Seasons of Motherhood

As I sat in Church this morning I had a sudden realization of how quickly life flies by.  There were 3 precious babies that just turned one this month sitting behind me making sweet noises and moving restlessly around.  All of a sudden when one hits his head on the bench and screams out, I realize I am sitting by myself listening to the sermon with no one demanding my attention.  My arms began to ache, I longed to snatch up one of those babies and snuggle.
Yet just a few short years ago I remember sitting in the same pew almost in tears because I couldn't get my babies to act right.  I remember longing for just one moment of worship time without the stress of worrying if my children were ruining the service for everyone else.  At times dreaded going because it was an emotional roll coaster, even when they sat with other people I heard every breath they made.  In time they were trained and now they even participate by reading, singing, praying, or taking up the offering.  Things I dreamed of while I was wrestling with my precious baby.  Yet now I listen to the sweet noise (it is amazing how the tone changes when it is not your child) and long for those days.

Mom lesson:

I can't tell you how many times have I heard Don't Blink or you will miss it.  Believe me having 3 boys in 3 1/2 years, I am sad to say there was a lot of blinking just to survive the baby stages.  I wish you could go back and visit those moments so you can truly appreciate them.  First so you can enjoy your precious child who wanted to wear superman shirts every where for 2 years. Second so you can remember what ACTUALLY happened, You can trick your mind into thinking a 3 year old stubbornness is cute AFTER you have survived it but while it was going on it was awful. 

SO some free advice from a mom who survived so far: 
#1 This to shall pass and a lot quicker than you think.  The Good Lord gives you strength when you ask!  My 3rd baby slept through the night when I brought him home from the hospital, and at the time that was a miracle!
#2  Deal with behavior issues NOW I know it is hard and you are tired but you need to be consistent and give your child a healthy respect for authority BEFORE you have to start training Attitudes and Heart lessons
#3  When a mom with older children offers to help with your precious baby, PLEASE let her.  You need a break and she needs the memories.

There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven:

a time to be born and a time to die,

 a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, 

a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

a time to search and a time to throw away,

a time to tear and a time to mend,

a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time to love and a time to hate,

a time for war and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

 

Whatever season of motherhood you are in remind yourself, there is some mother out there longing to be in your shoes.  Some may want to remember and others may be caught in the chaos. 



Gator Bait

We were invited to go fishing at a friends pond.  Although there were some good size fish, we were invited to see the Gators.  That is right I said alligators.  As we drove up 2 swam up to the bank where we were sitting up to fish.  The smaller one swam in the reeds directly in front of us the whole time

The kids threw out their fishing poles and began to fish.  The youngest member of our Fishing team was great at catching.  He caught a "Ginormous" bass, but also hooked several trees and adults.  He impressed us all by giving the bass a kiss for good

luck.

  

Our Crew hooked a couple of Brim.  Gage was reeling one in and pulled it directly over the gator, that sweet "little" Gator Launched at the fish.  After that the kids were done Fishing.  They began trying feed the fish food, trying to entice the Gator to Bite another one.  The kids spent the rest of the afternoon racing around the pond talking to "Big mama"

 

City Girl lesson
I could not get over how many fish were swimming around the alligator in the water.  They were completely unaware of the danger they were in.  How often to we get so use to our surrounding that we are unaware of the Danger that is surrounding us.  1Peter 5:8  Be Self-controlled and Alert.  Your Enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 

It reminds me of the Song "Slow Fade" by Casting Crowns

 

It's a slow fade

When you give yourself away

It's a slow fade

When black and white are turned to gray

 

And thoughts invade, choices are made

A price will be paid

when you give yourself away

People never crumble in a day

 You do not possess the tools to overcome your temptations.  Luke 9:23 Deny yourself and take up your cross daily and follow Christ.  Walk with God Daily, he wants a relationship with you.  Only than will you be Alert when your enemy is trying to devour you.

Fireflies

 

 During a beautiful summer evening Eric was grilling hamburgers and the boys were playing outside.  The sun began to set and our yard lit up with fireflies.

 

 

  The boys immediately grabbed their Bug buckets and took off to the field.  The boys filled their buckets loving every minute of it. 

 

Hutch was busy lecturing us on how important it was to be careful with them as he slings his bucket from side to side.  While Curtis was attempting to count how many Fireflies we caught, we heard Gage scream "Ouch one just flew in my ear, no it was not a lighting bug we are ok" 

 City Girl Lesson-
It was amazing to watch the bugs light up across the field!  I think about how God has called us to be a light in the dark world.  There were tons of bug in that field but my boys were drawn to the Fireflies because of their lights.  My Brother in law, Don, once did a lesson on how darkness is just the absence of light and when you bring a source of light the darkness immediately vanishes.  We often try to complicate the purpose of being a Christian.  It is to reflect the light of Christ in a world of darkness.  People will be drawn to Him not to you.  Don't try to turn yourself into something you are not, God did not mean for you to feel the pressure of being everything to all people.  That is what he is, you are just a flying bug that stands out in the darkness that can point others to the source of your light. 

