Hope and Faith

Nine years ago today, we lost our sweet twins in utero. There names are Hope and Faith. Yesterday started out as a struggle for me, because I knew today was coming. Comfort came in various forms, though, which made the day good. It ended with me snuggling and falling asleep with my 7 1/2 year old, whose life began, in utero, a week after the twins were due to be born.

I awoke today not feeling sadness, but great joy. Joy in knowing that my baby girls are with Jesus. Joy in knowing that God gave me two full of life boys to parent now. Joy in knowing that I, a sinner saved by grace, am dearly loved by the Creator who understands the pain of loss. He came to earth and died for my sins, because I do not have the power to save myself. Joy in knowing that although we live in a fallen world where life can be so HARD, people can hurt and disappoint, things can be unfair and unjust, best laid plans can fail miserably, that GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME. And oh so faithful.

Eric bought those frilly ballerina bears for me a couple of weeks after our babies were gone. They do not match our Christmas tree or any other decoration that we have. They look totally out of place near the top of our tree each year, but they are not. They fit perfectly and are reminders of our Hope and Faith. Our sweet girls and our sweet Savior, Jesus Christ. Faith in Him gives us an everlasting Hope. Hallelujah!

 

The Workmans 28

Turkey Day

The 10-Year-Old Spy...And then Some

Oh, blog, how I have missed you!!! 

Wow!  I can't believe it has been so long since I last posted. 

21 months!!  

So much has happened...we moved, we have a yard now, a yard that requires lots of attention, one of my dearest friends became my neighbor ( I so need to blog about how AWESOME that was and how it was nothing short of the Lord being so sweet to me), Meem and Peep moved to Tennessee, they live 20-30 minutes away (depending on traffic),  I became an aunt...TWICE (yes, the blog definitely needs some Clay and Kayce pictures), the boys grew, Caleb got baptized, Seth accepted Christ as his savior and will be baptized, they still have boundless energy and bottomless stomachs, They both play flag football, basketball and tennis (but not at the same time), Caleb still loves to read, Seth now will admit that he likes to read,  I stopped working from home, I started working at our church, I stopped working at our church, Eric got even more handsome (didn't think that was possible), we celebrated 11 and 12 years of marriage, we got a boat...well, not really, but we do house Peep's boat here during the summer and now that they are here, get to take more trips to the lake on the weekends, UK had a really bad season (2013) and then they had a really awesome season (2014) and almost won the National championship,  Eric and I had one of our most favorite trips ever to Atlanta for the 2014 SEC tournament, we went to Disney again, we climbed the side of a building in Chattannooga,  we got a pet, her name is Jawsette and she is a guinea pig (Yep, the blog needs some of her, too), Eric and I moved up to teaching 2/3rd graders at church, we try to rest more,  did I mention we mow the yard a lot?  Oh yeah, and Caleb enjoys making movie trailers now.  See above.

So much.  Much joy. Much fun. Definitely some rocky spots. Many tears.  Growth. Regression. Regrowth.  Grace. Forgiveness. Lots of forgiveness.  Thankfulness that we serve a great God who is always faithful, even when we falter. Change. New seasons. Lots of love.  A lot of life.

I have certainly missed writing about and chronically all of our adventures.  I am not quite sure what happened.  Oh, yeah, first, blogger switched format (a little) and it overwhelmed me for a time. I am not good with change, which is no surprise to anyone. And my lack of technological savvy makes me run and hide behind the bed to avoid the intimidation. Then our old lap top got funky and wouldn't allow me to upload pictures easily.  Again, I hid behind the bed. Then I forgot my blogger password. In the midst, my free time got less and less, as did my time at home.  My boys grew and got busier. They started going to school all day, Eric started working more, and when we were all home together, I found typing on a computer less appealing. We were in a new season of life, and the once desperately needed outlet was not quite so necessary anymore.  It lost its pizzazz and took a back seat.  Actually, the poor blog ended up in the trunk.  Buried under an old blanket.

