Family Drama

We spent a terrific weekend down in KC, getting to meet my new niece and get some snuggle time in. Shawn is smitten with her. Malachi especially loves holding her. It was so fun to get away and have time together and also to FINALLY meet miss Brienna.

As much as I'd love to share some of the 300+ photos that I've taken this past weekend, we have had a bit of a family emergency/situation arise that I am trying to take care of before it spirals even more out of control. As this is the season of cheer and love, we have tried to extend that to others, even those who bluntly state how much they hate us. Something happened last night and I'm not sure of all what it was, because I was working on supper and baking. However, it appears that a member of our family was incredibly unkind to Shawn and said some terrible, hurtful things. This was VERY apparent when I saw him after the phone call. Feeling hurt for him, I hugged him and we talked about what was going on.

For about 10 years now, there has been a HUGE elephant in the room. Some MAJOR family drama that has never subsided, despite the efforts on either side. We've talked to counselors and even laywers while we were creating our will together. Through all the years of "leaving the door open" and extending a loving heart and invitations to birthday parties or special celebrations, Shawn and I are at a decision point in OUR lives that the hurt must end. And, while it is hard to cut ties without other people trying to judge or take sides, it will be through His almighty work that we can maintain a closeness with the family that we do consider family.

And it is with this decision that Shawn and I have decided to make our Facebooks (or at least mine) more secure so the hurtful person/people cannot enjoy the blessings of our children's lives. It does break my heart to think that my children may never know them, but also it is more of a guarantee that my children will never face the hurt that my husband is going through currently. In the security of this, I am considering making this blog PRIVATE- ONLY available through invitation when I send you an email. This would ensure that the people that CHOOSE to be rude and mean in our lives do not have a peering glance of the joys and great things that are happening in our marriage and with our children. They do not deserve this joy as they have taken so much of it from us.

They have called me curse words- with no explanation or reason. They have tried to vet people against us and spoke untrue words. For them to call us unChristian is judging- for no one can judge but the Lord Himself on judgement day and we for sure will stand accountable for our actions, as well as everyone on this earth, Christian or not. We have tried to love as Jesus loves. We have forgiven as we would like to be forgiven.

1 Peter 3:16 (New International Version, ©2010): keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

If you would like to be added to this blog by invitation, please email me at schance@hotmail.com. We have not made a final decision yet about it, as we do enjoy meeting others and sharing our family blessings with whomever might want to know us. Life is short. We are passionately in love with our Savior and live each day to please Him. We make mistakes, mishaps, maybe even errors in judgement. We do have an obligation as parents (as any great parent would do) to protect our children from hurtful and harmful things. My boys (including Shawn) are the loves of my life, second only to God. As a mom, it is my duty to protect my boys from people- even if it is family- that might try to hurt them or say slanderous things to them for reasons unknown.

Shawn is once again on call during Christmas, so we are stationed no more than an hour away from home. :( Some do not understand that, but thankfully many do understand that in these economic times, it is financially better for us to work when we can, even though it might be the holidays. Someday, it won't be like that. Shawn hardly EVER gets called in on Christmas too, so its nice to have these Christmas memories. Also, Shawn asks for Thanksgiving off every year so we can go to Grandma's house for our traditions there, so that's kinda why he gets stuck with Christmas being on call. Some people understand that and then some think we're trying to shrug them off.

Jesus came to Earth to lead the way for us- to set an example. He forgives our MANY faults and failures and we could never understand the grace we recieve from above. God is wonderful and without Him as the strength in our marriage, such other forces may have had a dent in trying to separate us. But we vowed in front of family, friends, and most importantly God that we would love each other until death. And, I'm sorry, but after 10 years, it might be an indication that we're not breaking up because of silly little mean words. If you just so happen to be reading this, please know that we do LOVE you, pray for you and forgive you, however hard it may be sometimes. We will be here, at our number, at our email, at our house when you are ready to visit and make nice.  Many blessings to all during these holidays.