Drea Wood

Category Archives: random

Just a few grams…

Written on 05/15/2013 by Dreawood in caleb, Owen, random, Reed, Taite

I use instagram A LOT – I think im slightly addicted to it :) – its so easy to use… and just fun. I enjoy posting every day snippets without the process of editing them or lugging around a lot of gear. I suppose its the lazy-mom way of capturing memories? or wait, not lazy… BUSY mom way of capturing memories.

So in short.
Here are a few grams ;-)

Afternoon snuggles with Reed while the other boys nap.
Ive been in the process of growing my bangs out btw, this is one way I keep them out of my face.

Lil’ Owen still loving his blankie – that he forever chews on.

Babywearing Reed at the park using a converted Didymos woven wrap.
I still prefer my BOBA over this tho…
The Didymos just allows for a higher ride, which helps with long wearing.
It however is a lot of fabric and can get hot.

Reed’s first time in the park sandbox :)
He wasn’t sure about it at first.

Our new shelves up in the school room, FREE from a friend.

This lil dude has fallen for my bed these days.
Refusing to sleep in his own.. but thankfully transferring easily at night.
I dont mind all that much… he is very sweet to look at.

Love my cuddles with Owen.

We love our creek :) – despite my getting poison Ivy on BOTH ankles recently.
I no longer go into the creek without my rainboots ;-)

The boys enjoying the Zaza Hammock

A place my kids often hang out :) – inbetween the house window and the deck.

A photo taken in the ladies bathroom prior to my husbands official “graduation” from the Academy.

Baby Reed at his well baby check up :)

& to end, more babywearing love. This was taken before ladies group a few weeks ago.
I had to take Reed with me this morning and I was walking him in the BOBA hoping he’d nap.

oh, and he did nap btw ;-)

Follow me on Instagram @dreawood

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Gathering thoughts – What is next?

Written on 05/06/2013 by Dreawood in family, ministry, random, struggles

It seems like its been ages since I actually posted a blog post with some real thought put into it. :)
The move and the birth of our 4th, among other things…. seem to have pushed the ability to blog away. Which is fine. There are seasons where this happens….

Our life right now is so busy and full of adjustments still.

Travis’ job is hard.

Between dealing with high risk situations, drugs, suicides, death and very late nights… not to mention the incredible amt of material he is having to learn and memorize with this new job… his ability to pour into us right now is difficult… which I am understanding about… but its never easy either. Hoping that all levels out soon. He realizes it, so that is always good. Its just learning to find new balance that takes time.

Between that, we are still unpacking boxes… finishing up the cleaning of our former home…

and at the same time organizing my business… which is so busy right now (Thankful but overwhelmed)….

Home schooling is on HOLD for a few weeks… as we figure things out and we have hopes of starting our new year in schooling this year earlier, July probably… so that we can take off some time this fall for a vacation…. maybe.

The transition into our new home has gone smoothly, I think… but we also greatly miss our former neighbors and as of now our new neighbors aren’t exactly “lovely….” – Lets just say, we will not be close and I am thankful their house is listed for sale. Enough said? :) Kay. You want to “love” those type of people and pray for their soul… but at the same time, it sure is hard… and a big part of you just wants them gone. Lets pray for their soul and a quick sale? ;-)

Travis and I will be graduating from the program we are in at our church.

I had debated if I should put it out there, what this program actually is… and after much thought I am totally convinced HIDING it any longer is pointless. I believe in being an open book and what we go through will ultimately in the end hopefully bless others and be a tool in ministry.

As many of you know, who have followed this blog for the last few years… you know that my husband resigned as Senior Pastor at our former church, West End Baptist in NE NC. You can read his resignation HERE.

He was asked to leave the church… for no real “biblical” reason… To elaborate he had deacons telling him they wish he didnt wear jeans… they wish he didn’t preach messages that “offended” people…. and that any problem ultimately was “HIS FAULT” even things that were not even related to what he did. Yea, it was pretty sad.

We found out later the church had a history of firing their pastors every few years… and while we do not know all the background information regarding all the situations before us… we do know that the reasoning for them wanting Travis’ gone, was not right… and I believe firmly they are reaping what they sow because of it. Which breaks our heart at the same time because we truly love and miss many of the people there…..

