WOW...2 posts in 1 week, I am getting better. I just finished filling out one of those "Get to Know you Better - Christmas Version" (Thanks Bethany) thingys and it made me think of something that happened the other night.
We usually read out of a Bible storybook that Nana got him before he goes to bed, and pray together and off to sleep he goes. Well, after we moved into our new apartment before Thanksgiving, we had to move back in with my BFF until Timmy finished his semester of school, so the book got left up in Acworth. Well, Timmy still wanted a story, so the first night Daddy told him the Christmas story about Baby Jesus born in a manger, and the shepherds, etc.
The next couple of nights, we just read regular books, but one night last weekend, I put him in the bed without reading him a book, and he quickly reminded me. "I need a story" So, I decided to tell him "Twas the Night Before Christmas". I had quoted this story in High School for a Christmas play, so I thought, Sure, I remember it and off I started. This is how it went...
Twas the Night Before Christmas, and ALL through the house,
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse (I emphasized these lines so Timmy's eyes got big as bugs and he is hanging on EVERY word - it was so cute)
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care
In hopes that Saint Nicholas soon would be there
And Mom in her kerchief and I in my hat
Had just settled down for a long winter's nap
And then...I started drawing a blank...oops...Timmy is STILL looking at me with those precious BUG eyes...and I am struggling here...so I continue with what I think is correct and then add some...here goes.
When out on the lawn, there arose such a clatter
I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter
I threw open the shutters and flew up the sash (as I said that line I was like...that ain't right - but Timmy had no clue...so I kept going)
And what do my wondering eyes should appear but
Santa's sleigh and 8 tiny reindeer.
NOTE: I could NOT remember what was next...I paused...I paused...Timmy said, what happened next. So, I ad libbed the rest of the story...here is how Timmy thinks this story ends.
Santa grabbed his bag full of toys, and flew down the chimney
He had a truck for Tommy and a doll for Suzie
And after eating the cookies and drinking the milk,
He went back up the chimney to his sleigh and reindeers.
And as he flew off the roof you could hear him say,
"Merry Christmas to all and to all a Goodnight"
So, that was the end, and when I said that last line. Timmy reached up and hugged me and said, "Mommy, that was a great Christmas story." His precious little self didn't even know that it was not the complete story. I hope that one day when I read the "REAL" Twas the Night Before Christmas story to him, that he doesn't realize I told him the wrong one before.
The next night he wanted "Frosty the Snowman" - I won't EVEN tell you how that one went. Kids...they believe anything!
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
The Butterfly Award
I was given the Butterfly Award for my blog from one of my precious friends Coach Mom Says. I have chosen some of the blogs I follow to receive this award also. Here they are.
1. Coach Mom Says
2. SoonToBeMeltons
3. Chapters
4. His-beloved
5. Skinner Family Adventures
Now they need to "pass it on"
Have a blessed Tuesday!
Friday, December 5, 2008
Tis the Season
I have been meaning to post a new blog entry for a while, but I just haven't seemed to find the words to get out what I have wanted to say. So, if this seems all jumbled, forgive me. Here goes...
My facebook status currently states: "Elizabeth is wondering why this "Season of Giving" is only for Christmas...what happens to those people in February, even June - why not have a year long "season of giving"." If you have read any of my recent blogs, you know that Ed and I have been relying on God for daily sustenance for spiritual food and regular food. So, I have a taste of what it's like to be in need. Anyway, I listen to the radio on the way to work, and they are talking about Angel Tree, and Operation Christmas Child, and it got me thinking about my status. Why do we spend so much time and money making sure that these "needy" people's needs are met during the Christmas season. Why not have a year round season of giving?!?! Sometimes I think we as Christians feel that if we give to the poor and needy at Christmas, that it gives us our "quota" so to speak for the year. But I am here to testify that without those Christians helping us in September, October and November...where would we be right now. When is the last time that you gave selflessly of your time, your money, YOU, without expecting ANYTHING in return. I finished reading a book entitled "Field of the Fatherless" loaned to us by Sara Beth from ISF. (Ed and I have been praying about adoption for our future and Sara Beth recommended reading this book). Let me just tell you, this book changed my outlook on LIFE! In the Bible it says: “Blessed be God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted by God.” (2Cor 1:3-4) What He has done for us is what He requires that we do for others. There isn't a single person out there that can tell me that GOD hasn't "comforted" you in your tribulation. Even when Ed and I felt at our lowest point these past couple of months...God was STILL there in that valley and HE was still in control. As I said, I have a new outlook on life. I want my heart, soul, spirit, countenance to REFLECT the Lord Jesus Christ! I want people to look at me and see something different. I want them to see my precious Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ who came to this earth to die for ME. For my sins. I deserve Hell...but HE SAVED ME! That in and of itself should be enough to make you jump for joy...we have the awesome privilege of spending eternity with the King of Kings!!! AMAZING!!!
I want to challenge each and everyone of you to do something... are you ready.... here it is....
When you do anything...think of others.
Sounds easy doesn't it. It wasn't easy for me at first, but now it's becoming what I do. For example...Road Rage...yep, I used to have Road Rage. I got SO frustrated when people would ride my bumper and then swoop over to a different lane at the last minute. I would get so mad when people would drive slow in the fast lane. I would get frustrated when people wouldn't let me over when I had my turn signal on or wouldn't let me turn left out of a street. But I heard a song on the radio by Brandon Heath called "Give Me Your Eyes". Let me just tell you...you won't have Road Rage for long listening to that song. The chorus goes like this:
Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me your heart for the ones forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see
How many times have we looked at someone the way JESUS looks at someone. With the same compassion that HE does. So, I started changing my heart...I started changing my mind...I started making a conscious effort to think of others...I started looking at all of those drivers in those cars in Atlanta, GA with the eyes of Jesus. So, when I am sitting in traffic at the end of a work day, and I go 6 miles in 30 minutes...I let people in front of me....I hold up traffic on a busy two lane road to allow someone needing to turn left to turn left...I don't get angry at the driver who practically takes my bumper off when he swoops over to a new lane...I just smile and keep driving. And this is just in driving....when I go through the drive thru at McDonalds to get that morning cup of Joe...I smile at the cashiers and say, "Have a great day"...who knows...maybe they needed that...maybe they had a rude customer earlier that ruined their day. You never know who you are going to bless by seeing like Jesus, loving like Jesus, and living FOR Jesus.
I am not saying all of this to toot my own horn. I am not saying that I am by any means perfect (because my husband and kids can tell you I'm not). I am just challenging you to do something in your life to make a difference in someone else's life, that will ultimately change yours and give you the HEART of Jesus!
Because you never know....you may be the one that needs to turn left one day!
My facebook status currently states: "Elizabeth is wondering why this "Season of Giving" is only for Christmas...what happens to those people in February, even June - why not have a year long "season of giving"." If you have read any of my recent blogs, you know that Ed and I have been relying on God for daily sustenance for spiritual food and regular food. So, I have a taste of what it's like to be in need. Anyway, I listen to the radio on the way to work, and they are talking about Angel Tree, and Operation Christmas Child, and it got me thinking about my status. Why do we spend so much time and money making sure that these "needy" people's needs are met during the Christmas season. Why not have a year round season of giving?!?! Sometimes I think we as Christians feel that if we give to the poor and needy at Christmas, that it gives us our "quota" so to speak for the year. But I am here to testify that without those Christians helping us in September, October and November...where would we be right now. When is the last time that you gave selflessly of your time, your money, YOU, without expecting ANYTHING in return. I finished reading a book entitled "Field of the Fatherless" loaned to us by Sara Beth from ISF. (Ed and I have been praying about adoption for our future and Sara Beth recommended reading this book). Let me just tell you, this book changed my outlook on LIFE! In the Bible it says: “Blessed be God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted by God.” (2Cor 1:3-4) What He has done for us is what He requires that we do for others. There isn't a single person out there that can tell me that GOD hasn't "comforted" you in your tribulation. Even when Ed and I felt at our lowest point these past couple of months...God was STILL there in that valley and HE was still in control. As I said, I have a new outlook on life. I want my heart, soul, spirit, countenance to REFLECT the Lord Jesus Christ! I want people to look at me and see something different. I want them to see my precious Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ who came to this earth to die for ME. For my sins. I deserve Hell...but HE SAVED ME! That in and of itself should be enough to make you jump for joy...we have the awesome privilege of spending eternity with the King of Kings!!! AMAZING!!!
I want to challenge each and everyone of you to do something... are you ready.... here it is....
When you do anything...think of others.
