What's in a name?

Proverbs 22:1

New King James Version (NKJV)

22 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches,
Loving favor rather than silver and gold

Tonight our daughter had the pleasure of experiencing this very thing. She found favor because of a good name...her dad's.  I'm not sure if this man realized that he was a part of a lesson God was conveying. But I sure hope she will remember this for the rest of her life. I know I will!

I have always told my kids to make sure that in all that they do to try and always remember that they represent our family. That they represent Jesus. Keep it clean. Always do the right thing and make good choices!

How do you represent your family? How do you represent your name? Your Faith ? Your Maker?

OK girls we all know gossip is a real problem for us girls...and men. Learning to bite our tongues isn't easy. Do you want to be known as a woman...or man who gossips? Gossip destroys relationships. Destroys a good name.

How about being prejudice? I grew up in a era where being prejudice was a way of life in our southern state. I must say...I am not proud of this fact. I feel it's very wrong to be prejudice towards someone just because of the color of their skin, the food they choose to eat, the hair style they choose to wear or the shoes on their feet. I could go on and on. Why would someone put themselves above another just because of that person's choices of material things or things that a person has no control over? Would you want your name to be associated with bigotry? What's in your name?

I am sad to say too often I have experienced this in my life. I have been on both ends....the giving and  the receiving. It never turns out good no matter how you slice it.  Where is our passion, our kindness? All those things God speaks of in 1st Corinthians 13 .   How do you want to be known?
Do you want to be known as someone who is prejudice, gossips....toots your own horn? Or do you want to be the person God speaks of who loves beyond what your eyes see? Beyond the flesh and bones standing before you. Too often we waste our time tearing people down when in reality we should be helping to build them up. When is the last time you reached out to that someone who is shunned by your community...your friends....your family?  Give with open hands never expecting anything or recognition in return. Yes, I struggle with this...it's called pride. We all know what happens with pride. Pride comes before the fall! Proverbs 16.

Is your good name associated with wealth and things? Or is it associated by the passion in your heart to live as a man or woman of  noble character?

Your name. Your Family's name. What's in it? It's never too late to turn things around. It just starts with a willing heart and a whole lot of humility!

 

Fly Baby Fly....

Where has the time gone? Here I sit in amazement at how quickly our children have grown.On Sunday I was listening to our older kids talk about how long they have been out of high school....Our oldest kids have been out for 6, 7 and 8 years. Yes, I had 3 back to back graduates! Yes, it broke us! We're still recouping. Man...why did I have to blink?

Tomorrow marks another milestone in our family. Number 5 is about to fly! Tomorrow night marks 5 Jackson County graduates from our family alone. Can I breathe yet? I have 4 more to go!

Jessica...you are one special girl woman. You make us so proud! I can't believe that little bundle we brought home on Christmas Eve is about to begin REAL life! Your passion for Jesus is why your smile is so beautiful. Your eyes light up everytime you flash those pearly whites. Every time you speak His name. God has brought you on this journey to accomplish His plan that He ordained since your very beginning. All your struggles and all your successes have brought you to where you are today. Now it's time to wipe the slate clean and begin a new journey. A new life. A new chapter. I love you more than I can say. Watching you grow to love your maker has been my greatest desire. Your willingness to be used by Him has made a difference in many lives. Hold on to Him....in the good times and in the bad.  Keep your eyes on Him and He will bring you more peace and wisdom than you can ever imagine. Jessica your life matters! So hang on to that love and passion.... you are about to fly!

I love you,
Mom

The greatest woman I know....

I met her the day she turned 18...We share a birthday, we shared a last name for a short while, we share a love for our Heavenly Father who loves us more than words can express! This woman has taught me so much about life and how to be the very best mom I can be! Her wisdom is where I run to when I have no answers.  But the greatest gift she ever gave me... was to show me how to live for Christ! I am so proud to say ....This is my mom and I love her! I hope I can be just like her when I grow up!


Love you Mom! You're my hero!

New friends!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks to Kelly's Korner I have new friends!  What a great idea she had. The best part was to encourage us to search the list for the blog friends in our own areas that had joined her link up.

As a busy mom of 9 my "free time" is few and far between. However, out of my desire to have some sort of record of the Holcombe craziness for my children to reminisce with someday...I try and blog when I can steal a few moments! As you could tell from last week in this post . Life is just...you would had to have been there!  I do love being a mama. I do love being a wife! Blogging helps me to find that I 'm not alone in the journey of being a stay at home mom!  I look forward to hearing from any who dare begin to join us on our journey. I hope I can bring you a little laughter (laughter is good for the soul) and encouragement as you walk your own journey of life. Please feel free to ask any questions or offer advise. I too need encouragement!

