That Whole Cemetery Thing

Remember in the news when the group of gravediggers were digging up and reselling plots?

I wrote this on the day that it happened:

"I found that the Burr Oak cemetary scandal effects me a lot more than I'd like it to. My mother is buried there. A lot of feelings popped up when I heard the news about the terrible acts that the workers committed. I went on google earth to see the location, and sure enough, the are gaping holes, indicating that the digging process is underway, trying to identify the remains of the loved ones who have been disturbed. I went right back to 8 years old in my head, back when she died....I remembered her death, her funeral, the procession, every little detail...even the song in my head that I hummed to comfort myself, Alvin and the Chipmunks.

Funny, when her birthday comes, I remember her taking me to Disney and laughing and smiling with my dad. When someone potentially unearths her, I remember the drama of the circumstances surrounding her death, how my dad plummeted into a life of alcoholism, losing his young, beautiful bride to a heart attack before his very eyes. I remember my dad carrying my mom out of the house as she gasped for air and as dad threw me the car keys, hoping I would open the door. Everything in me wanted to open that car door, but my hands were trembling. Dad smiled and opened the door with one hand as he gently placed my mom in the front seat. In retrospect, the feces I smelled was my mother's last pass at life, but as we drove just a few blocks, we all pleaded for her to "come on". I remember the hazard lights on my dad's Oldsmobile as he whizzed through traffic to get to the hospital. I remember the chaos that ensued as we pulled up and how my 4 y/o sister and I were put in a private room so we couldn't see the paddles, the pleading of my father, the tears....I saw it all, even when they thought I didn't.

I shouldn't have to be forced to remember these events. Those memories were in the recesses of my mind, there with every other painful thing that has happened in my life. I have peace knowing that my mom is with God.

I pray for accountability for all parties involved. Since there are still forensic and digs going on, all familes are in a holding pattern, waiting for confirmation. I hope my mom is right where we left her 25 years ago. "

Thank God, she is where we left her. *Confirmed November, 09*

What a beautiful song

No Greater Love
You loved me when I was so unlovely
You sought me when I was lost
You showed me how much You really loved me
When You bought me at the highest cost

There's no greater love than this
There's no greater love than this
That a man would give his life for a friend
There's no higher sacrifice
Than a man would give his life
You have paid the highest price for me

You chose me when I was so unworthy
You cleansed me with Your own blood
You clothed me with righteousness and mercy
And You crowned me with Your steadfast love

http://www.imeem.com/pabslike/music/ENgUE-of/don-moen-no-greater-love/

BabyWheel's First Day of Preschool

We love BabyWheel's new school. Her teacher is very sweet and energetic and seems to be very knowledgeable. We pray that she learns a lot.

I cried like a baby...I mean it's not not she hasn't ben in daycare before, but she looked so tall and like a big girl, that my heart just melted.

Here are some shots ;)

Nothing Changes

A group of minority kids were turned away from a suburban pool that they PAID membership for...

Little White Dress

You know the kind of person who goes so slow when they're driving in front of you or they're at the store in the checkout line and they are moving as slow as molasses??

Well, I was doing a return at the mall last night, and there was this woman who was in line in front of me. She went on and on AND ON with the cashier about returning this toddler white dress. (It was one of those fancy ones like for communion or even for a little flower girl.

The manager was adamant about not allowing the woman to return the "specialty" dress. The customer was almost in tears, but understood and got some luggage in exchange for the dress at the department store. The woman was just sort of talking aloud about what she planned to do with the luggage and was a little annoying....

One sentence changed everything...

The woman said to the manager....I was going to use this dress to bury my grandbaby, but my daughter already bought her a dress.

It stopped me in my tracks. The woman started to cry, but the manager was not relenting on the policy.

It made me think...the next time I get annoyed with someone for being slow or for talking a little too much, I need to consider what is going on in their lives.

Patience is a virtue.

I came home and hugged my little girl and thanked God that I did not have to buy a dress for her.

Surgery

I am amazed at God and His way of using technology to heal us.

Unfortunately, we lost a baby a few weeks ago, and I had to have surgery yesterday in order to correct some issues related to that.  Really, the point of the post is to talk about care....and love for people.

I am the sort of person that if someone passes away, I am the first one to call, make a meal or just go and comfort the person.  If someone has a bad hair day, I'm over with a hat and a glass of something bubbly to take the blues away..

