Days like today remind me why I don't even try going out.
Today I thought I'd bend the schedule and have a little outing. Nothing too fabulously exciting, just running some errands to get out of the house.
My plan was to load up all the children, go to Target to grab a few grocery staples and some craft supplies, then get some lunch at Sonic. We'd wrap the trip up with a visit to the car wash place to vacuum out the suburban and run it through a wash. It sounded like a good plan: I'd only have to get the kids out once, they could eat grilled cheeses while I cleared out the trash and toys, and by the time they were done eating I could do the vacuuming, run through the washer and be done.
Wrong.
On the way to Target the kids are already way fussy and crying that they're hungry. The last time we went in was fairly successful and I'd been wondering if it was just a glorious beam of light for that one moment in time... or if I am, in fact, super mom. A shrill scream from the backseat snapped me back to reality and knew I shouldn't push my luck at Target. So, change of plans. We headed to Sonic first. They can eat in the car, then we'll do Target (maybe they'll be happier if they're full), then the car wash.
Wrong again.
I get to Sonic, order enough food for the 7 of us and realize I don't have my debit card. And I don't have the first clue where it is. So I push the button again to tell them that I need to cancel my order because I can't find my card. "Hang on" she says. Then a girl pops around the corner and in a casual, cheery voice tells me, "We've already started making your food, so we're just gonna bring it out and you can come by later to pay for it. Once you've found your card." "Oh my gosh, are you sure?!" "Yeah definitely!" So they bring out my $27 worth of food and I told them that my 6 hungry kids and I were extremely grateful and I promised to be back later. Is that not so cool?!
So then I make a phone call to Jake to help me remember when I would have used my debit card last. We decided it was Kroger.
Thankfully our Kroger has those spiffy shopping carts where the little cozy-coupe-looking-car is down in front and the back (facing me) has two seats. So Micah and Abby can sit in the car, and Mabry and Kate can sit in the top part facing me. Ashley and Emily linger on either side of the car to be sure that Micah and Abby keep their arms and legs in. And that Micah isn't pulling on peoples pant legs as we go by or anything. So long as everyone is quiet, people don't stare too much.
In we go to Kroger and no, they don't have my card either. Weeeeeeell, awesome. I'm so glad I just got my whole crew out of the car. I should have called first.
Determined to accomplish something, we go over to car wash because I have a few ones in my purse. This is a process that takes lots of strategic planning, but it is, in fact, possible. Wanna hear how? Well, you're still reading, so I'm gonna tell ya.
I took 2 trash bags with us. Ashley went around with one, it was the "keep" bag. Toys, cups, etc. Emily went around with the other gathering trash. Meanwhile I unloaded the stroller out of the back. Then one by one, I unbuckled the "triplets" and put them into the back of the suburban. When Ashley and Emily were done, they joined them. Then last I took Kate out and handed her to Ashley. Then I could take all the carseats out and line them up next to the stroller. All the kids played in the back (because to them, its like some sort of super cool fort) while I vacuumed out the entire suburban. Once they got bored I passed out baby wipes and they each "scrubbed" some seats. Then I'd put the car seats in one at a time, and its occupant in right after it. I had to make sure never to leave any doors open but the one I was at, lest a child escape. But it was also 88 degree's outside, so it helped keep the A/C inside anyway. So that whole process wasn't bad.
Imagine with me, for a second, what this looked like from the outside. A big suburban and next to it is lined up: 3 pink floral car seats, two boosters, and a beast of a stroller. The vacuum machine is howling, the back hatch is packed with children, a couple of them making strange growling/yelling noises (which were really happy noises... I don't know how to explain this to you if you don't have kids with special needs) the rest just squealing and laughing, and the mom is sweating to death- half in the car/half in the summer sun- holding a mammoth vacuum hose. And some woman still decided to approach me and give me her phone number in case I ever wanted to sell any of their car seats. Seriously lady?????
Anyway.
Because I used up $3 vacuuming, we didn't have enough left to do the car wash, but... whatever.
2 hours, 6 tired-but-full kids and 1 clean-inside suburban later, we got home. Not terribly unproductive, but ya know? Just a reminder that when things don't go as planned, you've got to roll with the punches.
