8 Years!!!!!

Todd and I have been married for 8 years TODAY!!!

We met at the Children's Home of Lubbock in May of 98. He was working as a Unit Director/Therapist of the Therapeutic Program when I started working there. I was very excited about working there as it was a new chapter in my life. Up to that point, I had only known AIM and SIBI. CHOL really stretched me and I loved it! Well...some days I didn't, but most of the time I did. While Todd and I were dating, I would always be so intrigued by the way he handled the kids there. He was really good at what he did and most of the kids really loved and respected Mr. Todd. Sometimes, it would shock me at how "tough" he would be, always doing it with love. He loved those kids. Really. And they loved him back. I knew that he was a keeper and that he would be a great dad someday. I wish my Searcy friends could have seen him in that place. It really was humbling to watch.

So we dated. I really love thinking of those days. We had so much fun together. We had many things in common and really enjoyed getting to know each other better. I knew that he was the one for me after probably 2 weeks of dating and talking. That summer, I spent about 5 weeks in Mexico City with some friends, reaching out to people in that city. It was a great experience. Todd came down the last week we were there. We had only been dating a couple of months. I knew that he was serious about me at that point. If you don't know me well, I'll tell you this: I love people! I love getting to know people. But at a certain point, I kinda pull back a bit. I felt like he was getting too close and I tried to run him off. This was customary for me with guys that actually liked me. But it didn't work. He didn't quit. I'm so thankful for that. When we returned to the States together, he came to my house for a few days to spend some time with my family. We continued to date and it was getting serious. Then, on December 19, Todd's birthday, he asked me to marry him. It was the coolest day for me. I sang in a wedding that day with my peeps(shout out to Unshackled!!! haa haa) and most everyone around me knew about this evening that would unfold. After we sang, I just sat around talking to friends and Todd hung out by himself. I thought this strange at the time, but now I know he was killing time. Also, a friend of mine told me it would be a good idea to plan a surprise party for him, so I did. So I had this in the back of my mind. So, he takes me home to change because we are going out for his birthday. Or maybe we were going to meet up later, I don't remember exactly. Anyway...he comes back in this limo with a rose. I'm surprised since it's his birthday and all. He said his parents paid for the limo for both of us for his birthday, and I'm thinking, "cool...", so we're off! As we are driving, Todd gets a 911 page from the Children's Home. This is not a strange occurence as it happened often. I thought it was terrible timing, but, it happens. So we end up having to go out there. It was about 15 min. outside of town. On the way out there, I'm preparing my mind for something really bad! I'm also ready to do some restraining of kids and all that fun stuff. So we get out there, to Cottage 3, and we walk in, and there's a lot of people inside. Kids are sitting on the floor, and they immediately start singing, "You are my Sunshine" and I'm thinking, "how sweet, they are singing to Todd on his birthday." I didn't get it....until Todd started talking. It seems like a blur, like someone put me into slow motion from that point on. He asked me in front of all of those kids and people (his family was there, and alot of our friends)! It was a time I will never forget. I said yes and after alot of hugs, and kids asking Todd for money to buy shoes and such, we left. We were going to eat at one of my fav places. I'm still thinking about this party too. So we eat. It was great. And we finally get to the party and everyone we love is there. Actually, the joke was on me because Todd had planned this as well. He had my friend plant that idea in my mind, so that we could share our moment with the rest of our friends. So he knew all along. It was great. He put alot of thought into that night.

We got married 4 months later. It was a beautiful day that was FULL!!! After our evening wedding, we ran out of food at the reception, so we ordered pizza at the hotel. We got up early the next day to catch a plane to Houston. I didn't know where we were going. And later found out that we were doing a 7 night cruise to Cancun, Cozumel and Roatan, Honduras. It was WONDERFUL!!!!!

8 years later, we are happier than ever and loving how God has amazed us! '

Thank you God for Todd. I wouldn't be who I am today if I had never found him. Thank you!

In Christ Alone.....

