Bloom Where you Are Planted

Last month I was asked to write an article for our Monthly Women's Ministry Newsletter called Footnotes.  The theme was "Bloom Where you are Planted"...  I wanted to link the newsletter here.  My good friend Sarah also has an article in it.  It's well worth reading through.

Here was my portion...and what God taught me.

Firm Foundation

“Bloom where you are planted” was a small sign my Mom had hanging in our kitchen window growing up.  I read it a million times but it wasn’t until recently that I grew to understand it in a new way.

This past month it was determined that it was time for me to have a partial hysterectomy, something I knew was coming, but had been waiting for the “perfect” time to have the surgery.  When, as a mother of 4 busy boys, is the perfect time for Mom to be down and out for 3-6 weeks?  Never I thought!   But it was clearly time and I couldn’t make it be perfect.  It was time to just Bloom where I was planted and trust God’s timing. 

The older I get the more I learn that sometimes God calls us to be “servers” and sometimes he calls us to “BE SERVED”.  I would prefer to always be on the serving end.  It’s my comfort zone.  You need a meal, a gallon of milk, a child cared for…call me, I am your girl.  But this past month as I recovered from surgery, it was time to allow others to bring meals, run the boys to their functions, take our busy 3 year old for the day, allow my husband to be in charge of the laundry, the grocery shopping…the details.

It was NOT easy for me to let go.  This is a typical conversation I have with God.  “Okay God, I can cover this and that, and why don’t you do that part that I cannot. “  I think as Mom’s, if we are honest, we often have that conversation.   We are good at delegating, at list making…I know I am.  But God wanted me to learn a few more things.  One of his big lessons for me was to “Bloom Where I am planted” BY GOD at that time.

I over-did it the first week, feeling like I was Super Mom and I wasn’t going to let a “little” surgery get me down.  I made my lists for me, for my husband, for my Mom who was here helping and for God.  God HALTED me in my tracks by completely wearing my body down and needing a full 36 hours back in bed.  It was time to be still.  It was God fully showing His role as my Father and that HE indeed has it ALL under control.  He doesn’t need my lists.  I need His.

We all have seasons in our lives where we need to be content in where God has us planted, whether that’s a move to a new city, a change in jobs, a loss of a family member or friend…or even a surgery.  “Bloom where you are planted” can mean so many different things.  For me it meant a time to let go and Let God show me how the Body of Christ is perfectly designed to love and care for us AND our families when we allow them to.  To be reminded that my IDENTITY is in Christ not in my being a Mom, a wife and a doer.  Gulp, yes it is not all about me.

 “For I know the plans I have for you, “declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  Jeremiah 29:11

Friends, stay where you were called to be. God is there.  God has a plan for us all.  Sometimes it may take Him to physically stop us with a surgery, and tenderly hold our face and remind us that HE has it under control.  That we are to submit to Him and His word and bloom in His garden the way HE has planned. 

InstaMonday

Pictures from my phone from this past week...this is life around here...in no particular order.

 napping...

 back napping...on mommy

 Jack's half birthday was Monday, he was thrilled to get to choose dinner and since there was rain everything was cancelled.  So he chose Dairy Queen

 Found this old picture while cleaning out....nice bang trim I did on my own huh?  Not sure what Dad and I were so engrossed with.

 Have you ever been woken up by Darth Vader AND Captain America?

 One of my all time favorite old pictures of my cousin Annette and me....she is the reason I went into Special Education.  LOVE her...

 Max had swimming lessons for the first time ever at our good friend Kim's house.  Swim with Kim is where all of our boys have learned to swim.

 Too funny

 Breakfast with a headlamp...

 Shopping with Mom at Trader Joe's

 How cute are these frames?  Oh how I love them.  

"Thou Shalt Not Steal"...ask permission.

Found this sign in Drew's closet the other day.  Think he is tired of his older brother "borrowing" his clothes.  Too funny 

 Off the diving board by the end of the week. :)

 Tommy and his golf team were on the news on Thursday night.  Loved this shot of Tommy.

