40 days

What do I know about Lent?


What do you know about Lent?


In the past years I have never really thought about Lent. I have never observed lent as a holiday that pertained to me. I have known other people that observed lent and it did not look like a good idea at all. I knew friends that were giving up chocolate. CHOCOLATE people!!!! And then I heard people say things like "you don't have to give up chocolate, you could give up something else like coke." ALRIGHT stand back. No one, and I mean NO one takes my Coke. Ok. maybe I have a few addictions that could be scaled back, but I did not like the idea of my LOVING Savior telling me that I had to GIVE UP on things in my life that may be something that I indulge in but also seem like things that are so trivial to God. Does God really care if I eat chocolate sometimes or have a coke everyday? How is that holding me back in a relationship with him? The answer is It's NOT! I will not be a better person on Easter because I gave up coke or chocolate, in fact, I would probably be a horrible person because of the withdrawls and the mood changes that would incure.

The season of Lent has become "tradition" for far too many. People fast, but don't remember why they are fasting. People give up their favorite things and can't remember why, therefore Easter comes along and these people return right back to the lives they led before lent. They are not changed in the least, until next Feb. when they robotically go through the "giving up" process all over again.


This year is different. This year I have heard from different friends what Lent is REALLY about! It is so NOT about what we give up for 40 days. It is about what we gain in those 40 days!!!! You can make sacrifices and most of us will need to sacrifice something, whether it be our food or or our time or our money, in order to make room for the increase that we will get in serving God and reflecting on how we can be servants just as Christ has served us. But I think the real importance of these 40 days leading up to Easter is how our lives change because of the way that we served others and the way that we served God during this time.


In Scriptures, the number 40 has many significant uses. We see it when Noah and his family were in the ark for 40 days and nights, when the the Children of Israel were wandering through the wilderness for 40 years, and also when Jesus was in the desert for 40 days undergoing temptations by Satan. How will you make the next 40 days significant? How will your life be changed during this season of Lent?

Featuring our newest nephew JUDE!

3 month old Jude couldn't stand it that he hadn't seen his daddy's family since he was a newborn. So he packed his bags, grabbed his mom and dad and boarded a plane bound for the drastically cold Chicago. He knew that there would be snow on the ground and that it would be a huge difference in weather compared to the warm temperatures he was used to in Sunny Florida, but he also knew that it would worth it.

Don't get me wrong, his mommy's family lives close by his home and they shower him with love and attention and everything a baby could ask for, but he knew that if he was getting that much love from them at home that finding daddy's family would give him double the love, double the attention, and double family.

He was so happy to play with Aunt Reese. She underestimated his well being months ago when they saw each other at the farm in Georgia at Thanksgiving. Aunt Reese was under the impression that passing him around too much could make him sick or uncomfortable and since there were over 20 people there, she decided to hold back and see him from a distance. Baby Jude understood how she felt, but when he held Aunt Reese for the first time it was like no time had passed at all and we had known each other since day one. Aunt Reese couldn't stop telling baby Jude how much he looked like her first born son Karston, but he didn't mind because his cousin is one good looking guy. Baby Jude and Aunt Reese laughed and played together and he knew that she was going be an asset to him when he could start using his nephew powers to get what he wanted.

Baby Jude also got the chance to play with his Uncle Heath. He loved how his Uncle seemed to get on his level and play like he was 3months old too. Most people probably won't ever see this guy the same way that he does, he is like a big, silly, teddy bear that you just can't help but laugh with. Between the zoom zooms and the cheek jiggles, Jude knew that Uncle Heath is going to make sure that his life is full of fun and laughter while he grows.

Jude was also looking forward to being with his cousins while in Chicago. He made a real connection with his cousin Alyssa. The energy she had was remarkable and he watched as she seemed to flutter around the room and then always return to give him hugs and kisses. She loved his toys and made sure that he knew where they were when he needed them. Thanks to Alyssa, there was no way the family could forget the strollers on the day that we went into the big city. She was constantly looking out for him and making sure that he was happy.


She even tried to teach him some fun games like patty cake...

While Jude knew that the snow and the cold would be totally undesirable....

He also knew that he would get to spend sometime in the loving arms of his "Moni" and that would make the whole trip worth it. There's no bond like the bond of a boy and his grandmother and Jude has some very special grandmothers in his life, even if they are both very young for being grandmothers. Jude spent all the time he could get holding his Moni and bonding with her. Even when the rest of the family got competitive and tried to take each other's money in Monopoly, he was thankful to be holding his Moni and snuggling while they rested together.

