Snickernut's Xanga

Blending Families

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 14:02:16 GMT

I've been trying to figure out the whole blog thing. I'm a fairly private person and I'm constantly analyzing myself (probably too much) in order to continue improving who I am. So, most of my thoughts are too personal to share on the web, but I've wanted to contribute. I love reading other people's blogs and hearing where my friends' minds are (although some of you are awfully weird ).

So here goes nothing...

For those of you that don't know, my mom is getting remarried. Dad passed away about five years ago, so I'm happy that my mom has found someone to share her life with. It's just weird and hard and wonderful all at the same time.

Emeka, my African dad, is really cool; he is definitely a man of God which I really admire. He is sweet with my mom and he encourages her to grow which I love (that's EXACTLY what a spouse should do). But, he's not my Daddy; my Daddy is in heaven now. It's hard to have someone step into that same role in my mom's life, and yet not be the same loved-one that I'm accustomed to.

I think it's hard for all of us "kids" because we are really happy for our parents, but we don't really know how to respond to each other yet. We all come from families where divorce was not on the table, so we weren't emotionally prepared at all for this whole blending-families thing. Not that anyone is, but the newness of the reality means we are still in a bit of shock.

I think I'm rambling a bit, but an example would be in the small things. Like recently, when someone told my son that Emeka is his grandpa, internally, I flinched. Logically, of course he is Declan's grandpa; that makes perfect sense. It's even an answer to prayer that my son has a grandpa because I never did, and I had thought about it. But even with thinking it through, I somehow wasn't prepared to hear someone else say that to my son.

I think I could talk about this all day, but I'll stop for now...

Mexico Trip - November

Wed, 05 Dec 2007 18:24:59 GMT

Well, I have taken quite awhile to sit down and write this update on our trip. Part of it I blaim on being a parent and full-time employee, but some of it has been the difficulty in qualifying what happened in Mexico.

The facts are: we had 20 people at church on Sunday; the service has moved to an earlier time in the day (which accomodates us better); one person gave their life to the Lord (glory hallelujah); we talked about the kingdom of God, healing prayer and intimacy with God; and people were challenged by the messages and open to change.

The truth is that God moves in mysterious ways, so even though all the facts above are accurate, it falls short of the real picture. I see our trip as an eye-opening experience. It is as though His children have had a veil over their eyes, which prevented them from seeing some of the wonderful things that God offers us, but the veil is slowly being pulled away.

There is a real need for prayer in the following areas: for the number of leaders to increase; for God to impart a vision of building/growing the church in Reynosa; and for the leaders to inrease in their spiritiual maturity and ability to lead.

In addition, I would like to ask all of you to pray for the Houston area leaders that are participating in the edification of the Reynosa Vineyard. We need protection and wisdom as we go travel down the road of growth with Reynosa.

I took a couple pictures while in Mexico which I will post shortly.

My present is soooo cool!

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 14:25:14 GMT

Well, my last blog was about the spiritual christmas eve that I was experiencing. I am happy to say that I have seen my present; it's a new job! I will be making more money (which will help support the family while Justin is in school) and I will learn all kinds of new stuff.

I'm so excited about learning new things. I get bored so easily and this job is promising to be full of variety.

I am very curious, however, as to what God is ultimately up to with this job. I don't think that this will necessarily be field that I work in the rest of my life. I think God is just tacking more skills onto my resume so that He can prepare my for something else. He is very sneaky like that (I wish they had an curious smiley to insert here).

The journey continues...

My Spiritual "Christmas Eve"

Wed, 26 Sep 2007 22:38:09 GMT

I feel like I'm on the cusp of a new period in my life, like God has some really great things in store for me and my family. I am such a curious person that I have a hard time waiting to see what is going to happen. It's like the Christmas Even, when you can see all your presents, wrapped beautifully, but you can't open them yet.

I feel like the enemy wants me to think that it's all in my head and I'm being narcissistic to believe that God has great blessings for me and my family. But, if I think about God's character, I remember that this is perfectly inline with who He is and has nothing to do with my perspective. He always dreams big dreams for His children. Our dreams never compare to the wonders He has in store.

So, I turn my back on doubt and embrace the reality that it's "Christmas Eve," and soon God's blessings will be revealed.

My First Post

Sat, 25 Aug 2007 12:51:49 GMT

Hello all:

I'm taking down my other Declan site and will just be using Myspance/Xanga. Hopefully, I'll have it all set-up soon.

Anja