Father's Day 2011

I am not sure if you all know this, but I have an excellent husband. He is faithful, loving, kind, an excellent provider, romantic and friendly. He has encouraged me in all my crazy endeavors over the years. He has loved me in skinny jeans, in mu mus and everything in between. He has loved my family, endured my dogs (and loved a few of them) hauled my horses, fenced the pastures, held me when I have been broken hearted, celebrated my accomplishments, welcomed my friends and even had a few cups of coffee with them even though he isn't "old enough" to drink it.

Perhaps the biggest thing that makes Clint my hero is that he has welcomed children into our home. By birth, adoption and association. From the first positive pregnancy test (which I kindly announced in his sleeping ear at 4:00 AM!) through miscarriages, births, and adoptions, Clint has been an amazing father. He has gotten up at night, changed diapers, walked the floor patting our colicky daughter for hours on end. He has worn babies in back packs, pushed double strollers, carried children on his shoulders, around his middle, had them walk on top of his feet and had them trample his heart.

Clint has been Dad and Poppy to many kids who are still part of our family and some who have made other choices. He has been abundantly patient as only the dad of a large family can experience patience. It is possible, in one day to have disasters involving little mechanics, little tool borrowers and helpers to the extent that every mechanical device on the ranch is disabled and the tools to try to redeem them cannot be found! When this happens and nobody is duct taped to a tree, that is one patient man!

I am thankful that my husband has chosen the high road. He has never had a cool truck (though I hope someday to get him one) almost never had a store bought gift on any occasion, will possibly never be able to afford a hobby, or to retire or to travel. He will still be raising children in his "golden years". What he has done, however is to love those who may not be able to love back, or those who love in a very limited way. He has loved children whose birth families have trusted blindly that he would be good to them. He has taken that amazing gift and responsibility seriously. He has extended love in the face of rejection and railing. After being rejected, he has chosen to love again. Every child who has entered our family, by whatever means,has been given the same thing, Clint's unconditional love, his name, an inheritance and a chance to grow in the shadow of an amazing man for a while.

When I met Clint, he had a failed marriage in his past, as did I. As we were getting to know each other, I noticed how humbly he approached the things pertaining to his sons and his former wife. I was honored to know such a man. Though I know he now has regrets that he wasn't more assertive in getting time with his boys in the early days, he did a few things very well. First, he loved them and he supported them. He prayed for them. He bragged on them and was amazed at their accomplishments (he still is, by the way). Perhaps most importantly, he honored their mom and their stepdad. Though his first marriage (like mine and everyone else's) failed from lack of honor, lack of wisdom and lack of care, Clint was able to recover, love from afar and give his boys the gift of respecting their mother and allowing them to love another dad without feeling torn. What an amazing man!

I want to publicly thank God for giving my children the most wonderful father possible. Clint, thank you for doing the hard jobs. Thank you for loving our children so selflessly.
I love you with all my heart!
Lawana

Changing Times

                                                                                    

Thanks Mommy2 for letting me double duty this post from our blog. Thanks again, for getting me started!





Many moms who have a 6 year old do not have an 8 year old grandchild. My husband and I have children that span 3 decades, which Mommy 2 understands. When you have children  of many ages, sometimes it seems that you will be rearing children forever. When you homeschool, it can seem that you will never be done with teaching children phonics and basic math. BUT..these days, I am getting a whiff of a new wind. After decades of being able to spell words in front of the younger children to keep them from knowing what we were saying, we are now having to be careful. My youngest 2 children, ages 9 and 6 can now conquer all but the speediest verbal mazes.

I am now teaching my last child to read. As is my usual, I am of two minds about this. A part of me is rejoicing...for my children's accomplishments and for my own as their teacher. The other part of me is seeing my children grow up so fast. Not too fast. Just SO fast. I have always wanted to work myself out of a job, to bring up my children in such a way that they no longer need any major "mommying" and to reach the point where I can watch and enjoy their adult lives from a mildly involved distance. I am getting my wish.

Our three oldest sons are being good husbands and the two oldest are deep in the ranks of fatherhood. They no longer need us except for prayer support and the occasional bit of advice. They could all teach us as much at this point as we could teach them. My teens are working outside the home, leading extracurricular clubs and participating in ministries. They could all run the house and even educate the younger ones if needed.

Clint and I find ourselves wanting earlier bed times, planning for retirement and being grateful that one of our teens is driving. There are many nights that our family shrinks small enough to fit in a Volkswagen Beetle due to 4-H, Civil Air Patrol and the closing shift at work

I want to adjust gracefully. I don't want to make my children feel badly for growing up and leaving me. I want them to know how excited I am that they can do all that they are able to do. I also want SOMEONE to come home and eat this giant pot of chicken soup I made today! I remember the growing pains as our family got larger. There were times when the amount of food I was accustomed to preparing was no longer enough. Numerous times I had to fill up some growing tummies with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for dessert until I learned how much my  family needed at that particular stage in their lives. Well, now I am experiencing previews of how the process will look in reverse. I will soon have to downsize and make smaller meals. For now, though, I am grateful that the teen crew is due to roll in in about an hour to eat my soup.

Enjoy your family in all their stages.

Lawana

P.S. Since this was written, my daughter in law, Becky took over teaching our youngest child to read. She is a wonderful teacher and I can no longer spell ANYTHING at my house. Thanks Becky! I couldn't do it without you. You will be a great mom some day.