 The school had golf tee shirts made, fun to see Tommy's name on the back.

 Being serenaded in the bathroom while I was getting ready.

 And they were off...first hole of State Golf

 Tommy hitting, Dad watching and Drew behind watching from near the field

 Someone likes to do my hair now and get the "snarlies" out

 Grandma Shisler working on pies

 more naps...can you tell I love to watch sleeping babies.

 Saw this tee on the internet...cute.  I do love College Football Saturdays, the boys are home and we can have family time cheering on the Buckeyes

 Inbetween Grad open houses this weekend I found these two like this...cute

 Before and After of our front entry painting project

 Again my trader joe's shopper..

 The basement stairs now match the upstairs

 Wearing Max and Hinckley out on a rainy day.  I set up a blow up mattress of ours that was filled with holes and headed to the trash and they ran and jumped on it until they flattened it, then we blew it up again and did it all over.

The Shislers Come for a Visit

Scott's parents flew in from Ohio on Thursday night.  We planned this before we knew Tommy would be gone so much for golf.  We had a whirlwind weekend with them here.  Thursday night we all met at Des Moines golf for dinner around 7:30.  Drew, Jack and Scott all came from baseball practices and Tommy was finishing up golf practice when we got there.  It was nice to have a family dinner even if Max was a busy body and not much in the mood to sit for dinner.  

Friday Drew and I headed out early to go watch Tommy golf in state....Jack had his last day of school.  And Scott had Max all day.   They headed to watch our friend Jeff in the Special Olympics on Friday for a bit....while they were gone...Scott's Mom worked all day in the kitchen, she made lasagna, applesauce and cookies.   Jack had a baseball game on Friday night, Don and Letha went to part of the game...it was pretty chilly and windy.  We didn't get home until late from golf.  We were beat.  I think I was asleep before anyone else.  

Saturday morning Scott left at the crack of dawn in the pouring rain to watch Tommy in day 2 of the State Championship.  (Tommy and the team stayed the night at a hotel near the course)  While he was away we were home.  Scott's Mom made pies and pie crusts.  I did lots and lots and LOTS of laundry.  In the afternoon after the boys were home from golf we hit a couple of graduation open houses.  Grandma and Grandpa Shisler played cards with the boys before bedtime.

Sunday was church and Sunday School.  Home to eat the yummy lasagna Letha had made...a quick picture of the boys with Grandma and Grandpa....a lesson in Euchre cards and off to the airport they went.  We headed to a few more open houses and that was the day.

It was a whirlwind time with them but we really appreciated them coming to visit us.  The boys always enjoy having them here and sharing their world with their Grandparents.  I don't think our world is slowing down and it seems there is never a "quiet" weekend to have people visit.  

Thanks for coming to visit...

State Golf

Friday and Saturday Des Moines Christian played in the State Golf Tournament.  Tommy was one of 3 freshman who played on the Varisty golf Team this year.  We are so proud of him and his year.  Most of all for his perseverance through the season and his hard work.  How cool to be able to say you played in a State Championship.  Great memories were made for him and his friends.  

My Dad and brother Mike came down from MN to watch, Drew ditched school again to be there.  It was sunny but pretty chilly and quite windy on day 1.  Scott went on Saturday and had rain, wind AND cold.  Brr.....

 Had my paparazzi lens for this shot of Dad and Mike.

 The team, Cody, Keaton, Noah, Ryan (2nd place individual), Tommy, Chris (7th place individual) and Coach Chris Minor

The 3 freshman, Noah, Keaton and Tommy

Last Day of School for Jack

Friday was Jack's last day of school...he attended Eason Elementary this year, a Waukee school  He had a great year.  Mrs. Broberg was his teacher and he enjoyed her.  After much prayer and discussion he has decided he wants to go back to Des Moines Christian next year.  He missed having the God piece in his every subject, he missed chapels, he missed prayer time.  He has NOT ruled out Waukee completely for later in school.  He definitely has passions for math and engineering stuff and he knows Waukee has great programs for those things, so he wants to take it one year at a time.

