So I'm sittin' here thinking about the last few days (a.k.a.: Christmas Eve and then the Day.... and the following). I've gone to who-knows-how-many Christmas Eve services because I basically have two families... which means TONS of presents, not that that's the most important thing:)... but anyway, just so you all know, Mary Did You Know has become the most popular Christmas song of the year (I think I can still hear it). Good thing it's one of my favorites.
I think being 14 now is getting to my head. I'm so excited that I have enough money to buy everybody in my immediate family a present -- a good one. I had no trouble getting one for everybody... but Meg. Although she is one of the most easy people to buy presents for, her family also has a tendency to buy exactly the right thing (many right things). So when I saw How To Train Your Dragon - a movie she has been dying to buy - it was fate. Until I thought about it. Sure enough, come Christmas, in perfect wrapping is the movie... I think from Gram, but who knows? So chocolates, here I come. Since my dad loves chocolates, it was like killing a bird with one stone (not quite like that).
Thursday Megan and I are going to Juniper. I've never heard of it until now and I'm so excited. It seems like we always have a shopping expedition to tell of, but here it is again. Shopping to us is bonding since we are basically on opposite ends of the spectrum... me, shy and a book-lover, her loud and proud. But our love of jewelry and clothes brings us together like none else. I've really gotten to know Megan over the last few years and she is one of the most fun to be around, entertaining, and kind-hearted people I know. We joke around a lot about how lucky my dad is to be married to her, but really she is awesome. So is my dad, but us girls have to stick together.
I'm gonna go now since I really have no point to this post except to show how much I love my family. Ever since we established this blog together, it's become a really fun project sort of thing to do. No deep thoughts today.
Merry Christmas from Callie.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Reflect and Relax.
On this past Sunday, Kirk spoke about the "January Blues" or the feeling of letdown after the Christmas hustle and bustle. You know, the calm after the storm sorta speak. I have never been one to really dread this time of year, as I see a new year, new beginning, and those anticipated new year's resolutions. Although I claimed to have never acknowledged the January blues, as I am looking over my work schedule, I added some extra shifts which one could easily conclude I was subconsciously preparing for the dreary January.
I post this because I have always been a go, go, go-er. Not so much an adrenaline junky, but a busy junky--work hard and play hard. I have had to learn to enjoy precious moments that fly by and not take family moments for granted. I have always worn my heart on my sleeve. A good quality at times, at times, not so great. I have had to learn to make time to get to know others, their likes and dislikes, what makes them tick. It's amazing, but after spending, my entire life with my family, I still spend the car rides home asking my husband, "Did you know that about my mom (or sister, or brother-in-law?)."
This Christmas was the first Christmas without my grandmother. She was truly one of the most amazing women, beauty radiating inside and out. If you met her, you were better for it; she could put sunshine in any day. After opening many amazing gifts, my mom presented us all with Devotions of the Heart, a compilation of my grandmother's most cherished quotes, biblical verses, and thoughts. As I am thinking back, speechless does not often grace my vocabulary, but the only word I can think to describe this moment. I will cherish it always and am so thankful for an often "techinically-challenged", caring mom who took the time to solidify memories.
With this, I end today with page 29 of Suzanne Kersting Earnhart's Devotions from the Heart:
Thank God for Little Things
Thank you, God, for little things
that often come our way,
the things we take for granted
but don't mention when we pray,
The unexpected courtesy, the thoughtful
kindly, deed,
A hand reached out,to help us
in the time of sudden need-
Oh make us more aware, dear God,
of little daily graces
That come to us with "sweet surprise"
from never-dreamed-of-places.
-Helen Steiner Rice
In 2011, I hope to be able to do just this- live in the moments, bless others, and cherish life.
Thank you God for bubble baths, bubbly kids, and an amazingly supportive husband.
Running on His Love, the Zimmermans
I post this because I have always been a go, go, go-er. Not so much an adrenaline junky, but a busy junky--work hard and play hard. I have had to learn to enjoy precious moments that fly by and not take family moments for granted. I have always worn my heart on my sleeve. A good quality at times, at times, not so great. I have had to learn to make time to get to know others, their likes and dislikes, what makes them tick. It's amazing, but after spending, my entire life with my family, I still spend the car rides home asking my husband, "Did you know that about my mom (or sister, or brother-in-law?)."
