IT WAS ALL WORTH IT

IT WAS ALL WORTH IT

This is in memory of Grandpa Vaughn, the gifted poet. He died when Luke was 5 months old.

When you spent quality time camping with Nana and Papa and quality time with your grandparents and great grandparents, IT WAS ALL WORTH IT.

When we did field trips, trips to the park because you just couldn’t go any further, baseball, trip to Colorado, prom, dances, Koinonia, horse farms, homeschool art days, piano lessons, living history days, play days, days hanging out of a tree to finish school.  Days dressed as Robert E Lee or King Arthur, finishing school, IT WAS ALL WORTH IT.

When Joshua taught you how to read at 4, IT WAS ALL WORTH IT.

When you just cried not to do school and ALL you wanted to read and study about was horses, IT WAS ALL WORTH IT.

When we spent a ton of money, hours and time at the ballfield, IT WAS ALL WORTH IT.

When a lot of time was spent on editing photos, making Gatorade, hot chocolate, first aid baseball kit, unlimited tiger balm and all those homemade cookies for baseball, IT WAS ALL WORTH IT.

When we were sneered and questioned, because we chose for our family a different path with homeschooling, IT WAS ALL WORTH IT.

When I was asked unnecessary questions and grilled about test scores, socialization, curriculum and how much school we actually did, IT WAS ALL WORTH IT.

When there were ups and downs with baseball and you weren’t sure if you wanted to keep going, IT WAS ALL WORTH IT.

When you were so shy coming to Koinonia and now you have this group of Godly young men that you will be in contact with for a very long time, IT WAS ALL WORTH IT.

When I got nervous because your facilitators wanted to talk to me about you.  Come to find out you had them in stitches and they had to take a break from class, because they were laughing so hard from something you said, IT WAS ALL WORTH IT.

When we constantly carried around fresh carrots and apples “just in case” we saw horsies to give them treats, IT WAS ALL WORTH IT.

When we took all those extra trips to the Oak Mtn State Park, just to visit the Horsies with all the giggles to feed them treats, IT WAS ALL WORTH IT.

When you weren’t sure if you wanted to do classes and not only did you do them but you are graduating with honors, IT WAS ALL WORTH IT.

When you BEGGED to do PHYSICS, so you could avoid Brit Lit and College Writing.  You not only did well but your teacher and we are so very proud of you, IT WAS ALL WORTH IT.

When you came down the steps, shaking to tell me you wanted to accept Jesus and make him Lord of your life, IT WAS ALL WORTH IT.

When you weren’t sure if you wanted to tackle college classes at the same time and slaving from 7 am to midnight, and you were able to do that, do amazing and juggle baseball, IT WAS ALL WORTH IT.

You see son.  Just like a scale for our weight, test scores, numbers and grades don’t define us. It doesn’t define the person that we know that you are.  It doesn’t define that we know your character. You are genuine, look for the best in people, loyal, dependable, funny, and discerning with a quiet and gentle spirit.  It doesn’t judge your walk with the Lord.  We are thankful that you have done well, not only pushed to graduate with honors but just remember your identity in Christ.  He is your rock.  He is your salvation. Stay focused. Stay grounded. Stay in the word and in prayer. Stay steadfast.

We love you so very much and are so very proud of you.

A 6 year olds dream part 5

If you have been following, I am doing a series on allowing your kids to follow their passions.  In part 1, I talked about Are you Cultivating, encouraging or Discouraging?? 
     In part 2, I talked about our son's dream coming full circle!
     In part 3, I continued my discussion on what he had done next and how his passions had expanded!
     In part 4, I talked about His excitement for his display, making the local news and his continued work with the Titanic! 

Since it's the 105th anniversary of the Titanic and the 20th anniversary of the 1997 Titanic film by James Cameron, I thought I would give you an update of what's happened and how his life has come full circle! Not only is this HUGE but it's monumental!

First of all, Joshua did do his display again at our local library.  It's better, more improved and has even different things added to it.  He put a tremendous amount of thought and effort into it.

THEN, About a year and a half ago, Joshua heard about A Titanic Gathering in Belfast holding a convention in Belfast, Ireland in April 2017.  He asked if I wanted to go, which was so sweet of him.  I did consider it but decided it was best if I didn't for more than one reason.  He really pushed ahead to go and even met up with a friend that he's known for a while through his Titanic groups.  He got everything ready to go and left April 8th to fly into London, England UK.  

He arrived early in the morning of the 9th in London, England, and began his Titanic tour.  He toured some of London and then he and a friend (a fellow Titaniac) took a train from London to Southampton, UK.  Southampton is the beginning point of the Titanic's voyage and the engineers and many of the crew were from there.  He will spend a couple of days there and then fly to Cobh, Southern Ireland (used to be Queenstown).  (The second stop was Cherborg, France but they were unable to fit that into their trip this time).  They will spend a couple of days in Cobh and then take a train, 7.5 hours up to Belfast, Northern Ireland/United Kingdom.  He will spend the remaining time there.  He will be with people he's met in person and people he's only met online.  He will be amongst about 150 survivor families and so many.  We are utterly shocked at how well known he is in the Titanic community.  He's one of THE leading upcoming young leaders in this field.  We encouraged him and told him that he might as well, while he's single, not tied down and is a little more flexible.  

So, young mom's with little ones: I know you are going to get discouraged. TIRED of hearing about the same thing over and over and over.  You are going to WANT for them to MOVE on........please talk about something else.  You will be frustrated and worn out.  Let me encourage you.....Your children are only young for a blink.  It will go by in a flash.  I miss Joshua coming in, excited about his schooling and a new book or topic.  

I MISS music in my home.  Eventhough it was SO hard to listen to the SAME songs for 6-8 hours a day on the piano, I MISS it.  He's grown now at 23.  He works fulltime, 3rd shift for a great company but we don't see him much anymore.  Sometimes I only see him for 5 minutes or so. This is THE first time I have missed any major thing dealing with the Titanic.  Not really feeling sorry for myself,  I just miss when he was younger and we had more time.  He's grown now and we are enjoying watching him flourish and blossom.  I am trying to enjoy all I can before a sweet young lady comes along and captures his heart one day.  

(our family on April 8th getting our last hugs and goodbyes to Joshua before he left for his trip)

Here's a photo of Joshua IN Thompson's Dry Dock in Belast, Ireland.  This is where the Titanic was built.  He's there on the 105th Anniversary of Her sinking.

So from one mom to another, TAKE A DEEP BREATH!!! SLOWWWW DOWWWWWWWWNNNN.  Please!  Savor it.  Say NO.  Don't be TOO busy.  Play more. Say No.  Know your boundaries. Read more.  Turn off the computer, Facebook and/or the TV.  Forgive more.  Love more.  Enjoy all of your time, good and bad.  Because one day, you'll be where I am.  The below video explains where I am right now.    

His baby brother is graduating and this phase of our life is coming to an end.  I am trying to enjoy their moments as much as possible because I don't want to miss anything.  If you are too busy trying to "keep up with everyone else", you will miss it.  You will blink and it will be gone and over.  You will miss the little moments.  The funny moments.  The moments they need you to comfort them and not someone else.  The "hey mom" moments.  I know I don't want to miss it.  

UPDATE: February 2025: Our son's dream and passion has come full circle.  He now has a few of his pieces from his collection on Display at the Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge.  More of his pieces will go up at a later time.  Parents: you NEVER know looking back where that passion will end up going.  If you would like to visit his website, you can go to Titanic Legacy and look at the rest of his collection.  We're so very proud of him!!