I now realize that as much as I genuinely enjoy DOING those things for people, in some ways I also expected those things in return.  I have learned to adjust my expectations and realize that I am an odd bird. I am what I would call a first-responder...always on the scene, right in the thick of it for those I love.  

Everyone is not wired like me. I have to learn to accept that.

I can recall when tragic things happened in our lives, and no one seemed to respond. While that was hurtful, I can understand the viewpoint that people just don't know what to do or to say.

Today, two friends made me lunch (thanks for the soup) and then dinner for my family (the ziti and cake were FABU) *burp* One just came over without calling, and I was groggy, funky and all, but she showed love...she listened to my fears and my concern for our reproductive future.  

Jesus said in Matthew 25:35

"I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger, and you took me into your home."  

We have gotten away from the basics of loving each other...not only in my small situation, but in general.

This is not an indictment on the people who know me and read this blog, but really just sharing my heart about what makes me who I am and how I grow in relationships.

-MommaWheel

Happy Anniversary

8 years ago, 5.19.01, I made the best decision of my life and married my best friend. I was so nervous, and yet, absolutely at peace, knowing that God made us for each other.  

I had a replica of our wedding cake made and it was delish. I did a little tweaking and put his fave, strawberries and my fave, chocolate on the inside.

YUMMY!

She's Sharing, Ya'll

So we go to this fun grocery store to get some stuff for a party and we run into the cutest little girl with her mommy. I'll let Babywheel tell the story since it's about her:

Backstory: When we go to T ra der J o es, Babywheel always gets a balloon...we don't even have to ask. She does not have to sit with her mouth agape, wondering if she can have one...they just give her one because that's what they do at the store. I mean, what 2 y/o doesn't want a balloon when they go to the store?

Today: We are in Weg man's and Babywheel sees one of the men who work at the store holding a balloon...she starts to whine...I want one.  SO, I ask the man if the balloons are for display or can she have one. They gladly cut the balloon off the little weight and give it to babywheel...score.

Later, we see a little girl about 4 years old with her mom, and Mommy asks me...where we got the balloon. I told her we sorta had to bribe to get one.  

Mom starts to explain that in Buffalo, where she's from, all the kids get balloons no matter what....kinda like at Tr a der Jo e 's for us...anyway,

Babywheel out of nowhere starts taking the balloon off her wrist to give it to the little girl.  I said are you done with the balloon? Babywheel says yes...and says she wanted to get down out of the cart to give it to her.  

I kinda chuckled because the other mom was about to cry because she thought it was such a sweet gesture.  Then both Poppawheel and I along with the other mom extolled the girls on their sharing abilities and went on our merry way.

Later, out of the blue, we see this family again....but the little girl has a lollipop in her hand. She gives it to Babywheel in an effort to share the love.

 What a sweet gesture. I wish our world was this way.

We left the store and went to play skeeball at DnB for hours and had a wonderful time! :)

What a great day!

In other news....The night before, I did makeup for a prom. In my former life, I used to do this all the time. It make me feel great to make someone feel beautiful. I love to correct the lies that women tell themselves by spewing compliments about their beauty. When I do makeup, I feel like I am just sharing what is most precious to me....my ability to be creative and create something beautiful out of someone that may be nervous before a wedding or a prom or a fun event.

Some More Vacay Shots

So I always knew that BabyWheel was a smart one, but whodathunk she'd take after her momma and take such a great pic. She asked for the camera and said...MOMMY, I DO IT MYSELF!

Who am I to stunt the creativity of a minor child? She stunned me when she took this!

As a mom, don't you get sad when your kids outgrow clothes? I LOVE this jacket and sadly this was the last fall BabyWheel will be able to rock this funky joint! 'Cuse the blurriness. I took this with my iphone.  

My Little Guitar Hero. I love old people as neighbors...

They are always buying BabyWheel stuff like she was born yesterday.....ooh, I got this for the baby last week :) SO CUTE! BabyWheel was all serious, str8 up rockergirl!

My silly little princess at her first princess dress up party

MommaWheel took this one. I just love the colors of God's creation. Man, all in the name of creativity, a sista almost got her lens chewed off walking up on that bird like that. HA!

Real Estate, Schmeal Estate

Sorry the PhillyWheels have been out of commission lately...