Start with the End in Mind

A couple of years ago, I was coming home late one night from Prattville.  The kids were asleep in the back of the mini van and I was ready to be home.  I was on a road in-between Enterprise and Troy when I came to a detour.  So I turned and began driving down this country road I had never been on, watching for the next Detour sign.  After Driving for 10 minutes I began to get nervous.  I called Eric for some reassurance.  "Just follow the cars in front of you" So within minutes I came to a 4 way stop.  The First Car went right, the second Car went Straight and the third went left.  That's right the cars in front of me all went different Directions So my plan of following the cars in front of me went out the window!  I immediately break down in tears and stop in the middle of the road.  The next action I took was to CALL MY DAD.  He looked up my location and directed me back to a road I knew.

City Girl Lesson:  Life is full of many different roads but only your destination matters.  It's all about finding your way home.  I remember having a conversation with my Sister in Law, Sherri, about thinking about what we are asking of God when we pray for our children to have qualities such as patience, compassion, humility.  How many of us would pray for  our children to face heartbreak, physical pain, or failure.  No we pray for the end results, if God told us everything we face during a journey we may quit before we start. 
Habakkuk 1:5 Look at the nations and watch and be utterly amazed.  For I am going to do something in your days that you would no believe even if you were told.

 This week has been one of Joy and Grief in our family.  Colton, our oldest nephew, graduated high school and Eric's Granny Galloway passed away.  Colton is just beginning to decide what road he will blaze down while Granny is enjoying her final destination.  

I recently found a letter she wrote during a wedding shower
When Eric complains about the burnt toast tell him you learned how from Granny Galloway.  When you can't find the car keys tell him you also learned that from Granny Galloway.  You may lose anything and burn all the food just don't lose your love or your trust in God.

What a wonderful heritage of faith!  No matter what roads you travel or how many times you get lost.  Remember WHO holds the map.  For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Jeremiah 29:11

Muddin

Don and Sherri shared their Exchange Student, Andrew, with us this year.  Andrew was welcomed with open arms into the craziness of Sweet Gum Head.  The main goal during our time together has been to let Andrew experience "The Country" in America.   

Of course anyone who has visited Sweet Gum Head knows that one of the BEST experiences is Mema's Cooking!  During supper we were enjoying a BIG country spread full of fresh vegetables, homemade dressing, homemade chicken and dumplings, and Mema topped it off with strawberry shortcake.  The boys kept asking for more shaving cream (whip cream) on their cake.  Andrew told Mema that he would have to bring some of these recipes for his Grandma to cook for him.  He really enjoyed the strawberries and shaving cream during dessert.  I would love the see the faces of his family when he tries to reassure them that shaving cream really is good on cake. 

During dinner Eric and Sherri were talking about fun childhood memories when the stories of "muddin" started. The more Eric thought about it, the more we had to let Andrew experience this redneck tradition before he left.   Did it matter to Eric that it was 8:30 the night before Mother's day? Of course not, Memories needed to be made and it was his job to get it done. 

 

 

Sherri and Colton hopped on the four wheeler to start this adventure, and everyone else got in the Truck or Gator and Headed to the field.  The First Laugh came when Sherri was pushing Colton out of a mud rut by standing right behind the tire which sprayed her with mud.  Quickly we were all covered in mud and having a Blast!  Colton and Andrew were all about getting dirty but the other kids were nervous yet excited about joining in.   Eric rode Gage and Hutch while Sherri took Evie and CeCe.  Curtis and Ashton decided to watch from the truck.  The kids loved every minute of it and were really impressive drivers when the adults had to push the four wheeler out of a hole.

After everyone was sufficiently covered in mud, Sherri challenged the kids to a race across the mud tracks.   The next big laugh came quickly after when yours truly took a nose dive right in to the mud at the word GO.  Colton blasted off and was given the title of Elf Legolas because it looked as if he barely touched the ground.  Cece's boots got stuck and she sunk up to her knees in mud before she was rescued.  Even while CeCe was stuck she still beat Hutch, who never made it to the starting line.  He was tiptoeing around trying to avoid Mud in the middle of a field of mud.

 

As the mud began to dry and cake on to our skin, We complained about the smell.  Mema quickly enlighten us to the fact that it most likely was not all mud.  This made shower time a little more urgent.  Did I say shower because I meant being sprayed down with a water hose.  After striping down and realizing how many crevices we have that mud found it's way into, we were all FREEZING and full of stories about the adventures of the night.  

 

City Girl lesson:  Opening your home and heart to others is a gift that I have experienced over and over again since we moved to Sweet Gum Head.  Andrew was from another Country but this year it has felt as if he was a part of the family.  Sharing all of what the country life is all about in one year is impossible.  Truthfully we did things our own children had not experienced.  We forget to go "muddin" because we get caught up in daily life.  It is easy to talk yourself out it by thinking we can do it tomorrow, next week, next year.  Why you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life?  You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. James 4:14   It is so important to take advantage of the time you are given.  Don't put off for tomorrow what you can do today.

 

Thank you Andrew for reminding us how fun our country can be, thank you for challenging us to experience life through your eyes.  As my son cried to sleep when he realized this would be one of our last visit with you, there is no doubt you will be in our hearts and memories forever.

