
The first big struggle, there was the struggle over fertility issues. Is using a fertility specialist a sin? Is my oldest son not valued? Abraham's first son was sent away.<br />
The newest struggle, I realized this last week that God wants all of me. Okay, I knew this and was living under the impression that I had given Him all of me. Then, we studied Jacob and his struggle with God. God wanted all of Jacob and even though Jacob struggled with God and was blessed by God in having his named changed, he still continued to sin in that he did not proceed to the Promised Land immediately but took at 10 year pause.<br />
So, my not all of me is my emotions. I was raised with a grandma around who didn't cry. I had a priest tell me, after my great-grandma died, that it was wrong for me to cry. After all, Jesus had much bigger problems and didn't cry much.<br />
I need to turn my emotions over to God. I have in prayer given them to Him. But, I'm finding each day that I find some more to give Him. I want to give it all to Him now and not realize 10 years from now that I stopped part way.<br />
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<a href="http://lisajobaker.com/2013/03/five-minute-friday-broken/"><img alt="" class="alignleft" height="180" src="http://thegypsymama.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/5-minute-friday-1.jpg" title="5 minute friday (1)" width="179" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16865980130685452228noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3910610209796404488.post-43800810662202806662013-03-22T09:40:00.000-07:002013-03-22T09:42:28.462-07:00Remember<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
Twelve years and five days ago it wasn't snowing. It was gorgeous out.<br />
We had family that didn't make the trip for fear of getting snowed in in Nebraska in March.<br />
I got up early after sleeping on my parents' couch. My mom and I were to meet my Maid-of-Honor and her daughter at my hair dressers. Her salon was across the street from the bridal shop where my dress waited, in need of being picked up and delivered to Trinity Baptist Church.<br />
After getting my hair done, Kelly helped me get my dress and we draped it across the backseat of her car.<br />
We made it to the church and then I went to my Maid-of-Honor's hotel room to hangout with my cousins as we all continued getting ready.<br />
Our flower girl got constipated in the excitement and nerves.<br />
We got to the church and finished getting ready.<br />
We had pictures of you and your family and me and my family before the wedding and pictures of us together after the ceremony.<br />
My dad and your Best-man both asked if I was sure I wanted to go through with the wedding. I told them both yes I was ready.<br />
My dad prepared to walk me down the isle as Mary fixed my skirt.<br />
Our flower girl refused to go down the isle but I told her she needed to go throw all those rose petals on the ground. She headed down the isle with your nephew.<br />
During the ceremony when we went to light the unity candle, we accidentally blew it out. You are always so resourceful. You pulled a lighter out of your pocket to relight the candle.<br />
After the ceremony we had pictures and then went to celebrate with our family.<br />
After eating, dancing, chatting, cutting cake, we escaped. Just the two of us to a beautiful B&B where our high school best friends had gone to decorate the room with rose petals, candles, and a tub full of balloons.<br />
Love you bunches. Even more than twelve years and five days ago.<br />
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<a href="http://lisajobaker.com/2013/03/five-minute-friday-remember-2/"><img alt="" class="alignleft" height="180" src="http://thegypsymama.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/5-minute-friday-1.jpg" title="5 minute friday (1)" width="179" /></a><br />
Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16865980130685452228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3910610209796404488.post-40383576765779753342013-03-15T05:12:00.001-07:002013-03-15T05:12:18.566-07:00Rest <img alt="" src="http://www.plumtreebaby.com/_photos/book4.png" style="display: inline-block; left: 0px; margin-top: 74px; width: 212px; z-index: 1;" /><br />
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Start<br />
<br />
I almost laughed out loud when I read the prompt. We are not early risers here. My husband works odd hours so we sleep in in the a.m. But, I'm up, for the second morning in a row. Earlier than the sun. :-(<br />
I'm here because we are on day two of a garage sale. <br />
Yesterday, I woke with the thought, "Lord, please let us survive today."<br />
Yesterday was not restful. I judged a homeschooling debate tournament (one round anyway) in the a.m. We had the garage sale. And, I started a new child birth series. :-) Nuts, right?<br />
Well, no. When God is in the middle of it, it all works together for His glory.<br />
So, our neighbor came over to help Rick set up while I ran to the tournament.<br />
I had lunch going in the crockpot, so, it was ready when people got hungry.<br />
Then, the lady who was suppose to be stopping by sometime after 3 didn't make it, but that worked out to. She came around 9 p.m. and it to worked out.<br />
I had class. Which is the best part of yesterday, well, it is up there anyway. (I, also, got to see two of my doula babies.) Even with my husband busy wrapping up the garage sale and the boys and dog running through the house. Taking time to do what I am passionate about and tell soon-to-be mommies and daddies how to give birth without drugs helps me to focus...to unwind...to relax...<br />
<br />
Stop<br />
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<a href="http://lisajobaker.com/2013/03/five-minute-friday-rest-2/"><img alt="" class="alignleft" height="180" src="http://thegypsymama.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/5-minute-friday-1.jpg" title="5 minute friday (1)" width="179" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16865980130685452228noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3910610209796404488.post-5867743263859105702013-03-08T06:08:00.003-08:002013-03-08T06:15:11.400-08:00Home<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b>START</b></span><br />
