A decade. June 5, 2008
Have you ever had those moments where you think you’re just not quite as old as you are? They are promptly followed by those “crap, yes I am” realizations. I have had those moments recently… a few months ago, I saw a store that had a sale, 50% off all tops. So, I got excited and went in, needing a couple shirts. I looked around, and I was by far the oldest in this store. I was surrounded by 14 year olds with their moms buying clothes and here I was, 28, trying to squeeze my 2-kid-mom-body into the same shirt as a girl who has barely entered puberty. I usually have these same “aw crap” moments when I step anywhere near an athletic venue… especially a volleyball court. For some reason, my brain doesn’t register birthdays, and whenever I get around an athletic event in which I participate, I automatically think I am as physically able as I was 6 or even 10 years ago. As I was running my 1/2 marathon in January, I saw a girl who looked about the same physical build as me. Of course, my little competitive nature tried to keep pace with her for a mile or so, but then I noticed that I was breathing a lot harder than any of the other miles. You’d think I could keep up, right? Well, when I said she was the same physical build as me, I meant when I was 20. She was probably right around that age, and here I am with my knee caps ready to shatter, trying to keep up with her.
Why am I writing about feeling old? I mean, I’m only 28, its really not that big of a deal. I was just feeling nostalgic because I realized something this week. I was thinking to myself how Aiden will be 16 months old on June 5th and how he’s really growing up. It has been 16 months since I had him and, its now June 2008. Yikes. And then it hit me… June 5th, why does that date sound so significant? Well, June 5th was my graduation date from high school… in 1998 (hi, my name is Devon, and I remember random dates) Thats right, 10 years ago. Just so you know, I’m very nostalgic about these things. In fact, if I had remembered this a week or two ago, I would have gotten my senior book year book, and maybe even tried on the ol’ letterman’s jacket. 
I’m not missing high school, I am nostalgic about how much has changed… good and bad in 10 years. I remember in the winter of 1997, there was something about gasoline and the price just kept dropping. Seriously, what does that feel like. I filled up my ‘88 Honda Civic for under $10 because gas was $0.91/gallon. That won’t even get me to church, 7 miles away. I know, I know… once you start complaining about gas prices, you’ve officially hit “oldness”. Well, trust me, I’ve accepted my oldness… I just bought a minivan last weekend. I might as well complain about gas prices and start telling my kids that I had to walk to school uphill both ways in the snow carrying a cow for fresh milk.
In 1998 the internet was really taking off. I remember being at a friends house who had AOL and I couldn’t figure out how on earth you could be typing on your computer and somehow it shows up on someone else’s computer somewhere else. You know what else was uncommong back then? Cell phones. I don’t know one single person who had their own cell phone that wasn’t an adult using it strictly for business. And whats funny, they were about as big
On a serious note though… I have changed so much. I walked across that stage in Salem an 18 year old with no idea what was coming next. I knew I was going to Linfield, but had no idea what I was studying, who I would meet, or where I would end up. I didn’t know I’d meet Aaron, teach, move overseas, or have two kids by now. Most of all, I didn’t even know Jesus at this point 10 years ago. I’d heard of Him and had the Gospel presented to me. I was being prayed for by numerous people, but at that point, I just couldn’t give up my life. Praise God that He worked on my heart and within a year, I allowed Him to became my Lord and Savior.
I’m getting all emotional as I recap the last 10 years, all the changes that have come into my life and into our world. Again, I’m not sad, or trying to cling to the past, but just allowing myself to see where God has taken me. What kind of does make me sad is how quickly a decade passed and how the next one will pass just as fast, if not even faster.
If only we had meat May 27, 2008
I’ve been doing something different for awhile now. I realized a few months ago, how I have been having a harder time retaining what I’ve been reading in the Bible, and even just glossing over things when I read. So, I decided in early February that on my 28th birthday (3 months ago today - yikes), I was going to commit to reading the Bible cover to cover from birthday to birthday. Its going a little slower than I planned (I just started Deuteronomy today), but it has been such a great journey for me. God has really openend my eyes to a lot of things and I have really seen Him move so much in my heart. I always kind of read the Old Testament reluctantly. I mean, its the Bible, you should read the whole thing, right? But, God has really shown me a lot about myself, about Himself and helped me understand a lot of what He desires in just the first 4 books.
