Today is a special day. It's a day that changed my life ever before I knew it needed changing. This day came along many years ago, and somehow, I feel it was made just for me. Today is Brandon's birthday.
This year, we're celebrating a bit differently. In fact, we're not even celebrating much at all. You see, I'm 20 hours away spending time with my mom and dad, because we just learned that my dad has cancer. Our children are in another state spending time with their other grandparents. Brandon is home doing what he does every day: working to take care of our family.
I am so very grateful for him and the tremendous way he provides for our family. He serves his church and community with such care and love. Honestly, I feel like I married WAY up. (Yeah, he's a whole foot and few inches taller than me.) My girls and I recently calculated that he has served us approximately 3,000 meals in the past years. We can't even fathom the number of dishes he has washed.
I could go on and on with telling you about all of his wonderful deeds. But, that's not Brandon. He really would want me to tell you about the wonderful, matchless love of Jesus. That's what he tells me about every day. He tells me through the way he loves. Matchless, yet matching. He matches Jesus in so many ways. And me, well, I'm just glad Jesus made Brandon and me matches. Happy Birthday, Brandon!
Monday, May 11, 2015
Thursday, November 6, 2014
It was all in the wording...
When my friend and fellow pastor's wife mentioned us ladies using greenery from our "live" Christmas trees, the laughter just came out. I glanced back at a friend sitting near me, expecting her to understand my sudden laughing fit, but her sweet smile just gave me that look that said she'd still be my friend when this was all over. I'm pretty sure she was just sympathizing with my crazy laughing, in the middle of a women's ministry meeting, during a moment when there really wasn't anything THAT funny being said. I mean, we were only talking about how to use fresh greenery as a centerpiece at our church ladies Christmas dinner. Not really altogether laughing material. Oh well. I couldn't even remember what was so funny after the meeting was over.
Until this morning... I woke up and nearly tripped over my own ability to recall memories from the "live" Christmas trees in my past. I knew right away that was where the laughter came from. Three little words that struck laughter from the depths: "Live Christmas Tree".
I've always loved the smell of a freshly picked Christmas tree. My parents used to load our family up a few weeks before Christmas and take us to a tree farm in order to find the most perfect tree ever. We would look, for what seemed like forever, and all compete to find THE tree. Did it have a straight trunk? Did it have good hanging space for the ornaments? Were there any live critters in it? Once found, the family meeting convened, and my dad sawed the tree down. We'd haul the tree to the farm's entrance, they'd shake it for all the dead needles to fall out, and we'd load it up to take it home. It was ALWAYS a fun family day setting up the Christmas tree, and I was left with the best memories as childhood slowly slipped away.
Years later, I got married. Brandon and I married younger than most, and we found ourselves living in Texas so he could attend seminary. Our first Christmas together, I was insistent on having a live tree. We didn't have any extra money to spare, and we had also just found out that I was carrying a wee one in the belly. So, you can just imagine the amount of emotional trauma going on that year for Brandon: 1st Christmas, pregnant wife, no family, hardly any money... but the fresh tree was a must! So, he did the most valiant thing he could. He took me to Walmart and helped me pick out the cheapest pine tree we could find. OH MY WORD. It smelled so good in the house, but that was the only glorious tidbit about that darned little tree. The needles on that tree were so sharp that Brandon had to put on gloves so he could decorate it. Yes, I don't even know if I helped decorate it. Surely, this wasn't the way it was when I was a child! Those memories made everything feel so perfect. (Did I mention how much sneezing this live tree brought that year?)
Fast forward to pretty much every Christmas thereafter and you will see me pining for my fresh tree, the perfect family memory, and yada, yada, yada. Brandon did manage to convince me that an artificial tree was the answer and that the house could smell good with some pine scented air freshener. He said our allergies would love us for the fake tree. He was right, but I still sulked and whined about our fake and insufficient tree EVERY year. Yep. Glorious, huh?