<br />
Home has always been this town or is it a city?<br />
I was born within walking distance of my parents' home that they had purchased just two weeks before I was born. I lived in that two story home for 18 years.<br />
Then, I lived in apartments and with my Grandma for three ish years. But, I don't know that those were really "home."<br />
When my husband and I met, the week after our wedding, we bought our first home. It was within walking distance of my childhood home.<br />
Then, we had three Little Men join us and we realized two bedrooms, one bathroom, and one closet weren't really fitting us. So, we moved.<br />
We moved to a neighborhood in my home town. But, across town from my parents.<br />
Then, yesterday, my husband took a job out of state. We will be moving again. Not within the same town.<br />
It is my first time living outside everything familiar. Where I can usually visualize where someone lives with very little difficulty.<br />
Now, I am looking at houses with Mapquest open up on a screen right next to the Realtor page trying to figure out if we are within a 40 minute drive my husbands work.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #741b47;"><b>STOP</b></span><br />
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<a href="http://lisajobaker.com/2013/03/five-minute-friday-home-2/"><img alt="Five Minute Friday" src="http://lisajobaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/5minutefriday.jpg" style="border: medium none;" title="Five Minute Friday" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16865980130685452228noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3910610209796404488.post-57895363705595807332013-03-01T15:18:00.001-08:002013-03-01T15:24:49.801-08:00Ordinary<br />
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Ordinary...<br />
REALLY?<br />
I often think I am ordinary. I don't do anything special.<br />
But, I do.<br />
I am a home schooling mama of three boys. My oldest is in first grade. So, I have a large learning curve ahead of me.<br />
I am a child birth educator and subsequently, a doula. I love being around expecting couples and sharing with them our joys and struggles in the hope of educating them on what to expect with their little one.<br />
I am a wife. My husband can fix anything and reads engineering books for fun. So, our basement is full of computer pieces, electronic gizmos, model airplanes and trains that are rigged, whether they were meant to be or not, with lights, cameras, and sounds.<br />
I am a cook. I enjoy playing in the kitchen. Then, we found out my youngest is allergic to pasteurized dairy. Also, corn, pork, and sugar don't really agree with his 4-year-old belly. So, I now figure out how to adapt our favorite recipes to meet his dietary needs.<br />
I am a child of God. I go to church multiple times a week, spend time in my Bible often, and especially with the deaths and cancer issues of several <a href="http://awilmeth.wordpress.com/">people</a> I know, I find myself in prayer continually.<br />
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<a href="http://lisajobaker.com/2013/03/five-minute-friday-ordinary-2/"><img alt="" class="alignleft" height="180" src="http://thegypsymama.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/5-minute-friday-1.jpg" title="5 minute friday (1)" width="179" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16865980130685452228noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3910610209796404488.post-50753656968405447112013-02-22T09:53:00.001-08:002013-02-22T09:53:51.980-08:00Tell me all about what your mama did that made her yours….<br />
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<br />
<br />
I struggled with school. It wasn't fun and it wasn't easy. Part of it was due to social stuff which I am, also, not good at. Part of it was, I always choose the most difficult books to read. I always choose the harder route. <br />
I would haul my backpack, packed with every book in my desk, back and forth every day. I would study from the minute I got home until my mom declared it bedtime. <br />
I would end up in tears over not having it as easy as my brothers made it look.<br />
My mom always encouraged. And, was always happiest for me when the weekend came, or summer, or some other break from the struggles of studying.<br />
She loved summer vacation! She was not the mama who counted down the days till she could send her kids back to school. She was not the mama who moaned and complained as we made messes, destroyed things, and created chaos. She loved spending time with us. She loved taking us to our grandparents' acreage on Friday nights for dinner of fish squares and mac and cheese.<br />
She took us candy selling. First, for me for Camp Fire. Later, for all three of us as we earned our way to Camp Kitaki. She encouraged, charted, and bribed (but in a good way, with the promise of hot chocolate) us to earn our way to camp and earn back the $50 deposit she had put down on each of our behalves. Our money to spend as we wanted IF we earned it back.<br />
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Come join the writing flash mob...<br />
<a href="http://lisajobaker.com/2013/02/five-minute-friday-what-mama-did/"><img alt="" class="alignleft" height="180" src="http://thegypsymama.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/5-minute-friday-1.jpg" title="5 minute friday (1)" width="179" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16865980130685452228noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3910610209796404488.post-5292931294882958652013-02-15T09:09:00.001-08:002013-02-15T09:09:32.254-08:00Beloved <img alt="love on the run 2011" class="flickr-medium" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5017/5414333439_dd694c75f0_o.jpg" /><br />
