Catch up

Well, we survived tax season. It is always amazing to me how God has perfect timing. Last Tuesday, (April 15) we had gone out to dinner to celebrate tax season being over Ryan got a call that his mom had fallen at work and had broken her wrist. He dropped us off at home and went down to go with her to the hospital. He ended up spending the night with her and came home that morning because we were leaving for the Great Wolf Lodge. We usually go away for a few days after tax season. Anyway, in the usual chaotic Nemitz fashion, we left three hours later than we had planned. We had a zillion stops along the way; pay bills, drop stuff off, fit Ryan for his tux, etc, etc. We finally arrived at the Lodge at 6:00pm (our goal was 1:00). Luckily, we still had time to swim and hang around before it was too late. We stayed around the Lodge on Thursday. (I will post pictures later - I made sure I was strategically behind the camera in all the bathing suit pictures!) On Friday, we got up and the kids went around playing the game in the Lodge a little more while Ryan loaded the car and I finished getting ready. Actually, I was trying to put in my new contacts. Since I had so much help "packing" I had more that I had forgotten than I had actually brought. Ryan had to make many trips to Wal-Mart to buy all the things I had forgotten. So, I was trying to put my contacts in without the mirror (I had left at home) and I lost one! We looked everywhere. It was 11:00, check-out time. Emily was panicking that we had not checked out yet, we were scouring the place looking for it. We never found it and in all the commotion of leaving without my contact, we forgot Ryan's pillow there. We got in the car, went to the local outlet mall for a few hours, then went to a Youth function to help chaperone. Only we could be so chaotic! It was all fun (except for the being late, forgetting stuff at home, losing stuff, etc.). This weekend is proving itself to be just as much fun. The boys are going to the beach for my future brother-in-law's bachelor party. Meanwhile, we (the girls and I) are going to be hosting Amanda's bachelorette party here. We are having an 80's themed sleep-over. It will be a blast once it gets here and all the preparations are made. Hopefully, I won't forget anything. Yeah, right....

Love

Love to me is a funny thing. I always like to look at couples and "see" the attraction. It has always fascinated me as to how/why people pick people to be their "circle"; even more so how people go about choosing mates. I love a good, sappy, love story. So, Easter Sunday we were riding home in the car and the song 'Walking her Home' by Mark Schultz came on - it has rapidly become one of my favorite songs. Anyway, so I began to drill Ryan about 'the night he fell in love.' His answer surprised me. He said, "the night we met - you were sitting on the edge of the coffee table and I came over and asked for your phone number. I knew then." I had to laugh! Okay, for a little history, Ryan and I met in college, the day after my 18th birthday. All of my roommates had gone home for the weekend so I went to hang out with a friend of mine from high school that also went to App. He and Ryan lived in the same dorm. We had all gotten together in a group and went to another friend's apartment across campus. Ryan had some obnoxious friends visiting him and one was being quite a thorn in my side. So, I spent most of my evening trying to dodge the friend. Now the surprising thing to me, looking back, is that 1-I didn't even know him (Ryan) yet I still gave him my phone number 2- He had annoying friends and I still gave him my phone number! In fact, he used a nickname in college so the next day when he called and told me it was 'Ryan', I had no clue who he was! So as I am laughing recalling all of this he says "So, when did YOU fall in love?" For me, it was several months later and my roommates and I had gone to Panama City for spring break. We had gone out several nights in a row and the guys that were in the motel room beside us were starting to get on my last nerve. That's when I discovered that they were not really as annoying as I thought they were (okay, maybe they were) but that I had already found what I was looking for. I called him that night on the phone to tell him so. He thought aliens had come and taken over my body! The crazy thing is, that's how we are. If we shop, he goes straight to what he's looking for. Me, I like to look, compare, get a bargain; then, I almost always go back to the first thing we looked at. I know that day nearly 18 years ago, God had to be laughing His head off at what He had in store for us as I handed over that phone number! We would have never believed it. Isaiah 55:8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord." I am grateful each and every day that He had a different plan and direction for my life!!