That being said. What seemed like such a BAD thing at the time… being kicked to the curb and left to find a way out… was in the end a great blessing.

We got into a program called City of Refuge at First Baptist Church Woodstock…. close to Atlanta, GA.

Lets just say… 100′s of Pastors apply every year… and for 2011 we were one of the last families chosen for that year… and I believe at the time they only had 9 families in the program. So to get in is huge…. at least for us it was.

They basically provided us a home… a refuge… a safe place… counsel…. community…. and the ability to be real… genuine and vulnerable for the 1st time EVER…. and as a Pastor and Pastors wife this was huge.

Here is a snippet off the church website that sums up what City of Refuge is:

Pastor Johnny observed, ” Christians are sometimes the worst about shooting their own wounded and then leaving them in the field to bleed to death.” He wanted the Body at First Woodstock to be different. He envisioned a ministry that would enable hurting ministers and their families to find hope and healing and so the City of Refuge Ministry was born.

To often in ministry the Pastor and his family are held to such high esteem, that you cant be real… at least that is how many churches make it… you have to uphold this “image” of perfection and strength… that being genuine to the people can be difficult. As a Pastors wife I felt very alone…. even though every sunday I was surrounded by people… I did not feel at home and I did not feel I was able to be myself…. even though I was in ways…. but in many ways I was not.

I hated the way we had to dress…. and how ritualistic our worship felt…. I felt trapped at times in our church… and what people found important drove me nuts….

Any how… we are all imperfect people with our own “stuff” – but one thing I wish those in the church would realize… especially these older baptist churches… is that their Pastor and his wife…. and their kids… are “normal” and “wounded” people too….

City of Refuge has changed our lives.

We are so thankful for it.

Our time in the program is drawing to an end soon…

I am going to miss it!!

… but at the same time I am so thankful for the journey through it… and thankful we are able to stay here for hopefully a very long time ;-) – but then again, you never know!

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Still unpacking

Written on 04/25/2013 by Dreawood in random

If you haven’t guessed we are still unpacking :)

I promise real pictures are to come.

I just want to get things set up first. Partly any way.

Ive made some good head way this week though… and heres hoping by next week ill post a tour for everyone. Although I have debated if thats wise or not? I remember for many years struggling with discontentment with what I had… and where we lived… up until now I always had small kitchens… I also for years lived in apartments or rentals that did not allow me the freedom to paint… or hang things… so you can imagine my envy that creep in when Id see blogs where people got to decorate and make a home their own… and I couldn’t.

So, I have debated if it is wise on my part in that regard, to put the photos up… because the last thing I want is to cause anyone else that same struggle I had years back.

So I dunno. We will see. I will say, we are incredibly blessed… and that I could never have dreamed we’d live in this house… it is a true blessing from the Lord and I am so thankful for it.

Throughout it we have remained debt free…. we are living within our means… and working hard to do so. Thankful for business picking up on my part :) – for my husbands job and a tight knit community in our town… we have been lavished with friendships and care.

Here is to unpacking lots more boxes :) – organizing the school room… oh how that needs work!!! hanging pictures… and hopefully getting into the swing of cooking again. I have this amazing kitchen now, time to utilize it!! :-D

If you want and haven’t yet, follow me on Instagram @dreawood. I post photos there often… and it is a lot easier for me to keep up with than the blog these days.

;-)

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Packed

Written on 04/08/2013 by Dreawood in random

We are doing more than just packing… we have got a jam-packed schedule right now. With my working more than usual, finishing up the boys schooling, Travis’ work schedule changing again (it does this every month), a huge gig this weekend with Boba, moving in the midst…. allergies and a baby who has learned to turn over to his back yet doesn’t seem to know how to get back to his tummy, resulting in more wakings than usual at night. Not cool btw :) – but I am glad he is rolling, he seems to enjoy it.

Despite all the crazies we have found time to just get out and enjoy the beautiful weather… Today was in the high 70′s – lower 80′s. Crazy!

Tomorrow we are actually taking a break though. Our neighbors have a lake house they use and we are going to join them for 2 days. Just to relax, let the kids enjoy a boat ride, fishing, exploring… should be fun! Although I am a tad nervous to see how Reed does sleeping some place besides his crib… if we’re up all night ill know not to travel again any time soon. ;-)

If I am away for a week though, its because life is just to hectic right now… we officially get to go into our new home April 15th! On the 16th and 17th we will have a move truck to help begin the process… and then again on the 24th we will have the move truck. We plan to do this in steps…. in hopes to make it a lil’ less overwhelming all at once :) – should be fun! I am excited.

