The Journey

I am amazed daily at the journey God has taken me. Sometimes I review the map of my life looking at all the places I have traveled. I see all the routes, highways, interstates, and even the back roads. There are times when the roads are straight and it is very clear where I am headed. Other times the road twists and turns back and forth and it is uncertain the destination. Even the driving conditions have effected the journey. There were sunny days, when I drove with the top down allowing my hair to whip in the wind enjoying the freedom of the road. Other days were windy and rainy and I drove gripping the steering wheel until my knuckels turned white; it took all my strength to stay on the road. I can picture the rest stops where I've stopped along the way trying to make sense of the journey, too tired and disapponted to go any further. I also remember the roadside attractions that were so unexpected, but inspired me to keep driving.
I thought I had the journey all figured out, I was almost sure I knew the destination. But lately God has taken a hold of the steering wheel and has me riding on a crazy ride that keeps me guessing all along the way. I want to hurry up and race to the next bend in the road to see if I recognize anything. Yet, I find myself perfectly content looking out my window at the scenery enjoying the ride and fellowship of my Driver. It has been awhile since I have enjoyed such a journey, but how thankful I am that God loves me enough to take me on such an incredible roadtrip.

Changes

Change...it's scary, but sometimes necessary. For some time, I felt God was calling me to make a change. I wasn't sure where or what, but I knew something had to change. I had feelings of uneasiness and unhappiness. It wasn't anyone's fault, but I felt stagnant in my current position at school and church. I allowed myself to become a little too comfortable, a little too safe, and a little too secluded. I knew there was more to this world than what I was allowing myself to discover. And so the need for change became a necessity for my life. As hard as it was, I left the comforts of my job and church and let God make the necessary changes in my life. Leaving was the hardest thing I have ever done, but through it God has shown me so much of who He is. By empowering me to leave, God has given me new boldness and confidence in my strengths and abilities. And so, I have a new start before me. I have been hired as a program assistant at a public school working with special needs students, a career I almost pursued. I have been involved in local theatre, a passion and a dream of mine since childhood.I have been going to a wonderful church, a blessing for my family!I will miss seeing so many people on a daily basis-my students, my friends, my coworkers-they will not be forgotten because they were instrumental in my life. But, a whole world awaits me.And, yes, change is difficult. But without change, there is no growth. Without this change in my life I would never have seen the possibilities I am now experiencing.

Santa

So, we never really encouraged the whole Santa Claus thing with Austen-not that we thought it was evil or anything, just never did it. People would ask Austen what Santa was going to bring him for Christmas, and Austen would reply, "Santa's not real...my mom and dad give me presents." Austen was the one that emphatically told Zach that Santa was not real, and Zach willingly went a long. At Holiday Specatcular, Zach is sitting backstage-imagine little Zach when Santa comes off the stage and gives him a high five... Zach's eyes got as big as saucers and he became speechless for a few seconds. He looks at me(still wide-eyed and still looking at Santa) and says, "He is real!"
Now when Austen says Santa isn't real, little Zach replies, "Yes he is! I saw him and I gave him a high five!!"

Why I Don't Like Doctors

So, Austen has been sick for the past 6 days with a fever and cough. Most everyone that I talked to said, "Oh, you should take him to the doctor. This stuff is really going around-he might have strep." I hesitated because whenever I take my kids to the doctor-it always comes back, "Uh, he seems fine to me. It's just gas." Or, "It's just a cough, he'll be fine in a few days." I never get any kind of medicine because its always viral. Knowing this, I waited for a few more days, despite everyone giving me their diagnosis and suggestions. But when Austen woke up for the 5th day with a fever I started thinking about what everyone had been saying. My problem is that it doesn't stop there, no, it multiplies. By the time I decided to take him in, Austen was (in my mind) dying of tuberculosis or malaria. I just knew that I was going to get a huge prescription for medicine or they'll would have to admit him to the hospital.
So, I'm sitting in the waiting room comparing everyone else's sickness with Austen's sickness, and I am positive that Austen is way sicker than they are...
The doctor sees Austen, checks his vitals, etc. The prognosis? A VIRUS! Seriously, this is why I don't like to go to the doctor. He could have had a 106 degree temp, puking, passing out, and a horrible a rash over his whole body, and it would be a virus. I was so mad, I felt like saying, "Can you give me a sample of some medicine? I don't care if it's Tylenol or birth control-I just don't want to walk out of this office empty handed!"
Long story short, by that night, Austen's fever had broke and he was feeling better by the next morning! I know I should be grateful it wasn't something serious, but it just bugs me because I never know when I need to take him to the doctor! If I don't take him, it's something serious. If I do, it's never anything big.
Hopefully, this will be the last of the sickness until next year because I can't ahndle the strees of making that crucial decision!

