I really should be sleeping right now. Like we are trying to leave for DC at around 4am and it is currrently 12:46am. [And Short gets really upset when the entire car falls asleep. It just that when my butt hits the seat my eyes go shut. My mom suffers from the same ailment.] My Emma decided at 11pm that she wanted to throw up [gross, I know, but I'm just tellin' ya what happened] so now I can't sleep for worrying about her. I don't want her to be sick because she, out of all 4 of the Shorties, is so stoked about this trip. She's got a few disposable cameras, a note book to record what she sees, and enough happiness for everyone [and we're hoping some of that rubs off on our favorite coach because tonight he was like Satan x 10 as he packed the car].
Last night I wasn't feeling well [so I am hoping that what I had, which only lasted about 8 hrs, is what Emma has...I know its terrible to wish sickness on anyone but if she's gonna be sick maybe it will pass like mine did...no pun intended] so I stayed up WAY too late. As I was reading back through some things on my blog I started thinking about my Molly and the boy I've spoken about many times. [Yes, after an entire YEAR of "talking" they still are not an item....I'm getting to that] I realized, after some soul searching [and a good thump between the eyes by the Big Guy] that I need to pray for the man that will one day be Molly's husband. I need to pray for all the future spouses of my children [especially the man that will marry Emma and the girl that will marry Cooper because they are a handful]. I have been so worried that Molly was going to get her feelings hurt [because she did get her feelings hurt] that I sort of became consumed with being in her business. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm gonna be in her business because that is my job, but I'm going to pray for the man that God has planned for her instead of worrying. I am in no way, shape, or form actively searching for a nice young man or forcing her to find a boyfriend. When the good Lord is ready then He will show her the way - of that I am 100% sure.
This really is all I've thought about today. I haven't done a good job in this area. And it took, being up sick, that huge thump on the noggin', and some soul searching to realize this is my job and I've let her down....I've let all four of them down. I pray for Craig every day [and pray that he will continue to put up with me...I wasn't sure after he yelled at me for the 19th time while packing the car] so why shouldn't I pray for the future spouses of my children?
I look forward to the day [many moons from now] when each of them finds that person, chosen by God, to be their spouse. But my biggest hope is that the person they marry loves God first, then my sweet baby, and that my Shorties reciprocate - God then spouse. Marriage ain't easy [ask Short....bless him] and its hard enough when God is the center. I can't imagine going at it alone.
I don't write about these things to embarass Molly [I can do that simply by dancing at the grocery store or singing] but to share what is in my heart. She and I have a wonderful relationship so I will share this with her as well. She is so strong in her faith and her walk with Christ. She is just who I want to be when I grow up :)
As always, life as a Short [including the learning curve I'm on right now] is just awesome. More later from DC!!!!!
It's been a while friends. I would like to say that I've been doing great things like working out feverishly, saving the world, or cleaning house. Alas, I've just been hanging out and enjoying my family. [Those other things, while important, wouldn't have been nearly as much fun as giggling underwater with Gabe and Emma.] I would say, without hesitation, that this has been one of the very best summers of all time.
Emma and Gabe are really super excited about our upcoming trip to DC. Not that Molly and Cooper aren't but they've been before and the little ones haven't. About a month ago Emma really started cranking up the chores to earn some money. [Now let's just clarify Emma's version of chores as her room is clean only because she has crammed so much stuff under her bed or behind things that it isn't in the floor. I think Cooper taught her how to clean.] Little by little she has earned some Benjamins. Gabe, on the other hand, asked why couldn't we just give him some money without him having to clean. Well heck boy, we'd all do that if we could!! He's not the housekeeping kind. He just sort of hangs out and looks at all the junk laying in his floor. [Again, I believe this is Cooper's direct influence.] Of course, when Emma brags over a dollar she's earned then he really gets torqued.
Emma decided that she wanted to up the stakes and go for a lemonade and cookie sale. We decided that the football field would be great for selling. Tuesday we set out on our adventure. Monday night, while I baked, Emma made crafts for selling like door hangers, frames, and photo albums. The girl sat at the table for three and half solid hours and made crafts. In fact, she fell asleep just after 12:30am [yes, I am a slave driver] in the dining room floor but come Tuesday she was ready for her first entrepreneurial adventure. We set up just by the road at the high school, she and Gabe held signs at the road, and the customers just poured in. [Craig did start the sale off by giving a few of his football players some dollar bills and asking them to buy something from the babies. Also, I might have tweeted a time or two on their behalf.]
What amazed me was the number of people that we are lucky enough to call friends that came, gave them money [didn't want change], and supported their efforts. I didn't grow up around here and I don't claim to know everything about Kings Mountain, but I love this place. Now I know that some of you probably know things that I don't know and I realize that living in a small town can be tough but we have been very lucky to have crossed paths with some amazing people. [I believe there are posers and gossips everywhere but if I don't seek them then I am much happier. If they have not audience then they can't affect me. I like it better that way.] Our experience here has just been overwhelming and I feel so undeserving. Why would anyone want to hang out with me? [I am not fishing for compliments so please don't take this that way.] Yet, I have amazing friends who help with my children, who text me just to tell me to have a wonderful day and that they are thinking of me, that pray for me, that want to hang out with my family, that love me for me [which according to Short and my daddy is not an easy thing because apparently I can be a headcase sometimes....I think they lie]. Craig works with an amazing group of men that value God, family, and then football. I have this awesome job and I work with friends not just co-workers.
I am a firm believer in God's plan. God always has a plan. [Which is really awesome considering my plans usually end up sucking:)] He placed us here because He knew we needed to grow closer to Him and we've done that in a way that I never understood until it happened. He allowed us to cross paths with some great folks, He lead us to a church that we love, and He sustained us when we thought all was hopeless. We are truly, truly blessed.
Emma and Gabe are very excited about their little money making adventure. They decided that they don't want to take all the money they made to DC but instead they are going to do something nice for someone less fortunate when we return. Again, God's hand is in everything when we let Him in and stop believing we know what is best. [I can say, with 100% certainty, that this is my vice. Well this and Investigation Discovery...and Pinterest.] I am so proud of them. I love those babies.
We would appreciate your prayers for our upcoming trip [and the city of Washington, DC would greatly appreciate your prayers because the Shorties are coming to town] and I promise to post pics. As always, life is good :)
