On Christmas evening we got a call from my mom's neighbor in Waterloo that her house had been broken into. We left the day after and all headed up there to assess the damage and start cleaning up. It wasn't so much the window that was broken, the TV that was missing, the beds that were messed up or EVEN the jewelry that they stole (my parents wedding rings, a mother's ring, and a gold bracelet that my dad had given to my mom), but merely the invasion of her security ... and her home. These criminals were in her house, AND in her room! They took much more than just the things they got away with, but they took someone's level of comfort in their own house.
What is wrong with people? Why do they make these decisions that deliberately hurt others. They had to have known that stealing those rings would mean pain for the owner of that home. When they stomped their foot through the chest in my moms room (which happen to be a piece of furniture that my dad had bought my mom before they were married) would be painful to come home and find.
What I struggle to understand is how people can be driven to make such hurtful decisions. No matter how much those jerks took from my mom and our family on Christmas morning what I do know is that God is with us and will get us through this. The birth of his precious son Jesus is something they can't stop us from celebrating.
So, to the punks who broke in, stole things, and hopefully are in jail Story on the punks we suspect did this ... Merry Christmas!
I hope you got everything you wanted. I know I did (a family both here and far and the love of a savior)!
It's double the giggles and double the grins, and double the trouble if you're blessed with twins Then God proves to you that two is not enough and blesses your life with another one to love.
Friday, December 28, 2012
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Friday, December 14, 2012
Anniversary of our new normal
**This post was supposed to be posted on 12/8/12 **
I posted this last year on the 8th There are no words and I have to say it was my most widely read blog post since I started this blog in 2009. For those of you that followed our journey this was all supposed to start on November 7th, but due to some complications we were sent back home and the surgery was rescheduled for December 8th. I left Cincy that day feeling so dejected. I was sad. I was mad. I felt bad that my mom, my mother in law drove from Iowa and my sister brought her family from North Carolina. What a waste. However, God had different plans. During the month of November as we prepared Birk for surgery I felt God nudging me telling me … “this will be the right time. Just be patient.” Turns out, he does know what he is doing." December 8th. Birk had surgery. Turned out to be so successful, the surgery itself was shorter than they planned, everything “could not have gone better” (according to Dr. Cotton), and his recovery was shorter than what we had planned. We were home in time for Christmas last year.
Since his surgery Birk has continued to amaze us. He suffered through a series of ear infections the beginning of 2012, but once spring hit he blossomed. In fact, we had an illness free summer! Birk started to love the water (after being so afraid to even take a bath). He spent his summer playing football, swimming, sleeping in a big boy bed, sleeping in his room without a baby monitor right next to his face, and we could go anywhere without a suction machine. To say I’m amazed is an understatement.
I would never have wished this journey on anyone, but I have to be honest that I wouldn’t change anything about what we went through (well, maybe I’d change a few things …. Like finding Birk not breathing in the back of my Jeep at 5 months old). Being a Mommy (and I’m sure a Daddy) to a child that has a “special need” like Birk had taught me so many things. I have learned that life is precious in ANY fashion. Just because someone, specifically a child, has something that may seem limiting doesn’t mean they are limited. We were once told Birk would never talk, he would never walk … look at him today! He and his sister are miracles in every sense of the word!
I posted this last year on the 8th There are no words and I have to say it was my most widely read blog post since I started this blog in 2009. For those of you that followed our journey this was all supposed to start on November 7th, but due to some complications we were sent back home and the surgery was rescheduled for December 8th. I left Cincy that day feeling so dejected. I was sad. I was mad. I felt bad that my mom, my mother in law drove from Iowa and my sister brought her family from North Carolina. What a waste. However, God had different plans. During the month of November as we prepared Birk for surgery I felt God nudging me telling me … “this will be the right time. Just be patient.” Turns out, he does know what he is doing." December 8th. Birk had surgery. Turned out to be so successful, the surgery itself was shorter than they planned, everything “could not have gone better” (according to Dr. Cotton), and his recovery was shorter than what we had planned. We were home in time for Christmas last year.