This Christmas was the first Christmas without my grandmother. She was truly one of the most amazing women, beauty radiating inside and out. If you met her, you were better for it; she could put sunshine in any day. After opening many amazing gifts, my mom presented us all with Devotions of the Heart, a compilation of my grandmother's most cherished quotes, biblical verses, and thoughts. As I am thinking back, speechless does not often grace my vocabulary, but the only word I can think to describe this moment. I will cherish it always and am so thankful for an often "techinically-challenged", caring mom who took the time to solidify memories.
With this, I end today with page 29 of Suzanne Kersting Earnhart's Devotions from the Heart:
Thank God for Little Things
Thank you, God, for little things
that often come our way,
the things we take for granted
but don't mention when we pray,
The unexpected courtesy, the thoughtful
kindly, deed,
A hand reached out,to help us
in the time of sudden need-
Oh make us more aware, dear God,
of little daily graces
That come to us with "sweet surprise"
from never-dreamed-of-places.
-Helen Steiner Rice
In 2011, I hope to be able to do just this- live in the moments, bless others, and cherish life.
Thank you God for bubble baths, bubbly kids, and an amazingly supportive husband.
Running on His Love, the Zimmermans
Monday, December 13, 2010
My #1 is a teen...
The title says it all. I am now officially mom to a teenager. On December 7, Callie turned 14!
There are so many things I love about Callie. She is beautiful, inside and out, as she loves to shop and dress but can kick it in jammies, as well as is shy but can have you laughing out loud in minutes with her quirkiness.
It has taken me awhile to crack that quiet demeanor, but over the last year Kirk and I have seen such personal and spiritual growth. She has such a caring heart. I will also take the opportunity to plug her 130 page novel she has been working on--her creative talents are AMAZING. Let me know if we can forward you a copy.We are so proud of her and are excited to see where life will lead.
I remember the first time I met Callie. To backtrack for those of you who don't know, Kirk and I met at Riley Hospital for Children. After the first couple visits, Kirk brought both Callie and Caleb to Riley to say hello to the Fosters and casually introduce them to me. Callie was 9, shy and a head full of curly hair. As we colored her bubble-lettered name in with brightly colored crayons, her shyness wore off and she told me all about school and practically anything else that popped into her head. Kirk and I went on our first date that night: to McDonalds (some things never change ;) ), with the kids and Pirates of the Caribbean happy meals, where I forced to demonstrate my most pathetic pirate impressions--ARRGGGGGGGGGGHHH. Nothing more romantic then that my friends!
This weekend we celebrated Callie's birthday over a double-layered red velvet cake with confetti-chip icing and heath sprinkles. Yes, diabetic coma, but Callie's absolute favorite. I worked the weekend, so after arriving home at 8 managed to assemble the troops, and we popped out a birthday cake and meal, toffee, and appetizers we are saving for the elders Christmas party (Caleb had to sample then to make sure they were good options). It seems silly, but it was actually a night for our memory book; we laughed at the chaos and complete disaster of the kitchen over a 10PM dinner celebrating an amazing teen! Moments like this make my heart melt---livin' life in its simplest form!
Running on His love, the Zimmermans
There are so many things I love about Callie. She is beautiful, inside and out, as she loves to shop and dress but can kick it in jammies, as well as is shy but can have you laughing out loud in minutes with her quirkiness.
It has taken me awhile to crack that quiet demeanor, but over the last year Kirk and I have seen such personal and spiritual growth. She has such a caring heart. I will also take the opportunity to plug her 130 page novel she has been working on--her creative talents are AMAZING. Let me know if we can forward you a copy.We are so proud of her and are excited to see where life will lead.
I remember the first time I met Callie. To backtrack for those of you who don't know, Kirk and I met at Riley Hospital for Children. After the first couple visits, Kirk brought both Callie and Caleb to Riley to say hello to the Fosters and casually introduce them to me. Callie was 9, shy and a head full of curly hair. As we colored her bubble-lettered name in with brightly colored crayons, her shyness wore off and she told me all about school and practically anything else that popped into her head. Kirk and I went on our first date that night: to McDonalds (some things never change ;) ), with the kids and Pirates of the Caribbean happy meals, where I forced to demonstrate my most pathetic pirate impressions--ARRGGGGGGGGGGHHH. Nothing more romantic then that my friends!
