To See His Face

For the past six weeks, I have been involved in a Bible Study by Priscilla Shirer titled He Speaks to Me. I have written about this study in a previous post(A Healthy Dose of Perspective) and again find myself wanting to share Priscilla's God-given words of wisdom. This week's study is titled "A Servant Spirit".

"A true servant of God must be willing to surrender to God's plan completely."

This includes a willingness to surrender to the Lord's challenges.

(Priscilla's words in italics) - Trials and challenges are inevitable. We must learn to expect them, submit to them, and learn from them. However, we can rest assured that behind every challenge we can find God. He orchestrates the events of our lives to build us up and bring Himself glory, but that doesn't mean we will always like what He has assigned us to do. We often encounter great challenges as we walk in obedience to God. The greatest challenge of all might just be getting used to the fact that sometimes His assignments are different than the plans we had for ourselves.

We need to keep our eyes focused on eternity, always remembering God is in control.

The family who recently lost a precious baby girl to a chromosomal defect. The woman with young children in the midst of divorce. The husband and wife who have waited for years to be parents, hesitant to hope for fear they will only encounter hurt again. The man who wonders will he ever find a job that makes him fulfilled. Real people with real trials.

Malachi 3:3 refers to God as a silversmith. The refiner desires to bring forth the metal in its truest form. To do this, he places the object in the fire and carefully observes its response to the heat. The silversmith watches the metal, prepared to take it out at just the right moment. Too much heat will damage the precious work.

God is the divine silversmith refining metal to rid it of impurities. When we are burdened, broken, and in need, He reminds us we are not alone. God will not only never leave our side, He watches over us and knows when enough is enough. Do you know how the silversmith knows the refining process is complete? He must be able to clearly see his reflection in the molten metal. We sometimes find ourselves in a place we believe is too difficult. The intense heat seems to be too much to bear, but God is paying close attention. His work will be done and we will be ready when He can see His reflection in us.

Lord, help me be willing to completely surrender to your plan. I pray that through the trials in my life, you will be able to see your reflection in me.

there's a first time for everything

Today, I relinquished the redhead for his first ever trip to MOTHER'S MORNING OUT! I have to admit that I did have momentary anxiety about his first day, however, I rationalized that at some point, he would have to have his "first day", so why not today? Besides, MMO is held in the room he visits each week during my Bible Study so it is a familiar environment. His little friends Troy and Leah made their first appearance this morning too, so he was in good company.

Adam and I had an appointment to go to and errands to run, so we thought $10 for 3 hours was a very reasonable charge. It turns out our $10 was money well spent as Wesley entertained himself with toy cars and trucks, took a trip to the gymnasium for a little recreation, and even painted a picture (which once dry will be proudly displayed on the fridge!). He was very well behaved and only cried for a minute when I left him.

Note to Self: Mother's Morning Out needs to be utilized again!

Wesley's Updates

On Friday, Wesley had his 18 month old checkup - he weighs 27 lbs (50%) and is 32.5" (also 50%). Since his birth, he's gained 20lbs and grown a foot and a half. WOW! The doctor asked if he is saying many words...Hmmm, let's see:

dah (daddy), mama, Li (our dog, Lijah), cah (car), tuh (truck), puh (cup), teat (eat), chee (cheese), dog, ka (duck), ka (snack), buh (book), bah (bath), eee-da (swing and slide/park), plah (flag), pah (flower), bye-bye, bah (ball), bear, per (diaper), li (light), coh (clock), eye, buh (button), deuh (yes)

He does lack some important consonant sounds, but I feel like we'll hear them eventually! He knows the signs for "please", "thank you", and "more" and uses those instead of saying the words, which is okay. I was actually surprised by how many words he knows after having made a list - a whopping twenty-five!!

Also on Friday, I took Wesley to the park. Its becoming almost an everyday thing, but I really enjoy the time outside and so does he. He's gotten to the point now where the park equipment really doesn't matter. Wesley is an explorer. He would rather wander around holding one of his cars than climb, swing, and slide. Friday, the weather was beautiful. I put Wesley in shorts and sandals and we set out across the street to the park. Wesley started running his laps around the field and running on the concrete patios of the classrooms. Then, the inevitable happened. I knew we would have this situation at some point, but I didn't think it would be now...