Tonight my husband is taking me on a date. (With a pit stop by Sonic to pay our bill. God bless 'em.) AND apparently I need to cancel my debit card.
The moral of today's story is, juggling children and chores is not too difficult if you take your time and be strategic. And when it all falls apart anyway, just roll with it.
Daily summer schedule
I like schedules. I'm a firm believer that kids are happier and more obedient when they know what's happening next and what's expected of them. I think I mentioned in my last post that I was tweaking my spring break schedule for the summer. Well, I've tweaked it and expanded it. A few people have asked me about my schedule, so I'm posting it here.
It won't be on my chalkboard the way the last one was because I need the chalkboard for my weekly menu, reminders, and the big girls' memory verses. So I've taken a screen shot of my schedule (that I made on Excel) and I think its going to be the "desktop" on my computer. For easy reference. So here it is. Spencer Summer Schedule 2012. Say that 10 times fast.
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| (Click to enlarge) |
Other notes:
~Anything with a slash "/" means different thing on different days (ex. some nights I'll give Micah a bath while Abby and Mabry are reading)
~Free playtime for the littles: playroom or backyard
~Free playtime for the bigs: inside or backyard
~Outside playtime for all: playing in the culdesac, bikes, park or pool (should we be so adventurous). Or this will also be our time for "outings". Activities like the zoo, library, big park and such.
~Quiet time: reading, movie, or computer. (Micah and Abby wear out easily, so there's a chance they will both fall asleep during this time. They just don't get naps at school so I don't want to schedule them in, making them used to a regular nap time. Also, TV will be limited to one hour. Then they'll have to switch to books.)
~Craft time: coloring sheets or organized crafts
~Table time: Flashcards, writing, projects
Of course there will be days when we need to be flexible. And I'm sure the weekends will be different. But overall, I feel really good about this schedule. We'll see how it goes.
Grateful gifts
Today I made end of year teacher gifts for 4 Homeroom teachers, 2 Occupational therapists, 2 Paraprofessionals, and one each: Special Education teacher, Teachers Aid, Physical therapist, Speech therapist, Art teacher, PE coach, Spanish teacher, Drama teacher, and Music teacher. Oh and 2 bus drivers and 2 bus aids. And believe it or not, there were more, I actually cut the list back.
But you know what? As crazy as it was putting together 22 gifts... each and every one of those people is special to our family. They go above and beyond for my kids and I'm grateful. As I wrote the cards, I literally teared up for over half of them.
I could sit and write about each one and what they've done for my kids but I don't have the time tonight because I'm about to enjoy an after-bedtime dinner with my husband and time with him comes first. And tomorrow's schedule is already packed.
But I don't want to pass the opportunity to write about and someday remember this crazy day juggling babies in and out of Target and 2 different Kroger's to purchase all the supplies. Then spending the rest of the day building and cutting and wrapping and curling ribbon... because it was an honor to do so. A drop in the bucket compared to what they deserve for such an amazing school year. I'm so grateful.
But you know what? As crazy as it was putting together 22 gifts... each and every one of those people is special to our family. They go above and beyond for my kids and I'm grateful. As I wrote the cards, I literally teared up for over half of them.
I could sit and write about each one and what they've done for my kids but I don't have the time tonight because I'm about to enjoy an after-bedtime dinner with my husband and time with him comes first. And tomorrow's schedule is already packed.
But I don't want to pass the opportunity to write about and someday remember this crazy day juggling babies in and out of Target and 2 different Kroger's to purchase all the supplies. Then spending the rest of the day building and cutting and wrapping and curling ribbon... because it was an honor to do so. A drop in the bucket compared to what they deserve for such an amazing school year. I'm so grateful.
All that is within me, bless His holy name!
A lot going on the Spencer world right now. End of year school parties, performances, and field days. My kids are saying so long to 2nd grade, 1st grade, Kindergarten and Preschool.
But my heart is heavy because a dear friend of ours just went to be with Jesus, leaving a precious wife and grown son here on earth.
Another friend is going through the you-only-understand-it-if-you've-been-through-it labor pains of adoption. This is the final push. And boy do I understand.
But there isn't a thing I can do. Except pray. Which isn't actually the least I can do, its the best thing I can do.
