Roller Coaster Life

Yesterday we went to Six Flags. We bought season passes this year and has already proven to be a great investment. We took a couple of friends. Isaac brought his best bud who happens to be just 2 inches taller which puts him in another "ride bracket" His buddy can ride the 52" rides but Isaac can only ride the 48" ones. However, the TITAN at Six Flags requires you to be only 48" to ride. His buddy is definitely the "thrill seeker" and couldn't wait to ride the BIG one. Isaac was all talk :) So we took the long walk to the Titan. Left the other yellow belly folk behind.... Isaac was very apprehensive but kept walking with us. Side bar: I AM a thrill seeker, however the older I've gotten the worst my fear of heights have gotten. i am learning it's not even worth the muscle tension for the 'thrill'. So the Titan is a big height's ride.....Isaac held my hand all the way up the walk. Keeping one eye on the coaster and one eye on the exit he clung to my hand hoping the courage he wanted would miraculously seep from me into him. We stood in line and he held onto me as if he was making the choice to play Russian roulette or not. I assured him over and over that he did NOT have to ride, but he would have fun if he did and he would be very proud of himself too. (secretly I was hoping he'd chicken out) And then is was our turn. With false boldness he stepped onto the car. He was very worried that there was nothing over his shoulders. And so was I. He said, "mom, I get to call Daddy and tell him I did this!" He wanted my hand on him tightly, and I wanted it there too. Side bar: The Titan goes 90 miles per hour and reaches over 25 stories. Two things that would make any mom a little quezzy sending their 7 yr. old baby on.

Up the incline. I saw the fear in Isaac and I was coaching him along the way. Trying to point out the positive, "hey look at that you can see the new Cowboy stadium, look how cool, those people look like ants" He was buying it. And then BOOM, down we go. And when you think you should stop dropping, you drop some more. We were whooping and yelling and having a blast. He did it! He enjoyed it! He was so proud of himself, and I was proud of Him!

As we were walking back I realized that not once did I have that fear I normally do when I do something stupid. I wasn't even worried about the heights, the "black out" point, the speed, the what ifs...my only concern was my son. My focus was on his well-being, his joy, his desire to overcome.

Life is definitely full of drop offs, spins, loops and crazy-intense moments. And most of the time we are so focused on our non-contentment, our fears, our worries that we simply forget the one sitting next to us. We are trained to be selfish- although our call is to be selfLESS! When I focused 100% on someone else I actually enjoyed the ride. I think that is how life as a Christian is suppose to be. Get our mind off our self and help our neighbor be a little more comfortable. Think how church would be if we lived like this.

I'm honored that I got to be there for Isaac's first roller coaster ride! I praise God that I got to see his face light up. I hope and pray that I can come along side many in my life to encourage, lift up and help them have a better ride. Come with us!

Abby Mae---3 years.

So I heard a lady talking about blogging the other day and how it is a new way to journal and keep a chronicle of life. I do admit since Facebook has entered my life, I've neglected my blog AND my journal. I'm not sure if these exact posts will be around when my children are grown up, but just in case they do, I'd like to blog a few things about them every once in awhile. JUST to prove to them how much blessings, pain, laughter and tears they brought me throughout the years...

Abby turned three. As some of you know, Abby was the 1/3 of our children that we did not time out perfectly planned. She was a "I think I have the flu" baby! My pregnancy with her was not physically as hard but mentally definitely the hardest. I went into some kind of depression that had me so irrational, looking back now I scared myself. Unfortunately those moments of dark thoughts still creep in every now and again. Do I blame Abby? No, however, she often times is the trigger to my lack of control.

Abby is a lover. She will sit in your lap and pet you explaining how booootiful you are. She hugs and kisses me more than the other two combine. She is also very funny. Ever since she was tiny she tried to get us to laugh. Walking out with buckets on her head, carrots up her nose, soap in hair...something to get a smile. On the flip side Abby is our strong willed child.


When James Dobson talked about Strong-Willed children, and my friends said they have a "strong-willed" child, in my stupidity I thought they weren't disciplining like they should...or "they must be bad parents" etc., God "got me for that one"! Strong will does not necessarily mean disobedient..but definitely has it's moments. When I say Abby is strong will, this is what I mean. If she wants a cookie (most 2-3 years will throw a fit). That's Abby's first stage. When she has not broken me down...she moves on to the next step. Pleading. Yes, my three year old pleads and explains why she should have the cookie. "But mommy, rhea got one lastgo" (means last night). Still when I haven't given in, she goes to step 3. Keep in mind this is over a period of several hours. She will not forget she asked for a cookie. Third step is to take matters into her own hands. She will sneak, ask another member of the family or WAIT until the next day. She has AMAZING tenacity and I'm sorry to say that on many occasions my little angel has won!


I have so many more stories about her passion to get her way, but I'm worn out just thinking about it! All that to say, I think God will use someone like that! As a matter of fact when we were vacationing with my parent, all three grandkids where in the car for 7 hours with 4 adults. Not for a 2 minute time period did Abby be quiet. She laughed, squeeled, cried, whined, sang and whatever else to keep herself stay awake; driving everyone else crazy. My Dad laughed "She's just like you Heidi". Little did he know I cried that night. Poor child is like me! I do have a will and it has to be broken quite often! Praise God He is a good will breaker....and a will taker. My prayer for Abby is that she will use her will for furthering the Kingdom of God at a very early age....He is the one who designed her this way and I know He will use it for the good

Abby is the first to push you but the first to say "I'm sorry" She's always the first to say please and thank you, but if she wants something from your plate she simply helps herself, she's been known to get out of bed and go scratch her older sister for no reason...and later ends up snuggled so close to her you can't see between them....She is our instigator in both peace and war...she is smart (a little too much for her own good) She is our blessing! Thank you Lord for Abby. Happy Birthday.

