"I Get To" Tuesdays

The thought behind this is to list a few things that could come under the category of "Ugh...I have to (you fill in the blank)." However, I want you to look at these "have to's" as blessings of "I get to". We all take for granted such things as our health, jobs, family, friends, etc. and sometimes don't appreciate them or see them as blessings as we should. So here are a few things for me this week.

Like most of you, I got to "spring" forward this weekend. I also got to get up extra early Sunday morning because I needed to be at church an hour and a half earlier than usual! I ended up taking a nap after dinner Sunday night!

I got to go to the chiropractor unexpectedly yesterday. I had had a headache for three days, so my husband got me an appointment. I hadn't been to the chiropractor since before I was pregnant. It usually feels good, but this time it hurt!! My headache has subsided though. I get to go for a re-check on Friday.

I get to walk five miles today...HA!! I mentioned a few weeks ago that I'm participating in a walking program through my church. I'm supposed to walk five miles a week. Our weeks go Wednesday through Tuesday. Due to my three day headache, I haven't walked even a mile this week, so it's all come down to today!

I've also mentioned before that my oldest son got his permit. I've ended up riding with him a few times, and I know I'll continue to get to do this. Every time I have to ride with him I feel as if my heart is in my throat!! It's not that I feel he's a bad driver; I just don't like not having any control over the car!

Well, that is my "I Get To" list for this week. Remember, try to find the blessings in your "I Have To's" and turn them into "I Get To's"! Please feel free to post your own "I Get To" list and link up here. I would love to hear how you're being "blessed" this week!

"I Get To" Tuesdays

The thought behind this is to list a few things that could come under the category of "Ugh...I have to (you fill in the blank)." However, I want you to look at these "have to's" as blessings of "I get to". We all take for granted such things as our health, jobs, family, friends, etc. and sometimes don't appreciate them or see them as blessings as we should. So here are a few things for me this week.

I'm posting this later than usual just because I'm a mom! If you're a mom, you know that your schedule has to revolve around everyone else's day! This week my "I Get To" list includes the following:

I got to take my oldest son to the dentist for a check-up today and pay out of pocket for the appointment...no dental insurance. But at least we're able to pay for this, even if it does hurt the checking account a bit. Plus, he didn't have any cavities!

I get to be a single parent for the next two nights, and Daniel usually is not a happy camper in the evenings. On the flip side, I get to go do something fun with friends on Thursday night! I'm blessed that my hubby is willing to share the child-rearing duties.

We will be "springing" the clocks forward this Saturday night! YAY! On Sunday morning I need to be at church 1 1/2 hours earlier than usual. BOO!

Last night, I got to spend the evening doing our grocery shopping. Ugh...food prices are killing me!! However, I did get some deals like free milk and free oranges! Since CVS is right next door to our grocery store, I went in there first. I actually made $2 buying a bottle of Olay Body Wash! I had a coupon to get the body wash free if I bought an Olay cleanser. Well, I needed cleanser & it was on sale. If you're familiar with CVS's extra bucks, you may have noticed that this week you can earn $2 extra bucks if you buy Olay Body Wash. Even though I had the coupon to get it free, I still technically bought it, so I got the $2 extra bucks too! WOO HOO!! After I went to the grocery store, I went back to CVS and used my $2 extra bucks to buy a 24 pack of water bottles. I only had to pay 44 cents for them! I also made a penny a box on three boxes of tissues due to coupons...go me!

Remember, try to find the blessings in your "I Have To's" and turn them into "I Get To's"! Please feel free to post your own "I Get To" list and link up here. I would love to hear how you're being "blessed" this week!

My New Blog

Well, I'm probably crazy, but I've begun writing a third blog!! My Sonshines Three & Me is where I'll write about being an older "new" mom while mothering two teenagers...the humorous side and the struggles. Please come over and visit!

My Three Sons and the Furry One

This son of mine turned 17 in January and finally decided it was time to get his driver's permit! He has found that driving isn't as easy as it looks, but he's persevering! (And Mom is having a nervous breakdown as his passenger but is keeping it to herself!)

This kiddo has suddenly gotten into basketball, although, he didn't make the school team (big frowny face). He hasn't hit his growth spurt yet, so maybe next year he'll have better luck. Baseball will be starting soon anyway. He's also getting used to life as the middle child! After 14 years of being our youngest and the youngest grandchild on my side of the family, he has lost his position to his little brother.