Thank you Kelly for being a willing vessel in sharing your blog friends with us!

We're adding to our family!

I am now publishing this for the second time! This time is no mistake!
I think I need to stay away from Facebook and Blogger when a special event is about to happen! Y'all don't tell me anything until after it's over!
OK ...so when I originally typed this post something awful happened. As I went to hit save to draft Mackenzie hit my hand and I hit publish instead. Yes, leave it to me to spoil a special moment. You see I have my blog linked to network blogger. So when I hit publish it automatically post to Facebook. And because of my Karen's Kidz site, it post in more than 1 place. As I'm frantically trying to delete it from Facebook my son calls.  Yes son ... I published a blog post about an event that hasn't even happened yet! So within seconds of the posting I am trying to undo my terrible mistake! Trying to tell those who have liked the post already to keep quiet! I can't tell you how terrible I felt! He's already nervous! I really hope we can laugh about this one day! Better than the crying I'm doing right now! I don't think I can take much more excitement! But hey...I'm getting a new daughter!


Our youngest son just proposed to the love of his life! They have been friends for several years and finally listened to God's calling. I kind of knew his goose was cooked.You couldn't help but notice the big ole grin and dazed look on his face. Yes, he has been bit by that love bug! A cute one at that!

 Kayla has passed the sister test. Yes, all the girls love her! She fits right in with this crazy family!  You'd have to be brave to face this many girls and win their acceptance. I sure hope she knows what she's getting into!

Somehow my little guy grew up before my eyes. Now here he is almost 25, 6'2 and about to say "I do" to his love! It seems like yesterday I was teaching him to ride his bike and watching him play little league baseball. Now he's about to be this sweet girl's husband!

As our family grows I stand in awe of how we've made it this far. I look forward to the changes our little BIG family will have over the next few months as we embrace our new daughter. I pray that she knows what a special gift she is to our family. 

Kayla we love you!!!!!!   Welcome to the family!!!!!!!!!!!

So Jessica graduates from high school, our son is getting married, Kelley's 2nd foot surgery and Emily our daughter is having our first grandchild ... all before the end of the year!  Anyone know of a deserted island I can visit when all the excitement dies down?

Remember that prayer I prayed?

I bet you will never guess what is next for our family? I will have to keep it a secret for a little while longer! I promise it's going to be very exciting! So if you are really interested check back soon!

I may need a vacation somewhere on a deserted island before this year is through! But hey....You never know what God can do unless you pray!

You know your getting old when....

Wednesday we had a homeschool bowling day. So while the older girls bowled with their friends I bowled with our 5 year old. Bad idea!  She beat me too!

Thursday afternoon I ended up in the emergency room. After 3 days of a sciatica nerve attack in my back, it moved into my pelvic area and left hip along with the top of my thigh. I would describe the pain along the levels of labor. With waves of pain and controlled breathing I wanted to scream"Give me an epidural!!!!!!!!!!!!"  I am not joking...it was that bad! Did I mention that I have a high pain tolerance?

Thursday was the day Kelley finally went back to work all by himself. Wouldn't you know it none of the older kids were home either. Kelley wasn't answering his phone. I almost drove myself but knew that wasn't such a great idea. Finally calling my son at work asking him to send our daughter home to drive me. 

I will start off saying...I HATE emergency rooms! This was our 2nd visit within a few weeks ...that visit was a 3 hour wait. Sign in, wait... triage,wait... send daughter to say I need pain meds,wait... Kelley arrives and goes to tell them I need something....Here comes the Calvary! My hero manages to get me some sympathy and some great pain meds! Maybe it was the fact that he was in a walking cast and had crutches. When it rains it pours! I still had to wait for an ER bed but doing it with I.V. pain meds made it so much better!

After seeing the Doc a CT scan was ordered. Possible kidney stone or ovarian cyst was mentioned. And we wait and wait and wait.  Results come back and all is clear!  Conclusion...must be my sciatic.
Really? But it's in my pelvic area and the top of my thigh! I never knew it could move into and affect those areas.

Once again we leave the ER late...right along with  3 prescriptions. No pharmacies are open now. I knew I should have asked for 1 more dose before I left! This was a long night!

Today as we got ready for church my husband and I found ourselves laughing! You know your getting old when you have to make sure one of you didn't take any meds that caused drowsiness. 
Our beside tables are looking like a pharmacy. Our conversations have turned to talking about aches and pains. This is not the excitement I have been praying for! For now as we wait... wait for endurance...wait for healing....I will praise the one who gave me life! He is still great and worthy to be praised! Rest... it's what I try to do for now. Sitting at Jesus' feet. Listening.


I will leave you with a laugh...this is how my leg feels today. Novocaine is a funny thing!