My Personal Chick Flick

I just finish watching my favorite chick flick, Pride and Prejudice.  I Adore everything about the movie!  When he calls her Mrs. Darcy at the end I just want to jump up and cheer.
 

Then I want to scream, "Show what happens on their 11th anniversary?"  Does he find her stubborn personality enduring or annoying when it is dealing with how to reorganize her closet for the 5th time.  How does he handle it when she HAS to walk not because she is fond of it but because her figure is not as young as it use to be.    Is she accomplished when she is caught reading all day instead of cleaning the house or tending to the children. 

What about the days Elizabeth does everything right BUT Mr. Darcy has a rough day at work and forgets to notice.

 

OK maybe you understand where I am coming from.  Chick flicks are a long way from real life.  Yet I have dreams and expectations in my head that make it impossible for Eric to live up to.  I have learned (not perfected) to remember my 1st with Eric.  Back in the days when I was a "cute" (I always hated being called cute) flirty little teenager I lived at Camp Wiregrass during the summer, my own piece of heaven on earth.  This particle session I was counseling 7th 8th and 9th grade and Eric's Sister, Nicole, convinced her family to come to camp.   I grew up attending camp with Nicole but had never meet Sherri or Eric.  When we were introduced, I automatically thought Eric was married, Sherri and Don were there together and he was "way" (5 years) older then me.

A view from Eric's memory, a camper walked in and announced "I am Magen Madaris' Cousin"  He said "Who?  Why do I care about that?".   After meeting this random 17 year old he told himself to stay away from that Jail bait.  After the week continued and sleep deprivation got the best of him,  he began talk to me Thursday night.  (I think I heard a story about him trading his truck for a kiss?!?  I must have been a really "cute" teenager)  The rest was history.  Although we didn't began dating for another year the seeds of a Wonderful friendship had begun to bloom.  

  Do you remember this scene of Pride and prejudice?  The First time they Touch, Mr. Darcy helps Elizabeth into the carriage.  The best scene ever!  You can Feel the connection. 

Eric asked me to teach him to make a Lanyard for his truck keys.  I was showing him how to weave the laces and our hands touched.  Now this may seem like no big deal but I express myself with my hands and I touch all the time. 
The fact that I remember that touch with such clarity is magical to my memory. 

Wife Lesson: Chick Flicks are romantic and fun but it is not reality.  Just like Ice cream taste great but you cant eat it for every meal.  As much as I love to remember how crazy we were when we were young, I do not want Eric skipping work to stare into my eyes.  WHY because He would loose his job and that is what makes it possible for my family to survive.  

My Reality is : 
*The fact that we love to walk and talk at the end of day (as much for our figures as for relationship) is something I am very fond of. 
*The fact we love to stay at the house hanging out instead of going out when the grandparents keep the kids is our Incandescently Happy moments.
*The Fact that Eric loves me when I am unlovable, shows that I have
 Bewitched him Body and Soul

 

In conclusion I love my husband more today than when we first met.  I don't love him more because he proposed to me in the exact spot he first saw me at Camp Wiregrass under a Meteor Show  (AMAZING! See He really can be VERY romantic).  I love him more because of the effort that goes into living EVERYDAY and after 11 years he still CHOOSES to put that effort into me.

I Corinthians 13 

 Love is patient, Love is kind. It does not envy, It does not boast, It is not proud. It is not rude, It is not Self-seeking, It is not easily angered, It keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It ALWAYS Protects, ALWAYS Trust, ALWAYS Hopes, ALWAYS Perseveres.
Love never fails.

The details that make True Love real do not always make good movies.  But it makes my life full of magic and adventure.  You are my Favorite Eric Galloway  Happy 11th Anniversary

 

Down and Dirty Digging

In the country the family that works together has a lot of stories to tell.

Last month Pappy needed some dirty digging done in his yard.  Four Generations of Galloway men; Pappy, Pa, Eric, and the Boys (Galloway and Sewell) were working together to get the job done.  After they finished working at Pappy's house they drove the Back-hoe to Pa's Yard and dug up a tree stump.

 

The lessons the boys have acquired made this a very productive day.

1)   Pa taught the boys how to be on the "workin" end of a shovel (aka how to hold a shovel).

2)  When the boys found a toad and were playing with it, Pappy told them "If it pees on your hand you could get warts". 

3) The hardest worker in the crew was the youngest, Zander.  He never quit digging, of course he was in the hole everyone else was trying to fill.

4) When you dig a hole and pile up dirt, it makes a ideal place to play King of the Hill

City Girl Lesson:
 To often we try to spare our children from work, we think we are doing them a favor by letting them rest and play.  Honestly we are spoiling the next generation and depriving them of the knowledge of how to accomplish a task.  I am so excited for the boys to get to learn "how to" do things.  I hope it will one day give them the confidence to handle dirty digging on their own. 

A BIG SHOUT OUT to the older men of this story!  We all know it would have been a lot easier to accomplish the job without

5 little rug rats helping.

 

Train a child in the way he should go and when he is old

he will not turn from it.  Proverbs 22:6