Same story, different... year!

So, last year we bought our first house. A week or so after doing so (before we moved in) we had pipes burst in 2 places and consequently the basement and master bath flooded. Long story short, it delayed our move in, but ended up being a blessing in disguise as the insurance money was more than the repairs! Anyway, let me tell you about the ridiculous design of our so called, "master bath." It's small, only enough room for a toilet, shower, and small vanity... not much bigger than many closets. Next, it was an addition to the house (since 98 years ago when the house was built it didn't have indoor plumbing!) Finally, 3 of the walls of the bathroom are outside walls, including the one the pipes are in. There is very little insulation in the walls, and none in the floor. Really poor design in a state where temperatures do get fairly cold for a decent amount of time each year. So anyway, all that being said... yesterday I went in to the hall bath (the pipes for the master bath run along the ceiling of the hall bath, and one small part of the wall is shared by both bathrooms) and I heard flowing water... "Josh! Come here please!" "I'm eating... do you need me right now?" "I need you to come here RIGHT NOW, please!" Josh, hearing the urgency in my voice runs in, and at the same time, I run out to go check on the master bath... luckily, there was only about 1-2 inches of water so far, and it was only covering about 1/4 of the bathroom. Josh quickly ran to the basement and shut off the water to the house, while I mopped up the floor and set the space heater to warming and drying the bathroom. It was so cold in that bathroom that the water in the tank and bowl of the toilet was frozen solid! You see, we weren't using this bathroom. The toilet was not fastened down all the way (because you have to tighten it down when it is warm enough to squish the wax seal) and the sink is not connected (because the pipes from the wall are an odd, non-standard size, making it difficult to connect to the pipes for the sink. So, we had the door closed to the bathroom to conserve heat. (There is also no heating vent in there, since it was a rather poorly done addition.) We called a friend of ours and explained to him our semi-emergency. He told Josh what he needed to do, and so Josh was off to the hardware store. Since the pipes for that bathroom are visible, as previously stated, Josh just cut off the pipes and capped them in the hall bath. That allowed us to turn the water back on to the house, and he was only about 2 1/2 hours later for work. (Oh, did I forget to mention that this all happened 10 minutes before he had to leave for work?!) So anyway, we will have to tear out the wall in the master bath (again!) in order to repair the leak. We will need to do that soon in order to prevent mold growth in the now wet wall. However, these cold temps should inhibit that for a little while. Oh, and when we called our friend to find out how to fix the pipe, he said, "didn't you know these are the 2 coldest days we have had in 5 or 6 years?" Oh, I forgot to mention, we have both been sick, and so we had been doing a whole lot of nothing... including not watching the weather channel. So no, we didn't know that! As Josh said, "we picked a heck of a day to not watch TV." And then, to top it off, it was warmer out at 9:30 last night than the middle of the day yesterday! UGH!!!
So anyway... in the words of my dear friend, Rachel... there is more than you ever wanted to know about what is going on in our lives! Haha! Coming soon... "10 days, 2850 miles, and a 2 year old." :)

Life is...

Happening. No matter how hard I try to slow it down or halt it altogether, life happens all around us! That's a wonderful thing most of the time, but sometimes, I wish we could just put it all on hold, and enjoy the individual moments a little longer. Just 4 days ago, Princess and I got back from a 2 week hiatus to South Florida. Two whole weeks... and it flew by in a flash! I still somehow didn't have time to do everyhting I wanted to do, or see everyone I wanted to see, and I certainly didn't have as much time to sit and visit and relax as I would have liked. All that a side, we had tons of fun! I loved every minute of my visit, and I enjoyed all of the running around, catching up with old friends, playing in the pool with Princess during her swim lessons, and eating lots of great food that we don't have "'round these here parts" of the country. :) I missed Josh like crazy, and am glad to be back with him, but you know what would be even better? If we could all be together in FL! I am SO blessed by the people in my life down there that love me and care for me and Josh and Princess in so many ways. We are also blessed by our friends in TN, but in the last 6 months, many of the things that were keeping us here have dissipated. That makes it even harder for me to come back to TN and leave FL behind.
Anyway, enough about that...
Babies are everywhere! My dear friend Brian and his wife Danielle welcomed their first little one, Courtney Marie, into the world on Tuesday, Nov. 18th. Brian's brother David, and his wife Rachel (also very dear friends to us) will be adding baby number 4 in January. My brother Bill and his wife Kelly are looking forward to welcoming Lauryn Autumn Marie into the world in early February. Several of my friends from MOPS are pregnant, all due in the first couple of months of 2009, and my long-time friend Heidi and her husband, are about 13 weeks pregnant with their second child. Babies, babies everywhere, and not a one for us... lol. We are waiting on the Lord to give us another bundle of joy when He sees fit, but I hope its soon :) Congrats to all the new and expecting Mommies and Daddies!

