Happy Birthday Tim :)

I remember the first birthday of Tim's that we celebrated together like it was yesterday. He was turning 21, and we had been dating about six months. I saved my money for three months to buy him the toolbox I knew he wanted. My dad told him he had to borrow his truck to move some stuff, took it and had the toolbox put on for me. I took Tim to dinner in my car, and at dinner I gave him a shirt. He acted so appreciative, and I couldn't wait to show him his surprise! After dinner, I took him to pick up his truck from my dad's office and there it was.. his shiny new toolbox :) He was so proud. And I was so happy.

It is six years later now. We will celebrate his birthday tonight at home with my parents, Chris, and Tiff. It makes me teary to think about all that has changed in these six years. Good and bad. I first think about the loss of his grandparents, and how heartbreaking that was.. and still is. I think about the addition of the Thompson clan to the Croley clan. I think about him proposing to me, and promising to love me forever. I think about the pride I felt as he graduated from college, and then as he received his Master's degree. I think about Monday Night Moe's. And what good care he took of me and Heather in college. And how I miss hearing Whitney calling him "Timothy McVay!". I think about his first grown up after college job interview, and how special he made me feel when we found out I was going to have my very own first grade class. I think about Justin and Elisha and what good friends they have been to Tim, and how I know they are there for each other forever. I think about how proud my daddy is that I married Tim, and how he loves Tim like he is his own. I know six years ago we never would have envisioned our own pretty beautiful white house up on a hill down a peaceful dirt road :) I think about his commitment to God, and the good name he has earned himself. I think about how blessed I am to be his, and that he is mine. There is truly is not a day that goes by that I do not think about how blessed I am.

All that to say, Happy Birthday to Tim :)

I wish I could blog more. It is the most emotionally productive thing you can do for yourself I believe.

I deleted my last post about my bad day. I deleted it because I went to those people, and resolved those problems. I hold no hard feelings. I really don't. There is a major beauty in forgiveness. It relieves you of a burden, carrying around hurt is hard. I am glad I was able to let that one go.

People don't understand what they don't love. That is kind of the bottomline of it all. Some people do not understand why we have chosen to make the emotional, financial, and time sacrifice to help strangers. And I get that. I understand people's need to figure out what is in it for me. Because if you don't love children, if you don't love people in need, then you wouldn't maybe even couldn't understand why Tim and I are on this mission.


Thank you for the comments of encouragement following my bad day blog. I am blessed with true friends and family :)

Love to you all.

Life Changes.

I read in someone's blog today, how life changes can make a hypocrite out of you.

And man, did it hit home.

Before you are married, you are sure that you will never be like couple so and so for whatever reason.. and then.. you are.

Before children, you are sure that you will never be the disruptive table at a restaurant, the pew at church that gets more attention than the preacher, and certainly not the family that is running 9,000 miles an hour. And then one day...

I want you to know all you pre-marriage, pre-children friends.. believe it if you want to.. but it will happen to you as well. One day you will wake up and realize that life brought you things you were sure it wouldn't, and that you are in way less control than you had hoped.

And I hope like me.. you will see that the way things are is pretty wonderful.. :)

Life update: Having a 16 year old, and a 5 year old is an experience :) I spend half my time trying to teach the importance of honor roll, youth group, and family. And the rest trying to teach to tie shoes, learning the alphabet, and wiping a runny nose. It is a rare, wonderful time. I really am trying to enjoy it while it lasts. I know that my family is ever-changing, and I try to never get too comfortable with how things are.. but also try to appreciate where we are and what we have.

In our class at church we just finished up this wonderful series on marriage. It made me realize even more my love and respect for Tim. And it talked about how important it is that your marriage have a "mission". I could not agree more. Tim and I have made children (youth group, and foster parenting) our mission. It is rewarding and wonderful and tiring and amazing. And I know that our marriage is stronger because we have both sold out to making our marriage a "Mission" for God. I think it is important that everyone have a mission.. maybe visiting/calling/caring about old people, maybe its prision minisitry, maybe it's being a support system for others who need help (my aunt tina, my parents, and my grandparents help me so much with my children..in supporting me I feel like they are a part of our efforts as foster parents), maybe it is teaching bible class, maybe it is knocking doors, maybe it is going to foreign places, holding or attending regular bible studies, whatever it is.. I think it is so important to have something you work on with your spouse for God. It brings you closer together, but also it makes you so much more dependant on God, and His plan for you, and fulfilling His will in your lives.

I am off to enjoy a week of rest. I am so thankful for Spring Break! :)

Grown Up Accomplishments.

Did I tell you I was Teacher of the Quarter for my whole county? Such a major honor. Tim and I went to the board meeting after being told I was going to be recognized for my efforts in Parental Involvement, but my principal was fooling me.. I was there to be named Teacher of the Quarter. The superintendent knew who I was, said kind things about me, and gave me a plaque. It was all really quite an honor.

Pats on the back can take you a long way some days..

Just wanted to share! :)

Blog Stealer.

I wish I could blog more often. It is a nice way to put out there what you think, how you feel. Something about saying things, makes them easier to deal with. I think it is healthy this blogging thing. I recommend it to my non-blogging friends :)

My topics are sometimes inspired by other people's blogs. Today is one of those days. I want to tell you about some people who have changed my world. I love them, and if you knew them you would too.

Let's start with Mom and Dad. Growing up I didn't see the sacrifices they were making for me. Looking back now, I am so grateful. Grateful that they worked so hard to send us to Fort Dale. Grateful that they taught me to grow up and be a respectable person. Growing up my mom would always say.. "It is my job to make sure that you grow up to be a respectful, responsible person." She set that expectation. And I have worked most of my life to be just that. My mom taught me how to manage family and work. She was always a great balancer. Being a stay-at home mom is awesome. I am happy for ALL of those who are. But.. I just don't think as longa s I am blessed with a job I could ever be. I enjoy activity. I enjoy being busy. I never felt slighted that my mom worked, the opposite really. I always felt really proud of her. Still to this day, I am really proud of her.. I do hope she decides to be a stay-at home Gradma though! :) She made me who I am today. I am thankful that I am her daughter. My dad is the most selfless man that I have ever known. Rarely is it about him, rarely does he ask for anything. But he is constantly seeing what he can do for us. How he can help us. How he can make our lives simpler, and happier. I cannot tell you how often I think about him, how often I am thankful for him. I cannot tell you how much he brings to my life through advice, love, and dedication to me.. and my growing, changing family :)

My grandparents are also amazing people. They have filled our family with timeless traditons, memories, and love. They have created a family that is loyal and loving. They have worked hard their entire lives, not for themselves but to take care of their children.. and later to be able to share with their grandchildren. They are the most God-honoring people that I know. I strive to have the discipline, and faithfulness to God that they exhibit. They have helped teach me to be giving and trusting. I am better for knowing them. I pray that God will continue to take care of them, and bless them.

Tim! I started dating Tim almost seven years ago. Can you believe that? Seven years. And Tim was a patient man. We took things sooo slowly.. my friends were planning their weddings six months in.. and we had barely held hands! :) We dated almost five years before we got married, because he understood how important it was to me to have my college degree first. And he continues to show his patience as he works with me as a foster parent. He loves me first, but there is no doubt in my mind that he loves me more than anything else on this earth. He takes care of me. He loves me. He forgives me. He counts on me, and has never let me down. I stop to think how blessed I am to have him as my husband, and feel overwhelmed sometimes. God really did help me find just the right man :)

These are just the beginning of my list.. more to come later!

And thanks Leigh for the idea.. I enjoyed stealing it! :)