I like to think that if I were an Israelite back in the day of the Exodus, I would have been like Moses - constantly reminding others of how God has provided and protected. Of course, I would not have complained because when God does such amazing things, how could you have anything but a heart full of thanks and praise for Him? I mean, come on… He delivered His people from Egypt after generations of slavery, they got to walk through the Red Sea on dry land, they got food directly from Heaven, a cloud/pillar of fire led them step by step on a daily basis… after experiencing all of these amazing things, how could you complain?
It didn’t hit me until I read a certain passage, how similar I am to those Israelites. Let me set the stage for you. God delivered His people, the Israelites, from slavery in Egypt and now they are constantly on the go in the desert heading toward the Promised Land. There was, of course, no food out there, so God sent bread from Heaven for them every day. So, I was reading awhile ago in Numbers… “The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said ‘If only we had meat to eat… we never see anything but this manna!” (Numbers 11: 4, 6)
God not only worked some flat out miracles in Egypt for them, He actually gave them bread directly from Heaven… and all of a sudden they are discontent with it. How could that be? Why wouldn’t they just be so thankful that God loves them enough to feed them manna, what do they need meat for? Enter Devon. I am so like this. Aaron and I have prayed for some things and God has definitely blessed us and provided… then within months, I am already dissatisfied with what God gave me and am craving something more, or even just different.
God blessed us with a great car when we moved back from the Dominican Republic, and recently I kept thinking how I just wanted a different car… ooh, even a minivan. I tried to justify it in 100 different ways why we needed a different car, but it just came down to the fact that I wasn’t satisfied with our precious Explorer anymore. I had manna, but now I want meat. I can’t help it, I like meat, its good… but I need to be careful. Later in the story, God gives them meat. “Now the Lord will give you meat, and you will eat it. You will not eat it for just one day, or two days, or five, ten or twenty days, but for a whole month - until it comes out of your nostrils and you loathe it - because you have rejected the Lord.” (Numbers 11:18-20)
God gave me my meat. In the midst of my selfish desire for a minivan, my fabulous Explorer died. A transmission expert deemed it undrivable, and I sold it for about 1/4 of what it was worth a month ago. Now, I am forced to buy a minivan under much worse circumstances. We’ve been looking for deals, checking Craigs List every day, and tirelessly scanning the Oregonian… if I have to look at one more ad I’m going to flip. The meat is coming out of my nostrils and I’m beginning to loathe it. I can’t even say the words “Odyssey” or “Sienna” to Aaron without him rolling his eyes at me.
Now, were the “meat craving” and my Explorer dying a direct correlation? Maybe, maybe not. But, I can say with certainty now that the Old Testament is not a bunch of outdated stories that don’t apply today. I have certainly been reminded by the Holy Spirit that what God gives is what we need and to be content with it. In my life, my attention seems to shift from what I have to what I don’t have, and to what my friends have, and what I see on tv. It can consume me, I’ll be the first to admit it, but I pray that it doesn’t. I am having to cram my family into my little Civic now, and you know what? I’m ok with it. Is it comfortable? No. Is it convenient? Absolutely not. But, are we taken care of? You betcha. I’ll just stick with my manna for now, its enough, and its good… but if God brings me some meat then I’ll definitely take it.
Dozer Day: The best day of the year. May 18, 2008
Yesterday, Aaron and Connor went to Dozer Day, for the second year in a row. This is like Christmas for me, especially next year when Aiden is old enough to go too! There are dozens of construction vehicles that the kids get to sit inside, and even drive. Apparently instead of a shuttle from the parking area, they put everyone in the back of a dump truck. I love having boys. So, this will definitely become a tradition… boys go to Dozer Day, mommy gets to relax. I love it! Here are some pictures.
Where I’m At May 13, 2008
Wow, where have I been lately? I check back on my own blog website every now and then, and I keep thinking “wow, I really need to get on there and update!” But, you know what? I am actually really thankful that I haven’t needed to blog in awhile. When I started this a few months ago, writing was my outlet because as a stay at home mom, I didn’t have a lot of people to talk with about what God has been showing me, what I’m going through, etc. Writing online was the only place that I could share, vent, and just be heard.
We have lived in Hillsboro now for almost 8 months, and I have been bombarded with blessings since moving here. Our church, new friends, Mom’s ministry, and just an overall community where we feel completely settled and invested. Aaron and I knew back in October of 2006 that we were going to move over here to the West side of Portland, and right then I began praying for friends, a church, and a community to belong to. Here we are, 18 months later, and God has given me even more than I desired.
