ABCs of Me: Family, Friends, and Flaws and 40(almost)

In my alphabet pursuit, I am up to the letter "F".    My hubby turns 40 next week and I am chasing him quickly.  I will hit this milestone in February.  Here are some observations as I begin to reflect on my life.

Family
Family is usually stressful and crazy.  But, family in whatever form is family.  Family is the foundation of your identity, your place in the world, and your physical characteristics.  Sometimes, our foundation is not stable.  Luckily, God can come in and repair the foundation and help us to build a more stable edifice in which to house our lives.  The family in which I grew up was/is crazy and weird and not always edifying but I have taken the love, the insanity, and the values and used them along with my husband's to build our little family.  We can't wait to see what our kids say about us once they grow up.  The American dream is to make our children's lives better than our own.  I want our children to have more love, more stability, less crazy, and more surety in who they are than I had(and I had quite a bit of all of that).  We may shelter them and keep from them some of the most crazy stuff, but that is so that they won't have the burden of growing up knowing what it is like to be unwanted and unloved.

Friends
When I was little, my mom said that I never met a stranger.  I would come home from a week at the beach with a new friend.  I never had trouble making friends.  As I got older, the process got harder and as I am approaching mid-life, it is darn near impossible to make and maintain friendships.  With kids and jobs and marriage, adults have very little extra energy to cultivate friendships.  If you move around, then you can often feel isolated.  Differences in lifestyles and jobs can cause a rift in friendships or place stress on relationships.  I am blessed to have some wonderful women in my life who are dear friends.  I know that I can call on them anytime that I need to do so!  What are you doing to cultivate friendships in your life?

Flaws at 40
I chose flaws because we should always look to improve ourselves.  But, aside from being neurotic and pushy and bossy and over sensitive, I like who I am now better than I did when I was 20.  At 20, I had no idea who I was nor did I like myself.  At 30, I was maturing and learning to love myself and love others.  At 40, I am much more fit and fun than I have ever been.  I can run farther and I eat healthier!  Granted, I am in a little more pain and I can't eat as much as I used to and my bladder is well, we as women all know ;).  Let's face it, I look at cake or pizza and gain weight.  I am smarter and have more common sense than I ever have!  I am enjoying life and can't wait to  see what my 5th decade brings!

Hop over to Proverbs 31 Mama for her blog hop! 

'Fess Up Friday

What a week!  Whew!  I need to confess just for my sanity!  So hook up with Mamarazzi and confess yourself. Also, read some confessions from others.  So here goes!

I confess that I am loving me some Dallas.  The theme song gets me going and reminds me of my childhood!  It is a great show!

I confess that I skeptical about Dallas but it has proven to be a fantastic summer show!

I confess that my scalp is driving me crazy!  I have some sort of thing going on with it.  Pieces of my scalp and chunks of hair are causing me much grief!  It is getting better with T-Gel but not cured.

I confess that my emotions are all over the place recently.  I have had some family issues going on and work things.  I am just over it!

I confess that I am tired of people ignoring my feelings in favor of theirs.  My feelings are as important as others but some narcissistic people don't think so.  Everything is all about them!  So done!

I confess that this week at work has been a doozy!  I was bitten at work(a restaurant) by a dog.  A Yorkshire Terror, I mean, Terrier.  I can't even brag about it being a German Shepherd or Pit Bull but an 8lb dog!  The owners never even apologized!  I had to have a Tetanus shot.  Not happy!

I confess that we had to give our black lab mutt away.  My kids are so sad and so are we.  I think we might get another for Christmas!  We will see!

'Fess Up Friday

Time for confession is here!  I hope that you are all well and that confession is making you feel like you are free.  Check out Mamarazzi and her admissions this week.  You WON'T be disappointed!

I confess that this week has been crazy what with an extra person to care for and doctors appointments and work and regular home life.

I confess that this week has been full of crazy, unexplained blessings.  God really has been showing Himself this week.

I confess that my family makes me crazy.  Not my kids and hubby though they are guilty sometimes but my extended family.  I can't say too much cause they might read it and get their feelings hurt.  We are a very sensitive people.

I confess that I am glad to get to know some other people who have similar family issues like mine.  Great to know that I am not alone.

I confess that my 12 year old van is in much need of some TLC from a mechanic.  My hubby was gonna fix it but well, seeing as he can't walk very well, I doubt he will be dropping the engine out and getting it fixed.  Right now, we have to choose between heat and breathing in carbon monoxide.  I confess that sometimes I choose the CO because it has been mucho cold here recently.!

I hope you have enjoyed these confessions!  I feel better but come back next week I know I will be confessing something that has to do with the family thing and the fallout from that.  Did I mention that we are a sensitive bunch? ;)

Jurney Short Edgerton

This post is in honor of Papa, Jurney Short Edgerton. He will be spending his 1st Resurrection Sunday in Heaven with the Savior and Lord of His life. I am jealous of this! To be able to thank Jesus face to face for His sacrifice is more than I can possibly express.

Papa was a stubborn man with his ways firmly set. He and his wife raised 4 boys. He was a HUGE UNC Tar Heel fan. He was responsible for taking me to my 1st game in the Dean dome and Keenan Football stadium. He knew more about recruiting and who played what and when than I will ever forget. He truly bled Tar Heel blue and now he is Tar Heel dead. He treated me like I was a blood relation. My kids love him and he, them.

Papa fought in WWII. First , he trained in the army to be a glider pilot. This had a high mortality rate and before he was shipped to Europe, the project was scrapped and he was put behind a desk. Not satisfied with that, he left the army and enlisted in the Navy and went to the Pacific theater. He was an American hero! One of the greatest generation!

He leaves behind 3 living sons, 2 daughters-in-law, 2 grandchildren & 2 grandchildren-in-law, and 7 great grands! He also leaves behind a brother, Uncle Ed Edgerton, with whom he was really close.

Now, while we are sad, we mourn with joy knowing that he is in Heaven and since we believe as well, we will see him again one day. He is in no more pain. He is not lonely. He sins no more. He knows complete and utter joy as we were created to know. So my question to you is: when you die, can people say this for certainty about you? Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, His death, burial, and resurrection? What are you waiting for? Come to Jesus! His burden is not heavy but it is light! Find joy today!