My Method to the Madness

It's June. The days are warmer, the nights are longer and our anniversary is right around the corner. It's the first time in our almost 7 year marriage, that we have absolutely nothing planned and we are thrilled! Nothing. We want to do nothing. We want to sleep, watch movies, read books, picnic with our children and perhaps sleep some more. Why this lack-luster plan for this day to celebrate? Because our sweet marriage has gotten beautifully simple. We laugh more, we love unconditionally and fiercely, we forgive quickly and we talk. Oh we talk. Everyday with my husband, best friend and now my co-worker, is a celebration of June 10, 2006. Every night we lay down exhausted, remembering all the things we forgot to do, all the insane conversations we had with children, all the chores that got done, errands that were run, and eyes that were rolled in our general direction. There is not a single person on this entire planet that I could do this job with besides my love, and he kn

I am not who I used to be. My whole entire world has been flipped upside down by one phone call and 7 teenage girls. The phone call said we got the job as House Parents at Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children. The seven teenage girls are the girls that I take care of morning and night for 3 weeks a month. I love them all. Got trusted me with 3 beautiful children, and 7 amazing house daughters. I am not who I used to be. 5 months in and I am tired, busy and overworked. I am also happier than I have ever been in my 28 years on this planet. They change my world, every day. They make me stronger, better, more compassionate, more aware. They make me angry, they make me cry, they make me feel like an idiot. They make me smile, they make me laugh so hard I can't breath, they make me proud. When they hug me, I am changed, encouraged, filled up. They take my breath away. I am not who I used to be, God has made me so much more. I am tired, I am ecstatic, I am a mother of 10.