Skip to main content

Being Thankful For My Family

Families are on one hand happy, loving things.  On the other, they can also be full of conflict, struggles, and trials.    Sometimes I get very impatient with mine.  I love my husband and kids, but sometimes I get frustrated.


Four years ago, a friend lost his wife and two kids in a pedestrian accident with a drunk driver.  Every time I think of them, I choke up.  I was friends with his wife and with him.  They were on again off again for several years and then she played hard to get.  She even moved away, I think I heard.  Ultimatum time.  He decided he couldn't live without her, flew out to see her, and proposed.  They married and then had two children who would be the same ages as my oldest two.  It sounds like they had a wonderful marriage and enjoyed their kids a ton.


It's so hard to understand such suffering that this friend has gone through over the past two years.  He's an old friend, so I really have no idea how he's doing.  but, I grieve with him.  And I am reminded to be thankful for my family--my children and my husband.  


Absence makes the heart grow fonder.  My husband is out of town for a few days on a business trip.  I'm surprised by the lessons I'm learning this time.  No matter how much we struggle, I am a better person with him than without him.  Our family isn't the same without him.  Sometimes it's hard to see that in the midst of conflict--how much we all need each other, but we do.  


Thinking back on this family gave me much patience tonight as my little Eli came to the top of the stairs not once or twice, but four times with tears struggling to get to sleep.  I said to Autumn how thankful I was for her tonight and that no matter whether I get upset or not, I always love her and Sami too.  Sami was thrilled tonight when I told her I had ordered her a book that was a very special Sami book just for her.  I am very thankful for them and will be glad when my husband returns to us at the end of the week.   


I also grieve and pray for my friend.  I don't know how he is, but I can only imagine that he has easy days and hard days.  There are no easy words or right words to say.  
Labels:

Comments

Kim said…
These are words I needed to hear. You just made my day. Thank you!
December 15, 2010 at 8:01 AM
Anne said…
I'm glad my friend. =) I had to remind myself again last night when Eli was fussing and I have to admit I got frustrated when he had to get out the door in the morning, but there was the realization that we would have still gotten out the door whether or not I would have gotten a little upset =s I need to remember this more!
December 16, 2010 at 8:04 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Missing Pieces

The other day I was discussing a book with my mom and explaining to her my concern about how "blame" is cast upon the child in the story.  My mom commented about how deeply I read and consider what is written. Sometimes I wonder if I go overboard.  Am I questioning too much?  Am I overreacting? Why am I reacting this way? I come back to knowing that God wired me this way.  But, I also reflect on how God has guided my path through the maze of books I've read over the past few years and what I've learned from the books themselves and from reading them.   Recently, I read a book that troubled me.  The book I finished reading was  Guiltless Living  by Ginger Hubbard.  When I began reading it, I found myself puzzled and then disconcerted. And in the end, I cried. But, I cried for a different reason than one might suspect. I'd like to explain. I did not read Ms. Hubbard's previous book “ Don't Make Me Count to Three ”, but I knew from f...
Post a Comment
Read more

listening or rather not listening to directions...

This week has been very eye opening. I am observing and noticing what I need to learn in order to be a better homeschooling mom and teacher and what my daughter needs to learn to be a good homeschooling student. My weakness when I was a teacher in a first grade classroom was not understanding how small concepts had to be broken down--and I lost my patience very quickly. This week, in particular today, I am seeing how detailed my directions need to be. I am going to be working very consciously and deliberately on this. On the other hand, I realized that my daughter does not listen! Wowsers! In a classroom, Autumn listens very well. She is a compliant child and very influenced by peer pressure and conformity. So, she listens along with everyone else and follows directions. But, at home, it's just Autumn and maybe Sami and Mommy. Very, very different! I had forgotten that most of kindergarten in the public schools is not focused on teaching students academic and learning co...
1 comment
Read more

Writing A Homeschool Teacher Resume

I'm helping a friend who's switching jobs write a resume.  She hasn't written one in years, so this is something new.  I began working on her resume, but then stopped to write my own because I thought it might be helpful.   Being a homeschool teacher may not seem to many like an occupation or career, but it is.  I used the combined form of resume for myself.  I began with the basic information, then moved on to strengths (the combined skills/experience part), education, Occupational Experience, then Related Experience, Certifications, Computer Skills, and mentioned at the end... References Available Upon Request.   Sometimes homeschooling parents have to reenter the workplace because of family changes and needs.  How could you express what you've been doing in a way that's acceptable for a resume? Well, here's my take on it... Teacher, Homeschool                  ...
1 comment
Read more