Tuesday, March 29, 2011

It's Been Awhile

Wow it’s been awhile! While reflecting of 2010 and trying to create a blog for the entire year is a little overwhelming. But a few highlights, changes and challenges God is sufficient in ALL things. 2009 was a challenging year and I praised God that 2010 came and was not going to be filled with so many changes. If only I had known. In 2010 I prayed Lord while real estate is slow please show me if I need to get a second job until it picks up. Lord, if that is the case will you send the person to me and offer me the job. That was truly my prayer. In the way the economy is, seriously who would call me and offer me a job. Well be careful what you pray for a month passed and one of the pastors at our church called and offered me a job. I told him “no” he said you did not even pray about it. I agreed to pray and would meet with him the next day. I did just that and with in 24 hrs I had a nanny to help with the kids and another job. I would be helping with the senior adult and pre-school directors at our church. I never knew the two had so much in common. Plan everything around snacks and potty breaks and you will be ok. Seriously, I have been very blessed in this position and know without a shadow of a doubt God provided this job. While juggling both church and real estate is a challenge God provides all I need. Change #2 God provided a new job for Mark with wonderful hours for a family and he loves his new calling as the Facility Manager of our church. It is funny working at the same place but it’s really a blessing getting to have lunch together and seeing each other throughout the day. 2010 for John Mark has been great! He is learning lots but really only cares about playing outside. Yes, we are learning site words and counting but he really could care less how neat he writes his name. All he wants to know is when he can play outside. Rain or sun it does not matter the boy is just like his dad he needs to be outside. He is full of adventure and always up to something. Digging and measuring worms to trying to build a tree house or jumping a stump on his bike. You just never know with him. He makes us laugh and has a gentle spirit when it comes to discipline. He does not want anyone mad or upset with him. It is so funny to me to have 2 children that in some ways are so much alike and in some ways oh so different. Just this past Saturday he fell at the neighbors house hit his face on a rock and knocked a tooth lose which thankfully a Dentist friend pulled it and checked to make sure we didn’t damage any permanent teeth. Boys will be boys. Beth Anne is fun and learning a way lot more than I learned in first and second grade. We can’t spell anything in the car or she will figure it out someway somehow. She turned 8 and we had a skating party with several girls. I was trying to be a good mom and skate with the girls with my camera around my neck so; I would not miss the perfect picture opportunity. While capturing the perfect picture of a great fall my child came up behind me to tell me I was skating in the wrong direction only to pull my arm with the camera on skates. You got it I whacked her in the head with my camera right above the eye. Yes, on the bone. Blood shot out all over the both of us. I felt HORRIBLE! I am usually calm in situations like this but not this time I screamed, kicking off my skates and trying to find something to hold over her eye. Needless to say, we went to All South Urgent Care (I love this place!) got 7 stitches for our 8th birthday! She missed the entire party. But, 2 weeks later we had another one! Beth Anne teaches me a lot! She is smart, strong -willed, knows what she likes and what she doesn’t. She has taught me that something doesn’t matter like “why do you really care if I where flip flops to church.” Jesus wears “sandals.” You know that is not a battle I fight. We wear all kinds of clothes to church some beautiful hand sown outfits that my mom made and yes, I let her wear flip flops. Some battles are not worth fighting. However, some are worth the fight. We are having a hard time with many other things like putting on deodorant and washing hair. Life is fun and challenging sometimes with an 8 yr. old girl. DRAMA

I have started back blogging to keep in touch with some friends that unfortunately I don’t get to see very often. I can’t spell nor is grammar my thing but I hope you enjoy reading what going on in the Shiver family. By no means does this blog define me or my family. We are imperfect people who live in an imperfect world. I don’t want to paint any other picture than the truth.