Sounds easy doesn't it. It wasn't easy for me at first, but now it's becoming what I do. For example...Road Rage...yep, I used to have Road Rage. I got SO frustrated when people would ride my bumper and then swoop over to a different lane at the last minute. I would get so mad when people would drive slow in the fast lane. I would get frustrated when people wouldn't let me over when I had my turn signal on or wouldn't let me turn left out of a street. But I heard a song on the radio by Brandon Heath called "Give Me Your Eyes". Let me just tell you...you won't have Road Rage for long listening to that song. The chorus goes like this:
Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me your heart for the ones forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see
How many times have we looked at someone the way JESUS looks at someone. With the same compassion that HE does. So, I started changing my heart...I started changing my mind...I started making a conscious effort to think of others...I started looking at all of those drivers in those cars in Atlanta, GA with the eyes of Jesus. So, when I am sitting in traffic at the end of a work day, and I go 6 miles in 30 minutes...I let people in front of me....I hold up traffic on a busy two lane road to allow someone needing to turn left to turn left...I don't get angry at the driver who practically takes my bumper off when he swoops over to a new lane...I just smile and keep driving. And this is just in driving....when I go through the drive thru at McDonalds to get that morning cup of Joe...I smile at the cashiers and say, "Have a great day"...who knows...maybe they needed that...maybe they had a rude customer earlier that ruined their day. You never know who you are going to bless by seeing like Jesus, loving like Jesus, and living FOR Jesus.
I am not saying all of this to toot my own horn. I am not saying that I am by any means perfect (because my husband and kids can tell you I'm not). I am just challenging you to do something in your life to make a difference in someone else's life, that will ultimately change yours and give you the HEART of Jesus!
Because you never know....you may be the one that needs to turn left one day!
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
When It Rains
Yesterday felt like 4 days long, but it was only 24 hours. Here's the rundown of my day...
Ed wakes me up at 5:10am and tells me Timmy is throwing up and he doesn't have his contacts in so he can't see if it's blood. My first thought is..."Oh no, it's the color of blood" - I then go into the bathroom to see my precious baby boy standing over the toilet throwing up non-stop. I go over and start rubbing his back and look to see if it's blood. It's not, it's the remnants of supper the night before, pancakes and syrup. He finishes and asks for some water, then goes back to bed. I normally get up for work at 5:30am, so I decided to stay up and start getting ready. Well, as I was getting ready, he throws up again, and again. We decided to put him in the bed with Ed so he doesn't have to go so far to get to the bathroom.
Around 6:45, I leave for work. Where we are living right now in Newnan is about 45 miles to work. I don't have to be there untili 8am, but with Atlanta traffic, it sometimes takes me over an hour. I head out on 85North and about 15 miles into the trip, my car makes this sound like it dropped something on the highway, and then won't go when I push the gas. By God's grace, I was right next to an exit, so I merge onto the exit ramp, and have to stop at the traffic light because of traffic. Well, as soon as I stop moving, the car won't move again. So, here I am on the exit ramp, with 15 or so cars behind me, and I can't get the car to move. I knew that we had roadside assistance with our Sprint Cell Phone plan, but I wasn't sure how to use it, so I needed to call Ed. I also knew that his cell phone is plugged into the outlet in the bonus room. So, I call Jenn (my BF that I am living with) and ask her to get Ed to get his phone. She tells me that she has been throwing up since about 6am, but was scheduled to substitute that morning and was going in anyway. So, Ed gets on the phone, I tell him that the car broke down, and then he says, "Hold on...I think I am going to be sick. I'll call you back." I was like great....whatever happens with the car...I can't go to work because I needed to go home and take care of my boys. Silas hadn't been throwing up, so I knew that I needed to protect him from Ed and Timmy. Back to the car...I decided to turn off the car and start it again to see if it would move, and PTL it did...I was able to move it up the ramp and turn right into a Shell gas station. Then...it wouldn't move anymore, so I parked it. In the meantime, Jenn called me to ask me what exit I was on...I told her and she said that is the same exit she is getting off for work. So, she was going to pick me up at the Shell station, I was going to take her to work, and then I would have her car for the day while we tried to figure out what was wrong with mine.
Let me just say, that I feel it was NO coincidence that I broke down near enough to the same exit that Jenn was going to be driving by...God's HAND was in this situation. As hard as it is knowing that the van is broke, and Ed and I don't have the money to fix it...God is still in control.
Back to my day, I called my dad, because he is pretty familiar with cars, and I describe to him what the car did, and he said, "Sounds like the transmission, not an easy fix." I threw up my hands and went WHAT NOW GOD!?! It seems like ever since we pulled out of UMHB to move to GA, we have been met with trials...but like I said before...God orchestrated the events that brought us to this point. My mom got on the phone and as always, gave me the MOST encouraging words that I needed to hear. (Side note: from the moment that Ed and I felt God leading us to Georgia, my mom has ALWAYS had the right words to say to be EXACTLY what I needed to hear. All those times we felt like giving up and throwing in the towel and moving back to Tx. Mom was there... So, Mom...if you are reading this....THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for EVERYTHING you have said...God is using you in a MIGHTY way in our lives. I LOVE YOU so much!) She told me, that this didn't surprise God, and HE will take care of us.
