As most of you know, Michael and I both have new jobs where we are learning right along with the kids. Our teaching assignments are a little different than they were at Wall, but they are also great opportunities for us both to try something new and different! I had some GT planning and 8th grade technology today, while Michael got to try and tame some Pre-Kers in PE! :) He had several other grades too, but the Pre-K was the highlight, or challenge!
Being a coach's wife instead of being a coach myself, at least until the spring when I help with track, is different. It's good and I am not as busy, but I do miss athletics and being in and out of the gym and going outside to run. Now I spend lots of time just waiting around on Michael to be done. -Which is okay, because he loves what he's doing, and I'm all for that! ... Just seems strange because this time last year, I was telling Michael how I just couldn't wait to have kids so I would have some babies to keep me company & busy during football season while he was gone so much. We found out we were expecting Maddex and I was so excited that was coming true this year. I would be about to have Maddex, and then taking him to games to watch daddy coach. -Crazy how life changes! So, even though I've ironically found myself sitting at home alone again this year while the hubby's at football, I also have found the simple truth that we WERE BLESSED with a baby and I AM a mommy, and that has to serve as a comfort. I would love to have Maddex here to take to games, play with, or even change his dirty diapers, but God had another plan for us and we will just believe that plan will take us wherever God wills! -Plus, we know Maddex will be watching daddy every Friday night until we get to see him again! (& that's LOTS of football for him to learn about, & critique!) :)
SpRiNg TiMe
Monday, August 22, 2011
Monday, August 15, 2011
Maddex's 2 months in Heaven
Maddex, Mommy & Daddy love you so much and you'll always be our sweet baby boy!
Mdx, you blessed and forever changed both of our lives on this date, 2 months ago and we are so thankful for you. You've taught us how to truly love, to be closer to God, and to have great hope for our futures and holding you again in Heaven one day.
Words cannot express how blessed, thankful, and honored we are to have such supportive family members and friends surrounding us. THANK YOU ALL! God has put all of you amazing people in our lives for times like this; you've supported us, comforted us, and encouraged us and that's just what God does for each of us as well. ... We couldn't ask for more than that!
Mdx, you blessed and forever changed both of our lives on this date, 2 months ago and we are so thankful for you. You've taught us how to truly love, to be closer to God, and to have great hope for our futures and holding you again in Heaven one day.
Words cannot express how blessed, thankful, and honored we are to have such supportive family members and friends surrounding us. THANK YOU ALL! God has put all of you amazing people in our lives for times like this; you've supported us, comforted us, and encouraged us and that's just what God does for each of us as well. ... We couldn't ask for more than that!
Saturday, August 6, 2011
"Stronger"
There is an incredibly beautiful and inspirational song by Mandisa that I feel has carried us through the past few months and would love to share with you. Sometimes, you hear a song and it seems like it's just describing your life's story at that point and time. -That's what this song has done for me. If you haven't heard it, I definitely recommend everyone checking it out on KLOVE, other Christian stations, or just looking up the lyrics.
... " When the waves are taking you under, hold on just a little bit longer, He knows that this is gonna make you stronger; the pain ain't gonna last forever, and things can only get better, believe me this is gonna make you stronger! " ...
This song and I seem to have a history, and so I think of Maddex every time I hear it, and it encourages me. The hospital where I see my doctor is amazing; they always have a christian station playing while you wait to be seen. This particular day, was June 14, 2011. As Michael and I sat there waiting, it seemed to take forever for the doctor to come in that day. "Stronger" by Mandisa came on the radio and as I listened to the words, I kept thinking: "God, why is this song playing right now? Why it telling me that this is going to make me stronger? Is this supposed to be preparing us for something?" ... I was feeling a little uneasy about it all, but I didn't want to let Michael see that so I just listened and waited. Moments later, when our doctor came in to get Maddex's heartbeat, we found out that there was no longer one, and he had already gone to Heaven to be with his maker. I really do believe that God used this song to prepare me for the unexpected and to let me know it was going to be okay, and I should just trust in Him. Now, every time I hear it, I think of that excruciating time in our lives, but I also think about how God was already taking care of us and Maddex, and about His promise that this too will make us stronger.
Oddly enough, about 2 weeks later my good friend Sarah sent me a text about a song that reminded her of our family and what we were going through; she wanted me to check it out because she knew it would be an encouragement to us. ... Guess what? -Same song! ... I told her the story of God using that song in our lives, and it's so cool that she was sharing it with us in the same way.
It's just a reminder that as tough as things may get in our lives, whether it be loss, work, health issues, relationships, or whatever else we may struggle with, God knows that this is going to make us stronger.