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"I am my beloveds and my beloveds is mine." It is from the Song of Solomon.<br />
Yesterday, I valenteered for Love On The Run. A local shop puts on this fun activity every Valentine's Day for the last 6 or 7 years.<br />
It all begins, well as far as us meager participants are concerned, this last weekend. We showed up at the shop and ate goodies, sipped wine or punch, and typed notes on old fashion type writers to our someone special. We had our pictures taken. Rolled our love notes and put them in little glass bottles. The bottles and pictures were put in little gift bags with information on delivery printed on the back.<br />
THEN, yesterday, us valenteers invaded the store. We picked up boxes of little gifts bags and began driving all over this town on 200,000+ people delivering little gift bags with notes typed on old fashion type writers.<br />
One of those notes headed out to the airport. When my husband got to work last night his boss sent him to the front desk where he was surprised by a little gift bag.<br />
Another little gift bag headed to a small town where a friend surprised her husband.<br />
And, MANY others, over 300 in all were delivered to doors to await returning lovers, to hands attached to shocked, surprised, excited faces. I wish I could have seen more of those faces. :-) The few I was privileged to see were wonderful. I look forward to Love On The Run next year.<br />
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<a href="http://lisajobaker.com/2013/02/five-minute-friday-beloved/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+thegypsymama+%28thegypsymama%29"><img alt="" class="alignleft" height="180" src="http://thegypsymama.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/5-minute-friday-1.jpg" title="5 minute friday (1)" width="179" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16865980130685452228noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3910610209796404488.post-80256042583585637382013-02-08T08:45:00.000-08:002013-02-08T08:45:04.627-08:00BareI tried Mary Kay foundation recently. My skin did not like it.<br />
I'm a no make-up kind of gal. I like to play with it on occasion, but I am not a regular purchaser or wearer.<br />
But, I thought it would be fun and I had someone, not a good influence in my life, telling me I needed plastic surgery under my eyes. So, I thought, I would give foundation a try. After all, it is mineral based.<br />
But, no, my face did not like it. Just like it did not like Avon when I was in high school and my face broke out in, first period, history class and I got sent to the nurse's office.<br />
So, I wear no make-up. I am, thank God, blessed with good skin. I have my Grandma Troutt's naturally rosy cheeks. I have my Great-Grandma Kubes face. (It is odd to me to go to Aksmit family reunions and have strangers come up to me and ask how I am related to her.) I have dark circles, some days more obvious than other days, from being up to late or to early, as the case may be. I occasionally get a blemish, but they are not, thankfully, regular occurrences. <br />
I wish other women felt it okay to show their bare faces. I think there are a lot of pretty faces out there under the eye liner, blush, foundation, blemish corrector, etc. After all, God doesn't make junk. So, there is no need to, "put my face on." Be yourself the wonderful creation God made. You are blessed and wonderful just the way you are. I am blessed and wonderful, in-spite of the bad influence in my life that tells me I need plastic surgery to deal with the circles under my eyes. <br />
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<a href="http://lisajobaker.com/2013/02/five-minute-friday-bare/"><img alt="" class="alignleft" height="180" src="http://thegypsymama.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/5-minute-friday-1.jpg" title="5 minute friday (1)" width="179" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16865980130685452228noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3910610209796404488.post-90888448077454804162013-02-01T07:58:00.000-08:002013-02-01T07:58:14.614-08:00Afraid<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"If you let them sit in it, you have to let them fly it."<br />
Words of wisdom from a pilots wife to a younger pilots wife with three little boys. Sigh!<br />
Although, this does not make me as afraid as yesterday.<br />
Yesterday, I got a phone call from a friend saying her and her kids were in a car accident. Not a huge surprise in the snow covered city. However, the surprise was that the other driver was under the influence. That makes me afraid. Her and her kids are okay. But, her youngest, who is 2, shook her head yes as I held her and asked if it was scary.<br />
It would be so easy to become a recluse. To say the world outside is to scary. That I am afraid of drivers under the influence, of slick streets, of my boys growing up and flying military equipment into unsafe parts of the world, of my husband flying to another part of the U.S. and his wings icing up and not being able to safely land.<br />
BUT, I don't. Because, "When I am afraid I will trust in YOU!" (Psalm 56:3) "You are my fortress, my shield, my banner in whom I trust." (roughly Psalm 18:2) Because of these words and many others, I keep going. I keep trusting that God will grab me and hold on tight if the things I fear happen. I trust that He knows the best for those who love Him.<br />
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<a href="http://lisajobaker.com/2013/02/five-minute-friday-afraid/"><img alt="" class="alignleft" height="180" src="http://thegypsymama.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/5-minute-friday-1.jpg" title="5 minute friday (1)" width="179" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16865980130685452228noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3910610209796404488.post-60952573581693545052013-01-25T06:35:00.001-08:002013-01-25T06:35:52.561-08:00AgainApril 2006, I had a nine-month-old. I sat on mine and my husband's bed in tears. I wanted another baby, but with all the injections, pills, and surgery it took to get this sweet nine-month-old, would we be able to give him a sibling? I cried to my husband and to God that I couldn't go through it all again. I wasn't strong enough.<br />
