It's About Time...

Or the lack of it. Where has the time gone? I need more time. Time is of the essence. We're running out of time. These are a few of the lines that have been running through my head and out of my mouth for the past few months and boy are they true in every situation. We have been so busy and blessed that IF I get the chance to sit for a minute...I'm not sure what to do. I feel like I need to be doing something constantly.

Time is a treasure that is unique unto itself. It is the only thing that passes without ever stopping. Can't be rewound or fast forwarded. Can be given and taken, used to full advantage and squandered. It can make or break relationships, food, and everything else except plastic... And once it's gone...it's gone.

Time is a gift from God and he intends for us to use it wisely and in service to Him by being a blessing to our families and to others around us. I think that means trying to find a balance between taking care of my family and home with doing outside of the home. Right now, that is an area where I struggle, as God have given me the spiritual gift of administration and service so I'm pretty much an organized worker who sees more efficient ways of doing things and therefore want to make things work better than before and I am often asked to do so by most of those around me....that would be the gift of administration.

How I approach this can be good or bad. In reference to my family...yes I take care of them, BUT since I do so much FOR them, am I not enabling them to become lazy and just know that Mom will take care of it. I have found that to be true. Instead of just doing, I must teach them how to organize themselves and keep track of things like assignments and due dates instead of constantly reminding them of what they have going on. Letting go of that and letting your kids fail in order to learn is VERY VERY difficult for me.

As far a giving of time, I often just say sure I can do that because I feel the need to help...that would be the gift of service. What I am finding is that I often OVER schedule or OVER volunteer to the point that I feel like I am only seeing my family in passing or that I am staying up into all hour of the night trying to finish everything I need to get done.

So where is the balance??? This is what I am trying to to do find that balance. When I am asked to do something, I am trying to remember to say "Let me check my calendar" instead of just saying yes without thinking about the other goings on in that time frame. I am trying to be in bed by 10:00 or 10:30 on 3 out of the 7 days of the week. I am trying to ask myself if the kids are capable, not do they want to, but are they capable of completing this task by themselves and letting them do it when the answer is yes. And I am trying to make myself realize that my expectations of myself are what I am trying to reach and often times they are unrealistic. For instance, if I have a photo session on Saturday, those people don't expect their pictures to be reviewed, edited, and posted within 24 hours...but that is my expectation of myself.

So far, these few "sanity savers" have been working for me. I have only been doing it for like 7 days, but I have noticed that I am making more quality time for my family, the schedule seems a bit less chaotic (still full but not over full), kids are doing stuff, and I am not up until 1 or 2 am so often because I have a little more time to get things done during the day. And I have even worked out for the past two days!!!

It is about time...and how we choose to use it...that ultimately reveals a life of fulfillment and happiness that both God and we can be proud of.

Have a Blessed Day!!
April

Long Time No Post...Update

Hello again, sorry I've been away so long....

Daily events keep me up and moving with little down time in which I choose to sleep rather than post. However, I have missed my little piece of Internet space and am now taking advantage of the whole 30 minutes that I have to write this rather than fold the laundry that seems to multiply by the minute. Seriously, I thought that as my kids got older the less laundry I would have...ummm NO...sorry to burst your bubble all of you out there who are still praying for that, but not only do I have MORE laundry, but the sizes are bigger so I can't fit as much into one load!!!

Anyway, back to the post...I am really excited about a few things that are going on right now in our lives...

Rick has designed and fabricated a HUGE smoker (BBQ Pit thingy) and has already received a cooking request!!! this is awesome, because my husband is soooooo talented on so many levels, but for whatever reason, never thinks he can do anything. I am really proud of him for dreaming this thing up, putting in the time and effort to build it, and seeing a finished product that works wonderfully. He smoked a few chickens and a pork roast for our family and a few great friends last night...it was seriously the best chicken I have ever had...one of our friends ate 3 chicken qtrs!!! Don't worry your identity is safe with me...

We're trying to decide on a name for this business endeavor and have narrowed it down to these three...Let me know what your vote is.
1. Triple T's BBQ
2. Triple T's Smokehouse
3. Three Boys BBQ

On the ministry front; the Lord is blessing young lives through the youth ministry we and our awesome helpers are involved in at church. Earlier in the year Rick presented an idea to supply all of those in our youth group with backpacks filled with school supplies...our church pulled together and were able to be a blessing to over 45 kids ages pre-k through 6th with those backpacks...since then we have had 4 kids start walking to church by themselves every Sunday for Sunday School and Service. WOO HOO...GO GOD!!!

