Feeling Blessed!

I have been feeling so blessed lately! To make those blessings even better, they have been unexpected. God has used so many people to encourage me lately, it brings me to tears to see the ways He provides -- even for my spirit!

I have been blessed by:

• encouragement from former students who have recently been in contact with me. It is nice to know that I made an impact in their lives!
• acts of service -- people wanting to help with things around our home that will save me a time and energy and stress.
• people doing small things to make life just a little easier!

God, you are so GOOD! Thank you for the people you use to shower blessings on my life!

For my friend...

Here is a video of a song that I love. Each time I hear it I am reminded of the pain that so many people face. I am so thankful that God is ALWAYS there!



**Remember to turn off the music on the blog!

Life Update

I am not even sure where to begin tonight. I think I have a lot to say, but I am just not quite sure how to get my thoughts out into words on the screen.

Life has been busy with all of the construction on the house. They finished up the last little bit of odds and ends yesterday and everything looks terrific. I really appreciate my brother-in-law and the guys that he works with. They did a great job on the house and they were patient with Lily and Wyatt always being underfoot asking a hundred questions. The first thing Wyatt asked me this morning was if the workers were here yet. I will not miss the noise and mess, but I might just miss the entertainment they provided for Lily and Wyatt. The busyness of the construction was also a nice distraction from "real" life.

I must admit that I wish the loneliness aspect of grief would take its leave. It continues to be a frequent battle for me. From about 4:00 on each day, it starts rearing its ugly head, reminding me that Ryan will not be walking in the door in an hour. Dinner time is hard. I am always at a loss for what to make that is both healthy and not too plentiful. I am constantly Ryan won't be sharing a meal with us and he won't be excited to be taking leftovers to work the next day (and leftovers of the same meal for an entire week is just not that great!). Then there is the whole bedtime routine when it would be so nice to have an extra set of hands!

I am trying to press on. I am trying to keep moving forward in life, but I feel like I am stuck in a rut. There are days when I feel really down and overly emotional. There are days when I am just ready to be done. But there is no "done" button in life. So for Lily and Wyatt, I keep going. I will keep getting out of bed each morning to fulfill the purpose God has for my life. I will keep asking God for the strength to get through each day. I will keep trusting in His promises and the HOPE that He alone can give, because, to be honest, without God's help I would not make it through many days!

House Progress -- Week 1 in pictures

What We've Been Up To

We have been staying quite busy during the month of September. Labor Day weekend was filled with time outside. We visited Daddy's place and went to a park. We also headed to Binder Park Zoo on Labor Day itself. It is a zoo that is a little drive for us, but well worth it! They have an African section complete with giraffes, zebras, and monkeys, they also had kangaroos. The kids had a blast and mom, grandma, and grandpa enjoyed it as well!

Last weekend Lily and Wyatt stayed overnight at my parent's house while I went down to Val's. Her wedding is quickly approaching, so we (bridesmaids) threw her a personal shower! I always love my time with Val but this was especially fun! I even got to see my college roommate who I had not seen in over 6 years.

On Monday, work began on the outside of our house. My brother-in-law is a builder and he and his "crew" are re-siding, replacing all the windows, taking out the two garage doors to put in one big door, and changing out the columns in the front of the house. I am also pleased to announce that the pink front door has left us for a mocha brown one! :) It is a little loud here during the day and there is a lot of construction dust as well (from the windows), but I love what has been done so far and they have only worked for two days!

The kids and I have started a busier schedule too; on Tuesdays we have story time and on Wednesday nights they have AWANA. Lily has done well and Wyatt has surprised me with his bravery! It is so bittersweet watching them grow up, I wish I could slow time down just a little!

The Lot at the End of My Block

Here is a video of Lily and Wyatt "reading" a book with Erin! So cute!

now i know my abc's

when my heart breaks again...

Grief is no longer something that colors every moment of every day for me.

I find joy and contentment in my daily life with Lily and Wyatt. We laugh together and play together; we battle "3" together.

I know that I am blessed!

But, there are still those moments when the loss of Ryan seems almost too much to bear.

When I think about the fact that Lily can't be "Daddy's Little Girl" (I know she would have Ryan wrapped around her little finger!).

When I think about the fact that Wyatt doesn't have his Daddy around to teach him "guy" things that Mommy has no idea about.