God stepped in. <br />
The next month. Labor Day weekend. I took a pregnancy test early in the morning and it was positive! I went in and told my still sleeping hubby. He told me to take another one. I did. It, too, was positive.<br />
Fast forward twenty-ish weeks. We are in for our first ultra-sound. Our only one planned for this not, "high risk," pregnancy. The tech is pretty quiet. Then, our midwife comes in. Our newest, littlest might have Down Syndrome. She refers us to a specialist. The specialist can't say for sure, but doesn't see anything wrong and says we will have to wait for the birth to be sure.<br />
Fast forward another twenty-ish weeks. I am home with our almost eigteen-month-old. He is napping. I am not. I am wrestless. I call a friend to see if she can come over and go for a walk in the snow packed outdoors.<br />
We head out. I have contractions off and on for six blocks.<br />
Back home, my oldest and I head to my mom and dad's for dinner. My dad catches on quick. My mom sends to me run errands. At dinner, she, too, catches on. We call my cousin to come get my oldest. We hang-out.<br />
About one a.m. we decide to head to the hospital and my mom calls my husband to say meet us at the hospital. He is just getting off work.<br />
He arrives in L&D as I scream. He panics because I didn't sound like that the first time. He comes in and rushes to my side as my midwife catches an 8 lb. 3 oz., PERFECT, baby boy.<br />
Thank you, God! For my six-year-old that you blessed us with one year ago this week.<br />
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<a href="http://lisajobaker.com/2013/01/five-minute-friday-again/"><img alt="" class="alignleft" height="180" src="http://thegypsymama.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/5-minute-friday-1.jpg" title="5 minute friday (1)" width="179" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16865980130685452228noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3910610209796404488.post-7640616646848050662013-01-17T21:13:00.003-08:002013-01-17T21:13:28.226-08:00CherishedToday is the day, 13 years ago, that I asked Jesus into my heart as Lord and Savior. I am His cherished possession.<br />
I spent a good portion of the last 24 hours thinking about my testimony. I love that I can go to the moment of my salvation and look backward and see faces of people who helped me come to that moment. Faces of girls in high school that had something different about them. I have since ran into some of those girls and asked them if they were Christians in high school and been told, "Yes, I was. But, I didn't know how to share my faith."<br />
I can, also, look forward from that moment and see how much I have grown and changed. I have become a wife, a mother, a homeschooling parent, a friend and confidant to many women, a child birth educator, and doula. I do not believe any of these roles would be possible without God.<br />
When people are asked to share about their moment of salvation, I really want to hear them talk about how their walk has progressed from that moment.<br />
In thinking about my salvation, I think, maybe, I should write it all down. In a notebook? On the computer? Who is going to want to read it? Hopefully, my children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren. I hope they read it and have that moment of surrender, of knowing that you are a cherished possession just the way you are. And, be able to look back and see the faith instruments who have allowed their lives to be a testimony to a struggling soul. And, look forward to see God their even when I stumble, misstep, sidetrack. He is never far away.<br />
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<a href="http://lisajobaker.com/2013/01/five-minute-friday-cherished/#comment-105491"><img alt="" class="alignleft" height="180" src="http://thegypsymama.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/5-minute-friday-1.jpg" title="5 minute friday (1)" width="179" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16865980130685452228noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3910610209796404488.post-11331905622561363252013-01-10T22:01:00.001-08:002013-01-10T22:01:30.921-08:00DiveA new year and new challenges...<br />
Our Pastor told us at church that he was going to challenge us to read through the Bible in a year and have accountability as part of our church family.<br />
I thought, "I would like to finally make it through the whole thing." Then, I left for Christmas in Kansas.<br />
We didn't get back till after the new year. So, I purchased a Woman's Guide to reading the Bible in a Year in a little bookstore in Lawrence.<br />
THEN I returned home to discover in my stack of mail the reading schedule for church... The church schedule is not the same as the book, but I already committed to the book with my BF. SO, I'm doing the book and my church family is doing something different.<br />
As I read, I am in chapter 30 of Genesis, I find myself reflecting on the "downward spiral of our culture." And, thinking, "REALLY! Did you see the mess Abraham and Jacob had going?"<br />
I was, right before I realized I could be participating in 5 minute Fridays, reading where Leah says, "God has rewarded me for letting my husband sleep with my maid." Which, just blows my mind. Poor lady.<br />
I do wonder if we will get God's commentary on our stupidity when we get to heaven. And if Leah, Rachael, and others will be there. Their husband is one of the fathers of our faith and in the hall of fame in Hebrews. But, what about the wives?<br />
<br />
<a href="http://lisajobaker.com/"><img alt="" class="alignleft" height="180" src="http://thegypsymama.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/5-minute-friday-1.jpg" title="5 minute friday (1)" width="179" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16865980130685452228noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3910610209796404488.post-34251279678507434622013-01-07T11:15:00.000-08:002013-01-07T11:20:18.411-08:00OpportunityOpportunity...<br />