This weekend we celebrated Callie's birthday over a double-layered red velvet cake with confetti-chip icing and heath sprinkles. Yes, diabetic coma, but Callie's absolute favorite. I worked the weekend, so after arriving home at 8 managed to assemble the troops, and we popped out a birthday cake and meal, toffee, and appetizers we are saving for the elders Christmas party (Caleb had to sample then to make sure they were good options). It seems silly, but it was actually a night for our memory book; we laughed at the chaos and complete disaster of the kitchen over a 10PM dinner celebrating an amazing teen! Moments like this make my heart melt---livin' life in its simplest form!
Running on His love, the Zimmermans
Friday, December 3, 2010
"..they are two of the several great loves of.my.life."
It's 4:30 AM. Aiden is getting his four front teeth on top, therefore, he has become my night owl (waking up whenever randomly throughout the night). It might sound crazy, but even at 4AM, I love and look forward to snuggling with my stinky, little man. No matter what time of day, or night, he has a smile that is simply contagious. :) I am soooooo in love.
A rather frequent question I get asked when talking with people about our family's hope for adoption is, "Why would you ever adopt when you can have your own babies?" My answer is usually this--I look at the love my family has for our kids. I am constantly cuddling, kissing, and caring for them...little things that every baby or child deserves. They are two of the several great loves of my life. It literally makes me sick to my stomach at times to think of a child who doesn't have that on a daily basis. Every night, Kate, my twenty-month old, loudly slaps her prayer hands together and we pray for those kids. We pray for the children He might have planned for our family and to prepare our hearts for what's to come.
In Kirk's sermon the other morning, he said, "loving Him means at times giving up something you love for something He loves even more." It encompasses this entire process for us. Yes, we would have 5 or 6 children, yes, the house would most likely always be messy in one way or another, and we wouldn't go shopping or out to eat nearly as much (to say the least), but we are just fine with that. Everyone has a calling, whether it be to adopt, help someone in need, give to charities that distribute to specific causes, etc--never be afraid to follow where your being led!
Well, back to bed :)
Running on His Love. The Zimmermans
A rather frequent question I get asked when talking with people about our family's hope for adoption is, "Why would you ever adopt when you can have your own babies?" My answer is usually this--I look at the love my family has for our kids. I am constantly cuddling, kissing, and caring for them...little things that every baby or child deserves. They are two of the several great loves of my life. It literally makes me sick to my stomach at times to think of a child who doesn't have that on a daily basis. Every night, Kate, my twenty-month old, loudly slaps her prayer hands together and we pray for those kids. We pray for the children He might have planned for our family and to prepare our hearts for what's to come.
In Kirk's sermon the other morning, he said, "loving Him means at times giving up something you love for something He loves even more." It encompasses this entire process for us. Yes, we would have 5 or 6 children, yes, the house would most likely always be messy in one way or another, and we wouldn't go shopping or out to eat nearly as much (to say the least), but we are just fine with that. Everyone has a calling, whether it be to adopt, help someone in need, give to charities that distribute to specific causes, etc--never be afraid to follow where your being led!
Well, back to bed :)
Running on His Love. The Zimmermans
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Sweet Christmas time!
I love December...smells, lights, and snow as it hits the ground before it has ever been touched. As I was driving home last night, I was thinking about our hopeful adoption. It is so difficult sometimes to wait on His timing... I just want an answer now :). Kirk and I have submitted all the information we can and are simply waiting to see if this is the agency we will be working with. Although it is so exciting to see what life has in store, I find myself at times doubting--the time, the finances, the number of kids, people's perceptions, and letting my mind create or submit to untruths. I truly believe we are called to this mission--whether now, this agency, even with life moving at crazy speeds.
With all that being said, another God moment. Whenever I find myself having these "spiritual warfares" in my head, the song My Own Little World by Matthew West incredibly seems to always find itself to KLuv. What a powerful song and how God speaks directly to me through even a three minute song...check it out sometime.
Please pray for patience and guidance as we wait for the next step.
Matthew West- In my own little world
Running on His Love...the Zimmermans
With all that being said, another God moment. Whenever I find myself having these "spiritual warfares" in my head, the song My Own Little World by Matthew West incredibly seems to always find itself to KLuv. What a powerful song and how God speaks directly to me through even a three minute song...check it out sometime.
Please pray for patience and guidance as we wait for the next step.
Matthew West- In my own little world
Running on His Love...the Zimmermans
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