Since his surgery Birk has continued to amaze us. He suffered through a series of ear infections the beginning of 2012, but once spring hit he blossomed. In fact, we had an illness free summer! Birk started to love the water (after being so afraid to even take a bath). He spent his summer playing football, swimming, sleeping in a big boy bed, sleeping in his room without a baby monitor right next to his face, and we could go anywhere without a suction machine. To say I’m amazed is an understatement.
I would never have wished this journey on anyone, but I have to be honest that I wouldn’t change anything about what we went through (well, maybe I’d change a few things …. Like finding Birk not breathing in the back of my Jeep at 5 months old). Being a Mommy (and I’m sure a Daddy) to a child that has a “special need” like Birk had taught me so many things. I have learned that life is precious in ANY fashion. Just because someone, specifically a child, has something that may seem limiting doesn’t mean they are limited. We were once told Birk would never talk, he would never walk … look at him today! He and his sister are miracles in every sense of the word!
What do I have to complain about?!?
This morning on my way to work after dropping off the kids I was driving on a downtown road and I saw a bike with a couple wagons tied up behind it. They were filled to the top with pop cans. Upon further examination I noticed a man (or woman) sleeping on the park bench next to his bike holding onto the tire and covered in a thin blanket. I sat at this red light until the person behind me honked their horn for me to go just staring at this.
You see, I complain quite often about things. Sometimes I feel like it’s a talent that I have. Seriously though, I’ll complain because the Diet Mountain fountain pop mixture isn’t very good at the Casey’s closest to my house. I’ll complain because the brand of toilet paper they have on sale isn’t my favorite and I have to spend the extra few bucks to get what I “like.” I’ll complain because my kids are wrestling and running around and being loud and I’ve had a long day at work. I’ll complain because my laundry is building up and I have so much “work” to do around my house! Who am I kidding here?
~ I have enough money to afford me luxuries like a fountain pop from a gas station. Why is it bad if it isn’t 100% to what I think it should be like?
~ I have enough money to actually afford toilet paper, no matter what brand is chosen. Why am I so picky on brand? Some people don’t have any…
~ I have the greatest kids I could have ever dreamed of. If they are happy, being loud, loving each other … why is this bad?
~ I have a good job that allows me to provide for my family. I may be tired at night, but it shouldn’t be seen as a bad thing.
~ I have a BEAUTIFUL home that is LIVED in by a wonderful family. Cleaning it up should remind me just how blessed I am to have a roof over my head. Vacuuming up crumbs should remind me that we had that delicious meal. Picking up toys should also remind me that happiness and love lives in this home!
During this Christmas season I know I’m not going to be able to forget that image that I saw this morning. It’s what I do now that makes the world of difference. I want to use this time of year to continue teaching my kids the value of what we have, not just what we want or expect. Because one day we could be that person on the park bench or know someone who is.
You see, I complain quite often about things. Sometimes I feel like it’s a talent that I have. Seriously though, I’ll complain because the Diet Mountain fountain pop mixture isn’t very good at the Casey’s closest to my house. I’ll complain because the brand of toilet paper they have on sale isn’t my favorite and I have to spend the extra few bucks to get what I “like.” I’ll complain because my kids are wrestling and running around and being loud and I’ve had a long day at work. I’ll complain because my laundry is building up and I have so much “work” to do around my house! Who am I kidding here?
~ I have enough money to afford me luxuries like a fountain pop from a gas station. Why is it bad if it isn’t 100% to what I think it should be like?
~ I have enough money to actually afford toilet paper, no matter what brand is chosen. Why am I so picky on brand? Some people don’t have any…
~ I have the greatest kids I could have ever dreamed of. If they are happy, being loud, loving each other … why is this bad?
~ I have a good job that allows me to provide for my family. I may be tired at night, but it shouldn’t be seen as a bad thing.
~ I have a BEAUTIFUL home that is LIVED in by a wonderful family. Cleaning it up should remind me just how blessed I am to have a roof over my head. Vacuuming up crumbs should remind me that we had that delicious meal. Picking up toys should also remind me that happiness and love lives in this home!
During this Christmas season I know I’m not going to be able to forget that image that I saw this morning. It’s what I do now that makes the world of difference. I want to use this time of year to continue teaching my kids the value of what we have, not just what we want or expect. Because one day we could be that person on the park bench or know someone who is.