MommaWheel has been taking classes and the only writing I've been doing is papers on vulnerable populations and psychological disorders :)  So, blogging was not on my mind....I dunno WHAT PoppaWheel's deal was....but lest we be rude, I need to update you on a few things:

We went to Austin, TX to see family for Spring Break......OOOH good LAWD was that a pretty place. Now imagine early April in Philly...it's 40 degrees and wet and cold and windy...we hop off the plane in Austin and it's 91 degrees....palm trees a-'glistenin' and my hair blowing in the wind a la Farrah Fawcett minus the aqua net.

Here are a few shots:

Beautiful Capitol
Great Downtown Buildings
The Girl at Breakfast at her Auntie and Uncle's House
My FaVE house in Austin
The BEST BBQ ever!

Now, the one thing that bothers me about going anywhere other than Philly is the real estate.

This is a house in Philly for 200K.

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/7601-Crittenden-St-D2_Philadelphia_PA_19118_1108184426

THIS is a house in Austin for 200k.  

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/9908-Buffalo-Lake-Ln_Austin_TX_78747_1107460709

Now take a 4600 sq ft home in the Philly area....on a 1/2 acre and it costs over a million

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/8214-Ardmore-Ave_Wyndmoor_PA_19038_1102486573

This is a million $$ home in TX

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/18200-Flagler-Dr_Austin_TX_78738_1105787672

Here's another for good measure:

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/7808-Lynchburg_Austin_TX_78738_1105334361

Oh, and the search for a house in Philly from 199K to 200K....came up with TWO count em 2 houses in the zip code I searched for. The were 150 houses for sale in the Austin area in that price range. 

I am thankful for a mortgage that we can afford at an interest rate that is doable. :) A girl can dream....can't she? :)

Overheard in a gas station...

So I'm filling up on gas this evening, and hear this excessively loud cell-phone conversation from this one young dude:

"Yea, so it's this one white boy, yo, he's going to school for journalism or some sh*t, and yo, he's got mad English game."

Not quite sure what to think about that one...

--Poppa Wheel

Thems Be Fightin' Words!

If you don't follow politics you may not really find this interesting, but I've been immersing myself in it a lot over the last couple of months, more so because of the state of the economy, stimulus, bailouts, etc. One of the things that strike me is how inept, inarticulate and irrational these clowns that we elected seem to be. Not so this guy. Watch how he just rips the Prime Minister of the U.K., Gordon Brown, a new bunghole in an articulate, passionate, stately and compelling way. I can't imagine politicians talking like this to #43 or #44 with such poise and pride. I have no idea of this man's politics, ideologies and philosophies, but I must say -- I wish all of our officials, no matter their political affiliation, could express themselves which such dignity, passion and force. At the end I swear he seems like wants to yell "In your face!"



--Poppa Wheel

Swirling Grey Matter

That is how my head feels.

I don't know who told me to take classes (2 of them) while working full time and being a wife and mommy....

I have a kablillion papers to write and chapters up the wazoo! BUT I am enjoying myself immensely! :)

On to more interesting topics:

In the last few weeks I:

Was chosen for jury duty and was the foreman on the case. Quite interesting. Never served on a civil case before. Awarded an exorbitant amount of money that I really did not agree with.

Connected with my sister who I had not talked to in about 10 years. Without putting her bidness on front street, God can do anything, even if we don't want Him to.

Took the kidlet to the doc for a 2nd dislocated tendon in her elbow. I swear, 2 y/o's and their rambunctiousness....

Was almost in a head on collision with unmarked police cars who were chasing a fugitive. Saw the whole shakedown and the suspect was apprehended. This made me revisit my desire to move to suburbia...or back to ATL :)

Umm, there are SO many stories and things that have been going on...but alas, homework calls and I am too much of a nerd not to do it. :)

God is amazing and gives me grace for every moment of my life. Really.

G'Nite!

--MommaWheel

I Heart NY

Two weekends ago for my cousin's 50th birthday, we went to north NJ for a nice soiree and we got all gussied up, but the whole point of the weekend was to go away for the first time with PoppaWheel without BabyWheel. She stayed with my sis in law, and she had a BALL!  I did not blink twice as we hopped on the road after the party to a BnB in Brooklyn, Akwaaba. It was BEYOND. Do you hear me? BEYOND! OVER! LOVED IT!

From reservations to the check in (in which a hand written note with our names was left on the door) with instructions on what to do, every detail was just perfect.