When I read about the importance of a dad on the life of his children and the lasting impact that it has on their future.

And after 15 months without Ryan, it is still hurts sometimes to sit down and eat dinner at the table with just the kids and I.

Those are the times when my heart breaks again...

H * O * P * E

Hope...where do I find it? These words keep running through my head as I tried to determine what to share about HOPE.

My hope is built on nothing less

Than Jesus' blood and righteousness

I dare not trust the sweetest frame

But wholly lean on Jesus' Name

~ 1st verse of "On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand"

If someone had asked me where I find hope 2 years ago I am not sure exactly what I would have said, but I am confident that the answer would not be the same that it is today. After losing Ryan my perspectives on life were changed. The things of this world no longer matter quite as much as they once did. Life is no longer about the here and now. It is about eternity. It is about my relationship with my Savior. It is about trusting in the promises of God and living my life for Him.

I am still hopeful about the things in my life right now: Lily and Wyatt, relationships, the future. But my HOPE is located in Jesus and in knowing that one day I will live forever in heaven and in knowing that one day I will see Ryan again.

Homesick...

So true...

(Remember to pause the blog music)

something to laugh about...

This is a very short video of Wyatt playing this past weekend with Papa Steve. I am sure that it will make you laugh! :)

Remember to pause the music on the right hand side of the blog.

14 months and 20 days later...

It was exactly 14 months and 20 days ago that Ryan died and that I walked out of the CCMU at University Hospital. Today I walked back in. This was not a planned visit, in fact no one from the hospital knew that we were coming, and to be honest, I didn't know I was going there today either (I was on a shopping trip to that side of the state and decided that since I was only 2o minutes away I wanted to stop in).

It was not easy to walk through those doors, to smell the hospital smells, to feel like no time had passed at all. But it was good to see some of the people who made such a huge impact on my life!

Ice Cream and Aprons

The apron and hair bow that Lily is wearing in some of the pictures is what I won from the auction for my friend, Kori, that I wrote about a week ago. They were made by Appleby Mommy and you can go and visit her at www.applebymommy.com .

Wyatt and Lily

• Wyatt and Lily are 3 years, 4 months, and 15 days old today (yes, I know it is weird that I figured that out).
• Their favorite activity: PUZZLES! We spend HOURS each day doing puzzles. The have graduated from the wooden "piece" puzzles to actual interlocking puzzles, both wooden and cardboard.
• Wyatt's favorite word: WEIRD. He says that anyone and everything is weird. Then both he and Lily laugh...cute, but getting old! :)
• Lily's favorite thing to wear: CINDERELLA DRESS. She was given this dress by a friend a few weeks ago. She asks to wear it almost every day and yesterday it was on almost the entire day.
• Their favorite movie: ALADDIN. This is not my favorite Disney movie, although I used to love it. Watching it from a "mom perspective" makes me see a few things that I don't necessarily like.
• When they pray for a meal, they say, "Thank you, God, my food. Amen."
• When they pray before bed, they say, "Thank you God for Lily (or Boo), Mommy, Me. Amen." They also add in any of the following: the bible, the devotional (I don't even know how to type this the way they say it, but it is cute!), Jesus dying on the cross, and other family members.
• They enjoy singing. They will try to remember songs they have learned at church and sing them at home...often with new words added in. Most popular right now: MY GOD IS SO BIG! If the radio is on in the kitchen they will usually try to pick out a few words they recognize (Jesus or holy being their favorites) and sing along!
• Wyatt always has to know what we are doing then next day when he goes to bed at night, if I don't tell him he cries and freaks out just a little! [I am not sure where he got his need to have every thing schedule from! ;) ]
• This fall they will begin attending AWANA at church where they will be in the Cubbies class. I never went to AWANA as a child, but Ryan did (we still get cards from his Cubbies leader). I am very excited for them to be learn and grow in this way! I have also signed them up for the Preschool Story Time at our local library, and I am planning to be more intentional with teaching them at home this fall as well.

I cannot believe that I have two preschool age children! For the most part, this stage is fun (minus the temper tantrums, potty accidents, and fear of the dark). I love my kids and I am continually reminded of God's faithfulness by having them in my life!