Two scriptures have been on my heart this morning:
Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,
My lips shall praise You.
4 Thus I will bless You while I live;
I will lift up my hands in Your name.
5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness,
And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips.
(Psalm 63:3-5)
103 Bless the Lord, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
3 Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
4 Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
(Psalm 103:1-5)
God's word teaches us to pray scripture and claim promises. I'm doing both today.
But my heart is heavy because a dear friend of ours just went to be with Jesus, leaving a precious wife and grown son here on earth.
Another friend is going through the you-only-understand-it-if-you've-been-through-it labor pains of adoption. This is the final push. And boy do I understand.
But there isn't a thing I can do. Except pray. Which isn't actually the least I can do, its the best thing I can do.
Two scriptures have been on my heart this morning:
Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,
My lips shall praise You.
4 Thus I will bless You while I live;
I will lift up my hands in Your name.
5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness,
And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips.
(Psalm 63:3-5)
103 Bless the Lord, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
3 Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
4 Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
(Psalm 103:1-5)
God's word teaches us to pray scripture and claim promises. I'm doing both today.
Operation Spencer Summer 2012
I feel like I'm getting a very small taste of what teachers feel like the week before school. Preparing schedules, getting the classroom ready, making charts...
Summer starts on Thursday and all the troops will be here, all day every day. Even if it were just Micah and Abby here all day, I would have to be at the top of my game. I can't turn my head for one second with either one of them. But throw in a rambunctious, fearless 6 year old who only wants to play with the boys outside (that should be fun in 10 years)... and an 8 year old who, while very helpful,will NOT STOP TALKING is an endless reservoir of things to say and really wants me to listen to every last word. ;)
And mind you, I'll still have a busy baby who's learned she can crawl to the top of the stairs by herself but the only way down is falling... And an overly, ummm, "dramatic" 2 year old who can be running and laughing one minute and laying on the floor screaming with tears the next...
I have to have a plan. One that includes schedules, chores, charts, rewards, crafts, activities and books. Lots of books.
I'm tweaking my schedule from spring break (which you can see here). That one seemed to work really well. And I found some chore cards on Etsy that I'm going to replicate.
For rewards I'm deciding between a treasure box of goodies or sort of a coupon book of rewards. Like, "Good for one treat from the Ice Cream truck" or "Good for one bubble bath in Moms tub". Or maybe I'll do the treasure box for the little ones and the coupons for Ashley and Emily.
I also want to have an arsenal of craft projects up my sleeve. Pinterest is amazing for stuff like that.
And activities. I can't take them to the pool. At least not by myself, I'm way out numbered by kids who can't swim. (Micah alone will just jump face first into the water and sink like a rock.) The pool will have to wait for the weekend when Jake's home. But this list has some great ideas that we'll definitely do.
Lastly, I'm making sure that we've got some good books for summer reading.
There will be some breaks. Like VBS. And later in the summer we're taking the big girls to the Dominican Republic to visit their Grandma and Grandpa. I'm super excited about that trip!
But that leaves 8 1/2 weeks, so I need to have this planned. Operation Spencer Summer is underway.
Summer starts on Thursday and all the troops will be here, all day every day. Even if it were just Micah and Abby here all day, I would have to be at the top of my game. I can't turn my head for one second with either one of them. But throw in a rambunctious, fearless 6 year old who only wants to play with the boys outside (that should be fun in 10 years)... and an 8 year old who, while very helpful,
And mind you, I'll still have a busy baby who's learned she can crawl to the top of the stairs by herself but the only way down is falling... And an overly, ummm, "dramatic" 2 year old who can be running and laughing one minute and laying on the floor screaming with tears the next...
I have to have a plan. One that includes schedules, chores, charts, rewards, crafts, activities and books. Lots of books.
I'm tweaking my schedule from spring break (which you can see here). That one seemed to work really well. And I found some chore cards on Etsy that I'm going to replicate.
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| Click here for the Etsy listing |
I also want to have an arsenal of craft projects up my sleeve. Pinterest is amazing for stuff like that.
And activities. I can't take them to the pool. At least not by myself, I'm way out numbered by kids who can't swim. (Micah alone will just jump face first into the water and sink like a rock.) The pool will have to wait for the weekend when Jake's home. But this list has some great ideas that we'll definitely do.