We stayed in the Jumping the Broom Suite, and when we got there at around 11:30pm, there was a HOT bath drawn for us with soft jazz and candlelight.  We literally just stared at each other thinking we were in a dream together.  

I would go back there 100 times!

The next day, we walked about Park Slop, Brooklyn and went in and out of the shops all afternoon.  We had plans to stop at a quintessential Jersey diner, but we decided to eat at the Chip Shop, an English takeout place. We had fish and chips on a newspaper and fried reese's peanut butter cups. That was just too much!

Fastforward to V-Day last weekend, we went to a couples dinner for our church.  What a great time!  We reaffirmed our love for each other in a public setting by saying our vows as if it were 8 years ago. I can't believe I have been married to my best friend for almost 8 years!  We got to share some poetry that we wrote and if I had a copy of it, I would post it here, but it was str8 off the dome and plus I lost the paper I jotted some notes down on. :)

I love you, PoppaWheel. My life is sweeter because of you. You make me a better woman, friend and I love spending my life with you.

Happy Birdday!

Or at least, that's how you say it Baby Wheel. I love it when I mentioned your birthday was coming up, the first thing out of your mouth was "Daddy, I want cake" and then proceeded to blow out an imaginary candle. Man, how you've grown! You have changed my life in ways that only two other people have -- Jesus and Mommy. It's amazing to watch your change from a tiny infant to a full-fledged, energetic, smart, talkative, inquisitive, strong-willed, independent and loving toddler. You have no idea how severely your mother and I love you and what you mean to us.

Happy Birthday, my little chicky-monkey.

--PoppaWheel

2 Years With the Girl

How can I put 2 years of joy into words with BabyWheel?

First, I'd like to say, Happy Birthday Big Girl. Everyday with you is an adventure. I listen to your sense of humor, watch your pretty smile, smell your hair, play with your curls, look into your big brown eyes and I am in love all over again. We dance in circles and sing the Backyardigans song....You know what? We ACTUALLY do have the whole wide world in our yard to explore. Let's do it together ok?

I became your mom 2 years ago today. You alerted us that you were coming on the morning of Superbowl Sunday, 2007. It was 1:42am on February 5 when you came into this world, all bright eyed and bushy tailed.

You're still bright eyed, still bushy tailed and still my little one. You are getting so tall now, jumping in my lap, demanding to read a book. Now, you even read to me. Silly Sally still is your favorite book. You even sing songs that make sense. You only have to hear it once, and you sing it to the top of your lungs. Your most recent kick is "Staying Alive". I can't believe a 2 y/o knows the lyrics to a BeeGees song...and you sing it with passion, cocking your head back and swaying to the beat.

Oh, little girl...do you know the prayers I say to God for you? Now, you're even beginning to pray for yourself. You clasp your hands together, bow your head and yell AMMMMMMMMMMMMEEEN when you're done. I hope that you realize how much God loves you. You will learn that soon enough. I hope we can pass that along to you.

The world is changing. Things are good, but things can also be bad. May you always see the good in people, in situations, in Mommy and Daddy...everything. We have our first African American President. Of course, you know his name...Abak OOOOOOObama is how you say it. May there be hope in your future to be anything you want to be.

May your character be full of gratitude, graciousness and peace.

My love for you is overflowing like the tears that fall down my face as I think of you. I think right now Daddy is your superhero. You call his name in the middle of the night. Mommy is the one who comes with the juice, but Daddy is the one who saves the day!

You make the silliest faces and make us laugh all the time. You HATE sitting on the step when we ask you to sit there because you've done something you weren't supposed to. Really, you're sitting there less and less. Hmm, someone is getting a little more mature huh? You get so many stickers for going to the potty. Good job! I am going to be patient and wait until you're ready. I won't force the issue....pinky swear. K? But, we're in a recession and pullups are expensive, and you're a practical toddler right? :)

Thanks for going on vacations with us and sleeping in other beds in hotels. You even have started sleeping all the way through the night. You must be comfortable. You know your Mom Mom and Pop Pop and even know your cousins. That's pretty cool huh? You talk on the phone and ask for MeMe and want to blow out candles everywhere. You get shy around people, but it takes just a little while for you to warm up.

I look forward to every day that God allows us to be together. Let's keep having fun and learning and growing together. Happy Birthday.

I love you madly, deeply, with my whole heart. I am honored to show you the world.

Love,

Momma

SnowBunny

Last year, when BabyWheel was 10 months old, it did not snow as much this time of year. (good for shoveling) but bad for fun.

