Whittaker Woman

Sunday... Blessed Sunday

I am a part of a group of women that single handily has to get our families put together before church.  This means everyone showered, dressed and fed. Usually there are tons of tears and many frustrated memories.  Sundays are the most stressful morning of the week, so why not add a little extra drama!
We only have one car so on Sundays everyone gets loaded up at 6am to drive Carlos to church. On the way home I was driving down our street and see a duck sitting in the middle of the road. I completely stopped and he did not move. I realized he was injured and decided to help the little guy. I mean why not. I have nothing to do, right?

The problem was, well there were multiple problems. I quickly learned that 3 kids 6 and under are no help when it comes to wild animals. I also learned that they do not teach you how to drive with a duck in your hand when you take drivers training. Luckily we were not far from home. Our little duck had a hurt leg and was a very good sport. He just sat in this towel with the best manners.
 I called a kazillion numbers before I finally found someone to help our little friend. I guess animals don't get hurt or found on Sundays, because everyone was closed.  I finally got everyone showered, dressed and fed and we were off to take Ducky to the doctor.  Oh, but my drama does not end there. You see my #2, my bean, my Seanna  gets car sick and sure enough I hear in her sweet little voice. " Mommy my throat hurts." AKA I am about to puke!  Are you kidding me. Luckily we are prepared and I grabed a bag.

All this drama before 9 am! Now that is a Sunday Morning! H

A newleywed fight 8 years ago...

 
One thing that I feel God is guiding me to do is to be transparent in my life. To share things that happen, the good, the amazing and then the terrible and hard. I feel like God has built me to do this and am able to handle it when people judge me for it. Anyways I feel like I am rambling. I wanted to share this email I got the other day from a old friend. (I got her approval, don't worry I am not about to just through up a email that someone sends me without their ok.) Please read it. It has encouraged me, and I hope it encourages you to know that God can use all things for his Glory!

"I don't think you know that it was because of you guys that I got to where I'm at today.  I remember when I was at small group, we had just started going and I was still used to being surface about everything.  Growing up in a church where things were "hush hush" and everything was "great" and "fine".  Me and XXXX were just starting the beginnings of our problems and I went to small group alone that night fully prepared to come up with a story of how XXXX was at home - he was just tired, blah blah blah.  Well, Carlos blew me away when he came alone as well and when people asked where you were he said you two had a fight and you weren't coming because you were mad at him... I was shocked - someone in church - a leader in fact, being open and blunt about problems and everyone didn't look at him bad  - it was okay.  I decided that night - for the first time EVER I told the people there in discussion time about our problems and it felt weird but so releasing... It was a breaking point. 

God used you guys - your fight :)  - to literally change my life.

I mean, this was my first step in getting real.  In opening up.  In letting people in.  I'm still not totally great at letting people in but I'm getting there.   I envision you two - your marriage, your lives.  When I feel myself crawling into that space again - trying to cover things up - I remind myself of that small group night.  It meant more to me than you'll ever know."

Now that is what I want my life to be about. I have no idea what our fight was about. It was our night to cook for small group, and I remember being so pissed that I could not even go and pretend to be ok. Not to mention that I did not want to be in the same car as Carlos so I sent him off to take the meal alone. If you know anything about my man I am sure you can hear some kind of witty remark about how we are fighting. Obviously his remark was impact full, since it has changed lives.

I guess I say this to encourage you to be real. To be YOU! Do you know what that person looks like? Are you captive by what others think you are? Despite the opinions of those around you and in your life are you free to be you? Because you are not living life until you can be free. WHAT'S HOLDING YOU BACK?

He's two part nine!

Sunday morning never fails!

He is two... Part Five!

Of course this would happen on a Sunday, which by the way is the only morning that I have to get three kids out the door all by myself. I guess life just works that way, or at least two year olds do. H

Mothers Day Surprise!

It's mothers day so I chose to lay in bed and watch some LOST. As I was in the midst of the show my skype popped open and our friends Eric and Nancy Salley were on the other line. Whats the big deal?
Well, I have not talked to them in person since this day and now they are in Africa. They have moved with their four boys to Africa to be missionaries. Nancy and I were friends in Riverside, but what bonded us even closer is the fact that God called us both to leave what we called home. We were on the same road, at the same time together. We were going to different places, but the bumps and curves that the road took each of us were very similar. And we have emailed since but there is just something about voice communication that warms a soul!

Mom are you crying again? -Seanna

Today was such a great day. We got to church on time, got a perfect parking spot, rocked out with Carlos on stage. Went to a fabulous lunch, then went back to church so the kids could see their daddy  singing. We even had the special pass called Carlos' keys that allows us up in the balcony where no one else was. We get seated, the music starts and the girls and I begin to grove. Then it happens, I see them. A couple cuddling on the front row. I don't mean hands around the waist  kind of cuddling I mean full body spooning.

(In the front row right in front of the guitar player in the vest)
How annoying I thought.
Then I look a little harder and instantly burst into tears.

Oh how I was wrong,
I did see a two people.
I did see an embrace.
I DID SEE LOVE.

This is what I saw. I did not know who they were.
Maybe they were brothers?
Maybe a father and son? Maybe just friends.
But what I could tell was  that the man in front was severly
handicapped and the other man was holding
him up to worship.
HOLDING HIM UP TO WORSHIP!
The honor, love and power that was showed to me in that
instant has changed me forever. H

Check out My Man's view of it all.