Few things about my Kids-

So I've kept a journal with writings about my kids. The quirky things they do, funny things they say, silly things they may have done....but I can't find it! So I decided to blog it instead so that I have some kind of documentation one day. Even if no one reads it....

Isaac- Such a sweet little guy. Growing right before my eyes. You are so determined at everything you do. You've started playing soccer and have soaked in as much as you can. You practice everyday and really want to be good. You love making good grades. You really like your teacher and want to please her. You have made straight A's all year and really like school. Lately you've been asking to be baptized. You really want to serve Jesus and have done so well studying and memorizing scripture. You've finished your AWANA book with a breeze and LOVE to go to church! We are so blessed. You are an awesome big brother. I totally trust you watching over your big sisters. You get them breakfast, put their shows on, and talk to them so sweetly. You and Rhea played checkers together tonight for about an hour....you play really well with Rhea (Abby not so much....but not because you don't try!) You are going to be mighty in the Kingdom of God! I love you so much. My prayer is that you desire to serve Jesus with all your heart, your mind and your might!

Rhea- You are so beautiful! Inside and out! I really enjoy talking to you. You pick up EVERYTHING! I cannot sneak anything past you. So smart and want to be involved in all our adult conversations. Tonight you were quoting to me your scripture verse "trust in the Lord with all your heart, don't lean on your own understanding, acknowledge Him and he will make your paths straight." I asked you what that meant and you said "God will help our sins not get curly" One time we were talking about lying (sometimes you have a tendency to lie) When I asked you why you do that, you said "Satan gets in my heart and makes me do it." Well I explained if the Holy Spirit is there He can wipe out Satan...we need to pray for strength to overcome. So we prayed in Jesus' name... You started laughing. Why? You said "It tickles!...Jesus is cleaning my heart...I'm not going to lie anymore!" I love you my precious daughter. My prayer for you now is that you and I will be close friends and able to spur one another on for Jesus...

Abs--Oh Abby! My sweetie. I just want to love you, squeeze you, kiss you all over! You are our strong-willed child. If you want something...you will get it. You will try EVERYTHING in you power, including being cute, begging, crying, manipulating, sneaking, or even waiting until the next day. You wear me out! You wear your brother and sister out too. You will sit next to them and just put your hand right in front of them...scratching them, poking them just sitting right beside them bugging the fool out of them. You are relentless...never stopping. I pray that this desire, this strong will be for our Jesus..you will do EVERYTHING in your power to serve Him. You are so stinking cute though and so smart. Already singing your ABC's quoting scripture right along your sister, and you love to sing. Your favorite thing to eat is chips! You call them "crackers". You call bandaids "boondaids" and need one daily. When you are thirsty you say "I want thirsty" My favorite thing to do with you is snuggle and love on you. You'll stroke my hair, rub my face and say "momma you so pretty" (you probably have an alterior motive :) I love you my sweet abby!

A long long time...

I know it's been a way long time...but seriously I upload photos and notes all the time to facebook,,,I just don't have time to do it twice! SO if you're not on facebook, you're missing out :)

It's still crazy here....one day I'll have time to write and focus on my blog ;)

Christmas Card 2008

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Seasons

A chill in the air, a cold wind, orange, red, yellow....apples, pumpkins, longer nights. This all adds up to one thing: AUTUMN. And I love it!

And, fires in the fireplace, Christmas, warm beds, hot chili.....yummy WINTER

Well, new life, green, warmth, colors, birds, bugs, easter....Spring... I like that too.

Swimming, sunbathing, vacationing, no school....SUMMER, Love it too

I love the seasons. It seems whatever season we're in is my favorite one. So my conclusion is I like change. I am NOT happy doing the same thing over and over. I need variety, a new scenery. Maybe because my parents moved a lot when I was little...I'm not sure, but I thrive on change... I'm always trying to find something better I guess.

Well change has been happening around the McKee house. My kids are growing. In fact, Isaac's face has changed a lot, he lost his FIRST tooth today at school.

I don't think it's bad to like change.....so why would I be so lax in my spiritual growth. Why am I content with NOT going deeper, NOT pushing myself, NOT getting out of my comfort zone. I seem to crave it in every other aspect of my life: my weight, my job, my furniture, my income, my attitude........So, my prayer is that I choose CHANGE, live out the fact that Christ has taken this full blown sinner and changed her into a spotless princess...so why don't I change into that?

Interesting...

A day late and dollar short...

Sorry my blog browsers- I've let you down. The fact is, I'm crazy addicted now to Facebook. If you want to know a day to day account of the Mckee's -- Sign on! School has started, my Thirty One Business is crazy booming, church is on fire, my kids are growing, reading, playing, and taking life by the horns! Marty turns 41 TODAY! I'm so honored to be in love with him more and more (BTW...go see FIREPOOF) And bring every married friend you have.

Ok- so is that enough to keep you posted??? I do have some adorable pics on facebook...Rhea's birthday, our new dog AND cat, Abby's haircut. So those that want to stay posted (Velvet, Sunny etc.) Go to facebook and stay in touch!

God is Good---