I was talking with my family about how amazing our church and the friends we’ve made there are… on any given day, if I ever needed anything, I could find at least 10 people to be there for us in any way… and people know that I will do the same for them. I have connected with a lot of young moms and feel that because of these new friendships, God is really growing me as a mother and wife.
This blog isn’t my usual style of writing, which is fine, but I just wanted to share how good and faithful God has been to me and my family and how thankful I am that He has gone above and beyond with answering my prayers. Honestly, I’m totally humbled because I haven’t always been diligent and faithful in my walk, but thank God that He always is.
My little graduate April 23, 2008
Connor “graduated” today from his first set of swimming lessons. He even got a little report card, and was the only kid in his class who got all the skills checked off and gets to move on to the next level. I feel like that mom… you know, the one who is all ready for the bumper sticker on the back of the minivan that says all the achievements of her kids. But, if you know Connor, this is quite an achievement because he gets freaked out at new things and isn’t always willing to go out of his comfort zone because he’s a little high strung. :-)
Here is a video of the ceremonial first trip down the water slide w/ his teacher to celebrate his graduation from Catfish 1. Perfect timing too, because Grandma and Grandpa are taking us to Great Wolf Lodge this weekend!
Finally! March 29, 2008
Just set aside the fact that we hiked Aiden’s pants up to his chest… enjoy a nice video of my almost-14-month-old son finally walking!!!
Spring Break Update March 27, 2008
Oh, I’m loving Spring Break. I don’t think I’ve left Aaron’s side the entire week, just trying to soak him up before the spring rush of events kicks in. We’ve had a great week here. Headed to the zoo on Monday and Connor’s favorite park on Tuesday. Yesterday we took care of some errands all together. Who knew that a trip to Target with two kids would actually be kind of fun? :-)
I can’t believe its been a month since I’ve been on here, looks like its time for me to update a little bit. I’m going to be bold and write the following statement: Connor is potty trained. It probably took 6-8 weeks, but we’re finally there. What a relief. Its especially a relief because he starts his first swimming lesson on Monday. He’s so excited and asks almost every day if we can go to lessons today. I think he’ll love it.
Aiden is creeping up on 14 months with only about 5 consecutive steps under his belt. He just doesn’t want to walk! We’ve seen him do it here and there and he actually seems to do really well. He gets himself nice and balanced with some Frankenstein arms, slowly takes a few steps but then slowly lowers himself down to crawl. You can almost see the light go on in his mind when he realizes “hmm, I bet I can get there faster if I crawl!” So, no rush on the walking I suppose but it is a slight thrill to see it whenever he does bust it out.
Aaron is starting up grad school again next week, but this time at Portland State. I am still on a “sebbatical” as I like to call it. :-) No hurry for me though, I am not exactly rushing to get back to work. Aaron is also coaching track 2-3 days a week at Westview and enjoying that. For us, its better. At least we can go to track meets and run/crawl around outside when its nice weather. Speaking of weather… did anyone else find it strange that there was rain mixed with snow in late March yesterday? Apparently the whole coast got a dusting of white stuff. Only in Oregon…
Moms-n-More, our new Bible study for moms of young kiddos is in full swing now at church. Its exciting and challenging. Sommer, Lisa, and I have had a blast organizing things and learning and growing together. A few weeks ago we got together at a Starbucks around 8 pm, and ended up talking past closing time. So, instead of finding somewhere else to go, we sat in the back of Lisa’s minivan until almost midnight talking. Wow, what a bunch of moms will do without their kids on a Friday night. Our self-proclaimed “car dates” have now become one of my favorite kidless adventures. In about a month, we’re all heading to the beach house for the night… who knows what kind of crazy stuff we’ll get into. Watch out, Manzanita.
Connor and Aaron snuggling on the couch watching Thomas.
Aiden wanted to touch a zebra at the zoo.
Aiden getting a free ride to the park.
“I’m FREE!” February 28, 2008
Happy birthday to my sweet little son, Connor David! 3 years old today, or as he says it “free, I’m free!” He’s so excited, he woke up and kept saying “Mommy, is it my birthday, is it MY birthday today?” (Since it was mine yesterday, he wanted to make sure it was really his day).
He’s come a long way from that little 7 lb 8 ounces in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic!!
So blessed February 28, 2008
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