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| Click here for link. |
Lastly, I'm making sure that we've got some good books for summer reading.
There will be some breaks. Like VBS. And later in the summer we're taking the big girls to the Dominican Republic to visit their Grandma and Grandpa. I'm super excited about that trip!
But that leaves 8 1/2 weeks, so I need to have this planned. Operation Spencer Summer is underway.
Adventures in Motherhood: diary entry #8956
Maybe... just maybe... someday I will be ahead of the game. As in... not baking cupcakes at 11:45pm and hot gluing sheep ears to hair clips at 6am the next morning.
And now I've got a whole day ahead of me with its own adventures.
Its gonna be a coffee IV kinda day.
Happy Wednesday.
Really Emily? Really?
While we don't make a huge deal about Down Syndrome in this house, it is talked about. The kids are aware that Micah and Abby both have it. They recognize the features and understand that it takes Micah and Abby a little longer to learn things, talk, walk, potty train, etc than kids who don't have DS. (Though in some cases, not any longer at all!)
For a while Emily associated Down Syndrome and Ukraine. Emily was barely 4 when Micah came home so her understanding of DS and adoption coincided. Sometimes she would see a child with DS in public and say, "Look mom, that little girl is from Ukraine!" And I would do my best to re-explain the uniqueness and beauty individual to Micah-- and to Abby.
The other day, Ashley, Emily and Micah were eating breakfast at the counter before school as I packed up lunches. Our usual morning routine. Out of no where, Emily puts her spoon down and says, "Mom, Micah's birth mom didn't want him because he had Down Syndrome, right?" Surprised by such a weighty subject from a 6 1/2 year old at 7am, (and admittedly a little proud my daughter just used the term "birth mom") I said, "You're right. Because she didn't understand."
After thinking for a minute she said, "Do all kids in Ukraine have Down Syndrome?"
*sigh* Slightly irritated because we've been over this several times in the last 3 years, I tried to explain it again. "No, Emily. There are kids all over the world who are born with Down Syndrome. Ukraine has just as many kids with and without Down Syndrome as we do here, or anywhere else in the world. But Micah's birth mom didn't know he had Down Syndrome until after he was born, just like I didn't know Abby had Down Syndrome until after she was born-"
But before I could go on, she interrupted, "Abby has Down Syndrome?!?!"
"For pete's sake, Emily. You already knew that. Just go get ready for school."
Oh Emily. OH Emily. I love you so much, you dingy girl, you. <3
For a while Emily associated Down Syndrome and Ukraine. Emily was barely 4 when Micah came home so her understanding of DS and adoption coincided. Sometimes she would see a child with DS in public and say, "Look mom, that little girl is from Ukraine!" And I would do my best to re-explain the uniqueness and beauty individual to Micah-- and to Abby.
The other day, Ashley, Emily and Micah were eating breakfast at the counter before school as I packed up lunches. Our usual morning routine. Out of no where, Emily puts her spoon down and says, "Mom, Micah's birth mom didn't want him because he had Down Syndrome, right?" Surprised by such a weighty subject from a 6 1/2 year old at 7am, (and admittedly a little proud my daughter just used the term "birth mom") I said, "You're right. Because she didn't understand."
After thinking for a minute she said, "Do all kids in Ukraine have Down Syndrome?"
*sigh* Slightly irritated because we've been over this several times in the last 3 years, I tried to explain it again. "No, Emily. There are kids all over the world who are born with Down Syndrome. Ukraine has just as many kids with and without Down Syndrome as we do here, or anywhere else in the world. But Micah's birth mom didn't know he had Down Syndrome until after he was born, just like I didn't know Abby had Down Syndrome until after she was born-"
But before I could go on, she interrupted, "Abby has Down Syndrome?!?!"
"For pete's sake, Emily. You already knew that. Just go get ready for school."
Oh Emily. OH Emily. I love you so much, you dingy girl, you. <3
New Emily Version
Emily was sitting at the table last night reciting her memory verse. She's working on Psalm 23. And I heard, "You prepare a table before me in the presence of mayonnaise."
"Uuuuuhhh, Emily. You might wanna check that verse again."
Sort of surprised, she said, "Why, that's not right?"
I love that kid.
"Uuuuuhhh, Emily. You might wanna check that verse again."
Sort of surprised, she said, "Why, that's not right?"
I love that kid.
Things I should never have to say (Part 2)
To see the original "Things I should never have to say", click here. Looking back over it, I still have to say several of those. Some I still say to the same children, some I now say to their younger siblings.
And now this is another little round of comments I have caught myself saying to my children. Words I never thought would come out of my mouth...
"Go make sure your sister isn't sitting on the baby"
"Hurry up before she gets in the refrigerator"
(To my crying and bruised son) "Buddy if it hurts, stop running with the blanket over your face"
"No driving in the kitchen"
"Don't spray that in her eyes"
"Now go get all your toys out of the bushes"
"Pick her up, don't move her with your feet"
"Leave it in the toilet"
"Are you burping on purpose?"
"She doesn't want you to push her face under water"
"It kind of smells like a dead animal"
"That's not food"
"Well it might be true but, it doesn't mean you need to say it out loud"
and of course the ever dreaded....
"Where's Micah?"
And now this is another little round of comments I have caught myself saying to my children. Words I never thought would come out of my mouth...
"Go make sure your sister isn't sitting on the baby"
"Hurry up before she gets in the refrigerator"
(To my crying and bruised son) "Buddy if it hurts, stop running with the blanket over your face"
"No driving in the kitchen"
"Don't spray that in her eyes"
"Now go get all your toys out of the bushes"
"Pick her up, don't move her with your feet"
"Leave it in the toilet"
"Are you burping on purpose?"
"She doesn't want you to push her face under water"
"It kind of smells like a dead animal"
"That's not food"
"Well it might be true but, it doesn't mean you need to say it out loud"
and of course the ever dreaded....
"Where's Micah?"
To the teachers
Its Teacher Appreciation week. And I cannot express in words how grateful I am for the teachers who pour into my four oldest children on a daily basis. Seriously... I thank God for each of them daily.
But this is what Teacher Appreciation week looks like at the Spencer house: a different gift, flower, monetary pitch-in, activity, or card every day (as prompted by 4 different room moms, who are also fabulous by the way). For five days. For 4 different homeroom teachers, a special ed teacher, an aide, several "specials" teachers, and countless therapists. All strewn across 3 different schools.
There are times when people look at me and say, "I don't know how you do it. I can barely keep up with my two kids," or "Its all I can do to keep up with my school aged child and a baby at home," and I have to laugh and think of times like right now and thinking about all of my friends who have 7, 8, 9, or 10+ kids and wonder how. on. earth. they do it!!!
So.
If you teach one of my children in any capacity and I accidentally give you a flower on card day... or my child's page in the class thankful book didn't match the others.... please forgive me and just know that you are LOVED and appreciated and that my inability to pull it all together this week does not reflect on my level of gratitude!!! From the bottom of my heart, thank you for all you do for my child!!!
But this is what Teacher Appreciation week looks like at the Spencer house: a different gift, flower, monetary pitch-in, activity, or card every day (as prompted by 4 different room moms, who are also fabulous by the way). For five days. For 4 different homeroom teachers, a special ed teacher, an aide, several "specials" teachers, and countless therapists. All strewn across 3 different schools.
There are times when people look at me and say, "I don't know how you do it. I can barely keep up with my two kids," or "Its all I can do to keep up with my school aged child and a baby at home," and I have to laugh and think of times like right now and thinking about all of my friends who have 7, 8, 9, or 10+ kids and wonder how. on. earth. they do it!!!
So.
If you teach one of my children in any capacity and I accidentally give you a flower on card day... or my child's page in the class thankful book didn't match the others.... please forgive me and just know that you are LOVED and appreciated and that my inability to pull it all together this week does not reflect on my level of gratitude!!! From the bottom of my heart, thank you for all you do for my child!!!
Anniversary Get Away
Jake and I just got away to celebrate our 10 years of marriage, for 24 wonderful hours. With no children. Let me repeat that. 24 hours child-free. To remember that we are not only Daddy and Mommy but Jake and Amy. Husband and Wife. It was wonderful.
