This is great!
I walked down the aisle and married Richard. Nine months later Sherri married Stan. In a family with four guys, we were the new girls in town. We were each other’s support. Each other’s friend. I was 20 when I married. Sherri was 19. (So young!) Two girls, married, in the country for the first time, breaking the molds as we became wives, daughters-in-law, sisters-in-law, friends.
A couple of years later when I found out I was pregnant with my first, Sherri was one of the first I told. Nine months later when she found out she was pregnant with her first, I celebrated with her. A little over nine months later I found I was pregnant with twins. Just a few more than nine months later she found out she was pregnant with her second child. We laugh about it now.
Sherri was there when I called looking for help when my water broke and my husband was gone. “The contractions are coming every 90 seconds,” I said.
In record time she whipped her car across the city to get to me. Richard drove up at the same time. She took Leslie and put her in the car seat next to baby Kyle. She had parked and carried both children up to the hospital birthing floor, just in time to see that Baby #1 was born and Baby #2 was on the way.
When I found out that my nephew Kyle and his wife Tierra were expecting, it was jolting. Suddenly we were the next generation. The ones with titles like “Grams” (Sherri) and great-aunt Snuz.
Is it really great to realize that you’re older and that a whole season of life has passed you by? Are we now the old people?
This past weekend I went to visit little Kinley. I had seen pics, but nothing prepared me for the little bundle on the blanket. I picked her up and held her close. I didn’t want to give her up, but Richard pried her out of my arms and whisked her away so that he could rock her.
Kyle asked, “Does she look like me?”
I was surprised by the tears. Not Kyle, but for me. Because this 6 ft. 5″ guy who is now a dad and husband reminded me of the day I stood beside Sherri’s bed and welcomed him into the world. My first nephew.
I took Kinley and sat in the plush rocking chair. She smiled a half smile — which reminded me of Stan, I mean her Grandpa. She nestled in the crook of my neck, pulling her little legs up tight in a ball. She smelled like baby lotion. Her hair was soft as down.
And suddenly I realized. . .this is more than great! In fact, amazing.
Welcome to the family Kinley. I love you already.
Posted by Suzie @
11:34 am |
Today on Momlogic!
October 17, 2008 | momlogic
So, today there is only one new post at Christian Momlogic to share, but it is a giveaway! I love this group of women of faith. Its’ growing. We are the third largest group at Momlogic’s new communities. Check it out:
Posted by Suzie @
1:09 pm |
Blog Action Day: Poverty
It was dark and we bumped down the street in a hot bus. “Look the other way,” someone called and several guys turned their heads. A woman stood with bare breasts and a leg pushed out at an angle.
I didn’t look away. I couldn’t. Because not far from her were three little children crouched under a bush. The harsh street light brushed their faces.
The next day the same hot bus stalled in traffic. A little guy raced toward us, dirty water sloshing in a tin bucket. He stretched to reach the lower half of the bus windows. “Get away,” the driver called. I pulled out a few dollars and held it out the window. The boy grabbed it and ran. (more…)
Posted by Suzie @
11:34 am |
This week on Christian Momlogic!
Christian Momlogic is growing. It’s the 3rd largest community at Time Warner’s Momlogic. This week you can find these issues, topics, or giveaways:
- From One Single Mom to Another: Interview w/Sandra P. Aldrich, author, speaker - Sandra shares her unique brand of wisdom and humor to encourage single moms
- Day in the Life. . .a mom whose child has ADHD - Sally Kays shares her story of a son who was asking for help, her fears about medication, what people assume and how they can help instead, and a fun look at a day in her life.
AND, Momlogic is preparing for their biggest giveaway EVER on Wednesday, with a treasure hunt with thousands of dollars in prizes. Designer purses. Makeup. Goodies. Goodies. Goodies!
Come join us in this community of women of faith. When you sign up, you’ll be in Momlogic. Then click on groups, click on Christian Momlogic, and join!
Posted by Suzie @
10:52 am |
Coincidences?
My publicist sent me a note telling me that a woman had just posted what God was doing through a Bible study in her church on a blog. She gave me the link and suggested I stop by and read it.
The Bible study was over my book, The Mom I Want to Be. I sent the blogger a message and asked if I could join in on the study via phone one morning.
She was excited! In her response, she mentioned the name of her church and the location. I laughed when I realized it was about an hour away.
