Triggered Moments, Happy Birthday Caleb Joshua

Last year I went through a book that explained about triggers. You know when something happens that triggers a moment or a time of significance in your life, good or bad.

Sometimes the trigger can be something as small as a scent or a sound or sometimes something subconscious you don't even know what it was that triggerd that memory.

The other night, I noticed my cell phone was dead and I needed to make a call. I went to the kitchen to use the red thing that's been sitting on the counter since we moved in. You know what it was a ......land line phone. As I lifted the receiver, my mind was triggered by the last time I used that thing , about two and half years ago to call 911 when Caleb had his seizure and laid lifeless in my husbands arm.

I placed the receiver back and my mind just went for it. It replayed that afternoon as if I hit the rewind on the dvr. And then it was paused on a conversation we had with the doctors. Caleb had a febrile seizure, and chances of it happening again before he turned five were a lot greater than him not. So from that day the number 5 was embedded in my mind. 

Realizing that we are coming up on Caleb's fifth birthday, I just had one of those moments of reflection and gratitude mixed with emotions. When he turns five the chances of another febrile seizure drastically diminishes. On one hand that comforts me and on the other hand seen him mature into this little boy playing on the school yard makes me sad. I just feel like the last few years didn't come fast enough and then they came to quick. 


I crawled into bed and just thought about the years with my Caleb Joshua, he is such a strong boy in character yet so sensitive. He was the one we ended up in the hospital with a few times, and when he gets sick we always feel a little more cautious , but it has helped us to rely and trust in the Lord.

Luckily for Caleb I was having this moment when I heard the jiggle of puppy's collar as Caleb tried to crawl into our bed at midnight. Instead of telling him it was to early to go back to his own bed I had him pull up a pillow and he got into a little snuggle trouble.

Here is what you should know about Caleb. He is quite the communicator, the other day he said he "loved his school" and that "it was really working out for him" in his own words.

He does not take no for an answer. He will plead his case to the END. He loves all things Mickey, always has his puppy by his side even if he is just coming downstairs and loves chocolate chip cookies. He loves school, is a prayer warrior and smothers his little sister. He looks up to his brother and wants to do EVERYTHING Noah does. He appears to be tough, but he is a softy. He still cuddles with his mommy and way over protective. And if you are sitting or laying next to him chances are he has his leg or arm on you. And he pays way to much attention to the girls for a five year old. 

Our family is stronger, our house is louder, my heart feels fuller, and our love is deeper, because on this day five years ago the Lord allowed us to welcome Caleb Joshua to family. And I am grateful that two years ago the Lord had His hand upon you allowed us to spend more birthdays with you. Happy Birthday my baby boy, we love you a little less than Jesus, but surely

more than any one on this earth.

Love you forever, like you for always, as long as I'm living my baby you'll be.
Mommy

Asleep on the toilet and a Spartan Race

It's been awhile since I last blogged and it isn't from a lack on content, because having a newborn - now infant in the house has surely reminded me on how much more I need Jesus in my life.

Like last night for example, I thought I'd see the pearly gates of heaven when I fell asleep going potty in the middle of the night. Yup fo real, like sitting on the pot in a full on sleep. Only to wake up frantic in complete darkness wondering where the heck I was. When I went to get up, I hit the floor because my leg had fallen asleep which tells me I was sitting for awhile.

As I crawled back in bed I glanced over to my husband still snoring not affected by the little tremor of me hitting the floor and wondered how nice it would be to be a dad for a day or night. And all the moms said..... Amen

Well let's move on because this blog has little to do about my bathroom excursion and more about the power of prayer and the willingness not to give up.

Over a week ago my husband did his biggest obstacle course race. If the grueling 14 miles with 33 obstacles in triple digit heat weren't enough, he was getting over a nasty virus and his plantar fasciitis in his foot was acting up. Before the race started , I prayed told him to utilize wisdom and to quit if needed, after all he is the sole provider of our home.

The reality? I knew he wouldn't stop as difficult as it was going to be, because he had his eye on the prize.

"Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win!"
1 Corinthians 9:24 NLT

What was his prize? Well he was going to complete his trifecta. This was his third final race to finish a series of runs to become a true spartan for the spartan races. To not run or quit would mean that next year he would need to start all over, running the series of races because they needed to be completed in a calendar year.

The average time for a non elite racer was about five hours, for this particular race this day. This was his goal as well. He took off at 915am and we saw him about half way through , limping down a hill clearly in pain. He was only at the half way mark at about 6 miles. I reminded him it was ok to stop, he gave us a kiss and rimped (running while limping) on his way. By this time the temperature had hit triple digits and it didn't look promising.

However, in my heart I knew quitting wasn't going to be easy for him, when he had his two little guys counting on him to finish.

There was a moment when it was just me and my boys sitting on some hay in the middle of this tent with over a hundred people waiting for daddy. I was prompted to pray. I looked down at my watch and noticed it was 2:15 and realized we were coming up on the fifth hour and he was no where in sight.

So I gathered the boys and told them we needed to pray. I asked the Holy Spirit to intercede on his behalf on what he needed. I remember only two things that I prayed for , super natural strength and miraculous healing on his foot. As I prayed I had a sense that my prayer wasn't just a help him through, but more like a devine intervention to carry him to the finish.

It was about a hour and half later that I saw him coming over to his last few obstacles. He was clearly in a lot of pain and could barely walk let alone run. My heart broke to see him that way, but I rejoiced knowing that in a few short moments he would cross the the finish line. Battered and bruised , barely walking ,but he would finish.

He finished , I walked over and congratulated him. He was in a lot of pain and he apologized that it took longer than he expected. He said I almost gave up, at mile ten I couldn't do it anymore. Then something happened and I was able to just go. I said, oh really , what time was that at? He said at about 2:15.

You know what I love about The Lord? When He does something , He makes it pretty obvious. Jesus told his disciples that He was to go away to prepare a place, but not to worry He would send a helper. That moment in the tent the Helper showed me when to pray and what to pray for. And that helper gave my husband the strength to finish his race.

Take a moment and think about where you are... Are you in the middle of your race about to give up? Or are you praying and interceding , hoping for a miracle? Or perhaps both? I want to tell you NOT to give up. We have no idea when the answer to that prayer is just around the corner.

But it's hard to keep running, it seems like I have been running this same mile for days, years etc. Perhaps, but would you like to start over? A HARD mile completed is better that having to do it again. Don't give up keep you eye on the prize! The finish line is near, you may finished battered and bruised, but it's better than not finishing!

My husbands motivation to finish was us being there waiting cheering him on from the sideline. Similar to what it says in Hebrews 12: 1-2 , I'll leave you with this scripture...

"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God"

Many have finished the race, many are praying for you, cheering for you. Whatever is holding you back or down, get rid of it and run. And like Paul has said run to win! AROO!!!!

Run, Walk just don't quit! love you,
Moni