A lady at Wal-Mart

I am a people watcher. I always have been. Last night, at Wal-Mart, I was in the center aisle looking at sunglasses. In the Raleigh Wal-Mart, across from the sunglasses is the candy aisle. There was lady with A LOT of kids. She had three cart fulls of kids. I was trying to count, but couldn't. Anyway, this young girl, about 11, darted out of "line" and started begging/whining/pleading for candy. I don't remember exactly what the woman answered back, but it was with the most hateful, hostile voice I have heard in a long time. She grabbed the girls arm, threw the candy back on the shelf and kept her procession going. The older two kids, who were pushing the other two carts looked disgustingly at one another and then at their sister, with a scornful "look at what you've done" and "you should know better." My heart instantly broke for these children. Then, as I continued to shop I began to wonder, has anyone ever seen me out with my children and had the same reaction to me as I did to this lady? Now, I don't know this lady, I've never seen her before and obviously her reaction was not one that I felt like I needed to call DSS right away. I did see that she was tired, out-numbered, ill, and overwhelmed. Anyone who knows me knows that I have a quick, sharp tongue. My life "verse" (for several years now) has been Philippians 4:5 'Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.' I am not naturally a gentle person. Mercy and compassion (for my children) are not my strongest gifts. Unfortunately, I know that the look I saw that passed between those older children, I have seen before in my own children. A "stay out of mom's way" type look. Yet, because I have been called to motherhood, I know that somewhere in my body, God has equipped me with gentleness, kindness, compassion and mercy. I just have to make the choice of when and WHERE I employ those gifts. It's not easy and it definitely keeps me on my knees. I just have to hope that if anyone has seen me being overly harsh to my children, that they would do for me what I did for that lady. I prayed for her; I prayed for her precious children and that she would know and recognize that they are very special gifts from God hand-picked just for her. Then, I came home and hugged mine a little tighter and made a greater effort to be a little more gentle.

Somewhere safe...

I have a mysterious, big black hole somewhere in my house. It is my "somewhere" safe pile. I have, in recent months, lost more important papers due to me putting them "somewhere safe." I didn't really realize how prevalent of a problem it was until a few weeks ago, Owen, bringing home an important schedule for gymnastics and as he cautiously handed it over; with an unbelievable all-seriousness tone of voice, half begs "this paper is very important, PLEASE don't put it anywhere "safe." I have dreams at night of all the wonderful treasures I will one day find in my safe place!

Spring is in the Air, UGH!!

Okay, it's true, I really do not like spring. I do like the pretty flowers and the warm rays of sunshine that is neither too hot nor too cold. However, that's where my love of spring stops. I do not like the green stuff all over everything (and everyone after a trip to the park). I do not like the smell of the flowers that sends me into a constant "let's see how many times mom can sneeze" contest. But, worst of all, I do not like the way my kids clothes are everywhere! Their drawers are busting with clothes, not because they have so many but because there are so many changes in temperature. We have long pants, long shirts, shorts, capris and dresses/skirts for the girls, jackets, sweaters, sweatshirts for the layers needed in spring. So, in order to clear out the drawers we must do the laborious task of deciding what fits (or not). Then, we have to go into the attic, get out the change of season buckets (I know all of you have those!) and do the same thing. After washing the minimal amount (another of my anal tendencies to wash it all before it goes in the bucket and a few months later wash it all again when it comes out of the bucket) that makes the cut, I have to shop! Now way back when, Emily and I loved to shop, even window shop. Now, I cannot even remember who needed what when I go out to shop. For the longest time Alexa was desperate for clothes, so I would just pick some up when I would find things on sale. Now she defiantly looks like the favorite child. Once upon a time, I kept a notecard full of the items of clothing and size each child needed with me all the time so that when I did find something on sale, I could purchase it guilt free. Notice I said once upon a time. It was a great idea while it lasted and while I could pick out their clothes for them without prior approval. Oh well, those buckets aren't coming down and emptying/refilling themselves magically..... Did I mention I really don't like spring!?