His plan...His ways

I remember being one week past my due date. Had I not had BP issues, he may have stayed put a little while longer. More time to grow and mature. After a twelve hour labor and delivery, we met our 8lb and 8oz. baby boy! The first boy in my family in over twenty years. My stay was 3 days but that baby boy earned himself four more days of sunning under the lights.Tiny sun goggles and many heel pricks. Bilirubin levels too high to go home. I thought my heart would just break right out of my chest!
All my plans and visions of how our going home would play out...gone! First time mom and I'm sitting on my hospital bed in a puddle of tears. Being wheeled out of the hospital with empty arms and thoughts of leaving him there at the hospital, was the hardest part of this new road of adventure. I should have known this was an indication of how his life would play out.

When you pray for something you better be prepared for however God chooses to answer you. I thought I was prepared! I will say sometimes God's answers to prayer aren't exactly what I envisioned. Honestly, His answers can make me angry. Truthfully, they sometimes suck!

Baby boy was finally released from the hospital and came home to a well rested new mama.Honestly that extra four days were a blessing! He grew up to be an amazing young man who has done many remarkable things. We have sent him off on many adventures (4 to be exact) to cultures beyond our borders.

Saturday as we said "See you later" my heart broke once again. I thought I had prepared myself...I thought wrong. All day fighting back the tears. That was a very short ride to the airport! An even shorter check-in-time. As we turned to say "See you later" I couldn't even look at him. Fear I guess. A little anger at how God answered our prayer for a job. That was the best "See you later"hug I have ever had! Knowing it might be over a year before I get another one made this moment really difficult. I was a blubbering mess walking out of that airport (hospital). Those old feelings of walking out without my baby were just the same as 29 years prior. Except he's now a 29 year old  6'3 big guy. Then God had to go and remind me that he would be fine and His ways and plans far exceed Justin's mother's plans. Four days...Two years, it's all the same when your life is in the control of a mighty God who does great things at our request.

Once again we have left him to adventure into a land unknown, to become all that God has called him to be. To soak in all the rays of life, to heal and to grow. To pour into others as a servant,mentor or whatever title he may carry.

 Although I will miss him terribly, I will rest in knowing he is exactly where he should be. Yes...God's plans far exceed my plans. Good thing, because Justin will get to hang out with a bunch of amazing third grade kids in an unknown culture who will rock his world!

I'm sure he is going to rock theirs!

In His time....

Our first born. That cute tree hugging kid of mine is leaving the nest! Flying on a jet plane onto his next adventure!

They tell you...Choose a major. Choose something you like to do. You can be anything you want to be! At least that was how it use to be! I wish that dream was still true!

I never had a chance to go to college. I guess that's why I push my children to pursue a degree in something. Anything. When they do, I become their biggest cheerleader! Even making them attend their college graduation, all the while they had no desire to do so. Yes...one of my kids actually didn't want to walk for one of the most desired schools here in Georgia. He did it anyway, just for me!

Degree earned and the waiting game began. Waiting for that hard earned degree to payoff. We waited. Months turned into years. Maybe you should get your Masters degree in that field they say?! So off he went. Overseas for a year. Degree earned. We wait. Thinking a degree digging in the dirt would lead to that treasured job,We prayed and waited on the Lord to answer our request. At what point do you say...God I will do anything, just give me a job...a full time paying job?!

When you are raised in a big family, you kind of become good at working with kids.  Even though his degree was far from working with kids, his part time/ full time job has been just that. Countless hours of after school and summer camp for the last 10 years. That's a lot of little lives he's impacted. Honestly...He's really good with kids! I hear the stories and see the little notes these kids shower upon our children. This summer we have 4 kids working the summer camp program at our local rec center. If you ever want to change the world or be changed yourself...go work with kids! They will bring an end to all that selfishness that lies beneath your heart. They will push you beyond all reason. However, at the end of that very long day, their unconditional love will push you to wake up and do it all over again the next day!

I'm not really sure where he gets his travel bug from. Right out of high school he spent over three months in Africa. Countless mission trips and one year pursuing his degree in Israel. This young man has seen many beautiful places and experienced countless different cultures in his young life. Now it's time for the next adventure. Except this time will be a paid FULL time job! Working with kids! Overseas...halfway around the world!

From bucket brigade to teaching English to school children. Not what he had planned but what God has ordained for his life. When you lay your life at God's feet don't complain when He does something amazing with it! You never know what God is going to do when you lay your life at His feet!

We thought this opportunity wasn't going to happen. Our son had almost given up hope when the final email came.This was my Facebook post the day he received the final proposal... There's nothing like the end of a very long journey waiting on the Lord to answer a prayer! Often in ways we least expect. He is God .His ways are perfect. His plans are flawless. I am thankful.. 