I'm thankful for my delayed opportunity to be here in this new year. I had been disappointed when 5 Minute Fridays wrapped up for the year. Then, in the hub-bub of the new year and with all the activities that usually occur in my week not starting back up yet, I TOTALLY spaced 5 Minute Fridays! So, here I am, better late then never, joining in on the fun.<br />
I had the opportunity as I was wrapping up 2012 to go to counseling with my mother-in-law. Our last session was two Fridays before Christmas. Although, I was, and so was my Pastor, under the impression that progress had been made, my mother-in-law apparently is/was not. She got really upset at the end of the last session. <sigh><br />
I don't know if it is because she is not a believer. Or, she really thought is hadn't helped. Or, it was just her mental illness having a mental illness moment.<br />
The commercials that use to run about mental illness and how people start out with friends and loose all or most of them throughout the mental illness, I never really completely understood those commercials. I am getting a better grip on them now.<br />
And, it is sad. It is sad to think that my mother-in-law, a woman pushing 70, is going to pass away some day and no one is going to miss her. There isn't really going to be anyone to contact or a memorial service in need of being held...<br />
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<a href="http://lisajobaker.com/2013/01/five-minute-friday-opportunity-2/"><img alt="" class="alignleft" height="180" src="http://thegypsymama.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/5-minute-friday-1.jpg" title="5 minute friday (1)" width="179" /></a><br />
<br />Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16865980130685452228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3910610209796404488.post-84069110181195717252012-12-01T11:33:00.002-08:002012-12-01T11:33:35.082-08:00WonderI am a doula. So, logic says I should spend 5 minutes writing on the wonder of birth.<br />
However, this a.m. I met with my husband's birth mom. No, he is not adopted. His birth mom decided she didn't want the role of wife when my husband was 4 and do to mental unstability on her part my husband was given to his dad.<br />
Three, almost 4 years ago she moved to the midwest. Where I am. Where my husband is. Where her grandchildren are.<br />
We don't communicate well. I stuffed and stuffed and stuffed for 12 years. And, then, she told me she wanted to know why I kept her at arms length. I asked if she was sure and she said yes. So, I let her have it.<br />
Now, 16-months later, I find it easier to speak more harshly to her than I am comfortable with. She does not see it as yelling or even being overly harsh.<br />
So, a few weeks ago we met with my Pastor. We have met with him twice now. At the end of our last meeting she asked if we could meet to, "make a plan." So, this a.m. we met. At Perkins for one hour.<br />
I am still wondering what she wants from <strike>me</strike> us. <br />
She wants more of our time. But what does that look like? She wants nothing to do with anything religious we have going on. Well, that eliminates a lot. She wants to go to the boys things if it is appropriate. Well, if she was taking them, yes, but since her mental health isn't stable it is not okay for her to go unaccompanied anywhere with her grand-kids. So, no, there aren't many things she can go with them to without it being a little awkward.<br />
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<a href="http://lisajobaker.com/2012/11/five-minute-friday-wonder-2/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+thegypsymama+%28thegypsymama%29"><img alt="" class="alignleft" height="180" src="http://thegypsymama.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/5-minute-friday-1.jpg" title="5 minute friday (1)" width="179" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16865980130685452228noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3910610209796404488.post-10625597168058373902012-11-16T04:06:00.001-08:002012-11-16T04:06:12.517-08:00StayStay awake...<br />
That is what I am doing right now. I am not normally up at 6 a.m., but, I teach a cooking class at 10 a.m. on Friday mornings and today we are talking potatoes. I want the kids to see that sweet potatoes do not have to be covered in butter, marshmallows, and brown sugar. After all, they are SWEET potatoes. So, I got up about an hour ago to put sweet potatoes in the crockpot with a little bit of water. <br />
According to the recipe, they cook on high for one hour and then low for 6-8. Yes, I realize that means they won't be done, most likely, by the time I leave for class. But, hopefully, done enough that the kids can at least taste them and/or I can put them in the microwave for a few minutes to finish them up. I had several kids last week tell me they don't like sweet potatoes and have no plans of trying them. We will see if that holds true.<br />
We are, also, making cranberry salad. So, there are cranberries diced up in my refrigerator in a cup of sugar. Although, a cranberry salad was the kids idea, it will be interesting to see if they try it and like it.<br />
As for my own children, they each tried a plain cranberry and my youngest had multiple. (Can you see my sour face?) I puckered on his behalf, but he enjoyed each one.<br />
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<a href="http://lisajobaker.com/2012/11/five-minute-friday-stay/"><img alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_lCeOMfY0_fQ/TWly2m-jN_I/AAAAAAAAFEY/k8HJ__cvkws/s200/5%20minute%20friday.jpg" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16865980130685452228noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3910610209796404488.post-87568999011053815482012-11-16T03:50:00.002-08:002012-11-16T03:50:33.048-08:00StretchStretch take two...<br />