My Favorite Place

This is my new favorite place in our house, my new recliner! It is the perfect place to read my bible, have my quiet time, and drink my coffee each morning! Ahh, I LOVE IT!!! I imagine that I will spend many cold and snowy winter afternoons in this chair with a good book and a warm blanket! :)

I made you.

You are different.

You are unique.

With love I formed you in your mothers womb.

I fashioned you with great joy.

I remember with great pleasure the day I created you in my image.

I love your smile.

I love your ways.

I love to hear you laugh, and the silly things you do and say.

You bring me great pleasure.

This is how I made you:

I made you pretty, not beautiful, because I knew your heart, and I knew you would be vain.

I wanted you to search out your heart, and learn that it would be me in you that would make you beautiful.

And it would be me in you that would draw your friends to you.

I made you in such a way that you would need me, yearn, and long for me.

I made you a little more lonesome than you would like to be, only because I want you to learn to depend on me.

I know your heart, and I know that if I hadn't made you like this, you would go your own chosen way and forget me, your creator.

I have given you many good and happy things because I love you.

I have rained blessings on you because I adore you.

I have seen your broken heart and the tears that you cried alone, only because you would not hold my hand.

So many lessons you have learned the hard way because you wouldn't listen to my voice.

So many times I've sat back and sadly watched you go your own way, only to watch you return to my arms, sad and broken.

I have to reshape and remold you, to renew you to what I had planned for you to be.

It has not been easy for you or for me.

I have such amazing plans for you.

I want you to be conformed to my image, this high goal I have set for you because I love you. And now you are mine.

I made you and then bought you at a price, because I loved you.

You are my child, and you are complete in me.

You are my temple, a light to the world, a branch of my vine.

NOTHING can separate you from my love.

Author Unknown

Fantasy Football

Fantasy Football was one of Ryan's hobbies. About this time each year he would gather with a group of friends for their annual fantasy football draft. The draft was a big deal. Lots of food and lots of fellowship were crammed into a weekend all about football.

Three years ago, the league decided that they needed a trophy to record the champion for each fantasy season. Ryan went on the hunt for the biggest and ugliest trophy that he could find, and for some reason all of the guys in the league thought it was terrific (the wives did not).

This is the second year that Ryan is not in the league, but the guys have not forgotten about Ryan. They have named this trophy the Ryan P. Sweeney Memorial Trophy. I am so blessed by this group of guys and their remembrance of Ryan!

all for a good cause

I have a blog friend named Kori (see above picture). She and I have chatted through emails, via Facebook, and even on the phone. Kori and I have a lot in common and a lot of the things we have in common are the difficulties of life. Her husband, Richard, has CF but is currently losing his battle against colon cancer. Kori is a godly woman facing the most difficult time in her life. She knows that her husband will soon be healed in heaven and that she will soon be facing life as a widow and a single mom to two children.

There is an auction being held tomorrow (August 11) over at Welcome to The Nut House! Be sure to head over there to check out all the different things being auctioned off. 100% of the money will be going to the McCulley Family Trust Fund to help with the expenses of life as Kori goes on medical leave to take care of her husband. Even if you cannot donate, please be praying for Kori, Richard, Calob, and Jacob as they face many difficult days ahead!

Fear or Rebellion?

I am trying to determine if Wyatt is afraid of the dark or if he is just going through a rebellious phase. I am thinking it might be a combination of both. I believe that he was truly afraid last week before we got his new night light. His cries, his words, his actions all pointed towards fear.

However, with the new night light in his room (which fully lights up his room and part of mine if both our doors are open), he seems to be testing how far he can push me and my concern for his fears. He has a little whimper cry that he does as I am about to shut his door each night. At first it was both cute and kind of sad, now I am starting to think it is fake -- how do they learn these things?

This phase is going to take a lot of patience on my part, something I do not always have. I want to sympathize with his fears, but I don't want to feed into his mommy-testing game if that is what he is in fact trying to do. I will continue to ask God for discernment and patience in raising my toddlers and I will continue to ask you all for prayers as well!

where does my encouragement come from?

a friend who is walking this path of grief with me
the smiles on the faces of my children
a listening ear when i need to cry
words of hope from the word of God
the words of the praise songs playing in the background
the knowledge that this life is short and that eternity is coming