Drea Wood

So many read

Written on 10/12/2011 by Dreawood in random

I have wanted for some time to figure out a better way of keeping up with those who read my blog. I think I do very well at replying to emails, although at times, they get lost – pushed back by new ones, read, but not replied to… which is always a total accident… so if this has happened, I apologize. I don’t mean anything of it :) With 1,000′s of readers – it is hard to keep up. I honestly don’t know how those with MEGA blogs do it. Mine is far from that. But its plenty honestly.

I thought that maybe having a list of those who read, somewhere on my blog – that I would have a visual reminder of those who do visit… and also it be a great way to help connect those here, together.

I hope that makes sense.

Its late.

In short.. I created this button…

& if you click it… you can read up as to how it works.

Its easy really… and the button will make more sense if you click it.

Thanks those who have already signed the list – I look forward to visiting your blogs in time.

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Want Owen’s Carseat?

Written on 10/12/2011 by Dreawood in sheheartsit

Wanted to give a quick shout out here.
Some of you already know how much I love Owens carseat.

It comes from a company called Sunshine Kids… however recently they revamped their business and brand… So they are now called DIONO.

Owen is the poster baby on their new website. You can check it out at www.diono.com - check him out in the fun blue Radian. Its crazy how small he looks in the photo ;-) – as it was taken many months ago.

My friend Aliesha back in NC, who writes for She {hearts} It gets to give away a WINNERS CHOICE Diono Radian. This carseat fits newborn-120lbs, and has a 10 year life span, years longer than other seats. So if you have a baby, toddler or even kid in a booster, check out Aliesha’s review on DIONO. Giveaway is open to INTERNATIONAL readers. So anyone can enter :)

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2 in 18 mo, not bad.

Written on 10/11/2011 by Dreawood in Owen

As you can see from this photo…

Owen protested sleep throughout the day.
I had a feeling after the struggle, it was due to an ear infection. He has had major drainage. He finally zonked out in bed with me this afternoon, but not for long. He woke up in a horrible mood, refusing to eat… and showing clear signs of a possible throat infection too.

So I decided to take him to the Minute Clinic at CVS.
Since our Dr’s office here was closed by this point.

I got there and was in position 6…

Lets just say, this place is not fast :) – but at least it was fully equip with toys and food! A lot better waiting there than an ER. I got there at just after 5pm, and we left around 7:30pm… yea… not cool :) – but at least we figured out what was wrong.

And I was right, he did have an ear infection.

He has only had 2 now, since birth. So not to bad.

It must be terribly uncomfortable for babies, because he refused sleep again tonight… and was up til almost 10pm with us in the living room.

Late night training with the remote ... oh boy.

& please forgive the poor quality photos.

Travis’ cell phone took these… as I was not in the mood to break out the cam. :)

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Dealing

Written on 10/10/2011 by Dreawood in COR, Owen, scripture, struggles

Today we dealt with a sick little baby, again.

We know the reason Owen has been battling so many colds, is due to the large amount of children he comes in contact with at our church. This church is 10x the size of our former church, so you can imagine the exposure of germs being up there. I could let it bother me, thinking about people bringing their sick kids to church, but I am trying to give them the benefit of the doubt, in hopes they just didn’t know their kids were sick… which I sure can happen. Or should I say, didn’t know their kids were contagious…

Either way, Owens been miserable today :(

He stayed at about 100.5 temp all day, so not to bad – but he was really stuffy. I don’t think he ate anything really, except for a bite or two of an apple, piece or two of a brownie (yes he even turned down sweets!), and a spoonful of yogurt. He basically lived off the bottle today. Which is fine.

It has been a long, yet productive day. I think? :)

Now that the kids are in bed, I really just want to lay in bed & watch Flash Point with Travis. Great show btw :)

Tomorrow Travis will be gone all day… for an interview.
Might mean a possible job??? We can only hope.
Our severance runs out the end of this month.

That in itself brings some emotion.

For some reason this weekend I was missing our home. Again. But in a different way.

I miss our big yard… while there, I hated the openness of it, here I miss it. Funny how that works. I miss my laundry line, our sweet neighbor Mrs. Madeline who our boys adored, I miss my friends, the small town feel, although I honestly do love being in a larger city… theres just parts of it you miss. I miss just our routine of how things were… but know what is to come is going to be amazing.

I fight feelings these days of bitterness towards those who were so hurtful. Who have NO CLUE. I often times want to defend myself, and make known so much. I have such a tugging in me to stay angry with those who did such wrong towards our family… especially towards my husband… and I would be lying if I told you I was never tempted to write a letter or two expressing my anger… but I know these feelings of hatred and wrath are so far from where Christ wants me!

“For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 12 Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous. 13 Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters,[b] if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 15 Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.

16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.” – 1 John 3:11-16

Does it upset me to think of what has happened?

Absolutely…

Would I have chosen this?

Probably not.

Even though there was so much about our former situation I did not like, I was very content and happy with our lives there… it was so sad to see it taken away.

But I know to be angry…

To hate.

To think evil against those who were supposed brothers and sisters in Christ (although it makes you wonder), is wrong of me.

It is just such evidence of my own sinful nature at work… but thank the Lord for his grace and mercy.

At the end of day… as my kids are tucked safely in bed… and I look around at a beautiful home… despite all of whats happened… it could be so much worse, despite the hardship, the Lord is so good. He is faithful. He is providing our every need. Teaching us so much!! Through the amazing preaching from our Pastor, to the worship (wow, let me tell you, so freeing!!! The music and leadership makes you want to move, its probably the most free Ive ever felt in church), to the ladies bible study I just joined (thanks to this sweet friend), to the amazing neighbor the Lord has provided me with, who I see becoming very close to. A great network of other Pastors and their wives who are struggling as well, but through the groups the Lord provides healing. My continuing friendships in NC, despite the distance… for the ability to focus on our marriage and not the ministering of others, The Lord is doing a great work… and for that I am so humbled.