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Month of Thankfulness
Well I failed miserably and posting throughout November on ALL THE THINGS I’m thankful for. I even failed on facebook …. However I am so very thankful for SO MUCH in my life that I thought I would take time on this Monday morning to make a list of the things that I am so grateful for!
Let’s do this David Letterman Style…
Top 10 things Jenny Robertson is thankful!
10. I have a beautiful home that I get to decorate for each holiday, tuck my kids in each night, cook our family meals, host holiday celebrations and create many years of memories.
9. I am thankful for the group of friends that I have. I have some of the most amazing girlfriends a girl could ask for, we have a solid group of couple friends that bring us so much joy and we have so much fun with and for the last 3 years I’ve met some amazing moms who I have become very close friends with.
8. That I have a job that I feel valued at, that I feel like I could be good at and that helps me support my family in the way I want to. That my kids have a hot meal to eat, they have warm beds, and they have fun toys and things for us to do! There are days I wish I could stay home, but knowing what I am providing for them by working (and providing myself) brings me great joy!
7. That I can run. Running is a drug for me. I get such a runners high after a great run. I love that I feel better, eat better, my clothes fit better when I am actively running. I also love that my kids are getting to a good age that I can run while they play in the basement or soon they can ride their bikes while I go for an outside run.
6. I am thankful to have married a wonderful man who has given me a wonderful 2nd family.
5. I am thankful for Diet Mountain Dew (fountain pop). Enough said on that one.
4. I am thankful for my iPad and Netflix. I know it may seem dumb, but it has gotten me through some pretty boring runs on my treadmill. For that, I’m thankful!
3. I am thankful for music. I love music in so many forms. I love to play piano, watch my husband play drums and guitar, watch my children sing and dance, sing as loud as I can in the van and just the feeling I get when I hear a song that moves me. Music is such a blessing to our family.
2. I am thankful for my kids. I am so blessed to have them in my life, to be their Mommy and watch them grow up. There are days that are so very hard and challenging (especially at 3 years old), but the good days outnumber the bad and it makes every moment worth it!
1. I am so very thankful that I have God who loves me unconditionally, forgives me for my wrong doings and still blesses me in so many ways that I can’t even begin to count.
Let’s do this David Letterman Style…
Top 10 things Jenny Robertson is thankful!
10. I have a beautiful home that I get to decorate for each holiday, tuck my kids in each night, cook our family meals, host holiday celebrations and create many years of memories.
9. I am thankful for the group of friends that I have. I have some of the most amazing girlfriends a girl could ask for, we have a solid group of couple friends that bring us so much joy and we have so much fun with and for the last 3 years I’ve met some amazing moms who I have become very close friends with.
8. That I have a job that I feel valued at, that I feel like I could be good at and that helps me support my family in the way I want to. That my kids have a hot meal to eat, they have warm beds, and they have fun toys and things for us to do! There are days I wish I could stay home, but knowing what I am providing for them by working (and providing myself) brings me great joy!
7. That I can run. Running is a drug for me. I get such a runners high after a great run. I love that I feel better, eat better, my clothes fit better when I am actively running. I also love that my kids are getting to a good age that I can run while they play in the basement or soon they can ride their bikes while I go for an outside run.
6. I am thankful to have married a wonderful man who has given me a wonderful 2nd family.
5. I am thankful for Diet Mountain Dew (fountain pop). Enough said on that one.
4. I am thankful for my iPad and Netflix. I know it may seem dumb, but it has gotten me through some pretty boring runs on my treadmill. For that, I’m thankful!
3. I am thankful for music. I love music in so many forms. I love to play piano, watch my husband play drums and guitar, watch my children sing and dance, sing as loud as I can in the van and just the feeling I get when I hear a song that moves me. Music is such a blessing to our family.
2. I am thankful for my kids. I am so blessed to have them in my life, to be their Mommy and watch them grow up. There are days that are so very hard and challenging (especially at 3 years old), but the good days outnumber the bad and it makes every moment worth it!
1. I am so very thankful that I have God who loves me unconditionally, forgives me for my wrong doings and still blesses me in so many ways that I can’t even begin to count.
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Interview #2 (Mommy)
Disclaimer: Please pay no attention to my clothes, hair or generally how I look!
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