With several Christmases under our belt, we found ourselves living in New Mexico in 2010. We had just moved to the desert region that fall, and those fresh trees at the local Home Depot were calling my name. There had been no lesson learned, and having a fresh tree in a region were there are hardly any natural growing trees seemed completely appropriate. Uh huh. Softer needles this time, I promised Brandon. Please, please, please! It will smell so good, I said. It will look so great, and it will really feel like Christmas this year, I begged. So, on Thanksgiving week, a full 4 weeks before Christmas, we bought our tree...a tree which had obviously come from some place very far away. The man said to water it lots. Like everyday. But, really? My dad had never watered our tree that much, had he? A live tree in Alabama (where I grew up) is the same as one in New Mexico, right? Plus, that tree was probably already half dead due to being cut and trucked in from who knows where. Anyhow, after having this new tree for a couple of weeks, it was SO dead. I mean, needles were shedding, branches were so brittle, and that beautiful green color was clearly draining from its lovely limbs. So, we used our best intelligence and decided that trimming the trunk must be the only solution to prolonging life. By this point, I was so nervous that it would catch fire at any moment, and Brandon graciously said he would saw the bottom of the tree off while I held it up, fully decorated, as he cut. Yep. We are awesome like that. I'm not sure how catastrophe didn't ensue, but the cutting happened, the tree was place properly back in its stand, and that bad boy was watered everyday like nobody's business. (We also learned a bit about water evaporation rates that year. Yep. New Mexico and Alabama have their differences.) By Christmas day, that tree was so very dead. I was reluctant to even have an electrical ANYTHING near it. I mean, it was on the verge of setting itself on fire just to be done with the misery. Did I mention the sneezing this year?
Yeah, there probably won't be any fresh greenery from our "live Christmas tree" in my table's centerpiece. If there is, you can bet it won't be from any live tree we own. I'm officially over it. No more sneezing. No more gloves. No more fire hazards. But, there will be laughing. Thank you, Jesus, for memories, for laughter...and friends who will smile at me when I'm crazy. "Live Christmas Tree" It was all in the wording.
Until this morning... I woke up and nearly tripped over my own ability to recall memories from the "live" Christmas trees in my past. I knew right away that was where the laughter came from. Three little words that struck laughter from the depths: "Live Christmas Tree".
I've always loved the smell of a freshly picked Christmas tree. My parents used to load our family up a few weeks before Christmas and take us to a tree farm in order to find the most perfect tree ever. We would look, for what seemed like forever, and all compete to find THE tree. Did it have a straight trunk? Did it have good hanging space for the ornaments? Were there any live critters in it? Once found, the family meeting convened, and my dad sawed the tree down. We'd haul the tree to the farm's entrance, they'd shake it for all the dead needles to fall out, and we'd load it up to take it home. It was ALWAYS a fun family day setting up the Christmas tree, and I was left with the best memories as childhood slowly slipped away.
Years later, I got married. Brandon and I married younger than most, and we found ourselves living in Texas so he could attend seminary. Our first Christmas together, I was insistent on having a live tree. We didn't have any extra money to spare, and we had also just found out that I was carrying a wee one in the belly. So, you can just imagine the amount of emotional trauma going on that year for Brandon: 1st Christmas, pregnant wife, no family, hardly any money... but the fresh tree was a must! So, he did the most valiant thing he could. He took me to Walmart and helped me pick out the cheapest pine tree we could find. OH MY WORD. It smelled so good in the house, but that was the only glorious tidbit about that darned little tree. The needles on that tree were so sharp that Brandon had to put on gloves so he could decorate it. Yes, I don't even know if I helped decorate it. Surely, this wasn't the way it was when I was a child! Those memories made everything feel so perfect. (Did I mention how much sneezing this live tree brought that year?)
Note from Brandon:
She left out the morning (all-day) sickness and that she was "getting sick"every few minutes while the tree was being set-up. And the rash....My arms looked like I had been hauling poison ivy for hours. Then, a few days after getting this lovely tree, Kristen's grandmother passed away and we went back to Alabama for the funeral and stayed for Christmas...That's right...we weren't even at home with the tree for Christmas. Luckily, when we got back to Texas all the needles were already on the ground to save us the trouble of shaking them off. Good times...