I e-mailed back. “How about I just drive to your Bible study and hang out with you guys for the morning?” (more…)
Posted by Suzie @
12:37 pm |
My teen won’t talk
I found something by you on the web when I googled “my teen won’t talk to me”. Which of your resources is best suited to help me start over with my teen with communication. I’m heartbroken and know that this isn’t something I can fix. I need God to build it this time and I just don’t know if/how to begin. Vickie
Dear Vickie,
You can begin. It’s never too late, Vickie. I talked with hundreds of teens to write the book, Real Issues, Real Teens: What Every Parent Needs to Know (David C. Cook, 2004). Teens shared that they wanted a relationship with their parents, even if it was broken and even if they weren’t telling their parents that they loved them or needed them.
In the book, you’ll find five things that get in the way of communicating with our teens, and help on how to listen, how to reconnect when communication has completely broken down, how to help your teen in their faith, and what the word “family” means to this generation, and much more.
I think it’s a great resource for you and I pray you will follow up once you read it. I’d love to stay in touch.
You can order it through paypal (my ID is tseller@daretobelieve.org) for $14 including shipping or send me a check (e-mail me for address).
Posted by Suzie @
10:51 am |
Today on Christian Momlogic
October 9, 2008 | momlogic
Fun giveaway and interview:
(Once you join Momlogic, click on groups and join us at Christian Momlogic for interviews, parenting tips, giveaways, but most importantly community among women of faith.)
Posted by Suzie @
10:51 am |
Only by your power
I’m self-sufficient. Independent to a fault. It’s the way I was made, I believe. It’s a good thing. And yet there are times I have not had the answers or known what to do. My strength. My faith. It wasn’t enough.
Only by your power can we push back our enemies. Only in your name can we trample our foes. Psalm 44:5
I image David as I read this chapter today. He is weary, discouraged, overwhelmed. He is in that “I believe; help my unbelief” stage of life. He’s a warrior, a king. Yet it feels like God is nowhere to be found.
It’s a vulnerable moment. I felt it when Ryan was hit by a drunk driver at 15. Again when Richard was struggling with his job a few years ago and the man I loved seemed to be slipping away, leaving an unhappy stranger in his place.
“Where are you, God?”
You see, the day before I felt God. My faith was as close as a whisper. I turned and it was there, but not in these times. I dug down deep and found faith, but no feelings to accompany it.
Did God see us? Did God know what was going on?
Looking back, I see God clearly. But I also see me, searching, hoping, clinging to my faith. I felt weak.
But it was enough because only by His power could I take the next step. It wasn’t about my strength. Only in His name could I wake up and know that I wasn’t alone.
Sometimes I long for God and today is one of those days. To connect with Him. To feel that quiet strong presence. To carve away all the complexities of faith and simply be His. Do you ever feel that way? This is my prayer today:
Send out your light and truth; let them guide me. Let them lead me to your holy mountain, to the place where you live. There I will go to the alter of God, to God–the source of all my joy. Psalm 43:3-4
Posted by Suzie @
10:17 am |
Momlogic Posts: Are you a Superwoman?
Please check out my posts this week on Christian momlogic:
(Once you join Momlogic, click on groups and join us at Christian Momlogic for interviews, giveaways, but most importantly community among women of faith.)
Posted by Suzie @
9:29 am |
What a weekend!
I’m tired, people. But I had a great weekend. It was my first experience to speak at MOPS Intl. I hope it’s not my last. They really care about the 5,000 women who arrived in Dallas, TX, ministering to them spiritually and also practically as a parent, but also as a person. But the conference isn’t the whole ministry. They minister to 100,000+ women all over the U.S. through small groups in churches, communities, in prisons, the military, and to teens moms as well.
I loved speaking, but also listening. Julie Barnhill keynoted, sharing how motherhood is a lot like the rides you see at the fair. She had the house rolling in laughter. A young mom spoke, sharing her dreams of being a mom one day only to lose it when her young husband was shot in Wedgewood Baptist church a few years ago, but how God was faithful during the hardest years of her life.
From laughter to tears.
Jaci Valesquez and her husband Nic Gonzalez ministered in music. She’s super tiny, and fun. She and her husband bantered on stage. She introduced her young son, pulling the little guy with the pacifier on stage for the first time in his life. He tried to grab the mike the whole time. Another singer in the family? Hmm. Who knows. : )
Erwin McManus spurred the women to run after their passions. Avalon, Kim Hill, and others led them in to worship. Lynn Spears, mom of Brittney, shared the love of a mom and how difficult it can be when your children are in the spotlight. Elisa Morgan, who led MOPS for 20 years encouraged the women that being a mom changes the world one child at a time. There were other great speakers, and each one brought something unique to the women. (more…)
Posted by Suzie @
10:30 am |