So, as I pulled up today's post, I thought, "Hum! I've responded to that word before." In fact, it was the very first 5 Minute Friday I ever did a few seemingly very short months ago.<br />
However, as I looked back on my first post on stretch, I was surprised that it was as recent as August! Our Pastor has only been gone a VERY few months. I was telling someone the other day I he had stepped down in June, oops.<br />
Our church is working on moving on.<br />
The pulpit committee is starting to look for a new Pastor. It will be interesting as we head into a new year to see how their search plays out.<br />
The Youth Pastor, who has taken over the role of Interim Pastor is the head of the pulpit committee's son. His parents and grandparents are/were members of our church. So, will he step in and become the new Pastor? If he does, there is going to be both happy and sad people.<br />
The happy people are the people who think it is his because of his family history.<br />
The sad people are the people who think our Pastor stepping down should have been handled differently and are disappointed at the way he was pushed out to make room for the Youth Pastor to step in.<br />
Either way, a new Pastor coming in or the Youth Pastor stepping up, it will be a stretch for our church of right around a 100 people, mostly senior saints and a few young families and singles.<br />
It will be a stretch for me, as I am one of the ones in the sad group and really like our Youth Pastor as a youth pastor.<br />
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<a href="http://lisajobaker.com/2012/08/five-minute-friday-stretch/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+thegypsymama+%28thegypsymama%29"><img alt="Five Minute Friday" src="http://lisajobaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/5minutefriday.jpg" style="border: medium none;" title="Five Minute Friday" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16865980130685452228noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3910610209796404488.post-26697870466296897192012-11-09T06:12:00.003-08:002012-11-09T06:12:38.723-08:00QuietQuiet is not something that often occurs in my world with Little Men.<br />
However, as I tuck them in at night, I want to rush through their bedtime routines because once they are tucked in, I get to have my quiet time. I go to my room, play on the computer for a bit to make sure they aren't going to come looking for me, and, then, I kneel by my side of the bed to pray before crawl into bed with a handful of chocolates to read my <a href="http://www.bsfinternational.org/">BSF </a>notes for the week or to work on my lesson for the day.<br />
I had a less than Christian moment with my husband's birth mom last week. So, last nights quiet time was a little on the emotional side. So many things that I read talk about how a Christian should interact with another Christian. It seems few things speak to how a Christian should interact with a non-Christian.<br />
I am to be loving toward her, I think, but often that looks like not talking because if I tell her my thoughts and then that is causing conflict and not being accepting of her choices.<br />
However, in my silence, I stuff. I stuff the frustration of her words and actions. How she doesn't try to see things from my perspective. How she is VERY materialistic and doesn't have the finances to be materialistic.<br />
So, then, at some point, all that stuffing explodes out of me. This time, it didn't come out nasty at her, but it didn't come out right either. She told my mom that she believes I hate her and my whole family knows it. <br />
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<a href="http://lisajobaker.com/2012/11/five-minute-friday-quiet/"><img alt="" class="alignleft" height="180" src="http://thegypsymama.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/5-minute-friday-1.jpg" title="5 minute friday (1)" width="179" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16865980130685452228noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3910610209796404488.post-37222217621448200172012-11-07T20:10:00.000-08:002012-11-07T20:13:17.924-08:00Roots<br />
The first thought: roots, as in family ties. The second is: roots, as in a head of hair in need of a new do. But, honestly, today, roots is the ties of those sisters that God didn't give you by blood but through the course of life.<br />
I have roots in Oregon. I went to visit my bestie. Who moved to Oregon with her husband and girls a little over a year ago. It was so nice to have the someone I love to laugh with even at things that are not really appropriate to laugh about.<br />
She gets me. We both grew-up Catholic. We both had moms who had in-home day-cares. We both are the oldest and have only brothers. We both love children and have loved working with them are whole careers. She lost her dad when she was in college. I lost my uncle before I was born. Both were hit when riding a bike (one a bicycle the other a motorcycle). All four of our parents went to Northeast High School. Our dads did not fit into the good guy crowd. Her mom and my dad grew-up blocks apart.<br />
Roots are friends in my hometown. Roots are the friend I dropped a birthday gift off to today. The one who would go for long walks with me and we would discuss fertility issues, being new moms, and many other things.<br />
Roots are Deana, Sarah, Marcy, Tess, Mary, Angie, and Jessi. All women that when needed are there to listen, scold, hug, and support.<br />
These are my sisters in Christ. They are each loved deeply. God might not have given me sisters biologically, but He more than made up for it in the amazing sisters I have met since I started walking with him almost 13 years ago.<br />