Wesley fell on the concrete and scraped his little precious baby skin knees. They are no longer perfectly smooth. They have been scarred for life. I mourn. The good thing was though, that he was over the injury in all of two seconds and wouldn't even let me hold him, even as blood dripped down his little legs. Thankfully, its just a surface wound (isn't that a weird word?) and he has learned a new word (I forgot to add it to the list) - Boo Boo. I should mention that this wasn't the only injury that happened to Wesley this past week. On Saturday, he learned to climb onto the couch and chair we have in our living room. I wanted to get a video of him climbing and all was going well, until Wesley sat up on the edge of the couch, only the fall off and slam his little noggin against the coffee table. Yes, I did get this all on video. Yes, I did erase it before Adam came home and saw it and wrote me off as a good mother. No, I couldn't bring myself to broadcast my son's head injury over the internet. Some Social Worker would be on my doorstep in a heartbeat. Wesley did want me to hold him after this injury and he also wanted his most treasured possession (other than mom and dad).

This is Bear-Blanket. He's the best thing since whole milk and spaghettio's. He has a secret twin too! His twin makes an appearance when the original Bear-Blanket is in the wash. You know the best thing? Wesley has no idea there are two! They're one in the same to him. Wesley should be thankful he has such smart parents!

My Flower Child

Adam mowed the backyard yesterday and after lunch, Wesley and I went out to join him. Thankfully, none of us suffer from allergies, otherwise we wouldn't have been near the freshly cut grass. I had the camera at the ready trying to get pictures of Wesley sitting in the grass. His red hair and the green grass make for some great pictures! Unfortunately, the action of being still doesn't exist in Wesley's world - with the exception of eating and sleeping. This would be the reason most recent pictures of him are taken from behind as he zooms past me.

All of a sudden, I got a great idea. I would tempt Wesley with a dandelion and hope that he would be so enamored that he would sit in the grass and let me get some cute pics. You know what?...It worked!

The one above is my favorite for obvious reasons!

Some Things A Mom Just Can't Do

Wesley and I took advantage of the beautiful weather today and headed across the street to the park at the elementary school. He likes to go over there not to slide, not to swing, but to run around the field, Matchbox car in hand. This afternoon, it was approaching 6:00 and I noticed the moon up in the sky and pointed it out to my little man. He loves the "mmmm" (moon) and kept looking up at it longingly. Then, he signed "please" (we've been working on limited sign language with him since he was 6 mos.). He kept signing "please" and then he signed "more". He really wanted me to reach up and get the moon so he could touch it. I explained that God put the moon and the sun in the sky to give us light by day and night and that the moon had to stay in the sky for us to enjoy. Of course he didn't get it and kept signing please (what can i say, he has good manners!) until we said good night to the moon.

I see the moon and the moon sees me.
God bless the moon and God bless me.

Kind Acts of Randomness - Volume 5

This is probably the best picture yet from my arsenal. I laugh every time I see it.

It was the day that the world of organized child sports will never forget. Everyone had come prepared for the team picture - smiles all around, uniforms clean and crisp, protective pads at the ready, and this morning's breakfast making an appearance all over the kid in the middle row, far left. Hating it for you kid...Better hit the showers...again.

Finding Rest and Laughter

I don't think I've EVER let almost a week pass by between posts! I have a good excuse though, I was on a retreat from Thursday night until late Sunday night. Yesterday, I had to emerge back to the real world after a lack of sleep and very long days, not to mention a toddler who didn't sleep well and has a runny nose. I feel much better this morning after having gone to bed before 10 and sleeping until almost 8! Aaaahhh.

Before I left for the retreat, I felt like life was just getting away from me and it was all I could do just to keep up. I felt like I couldn't keep up with the housework (I know there's always going to be something to do), I wasn't planning my days well, my quiet times had just become catch up times for the 2 Bible studies (each with 5 days of homework!), and I wasn't really sitting in God's presence to listen, I would just come to "do" the necessary work and then duck out to run to another important duty.

Thursday night while on the retreat, I got ready for bed and then sat down to write in my journal. I began to put on paper all of the crazy thoughts that were coursing through my mind. After a page I thought, "Heck, I'll never be able to write all this down, I'll just pray about it and bring it to God that way." I began to pray, but my mind was racing. I opened my eyes and saw a verse printed at the bottom of my journal's page.

"Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him." Psalm 37:7

Coincidence? I think NOT! At that point, I said, "Okay Lord, help me to be still and wait patiently on You."

I didn't sleep well that night because my mind was still racing, and the next day I felt anxious, like a knot was inside my stomach. I went through the day feeling like this. Was I missing God? I wasn't getting emotional like some of the other ladies, was I don't something wrong? I thought I knew what God wanted to work on over this weekend, but I just wasn't seeing it. Where was God?

Friday night we had prayer time in the chapel and we were invited to stay and pray alone or with one of the clergy. I met with a wonderful lady who assured me that just as God had created me unique, He knew how exactly He wanted to show Himself to me. She prayed with me that my anxiety would be gone in the morning and I would just "wait patiently for Him" without anticipating anything.

Saturday morning came with a great peace. I felt a weight had been lifted off my shoulders and I was able to go through the rest of the weekend just waiting on God. I feel like God just wanted me to get to a place of rest where I could come to Him and not expect Him, but just wait on Him.
I also discovered that crazy Caroline who does all the sound effects, voices, and stupid dance moves is still a part of me, but has been buried underneath the responsibilities of wife and mother. I had SOOOOOOOO much fun just cutting loose and being crazy. I met many wonderful ladies who appreciated and encouraged my sense of humor and got crazy alongside me. I also learned a new term from my friend Nicole that probably shouldn't be shared in this venue (some might think its a little gross)! She is hilarious. I also learned a great little song about Jesus from her.

As I process what I learned, I'll share more, but what I got were two blessings that I wasn't expecting to find when I got there on Thursday.

Kind Acts of Randomness - Volume 4

Wow, is it really Wednesday again? My how time flies. Time for more randomness! What to choose (looking through the file of random pics)...hmmm...how about this...



Holy Fat Cat, Batman! This picture is wrong on so many levels...

Level 1 - It disturbs me that a cat would be this large anyway!
Level 2 - What are they feeding that thing? Dogs?
Level 3 - The kitty probably has a name like "Tiny" instead of "Tubby"
Level 4 - He could've been an Oompa Loompa in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
Level 5 - Or dye him blue and he could be the character of Violet Beauregard(from Willy Wonka) who turned into a giant blueberry!
Level 6 - Why would anyone (meaning the human behind the huge cat) want their picture taken laying in this position? Maybe she is being crushed by Monster Kitty!

Okay, I'm fresh out of comments about Tubby! Now its time for you to give your 2 cents. BTW, why is it only 2 cents? Maybe they're not taking inflation into account. By now its probably $17. So go ahead and give your $17 worth.

Spoons and Spaghettio's

This blogging stuff is addicting! Sometimes I really want to write stuff everyday, but I'm afraid that my (few) readers won't want to keep up with all my crazy posting. I know, its silly - insecurity about a blog.

Anyway, to get to the real topic of this post...Wesley! Yesterday I captured his newest skill on video. Adam and I are very proud...

This moment is bittersweet for me. Bitter because he will not want my help to feed him much longer, and sweet because it means we can all sit at the table and one of us doesn't have to feed him!

One thing he doesn't know how to do yet is clean up from eating - we'll still be in charge of that one.

I leave you with pictures of the spaghettio's aftermath.

Its actually not that bad considering he had spaghettio's!

Are You A Stalker?...I Think Not!

I found this post on another blog and thought it was so appropriate. My sentiments exactly! If you're interested in not stalking the blog this came from, its http://thepipers.wordpress.com.

I’ve noticed a tentativeness among women in the blogosphere that I want to come against right now–you are (probably) not a stalker.

I know there are more people who read this blog than people who comment, and that is totally fine. But I’ve noticed that when a stranger or visitor does get up the gumption to comment, it’s usually laced with all kinds of insecure apology-like statements, like, “I don’t know you at all…”, “I just happened upon your blog…” or something to that effect.

My husband started a new blog a month or so ago, and he has people from all over the world visiting and commenting, mostly men, but some women too. I have noticed that men don’t feel the same compulsion to apologize profusely for reading another man’s blog, as though they accidentally stumbled upon his secret diary.