Also, I think I just got a tad bit over always feeling burdened to capture ever moment on camera and writing about it.  I think I got sucked into the notion that if I didn't blog about it, it DIDN'T REALLY HAPPEN.  So much that I sometimes didn't even enjoy being in the moment, because I was so distracted by making sure I posted about it.  And then I would miss another moment, because I was obsessed with getting it on the blog. It was like I thought I had some big deadline to meet and would actually get stressed if it took me too long to upload my most recent photos.  Crazy, right? So, I gave up.

This was self-induced pressure, of course, and took away the true joy that I experience when I write. And the true pleasure that I get from journaling about our family and going back and reliving our sweet memories through this blog.  And the true joy I get from just hanging out with my husband and boys without feeling like I have to have a computer in my lap. Such a thing should never be a burden, but I can over complicate anything. 

However, I have totally missed this blog, missed writing and posting, and wonder what might become of this blog from here on out.

Blog, you have a way of bringing out my words.  You were such a friend to me during the years when I was home all day with two very active boys and I needed an outlet. Oh, those years were precious and much shorter than I anticipated. BUT some of those days got REALLY long and I needed you. May I find balance and utilize you properly. No pressure posting.  May I not allow you to be a distraction.  And may I figure out how in the world to upload pictures successfully on our newer laptop.

  I totally didn't even plan to write a blog today.  I was really just looking to post Caleb and Seth's videos here, so that I can get them off of my phone, because they are eating up my memory.  So, enjoy!!!

Growing Process

There is much going on around the Workman abode these days.  If you didn't know, we have sold our townhouse (well, actually God did it...in like 18 hours.  Yay!) and plan to move in less than a month to a "perfect for us" home...with a (drum roll) huge yard.  Woo Hoo!!!  It has been an exciting, overwhelming, and crazy time! (Hence, the lack of blogging these days) This is the first time we have ever sold a home, so we have been learning A LOT, especially in regards to patience, timing, and what constitutes as a little or big bump in the road. This week we have been experiencing the most turbulent bump in the road that we have encountered so far in this journey. We have been dealing with an issue, that is completely out of our control, and one that the sell of our place is completely dependent upon.

But as with EVERYTHING else in life, it is NOT out of God's control.  Not one bit.  And really, how many things do I really and truly have control over, anyway? That is one thing I have been learning this week.  Along with the fact that God doesn't really need me to step in and work everything out.  Nope.  He is quite capable.  Plus, in my own strength, I tend to just make a big ole mess of it, anyway.  Yeah, God knows that, too.  That is why He is often gently nudging me OUT OF THE WAY.

In light of all of this, I sent a message to a dear friend today, who is also in the midst of a move and buying a home.  I stepped back after I sent her the message and thought, "Wow!  That thought was really blog worthy."  So, here it is.  Not because I think my words are so profound, but because I think what God is doing is so profound.


"God has showed me so much this week. He has showed me where there are some "holes" in my faith. I am so good at trusting God when things are going according to plan (my plan), but when there is a bump, I tend to fall apart and try to come up with my own solutions to work it out. Big solutions that are not mine to make. Anyway, God has given me so much peace this week amid a very stressful and uncertain time. What He has put in my heart is, "I will work this out...you just don't know how I am going to do it. But you don't have to know the answers..I just need you to trust me and not get in my way. Don't let fear consume you, because I have other work for you to do this week, while I take care of this. So, just go about your business while I handle this."  It has been so freeing. God has been so faithful. I finally LET GO of something and have experienced the peace of not stressing out through a difficult situation. This may be the first time in history that I have done this. Growing, growing, growing...right?!"

Always growing.  Always learning.  May my precious Lord never give up on teaching me, in spite of my really hard head.


P.S.  God totally worked out the situation for us.  He is pretty awesome like that.

P.P.S. Hopefully, I will have more time soon to get the ole blog caught up or at least get some pictures of the new house on here!

Soccer Season is ON!

