The Lumberjack's Wife

Happy Mother’s Day!

And, sadly, what I think I want for my life, is not really what I want.

These four are around me a lot.

When it all comes down to it, what is really, truly important? Is it important that I am caught up on the laundry? Does it matter if my house is picked up? Where am I spending my time? Who cares if I never own a huge house, drive a fancy car, or finally have a flat stomach?

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

I do not know what the future will bring. I cannot make them choose Christ.

But I can pray.

Whatever it takes. Whatever trials in life God needs to bring them through to bring them to Him, is fine by me. They are God’s children, not mine, after all (this is a difficult conclusion for a mother to come to). I do not know and I cannot fathom what God has planned for their lives. I do not know what temptations and troubles will come their way. I don’t know how bleak the future might seem at times.

But they are my treasures. And I will pray.

***

Happy Mother’s Day!

(Name that play)

On Show us Your Life,  this week’s  topic is:

“Tell us how you came up with the names for your children.”

If you are new to this blog, I need to fill you in on something.

I do not tell my blog readers what my childrens’ names actually are.

In fact, I bet each and every one of my readers are wondering why on earth I am participating in this blog post.

I like to keep things spicy.

***

Meet our first-born:

We could not decide between two names.

I told The Lumberjack that since I was the one having to give birth, he would have to be the one to make the final decision.

So, right after she was born, he told me what her name was.

One choice was  ____ and the other choice was Claire.

I still really like the name Claire, but it was forever tainted when my good friend Kim laughed loudly when I told her Claire was an option and exclaimed:

“What?  Like Claire Huxtable?!”

(Name that tv show)

Attention Readers:  If you are in a conversation with a pregnant woman and she tells you the name she is considering naming her child, do not, I repeat, do not mock it.

It ain’t cool.

For this blog, our oldest is called Sweet Pea because that is the nickname The Lumberjack’s mother gave her when she was born.

Each child has a verse that was picked out for them when they were born.

Sweet Pea’s name means “Pure.”

Her verse:

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”

Matthew 5:8

***

Our second child is Daisy Mae.

Would you check out those smoochy lips?

Daisy Mae’s actual name was a little harder for us to come up with. 

I had tons of choices of names I liked . . . and to each one The Lumberjack would say,

“Nah.”

AAAAAAA-nnoying.

So, one day he came up to me and said,

“Well, how about ____?”

And I declared that from heretohenceforth, that baby would be called _______, simply for the fact that it was the one and only name the Lumberjack didn’t say:

“Nah” to.

Silly Lumberjack.

Daisy Mae also gets her nickname from The Lumberjack’s mom.

100 (meaningless) points to anyone who can guess what my ma-in-law’s criteria is for nicknaming the grandgirls.

Daisy Mae’s real name means:  Heath by the Wasteland.

Now, isn’t that beautiful?

Clearly the meaning of a name weighed heavily in our decision-making.

Clearly.

Daisy Mae’s life verse:

“But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.  He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.  It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green.  It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”

Jeremiah 17: 7-8

***

So, there we were with our two girls.

Our two clean, easily potty-trained girls who would never throw dog poo at a sibling.

Then God said . . .

Let

Them

Have

A

Boy

Oh, look at that precious little pumpkin!

Yes, that is our 3rd child Handsome Dude.

A boy name was by far the hardest name The Lumberjack and I could decide on.

Every single one I liked, he would say no to.

But you would not believe the suggestions he had.

And now, dear readers, I would like to present to you:

The Lumberjack’s List of Boy Names

Interruption:  If you like these names, or have chosen them for your own kin, then I mean you no ill-will.

Gunther

Meryl

Chick

Tuck

Yes, folks.

That is what I had to work with.

Rest assured, Handsome Dude’s factual name is none of the above.

There was one, yes one, redeeming name on that list and I claimed it immediately for my first-born son.

And Handsome Dude is not the nickname that my mother-in-law gave him.

Her nickname for him is Cubby Bear.

But this boy of mine has always had this serious, handsome, old-man face

and I have always called him Handsome Dude.

I do not, in fact, remember what Handsome Dude’s factual name truly means.

Terrible, I know.

Hey!  He is number 3 . . .

Handsome Dude’s Life Verse:

” . . . So be strong, show yourself a man, and observe what the Lord your God requires:  Walk in his ways and keep his decrees and commands.”

1 Kings 2: 2b-3a

***

Then God saw our little family and He proclaimed:

Let

Them

Have

Another

Boy

Can we not all agree that boys are way more trickier than girls?

Little Dude.

For Little Dude’s name, The Lumberjack once again whipped out his high-class list of male-gendered names.

No matter how many boys the Good Lord blesses me with, I guarantee you none will be named Gunther.

Ever.

Interruption:  If you like the name Gunther, I apologize.

I don’t remember how we came up with Little Dude’s factual name, but it is a good one nonetheless.

And, in true Taylor fashion, I have not one clue what his factual name means.

But this I know to be truth:

He is stinkin’ cute.

I named him Little Dude for this blog simply for the fact that I could not think of one more option.

My mother-in-law’s nickname for him is Lion King.

100 (meaningless) points to anyone who can guess what my mother-in-law’s criteria is for nicknaming her grandboys.