I feel so blessed that we all share this same hope in Him!
... " When the waves are taking you under, hold on just a little bit longer, He knows that this is gonna make you stronger; the pain ain't gonna last forever, and things can only get better, believe me this is gonna make you stronger! " ...
This song and I seem to have a history, and so I think of Maddex every time I hear it, and it encourages me. The hospital where I see my doctor is amazing; they always have a christian station playing while you wait to be seen. This particular day, was June 14, 2011. As Michael and I sat there waiting, it seemed to take forever for the doctor to come in that day. "Stronger" by Mandisa came on the radio and as I listened to the words, I kept thinking: "God, why is this song playing right now? Why it telling me that this is going to make me stronger? Is this supposed to be preparing us for something?" ... I was feeling a little uneasy about it all, but I didn't want to let Michael see that so I just listened and waited. Moments later, when our doctor came in to get Maddex's heartbeat, we found out that there was no longer one, and he had already gone to Heaven to be with his maker. I really do believe that God used this song to prepare me for the unexpected and to let me know it was going to be okay, and I should just trust in Him. Now, every time I hear it, I think of that excruciating time in our lives, but I also think about how God was already taking care of us and Maddex, and about His promise that this too will make us stronger.
Oddly enough, about 2 weeks later my good friend Sarah sent me a text about a song that reminded her of our family and what we were going through; she wanted me to check it out because she knew it would be an encouragement to us. ... Guess what? -Same song! ... I told her the story of God using that song in our lives, and it's so cool that she was sharing it with us in the same way.
It's just a reminder that as tough as things may get in our lives, whether it be loss, work, health issues, relationships, or whatever else we may struggle with, God knows that this is going to make us stronger.
I feel so blessed that we all share this same hope in Him!
Sunday, July 17, 2011
New Beginnings
God really does work in mysterious ways! ...
We've learned more and more about that in many different areas of our lives in the past 5 weeks. As most of you know, we were happily coaching & teaching in Wall, Tx. If you don't know much about that place, or have never heard of it, it's amazing!!! We were both given the opportunity to work, learn, and grow there right after graduating from college and I couldn't imagine a better place to start our careers. We've made many great, life-long friends in our time there, as well as growing to love our students & athletes that we were blessed to coach and teach. The community welcomed us into their 'family' from the moment we came in, and we could never express how much we love them and how much they mean to us.
But, as much as we did love Wall, and always will, we were given job opportunities back around our hometowns in Mason, Tx. We weren't expecting to go anywhere, and definitely weren't looking to leave, but we feel that God has opened a door for us. We had a chance to move back home to our families, and that is what really means the most to us right now with losing our sweet baby Maddex. As much as we've have been supported by everyone, it's always encouraging & strengthening to be around your family. So, we've have made that incredibly hard decision, but we are looking forward to being in Mason with Michael coaching and me taking a 'coaching break' and just teaching. We'll be so much closer and will have the chance to watch our little cousins play sports, be close to family, ride horses, and take pictures (for me). So instead of finding us in the middle of the cotton fields, you can now look for us in the Texas hill country!
We pray that God will bless our decision and our 'new beginning'.
We've learned more and more about that in many different areas of our lives in the past 5 weeks. As most of you know, we were happily coaching & teaching in Wall, Tx. If you don't know much about that place, or have never heard of it, it's amazing!!! We were both given the opportunity to work, learn, and grow there right after graduating from college and I couldn't imagine a better place to start our careers. We've made many great, life-long friends in our time there, as well as growing to love our students & athletes that we were blessed to coach and teach. The community welcomed us into their 'family' from the moment we came in, and we could never express how much we love them and how much they mean to us.
But, as much as we did love Wall, and always will, we were given job opportunities back around our hometowns in Mason, Tx. We weren't expecting to go anywhere, and definitely weren't looking to leave, but we feel that God has opened a door for us. We had a chance to move back home to our families, and that is what really means the most to us right now with losing our sweet baby Maddex. As much as we've have been supported by everyone, it's always encouraging & strengthening to be around your family. So, we've have made that incredibly hard decision, but we are looking forward to being in Mason with Michael coaching and me taking a 'coaching break' and just teaching. We'll be so much closer and will have the chance to watch our little cousins play sports, be close to family, ride horses, and take pictures (for me). So instead of finding us in the middle of the cotton fields, you can now look for us in the Texas hill country!