Fast forward to pretty much every Christmas thereafter and you will see me pining for my fresh tree, the perfect family memory, and yada, yada, yada. Brandon did manage to convince me that an artificial tree was the answer and that the house could smell good with some pine scented air freshener. He said our allergies would love us for the fake tree. He was right, but I still sulked and whined about our fake and insufficient tree EVERY year. Yep. Glorious, huh?
With several Christmases under our belt, we found ourselves living in New Mexico in 2010. We had just moved to the desert region that fall, and those fresh trees at the local Home Depot were calling my name. There had been no lesson learned, and having a fresh tree in a region were there are hardly any natural growing trees seemed completely appropriate. Uh huh. Softer needles this time, I promised Brandon. Please, please, please! It will smell so good, I said. It will look so great, and it will really feel like Christmas this year, I begged. So, on Thanksgiving week, a full 4 weeks before Christmas, we bought our tree...a tree which had obviously come from some place very far away. The man said to water it lots. Like everyday. But, really? My dad had never watered our tree that much, had he? A live tree in Alabama (where I grew up) is the same as one in New Mexico, right? Plus, that tree was probably already half dead due to being cut and trucked in from who knows where. Anyhow, after having this new tree for a couple of weeks, it was SO dead. I mean, needles were shedding, branches were so brittle, and that beautiful green color was clearly draining from its lovely limbs. So, we used our best intelligence and decided that trimming the trunk must be the only solution to prolonging life. By this point, I was so nervous that it would catch fire at any moment, and Brandon graciously said he would saw the bottom of the tree off while I held it up, fully decorated, as he cut. Yep. We are awesome like that. I'm not sure how catastrophe didn't ensue, but the cutting happened, the tree was place properly back in its stand, and that bad boy was watered everyday like nobody's business. (We also learned a bit about water evaporation rates that year. Yep. New Mexico and Alabama have their differences.) By Christmas day, that tree was so very dead. I was reluctant to even have an electrical ANYTHING near it. I mean, it was on the verge of setting itself on fire just to be done with the misery. Did I mention the sneezing this year?
Yeah, there probably won't be any fresh greenery from our "live Christmas tree" in my table's centerpiece. If there is, you can bet it won't be from any live tree we own. I'm officially over it. No more sneezing. No more gloves. No more fire hazards. But, there will be laughing. Thank you, Jesus, for memories, for laughter...and friends who will smile at me when I'm crazy. "Live Christmas Tree" It was all in the wording.
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Our Two Layered House - Month 3
It is hard to believe that we've been in our new home for 3 months today! Time is flying! I must confess that this has been a difficult month for me. Maybe it's reality setting in... perhaps the honeymoon is over?! Maybe it's having to share a tiny bathroom as a family? Whatever it is, I'm feeling it. But, God is so good to gently remind me of His great love for me... that this house is just a "thing"...that He's going to use it in ways I can't even foresee...to mold me into a better person - a better wife, mother, neighbor...for His glory. So, I better just unfurl these fists of control and give it all to Him. I am so thankful that He rescues me from me. (I'm thankful for chocolate and cherry limeades, too.)
So, what have we been up to at the house this month? Well, Day 1 of this month started out great! The concrete perimeter was poured around the house, and a new step was formed for the front porch. This completed the work we hired out...which began in early December. Woohoo! (Vantage Construction did an incredible job! We praise God for them and for each member of their work crew.) Somewhere during month 3 we learned that we are going to have to rewire the house soon. Bummer. However, we will be glad to know it's done one day...and that we won't be melting any more electrical outlets. Hopefully.
We also continued working on the upstairs bathroom remodel. After digging a little deeper into some of the problem areas in there, we realized that we really needed to remove the existing sheet-rock and tub surround. In its place, there will be is new drywall and soon - a tiled tub surround. Brandon also carved out some built-in shelving areas between the studs for some storage. He is doing a great job! This project feels like it's close to being done, but we aren't sure quite when it will be through.
