Today...

Today our son turned 27.

Today he purchased his airline ticket to Israel.

Today I saw how much God loves him dearly.

Today is a day I will never forget.

Today our son is set to begin a dream that was placed in his heart so very long ago.

Today I realized that the last 27 years have been some of the best years of my life!

I can't think of a better way to celebrate a 27th birthday than to purchase a ticket for a journey that will change you for a lifetime!

I'm really going to miss him!

Another Teen....I'm not scared!

Today we start the journey of another teenager in the Holcombe house! This makes the 7th teen that has graced my nerves and my heart. I can't begin to thank God enough for walking this road with me. Without Him all of this would be meaningless! As I watch them go from being a teen to an adult I rest in knowing He has always carried me when I didn't have the answers and rejoiced with me when the victories came. Raising teens in today's world has not been the easiest thing I've done, but it's been the most rewarding journey I will ever take! Yes...I have another teen! I'm not scared!

Many ask me "How have I managed to raise this many teens and survived?" I honestly can't take the credit for this. It's been a team effort and a willing heart. Team effort as in my support team....Husband parents, friends, pastors(Church Family). But really the answer to this question is "Jesus!" He is the reason I get up in the morning and go to bed at night. He has carried me when I just couldn't get it together. When the mom guilt had me so bound that I never thought seeing them make it out of the teen years would be possible. Will the rest of this journey be easy?...Probably not! But I'm not walking it alone! One day at a time. We tackle each event and heart issue as it happens. If I look at the BIG picture I get very overwhelmed. But learning to see their hearts and know God is the one leading them where they need to go is my saving grace. I just need to learn to step aside and allow Him complete control.

I think watching and letting my kids make mistakes is probably the hardest thing I have had to do as a parent. But isn't it in those mistakes that we learn? I know I have made my fair share of them and continue to everyday. It's a natural thing to want to keep them from making those same mistakes. We know the pain from them...don't we? Yes...there are times we need to step in and take over.  Much like when they were little and learning to walk....we walk beside them sheltering them with our arms to keep them from falling. The joy we feel when they do it on their own. But the smile on their face when they realize they finally figured it out. Priceless! I want that same joy as I watch them make good choices. I want that same joy when I see them say "YES" and surrender their lives to the Lord. I want that same joy and peace when I finally figure out I can drop my arms and allow Jesus to be the one who shelter's them with a greater protection than I could ever hope to give.

There will always be insanity when a teenager is present. Loving them through the attitudes and choices they make will be what brings back that sweet bundle of joy that you had the honor of teaching how to walk. Only then ...you will not be the one protecting them with your arms.
Hang in there dear fellow parents. Although right now you may feel you are being pecked to death by chickens. Joy does come in the morning....the sun will rise and the sanity will return! Yours and theirs! Only this time God is the one teaching them how to walk!

"But How God?" ...The answer!

How do you go from this....

and this........His childhood friends!

to this?........Same 3 boys plus younger brother!


My question ..."But How God?!"  is being answered! That deposit...$1000.00 by October 1st....has been made! All I can say is miracle!!!!!!!!!!!!!  His next step is airfare...approx.$1200.00. Student funds won't be released until school starts. Which is the end of October. So as we wait with anticipation on the God who has ordained all of this, we seek His wisdom for preparing for this really big adventure. I'm not sure why God waited until now to call him to Israel. All I know is when God calls... you go. Never asking why or how! Trust is a hard thing when our earthly eyes see all the obstacles.

These boys have been friends for a very long time. I have had the joy of watching each of them grow to be the young men that they have become. One is married and a dad now. Two are engaged to be married next year. One that is about to leave all that he knows to follow a desire that he has had since childhood. God has ordained all of their steps whether it's here in the U.S or many miles across the world to a country that is in the midst of a soon to be war.

And He chose Justin to follow Him to that very country. To follow that dream that He placed on Justin's heart many years ago! To trust Him with every detail of that calling.

From this.....

    To this......

