Nothing prepares you for having a 10-year old.
All of a sudden, she is 3 years shy of being a teenager. She'll hate me. She'll resent me. She'll know everything. I'll know nothing.
She could fall head over heels at 14 for the boy who could be her future husband (like me).
She'll be driving in 6 years. She could be moving out in 8. Married in 9 (like me). Is she ready? Am I?
I know it sounds like I'm panicking. I am.
All of a sudden, I find myself cramming for a final that I'm not prepared for. Sitting in my dorm room typing ridiculously fast trying to meet a deadline when I had months to get ready for this as "outlined by the syllabus".
We've had 10 wonderful years with her. But all of a sudden that feels like only months of milestones, especially when we realize and remember that in 4 years she could be looking at a boy with a head in the clouds and twinkle in her eye. And that is the scariest feeling in the world, when you were just reminding her a few moments ago to cover her mouth when she burps.
I've really been uneasy about the thought of boyfriends/future husbands. Have we taught her by a good godly example?
I don't remember how exactly it came up, but we were on our way to Cookeville. Abigail mentioned something about getting married one day. Louis and I had just the day before, gotten into a deep conversation together about wanting them to hold the highest of standards when it came to choosing a husband. Louis interjected, "Just don't settle". To which Abigail replied, "The Lord will provide".
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
10 Birthday Surprises as our Firstborn enters Double-Digits
10 Birthday Surprises for our 10-year old
June 14, 2013
#1....9:00 p.m.-Trip to Jamestown movie theater to see Epic. It's WAY cheaper to go to Castle Cinemas to see a movie when there's a bunch of you. I only wish our bunch didn't get so car sick on those whirly roads going to Jamestown and home.
June 15, 2013
#2...9:30 a.m.- Picnic breakfast at Dale Hollow Lake. We ate our fruit and muffins then I left and picked up friends, Analese and Sienna to come swim with us. Abigail was so surprised! They all swam, played in the sand, then we dried off, ate a snack, and they played on the playground. Wet suits and sand are ENEMIES in your vehicle. We felt pretty wise to wait 30 minutes after getting out of the water before loading the bus!
#3...1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.- Jr. Ranger Program to learn a little about Astronomy. They learned how to make a sun dial. Our little God-girls were pretty puzzled as to why ANYONE would worship the sun. (So proud of them for their remarks!) Then they did a little activity demonstrating why stars aren't visible during the day, followed by a talk about gravity. (Anything using water balloons is sure to be a winner!) While we were there, Louis was getting our homemade slip n' slide ready.
#4...3:30 p.m. - Putt-Putt and Dessert. Abigail's friend Emma came to church to play putt-putt. She brought a gift which Abigail opened right away, and then Abigail gave Emma the friendship bracelet she asked us to order for them. It was sweet. The two played putt-putt while little sisters played on various holes. Afterwards, we sang "Happy Birthday" eating some delicious Chocolate Éclair!
#5...5pm-ish- Homemade Slip n' Slide. White plastic, baby oil, water hose...then later a blown up raft= nearly 2 hours of fun! I'm sure to spectators we looked pretty goofy, but we all had a blast! Here's a tip: Denim does not get you much distance. Another: Just because you were a pro slip n' slider 20 years ago, doesn't mean you still have it. If you still insist on trying it out, plan to be VERY sore for the next 5 days! I think all agreed that this should make another debut. THEY LOVED it! They showered and got ready for #6.
#6...7ish- Cookout. Louis grilled some delicious Johnsonville Brat Patties and Brats. We scarfed down the "burgers" then started eating brats. After about 4 bites, my mouth was on fire!!! Louis made his delayed declaration, "Oh. I guess that's why they are called New Orleans style." YA THINK!!!!! We laughed and then it hit us: On Father's Day 10 years ago, church friends invited us to their farm for a cookout. Henry mistakenly gave me a hot sausage instead of a polish sausage. The next morning my water broke and Abigail was born that evening, 2 weeks early! So it was some major Deja vu
#7...We gifted her a new bike. We made Abigail go hide out in her room and then Louis pulled it out of the back of then van. She was led out by Aliza. You want a good laugh- you should let a 5 year-old lead out your clumsy nearly 10 yr. old who has her eyes closed! It was hilarious watching them!
#8...8:30 p.m. Ice Cream Treats from Dairy Queen.
Abigail got the new S'Mores mini Blizzard. It was quite good! Anna got Mint Oreo and Aliza got the M&Ms mini Blizzard. Adalyn got a Red/White/Blue star, Louis got Heath Blizzard and I got a caramel sundae. We nervously allowed them to eat them in the van because they started to melt on the way home.
#9...Bonfire and finished our DQ treats. We love sitting around a campfire! We talked about the fun we had and what favorites were up until that point. Anna asked if #10 would be the best and we told her we hoped it would. Luckily the mosquitoes started biting and we turned in for the night. I doubt 5 minutes passed before all eyes were closed.