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<a href="http://lisajobaker.com/2012/11/five-minute-friday-roots/"><img alt="" class="alignleft" height="180" src="http://thegypsymama.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/5-minute-friday-1.jpg" title="5 minute friday (1)" width="179" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16865980130685452228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3910610209796404488.post-11212852610599839622012-10-26T11:47:00.000-07:002012-10-26T11:47:04.502-07:00VoiceSometimes, my voice is loud. Sometimes, it is quiet. Sometimes it is uncertain. It amazes me how the tone of a voice can change the context of what is being said.<br />
<br />Once Upon A Time...<br />
I attended a Bible study with a good friend. She is an outspoken, doesn't like silence kinds of woman.<br />
I'm the quiet, contemplative, wait for it and I'll give you my thoughts one.<br />
So, after several years of attending Bible studies together she asks me, in frustration, why I never say anything. My response, "because I can handle silence and you can't. So, I know if I wait two seconds I won't have to answer." ;-)<br />
We haven't been in Bible study together in a few years, but it seems that she is becoming quieter and more contemplative and I am becoming more outspoken. I would love to participate in a Bible study with her just to see if we really have changed or if the rules of our young married lives still hold.<br />
<br />
I love when children aren't listening and you can play with your voice to get them to listen.<br />
I have been known to whisper math assignments to my 5th graders, give drill sergent orders to my sons, yell on occasion when someone is getting in harms way (ie not being safe in a parking lot).<br />
Our voices are amazing things. With a little inflection a comment can become a question or an exclamation.<br />
I took sign language in college. Our instructors were deaf. It was interesting at the end of the term when they shared their voices with us. <br />
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You can come join the Friday flash mob, just click the link.<br />
<a href="http://lisajobaker.com/2012/10/a-live-five-minute-friday/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+thegypsymama+%28thegypsymama%29"><img alt="" class="alignleft" height="180" src="http://thegypsymama.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/5-minute-friday-1.jpg" title="5 minute friday (1)" width="179" /></a><br />
<br />Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16865980130685452228noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3910610209796404488.post-63225375251113797712012-10-19T10:48:00.000-07:002012-10-19T10:48:47.280-07:00Look"Look at me." I have never been one to be the center of attention.<br />
At my bridal showers, I was thankful because my niece was almost one and did not mind being the center of attention.<br />
But, now, as a mama of three boys, who always seem to have something going on that makes them the focus of every moment. Makes me want to SHOUT, "Look at me! I'm right here. I am a person."<br />
I feel like I fill roles without ever being noticed or appreciated or even thanked.<br />
I try to spend 5 minutes writing this. And, as I type, a little boy is messing with the timer and after being told to leave it alone, walks around me to the mouse and starts messing with it. I tell him to stop more than once before I swat his little hand.<br />
Two other boys are down that hall having some time in their room because they have taken up beating on each other and no matter how much/often I say, "STOP!" or "Don't." They keep "accidentally" punching or running into each other.<br />
I wish their ears would hear me. I wish they would look and see how much their attitude affects me.<br />
I want to be noticed.<br />
But, as I type this, I think of my Heavenly Father who wants the same from me.<br />
How often does He say, "STOP! and notice Me"?<br />
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Now, you can come play along. Just click the link below. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://lisajobaker.com/2012/10/31-days-write-story-19-five-minute-friday-look/"><img alt="" class="alignleft" height="180" src="http://thegypsymama.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/5-minute-friday-1.jpg" title="5 minute friday (1)" width="179" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16865980130685452228noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3910610209796404488.post-1008942760787294322012-10-14T13:05:00.001-07:002012-10-14T13:05:39.931-07:00RaceWhat a funny word. My first thought, I have ran in races. I have completed the Lincoln 1/2 Marathon 3 years in a row. I have done fun runs this year, too. The fun runs are A LOT of fun.<br />
However, run, also, makes me think of the little balls of energy that are forever in motion around here. And, recently how I have felt stretched to thin as I try to keep up with them and do somethings apart from them. I race all day long from the time my feet hit the floor till I crawl into bed and pass-out from exhaustion.<br />
I have been working on figuring out again, for like the millionth time in my life, how to say, "No." And, then, I walk into church to hear a sermon on needing to say, "Yes." I can't be stretched thinner. But, we are to help our fellow Christians. How do you do the things preached about from the Bible and not stretch yourself to thin?<br />
Being a stay-at-home, home schooling, mama of 3 seems like a full-time, and I don't mean just 40 hours a week, job. However, if I, then, want to spend time on my hobby/passion teaching pregnant couples unmedicated childbirth, and occasionally working as a doula. Plus, take on helping in the church nursery because they need help and helping with Sunshine Bunch because they need help and having fellowship and getting to know the other ladies at our church. Plus, BSF, Cub Scouts, and AWANA. Plus, ministering to my unbelieving family in the hopes they will see Christ in me and want to get to know him too...<br />
Where do I say, "no"?<br />
How do I say, "no"?<br />