We called a babysitter... a brave one. (Thanks again Drea. You so totally rock.) Booked a hotel on Expedia. Bought movie tickets on Fandango. Called ahead for dinner. And off we went.
When we got to the hotel (the Cool Springs Marriott) we found out that they were actually hosting the "Weekend to Remember" marriage conference by Family Life. And so all of the King and Queen bed rooms were booked. Ugh. So Jake explained that it was our 10th anniversary and they said they'd see what they could do. We left for dinner and not 20 minutes later, they called back and had a bigger room for us. :) Awesome.
So not only did they move us to a beautiful King room on the very top floor with a view of the Cool Springs city lights, but sent up Champagne and Chocolate covered strawberries as well! What a sweet blessing. It was absolutely perfect.
The next morning we slept in... together! Which never happens!! We usually take turns sleeping in on Saturday. How did two night owls have six children who are early birds? Maybe when they're teenagers... Anyway we hadn't been able to both sleep in, in a long time. And it was wonderful.
Then we had a nice brunch and today was beautiful so we did some furniture shopping. It was so relaxed and nice to just hang out with my best friend.
Once we got home it was back to making dinner, wiping noses, changing diapers, doing dishes, doing laundry.... Jake had to turn right around and leave for a youth group event and won't be home until tomorrow. And I think I'm getting a stomach bug the kids had last week. Yep, back to real life.
But it was an amazing 24 hours. Next year we might do the big return trip to Maui that we'd hoped to do for our 10th anniversary. But this was wonderful and it was just what the doctor ordered. A much needed refresher and perspective shift. A time to remember that I am not just a mommy of six. I'm a wife. And a very, very blessed one.
We called a babysitter... a brave one. (Thanks again Drea. You so totally rock.) Booked a hotel on Expedia. Bought movie tickets on Fandango. Called ahead for dinner. And off we went.
When we got to the hotel (the Cool Springs Marriott) we found out that they were actually hosting the "Weekend to Remember" marriage conference by Family Life. And so all of the King and Queen bed rooms were booked. Ugh. So Jake explained that it was our 10th anniversary and they said they'd see what they could do. We left for dinner and not 20 minutes later, they called back and had a bigger room for us. :) Awesome.
So not only did they move us to a beautiful King room on the very top floor with a view of the Cool Springs city lights, but sent up Champagne and Chocolate covered strawberries as well! What a sweet blessing. It was absolutely perfect.
The next morning we slept in... together! Which never happens!! We usually take turns sleeping in on Saturday. How did two night owls have six children who are early birds? Maybe when they're teenagers... Anyway we hadn't been able to both sleep in, in a long time. And it was wonderful.
Then we had a nice brunch and today was beautiful so we did some furniture shopping. It was so relaxed and nice to just hang out with my best friend.
Once we got home it was back to making dinner, wiping noses, changing diapers, doing dishes, doing laundry.... Jake had to turn right around and leave for a youth group event and won't be home until tomorrow. And I think I'm getting a stomach bug the kids had last week. Yep, back to real life.
But it was an amazing 24 hours. Next year we might do the big return trip to Maui that we'd hoped to do for our 10th anniversary. But this was wonderful and it was just what the doctor ordered. A much needed refresher and perspective shift. A time to remember that I am not just a mommy of six. I'm a wife. And a very, very blessed one.
My love story
"God bless my future husband. Keep him for me. Protect him. And may he always love You first and foremost."
I started praying that prayer when I was 12. I also prayed that when I found him, I would know it.
And I did.
I was 16. A quirky, Jesus loving homeschooler from Maryland; I was finally moving past my new-girl phase and settling into youth group at Thompson Station Baptist Church when I met Hannah Spencer. We were the same age, the same grade, both homeschoolers, both new in town. We were both born in Texas, though she was raised there as well. We hit it off and we were inseparable.
She would tell me all the time about stories from her hometown, Houston. And she'd tell me how I would just love her older brother who was in college there. She wanted to fix us up. But I wasn't super interested. For one thing, the whole "still lived in Houston" thing. For another, I was waiting. Waiting for my future husband. I'd had a couple of boyfriends and that didn't really go over well. So I had my tight-knit youth group friends, guys and girls, and I was happy with that.