Jude also held his Papa quite a few times during the trip, but he knew that this would be a special relationship and wanted to keep it very private. No pictures of him and Papa this time, he just wanted to get to know this man that ALL the cousins are drawn to in their early years. Jude tried so many times to talk with Papa, but talking can be very frustrating when you are only 3months old. He watched as his other cousins would play and tease his Papa and knew that this guy will be one to watch out for in the coming months and years.

All in all it was a great trip and Jude got the Goodson fix he really needed. After a few short days it was time to go back home to the warmth of his own house in Florida, but there is no denying he will hold these family members close to his heart while they are far away from each other. Until then he will be planning and getting ready for another Goodson family experience when the weather warms up. He is also looking forward to his Uncle Seth, Aunt Tarah and cousin Jericho being there the next time so that he can get the full experience of getting to know his daddy's quirky and loving family.

I heart from black to red...

When I was in high school my friends and I decided to start a boycott of Valentine's day. We wore black and had a girl's only night together that was supposed to be void of any romance. The only glitch was that when I rented the movie, I thought I would be safe with a movie about the president, but it ended up being a love story.

A year or two later Heath and I got engaged and then married only two weeks before Valentine's day. We decided that we didn't need another day of celebrating love so soon and agreed to just skip this holiday in our house. For years Valentine's has come and gone with very little attention.

On the flip side my mother has always been more into Valentine's than most any other holiday! We could guarantee that our mother would have a surprise waiting for us every Valentine's morning. This holiday was not so much about a romantic love as it was about family love.

Now that my children are a bit older and my mother showers them every year with hearts, and prizes, I too have found myself enjoying this holiday again. The past two years the kids and I have made cards for family together and this year we are all dressed in red and white to commemorate.

So I have now gone from this being a black holiday dedicated to lovers to a Red holiday dedicated to family. I do have the best of families and will always celebrate their love.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY to Karston, Josiah and Alyssa and Heath

When I grow up...

The other day we were in the car and all of the kids were in the backseat playing and talking. They started discussing what they want to be when they grow up. Karston then asked his Dad what he wants to be when he grows up. His dad's response was this...

"An old man, that wears black knee high socks, shorts pulled up to my nipples, suspenders over my plaid shirt and a cane to lean on...."

The car was very quiet and then we heard our tiny little girl's voice say "That's crazy dad!" We all started laughing.

Stuck!

In an effort to avoid lugging back and forth the heavy toddler seat from our car to whomever may give Alyssa and I a ride now and then, we have been known to use the boys old booster seat. The only problem with this seat is that the seat belt does not come across Alyssa's body so she has figured out a way to wiggle around and get out of it. She loves to look out the back window no matter how dangerous it may be.

Yesterday was one of those days that I had to use the booster seat. I was taking her to the doctor and knew that it was a long enough drive that she would get restless, so I resigned myself to keep a close eye on her. I pulled the seat belt tight around her after fastening her in. Not even five minutes into the ride, she started to fuss and said "Mommy, I stuck!" I immediately thought oh no, she has gotten out of the seat belt and is now in the floor board or something. I looked into the back seat to find her still strapped in and tugging on the seat belt around her waist. Relieved, I told her that she was supposed to be "stuck" and that I would help her when we got to the doctor's office.

Lately, I have had some feelings of uneasy restlessness inside of me. Maybe it is the cold weather keeping us inside and maybe it is just the way that I tend to be. No matter what it is, I have felt the need to squirm. I want to get away on vacation, I want to see my family in Florida more than usual, I want to have some kind of final say on our house situation, I want to have a car so that I can have the option of going somewhere, anywhere.

In thinking of my daughter's words "Mommy, I stuck," I thought 'yep, so am I.' But then I realized that being "stuck" is what was keeping her safe. So I have decided to strap on my figurative seat belt and remain "Stuck" until we get where God is taking us.

So Close...

Here or There

It doesn't matter where

We will always be sisters...

In your new place

You will exhibit Grace

We will always be sisters...

No longer living on our upstairs floor

You will need to lock all your windows and screens

We will always be sisters.

Angie is the real poet in the family... check out her blog at Far From Home

Even when we lived an ocean apart, my sister and I were always close, but for the past few months we have been closer than we have been in fourteen years. We have lived in the same house again after all that time, and we didn't even have to share a room. Now she has a great opportunity in a new aprtment and she is moving away. Thankfully she will only be afew villages away (15 -20 min.)

While it was nice for me to have my sister around, I think my children will be most affected by this change. They have come to see her as more than just a fun Aunt, but also as a big sister.

Angie,

We send you off with our love, our support, and our reminder that you said the kid's are welcome to spend the night once a month. We will miss you here, so expect more phone calls, and more facebook messages to come your way.

Love,

Your Goodson family,

and Your sister,

Reesie and Family