I woke up early this morning to find Seth on the couch, in full soccer uniform-cleats, shin guards, and all- ready to play! 

 

If you know Seth at all, you know he is NEVER the first one awake in this house.  However, the excitement of his first soccer game of the season was enough motivation to get him rolling early this morning.  And before anyone else.

 

 

Seth has gotten quicker, stronger, and much more focused than he was a few months ago.  He charged out on the field, ready to play and did an awesome job!  He scored two goals in his opener and did a great job on defense! 

 

 

 

One guy who you will not see on the soccer field this season is Biz.  It is a little bittersweet since he has played the last seven seasons, and we will certainly miss seeing him play.  But he is giving flag football a try this season and really enjoying it.  His season starts next week. 

 

Today, Biz took on the role as family photographer.

 

Yay for the beginning of soccer season!!!

 

Notes of Sweetness

My heart runneth over...

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." 

1 Thessalonians 5:11

THOSE shoes!!!

Have you ever just loved something so much that you couldn't let it go?

Those must be Caleb's sentiments toward his old white Asics.  

I did not know this until a recent incident.

He actually wore these shoes THREE pairs of tennis shoes ago.  Somehow they still linger in our home.  Somehow.

The bigger mystery is how in the world does his big ole foot still fit in these bad boys?

Over Christmas break, we bought Caleb a new pair of Asics.  While he was at school one day in his brand new shoes, I took my opportunity to discard the old ones into the trash.  I really thought they would not be missed. 

A couple of weeks went by and I totally forgot all about the shoes.  One day, while the boys were at school and I was putting some clothes away in the closet, something caught my eye.  I had to do a double take.  Could my eyes be playing tricks on me?

No, they were not.  

Those holey Asics were staring back at me in the back of the closet.  

But how???

It was almost as if they were sneering at me.

I closed the closet door and walked away, defeated.

Then I laughed my head off.

When Caleb got home from school, I showed him the shoes.  He got a sly little grin on his face, and I was like, "How did you find them?"

"Well, my chore is emptying the trash."

Touche.

After Caleb's valiant rescue effort, I didn't have the heart to actually escort them to dumpster myself.  I made the condition with him that if agreed that they would NEVER leave our property again, then he could keep them.

He agreed.  

Ugh.

The shoes are still here.

Reading Tent

Here is proof that the Workman's set up camp anywhere...

Tante and Uncle Tim's living room last Friday at a sleepover

The boys' bedroom floor

The second tent still remains.  Caleb marketed it to me as a "Reading Tent," because he knew that would be hard for me to argue with.  And he is a smart cookie.  So, I have allowed camp to stay set up.  It actually does serve its purpose pretty well.  I often find him in there, hunkered down with a book.  Not a bad idea, Mr. Workman.

Side note:  Thumbs up is Caleb's new thing.  Now when he sees the camera, he flashes those thumbs.  Love it!

Scrabble Love

If you know me very well, you know my love for Scrabble.  I just love words, as evidenced in my excessive use of them on a daily basis.

Alas, the only time I usually get to play is when Mom or Becky is around, since it is just not the game for Eric.  Sad, but true. Hmm, how did I miss this before committing to marry him?   TOTALLY KIDDING!  He has many other wonderful attributes.  Avid Scrabble player is just not one of them.

BUT all is not lost.  There are two other people who live in this house.  And one of them came to me recently with the Scrabble box in hand.  Woo Hoo, Caleb!  I think a small tear of joy escaped my eye.  Anyway, as we were setting up the game, another little Workman asked to play.  Sheer joy!  My hope was just one Scrabble convert, but two.  It is just too much.

Due to bed time, we had to put the game on hold.  I captured this shot of our first board together.  I will hang it on the wall next to my grand children's pictures one day.  Ha!  We did actually make it pretty far in the game over the course of about three days.

Here's to many, many more games of Scrabble together!

Maybe, just maybe, we will one day convert Eric, too.  Probably not.

But maybe.