Little Dude’s Life Verse:

“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

Isaiah 40:31

***

We are all done having kids.

So any of you can feel free to steal any of the following names:

Claire (still cute)

Gunther

Meryl

Chick

Tuck

Rest assured.

We will not need them.

Happy Friday!

Today I am a guest poster over at Confessions of a Redeemed Diva.

What?!

A guest poster?

Look at me with my big girl blogging pants on!

I kid!  I jest!

Fun Fact:I have no idea what I am doing.  But she asked me to guest post nonetheless.

I know you all hate to “click around” but if you want to, you can go visit me over there and say “Holla!”

Maybe if you could all huddle up and send like 2 or 3 of you over there to leave a comment so I don’t feel like a silly goose?

Por Favor?

Allie over at Redeemed Diva has a lovely blog.

Lovely.

And she is doing a series on Blog Post Improvement.

So, check it out, dudes!

***

And since I am already shamelessly begging for you to help me out, I’ve got one more favor to ask of you.

WILL YOU PLEASE VOTE FOR MY BLOG IN THE AWESOMEST INSPIRATIONAL BLOGS CONTEST?

Please?

I would not have asked you again, but I am so stinking close to first place.

Stinking close.

And now, dear readers, I will present 5 reasons why I think you should click on the link and vote for me:

1)  I am sick.

2)  Like way really bad sick.

3)  My entire chest, back, and rib cavity areas are so sore from coughing.  And I fear I might have The Pink Eye.  I don’t know.  But my eye was sealed shut when I woke up and when I pried it open, it was pink.

Hence, pink eye.

Thoughts?

4)  I can’t talk.  My kids are getting away with everything.

5)  I posted this picture of myself.

And, as if that were not enough, I also posted this picture:

Can we not all agree that Teva sandals worn in conjunction with Medical Compression Stockings was a poor choice?

So, please.

Vote for me.

If not for my sake . . .

Do it for the sake of the children.

Click here to read my guest post.

CLICK HERE TO PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE VOTE FOR MY BLOG, WHICH CAN BE FOUND IN THE AWESOMEST INSPIRATIONAL BLOG CATEGORY.

Happy Thursday!

This weekend, we loaded up the kids, packed snacks and water, made sure our flashlights had working batteries, checked the oil, loaded the first aid kit, gathered some emergency flares, charged the cell phones, and filled the rig up with gas and headed out to Ruralville to survey what will hopefully soon be our homestead.

Due to our lack of a realtor present (we did have permission to go), we were only looking at the land and the outside of the house and shop.

Which is just as exciting as if we were to look on the insides.

See?

Exciting.

Thar she is, folks.

28oo square feet of 5 bedroom, 2.5 bath, non-hardwood floor bliss.

Lovely, I say.

Tis lovely.

Now, the entire time we were there, we heard gunshots firing from down yonder country road.

I would reckon about 500 paces from the well.

Yes, that’s right.

The well.

One might wonder if this is safe territory . . . you know . . . with the gunshots and such.

I sure hope them neighbors over yonder take a liking to us.

Territory folks should stick together, territory folks should all be pals . . . .

(Name that movie that song is from.  If you don’t know it I am sorely disappointed in you.)

********

Random Topic Quick-Change!

One whole year ago, I published my very first post in this blog.

Actually, it wasn’t this blog.

It was a different blog named the__________familyblog.blogspot.com and it had a delightful cherry background, if I do say so myself.

Oh, Blogger and your vast array of colorful themes . . . .

The first post can be found if you click here, although I know you won’t click on it.

I don’t know why I even bother.

Sheesh.

My comments section was a dry, barren land.

Zero comments!

Attention my three original blog viewers: Melissa, Jessy, and Lani . . .

You cut me deep, girls.  You cut me real deep just now.

 

I have been nominated for a blog award, Most Awesomest Inspirational Blog, over at I am Mommy.

I know.

Laugh if you must.

But I would like to submit that, yes, my blog can be inspirational.

I inspire people to greatness.

I mean, that is why you people all come here . . . right?

Great recipes . . .

High-Quality Photography

And pictures of precious children . . .

such as mine.

Ok . . . . so if you would like to cast a vote for me you can.

Voting is open today through next Sunday or Monday . . . I cannot be certain.

Also, my good friend Angela, whose blog is, in fact, truly inspirational is also nominated.

Her blog is Those with Young.   And even if you do not want to participate in this contest and all the voting nonsense, you should check her blog out and add it to your reader or like her on The Facebook.  She gives daily scriptural encouragement for moms.

I like it.

I like it a lot.

(name that movie)

Alright!  Enough of this nonsense.  But, hear this:

 I am sick.  LJ is sick.  All 4, yes that’s right 4 children are sick.

Poor us.

And on that note, I will say goodbye, until later today when I will probably post again in honor of my 1 year blogging anniversary.

But I must take a hot shower and Dayquil before I even consider such matters.

If you would like to vote for me , please click here, find the inspirational blogs, chuckle to yourself at the thought of me being inspirational, then click on the blog of your choice.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

(Name that singer.  It’s not hard at all.  Super easy, in fact.)