Giving Thanks for Grandparents

Thanksgiving is over and we survived! It was an amazing day, full of rich blessings. Reid had a great day! Little booger didn't take a nap all day other than a little ten minute nap here or there. VERY different than the 2-3 hour naps he takes 2-3 times a day! I was nervous he would be grumpy and fussy, but he amazed us all as he always does. He was happy and charming and sweet and ate up all the attention. We even got to go outside and play for a while. (Weird Tennessee Thanksgiving weather....)

I felt especially blessed to have both of my grandparents there with us this year. I always feel blessed to have them there, but this year was extra special. We just found out that Grammy has cancer and will be starting chemo treatments on Tuesday. This is the third time she's had to fight this battle and it was a blessing to be able to reflect on how truly miraculous it was that she was there, cooking as she always has since the first time she got cancer 25 years ago. My Grandad was admitted to the hospital on Tuesday for some testing in his heart. He had triple bypass surgery 13 or 14 years ago. He is 82 years old, over six feet tall, has had cancer and still walks laps at the sportscom every day where is talks about Jesus to anyone who will listen. We were afraid he wouldn't be discharged in time to be home for Thanksgiving, but God goes above and beyond for us and he was able to come home late Wednesday afternoon and sit at the head of the table at Thanksgiving, right where he belongs. He will have to have a pacemaker put in to help regulate his heart, so we are praying God's protection over him as it has always been.

God's work in and through the lives of my grandparents has been something I've been proud to witness. They have been wonderful leaders and examples for their family as well as others. My prayer is just that no matter what, they are ALWAYS at peace. I know God will be with them.

I am so thankful to have had such involved, amazing, giving, generous, Godly, loving grandparents. Thank you, God, for your faithfulness to them.

Thanksgiving

I am freaking out that Thanksgiving is THIS week! This is my absolute favorite time of the year. I love the anticipation of the holidays, the preparation, the hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping...I even love the smell of the air this time of year. It's the time of year that makes you want to call everyone you love and tell them why you love them and invite them over for coffee. :) It's the best time of year to grab a good book, turn on some holiday music and relax on the couch under your Snuggie (yes, snuggie). And THIS year, it's the best time of year to cuddle your baby and sit under the Christmas tree and steal kisses and sing songs! I feel so blessed this year that I get to spend the holidays making memories with Jesse and Reid. I am so thankful that God's protection has been over my sweet son and that he is so happy, healthy and wonderful and will be sitting at the table with us this Thanksgiving. Thank you, Jesus.

My Grandmother - Grammy

Josephine Rose Schloot is my grandmother. (My mom's mom). We are very close. She and my grandfather have been a huge part of my life in every aspect. We lived with them for a few months before we moved to Tennessee. Before they moved down here from Michigan they came to visit a lot. Sometimes just for my birthday. Paul and I were very spoiled because we were the only grandkids up until I was 22 and Zane was born. My grandparents came to all my shows, came to see me cheer, were at my graduations...they've been there for everything. What a blessing. When I was at Lipscomb my grandmother sent me cards all the time with encouraging words and a little cash here and there. She always gave me money to help while I was in school. When I was in high school I would go over to their house all the time and take naps and visit and talk. When I was little my grandmother read me Beatrix Potter books. (little books for little hands). I always call her with all my life news. She has always been there for me. I am so thankful for her. When I was only about three years old we found out she had ovarian cancer. VERY advanced and she wasn't expected to make it. But the Lord is bigger than cancer and she was described by her doctors as a "walking miracle." I don't remember much about that time except trying on her wig. :) Then a few years ago we found out she had colon cancer. God brought her through that as well. I remember her saying that she was just worried that if she died that Zane wouldn't remember her. God has allowed her precious time with Zane. She still keeps him in the afternoons.

Today we found out she has cancer again. They found it on her liver and possibly on her lungs. It just doesn't seem possible that we are here AGAIN. I am praying so hard and yet I don't really know what to pray for. All I can think about right now is that sometimes I wish I was still little and could go spend the night at her house and have her read to me. What is it that makes a grandmothers house so cozy and her voice so comforting? I want so badly for Reid to know his great-grandmother and experience that cozy house and hear her read him a story. So....I don't want to pray selfishly. I just pray that God will envelope her and that no matter what happens, it's all peaceful for her. That she is at peace with whatever happens. And hopefully we can all be at peace with it too. I know God is capable of more than we can ask or imagine and He has had her story written for a long time. I find all my comfort in knowing that God is never surprised by the events in our lives. He is the author of our stories. Lord, bless my grandmother from head to toe. Wrap your arms around her and give her rest and peace. Ease her mind and spirit.

If you read this, please pray for my Grammy.

Reid and his Great-Grammy. The first time they met.

On Being a Working Mommy

Being a working mommy is tough stuff! Thankfully, I am blessed with a job that I love and people I love to work with. I am also blessed with a job that has ideal hours for being a mom. It's never easy to say goodbye to that sweet face in the mornings and send him off to play with someone else for the day, but every afternoon and evening is SO precious to us as we "catch up" with each other about our day. I know we will never take each other for granted. I'm sure there will be horrible moments where I have to hear, "I don't want you to leave, Mommy!" but I know that God will get us through that and then when I get to work one of my working mommy friends will talk me down off the ledge :). One thing about being a working mom is that you never take one moment with your baby for granted. There is not one diaper I don't appreciate getting to change and not one bottle that I'm not thankful to be able to give. Every smile is as great as the first smile and rocking him to sleep is a privilege I cherish. I know stay-at-home mommies feel that way, too of course. But for me, it's not something I get to do all day every day so every moment with Reid is exciting. Of course, I'd rather be at home with him and I believe that one day God will call me to that. But for now we are trucking along as two working parents with a new baby and God is drawing us so close to each other and to him through this experience.

Being a parent with Jesse has been the most fun! We are such a team. A "well oiled machine" we like to say! We've pretty much got the hang of everything now, though you might hear a "HOLY CRAP!" over a diaper every now and then. Those moments keep us laughing at and with each other. I'll never forget the Saturday morning that Jes was so proud of himself for getting up with Reid and giving him his bottle and letting me sleep. He was even going to surprise me and have Reid all dressed when I got up. Then I hear this pitiful, "Baaaabe? Can you come here?" Haha! I will always be able to see Jesse's face in my mind when I walked in that room and saw poop EVERYWHERE! He was just standing there frozen and said, "What do I do? His butt exploded!" Love that man. He is such a good daddy and is so involved and hands-on. Just last night I was taking a bath in Reid's bathroom relaxing and reading while Jes gave the bedtime bottle. I could hear Jesse reading to Reid and Reid "cooing" back. It melted my heart. It's hard to imagine feeling more love than I did right then!!!

All that to say, being a working mommy is hard, but manageable and God is blessing us so much and teaching us so much through it all. So far I haven't missed any of Reid's big moments and I really believe God will honor me and my choices and make sure I get to see ALL Reid's firsts. Even if I'm not with him all day. God bless ALL my working mommy friends. I think he has a special place in his heart for us!!! :) I'm so glad I have had you to lean on and help me transition! XOXO