But he was coming for a visit and she told me she was bringing him to our weekly Bible study. I'll never forget that night. Hannah came in the door and following her was a tall, thin, 18 year old guy wearing a worn baseball hat. He had dark hair, very tan, a defined jawline and when he lifted his head I caught a peek of amazing green eyes. Then... I was interested.
We had a few interactions before he headed back home, but nothing major. I tried to dismiss it in my head simply because... well because he lived in Houston.
Then a few months later he moved here. Hm. ;)
We hung out a lot at first because he and Hannah were close. The three of us would do almost everything together.
But being the 90's and that we were church kids-- everything changed for us-- at a Newsboys concert. :) We had so much fun together. We danced and sang our hearts out... everything seemed to just click. I think that was the turning point where we both looked at one another and realized..... this is a lot more than interest.
Something bigger was going on. Something bigger than me. I was pretty sure I could see myself with him for the rest of my life. God could it be? We're so young? But neither of us dared say anything. We just enjoyed the concert, hanging out with our friends, and had so much fun together.
About a month later, a bunch of our friends were going over to our usual hangout: our friend Jen's basement. Hannah was already there so Jake picked me up alone. When I got in the car, he seemed nervous. Not his usual self. It was usually the 3 of us, never me and Jake alone, so I figured that must be it. He looked over at me several times as we drove the short drive there but didn't say much. I was my usual chatterbox self and he listened to every word. As we turned the corner before the driveway, he asked me something to the effect of, "I think I'd rather hang out, just the two of us, would you?" I told him that sounded good, so he just kept driving pass the driveway and we drove over to the Spring Hill "hill", an old battlefield site.
We parked and walked up the hill to a bench where we ended up talking for hours. It felt like talking to someone I'd known all my life. And in that conversation, we finally shared those thoughts and feelings we'd had at the concert, everything leading up to that, and where we saw ourselves in the future. So he grabbed my hands into his for the first time, and bowed his head to pray over our relationship. We both knew that there was a huge possibility that we were looking at our future spouse and it felt like Holy ground. Even at our ages we knew: when you're dealing with sacred, you stop everything and commit it in prayer.
It wasn't until several months later that we actually started "dating". I was only 16 and God was still working some things out in each of our hearts and lives. So we took our relationship slow. But from that night on the hill, we both new where we stood. God had brought us together.
When I was with him, everything seemed right. There's no other way to put it. I felt safe and loved. It felt like home.
On my 18th birthday he gave me an engagement ring. But we still knew the wait wasn't over. We were still very young and we still needed to save money.
A year and a half later, May 4th, as a nineteen year old bride, I walked down the aisle and married the man who'd stolen my heart 3 years before.
We went to Hawaii for our honeymoon. One beautiful week at a bed and breakfast in Lahaina, Maui. We came home to a tiny one bedroom apartment and no money. But those were some of the richest days of my life.
Today we celebrate 10 years. And I can honestly say I'm just as in love now as I was then. If not more. Its just a deeper love now. A deeper knowing. When I fold his shirts, the smell still gives me butterflies. At least once a day I find myself missing my husband. As the sound of toys crashing around, giggles and squeals echo down the hall, and the washing machine hums... my mind trails to my husband, wondering how his day is going. "My beloved is mine, and I am his."
My goals for the next 10 years are to slow down and be intentional. Speak the love language of my husband and not just my own. Make my home a place of comfort and refuge for Jake. That the heart of my husband would trust me completely, with no lack of gain. That I would do him good and not evil all the days of my life. (Proverbs 31:11-12)
I've been praying for Jake for over half of my life. I'm so thankful that the Lord answered those first prayers and kept him for me. I'm so thankful for the last 10 years and filled with anticipation over spending the rest of our lives together. Happy Anniversary my beloved.
I started praying that prayer when I was 12. I also prayed that when I found him, I would know it.
And I did.
I was 16. A quirky, Jesus loving homeschooler from Maryland; I was finally moving past my new-girl phase and settling into youth group at Thompson Station Baptist Church when I met Hannah Spencer. We were the same age, the same grade, both homeschoolers, both new in town. We were both born in Texas, though she was raised there as well. We hit it off and we were inseparable.