As for this little guy, he has been busy working out a sleep schedule, doing some teething (his big brothers got teeth early), and discovering the joys of Sesame Street! He just coos and babbles as he watches his favorite show! (Okay, I know this is kind of bad since he's only 3 months old, but he just loves Elmo!)

Then there is this crazy mutt! He doesn't know what to think of his littlest brother. He licks him as soon as he gets a bath and is very interested in the new baby toys, especially the stuffed animals (which he must also lick)! However, he does make an attempt to share his dog toys with his new sibling!

That's my family update! Praise God that everyone is adjusting nicely to all of our recent changes!

Church Sign - So True

On our way home from church on Sunday, I spotted a sign at another church which said: A worn out Bible probably belongs to someone who isn't. This is so true, and I've always admired the look of a well-worn or well-loved Bible! It's an indication that its owner spends a lot of time in God's Word, and I find that so wonderful!

"I Get To" Tuesdays

The thought behind this is to list a few things that could come under the category of "Ugh...I have to (you fill in the blank)." However, I want you to look at these "have to's" as blessings of "I get to". We all take for granted such things as our health, jobs, family, friends, etc. and sometimes don't appreciate them or see them as blessings as we should. So here are a few things for me this week.

I probably should have prefaced last week's "'I Get To' Tuesdays" post by explaining why my "I get tos" have more meaning for me now than when I first began listing them. Originally, I started this because when I saw the trials of others, I knew I should consider the mundane or the irritations in my life as blessings rather than taking them for granted or wishing they'd disappear altogether. Now, after having gone through the past year, I appreciate these ordinary things even more.

Being pregnant at 46 was much harder than being pregnant at 30 and 32! The "morning" sickness was about the same, but once the baby and my belly began getting bigger, the harder it became for me to get around or to do everyday things. The bigger I got, the slower I walked and the more I huffed and puffed. Going up and down stairs was the worst. We only have one bathroom in our house and it's upstairs!

I was told early on in my pregnancy not to lift anything heavy. I couldn't lift laundry baskets, so my husband and boys had to take all the dirty clothing to the laundry room for me. If they brought the baskets of clean clothes to me, I could fold everything while sitting on the couch or on my bed. I couldn't empty the kitchen trash can let alone lug the trash outside to the cans by our garage. We have a portable dishwasher that has to be pushed over to the sink and hooked up to the faucet. By October, I could no longer do this. I also couldn't vacuum because that motion really bothered me. I couldn't walk our dog, take him to the vet for his check-up, or even play tug-of-war with him. (The poor guy kept bringing his tire to me and bumping me in the belly with it!)

My husband works from home and one of our three bedrooms served as his office. With the baby coming, we had to play musical bedrooms. My husband moved his office to the attic (which had to be cleaned out); he & I moved our bedroom into his old office; the boys moved into our old bedroom; and then we made the boys' old bedroom the new room for the baby. As you can imagine, I was of no help, so my three men had their work cut out for them.

In November, the day before my 47th birthday to be precise, I began getting sick. My doctor said I had an ear infection and put me on an antibiotic, but it didn't help. I ended up with congestion, clogged ears, and a cough for the remainder of the month. I was pretty much in bed for the entire month. Then I went into labor on November 28th...3 weeks early!

Between being sick and then having a c-section, I was out of commission for almost 10 weeks! Recovery from a c-section at 47 is a lot harder than at 30! During those weeks, the only time I left my house was to go to the doctor or to the hospital. I didn't drive at all during this time, so my husband had to take me to all of my appointments.

As you can see, I have every reason to be thankful for being able to take part in the ordinary, even boring, details of everyday life! So, in light of this past year, I'm thankful that I GET TO:

• Do the dishes
• Do the laundry
• Drive to the grocery store by myself and push the cart around the entire store without having to rest
• Run up and down the stairs every time I need something (or have to use the bathroom!)
• Take out the trash
• Cook & bake
• Walk the dog
• Scrub the tub
• And MANY, MANY MORE DULL, PAIN IN THE NECK TASKS...PRAISE GOD!!!

Remember, try to find the blessings in your "I Have To's" and turn them into "I Get To's"! Please feel free to post your own "I Get To" list and link up here. I would love to hear how you're being "blessed" this week!

"I Get To" Tuesdays

The thought behind this is to list a few things that could come under the category of "Ugh...I have to (you fill in the blank)." However, I want you to look at these "have to's" as blessings of "I get to". We all take for granted such things as our health, jobs, family, friends, etc. and sometimes don't appreciate them or see them as blessings as we should. So here are a few things for me this week.

