Time Changes Your Perspective

It has been awhile since I wrote in my blog.  Wow, how times changes things.  Since the last time I wrote, my daughter has broken off her engagement, has no love interest at the moment and getting ready to graduate college two years early.  My youngest daughter is in the 8th grade and taking 9th grade classes.

The last time I wrote, I could not imagine wanting my kids to move out.  Well, I still don't want them to move out but I was getting okay with the idea and then wham, she decides not to get married.  Now all my plans for her room and the rest of the house went up in smoke.  Here I thought I was going to get my house organized and get rid of the pain in the butt cat.  But NOOOOOO, the cat is still here and my dining room is still a school room.

Times changes so many things in our lives.  So much has happened in the last 9 months.  God has showed me that I need to trust Him.  Even though I thought I trusted Him completely, I found out that saying you trust Him and really trusting Him are two different things.  I have been reminded this year, that God's ways are not our ways.  He has a plan and I just need to trust Him. When it is hard, I need to ask Him for help in trusting Him.  He loves me and wants to walk with me through life's journey even when I want to jump up and down and throw a temper tantrum and say  "Tell me what your plan is NOW".  He gently reminds me His ways our not my ways.  The Bible says "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."  Jeremiah 29:11 ESV 

Since Shay finalized her breakup, she met a really nice young man.  NO, they are not dating.  He is just a friend, a really great friend.  She is enjoying life right now and focusing on finishing school.  I am okay with this for now and just want her to be happy and find the guy God has waiting on her.  I am excited that she will be finished with school soon and she will be able to relax and breathe.  She has been working full time and going to school full time.  She does not have much time for fun, but trust me she squeezes it in somehow.  Shay is a great young woman.  I am very proud of who she is and what she has accomplished with her life.  I don't tell her enough, but I know she knows how proud I am of her.

Next time, I will update you on Sierra.....

Hummmm

Man I can't imagine my kids growing up and leaving me one day. I miss my kids so much when they are gone on trips. Shay is in New York City this weekend on her senior trip. I miss her so much. I love to spend time with her talking to her and listening to her and what she is doing. Matthew is doing so much better this time around with missing her. I think that is a good thing. I have only seen him once for about 15 minutes. He loves her so much that I think it actually hurts him to be away from her.

I ordered her graduation announcements this weekend and her honors medal. I ordered her honors sash in February and just shipped two days ago from India....India really, I thought I bought it from Indiana, but when I checked the tracking it was in Paris, France this morning. Wow, you think that the USA had someone to make these. Really? I so need to get the rest of her pictures taken. It is amazing how much stuff you have to do for graduation. She is graduating from two different school plus college all at the same time. So much to do, plus the stuff for the church service. Of course, she is not her to do any of it. She is off traveling having fun. I would not want it any differently. I want her to travel and experience as much as she can before she steps into the real world of work and college.

We only have 5 or 6 weeks of school left. Sierra is so looking forward to it. I am looking forward to next year, we are going to try Florida Virtual School next year. I think this will be good for her. She is so hate school, so maybe this will be a good option for her. I think I might try some new things next year. I so know we need to make a change in how we do school or we may grow to hate each other. (not really) I could never hate her but man do I get frustrated. Sierra is a great kid and I know one day it will all click in.

Well, until next time. Have a great week!!!

God is Faithful!

Another week come and gone and God is still faithful.

Shay got into a car accident on the Dames Point Bridge last Thursday and God protected her as usual. Matt was driving her truck and hit water and started to slide, he could not get control and hit the wall of the bridge. Shay said she thought they were going to go over the side. She was shaken up a little, so of course, Matt had to comfort her. It is amazing how this strong, independent child, goes into defenseless little girl mode when he is around. Sometimes it makes me want to puck, but on the other side I am glad that she is going to rely on her man for guidance, direction and support.

So after this accident, they left for New Orleans on a mission trip on Saturday. Matt's arms are still pretty messy from the air bag. After working over there for a week, his arms probably won't feel any better. I talked to Shay today and they appear to be working pretty hard. She is enjoying the week.