She would tell me all the time about stories from her hometown, Houston. And she'd tell me how I would just love her older brother who was in college there. She wanted to fix us up. But I wasn't super interested. For one thing, the whole "still lived in Houston" thing. For another, I was waiting. Waiting for my future husband. I'd had a couple of boyfriends and that didn't really go over well. So I had my tight-knit youth group friends, guys and girls, and I was happy with that.
But he was coming for a visit and she told me she was bringing him to our weekly Bible study. I'll never forget that night. Hannah came in the door and following her was a tall, thin, 18 year old guy wearing a worn baseball hat. He had dark hair, very tan, a defined jawline and when he lifted his head I caught a peek of amazing green eyes. Then... I was interested.
We had a few interactions before he headed back home, but nothing major. I tried to dismiss it in my head simply because... well because he lived in Houston.
Then a few months later he moved here. Hm. ;)
We hung out a lot at first because he and Hannah were close. The three of us would do almost everything together.
But being the 90's and that we were church kids-- everything changed for us-- at a Newsboys concert. :) We had so much fun together. We danced and sang our hearts out... everything seemed to just click. I think that was the turning point where we both looked at one another and realized..... this is a lot more than interest.
Something bigger was going on. Something bigger than me. I was pretty sure I could see myself with him for the rest of my life. God could it be? We're so young? But neither of us dared say anything. We just enjoyed the concert, hanging out with our friends, and had so much fun together.
About a month later, a bunch of our friends were going over to our usual hangout: our friend Jen's basement. Hannah was already there so Jake picked me up alone. When I got in the car, he seemed nervous. Not his usual self. It was usually the 3 of us, never me and Jake alone, so I figured that must be it. He looked over at me several times as we drove the short drive there but didn't say much. I was my usual chatterbox self and he listened to every word. As we turned the corner before the driveway, he asked me something to the effect of, "I think I'd rather hang out, just the two of us, would you?" I told him that sounded good, so he just kept driving pass the driveway and we drove over to the Spring Hill "hill", an old battlefield site.
We parked and walked up the hill to a bench where we ended up talking for hours. It felt like talking to someone I'd known all my life. And in that conversation, we finally shared those thoughts and feelings we'd had at the concert, everything leading up to that, and where we saw ourselves in the future. So he grabbed my hands into his for the first time, and bowed his head to pray over our relationship. We both knew that there was a huge possibility that we were looking at our future spouse and it felt like Holy ground. Even at our ages we knew: when you're dealing with sacred, you stop everything and commit it in prayer.
It wasn't until several months later that we actually started "dating". I was only 16 and God was still working some things out in each of our hearts and lives. So we took our relationship slow. But from that night on the hill, we both new where we stood. God had brought us together.
When I was with him, everything seemed right. There's no other way to put it. I felt safe and loved. It felt like home.
On my 18th birthday he gave me an engagement ring. But we still knew the wait wasn't over. We were still very young and we still needed to save money.
A year and a half later, May 4th, as a nineteen year old bride, I walked down the aisle and married the man who'd stolen my heart 3 years before.
We went to Hawaii for our honeymoon. One beautiful week at a bed and breakfast in Lahaina, Maui. We came home to a tiny one bedroom apartment and no money. But those were some of the richest days of my life.
Today we celebrate 10 years. And I can honestly say I'm just as in love now as I was then. If not more. Its just a deeper love now. A deeper knowing. When I fold his shirts, the smell still gives me butterflies. At least once a day I find myself missing my husband. As the sound of toys crashing around, giggles and squeals echo down the hall, and the washing machine hums... my mind trails to my husband, wondering how his day is going. "My beloved is mine, and I am his."
My goals for the next 10 years are to slow down and be intentional. Speak the love language of my husband and not just my own. Make my home a place of comfort and refuge for Jake. That the heart of my husband would trust me completely, with no lack of gain. That I would do him good and not evil all the days of my life. (Proverbs 31:11-12)
I've been praying for Jake for over half of my life. I'm so thankful that the Lord answered those first prayers and kept him for me. I'm so thankful for the last 10 years and filled with anticipation over spending the rest of our lives together. Happy Anniversary my beloved.
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