Weekend Happenings

Good Friday morning!

The Gallery Pics are Faulkner baptism photos. Since I was talking about memories yesterday, I thought I'd post these today. Austin was baptized by Bro. Steve, and both Josh and Roxie were baptized by Bro. Allen. They were all seven years-old when they accepted Christ as their Savior. I love these pictures!

RANDOMNESS - A year ago today, Austin left for college. This year, we gained TWO MORE DAYS, and he doesn't leave until Sunday after church. YEA! But we both have grown and changed a bit over the past year. Today, I'm going to share what I wrote in 2009.

UPDATE (6:30 A.M. FRIDAY MORNING) - One morning, a long, long, long time ago (it seems it was just yesterday, actually), Mikie and I put a tiny bundle of blue in a car seat and made the agonizingly long trip to Cullman (where we were living at the time). He drove 55 miles per hour on the interstate, and we both thought it was too fast.

"What are we going to do?" I remember asking. And Mikie knew exactly what I was thinking.

"I don't know. They gave us all the books, classes, movies, and more books about actually giving birth, but they don't even hand you so much as a pamphlet when you leave the hospital with a brand new human. It's not right, I tell you," he mumbled.

"What are we going to do?" I asked again.

As tears stream down my face this morning, many, many, many years later (it seems like only a few minutes, actually), I'm asking myself that question again? "What are we going to do?"

UPDATE (7:09 A.M. FRIDAY MORNING) - The tears have stopped. Now I have to deal with a "sob headache" the rest of the morning. I'm saying my verse for the day (over and over over and over) to help calm me. "Be anxious for nothing, but in EVERYTHING by prayer and supplication with THANKSGIVING let your requests be made known to God. And the PEACE OF GOD, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7.

UPDATE (10:23 A.M. FRIDAY MORNING) - Josh and Roxie just finished washing Austin's "new-to-him" red truck, and we're getting ready to load. I wanted to share my last in-home letter to Austin before we leave.

Hey, Babe:

Just a couple of things…

Homesickness - Homesickness is simply missing things from home. Things you are accustomed to. People you are used to talking to. Food you are accustomed to eating, etc. It is very real, but there are ways to make it better.

1. TALK to as many friends and family members as you want on your phone. Hearing familiar voices will help. (It will never be too late at night to call me or Dad. NEVER!)

2. TEXT as many friends and family members as you want on your phone. Keep in contact with the people you love most. (It will never be too late at night to text me or Dad. NEVER!)

3. FACEBOOK often.

4. READ books you love.

5. WATCH movies you love.

6. STAY INVOLVED in Josh and Roxie's lives. They will be homesick for you, too.

AND LASTLY…

7. READ YOUR BIBLE often (EVERY DAY).

8. PRAY often (MANY TIMES DURING THE DAY). KNOW there are MANY, MANY people praying for you each and every day.

9. GET INVOLVED. Don’t be afraid to ask someone to have a meal with you. You will need to be the one to reach out. Don’t wait for someone to reach out to you.

YOU ARE WORTH KNOWING. You always have been.

The only other thing I would say is BALANCE, BALANCE, BALANCE.

Sleep, eat well and exercise. Keep your body physically fit, and you’ll feel better mentally, too.

SEE YOU SOON!

LOVE YOU,

MOM

P.S. You can do this, Austin. You can do this, and you can do it well. It’s the kind of person you are. Granddaddy would be so proud of you. Keep your commitments to God (no drinking, no drugs, no pornography). You’re going to be a great success!

UPDATE (6:17 P.M. FRIDAY NIGHT) - He's all moved in and "settled." I'm a little numb and a lot sad. That's it for today, folks.

THIS YEAR, I'm feeling much better about Austin's situation. Much, if not all, of the fear has left my body, mind and spirit. Austin didn't just survive his freshman year. He thrived.

I didn't thrive... but I did survive!

He's looking forward to another year of being part of the Marching Southerners, and we're looking forward to being one of the first families to bring tailgating to JSU. (Believe it or not, that was Mikie's idea!)

He's looking forward to his fall classes, seeing old friends, meeting new ones, etc. We're happy he's excited.

We're not naive. We know there will be challenges in the days ahead... old and new. But we'll take them as they come (Code for I WON'T WORRY ABOUT IT BEFORE IT EVER HAPPENS). (You're probably laughing out loud right about now. I know Mikie is!)

For all those college freshmen out there... I will be praying for you this year. For all of you college freshmen moms out there... Well, let's just say I'm free for lunch. We can talk and eat... and eat some more.

I have found most of the world's problems can be solved by two mothers coming together over a plate of Jim 'N Nick's Kitchen Sink Bar-B-Q Nachos.

My verses for this year are Matthew 10:29-31. "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."

There's an old hymn which was written from these verses.

Why should I feel discouraged? Why should the shadows come?

Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heav’n and home?

When Jesus is my portion, my constant Friend is He.

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

My sparrow's name is Austin.

Weekend Happenings

It's going to be a very exciting weekend for our family. Roxie is in a pre-tournament for volleyball Saturday. The girls will get a lot of court time and practice.

Saturday evening we'll be having our Back-to-School Steak Dinner. If things cool down to a nice heat index of 114, we might even eat on the deck!

And SUNDAY we will go to our first OFFICIAL service in our new sanctuary as a family. Austin will have to leave as soon as the service is over for Band Camp, but it will be a wonderful event to experience together.

I am almost positive I will have many, many pics in the Gallery Monday!

Have a MOST WONDERFUL weekend. Plan something fun with family or friends (or both)!

Take care, and I'll talk to you Monday.

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda