Friendship - It's a Vivas Thing!

Apr 20 2009

Amazing

The past few weeks certainly have been. Yup, that's all I can say…they just have been. A recap if you will:

Three ER visits in less than three weeks; bronchitis, flu, sciatica, fractured wrist, dental stuff, school stuff, homework, drawing, hip hop, karate, visitation, numerous phone calls…the list goes on and on! The other day I sat down at 3:30 pm to finally grab a bite of lunch. I was happily slurping up my soup when I realized I forgot to pick up the littlest one from school! I quickly zoomed out of the house and made it just in the nick of time! 🙂

The kids send me text messages reminding me of their needs during the day, and hope that they've moved up on the list of things to accomplish today!

"Mom, don't forget this."
"Mom, don't forget that."

Sometimes they're just reminding me of stuff for me, because quite frankly, they know I may forget! B-boo continually tells me that she doesn't know what I'd do without her….she's right! She knows what I need these days before I do and will have it in the van as I rush out the door to the next appointment with the next kid. You just gotta love her!

And then there's just life. Honestly, many have asked how I am doing, and it's gotten to the point where I just look at them, really, because, how do you answer that question when you really don't even have the time to sit and think about how you really are? You just are. It's that simple.

What I do know is this:

I know I have an amazing God who really knows how I feel and who really will get us through this. He continues to prove that to us day after day.

James 1:2-3 says,
² My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, ³ knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. ⁴ But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."

Faith is an amazing thing.

I know that I have an amazing family and that God is working in a mighty way in their lives right now. This comes with much hurt, many tears, and a love that is all encompassing. My children are learning to love in ways that I don't think even they thought was possible.

I know that I have an amazing support system through friends and our church. The outpouring of prayer alone is enough to humble us. This past weekend we had to go through 7 hours of Kinship foster training. We had children fanned out all over the city! Friends were showing up at our house early in the morning to pick up whichever child they were in charge of for the day and just took them and loved on them and gave them what they needed! Another took fluids and soup to my oldest son who was sick with the flu; she'd never been there but knew she lived close and knew I couldn't take care of his needs, so she did it for me. Amazing. Another child needed someone and made a phone call to one of our friends. She didn't hesitate, but jumped in her car and took care of the need immediately. Amazing.

We learned this weekend that these friends who are so willingly helping us are going to need to have their lives intruded on as well. They'll have to be fingerprinted and their homes will have to be inspected. I mentioned this to one of them late Saturday night when she brought back one of our children. She didn't hesitate at all, instead just said, "Sign me up!" Sunday morning at church, her husband was confirming that he was fine with the whole thing, too, when another friend and her husband piped up that they'd be willing to go through the process, too, so that they could be on the list to help out. Amazing that we don't even have to ask. In addition, another friend came up to me and asked what I need help with. I just kind of looked at her and smiled. I don't know what I need, remember? (ha ha) She took control and said she'd bring us a meal on Wednesday; a safe meal for my whole family because two of my children suffer from serious food allergies. Amazing.

I'm learning how to say "no" when I need to and "yes" when I ought to.

I taught a Bible study this weekend on being in the wilderness and looking at the peaks and valleys in your life and how God has, or is, bringing you through. We're in a pretty big valley right now and the mountain seems too hard to climb, but I can honestly say that I'm looking forward to it. There are moments when it seems too hard, and God will send someone amazing who just happens to call right at that moment and offer to pray for me (thank you, dear friend). There are also moments, when I realize just how much God is strengthening me, and so I continue on in Him, after all, He is Amazing!

Apr 10 2009

It Really Does Take a Village

It really does take a village…God's Village. I can honestly say I don't know how we would have made it through the last few weeks if not for the friends that God has provided.

Three weeks ago, my 6 year old niece and my 4 year old nephew came to live with us. It's been pretty tough, I won't deny it, but God is definitely moving. We have received much prayer, encouragement, clothes for the children, and time. I have one particular friend who has spent her day off, for the past three weeks at my home, taking care of the children so that I could make the various appointments that are needed. She has done my laundry, swept my floors, wiped runny noses and played many games all in the name of good old-fashioned, Christian friendship.

I have others who have held my hand, prayed with me and have been there with me to hand me tissue while I poor my heart out, all while crying alongside me. We've received many phone calls offering to run errands, go grocery shopping for us, etc. I am truly humbled by the amount of love God has poured into us through the friends that He has provided.

Even in the little things, He knows. A few blogs back, I posted about my excitement for our annual Easter Party. Those plans have been put on the back burner in light of the changes in our home. My bathroom hasn't been repainted, my house isn't "spic and span*, and fresh flowers haven't been planted. And then I found out yesterday that the honey baked ham wasn't going to make it's yearly Easter arrival. I have to tell you that I really look forward to that ham! I had to remind myself that I could live without it, the ham isn''t really that important in the larger scheme of things and I shouldn't worry about what other meat I can feed the 60+ people that will be dining with us on Sunday. What is important is that we will be spending the day with the wonderful friends that love us and just want to celebrate this special day in our home with us.

This morning, I received a phone call from one of those friends. She said that she and her husband had really prayed about what to bring this year, and wanted to know if it was ok if they brought a couple of hams this year. A reminder of how God is amazing even in the little things and how He continues to prove it through the friends that He has provided.

I was talking to someone earlier this week about church. We talked about Pastors who had come and gone, as well as others. But the one constant has been the body; the friends who have continued to be a part of what makes up our church. I think God has done a pretty good thing in our church body.

And so, when I think about that old saying about it taking a village and how I disagreed with it, today I say, it does take a village, only it's God's Village.