Austen James Manahan

This should have been my first post since my huge lapse from the blogging world, but...
on November 11th, my son Austen comes up to me after Sunday School. he looks at me and says, "Oh, mom, I asked Jesus into my heart today." I looked at him, tears in my eyes and tell him how proud I am of him. He smiles and then it happened...I began asking question after question. I couldn't stop myself, the questions were flying out of my mouth with no chance of him actually being able to answer them all. "Who was speaking in Sunday School?" "What did they say that made you think you needed Jesus to come into your heart?" "Who did you talk to?" "What did you say when you talked to your Sunday School teacher?" On and on I went, until Austen says, "Mom, stop asking me so many questions! I just asked Jesus into me heart! That's it!" I was just excited about his special news that I wanted to find out all that I could...

So, we went our to celebrate Austen's salvation experience, and since then he has told his teachers, his grandparents, and friends. I can't tell you how exciting it is to know your child is saved and going to Heaven! He has been a changed little boy, too. He talks to Mark and I about making good choices, and wants to pray every night before bed. It's really neat to watch him grow!

Holiday Spectacular!

Alas, it has been too long since my last post...but never fear, Becky (my faithful reader) here is something new!!!

Okay, so I have been incredibly busy these past few months. It has been my dream to get involved in the community theatre scene, and I finally got my chance to do so this past weekend with Holiday Spectacular. This is a Broadway type variety show that involves at least 200 hundred people from the community who sing, dance, and act. I was fortunate to get into the choir as a towns person. I have never had so much fun in my life!!! I met so many new people, all who were very talented! The best part of this experience is that little Zach (who I have determined is indeed my Broadway star and boy diva!) was able to have a role in the show. Yes, Zach debuted as a homeless child and a shepherd. I have posted some pictures of this "spectacular" event...did I mention there were camels and llamas in the show??!!

APPLES

So, I have decided that my kids do not eat enough fruit, so my solution was to pack my two boys with an apple every day for lunch. I was so proud of myself when I cored each apple and gingerly placed them into each boys Glad Ziplock baggie-I made sure to squeeze lemon over the apples to insure they would not be brown when they went to eat their apples.

Monday, I glanced over and saw Austen chomping away thoroughly enjoying his snack of delicious apples. On Tuesday, I saw Zach throw away his empty lunch sack. . . I was so excited that he was finally eating heathly. On Wednesday, I didn't bother paying attention to what the boys were eating because I knew for sure they were eating and enjoying the tasty delicacy their mother had packed for them. I could hear their little voices begging for more apples over the weekend, wanting to replace their sugary snacks with more fruit!! My heart skipped a beat.

So, imagine my utter suprise when I saw Zach in the kitchen at school with Miss "Morefross" crying his little heart out. I was sure he was sad because he had run out of apples and wanted more! That's what my mind was telling me, but my ears were hearing another story. . .

Apparently Zach was scared after he had opened his locker; something had invaded his locker and was flying in the hallway. You see, little Zach had NOT been eating his apples, he had been "saving them for later." Little flies had been feasting on his delicious and healthy snacks and now were out searching (I am sure) for more delicious and healthy snacks.

Needless to say, Zach doesn't get apples for lunch anymore. . .