No work!?

So I realized a couple of days ago that it has been 2 years and 10 months since I've worked. (And by work I mean punch a time clock and get a paycheck.) This was an interesting realization for me. This is the longest I've gone without a "job" since I was 16, and I am sure I have worked harder in the last 2 years than I had at any other job I have had in my life! When I was pregnant, I counted down the days until I would leave the workforce "for good" with near epic proportions of excitement. I couldn't wait to stay home and be a wife and mother, and not have to deal with the drudgery of a M-F job, meeting quality requirements, taking lunch at a set time, etc... Now, 2 years later, I still love being a wife and mommy, but there are brief moments that I miss the workforce. I miss the set schedule, the organization, the clear expecations, the employee handbook! Parenting and marriage don't have a handbook (although the Bible has a lot to say on these topics,) and sometimes I feel as though I fall far short of the job description, even though I've never seen one. Knowing that, Lord willing, it will be at least another 20 years before I rejoin the workforce (if I ever do) is both encouraging and daunting. Encouraging in the fact that I get to continue to care for my small family full-time for many more years, and daunting because I get to care for my small family full-time for many more years. Our hope is that our family will grow... and with that will come new challenges, new stress, new pressure, new excitement, new joys, new opportunities to grow and mature and learn to rely wholly on my heavenly Father. But also with that will come more opportunities for me to blow it big time, and another little person for which I will be responsible, for better or worse. My sincere prayer is that I would learn the lessons God is so lovingly trying to teach me, and that I would be a better wife and mother because of it, but my fear is that my hard-headed, stubborn, Billings blood will prevent me from seeing the grace extended to me, and in turn extending that grace to my family. The verse that says God punishes the sins of the fathers to the 3rd and 4th generations is true... and I am living proof of the stubborness and rebellion that has been in my family's blood for many years. I hope and pray that this will not continue into Princess, or any other children we may have, but that God in His infinite power would start now, with my children, a strong legacy of faith, of humility, and of surrender to His will. I am trying so desperately to be an example of this to Josh and Princess, but it is so difficult to crucify the sinful nature in me... the "I'm gonna do it my way or die trying" mentality. I have come a long way in mellowing my temperment, thanks to Josh and the Holy Spirit, but I have a long way to go... (and no comments from the peanut gallery on this!)
Ultimately, I want His will to be done, and I want my children to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ...
Phillips, Craig and Dean hit it on the head with their hit
"I want to be just like you"

He climbs in my lap for a goodnight hug
He calls me Dad and I call him Bub
With his faded old pillow and a bear named Pooh
He snuggles up close and says, >I want to be like you<
I tuck him in bed and I kiss him goodnight
Trippin' over the toys as I turn out the light
And I whisper a prayer that someday he'll see
He's got a father in God 'cause he's seen Jesus in me

Lord, I want to be just like You
'Cause he wants to be just like me
I want to be a holy example
For his innocent eyes to see
Help me be a living Bible, Lord
That my little boy can read
I want to be just like You
'Cause he wants to be like me

Got to admit I've got so far to go
Make so many mistakes and I'm sure that You know
Sometimes it seems no matter how hard I try
With all the pressures in life I just can't get it all right
But I'm trying so hard to learn from the best
Being patient and kind, filled with Your tenderness
'Cause I know that he'll learn from the things that he sees
And the Jesus he finds will be the Jesus in me
Right now from where he stands I may seem mighty tall
But it's only 'cause I'm learning from the best Father of them all