Let me assure you of a few things, and hopefully that will make the commenting flow more smoothly and eliminate the need for explanation:

• This is a public blog. I fully expect and hope for people who I don’t know to read here and comment. If I wanted comments only from people I know, I would publish a private blog.
• I really, really like meeting new people. It energizes me. Ask my husband.
• You have probably found this blog through a couple different avenues, all of which are perfectly legitimate, and thus not stalker-like 1.) clicking through from one of my friends’ blogs where I’ve commented or where I’m listed on their blogroll; 2.) random googling.
• I blog to connect with people that I wouldn’t normally get to connect with on a regular basis.

Often times, I find myself on someone’s blog after a series of random click-throughs, and then I go to relay the interesting thing I read to my husband, and I can’t even remember how I got there. Does that make me a stalker? I don’t think so. At least I hope not.

This is by no means meant to be some heavy-handed bullying tactic to get you lurkers out there to comment. I just want you to know that you’re free to if you’d like to.

Of course the possibility still remains that you are, in fact, a stalker, but that is something you will need to deal with on your own time, probably with the aid of a professional counselor. Nevertheless, I’m banking on the probability that you are just another normal man or woman like me, who likes to read blogs, and found mine.

Welcome.

I wish I had the creativity to write this instead of steal it from someone else's blog, but hey - at least I'm not a stalker!

When the Cat's Away...

Adam has been out of town since this past Thursday night. He' s participating in a retreat called "Walk to Emmaus". The name is taken from Luke 24:13-24 where, following Jesus' resurrection, two men encounter Him on the road to Emmaus. Jesus asks what the men are discussing and they explain that Jesus of Nazareth, a "prophet" was crucified, buried, but is nowhere to be found in the tomb. Upon hearing their reluctance to call him the Messiah, Jesus says: "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" Jesus then proceeded the tell them, beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, what was said in Scripture concerning Himself. It wasn't until they arrived in Emmaus, sat down for dinner, and saw this man (Jesus) break bread that their eyes were opened to who He really was. At once they returned to Jerusalem and testified to the Eleven (disciples - Judas) about what they had seen.

This is just about all I know about the Walk to Emmaus. I know it seems strange, but they (its sponsored by the Methodist Church) want to keep it kind of under wraps so those participating won't go in with expectations of the weekend. From the verses, I can gather that the weekend is an encounter with Jesus of some kind. Cool! Who doesn't need that? Uninterrupted time with fellow believers spent worshiping, praying, and listening to speakers (I have gathered a tiny bit more information from our "sponsors" - friend who went last year). There are no cell phones, watches, or communication with the outside world which is great for those who are on the retreat, but for those of us left behind its just weird. Several times I've caught myself wanting to pick up the phone to call Adam and tell him something cute Wesley did. I can't wait for him to come home so I can hear how the weekend was.

Thing is though, he can't share his weekend with me just yet. Next Thursday through Sunday evening, I'll be on my own "Walk to Emmaus". Husbands and wives are encouraged to attend "together". The men's weekend is first followed by the womens weekend. There is really to be no discussion until after the women come home from their experience. What? Do you know how hard its going to be not to ask him what he learned. Over this weekend Wesley and I have prayed for him numerous times and I am sooooooo excited to hear what God revealed to him and worked in his heart. But, I have to wait. Not necessarily a bad thing though. To hear about his experience might make me create expectations of my own. That's not what I want, so I will be patient.

To keep my mind off of Adam being gone here's a list of several things I have done (in random order):

1. Missed my man
2. Changed the sheets on our bed
3. Washed our down comforter
4. Vacuumed the house
5. Took two garbage bags of clothes and shoes to Thrift Store
6. Went for a walk with Lijah and Wesley
7. Went to playgroup
8. Went to Wal-Mart "just to kill time" (who does that?)
9. Went to church (early service, SS, and then worked nursery for the 11:00 service - long day!)
10. Took 2 naps
11. Watched some tv
12. Dusted 2 ceiling fans (not something I have done in a really long time)
13. Worked on Bible Studies for SS and weekly study I'm in
14. Missed my man
15. Played with and loved on Wesley - A Lot!!!!!!
16. Went out to eat
17. Put $61.00 worth of gas in the Jeep (that was painful)

Well, there you have it. You can probably tell by my list that I'm ready for him to come home. Lucky for him that Sarah and LeGrande are taking Wesley next weekend while Adam works, so he'll technically get two weekends wife and child-free. How come it always works that way for the men?

