Thursday, October 30, 2014
Five Years
Five years ago, I was busy taking my engagement photos. Now, I'm busy sewing hair accessories for my two girls Halloween costumes! It blows my mind how fast this half a decade has gone. Thanks to my good friend, Skyler Glass (https://www.facebook.com/ttlookingglassphotography), I was able to recreate some of our engagement photos. As exciting as my engagement was, especially only a few months before the wedding, nothing compares to the fullness I have with my girls. I look forward to our next photo shoot in 5 years...
Saturday, October 4, 2014
Just One Grape - The Power of Consequences
This is a story I wrote out in my English 101 class, as a Sophomore at PBU (now Cairn University). It is a true story, and one that I remember rather clearly! It was a shaping moment in my life.
As a young child, I had an obsession over grapes, I loved them and would choose them over candy, if given the choice. The one day I was grocery shopping with my parents and older brother. I disliked shopping and was rather bitter to be in the store. I was following my mother closely when I saw the grape stand. They had my favorite colored ones, the green kind, and I was so excited of the possibility to get some. During this time, my family was rather poor, and fruit was a rare treat. I begged my mom to buy some green grapes for me, but she claimed not to have enough money to buy them and everything else she needed. After hearing her, I became even more better to be stuck in the store. As we moved on I noticed a lone green grape that had rolled free of the bags, and had come to a rest right at the edge of the stand. The lone grape was just in reach of my little greedy fingers. With a sly smile I took the grape and put in in the pocket of my jacket.
Once we were done shopping, we headed home in our maroon van. I was all the way in the back seat, with my brother in the middle row, and my parents in front. I sat there with my precious grape and contemplated the perfect time to pop the grape into my mouth. I only had one grape so I wanted to make sure I would enjoy the tasty morsel. As I sat there debating when to eat my little green grape, my older brother turned around and saw what I held in my hand. "Give me one!" He whispered harshly. I pleaded with him, "No! I only have one!" With that JJ turned around in his seat and announced to my parents, "MOM! DAD! Kristy has a g grape!" My parents were silent for what felt like eternity. Then my Dad calmly asked me where I had gotten my precious treasure. I confessed my sin slowly and painfully.
Once we arrived home, my father turned to me and said, "go to your room, I will be there in a second." This of course meant that a spanking by a leather belt was on the way. I went to my room crying out for Jesus to come back quickly, but God thought it better that I reap the consequence for my sin. A moment later, my father arrived and I had my spanking, which was painful as usual. As my dad gave me a reassuring hug, I was relieved that the punishment was over. But my punishment was far from over... Turning to me with the green grape in his hand, my father asked me, "You know what we have to do now? We are going back to the store and you are going to apologize for stealing this grape."
That was the longest drive I have ever been on... We arrived at the grocery store, and sought out a manager. I will never forget the confused look on the ladies face, as I handed her that single lousy grape. Nor will I forget the question she asked me, "So... are you ever going to steal again?" I turned to her with a tear stained face, wishing nothing more but to sink into the floor, and sobbed out "NO!!!" And you know what? I kept my word.
*** I know there are a lot of opinions on spanking, and 'shaming' your kids as discipline. My parents had a very loving approach to spanking, they never hit me in anger, I was never afraid of them. spanking was not just an action, but a discussion. I learned that I would always have a consequence for my actions, and as in this case, those consequences would eventually be out in the real world, not the privacy of my home. Spanking taught me to think before acting, not out of fear but out of respect for others.
As a young child, I had an obsession over grapes, I loved them and would choose them over candy, if given the choice. The one day I was grocery shopping with my parents and older brother. I disliked shopping and was rather bitter to be in the store. I was following my mother closely when I saw the grape stand. They had my favorite colored ones, the green kind, and I was so excited of the possibility to get some. During this time, my family was rather poor, and fruit was a rare treat. I begged my mom to buy some green grapes for me, but she claimed not to have enough money to buy them and everything else she needed. After hearing her, I became even more better to be stuck in the store. As we moved on I noticed a lone green grape that had rolled free of the bags, and had come to a rest right at the edge of the stand. The lone grape was just in reach of my little greedy fingers. With a sly smile I took the grape and put in in the pocket of my jacket.
Once we were done shopping, we headed home in our maroon van. I was all the way in the back seat, with my brother in the middle row, and my parents in front. I sat there with my precious grape and contemplated the perfect time to pop the grape into my mouth. I only had one grape so I wanted to make sure I would enjoy the tasty morsel. As I sat there debating when to eat my little green grape, my older brother turned around and saw what I held in my hand. "Give me one!" He whispered harshly. I pleaded with him, "No! I only have one!" With that JJ turned around in his seat and announced to my parents, "MOM! DAD! Kristy has a g grape!" My parents were silent for what felt like eternity. Then my Dad calmly asked me where I had gotten my precious treasure. I confessed my sin slowly and painfully.
Once we arrived home, my father turned to me and said, "go to your room, I will be there in a second." This of course meant that a spanking by a leather belt was on the way. I went to my room crying out for Jesus to come back quickly, but God thought it better that I reap the consequence for my sin. A moment later, my father arrived and I had my spanking, which was painful as usual. As my dad gave me a reassuring hug, I was relieved that the punishment was over. But my punishment was far from over... Turning to me with the green grape in his hand, my father asked me, "You know what we have to do now? We are going back to the store and you are going to apologize for stealing this grape."
That was the longest drive I have ever been on... We arrived at the grocery store, and sought out a manager. I will never forget the confused look on the ladies face, as I handed her that single lousy grape. Nor will I forget the question she asked me, "So... are you ever going to steal again?" I turned to her with a tear stained face, wishing nothing more but to sink into the floor, and sobbed out "NO!!!" And you know what? I kept my word.
*** I know there are a lot of opinions on spanking, and 'shaming' your kids as discipline. My parents had a very loving approach to spanking, they never hit me in anger, I was never afraid of them. spanking was not just an action, but a discussion. I learned that I would always have a consequence for my actions, and as in this case, those consequences would eventually be out in the real world, not the privacy of my home. Spanking taught me to think before acting, not out of fear but out of respect for others.
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