Sierra is missing her sister this week, but likes getting all of mom's attention. Too bad it won't be for long. Al and I are leaving to go to Disney soon and Sierra is going to spend the night with Dani and Grandma. She loves to go and spend the night with people. Looking forward to a great couples weekend in Disney. I guess we can all act like kids since we won't have any with us.

Graduation is coming soon and my baby won't be a baby anymore. She will be all grown up or at least she will think she is. Shay is turning 18 in about a week. Decided today with the help of Sarah and Kelsey, mostly Sarah, to have a Redneck themed party. Can't wait to buy spam...for the spam carving contest. I don't think Bryan will have much work to do for the party since he loves the whole redneck lifestyle. I hope it will be fun.

Well better go for now. Blog again soon.

Christmas is Over and a New Year has Began

Well, it is January and we are in the year 2010. Do you remember when you were a kid thinking about what the year 2010 would be like...flying cars, techno clothes, the jetson and all. I remember thinking how old I would be in 2010--45 years old. I thought that sounded so old, it was like half of 90. Of course now I think it is pretty young. I never thought I would have a young lady graduating from high school and college and another one only in the 5th grade. I will be 52 when Sierra graduates.

Shay will be graduating this year, she has a busy year planned. She is going to San Francisco the end of January, New York in end of March, and Ecuador the beginning of July. College starts in August and she will be entering college as a junior. She received a Presidental Scholarship to UNF and should recieve the highest Bright Futures Scholarship. I am so proud of her accomplishment. Now if she would only decide what she wants to do with her life and most importantly get a JOB!

Sierra is in the 5th grade and is struggling through another year of school. Don't get me wrong it's not because she is not smart. She is very smart. She is not motivated. She would rather play and watch TV than do school work. We have our days, but she is a great kid to hang out all day with. She will grow up to be a great energtic woman.

Al finally went back to work in August. They worked him like crazy all the way up to Christmas. It almost made up for the 8 months he was out of work last year. God is good and always provides.

2010 looks to be a adventurous year for the Miness family. I can't wait to see what God has in store for us this year. Hopefully he brings many of our friends along for the ride. I look forward to the adventures of 2010.

Kids and College

Man, it has been a tough couple of weeks trying to get Shay enrolled in college. Finally got her enrolled for next semester. Found out last week that she received a scholarship to UNF. Bad thing is, she really does not know what to do. I have faith in her that she will figure it all out sooner or later.

How do you guide them without pushing your dreams on them? It's not an easy task. I think I have prayed more this past 8 months for her than I have in her entire life (well, probably not true) but it fells like it sometimes. And how do you manage your time between both of your kids? Sometimes, I feel like I am letting Sierra down by not spending enough time with her. I know she feels left out sometimes no matter how much I try to explain things to her. Her time is coming and hopefully, she will look back on these days and realize why I had to spend so much time with Shay.

It is amazing how well they turn out in spite of how pathetic of a parent we are most of the time. I know for me Shay has such strong convictions about things that are important to her, things that I have not pushed her on. It is also amazing how when they form their own convictions about stuff like dating, sexual purity( I did push this from a young age), movies and such that they stick to them compared to when parents just force their opinions on them without conversations or a lifestyle to back it up. I am thankful for Shay and her convictions and pray that she will continue to form biblical convictions through out her college career and beyond.

I thank God for godly kids that I definately don't deserve. Despite my short coming, God is good and faithful.

When Kids Drive You Crazy!!!

Do you ever have those days when you feel you are talking to a brick wall? I have been having a lot of those days lately. My kids look at me like I am an one eyed monster speaking a foreign language that they cannot comprehend. Remember the teacher on the Charlie Brown show? I think my kids hear the same thing, wa wa, wa wa wa, wa wa. That's what I know my kids are hearing. But......I will not give up on them because I know they are a gift from God. I will keep on talking and I know one day they will be healed of their deafness. God is still in the miracle working business. Sooooo.... when you get down remember you are not called be liked but you are called to be a parent and sometimes that is the hardest job on this earth.