Well..here is the latest song that is currently at the top of my list. If you haven't ever heard this song, you need to. I would put it on here, but can't figure out how to do it. If I figure out how to do that, I'll share it with you. But this is a powerful, life changing song. Avalon did a version of it that is just unbelievable. So for now, here are the lyrics. I can't add anything to this. May it encourage and speak to your heart, as it is mine.


In Christ Alone

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light my strength my song
This Cornerstone, this solid Ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled when strivings cease!
My Comforter my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone! - who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This Gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
Till on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till he returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand!

Tender Heart.........

Hey friends....glad you stopped by here. This post is more for me to remember than anything, but feel free to add your thoughts here.

Tonight, Asher stayed home from church because he wasn't feeling too good. His stomach has been bothering him for a day or so now. Todd stayed home with him. Also today, we received two boxes in the mail from grandma....she just totally loves us! She sent the new sensation, Cinderella III; (how many more will there be?) Anyway...Asher wanted to watch it tonight, so Todd put it on for him. I think he caught the end of it earlier when he came home from school because Sienna was watching it. So when we got home from church tonight he was watching it and it was almost over. I was trying to get things picked up from the day and I came walking by in the living room where he was visibly upset:

Me: "Asher what is the matter?"
A: (no answer)
Me: Asher what is wrong with you?
A: (he turned around to face me with a tear on his cheek) "I like this part"
Me: (very shocked to see him balling) "Hey Todd, look"
Todd: (smiling) It's ok buddy.
(the part in the movie is where the prince's dad is giving one of Cinderella's step sisters something special....no clue what it is...just caught that much)
I reach over the couch to pat and rub his back because he was so moved by that. We told him we loved him. And he was ok.

This isn't the first time he has displayed such sensivity. Here's a little background to this story in a nutshell. One summer we went to Mexico and took asher and sienna with us....to a children's home. It was awesome. Sienna was about 18 months old I think. She would not lye down to take a nap and was running all over the place. I was getting pretty frustrated with her and was trying to catch her. She went to jump on this couch that had hard wood armrests and as she did, I spanked her. When I spanked her she kinda jolted forward a bit and hit her head on the armrest. She was crying then and I picked her up to comfort her. When I pulled her back from me and saw her face, her cheek had split open a bit. I lost it. I freaked. I couldn't believe that had happened...totally an accident. We ended up patching her up ourselves with a butterfly stitch and got home to have the Dr. say we did a pretty good job. Anyway...that is the background to that. I have a picture of Sienna on my fridge from that trip and in it, she is wearing the stitch. Not too long ago, Asher had just returned home from school. I was standing in the kitchen starting supper. He was looking at the fridge and just out of nowhere started balling. I said, "what in the world asher, what is wrong son?" He said, "momma, I know you didn't mean to do that to Sienna." I grabbed him, of course, and hugged him and told him he was right. After a minute or two, he was ok and went on his way. Very random.

There have been other times. If someone is hurt, or sick, or having surgery, he has said to me, "momma, i wish that was me and not them."

Someone recently told me that Todd and I are going to have to help him learn how to protect that part of himself from people...where they can't use it against him. I hate that thought. You know, that people could be cruel to him for the way God made him. He is such a sweet boy and I hate to think of anyone hurting him in any way. But more than that, I hate the thought that maybe somehow, I could hurt him or squash his little spirit. I have not done the best job thus far. I have at times, punished him for this sensivity, and didn't really know I was doing it. This same friend that I mentioned earlier gave me some great advice. She said to pray for God to give me wisdom to appropriately discipline in the moment. Well Duh?? I never thought about doing that before, but I sure have since. I'm seeing a difference. Praise God!!

I'm very excited to see what God does in Asher's life. I'm very thankful that he made him so tenderhearted and compassionate. It is the most heartbreaking and exhilirating ride I have ever been on....this parenting roller coaster....and I wouldn't trade my lot for nothing!

I'm going to do a post on Sienna and Sydney, respectively, soon.