Thoughts on Family

So I realized a few nights ago that it has been forever since I blogged. We have been so busy with everything… traveling to Florida for the holidays, and then buying and remodeling a house, it seems I haven’t had much time for anything else! Last night there came to mind something that I wanted to write about, and I remembered my blog… so here it is. J

Family is on my mind. Not so much particular family members, but rather, what it means to be a family. Growing up, I, like many, had people in my life that I called “Uncle” or “Aunt” who were not actually that, but were simply close friends of the family, so rather than call them Mr. and Mrs. So-and-so, we called them “Aunt” and “Uncle.” This seems to be a pretty common thing, and if you didn’t do this yourself growing up, I’m sure you know someone who did. As I got older, I had other women I called “Mom” as well. My own mother use to joke that I collected Moms. But she always said that she was so grateful for these women, as the old saying, “it takes a village to raise a child” really is the best way to go. These women were a vital and special part of my life, especially during times when my Mom was unable to be there. One of these women worked from home, and so when I would have to come home from school sick, she would come get me and I would spend the afternoon on her couch until my Mom got off of work. It was so much easier for her to have me at her house than for my Mom to have to leave work, and her children often distracted me from how bad I felt. When I was a senior in high school, my Grandma fell ill, and my Mom often had to travel out of town to care for her. One of the other women I adopted as a “mom” let me stay in her home as often as necessary, sometime for weeks at a time.

According to dictionary.com, the word family is defined as “any group of persons closely related by blood, as parents, children, uncles, aunts, and cousins.” According to this definition, these women, and the others in my life that I referred to as family are really not. However, another definition for the word family is “a group of people who are generally not blood relations but who share common attitudes, interests, or goals and, frequently, live together.” This definition more closely fits these people in my life.

Now, on to what spurred this all in the first place. My daughter Princess is not talking yet, but I have been trying to get in the habit of referring to my friends the way she will address them. We have several sets of friends that we asked them if they would like to be “Uncle and Aunt” to Princess instead of “Mr. & Mrs. So-and so.” These people are our dearest friends, and we are so grateful that they are in our life, and in our daughter’s life. One of my dear friends and I were discussing the other night why we have these “adopted” family members, and she brought up the most wonderful point! She said that when she was a kid, she called her Mom’s friends “Mrs. So-and-so. “ Even though they might have been nice and someone she liked, they were always her Mom’s friends, not hers. They weren’t people she felt she had a relationship with apart from her Mom’s friendship with them. Take a minute and think about your parent’s friends when you were growing up. Didn’t you generally feel the same way about them? What my friend pointed out is that an aunt or an uncle is usually someone that you feel that you have a relationship with, that you can go to when you have a problem, that you can talk to and share with. This is the kind of relationship I want Princess to have with these people that she will call “aunt” or “uncle.” I know that kids don’t always want to talk to their parents about things, and while I hope and pray I will always have the kind of relationship with my children where they will come to me with anything, I also want them to know there are others they can go to when they have a problem. These are people that I love and trust, and know that they will always look out for my kids best interest and will give them sound Godly advice and encouragement. This is why I want Princess to be able to call these friends of ours “aunt” and “uncle.” I want her to know that her family is much bigger than the 4 grandparents, 2 uncles and 2 aunts she has because of blood and marriage. I want to know that there is a village to help raise my child and encourage and love her the way I was encouraged and loved by the village that my Mom and I surrounded me with. This was an “ah-hah” moment for me in why we do the things we do, like adopt people into our families like this. And thinking back to the first definition of family, those who are related by blood, this would fit these extended members of our family as well in the fact that we all share in the blood of Christ, and are thus all members of one family. And for these people, and this relation, I am eternally grateful. To all of the adopted members of my family... I love you, and thank you! :)

It's gonna be a Tender Tennessee Christmas...

