Just wanted to say so long for a bit my beloved blogger buddies. I need to re-prioritize some things in my life and focus more on some issues the girls and I are facing due to the divorce and everyone's general anxiety. Please don't worry, we will come out on the other side...just pray for us if you would. Hope to be back soon!
I want to start this post by reminding you all that I am adopted and am very fortunate to have so many people I consider "sisters" in my life. I have two awesome sisters in my family, a surrogate sister who grew up with us and is considered family, special sisters in my church family, and some of the dearest friends ever that feel like sisters to me. To me, blood doesn't make you a sister but the close and special relationship you share through the years, good times and bad, does!
I would like to take a minute to express how thankful I am that my surrogate sis Chris made it through her surgery today with flying colors...hooray! Let's all pray that this is the last one for her and anyone related to her. :) I'm also so very grateful that my sister here made it through her surgery today too! I know her quality of life will be so much better once she's recovered. Thank you to everyone who kept them in their prayers, I appreciate it...God is good!
I would also like to send a shout out to a special blogger sis who is struggling and needs to be lifted up in prayer. She is on a courageous journey of healing and I admire her honesty and character so very much. Hang in there, take one day at a time, and remember that I'm here with an ear anytime you need and am only a phone call away. I admire your strength, you are an inspiration to me!!!
My girls and I are doing alright. The divorce should be final in a couple of weeks and we are now navigating our way through our first post divorce upcoming holiday season. I have finally come to the realization that I cannot take care of anyone else anymore unless I take care of myself first and that doesn't make me selfish. I have to put myself first so I can be the kind of Mom that my beautiful daughters deserve. I know I'm strong and can do it, I just have to keep everything in balance. If there's one thing everyone knows about me is that I may get down and out (and have especially in the last 6 months) but I always get back up again and put one foot in front of the other. I give God the glory for this as I am saved by His grace. The last 6 months and my renewed faith have validated what I always knew before in a profound way...that family is everything! I don't care about things, I care about people and wanted to say thank you to all of the people who stood by me and supported me (and the girls) during our lowest points. You all know who you are, but I wanted you to know that we couldn't have done it without all of you!!!
I think the girls and I are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel and are heading slowly to the other side and it feels so good!
I need to take this short time out blogger friends to ask those of you with Faith to please pray for my blogger friends, myself and the girls, my family, church family, and close friends. It seems that everywhere I turn in the last couple of weeks almost everyone I know is going through struggles of some sort. I know that God doesn't give any of us more than we can handle, but I can also relate to the thought of wishing that He didn't trust me so much! :) For me, reaching out and asking for prayers or help of any kind is hard, but I have learned that it also brings comfort and peace in knowing that I am not alone. I don't want to post names of the many folks on my prayer list, but let me tell you it is a long one! If you would, please take a few moments this week and simply pray for everyone on Kim's prayer list to be uplifted. I would appreciate my fellow blogger friends and awesome sisters in Christ!
Hi bloggers, sorry to haven't been around in a bit. Just wanted to let you all know that I'm super busy these days (albeit with good stuff). I wanted to brag on my sweet Kaley Rose and report that she kicked butt on her 1st progress report as an 8th grader! She got 4 A's, 1 B and 2 C's...yeah! She is working on bringing up those C's (I know she will) and since this first semester is always the hardest, I'm so happy for her. One of the A's was in math too...awesome!!!! Mom got to spend the evening with her on Friday night since Caroline was sleeping over at her BFF's house. We went to the mall (what a shocker) and she scored some major bargains at Hollister as a treat. I really enjoyed our big girl night, we came home and watched a movie. This weekend they are with their Dad, so I am hoping to get out there and enjoy some grown up time with friends.
I'm also posting to ask for some prayers for my Liney. Caroline has been struggling with anxiety and panic attacks for the last month or so. She's seen the doctor and has some medication to help, but so far it's still one day at a time. She has an appt. to see a child psychologist next week and has been meeting with her Guidance Counselor at school regularly and we have been trying to love on her as much as possible lately. I think the divorce has been hardest on her and seeing her parents begin to move on. Please keep her in your prayers, I would sure appreciate it!
Nothing much else going on around here. We will be getting ready to put the house up for sale soon and are in the process of getting ready and excited for Halloween.
I'm going now to catch up on all of your blogs...hope everyone has a great Monday!
UPDATE:
Caroline just brought home her progress report and she had 4 B's and 2 C's..way to go Liney!!!!!!
I am so proud to report that Caroline Elizabeth made the choice to be baptized by immersion this morning after service at church. Congratulations to my baby, I'm so proud of her! The story about how this all happened is pretty amazing:
We have been having some discussion at our house about sin and baptism and the different methods (the girls were both baptized as infants as was I). So this morning, before service I asked our Pastor if he could meet with the girls and I after after worship and he agreed (not knowing what about). The service was going on as usual until I realized the sermon was about baptism (divine intervention). I was hanging on every word and exchanging knowing glances with Kaley and Caroline. I could see in their innocent faces that they were getting it too. As the sermon was coming to a close, pastor shocked the congregation by announcing that he had filled the baptismal pool earlier this morning (something he's never done before) and wanted to invite anyone that wanted to be baptized right now to come forward while we all prayed with heads bowed and eyes closed. I quietly slipped past my girls and friends and went forward. Pastor asked me a few questions and the next thing I knew my friend and one of the deacons were taking me to the back of the sanctuary and we were all crying. Pastor then called upon my friend to join me in the water and she witnessed my rebirth as a new creature up close and personal while the congregation watched from a distance. I kept my eyes focused on Kaley and Caroline and could see the impact it had on them. It was the most indescribably joyful experience of my life and I'm so happy that I did it today! Afterwards as I was dripping wet and filled with the Holy Spirit, I asked my friend to bring the girls to were I was. They came and congratulated me and said how proud they were and Pastor joined us and answered the kids questions about baptism with me. It was then and there that Caroline came forward and decided for herself to be baptized today too. She wanted it to be private, so it was after church and her sister, myself and my friend and two of her daughters all stood by and cheered for the second new creature in our family. Kaley was very emotional and decided that she would also liked to be "re-baptized" privately but would let me know when she wanted to do it. I am proud that she didn't just "go with the flow" and follow suit but rather choose to think and study more about it to make the right decision for herself.
What a blessing today was and I for one am still rejoicing in it!
I meant to write this last weekend, but time got away from me (what a shocker). I had a wonderful night out last Saturday with a girlfriend from work and so enjoyed some grown up girl time! We started out with dinner at the Olive Garden (thanks to a gift card that my Mom gave me) and then headed to the movies (I had 2 free passes). We saw "The Women" and it was great! I can't urge you enough to check it out ladies! The cast is amazing, the plot and subject matter realistic (although Hollywoodized a bit), and the message is powerful and one we all need reinforced. The only thing that could have made it any better for me would have a been a Rick Springfield song in the soundtrack, LOL! Let me know if you're able to catch it as I am working on a project that I'll share here later that ties in with the movie too. There were some fab lines about girlfriends that hit home and cracked me up also, like: "putting it in the vault", and "don't be bitter, it leads to Botox"!
If memory serves, there was not one man on a single frame of this film too which I thought was kinda cool. If you are needing a kick in the rear, to be inspired or empowered, or just want to see a good "chick flick", check out "The Women"..you'll be glad you did!
If I can score some more free movie passes, the next one on my list that I want to see for me is "Nights in Rodanthe", so stay tuned as there might be another movie review in my future. Oh yeah, and by the way, I'm not getting paid to write these (LOL), just spreading the word like we women do. :)
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