This year the soon to be 2 y/o loved to play in the snow. Here's the evolution of SnowBunny:

Checking out the scenery


Climbing on her chair to get a closer look


Got her gear on

What IS this white stuff?


Let me check it out

All that snow wiped me out, Momma!


Perhaps if I put on Daddy's glasses upside down I can see into the future...More snow please!



-MommaWheel

Eagles Suck!

I told myself that I wouldn't let myself get drawn into the hype again this year. I promised myself that I'd be a "distant" fan, only to protect myself from being let down again. This was my mindset even as I watched the first two quarters yesterday. Yet something happened in the third quarter. I dared hope again, that maybe this time would be different. Only to have my spirit crushed by yet another NFC Championship defeat. I get too emotionally attached to them. Now I find myself slightly depressed.

The Eagles suck! The Eagles are like some women who kick it with the thug/bad boy. They enjoy the exhilarating thrill of the ride only to have their hearts crushed in the end. I have no hope left for the Eagles. Beyonce said it best Eagles: "If you liked it then you shoulda put a (championship) ring on it!"

--Poppa Wheel

You're Not Welcome Here

Living in suburban ATL, GA, my family was in an area where we had reverse busing, where black students were bused to predominately white areas to balance out race in the schools. The area we lived in was predominately white and was upper class. As the years went on, more white families moved out of the area and black families moved in. The school I attended had a purposeful balance of black and white students.

I will not elaborate on the ramifications of this choice by the school district in the 1990's, but I will talk about diversity.

A little backstory: My husband, daughter and I now live in a predominately black middle class neighborhood with neighbors who have been here for 30 years. This area used to be mostly Jewish families who have since moved out to suburbia. As time went on, black doctors, lawyers, and other professionals set up shop in the 50's and 60's so that everything was "walkable". Those professionals have since moved away. Now the older people are dying off, although there are not many renters in the area (which can pose some transient issues) there are younger families who tolerate more in the area of illegal pharmaceutical trafficking. I ain't having it! I did not grow up in the city and I am not used to drug dealers and not being able to leave my car door unlocked. Not to sound bourgeoisie, but I can't raise a family here unless people care. I am not going to be the MLK of my generation (Happy Bday Martin) and go out on a limb to help prosecute these thugs unless I am not alone. The neighbors are old and they keep their mouths shut.

We are left with the question of....do we move to suburbia and send our daughter to the local school where education is "better". Or, do we stay here, rough it out, and send the kidlet to private school? Now when I say rough it out, will our daughter be the worst person in the world if we stay here? Nah. She learns alot from being around older black folks. They eat her up and are really good to us.

When talking this issue over with a co-worker, I expressed interest in a certain area of town. I went to a hot tub party there on Friday night in -10 degree weather. You gotta try it; it's exhilarating! lol Anyway, We were chatting about us moving to the area, and my black co-worker says to me...you're not welcome here. What could you possibly have in common with these people out here?

*pause*

I can get down with the best of them. Politics, religion, fair trade, double dutch, cornrowing, Gaza, whatever you wanna talk about, I got you!! I'd like to think we live in a world where black people can live anywhere we want to if we can afford it. Sadly, if other educated African Americans won't take that first step towards diversity, who will? I believe our daughter's experiences can be rich, no matter the race of her friends. I am going to throw a cliche' phrase in here, but we really do have friends of all races. I don't want to live in an area where there is ALL of anything...all Asian, all Latino, etc, I want a mix of people from different backgrounds and cultures. However, I do not want our daughter to be so out of touch with African American culture that she doesn't even realize that she's black.

I just want my child to have a good education and for us to live in a 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath, 1/2 acre house in a diverse neighborhood without drug dealers that is not gonna cost $700K. Maybe we should move back to the ATL :) Maybe I'm being picky.