 

 

 

I can't wait to see this same smile when we welcome him home again!

Jeremiah 29:11

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

28 years of learning to count the moments

28 years
9 kids
12 moves
Many job promotions...at least 9! It takes a lot to feed this crew! With every job promotion came a new addition to our family.

We have seen a lot on this journey of ours. Many years of growing and learning as we have faced life together. We have lost a lot but have gained so much more. Sometimes it's in the losing that you learn what really matters. Learning to let go of selfish desires and dreams. Learning to embrace a life shared with so much love...most days! Learning to let God lead even when I'm gritting my teeth wanting my own way. Learning to trust God...that His ways are so much better. Trusting that He is God and worthy of ALL my praise! All of the time!

The next few months will bring a lot of life changing events for our family. I am armed and ready...but am I? Some days I look ahead and say...But How God?  He simply says...Trust me and rest under the shadow of my wings!

Our first event....
Remember me talking about a second surgery for the love of my life? It's in 2 weeks and will be a little more than we had thought. He seems to have developed a cyst on the bone in his ankle with possible infection. That will have to be cleaned and filled along with the surgery to repair the ligaments and a rod being placed through his ankle.  I knew I should have gone to nursing school! Very soon Scooter Duder will ride again!

Our next event....
We will be saying good-bye see you later to our son. After 3 years of waiting on a full time job opportunity...thanks to our lovely economy...he will be traveling to a place he has longed to see. Attending a school he has longed to attend to receive his Masters degree in Archaeology. A few months ago he finally decided to apply to this beautiful school. With a very narrow deadline he applied. We then realized he needed a couple of things (a physical) we thought that it was needed before the deadline with his application. His physical had expired and there was no time to get a new one. So with that we said...Oh well! God must have another plan...this door closed. Until last week... he received a phone call from this University saying.....He has been accepted into the program!!!!! The school had sent several emails but he had not received them. OK God....But How?  With another very short timeline he is scrambling to pull together financing for this opportunity. By October 1...his birthday...he must have a $1000.00 deposit. For a young man who has only been able to work a part time job for the past few years this will be a miracle...But how God? In order to get financial aid he must have an acceptance letter. Which he can't get until the deposit is made. Then there is his passport and a visa. With all this happening this past week and with all that is happening in the Middle East...I have this amazing peace! Even when the world says...Are you crazy? I can't explain it except for the fact that God in His ultimate wisdom is answering my question....But How God? All the impossible circumstances are becoming possible....but in God's way and God's timing!  This 3 year long prayer is finally coming to fruition....Never give up hope! As this young man's mom I can honestly say it is so good to see him smile again. It has been really tough watching door after door close. It will be really hard watching him step foot on that plane in just a few short weeks. But oh so exciting to see God's plan for his life that will take him on the next step of this journey. Watching as God provides all of his needs as he obeys God's calling. Praying he keeps his eyes on the one who has called him to follow.

So thankful for Skype!!!!!
And God's answer to all my questions....

Jeremiah 29:11

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Our final life changing event and the most wonderful way to end this very stress filled year....
 The birth of our very first sweet little granddaughter...Reese Elizabeth! Just a few more weeks....Our family can't wait!


This past weekend my love and I did get a chance to  go away and celebrate the 28 years we have had. Resting for the journey ahead. Whatever that will be. I'm sure next year will be just as exciting...A wedding and a new daughter to start with! I know God has a plan... a great one!  We have come too far to doubt Him now!  Counting every moment that we have been given ....

Years-28.000
Months-336.000
Weeks-1,461.00
Days-10,227.00
Hours-245,448.00
Minutes-14,726,880.0
Seconds-883,612,800
Milliseconds-883,612,800,000


                                            Very thankful for each of them!

It's so quiet I can hear myself breathe!

The only sound I hear is the hum of the air conditioner. After last weekend that is a good thing... thanks to the ants who had built a nest in the outside unit! But the quiet is not what you would think... I AM ALONE for the night!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The first time EVER in my life....46 years !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes, I have had a few hours alone before but never in a home overnight. I'm not really sure what to do with myself!  Or if I really like this. No hubby...No kids...No dishes....need I go on? My husband begged me to make sure I do return home on Sunday. Now why would he think otherwise?