Sunday, June 16, 2013 (her actual birthday)
#10...Birthday Blessing. After our congregation cleared out of the sanctuary and left for either Sunday School or home, Louis called our girls back into the sanctuary. It was there, we had Abigail kneel down at the altar and all 6 of us laid hands on her. Louis anointed her head with oil and we each went around and prayed aloud for her and her life. Tears welled up in my eyes but didn't fall. I opened my eyes and saw tears falling from Abigail's eyes down her cheeks while her sisters prayed their own blessings over her. It was as if mine fell through hers. It was one of the most precious moments I've ever had as a mother. It was also one of the closest moments I've felt to my husband. Sharing parenthood with him and leaning on the Lord in doing so is my biggest honor.
June 14, 2013
#1....9:00 p.m.-Trip to Jamestown movie theater to see Epic. It's WAY cheaper to go to Castle Cinemas to see a movie when there's a bunch of you. I only wish our bunch didn't get so car sick on those whirly roads going to Jamestown and home.
June 15, 2013
#2...9:30 a.m.- Picnic breakfast at Dale Hollow Lake. We ate our fruit and muffins then I left and picked up friends, Analese and Sienna to come swim with us. Abigail was so surprised! They all swam, played in the sand, then we dried off, ate a snack, and they played on the playground. Wet suits and sand are ENEMIES in your vehicle. We felt pretty wise to wait 30 minutes after getting out of the water before loading the bus!
#3...1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.- Jr. Ranger Program to learn a little about Astronomy. They learned how to make a sun dial. Our little God-girls were pretty puzzled as to why ANYONE would worship the sun. (So proud of them for their remarks!) Then they did a little activity demonstrating why stars aren't visible during the day, followed by a talk about gravity. (Anything using water balloons is sure to be a winner!) While we were there, Louis was getting our homemade slip n' slide ready.
#4...3:30 p.m. - Putt-Putt and Dessert. Abigail's friend Emma came to church to play putt-putt. She brought a gift which Abigail opened right away, and then Abigail gave Emma the friendship bracelet she asked us to order for them. It was sweet. The two played putt-putt while little sisters played on various holes. Afterwards, we sang "Happy Birthday" eating some delicious Chocolate Éclair!
#5...5pm-ish- Homemade Slip n' Slide. White plastic, baby oil, water hose...then later a blown up raft= nearly 2 hours of fun! I'm sure to spectators we looked pretty goofy, but we all had a blast! Here's a tip: Denim does not get you much distance. Another: Just because you were a pro slip n' slider 20 years ago, doesn't mean you still have it. If you still insist on trying it out, plan to be VERY sore for the next 5 days! I think all agreed that this should make another debut. THEY LOVED it! They showered and got ready for #6.
#6...7ish- Cookout. Louis grilled some delicious Johnsonville Brat Patties and Brats. We scarfed down the "burgers" then started eating brats. After about 4 bites, my mouth was on fire!!! Louis made his delayed declaration, "Oh. I guess that's why they are called New Orleans style." YA THINK!!!!! We laughed and then it hit us: On Father's Day 10 years ago, church friends invited us to their farm for a cookout. Henry mistakenly gave me a hot sausage instead of a polish sausage. The next morning my water broke and Abigail was born that evening, 2 weeks early! So it was some major Deja vu
#7...We gifted her a new bike. We made Abigail go hide out in her room and then Louis pulled it out of the back of then van. She was led out by Aliza. You want a good laugh- you should let a 5 year-old lead out your clumsy nearly 10 yr. old who has her eyes closed! It was hilarious watching them!
#8...8:30 p.m. Ice Cream Treats from Dairy Queen.
Abigail got the new S'Mores mini Blizzard. It was quite good! Anna got Mint Oreo and Aliza got the M&Ms mini Blizzard. Adalyn got a Red/White/Blue star, Louis got Heath Blizzard and I got a caramel sundae. We nervously allowed them to eat them in the van because they started to melt on the way home.
#9...Bonfire and finished our DQ treats. We love sitting around a campfire! We talked about the fun we had and what favorites were up until that point. Anna asked if #10 would be the best and we told her we hoped it would. Luckily the mosquitoes started biting and we turned in for the night. I doubt 5 minutes passed before all eyes were closed.
Sunday, June 16, 2013 (her actual birthday)
#10...Birthday Blessing. After our congregation cleared out of the sanctuary and left for either Sunday School or home, Louis called our girls back into the sanctuary. It was there, we had Abigail kneel down at the altar and all 6 of us laid hands on her. Louis anointed her head with oil and we each went around and prayed aloud for her and her life. Tears welled up in my eyes but didn't fall. I opened my eyes and saw tears falling from Abigail's eyes down her cheeks while her sisters prayed their own blessings over her. It was as if mine fell through hers. It was one of the most precious moments I've ever had as a mother. It was also one of the closest moments I've felt to my husband. Sharing parenthood with him and leaning on the Lord in doing so is my biggest honor.
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