We pray that God will bless our decision and our 'new beginning'.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
1 Month!
1 month ago today, we were blessed to give birth to our perfect little angel Maddex. WOW, how our lives have & continue to change since then. It seems strange to think of it as his 'birthday' because those are usually celebrations of life, and Maddex didn't have that here on Earth, but it is the 'birth' of his welcoming into Heaven, and of Michael and I becoming parents. It's a sad day, but also an amazing day, because we are parents to a perfect son, a perfect child, a perfect gift from God and we know that will help us to be even stronger, more appreciative parents when we have more children here on Earth.
Baby Maddex, we love you and miss you more than you can imagine, but you are always & forever in our hearts! Thank you for teaching us so much about faith, hope, & love in such a short amount of time!
Baby Maddex, we love you and miss you more than you can imagine, but you are always & forever in our hearts! Thank you for teaching us so much about faith, hope, & love in such a short amount of time!
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Our Journey
The past few weeks for the McLeods, and their families, have been quite a roller-coaster. As we were awaiting the arrival of our first child, Maddex, we found ourselves in the most difficult situation of our lives thus far. We went in for our 6 & 1/2 month check-up and couldn't find Maddex's heartbeat. A sonogram informed us that he was no longer with us, and our lives seemed to unravel. So many months of planning, preparation, excitement, and now it was all changed. We did what we had to do, which was give birth to our sweet baby boy knowing that we couldn't take him home, because he was already at Home in Heaven. We never got to hear his cries, see his eyes open, or watch him take a breath, but we did experience the greatest blessing and miracle of life that we've ever seen from God in our little boy.
We have learned that burrying a child is one of the hardest things to do, but for us, we have the certainty that our sweet baby is in Heaven, and that's a comfort knowing that he's in the arms of Jesus. I recently read on a blog of a family that went through a similar situation, "how amazing is it that when your son opened his eyes for the first time, the face he got to see was Jesus!?!" ... WOW, I thought, that is incredible and better than anything we could've ever given him here on Earth. With that said, it is still so hard to not think about him not being here, or still growing in my belly, and hard not to think of what might have been. All we can rest on and trust in, is that God has an amazing plan for our family, and Maddex was a huge part of that plan, and always will be. Our trust, hope, faith, and strength is in Him and he will see us through.
Support, encouragement, & comfort! - We've had no lack of those at any point! We, without a doubt, have the most amazing families, friends, and communities that a family could ask for. So much support and encouragement has been given to us through visits, cards, gifts, food, donations, love, and prayers that we could never express the blessings and gratitude that have been poured out for us. We thank you all so much for that, we pray God will bless you in return, and we love you!
Blessings! - Our first blessing was receiving baby Maddex, definitely one of the biggest of our lives, but we've also received another huge one because of him. ... After years and months of thinking about it, Michael made the best decision of his life by giving himself to God in baptism, on Father's Day, just 2 days after we said goodbye to our precious son. He says it's all because of Maddex, and that is the lesson that he taught his Daddy. His faith is amazing, and has helped carry me in many instances over the past few weeks. We are growing together in faith, hope, and love, and that is truly a blessing from God!
We have learned that burrying a child is one of the hardest things to do, but for us, we have the certainty that our sweet baby is in Heaven, and that's a comfort knowing that he's in the arms of Jesus. I recently read on a blog of a family that went through a similar situation, "how amazing is it that when your son opened his eyes for the first time, the face he got to see was Jesus!?!" ... WOW, I thought, that is incredible and better than anything we could've ever given him here on Earth. With that said, it is still so hard to not think about him not being here, or still growing in my belly, and hard not to think of what might have been. All we can rest on and trust in, is that God has an amazing plan for our family, and Maddex was a huge part of that plan, and always will be. Our trust, hope, faith, and strength is in Him and he will see us through.
Support, encouragement, & comfort! - We've had no lack of those at any point! We, without a doubt, have the most amazing families, friends, and communities that a family could ask for. So much support and encouragement has been given to us through visits, cards, gifts, food, donations, love, and prayers that we could never express the blessings and gratitude that have been poured out for us. We thank you all so much for that, we pray God will bless you in return, and we love you!
Blessings! - Our first blessing was receiving baby Maddex, definitely one of the biggest of our lives, but we've also received another huge one because of him. ... After years and months of thinking about it, Michael made the best decision of his life by giving himself to God in baptism, on Father's Day, just 2 days after we said goodbye to our precious son. He says it's all because of Maddex, and that is the lesson that he taught his Daddy. His faith is amazing, and has helped carry me in many instances over the past few weeks. We are growing together in faith, hope, and love, and that is truly a blessing from God!
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