I do have to give a huge shout out to the people who have gone out of their way to help us this month... Thank you Kenny, John, Jacob, Dave, Ryan and Jennifer! We are so grateful!
Anyway, even though we are on a time frame to get several major projects done, we know that this house is a side thing. Well, I'm learning that... I think. ;-) Ministry, homeschooling, directing Classical Conversations and volunteering at the Boys & Girls Club are the other (main) things that keep us busy. Taking time to put the trampoline up and fly kites is important, too!
So, what have we been up to at the house this month? Well, Day 1 of this month started out great! The concrete perimeter was poured around the house, and a new step was formed for the front porch. This completed the work we hired out...which began in early December. Woohoo! (Vantage Construction did an incredible job! We praise God for them and for each member of their work crew.) Somewhere during month 3 we learned that we are going to have to rewire the house soon. Bummer. However, we will be glad to know it's done one day...and that we won't be melting any more electrical outlets. Hopefully.
We also continued working on the upstairs bathroom remodel. After digging a little deeper into some of the problem areas in there, we realized that we really needed to remove the existing sheet-rock and tub surround. In its place, there will be is new drywall and soon - a tiled tub surround. Brandon also carved out some built-in shelving areas between the studs for some storage. He is doing a great job! This project feels like it's close to being done, but we aren't sure quite when it will be through.
I do have to give a huge shout out to the people who have gone out of their way to help us this month... Thank you Kenny, John, Jacob, Dave, Ryan and Jennifer! We are so grateful!
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| Demo-ing the upstairs bathroom. |
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| Oh, yeah... Brandon built a table for our bathroom, too! |
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| We all helped. |
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| Do we need a rewire? |
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| Cement being poured...stucco patch waiting to be painted. |
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| Taking a break to play, fly kites, and run! |
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| Because sometimes you just need to lie back and relax... |
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| Clara flying her kite so high! |
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| Take off! |
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| Brandon and Jacob installing a vent to the upstairs bathroom...Maybe we'll see how it works by month 4! :-) #Hopeful |
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
The Pastor's Wife (in)couragers
If you're not a pastor's wife, don't leave!! Read on, Click on! There's an (in)courager group for nearly every woman on the planet...truly, there is something for everyone. Just click on any of the the (in)courage linkies to find your way over to register for a group made just for you. Registration is ongoing throughout this month. And people, this is a SHORT term commitment. So, no worries, right?!
Here's what all the hoopla is about. Trust me, it's good hoopla. :-)
What are (in)courager groups?
The (in)courager community groups exist to build safe, Christ-centered, welcoming, small groups for women through the (in)courage website and social media. With a variety of topics to choose from, the groups and your co-leaders are here to serve you, just as you are and where you are, in this season. We invite you to find a place that feels comfortable, where you can kick off your shoes, snuggle into the comfy couch and share your life with like-minded, Jesus-loving women around the world.
It’s a place where you can grow in your friendships with other women and be encouraged to deepen your relationship with God. (in)courager groups will be led by a team of women who have a heart for serving. They aren’t experts, but have a willingness to walk with others and (in)courage them along the way.
And, I'm Kristen.
I blog here at Our Home Joyful Home. My hubby serves as a Children's Pastor, and my dad also serves as a Senior Pastor. I am so blessed to walk this road alongside my husband, and I am ultra privileged to have a mom who is an AWESOME pastor's wife!
The Pastor's Wife group will be meeting over at Facebook. We'll have a secret group in hopes of ensuring everyone's privacy within our group. You can email Wendy at thepastorswifeincouragement@gmail.com to get all set up to access our group. Once you're in The Pastor's Wife Facebook group, please check your notifications for updates and to stay connected with everyone.
If you haven't already registered for our group at (in)courage, you'll need to do that, too.
Wendy and I are so excited to be sharing with each of you pastor's wives. We each walk a unique road, and it will be awesome as we (in)courage one another along the way. We've been praying for you!
Wendy and I will be hanging out today over at The Pastor's Wife. So, be sure to email Wendy thepastorswifeincouragement@gmail.com and get yourselves all set up! Can't wait to meet you!
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