-MommaWheel

Subway Stories - Part 1

I decided to start cataloging my frequent observations while riding public transportation. I usually drive to work, but every now and then I have to take one for the team. I'd rather spend and hour and half commuting by car than take spend 20 minutes on SEPTA. I simply hate....no, that's not strong enough...I loathe, despise, and abhor taking the bus or the subway to my job down-town. Sure, the regional rail system is an option, but I'm too cheap to consider it as a sustainable and viable option. I think what bugs me more than anything is the inconsiderate and downright selfish nature of some its riders. Consider just these few choice gems:

1. It's clearly posted than no music should be played without being accompanied by earphones. Yet with the proliferation of cell phone/smart phones that play MP3 audio files, people not only enjoy their music but want to share it with the world! Just today, this lady was playing some Lil Wayne from her cell phone -- with no headphones. Sure maybe her headphones broke, but she could have at least played it softly. Not this one. She turned the volume up for the entire bus to hear. And she had such a scowl on her face. She looked as if she was waiting to cuss someone into next week for daring to ask her to turn it down. I just sucked it up and tried to think happy thoughts. Didn't work. Ugh.

2. It's clearly posted that there should be no eating or drinking. OK, I can understand maybe drinking a bottle of water, or eating a bag of chips. But why did brother man have to take that to the next level? He had one of those full platters from somewhere like Abner's BBQ, with ribs, corn on the cob, greens, etc. I guess he couldn't wait until he got home, because he's in the back of the bus, simply devouring this stuff. Now sure, I'm hating a little because it smells so good, but I don't think I've ever saw/heard anyone eat like this. It was as if he was inhaling his food -- solid food, bones and all! The slurping, moaning and sucking sounds coming from this guy sounded like a herd of hogs eating from a slop bucket. Did he really not notice how much noise he was making? It was an equally fascinating, yet disturbing at the same time, like a lion tearing into the belly of a wildebeest.

3. It's clearly posted that there should be no smoking. I'm mean that's obvious right? RIGHT?! Not to this one clown. While the subway train is moving he decides to open the door, where one car connects to the other and start smoking. Maybe he forgot his Nicotine patch that morning. Perhaps the gum wasn't potent enough. I don't know. And it's not that he just decides to start smoking. I expected him to pull out a pack of maybe some Newports, Kools, or Salems. But get this; of all things he lights up...and I kid you not...some weed! WEED on a public train! I guess he thought he was doing everyone a favor by smoking "outside". How considerate of him.

Anyway, I'll stop for now, but I'm sure I'll have more experiences to share soon.

--Poppa Wheel

No shame

I can't help but smile every time I see this commercial. No small part from the fact that I see myself doing this in a few years -- heck I do it now in some ways. This is a great way to communicate the importance of fatherhood:



UPDATE: What a fantastic article regarding the impact of fathers on their daughters.

--Poppa Wheel

Just What I Needed

So I started school again, on my way to becoming a clinical counseling psychologist, whatever that means... :)

Anyway, I had such trepidation about going back...how can I manage working full time, a household and my marriage along with all that is Babywheel right now? I get home at 5, BabyWheel is on my heels until 9 and Hubby is well...I like what he's on after 9...(snicker) but still....

All these thoughts were going through my head:
- Will Hubbs be ok with Babywheel for 4 hours on Saturdays or will she destroy the house?
- Will I be successful?
- If I don't get an A or B my tuition will not be reimbursed.
- Will I have time to be normal?
- How is my house gonna get cleaned?

I know people go back to school with more challenges than I do, and I understood that immediately as I walked into the classroom yesterday. There were about 22 people in class, mostly women, and the last person to come in was a man....

He had no arms and was in a wheelchair. This was not shocking to me at all because I work around people with many challenges, so that was not the point. When lecture started, he broke out his pen and started writing with his pen in his mouth. He maneuvered the syllabus with ease and had his laptop ready to take any notes.

That thought me a very quick lesson, well, two...Stop being such a friggin princess, and Lord knows if he can do it, so can I. This man was a joy to sit next to. He was a father, an owner of a business, and what seemed to be a great husband.

I will take a phrase from him today..." Glory Be to God." He said that a lot as we were making small talk. I can do all things through Christ who strengths me.

Thanks S!

-MommaWheel

A New Thing

Isaiah 43:

18 "Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.

19 See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?"

We're so grateful to see another year. 2008 was a tough year, full of unforeseen challenges in practically every area of our lives. But, we're encouraged by the words in Isaiah 43. We know the Lord wants to do something new in our lives. However, if we're so fixated on the past, hung up over our "coulda-shoulda-wouldas", it's going to prevent us from understanding, appreciating and experiencing what God wants to do in our lives in the present, right now. A new thing. So it's with a little trepidation (what's surprises will 2009 hold?), but much optimism (the Lord is in control) that we approach this New Year. One thing we know for certain, it won't be dull!

Have a Happy New Year!

--Poppa Wheel