I get to wake up each night with an almost 3 month old baby! (But what a blessing he is!)

I get to change diapers and wash baby bottles again today. This routine gets tiring, but it's worth it!

Our oldest son finally got his driver's permit last week, so I get to worry each time my husband takes him out driving. (I'm not ready to do it myself yet!) It's another step toward independence for him!

I get to begin a walking program tomorrow that will officially last 12 weeks. Our church is participating in a Lenten/Easter activity called Walking to Jerusalem, hence the walking. (We're taking it through Mother's Day though.) I'm hoping to lose a pound or two.

Well, that is my "I Get To" list for this week. Remember, try to find the blessings in your "I Have To's" and turn them into "I Get To's"! Please feel free to post your own "I Get To" list and link up here. I would love to hear how you're being "blessed" this week!

I Want to Hear Some Happy News

This has been a week full of sad news. Everywhere I turn I'm bombarded with the news of someone's death. And no, I'm not referring to Whitney Houston. (Her story is sad but has received more publicity than necessary.)

My friend's friend was killed in a car accident on Valentine's Day. Her dog died also in the wreck. From what I understand, she leaves behind 2 young daughters. Her husband was driving their vehicle and for some reason ran off the highway. Since the accident, her husband has been diagnosed with a brain tumor, and it was probably what caused him to lose control of the truck.

Yesterday, I heard about a school bus accident while watching our local news. An 11-year-old girl was killed and three other children are in critical condition. Two of those kids are her sisters....they were triplets.

I went for little over a year without blogging. This week I've been trying to catch up with people whom I follow. Tonight I checked in with Gitz only to find that she passed away in September.

Even though I never knew any of these people, I'm heartbroken for them and their families. It has made me count my blessings...both big and small.

Please, someone just give me some happy news!

An Emerald Covenant

I mentioned in my last post that I discovered I was pregnant on Palm Sunday last year. I took the home pregnancy test early in the morning and didn't wake my husband up to give him the news. He didn't even know I was taking the test, and I figured it wasn't news that he would want to wake up to. Plus, I needed to digest this info myself.

For reasons I can't remember now, I went to church alone that morning. I sat in the pew with my right arm resting across the back of the pew. As I listened to the sermon, out of the corner of my eye I caught a glimpse of the ring I wear on my right hand. The ring has a heart shaped emerald on it.

At that moment, my heart sank a bit as I wondered if I'd be adding another heart shaped gem to my ring. My emerald ring represents the baby I miscarried in 2008. The baby was due in May and emerald is the birthstone for that month. I had calculated that this new baby would be due in December. I sat wondering what December's birthstone is.

In the book of Revelation, the apostle John describes a throne set in Heaven:
"At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne." (Revelation 4:2-3 NIV ) From what I understand, the rainbow which God sent after the flood is a covenant, or a promise, that He will never destroy the world by flood again. (Read Genesis 9:9-17)

I find it interesting (and comforting) that John saw a rainbow around God's throne and described its appearance "like an emerald". My emerald ring...a covenant from God that he wouldn't take this baby too? That I actually would have another child here on this earth? After all, when my oldest son was about 5 years old, he had said that I would have another baby because "Jesus told me so!" (My own brother had told my mom the same thing, and I was born a year after he died.)

If you have read my last post, obviously I have since given birth to another beautiful son. I thank God everyday for this newest little gift...for the fulfillment of his covenant with me.

A New Normal

A new normal...that has been the story of my life for almost a year now. Our family has had to make several adjustments since last April. On Palm Sunday, I discovered I was pregnant again. This news was met with mixed emotions by my husband and I and our two teenage sons. We feared another miscarriage, and there was much trepidation about what a new baby would mean for our household.

Don't worry, this story has a happy ending, but getting there was a challenge and resulted in our future (the one we had planned anyway) being rewritten. (I know it's what God had planned for us all along.)

I've been wanting to continue with this blog, but for several reasons, I was unable to write any posts while pregnant. Since giving birth, I've just been too busy and tired, but now I'm finally ready to give it a try. I'm also toying with the idea of starting a third blog but thought I should first ease my way back into writing on this blog.

I know I need to update some things on here in addition to posting and am hoping to start doing that over the next few weeks. I'll also fill you in on my pregnancy and the changes we've had to make around here. I've missed writing and blogging and hope you'll join me as I muddle through my new normal!

Daniel Finn