I am thankful and teary-eyed at what God's plans entail. I have watched many years of discouragement turn into an amazing opportunity! Two years to impact the lives of school age children. To live in an unknown culture as he lives out the plans God has laid before him. It's so amazing that God has placed a few of his friends at that very same school. Even God's plans have extra added bonuses!

Our family has been greatly encouraged by this long awaited answer to prayer.

Never give up hope! Pray without ceasing! You never know what God will do when you lay your desires at His feet!

To see her heart....

One more week of school here in the Holcombe house. I am a little excited to finally sleep past 6am! Maybe. As I get older I'm finding that my inner time clock is a creature of habit! Oh for the days of sleeping until noon! I think that is a past that will never be revisited!

As the school year closes our kiddos are bringing home their endless piles of past assignments. Many I just flip through, mostly because I'm rushing to get to the next thing on my very long to do list. Many times missing little nuggets of gold. This particular day I was running on empty and moving at a snails pace. Really in need of a pick me up moment of encouragement.  As I flipped through Kenzie's papers I came across this writing assignment. Just a few weeks after Mother's Day and I'm still receiving little notes of love! Except this was a little different.

A few days before while riding in the car, I had been a part of a sweet what I thought was a random conversation with Mackenzie. Mom, You love me when I am bad. When I am happy. When I'm... and endless list of when I'm. They weren't questions but statements. Facts that she had come to realize about my love for her. Then I receive this beautiful page of a second graders thoughts on why her mom is the best.

My mom loves me the way I am in my heart....

Wow...she really understands what I have always tried to portray to my children! No matter how much they mess up, are good or bad, ugly or cute, their heart is where I look to know the true them. The beauty of the inner being that was entrusted into my care. The outside vision of them doesn't always match with what I see when I look at their heart. I guess in some ways this helps me to shower more grace upon them...even when they don't deserve it!

I can't tell you how much I needed that note that day. The tears flowed as I felt my Father say...Yes, I love you that very same way! I love the way you are in your heart. Past all your mistakes,ugliness and sin. Just like you are!

In my opinion...My God is the best because He loves me the way I am in my heart!

Oh the places she will go...

Today, after 29 years of endless years of car seats....We are car seat freeeeeee! The emptiness in our car is a little sad.  However...so exciting for this new road our family will walk!

I never planned to have nine children. However I did promise myself  I would never have a baby after the age of 40. In true Mackenzie fashion 1 month before my 41st birthday I gave birth to our 9th child. Three weeks early after weeks of ultrasounds and endless doctor visits, our little caboose made her grand entrance!

Since that day she hasn't slowed down....I am not getting out of child rearing easy! Mackenzie will make sure of that!  A challenge I will always cherish!

I guess being the youngest of nine, God knew she would need a little spunk. That spunk would give her the survival skill that she would need to get through life. Head strong and more than likely a natural born leader. Not a shy bone in her body. She has no fear and  in some strange way behaves as though she were a teenager. Her love for her brothers and sisters is amazing to watch. Her love for her niece is even more amazing! With another niece coming in just a few months I'm sure this will be a journey I don't want to miss!

 Where did the time go? 

 

 

Youngest of 9

Born in the month of January

Lover of Chick-Fil-A

Loves her niece Reese

Still loves our morning snuggles before the day begins

Hates to sleep in a room alone

Loves art

Head strong

Loves to eat pistachios with her brother

 

 

This little girl has brought life and love to our family. She has kept us on our toes. Filling us with pure exhaustion! I can't help but think of all the amazing things God has planned for her life. The people she will meet and the places she might go!

 

 

Mackenzie Claire you were given to us to be a blessing! A blessing you are! I pray that whatever God has planned ,you will give it your all and share that sweet smile with everyone you  meet. I can't think of a finer person to walk me to the end of child rearing with. You have given me strength on days when I just couldn't seem to find it. Your smile has brightened everyday that I have been blessed to see it. Your morning snuggles makes my days so much better!

 

Happy Birthday! 

I love you!

Mom

 

PS...I will walk with you on the day you graduate from highschool!

 

The big reveal !

After 25 weeks of waiting, I can finally say the wait was worth it! Isn't that how most trials are? So many lessons learned. Some I would rather have not experienced but necessary non the less.  I see now... had I got what I wanted when I wanted, I probably wouldn't have the kitchen that I have today. Christian Roofing and Remodeling did an amazing job! Working with their contractors made this whole transformation a pleasant experience.

I wish I could say the same for our insurance company and mortgage company. On a side note...the mortgage company still hasn't released the remaining funds to our contractor. We finished on November 10, 2014. Many calls and unmet promises. To bad I can't charge them interest for holding onto the money that isn't even theirs.

