Summer is incredibly busy at our house-okay, who am I kidding?? It’s always incredibly busy at our house! Summer, however, is a different kind of busy. I LOVE summer! The sun is one of my very best friends and I love that it sticks around longer. I love days at the local pool with Christy and the kids, and am especially happy when Angie gets to break free to join us. I love mornings on the back patio with my coffee (and homework these days) and evenings outside as the sunsets and the temperature drops just enough. Sounds so smooth and relaxing, doesn’t it?? Now, add in summer rec, baseball, softball, 2 kids with jobs, 2 with classes, me with classes and a practicum, AND our regular jobs. WHEW! Needless to say, I am exhausted and desperately in need of a haircut and an afternoon by the pool! Notice I didn’t even mention a vacation……..that’s because I’m too tired to even think about packing a bag.
Baseball and softball have ended. Sam and Emily both had fun seasons with some good wins and some great lessons. Striking out isn’t the end of the world, and batting sessions with Debby ROCK! Summer rec ends Friday. Kaylie has made some VERY cute ceramics and will participate in the production with the theatre group on Thursday. Sam has gone on some fun field trips and gained the independence of riding his bike to the rec center. Abi has been babysitting, working a little bit for summer rec, survived driver’s ed and brought home her certificate last Friday. I suppose this means we have another driver in the house (and the Dr. asked me what I was stressed about? HA!). Lizzi has discovered that being a grown up probably really does suck. Working two jobs to pay for her car and taking college algebra, she’s finding that responsibility sucks. J She is, however, taking it all in stride AND surviving the algebra!
July begins with Abi’s birthday on the 2nd. I’m not sure who thought it would be okay for her to turn 15 and start driving this summer (she already seems to think she’s at least 25)……but, I can assure you, it was NOT me. It continues to elude me how it all goes by so quickly. I have to confess that she’s become a fascinating young lady (I am probably using “lady” a bit loosely, ha!). She’s gritty, smart, assertive, opinionated, quick witted, and quite entertaining when she remembers to use her “powers” for good. She loves with all she has and expects nothing less from those she chooses to surround herself with. Sometimes her mouth works faster than her brain (okay, most of the time), but she’s learning. I admire her fearlessness and as her mom it terrifies me at the same time. She’s beautiful inside and out. And, even though 15 has come much quicker than I would like, I’m blessed to say that not only do I love her because she’s my daughter, but I enjoy her company and value her friendship. Abi has an innate ability to impact the people around her and someday God is going to put her to work doing just that.
This summer the next thing on the calendar was Praise in the Park with our church family at Mulvane United Methodist Church. We gathered in the city part Sunday morning at 9am for a morning of praise and worship. This is exciting for a couple of reasons. We normally have 3 separate services, but on this day we all worshiped together. AND, the best part…….Sam was baptized…..because he asked to be. He loves the Lord, has asked Jesus to be his savior, and he has asked Pastor Rick (ok, pestered him to death!) to PLEASE baptize him. SO, the long awaited day finally arrived, and what and AMAZING day it was! Because we were at the park, and because Sam wanted to be dunked (like his sisters and Jesus), a stock tank was brought in (Thank you Jim McDaniel!) and a fire truck came to fill it (Thanks Fred Herschee!). The praise band played and led as we worshiped together, the choir sang, PR preached (God spoke loud and clear!) on the topic of worship, and our Sam proclaimed his faith and was baptized surrounded by lots of friends and family. What pure joy to see the smile on his face as he came out of the water! I share often that Sam was not part of my life’s plan. He came along at a time when my life was a complicated mess, and furthermore, I was done having babies. Or so I thought. As it turns out, God had bigger and better plans. He always does. Sam has been an incredible gift. Not only does he ground ME and make ME smile at times when no one else can, but he seems to impact others in that way as well. He has a huge heart and a tender spirit and I know God has big plans for him. It makes my heart smile to know that all five of our kids have proclaimed their faith and been baptized by choice.
Next on the July schedule is Lizzi’s birthday. She seems to think that she gets to turn 17. I’m really struggling with the idea that somehow the calendar has more control over these things than I do. Here she is wrapping up her first college class, thinking and planning ahead (like she thinks she’s gonna be a senior this year or something!), and I’m looking at her and wondering where it all went. Her childhood has flown by and the last bit of it is slipping through my fingers. Talking with her is like talking to a bright young woman…….where the heck is my little girl?? The beauty of Lizzi, though, is that the free spirited, happy, high energy little girl is still there. She carries herself with the grace of her grandmother (for whom she was named) and at the same time bounces through life with a pure and genuine joy. Her energy is contagious and she has a positive affect (most of the time, ha!) on the people around her. When stress hits, she melts down and pulls it together quickly. She, like her sister, loves with all she has and is deeply dedicated to friends and family. She is quickly becoming a responsible and confident young woman. I’m blessed to get to say that while I love her because she’s my daughter, I enjoy her company and value her friendship also. How blessed am I to get to claim that of BOTH of my girls???
This leads me to my thoughts on Casey Anthony. As I consider my children and how much I love and value ALL of them (not just the 3 I gave birth to, but all the bonus kids I love and claim as well), it is incredibly difficult for me to swallow the idea of any mother taking the life of her child. I didn’t follow the trial because not only did I simply not have time, but I had no desire. The little bits I picked up were devastatingly sad, and I simply could not comprehend it. Many were outraged when she was not convicted. Many made statements regarding the fact that she would eventually be judged by God. At the risk of stepping on some toes, I might point out that eventually we will ALL be judged by God. And let me also point out that Jesus died for us ALL, including Casey Anthony, regardless of our sin so that we could be forgiven. So while I struggle with the whole story, the one thing I know is that it is not my place to point fingers. God knows the truth and so does Casey Anthony. We will never have the whole story, nor do we need to. Our job is to love each other through life’s storms. That means even Case Anthony. So I haven’t reposted memorials of her daughter, or condemnations because it breaks my heart deeply, as a mom who is absolutely smitten with my children. Whatever the truth is in ANY case of child abuse, there is plenty of shame and guilt. I would challenge those who were impacted enough to invest time in reading and following that trial to pray for Casey Anthony for just a fraction of the time you have already spent watching her demise. I’m not saying she is innocent or guilty. I am saying, however, she is hurting either way. So, let us walk humbly. Save judgment for God. Cherish our children. And pray.