Don't worry...it's not for the whole weekend! I wouldn't want too much alone time. I do have to live in reality...my reality! Actually I came up to get our house ready for a group of young ladies who will be retreating to our little piece of heaven for the weekend. Another first...I have now been called one of the older women! When did that happen? I have been so busy with life that somehow I forgot to look into the mirror. Not only did my kids grow up when I blinked....but I have aged into that older woman category. I'm not sure you could call it gracefully either! Life is what it is....and I wouldn't change a thing. The good,the bad and the sometimes really ugly! That's the great thing about being a Christian....God's unconditional love for me covers All my good,bad and ugly! He loves me just as I am...my mindless wrinkled self and all!

I hope my husband knows how much I love and appreciate his love for me. After 28 years and 9 kids...I know the juggling that he will have to do this weekend in my absence. He's in  The kids are in good hands!


 Come Sunday....somebody may be raising the white flag!


P.S....The lake house is not the same without my family here! It's definitely true what they say.."Family is what makes a house a home!"

Raising the white flag....Low vitamin B12

Have you ever seen that mom and thought..."She has it all together"? But what you don't see is that the smile is just hiding what's really going on inside. Not always...but a lot! Struggling to keep up. Struggling to just make it to bedtime only to wake up and start all over again. Never feeling like you are accomplishing anything.Struggling to find joy in the mundane things in life.

What mom of many doesn't struggle with many of these things? This past year I have felt more stretched as a person than I ever thought possible. My husband the same. I thought it would get easier as our children grew!The economy hasn't helped. House full of girls...we are blessed...pulling every possible hair from my head. I do enjoy my time with them! Husband who broke a foot and needed surgery with another surgery scheduled for this fall. Sons whom are still unable to find sufficient employment and still living under our roof. I am very thankful that we are able to help them and I do cherish the time that they are here. 10 people under 1 roof sharing 1 set of washer and dryer and 1 small kitchen....yes we are bursting at the seams! All these are just part of living in this day and time....mine just X 10! Feeling like a tug of war rope on many days! Expectations getting the best of me. Mine and expectations from others. Giving my all to them...but neglecting the giver(me) and Giver(God) in the process. Time with Him has paid a price for my very full plate. Lack of place to find quiet.  All by my own choosing. I have had time with Him...just not to the quality that keeps me grounded. Balancing life can be a job in itself.

It must be part of the mom nature. Whatever the reason it's time for me to raise the white flag and surrender! It's only by the grace of God that I have made it this long without a major breakdown. Not bad..huh! Well...it was bad!  Loss of appetite,weight loss...although this was a good thing, major fatigue, anxiety. Several months ago I knew I needed to make changes. I could see the road I was headed down if I didn't. I had let stress get the best of me and the wife and mom that I should have been. I know a lot of it I bring on myself by choices that I make. Some are just part of life! I just wasn't dealing with life so much. After all I am no energizer bunny! Oh how I wish!

Hitting a brick wall is what sent me to find the answer for all this madness. What I thought was just a stomach virus or something worse has turned out to be a very low B12 deficiency. 1000 mg of B12 is the prescription...maybe a shot to boost it would help?  Hopefully now I can start making changes that will free me to be a better wife, mom and friend! 

In my search  I came across this website with some great explanations on B12 deficiency. Although the world wide web has lots of information on anything you need concerning health issues. I realize working with my doctor to get my levels up is the safest road to take. Hopefully soon I will be the one pulling that rope instead of becoming the tug of war rope!

Our little caboose!

Check out This post of our recent photo shoot for my Etsy listings...

Due to the fact that my listings may have caused a few heart attacks today.... No Mackenzie is Not the one who is about to become a big sister!  Although she would very much like that to be the case. She will have to settle for being the Crazy Aunt!