So what started as a leak at the dishwasher water line,and this very long journey, is now a beautiful space to feed my family. Many weeks of fit pitching fighting with the insurance company. 25 weeks of no mopping...Yuck is right! Jumping through way too many hoops. My sanity tested over and over again.
Now I can finally say......

                              MAMA HAS HER KITCHEN BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The microwave vent hood above...It was a gift! I really wanted one,but spending the extra $ wasn't in our budget. The old vent hood was really needing to be replaced but would have to be reinstalled. A week before the cabinets arrived I received a call from a friend. She wanted to know if I needed a vent hood...a microwave vent hood! She had one that was sitting in her garage and she was needing to move it out. Do I need one?! Yes and Yes!!!! The funny thing is...It was black and the very same name brand as my stove! If you ever doubt that God cares about the little desires of our heart....please stop! He didn't have too but He did. I never really expressed this desire. Just one of those things that I thought would be nice to have. Yes...it still puts a smile on my face and reminds me how much He loves me! 

We are all enjoying our newly renovated kitchen. Some days I find myself just standing there staring in amazement! Thankful that the renovations were complete just a couple of weeks before Thanksgiving. Smiling as I watched our family gather on this day with so much thankfulness for this sweet gift!

What's wrong with me?

I can't help it! My kids do some of the funniest things when they are bored! I have laughed so much at this short video that the laundry has doubled...if you know what I mean girls!? Laughter is good medicine! Please share the laugh with those you love...and even those you don't!

My head is spinning...

These last few weeks have been a whirlwind of activity. The months of September and October have been jam - packed with milestones and journey changing events in our family.

In September while juggling wedding planning and kitchen transformation drama, we celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary. We did sneak away for a couple of days....but not the celebrating we wanted. So we have postponed a much needed anniversary trip until sometime next year.

 After much prayer and fit pitching(I guess this is a southern term for throwing yourself on the floor while kicking and screaming!), On week 23, the gutting of my kitchen began!!!! Our mortgage company took three weeks to process our insurance check before they would release our funds. By the time we had those funds in hand, it was the week before our daughter's wedding. So here we are 23 weeks after the demolition of my kitchen began. The wedding was absolutely beautiful! All of our hard work, in spite of the kitchen drama, turned out better than I had hoped! My sister Kelly and daughter Emily were my saving grace! They did an amazing job with all the details!

 

We moved from wedding right into kitchen transformation, without taking one breath! Yes...I'm tired!

Yes...I'm beyond done! Yes...God is still good!

 

Monday morning was met with much fear and trembling excitement! I was never so happy to finally see that work truck in my driveway.

 

 

 

So, once one's kitchen has been gutted...How does one manage to keep her household of 8 fed without the proper tools? Friends...this one was genius! Planned long before our dishwasher decided to start this journey.

 

You see...My stove was moved to the garage. The only problem is...No stove No cook! I'm smiling at this point...except it is very expensive for a family of 8 to eat out.

When we bought our home 15 years ago, my laundry room was in the basement. My husband having mercy on me, moved it to the space between the kitchen and garage. It is now a laundry/butler's pantry, complete with counter space! As for my stove....it needs a special plug. Wouldn't you know there just happens to be this sweet little odd plug that we have never used in our garage. The exact plug needed for our stove.

 

 

This my friends is almost like camping! I'm cooking in the garage. I'm washing dishes in the laundry sink. I guess my neighbors (who can see in my garage when they turn into our subdivision) think I have finally gone over the edge. I'm so thankful it has been warm this week.

 

Along with the stove my garage was filled with old and new cabinets.

 

 

The new cabinets are now sitting in my kitchen! I am loving this new look! My favorite is the extra cabinet to the right of my refrigerator. I now have a space that will be a coffee station.

 

 

 

Our walls are prepped and waiting for paint. The counter tops are ready to be installed on Monday. Flooring on Wednesday and then the final touches. Twenty Four weeks of a kitchen journey from Hell. Two weeks of a kitchen transformation with all the inconveniences that try my patience. One big tired family that is ready to have their mom back. One big God who has carried me through with encouragement from family and friends.

 

 

 

 

When all this is done, I will look back and say....I survived the Kitchen remodel of 2014!

 

November and December will be the end of this very long year.  A year with much spiritual and personal growth. I have been pushed beyond what I thought I could ever handle. Given an immeasurable amount of endurance. I have seen the hand of God gently hold me and carry me while walking this journey. Providing me with the strength,grace and mercy that I never knew was possible.

 

 We will end this year with Kelley's 3rd(Hopefully last) ankle surgery. Maybe I need a T shirt that says. " I survived 2014!"