HOME

"Trot, trot to Boston to buy a loaf of bread, HOME again, HOME again, jiggity-jig." I have been searching my brain for all sorts of limmericks now that I am a mom...this one is fitting for today.

In taking the initiative from Lindsay...I have picked my theme word for 2009. It is HOME. I think that this word more than any other has such feeling in it. HOME. HOME.

Yesterday was a three year anniversary of the day that Mark and I started doing HOME together. Of all things that I love about being married, I love that HOME has a different feeling now. I used to be a late-night worker - not wanting to be HOME because it was dark, and cold and a bit lonely. Now I can't wait to get HOME. I love returning HOME from the end of a trip, a vacation, or even just a day at work. HOME now is a place full of laughter, conversation, consistency, peace...and a whole lot of laundry.

I remember talking with Mark a while ago about Boone, our black lab. One of the reasons that he is so fun to have around is because he is so rewarding to come HOME to. He is excited, whether it has been 10 minutes or 10 days. The dog goes crazy...he runs around the house barking and looking to find a shoe to lure you into playing. You get the feeling like you are his all and all...like he can't wait another minute for you to get HOME.

And this is the atmosphere that I want to create...that expectant, can't wait, this is my all and all...HOME. And it is going to take some work. Because I have a lot of laundry. And I am not the most organized person in the world (or neighborhood block for that matter), and I have boxes upon boxes of things to organize from when I moved - 3.5 years ago. No kidding. I want the peace and serenity of a place that I can be proud of, a HOME that is put together so that I don't fret about all I am not getting done (again) when I go to bed at night. A place that the spirit of the Lord dwells, and laughter reigns, and love is shared in this family of ours. HOME.

I have two plaques in my house....one says:

"HOME - it is where your story begins."

and another that says:

"As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

I pray for my ability to create this HOME environment. Will you also pray for it too? HOME - it is where it all begins and where we can just be ourselves. There is no better place than HOME. A HOME that loves and serves. This is my prayer.

One Week

This has been a week. One that I hope I don't have to redo for quite awhile. It is a week that has disqualified me as mom of the year. As professor of the year. As wife of the year. As housekeeper of the year (oh who am I kidding - I was never even in the running for this one!).

One week ago I locked my keys in the car on the way to take my sister back to the airport. Did I mention that my child was also locked in the car?

I lost my cell phone over the weekend. When I finally found it I also found out I had a funeral to go to - just one hour after I picked up the message. Good planning.

Monday was Wy's two month immunizations. He wailed. He was not happy. And I didn't have any children's Tylenol...I had to stop at Target on my way home from the doctor to get it. Where are the instruction manuals on parenting, anyway?

And then we went to a funeral. He was passed around about 20 times (no exaggeration here). It messed him up a bit. I then dropped him at Lindsey's house and went to teach class at a local high school. I had left for the funeral from the Doctor's office...no teaching materials. I had to ask for a pen...good planning.

Monday Mark left for a week to Lamar, CO to process a lot of calves for his health project. He won't return until Saturday. He has brutal, long days. I have been a bit caught up in my world and forget that his world is stressy, too. By the way, he sent me flowers, so he IS up for spouse of the year.

This was Wy's first week of daycare. I had always heard about "those" moms that cry when they drop off their babies...and on Tuesday I became one of them. I just wish I could work each day with Wy in my lap.

I have prayed, cried, moaned, laughed, and prayed some more this week. I am trying to feel His presence in my daily life, to tap into the Holy Spirit. But, honestly, I don't want to do this week over again - any time soon. But I have to remember - it is only ONE week, and soon it will get better. Maybe Next Week?

Welcome Home

So, this last week I have been absent. I have been gone. I swear I have left my brain somewhere. I think I might have left it here, in Indianapolis, IN. This is our CSU student crew at our booth at the National FFA Convention. We spent three days needing a lot of antibacterial gel because we shook so many hands! We had a great time. I always enjoy being gone. I don't mind the travel (altough that was one bumpy ride going in) and I don't mind the craziness of preparing, planning and doing a trip. I am always so happy to be home, though. I have heard that home is where the heart is. I have heard there is no place like home. I wonder what it is about my crazy, dirty, chaotic home that I crave so much when I am away from it. Even yesterday, faced with another idiot move of mine when I realized I wouldn't be able to get home because my keys were in Indiana, I was problem solving how I could most quickly get home. Mark isn't home (although it is better to come home to him!). So what is it? Well, partly it is this. Cy (the cat) and Boone (the lab) have attached themselves to my heart. I am not a cat person. And Cy is an annoying cat. He doesn't usually want love, only when I am doing my bible study (here he is sitting on my bible) or when I need to work on my computer at home. Boone, on the other hand, is always needing love. How can you resist this face??? He is always happy to see me. Excited more than any 5 year old lab should be. It is just welcome to come home to those things we KNOW. That never change.

I packed my bible and my devotion and my journal for my trip. And I didn't touch it. I feel guilty over this. I didn't make time. I could have, but I didn't. But his morning when I woke up to a quiet and peaceful house, I felt the call to the scriptures again. The Lord whispered to me, Welcome Home, child, Welcome Home.

I want to be that woman that has it all together, that can bring home the bacon, fry it up in a pan, value her husband, take immaculate care of the carpet, provide service to the needy, love unconditionally. But, home is where I can be just who I am, because what is here loves me regardless of how long it takes me to unpack my suitcases. And my heavenly home, my father, well he made me just as I am. He knew that I would disown him this week, not focus on him, not trust him. And yet, he loves me. He welcomes me when I return, hugs me and reminds me that I can do better next time. And then, one day, he will say to me, not through a whispering of the Spirit, but face to face...Welcome Home, Child, Welcome Home.

Lord, I pray that where ever people call home, that they know you and your presence and gain a peace of knowing there is NOTHING, no NOTHING, that we can do that will make you stop loving us. For those that are displaced from their homes today, or are moving homes today, or have no sense of home, will you call them? Won't you give them your peace and understanding? Won't you welcome them? Lord, help me to reach out to them. I love home, help me to provide that to those that need it. Help me to point to the best home today. Lord, make my home strong. Let it be an offering to you. Thank you for all you give me. I am unworthy, but I am so grateful. Amen.