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<a href="http://lisajobaker.com/2012/10/31-days-write-story-day-12-five-minute-friday-race/"><img alt="" class="alignleft" height="180" src="http://thegypsymama.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/5-minute-friday-1.jpg" title="5 minute friday (1)" width="179" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16865980130685452228noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3910610209796404488.post-61247645950242755222012-10-05T12:35:00.000-07:002012-10-05T12:36:03.647-07:00WelcomeWelcome home. Welcome in. Welcome, Dear God, what am I going to write?<br />
Welcome home is not a common phrase in my life. I have never moved away from home. I have lived 34 years in the town where I was born. I can take a less than an hour drive and drive past every residence I have ever lived in.<br />
My parents' bought their current home two weeks before their first child, me, arrived.<br />
I know I am always welcomed there. Same with my grandparents' home, even though it has changed addresses and my grandpa is no longer in his rocking chair, I am always welcome there.<br />
This week I celebrated my 34th birthday. My grandpa, if he were still alive, would have celebrated his 82nd birthday. Today, my youngest celebrates his 4th birthday.<br />
Not feeling welcomed is probably a stronger word to write about. I never felt welcomed in the church where I was raised. It wasn't till I was 21 and first met Jesus that I finally was "welcomed" at church. I felt like I belonged, FINALLY! After all those years of going to church and trying to be "good enough."<br />
As part of the family of Christ, I am amazed where I feel welcomed. I am amazed at how small the Christian community in my home town is. In this city of 200,000+ it seems like if you meet someone and they are a Christian, they know pretty much everyone you know who is a Christan. It keeps facebook interesting, seeing who is related to whom.<br />
I started BSF again this fall, like the last 6 falls before it. My discussion leader has the same name as a girl I went to high school with. So, I ask girl from high school, via facebook, how they are related..."She's my aunt."<br />
This town sure is small sometimes. But, God's love and welcome is spread far and wide.<br />
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Come play along...<br />
<a href="http://lisajobaker.com/2012/10/31-days-write-story-day-5-five-minute-friday-welcome/"><img alt="" class="alignleft" height="180" src="http://thegypsymama.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/5-minute-friday-1.jpg" title="5 minute friday (1)" width="179" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16865980130685452228noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3910610209796404488.post-78379966433342189812012-09-28T08:40:00.001-07:002012-09-28T08:45:19.703-07:00GraspWhen my Little Men were very young, I learned that they weren't mine.<br />
It was an interesting process. God didn't bless us with children in the easy way others are blessed with them. We had to work for ours. I had surgery, shots, charting, and frustration. There were tears, angry words, and hurts.<br />
THEN, we found out we were expecting! There were more shots, lots of ultra-sounds.<br />
I became a Christian at the age of 21. I was not secretive about our fertility issues. I would tell anyone willing to listen and even some who weren't willing. However, I learned that often these people would offer to pray for me, for my family.<br />
So, when our first Little Man came along, I realized I had no hold on him. He is mine. God gave him to my husband and me. But, he belongs to God. He belongs to all those wonderful people who prayed for him to exsist.<br />
Then, our middlest came along. He was not as hard to get, coming just a short 18 months after his big brother. Two Little Men in 18 months. He is not mine. I did not work for him. I do not deserve him. I am so blessed to call him son and mine.<br />
Our youngest came along 21 months later. Again, he is not mine. He is a blessing from God for one so undeserving.<br />
I am truly blessed as I grasp these Little Men and enjoy them every day for as long as God allows.<br />
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You can come play along by clicking on the picture. <a href="http://lisajobaker.com/2012/09/five-minute-friday-grasp/"><img alt="" class="alignleft" height="180" src="http://thegypsymama.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/5-minute-friday-1.jpg" title="5 minute friday (1)" width="179" /></a> Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16865980130685452228noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3910610209796404488.post-34822113018204987392012-09-21T06:32:00.000-07:002012-09-21T06:32:10.066-07:00WideI wish my bed was wider. As I sit here watching my husband and three sons fight over the covers. The giggles, squeeles, tugging, and tucking as they all try to get a piece of the blankets. <br />
My youngest is not on the bed, but with his little feet planted firmly on the floor, he tries to pull all the covers off the bed. He, then, drops them and starts peeking under them, looking for toes to tickle, I imagine. My husbands foot pops out and my youngest lets out a laugh.<br />
My middlest, has the covers over his head and almost looks like just a pile of blankets, minus the giggles and comments coming from the pile.<br />
My husband is participating in one of his favorite a.m. activities. His HAM radio is cracking and popping as men check-in for the morning. He comments about Dave as he signs on for the day. My children know Dave, we have picked apples in his backyard. <br />
My youngest has reset my timer. As I tell him to, "STOP," I figure my time is about up and I should, STOP.<br />
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<a href="http://lisajobaker.com/2012/09/five-minute-friday-give/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+thegypsymama+%28thegypsymama%29"><img alt="" class="me17046alignleft" height="180" src="http://thegypsymama.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/5-minute-friday-1.jpg" title="5 minute friday (1)" width="179" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16865980130685452228noreply@blogger.com0