AC Image is really taking off...I have shot several photo sessions and am keeping pretty busy. The best thing I did with this business is start by making a price list (good business practice)...but I am struggling with charging my friends (bad business practice). God is really blessing in this area and I am hoping to use any profit to help with Trystan's tuition and to rid us of debt. I have become very convicted about debt and am being pretty diligent in getting things paid down. Rick and I are looking into the Dave Ramsey program and would love to hear your feedback on that if you have any experience with it.

Our kids are doing great and we had an awesome summer together. Our Myrtle Beach vacation with my parents was so amazing. We all had such a wonderful time together and we did it with only one disciplinary action though the entire eight days...the Lord was definitely with us!!! Other than vacation we spent time with friends and each other for the majority of the summer...a lot of time in the pool and cooking out with friends. 

Rick and I were both saddened at the onset of the school year, but we are getting back into the groove, so things will even out here soon. Trystan and Travis have moved into 7th grade and Tony is now in 5th. Trystan has moved into the teens class on Wednesday evenings and both he and Travis will move up to the Teens Sunday School class, which Rick teaches, in a week. It just doesn't seem right, but can't be avoided either...believe me, I've tried to avoid them growing up since they came into my life!!! I must say though that over the past month, I have really seen a change in maturity on Trystan's part. It is both scary and rewarding. All in all, our kids are awesome and we are blessed to have them.

On the new baby front, I am sad to say that I don't have any news to share; but on the flip side to that. I have come to terms with the fact that there is nothing I can do about it. So whatever God has in his plans, I have accepted and am working very hard at savoring what is happening now not what I though would be happening now.

I am also excited about the September book over at the Momtage. The book is Good Girls Don't Have to Dress Bad. I am really hoping that I will be able to read this one and that you might give it a chance too. A description of the book and where to order it can be found here. Even if you don't have time to read the book, go and check out Dana and Holly's site...there are many awesome  stories, tips and tricks, and just great fellowship with other moms in all stages of motherhood.

Have a Blessed Day!!!

April

How Do I Love Thee...Let Me Count the Ways!

Happy Birthday to my Knight in Shining Armour....
my Husband, Rick.

We, our boys and I, are having a big party for him after work on Thursday; but I wanted to express via my blog just how blessed I am that God gifted me with him and to say how proud I am of him for all that he has been through and continues to go through and still holds tight to his faith. Though he may not ever see this (because he doesn't read my blog unless I ask him to), I know that it is here and maybe one day he will run across it and feel blessed too.

Rick and I truly fulfill and compliment each other. Where I am weak, he is strong and where he may lack, I fill in. God knew what he was doing when he sent lightning through me that day in the field.

In the almost 6 years that we have been together we have never really had a disagreement over our relationship. Don't get me wrong we have had arguments and disagreed on several issues...but nothing that was directly tied to us. We, as a couple, have had to deal with so much adversity and negative situations, more than most couples ever deal with in their entire marriages, and we are still together and evolving.  And let me tell you that the devil just keeps things coming,but we have determined that we've already been there done that and came out better...so we'll just keep on going for God and for us...TOGETHER.

I'm so proud of the steps he has taken out of his comfort zone towards where he feels God would have him. He has evolved from a super quite man with no self esteem to a less quite man with better self esteem who teaches the teens Sunday school class and runs our church's youth ministry program. He is asked often about his faith is never reluctant to take the opportunity to share God's plan of salvation though never coming across as a holier than thou person.

He is a wonderful father who loves his kids to death and a super wonderful husband.

One of my favorite things that he does is attack without warning. Seriously, either me or one of the kids will be standing up and sometimes in the middle of a conversation and then in an instant find ourselves on the floor being squished and tickled. Too funny and sometimes too painful...LOL

I love it when he brings me a cup of coffee to wake me up before he goes to work and when he pumps his fists back and forth in excitement. The fist pumping is a rare event and usually takes place after a sports victory of some kind.

It is hilarious when he tells the kids (especially Travis) something and they look at me to see if he's telling the truth. Or when one of the kids walks in front of the parked vehicle and he honks the horn to scare them...Sometimes he can get them with the fake stories, but they have sooo gotten over the horn honk and he still does it...just in case.

He also drives 6 hours every week to pick up and drop off his kids (after they were moved without his knowledge or consent) to make sure that they know that he loves them, wants them, and will never abandon them.

So, here's to you my knight in shining armour. Know that you are truly loved, highly regarded, and eagerly followed.

I love you and feel so blessed to be called your wife!!!

Your Wife