Mar 28 2009

Why?

I keep getting that question. I ask it myself. My son keeps asking me. I have no answer other than to remind myself, as well as my children that we just need to trust in God as we go through this very tough phase in our lives. It just is, isn't it?

This week has been such an exhausting week! I've spent more time at court, family services, and so much more that I just don't know if I am coming or going anymore. I've been overwhelmed and desperate for understanding…and sleep.

But God has stood by me. I know this because these precious children are so full of love. I know this because my friends have been such a support to us. We have the most wonderful Christian friends who have poured out their love and prayers to us.

And then there are those little moments. It's been so long since we've had little questioning children. Our youngest is a know it all, not a questioner. Ha Ha! Now we have a little boy who doesn't seem to know any other word other than, "Why?" "Why?" "Why?"

I don't know why…but I do know that He is in control and that is what has to matter. 🙂

Mar 15 2009

I’m so excited, I can hardly wait!

I really am! Easter is just a few short weeks away, and that means it's time for our annual Easter Potluck Party! My hubby will slow cook brisket all night long in preparation for our feast. I'll clean like a mad woman in the days ahead. The kids have already started talking about it.

"Mom, we're having our Easter Party this year, right?"
(Last year I had a hysterectomy the week before Easter, so my concerned hubby canceled our party. It was the right thing to do, but I sure missed it!)

Yes, we're having our Easter party! I spent the better part of today making the invitations. Did I mention how excited I am? I feel like a little kid right before opening a great big gift!

Imagine a home filled to the brim with all of your friends and family and their children, all of them bringing their favorite dishes to celebrate with you after a morning at church. The air is filled with the aroma of the most delicious brisket, mixed with the scents of home baked goods. The backyard is full of lawn chairs and blankets, people everywhere laughing and enjoying themselves. The children are chasing each other around, giggling as they climb the various trees.

Once the main part of the feast is over, the children are gathered into the living room to listen to a story about our Savior or make crafts for fun. While they're inside, the adults are outside hiding dozens and dozens of Easter treats wherever they can find room. The bravest adults will venture into the trees to hide the eggs from the older kids, while others might just drop them on the ground for the youngest one. Others will walk around with their cameras, snapping shots of whatever catches their eye.

And then it's time. The children gather at the back door with their various bags and baskets, waiting to be let loose while the adults go over the rules. Little people, easy eggs; big kids, harder eggs. Don't be greedy, no more than a dozen please. And then they're off!

Honestly, you can't tell who is having more fun, the adults or the children! When the next to last egg is finally found (there's always the egg that stays in hiding), the real relaxing begins as we stuff ourselves with the various desserts of the day and talk happily amongst each other.

Finally, families will head home, exhausted, full and content.

And me? I'll be thrilled to have spent such a special day with so many special people.

Mar 05 2009

Steven’s Soup, In Memory of Joshua Stevens

Art, Josh, & Mike

I can't believe it's been six months today since Joshi went home to be with our Lord. We miss him so much. Drew, Barb, Shelbie and Sammie, we love you so much and pray for you daily; you are never far from our thoughts and prayers.

For my friends and others who are reading this blog, today is Joshi's Day. We've kind of made a little tradition where on the 5th of the month we make a cheesy potato soup for the Stevens to help them get through the day. My kids LOVE this soup and look forward to it each month. They start asking for it a few days before, knowing that Mom is going to be making this soup. The other day, I was telling Barb that my kids were asking if I was going to make the Steven's soup. We kind of laughed and said that is how it should be. It is the Stevens Soup, because it has so much love poured into it for the Steven's family and whenever we eat it, we smile and remember Joshi and what he meant to us.

So, I thought I'd post my recipe, which started out as a recipe from Allrecipes.com and grew into much more.

Ingredients

Love, as much as you can put into it

1/2 cup butter (I use earth balance to keep this dairy free)
2 qts organic chicken broth
1 diced sweet onion
5 lb bag red potatoes, peeled, chopped
1/2 tsp cayenne
1 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp sea salt
1 12 oz tub sour cream ( I use tub Tofutti Better Than Sour Cream)
1 8oz tub cream cheese (I use tub of Tofuttie Better Than Cream Cheese)
1 heaping tsp dill (fresh is best)
1 tsp minced garlic
1/4 cup chives (fresh is best)

Place onions and potatoes into a large pot. Add chicken broth, garlic, cayenne, pepper, and salt and bring to a boil. Continue boiling until potatoes are tender. Mash potatoes with a potato masher (or a larger spoon thingy) until there are small little chunks of potato mixed in. Add butter, sour cream and cream cheese, chives and dill and simmer for about 15 minutes. If soup is a little watery, you can add in a bit of potato starch to thicken it up.

For those who can have dairy, top off your bowl with colby jack or cheddar cheese and enjoy.

But before you take a bite, please remember Barb, Drew, Shelbie and Sammie in your prayers…and if you knew Joshi, share a few memories as you sit around your table eating the Stevens Soup!

Joshua Dennis Stevens
1995-2008

I am Josh
by Josh Stevens

I am Athletic – like a precise machine, running smoothly and efficiently.
I am Competitive – like the sun, fighting to shine through the clouds on a cloudy day.
I am Fun Loving – like a circus star, wanting to give joy to others.
I am Kind Hearted – like a favorite family pet, wanting to give love to all.
I am Persistent – like a skilled quarterback, never giving up till the ball scores.
I am Obedient – like an athlete responding to his coach.
I am Respectful – like a player accepting of the ref's call.
I am Beautiful – like a gem stone, with beauty for all to see.