Megan Paige Balentine

We had loaded up the last load of our old house and taking a quick walk through when we noticed Megan was missing.  Megan, our second born was only 7.  The house was empty so we quickly heard the sobbing from the second floor.   There she sat in the middle of her bedroom floor just a crying, her heart breaking.  "I don't wanna leave..why do we have to leave?"  Jeff and I knew the neighborhood was getting dangerous and that the move would be beneficial to both our children but Megan didn't care.  What she cared about was that her brother played with her in this house.  Her Nana had built many a fort in the living room.   Her Daddy had chased her from one end to the next.  And she and I had chased a few monsters away and kissed boo boos in that house.   Her Daddy scooped her up, held her tight in his arms and on we went to the home we now reside.   I wished all troubles  in life could be mended by getting scooped up in your loved ones arms.   

Both of my children are extraordinary in their own ways.  Scott the highly intelligent, technical, compassionate one.  Megan the creative one, smart, compassionate as well.   Our Megan never met a stranger.  She only had to be with someone for 5 minutes to acknowledge that person was now her best friend! Every stray puppy, kitten, bug and kid in the neighborhood usually made its way to our home via Megan.  My husband works from home so this makes it easy for Megan to bring home teenagers after school.  I never know who I will walk into when I come home from work.   She has usually promised them dinner and a ride home if they need it.  I don't mind.  My Mom always said make your home the home they want to come to. It will help you get to know their friends and keep up with them too.  She was so wise.   Through the years I have grown to love so many that have walked through my doors.   Each with their own personal story.  Some have lost parents to divorce even death.   Some are moody and dark while others make my side hurt from laughing.  And Jeff and I have grown to love Megan's motley crew very much.   I look at each one of them and wonder where they will end up in life.  Some have seen more pain than their 17 year old lives should be allowed to endure.   But each of these that come to mind as I type this, have never allowed the pain to define them. If anything, it has strengthen them and given them refreshed commitment.  

My prayer for each of these that have allowed Jeff and I into their lives is that they will hunger and run towards God.  They will find someone who is chasing Him as well.  This someone will leave them breathless. And then live happily ever after! 

Blessed Beyond Measure

My brother Steve asked me to blog again. I have to admit my first thought was when?  Note the time of my first blog post in 2 years begins at 1:26 a.m.  But there is something about putting your thoughts down that releases them from that awful trapped place.  I looked back on my old blog "My Life as........"  So much of that blog was about my precious Mom and her battle with cancer.  Such a horrible time and yet the words that somehow I got out of that tired and grieving body inspire me now.   In the middle of death and grief, I learned so much. You can learn from the dying if you will allow the teaching. Our Lord will take you on an incredible journey if you let Him.  Yes, through loss and pain but oh, through unimaginable joy!  I can hear my Mom now "Theresa Ann, you can't stay feeling sorry for yourself for very long....why you may ask...because you are my daughter designed with a purpose and the purpose is not to feel sorry for yourself!"  I miss her wisdom, her advice, her hugs and her head scratches more than I express.  Head scratches?    My Mom would pat the couch cushion (motioning me to sit beside her).. "Now..Theresa Ann tell me about my grandbabies!"   Before too long, she would brush my hair with her fingers.   Never a more secure feeling than sitting beside my Mom with wisdom spewing off her lips.   Oh, how I miss her.  I try, my best, fail as I do, to mimic her mothering.  Mothering - the hardest and most rewarding job on the face of this Earth.  The three beautiful individuals you see above are my treasures.  Two, I gave birth to and one of the two fell in love.  Yea, I know, they are beautiful! Since my last post, so much has changed with these three!  My old blog's profile said Scott's fiance and now she is his wife.  I am a mother-in-law to the most beautiful daughter in love.  I try my best to mimic how my Mom was a mother in law to my precious Jeff.  It was simple, drop the in law! Brandi, my daughter in love, is blessed to have a great Mom.   But a long time ago, she stole our hearts.  And now, regardless of who gave birth, she is my daughter and that is how I shall love her.  Scott, since my last post has graduated with Brandi from Mississippi State, got married, and moved to California!  That is a post in itself!   I am so proud of the life those two have created. Miss them!  Oh Lord do we miss them!  Life just doesn't feel the same without them here.  And then there is our Megan, our senior girl.  She shall be my next post.   And oh, what a post that shall be! She is beautiful, wise beyond her years and one of the funniest people I know.  Her humor is different, sometimes dark, always respectful and unbelievably funny.  But more about this jewel in my next post.

So, there you have it!  My first post in two years! As I hear the rain pounding on my rooftop I could pound these past two years onto this electronic paper for hours.  

But for tonight, or this morning,

 I think I will sign off and listen to the rain!