& for fun… here are a few ideas I have for the house…

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Pleasing Mom… not Peers

Written on 01/17/2013 by Dreawood in caleb, motherhood, parneting, random

Well, I may fuel a fire here today and loose a reader or two but I just can’t help but speak up about this.

So yesterday I got a comment on the post I wrote about Caleb wanting to keep Reed through the night… and how we let him…etc..etc… you can read it HERE.

I knew there would be someone(or more) who thought we weren’t “right” in allowing our son to watch his baby brother during the night… but in all honesty it surprises me a bit that someone would think we are SELFISH for doing this.

Heres the comment:

“You know, I just don’t think this is right. You are the parent, not your son. It’s great that he’s so interested but he needs to be a boy – not take on any of the responsibilities for an infant. You and your husband are being selfish. I think there are many reasons he may be asking to help out as much as he does, perhaps because he has seen you struggling which worries him so he feels like he needs to take some of your burdens to ease his fears? Either way, I don’t think it’s right. I appreciate that this is your family and that you’re making decisions you think are right for you – but you put it out there and I have been feeling very strongly about how much you rely on Caleb that I thought I’d comment.”

Now everyone is welcome to their opinion…. but I am just as welcome to “comment back” on them here.

… I was going to go through a VERY long list of “how we are so ‘NOT’ selfish” as parents but I don’t feel the need to defend myself in that way. I know very well the many sacrifices I’ve made for my children and I know I am far from “selfish” in regards to being their mother.

.. but what struck me so much in this comment more than the selfish remark.. was the remark on how we should let Caleb be, A BOY… and how he should not have to take on ANY responsibility for an infant.”

…. now maybe Im just different in my thinking here… but whats more important… teaching a child to grow up and play and do what “they want to.”…. or teaching a child to serve? and even more so, serve willingly!

That being said, Caleb obviously is aware that his mother struggles some days. Especially the 1st few months of Reed’s life, we were very open with our children in letting them know mommy was extremely tired… and was having a hard time. I for one am not one to “put up a face” just for the sake of “pretending im ok.” – We dont want our children to know “everything” and they dont… but I so desire for our children to realize the world does not revolve around “them” and that they need to give too.

For weeks now Caleb has been begging to keep Reed at night. We obviously did not allow this because we knew that Caleb needed his rest and that it was more important for him to sleep, than to help in this area, even though he wanted to do it.

Each passing week though he’d ask again… and again..

“Pleaseeee can I pleaseeee sleep with baby Reed?”

He truly desired to do this and he was elated and so so excited when we finally gave in and said “Sure, why not.”

He grinned from ear to ear and could not wait for bed time that evening. Most night times Caleb protest bed time, wanting to “stay up a little later.” Not this particular night :) – he was eager and ready to sleep in Reed’s room.

We never asked Caleb to do this.

We never forced it on him.

If anything we discouraged it. :)

… but to me, why not let your child who truly desires to “try” something, try it… there is no harm in it at all… and the outcome of him doing it resulted in Caleb being filled with a sense of accomplishment and joy. He was so excited to talk about his “night with Reed.”

I loved hearing about it and seeing him so happy to serve.

Now, in case some “thought” I was going to go with what Caleb wanted… we will not “go on a rotation” haha… While Id love full nights of sleep, I realize Caleb is only 8 years old and his body is growing and he needs rest. If a few weeks pass by and he wants to do it again, ill let him. It will have to happen on nights he doesn’t have school the following day :) – but either way, I am not going to discourage my child from wanting to serve and help out, especially when he truly loves too.

To me our society is so bent on “doing” for their children and forget that children need to be trained and taught to “do” as well…

I am very proud of Caleb.

He is 8 years old and he can do more than most kids his age. So often I see children his age who care about nothing but themselves and what THEY want…. what will benefit them and they could honestly care less to help, unless “helping” results in “a prize” or “payment.”

Thankful he is turning out to be such an honorable young man.

Mark 10:44-45
….and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Mark 10:44-45

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