The SPRINT RR Assistance program, only gives you 3 miles free for towing. I looked around me and saw nothing that looked like a auto garage in the area. She then said, it was $4 to $7 for each mile after that and they only take cash. Well, surprise, surprise...I didn't have cash on me. She also said that it would be free if the tow truck to me back to their shop. She said sometimes they have mechanics there also. So, Mom had told me to pray, pray, pray before she hung up, so that's what I did. I sat in my van at this Shell gas station, and just cried out to God. I prayed that God would send a tow truck that would have a mechanic at their shop. Because I knew I could not pay for more than 3 miles. I waited...I waited...I waited....in the meantime, Ed calls me back and tells me HE has thrown up at 8 times, and Timmy is now dry heaving and that I needed to come home and take care of Silas so he didn't have to get near him. I told him I had Jenn's car, but I had to wait with the van until the tow truck got there.
The tow truck arrived. This towing company did not have a mechanic, but he told me that he would give me 5 miles free, and the nearest auto shop was 4 1/2 miles (God is watching out for me). He also looked at the engine and checked some things and said it looks like the transmission. He said the auto shop that he was taking me to, didn't work on transmissions, but it was a family owned business, and they would take care of me. (God is watching over me) On the way over, the tow truck man called ahead and told them what was going on, so when I got there, all I had to do was sign something I left to head to Newnan.
I got home about 10:15...Ed and Timmy hadn't thrown up since about 9:30 so they were both resting. I got Silas up fed him breakfast, and we went to Kroger to get Sprite, Gatorade and Chicken Noodle Soup for the sickly.
The rest of the day was spent going up and down the stairs fixing drink, soup, crackers for the sick ones and trying to figure out how I was going to get to work the rest of the week. I just started a new job and I don't have any personal days earned yet...so I couldn't afford to miss another day of work.
Later that afternoon, I started feeling nauseous too. I was like, "Oh no, not me too" I had to go pick up Jenn at 3:30, and had to keep pulling over because I felt like I had to throw up. Luckily, I didn't...and those feelings passed after a while. (I have a cold/sinus drainage, so I think that is what was making me feel nauseous.)
Anyway, Ed and Timmy stayed up stairs in the family room or our bedroom all day. Silas was very needy....everytime I left the room to get something, he cried out for me. By the end of the day, Jenn, Ed and Timmy felt much better. However, Jenn's husband Ryan (who has staying at his parents with their 3 year old daughter) came home throwing up too. So, in the household of 7, 4 of them were sick with the flu...NOT FUN!
But...Tuesday is a new day...Timmy went to school....I went to work, and Ed is eating again. All is well in the Lockwood household.
Ed wakes me up at 5:10am and tells me Timmy is throwing up and he doesn't have his contacts in so he can't see if it's blood. My first thought is..."Oh no, it's the color of blood" - I then go into the bathroom to see my precious baby boy standing over the toilet throwing up non-stop. I go over and start rubbing his back and look to see if it's blood. It's not, it's the remnants of supper the night before, pancakes and syrup. He finishes and asks for some water, then goes back to bed. I normally get up for work at 5:30am, so I decided to stay up and start getting ready. Well, as I was getting ready, he throws up again, and again. We decided to put him in the bed with Ed so he doesn't have to go so far to get to the bathroom.
Around 6:45, I leave for work. Where we are living right now in Newnan is about 45 miles to work. I don't have to be there untili 8am, but with Atlanta traffic, it sometimes takes me over an hour. I head out on 85North and about 15 miles into the trip, my car makes this sound like it dropped something on the highway, and then won't go when I push the gas. By God's grace, I was right next to an exit, so I merge onto the exit ramp, and have to stop at the traffic light because of traffic. Well, as soon as I stop moving, the car won't move again. So, here I am on the exit ramp, with 15 or so cars behind me, and I can't get the car to move. I knew that we had roadside assistance with our Sprint Cell Phone plan, but I wasn't sure how to use it, so I needed to call Ed. I also knew that his cell phone is plugged into the outlet in the bonus room. So, I call Jenn (my BF that I am living with) and ask her to get Ed to get his phone. She tells me that she has been throwing up since about 6am, but was scheduled to substitute that morning and was going in anyway. So, Ed gets on the phone, I tell him that the car broke down, and then he says, "Hold on...I think I am going to be sick. I'll call you back." I was like great....whatever happens with the car...I can't go to work because I needed to go home and take care of my boys. Silas hadn't been throwing up, so I knew that I needed to protect him from Ed and Timmy. Back to the car...I decided to turn off the car and start it again to see if it would move, and PTL it did...I was able to move it up the ramp and turn right into a Shell gas station. Then...it wouldn't move anymore, so I parked it. In the meantime, Jenn called me to ask me what exit I was on...I told her and she said that is the same exit she is getting off for work. So, she was going to pick me up at the Shell station, I was going to take her to work, and then I would have her car for the day while we tried to figure out what was wrong with mine.