You'll no doubt be hearing what I can tell about my weekend in a week or so. Just be patient. I'll be around this week, so you're not rid of me yet!

Here's the Redhead

I must confess I've been feeling a little guilty lately about not including Wesley in my posts. When I began the blog, my expectation was that it would really be all about Wesley so that those people we don't see often could enjoy how he is growing. So much of the blog has become funny, random stuff that I enjoy (I don't plan on changing that because that's me), and that's okay, but I also want to include my tiny man occasionally. I guess I'm just thinking out loud and rationalizing that its okay to write about my stuff. Anyway, to commemorate making it to the 18th month, here's some funny and precious pictures of my "Monkey".

He must be listening to a telemarketer ramble on and on - hence the trance-like state.

Mama said there'd be days like this...

Um, I wasn't doing anything, Mom!

He loves being outside and asks to go to the park daily. Too bad he doesn't understand that we can't go if its rainy or cold (like's its been recently)

He's already a total guy - in the recliner, watching tv, he's just missing the remote.

He's all about his playtime and his "cahs".

I love the look on his face in this picture - so cute!

Happy Birthdays

This is my "little brother", Daniel. He's 28 today. I guess he's not so little anymore. Here he is with Wesley last summer on a trip to the mountains. What a handsome duo. Uncle Dan-O (as we like to call him) is sooooo funny and can come up with one-liners like nobody's business. He loves music and plays guitar exceptionally well! Did I mention, he also loves Jesus, which is the best! We love you Uncle Dan-O, Happy Birthday!


Today is also the birthday of one of my bestest friends, Stephanie. We met back at good old Providence High School in Charlotte in 1993. Wow, that means we've been friends 15 years! Are we really this old? Anyway, we don't get to see each other very often anymore, we live in different states. I appreciate her sense of humor, how she tells it like it is, and the fact that no matter how much time passes between our visits, it feels like no time has passed. Love you girl. You have been and are still such a wonderful influence in my life! Steph, don't be a hater, this picture was the only one I had of you that was "recent". I think for 4 weeks postpartum you look DANG good! Plus, I think its a great picture of us! Happy B-Day Mico!

I'm Crowded, Move Over

According to Heather, I needed to do a follow up on the pool picture I posted yesterday. Check this out...


These photos are of beaches in Korea. Yes, those colored thingys are beach umbrellas. Thank you, Heather, for the head's up about these beaches. I don't think I'll be paying Korea a visit anytime soon. I'm sure they (North and South Korea) are beautiful countries with beautiful people, however, according to www.phobialist.com, I am enochlophobic. I have a fear of large crowds. I will go to events like ballgames, concerts, etc. where a lot of people gather, but for me, relaxing in an environment such as this would be about as painful as chewing razors! My idea of going to the beach includes a semi-secluded beach, me, my man, sunset walks (or any walking for that matter) - you get the picture. Thank God for beautiful NC beaches! Enochlophobia...it could be worse, for instance, Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia- Fear of long words...I'm scared!

Randomness - Volume 3

Honestly, my first thought when I saw this picture...EEWWWWWW, think about all the germs! I also thought of my brother-in-law, LeGrande, because he refused to go to the pool that my sister worked at last year due to the germ problem and all the shady characters roaming about. What do you think of this LG? This is more like a Roman bathing pool than a swimming pool! Let's also take a moment to look at the surroundings - looks like a baseball stadium to me. What in the world? It's not a picture that makes me laugh, but rather makes me think...What?

And now for something completely different - muse over this little tidbit of info I found online today:

40,000 Americans are injured by toilets each year

I confess, I'm not the brightest individual on the planet, but I'm no dummy either. I do know that toilets are brainless, inanimate objects incapable of inflicting intentional harm on human beings. Those 40,000 Americans had to be interacting with the toilet in a way that caused an injury. Geesh, how do you explain that one in the ER? "Um, er, actually, I was just sitting there on the crapper and next thing I know it just jumped up and bit me, right in the buttocks!" Right.

I just used 8 words that begin with the letters "i-n"!