Here is his First day and Last day of school.  He has grown up, his hair gets so much lighter in the summer and darker in the school year. He has grown a lot, I wish I had measured him.  But you can see on the heart by the door, how much taller he is, despite the different angles.  

We are so proud of him and proud of him following where he felt God wanted him to be, trying something completely new and walking into a place where he didn't know a lot of kids.

Onto 5th grade he goes....

AND he is enjoying being out of school 10 days before his Big brothers.  

Catch up

 Playing catch up today...from a busy past week and weekend.  Mike, Cara, Charlie and Alice were here this past weekend.  Today was supposed to be my "catch up" day, I try to reserve Mondays for that after busy weekends.  But then today ended up super busy....Field day for Jack, first swimming lessons for Max, tshirt orders to school for golf, an afternoon open house for a neighbor graduating, Tommy is at golf practice, yet it's the first home game for the baseball team which he plays on but can't get there until golf is done....and now pictures to take of a Mom and her 2 kids soon.  Oh and it's Jack's "Half" Birthday, which he reminded me of this morning which means he gets to pick dinner and he picked Dairy Queen, while normally I would prefer to eat at home, today has been one of those days where a night out is welcomed.   Scott is one his way home from being gone all day so we will meet up later for dinner...Max is zonked on the sofa after a long day without a nap which means he will be up late...but oh well.

Catching you up on recent pics from my phone,,,

Last nest to hatch baby robins....we have 3.  This one only has one bird so far.  

 Yes he is the fourth and yes he loves guns and swords

 Some VERY happy cousins to see each other on Friday night at the ball park...Jack had a game

 Very happy to see their Uncle too

I really do adore my big brother...

 Let the house trashing begin...somehow when we have cousins here the house goes to chaos quite quickly...2 extras help it all to happen very fast.  They have SO much fun together.

Took these 2 to the park in the morning while everyone else went to watch Drew play baseball.  They couldn't be happier to be together.

 LOTS of graduation open houses this year, think we got 28 invites...oh my not sure how many there will be as our boys get older.  I love graduation parties.  I love the pictures and decorations.  Our boys go for the food, no joke.  They don't like to have to miss any of them.  Saturday Tommy and I snuck off to one for a friend in Ankeny...love the banner and the Twig & Daisy Photo on it.

 Took these 3 crazy kiddos to Sky Zone to jump around after the open house...the Bigs went to golf with Mike....Cara had work to do and Scott stayed home with sleepy Max.

 Trampolines and MORE trampolines...you get the picture.  But it was so HOT outside and this seemed like a great way to burn energy.  They had so much fun.

 Jack dunking the ball.  After this we headed to Fuddruckers for burgers at Charlie's request....

 Sunday Drew had more baseball, he was in a tourney all weekend.  We all went to his first game.  Alice sporting one of my headbands I gave to her...love this girl.

 I LOVE how much my boys LOVE my brother.  Melts my heart watching them

 Sleeping on the way to his best friend Hinckley's house.  Lively party boy he is...

busy Sunday

 At a graduation open house last night when we saw Tommy's BEST friend from pre school.  Maddie Trow.  I had to snap a picture.  She is such a sweet girl....loved her then, and now.

 letter from my Dad...I love how he always signs letters and cards to me with XOXO.  I adore him

Waiting for swim lessons, Max sat in the front seat and while he was buckling himself I had one of those "Don't BLINK" moments we parents have...and all I could see was him 10 years from now, sitting next to me in the front seat.  Big brothers all grown up and in college and working in the real world.  Sigh...

Jack is SUCH a great big brother.  He was SO happy Max came to field day and SO happy to include him in it all!  So proud of his little brother and Max, well Max thinks Jack runs the world.  Love it.

Really these two love each other...like crazy love

Jack's favorite part of field day

Field day....this guy cheering Jack on LOUDLY for all to hear.

Tug O War boys vs girls.  Jack anchored the boys...they won easily.  Fun