Let me just say, that I feel it was NO coincidence that I broke down near enough to the same exit that Jenn was going to be driving by...God's HAND was in this situation. As hard as it is knowing that the van is broke, and Ed and I don't have the money to fix it...God is still in control.
Back to my day, I called my dad, because he is pretty familiar with cars, and I describe to him what the car did, and he said, "Sounds like the transmission, not an easy fix." I threw up my hands and went WHAT NOW GOD!?! It seems like ever since we pulled out of UMHB to move to GA, we have been met with trials...but like I said before...God orchestrated the events that brought us to this point. My mom got on the phone and as always, gave me the MOST encouraging words that I needed to hear. (Side note: from the moment that Ed and I felt God leading us to Georgia, my mom has ALWAYS had the right words to say to be EXACTLY what I needed to hear. All those times we felt like giving up and throwing in the towel and moving back to Tx. Mom was there... So, Mom...if you are reading this....THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for EVERYTHING you have said...God is using you in a MIGHTY way in our lives. I LOVE YOU so much!) She told me, that this didn't surprise God, and HE will take care of us.
The SPRINT RR Assistance program, only gives you 3 miles free for towing. I looked around me and saw nothing that looked like a auto garage in the area. She then said, it was $4 to $7 for each mile after that and they only take cash. Well, surprise, surprise...I didn't have cash on me. She also said that it would be free if the tow truck to me back to their shop. She said sometimes they have mechanics there also. So, Mom had told me to pray, pray, pray before she hung up, so that's what I did. I sat in my van at this Shell gas station, and just cried out to God. I prayed that God would send a tow truck that would have a mechanic at their shop. Because I knew I could not pay for more than 3 miles. I waited...I waited...I waited....in the meantime, Ed calls me back and tells me HE has thrown up at 8 times, and Timmy is now dry heaving and that I needed to come home and take care of Silas so he didn't have to get near him. I told him I had Jenn's car, but I had to wait with the van until the tow truck got there.
The tow truck arrived. This towing company did not have a mechanic, but he told me that he would give me 5 miles free, and the nearest auto shop was 4 1/2 miles (God is watching out for me). He also looked at the engine and checked some things and said it looks like the transmission. He said the auto shop that he was taking me to, didn't work on transmissions, but it was a family owned business, and they would take care of me. (God is watching over me) On the way over, the tow truck man called ahead and told them what was going on, so when I got there, all I had to do was sign something I left to head to Newnan.
I got home about 10:15...Ed and Timmy hadn't thrown up since about 9:30 so they were both resting. I got Silas up fed him breakfast, and we went to Kroger to get Sprite, Gatorade and Chicken Noodle Soup for the sickly.
The rest of the day was spent going up and down the stairs fixing drink, soup, crackers for the sick ones and trying to figure out how I was going to get to work the rest of the week. I just started a new job and I don't have any personal days earned yet...so I couldn't afford to miss another day of work.
Later that afternoon, I started feeling nauseous too. I was like, "Oh no, not me too" I had to go pick up Jenn at 3:30, and had to keep pulling over because I felt like I had to throw up. Luckily, I didn't...and those feelings passed after a while. (I have a cold/sinus drainage, so I think that is what was making me feel nauseous.)
Anyway, Ed and Timmy stayed up stairs in the family room or our bedroom all day. Silas was very needy....everytime I left the room to get something, he cried out for me. By the end of the day, Jenn, Ed and Timmy felt much better. However, Jenn's husband Ryan (who has staying at his parents with their 3 year old daughter) came home throwing up too. So, in the household of 7, 4 of them were sick with the flu...NOT FUN!
But...Tuesday is a new day...Timmy went to school....I went to work, and Ed is eating again. All is well in the Lockwood household.
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