Come on weather man give us a forecast snowy white

Can't you hear the prayers of every childlike heart tonight

Rockies are callin', Denver snow fallin' Somebody said it's four feet deep,

but it doesn't matter Give me the laughter, I'm gonna choose to keep

Another tender Tennessee Christmas, the only Chirstmas for me

Where the love circles around us like the gifts around our tree

Well I know there's more snow up in Colorado than my roof will ever see

But a tender Tennessee Christmas is the only Christmas for me

Every now and then I get a wanderin' urge to see Maybe California, maybe Tinsel Town's for me

There's a parade there, we'd have it made there Bring home a tan for New Year's Eve

Sure sounds exciting, awfully inviting, still I think I'm gonna keep

Another tender Tennessee Christmas, the only Christmas for me

Where the love circles around us like the gifts around our tree

Well they say in L.A. it's a warm holiday, it's the only place to be

A tender Tennessee Christmas, is the only Christmas for me

Well I know there's more snow up in Colorado than my roof will ever see

But a tender Tennessee Christmas is the only Christmas for me

A tender Tennessee Christmas is the only Christmas for me

This is one of my top favorite Christmas songs (after "Christmas Eve in Washington")... and its kinda ironic since I've never really spent many Christmases here. In 2004 I spent Christmas in Nashville with Josh and his family, and then flew South either later that day or the next. In 2006 we were here in Seymour for Christmas, but with the joy and excitement of having a 5 day old baby girl, Christmas traditions and festivities were a little different.

This year will be our first "real Christmas" in Tennessee, as I have started calling it. It will be our little family celebrating together the coming of the Christ-child over 2000 years ago in our own special way, starting our own traditions and creating our own Christmas memories.

They keep saying it will snow... a few weeks ago it threatened to... I think I even saw a few flakes on the windshield, but that was all. The weather man is saying that it will snow this weekend. I won't hold my breath, but I would LOVE to have a white Christmas. Afterall, if its gonna be cold, there might as well be snow, right?!

Today was such a weird day for us here in Tennessee... just 2 weeks until Christmas and it was 75 degress out today! After taking an afternoon nap, Princess and I jumped at the chance to enjoy some sunshine and get our Vitamin D production going! We went to the park and went down the slides, swung together on the swings, and Princess swung all by herself for nearly 45 minutes! She loved it! I got a chance to see an old acquaintance who was there with her sons, as well as meet another Mom who was there with her daughter. It was a delightful afternoon. I really needed the pick-me up that the weather provided today, and for that I praise God. When the cold weather does return in a couple of days, I really hope it brings with it lots of big, fluffy clouds thick with snow!

After celebrating Christmas here in Tennessee, we will head South to celebrate again with my parents, Grams, and brother and sister-in-law in Fort Lauderdale, and I can't wait! I know I will be ready for more warm weather by then, and I miss them all so much. I have not seen my parents since June, and my brother and his wife since February. Also, we will be celebrating Princess first birthday (and the fact that we made it through the first year so well!)

I just read a book called "The Christmas Shoes." It is based on the song of the same name by the band "Newsong." Talk about a heart-wrencher. The song itself always leaves me overwhelmed and often brimming with emotion, but the book really got me. I would highly recommend it. It has a sequel that I am hoping to pick-up from the library tomorrow. The one couple in the book reminds me of Josh and I, even though we have been married so much less time. They are a simple family, but love eachother so much. The author describes how much the couple enjoys spending time with one another, and how they always have something to talk about. The other couple in the book has everything in terms of "stuff," but has very little in the way of substance. The absent father is a provider in the physical sense, but does not even really know his wife and daughters. It is heartbreaking, and what is even more so is that we all know people who have that same life... lots of stuff, but no relationships. It reminded me that this time of year, when we have more freedom than ever to proclaim the glorious message of the tiny baby born in the manger, I need to be a voice of peace and love to all those I encounter. I am making it a point to refuse to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the "holiday," but rather to get caught up in the hope and joy of this Holy-day. I can only pray that I remember this daily and that Christ gives me the strength to be a witness for Him in this season.

I pray that each person who reads this would be reminded of that little baby born in the manger on that night so long ago, and that you too would take a deep breath, and rest deeply in the promise of God's faithfulness and love, and that you would truly celebrate not just a holiday, but a Holy-day this Christmas. (and if you have time, check out the excellent book, "The Christmas shoes")

Our little piano player

Just wanted to post this video... maybe it is one of those things only a Mom (or Grandma) could love... but hopefully the rest of you will enjoy these 55 seconds as well.