August 8, 2012: Fort Wilderness

I'm Jennifer Jurgensen.  I'm a sinner.  I'm impatient, selfish, judgmental and mean.  I really do not want you to know that about me, but it's true.  If anyone was ever in need of a Savior, well, it is I.  When I examine the commands of God, I see how I all too often fall short.  I try to put myself in charge of God instead of submitting to him.

Despite all of this, when God looks at me, he sees a saint.  Romans 5:8 says that, "God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."  Because of Christ's death on the cross, I am justified and purified by his blood.  As II Corinthians 5:21 says, "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

When I look back on my life, Jesus has been beside me on my journey the entire time.  I see how through the trials I've gone through--at the hands of others, through the illnesses and deaths of ones I have loved, by my own rebellious acts, that God was working.  He has never wasted a single hurt, but rather has used them to soften my heart, creating in me patience, mercy, kindness, peace and love.  I am ever awed and humbled that the Creator of the Universe would care for and continue to invest in me.

I stand before you, my brothers and sisters, as a sinner-saint.  I'm broken with sin, but through my brokenness shines the light of Christ.  I, who was once hopeless, through the resurrection of Christ, have been given a hope and longing for the glory of heaven.  My heart passionately proclaims Job 19:25-27, "For I know that my redeemer lives and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.  And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh, I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes--I and not another.  How my heart yearns within me."

I am here to express to you my desire to follow Christ in perfect obedience and to do the work he has set before me until the day he gives me rest.  God, give me, through your spirit, courage and pliability to keep this vow to you.

Mother's Day 2012: Taking inventory

Today I celebrated my 16th Mother's Day as a mom with some of my favorite people in the world, including my four children.  I thought that today would be a good day to ask my kids some questions to see how they perceive me and how I am doing as a mother.  Their answers varied from dead on, to funny, to downright convicting.

Here are some questions from a list I found in Pinterest that I asked them followed by their answers:

What is something that Mom always says to you?
Emily: I love you.     Timothy: No.     James: I love you always.

What makes Mom happy?
Emily: Having fun with her children     Timothy: Giving her a present     James: Being good

What makes Mom sad?
Emily: When I do something bad     Timothy: Hitting     James: Hitting

How does Mom make you laugh?
Emily: When she tries to imitate Harley     Timothy: Tickling me     James: By talking

What was Mom like as a child?
Emily: Fun to play with     Timothy: Good     James: Like Mary, Jesus' mom

How tall is Mom?
Emily: About 6 feet tall     Timothy: 10 feet tall     James: REALLY tall, like 2 feet

What is Mom's favorite thing to do?
Emily: Spending time with her family     Timothy: Eat     James: Planting flowers

What does Mom do when you're not around?
Emily: Clean the house    Timothy: Clean up the house     James: Look for me

If Mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
Emily: Decorating cakes     Timothy: IDK     James: Bad guys killing her

What is Mom really good at?
Emily: Decorating cakes    Timothy: Working on the computer     James: Exercising

What does Mom do for her job?
Emily: PE teacher and an assistant at church     Timothy: Work at church     James: Work at work

What is Mom not very good at?
Emily: Art     Timothy: Climbing trees     James: Walking

What is Mom's favorite thing to eat?
Emily: Veggies with hummus     Timothy: Rice Crispies     James: Healthy stuff

What do you and Mom do together?
Emily: Bake in the kitchen     Timothy: Go to the haircut place     James: Go for walks to the park

How are you and Mom the same?
Emily: We both like to bake and cook.     Timothy: We both have blue eyes.     James: She acts like me.

How do you know Mom loves you? 
Emily: She says it every night.    Timothy: She snuggles me.     James: Cuz I do good stuff.

Where is Mom's favorite place to go?
Emily: Home     Timothy: School     James: Grammy and Papa's.

The Travelers Return Home

“There’s nothin’ fun to do today because we have to go home,”  said James.  Feelings about returning home ran the gamut.

We were packed and ready to go by 8:40 a.m., but really hadn’t planned to leave till 9:30.  We decided to head out 15 minutes earlier.  Call it Divine Intervention, because if we hadn’t done this, we would have never made our flight.

Traffic was crawling, which we knew before we left.  However, we hadn’t anticipated a bad car wreck in the airport area on the way to terminal B.  For crying out loud, the fool had to have been going 100 miles an hour because the sports car had been rolled and the jaws used to cut off the top.  This set us back thirty minutes.

We had to print our tickets when we got there.  I was able to print our six tickets from a kiosk, but it wasn’t working for Abby, who also had Michael and Courtney’s.  They had to get in line and wait for a customer service representative because, as we found out later, no one is able to print seven tickets from a kiosk for “security purposes.”

Mark and I went on ahead to the security checkpoint with our family and were standing in line a bit before 11.  Boarding for our flight would cease at 11:25.  We arrived at our gate as passengers were handing over their tickets and boarding our plane.  

Christian texted Michael that they had nine minutes till boarding would close.  All we could do was wait for them and pray! 

In the tram to the gate, Michael announced that they had 5 minutes to make the flight.  Carry-on clad Michael, Courtney, Dylan, Jacob, Jason carrying a car seat, and Abby toting Annalise ran through the airport to Gate 107.  This clip from Good Luck Charlie captures it all pretty much as it went down for the Timm family.  That's Jason in the orange vest.

The knowing flight attendant nodded reassuringly as they approached.  “You’re okay.  We’re waiting for you,” she reassured them.

Nine and a half minutes after us, the rest of our family boarded the plane, beaded with sweat.  I was so deeply thankful to see them!

These are some final moments captured before we left the house:

Mom and Dad also left Florida with flair.  The van was finally loaded and one last walk-through of the house was completed.  Dad got in to take the first shift of driving and proceeded to back into and knock over the three garbage cans at the end of the driveway.  Mom's regale of the story was almost difficult to understand because she was laughing so hard.

Mom and Dad traveled through Georgia and Tennessee stopping that evening in Clarksville.  Traffic all day long was quite sporty.

The next day they took a break in Peducah, Kentucky where they found a huge Harley Davidson shop shaped like a giant steamboat.

They were so glad they took the time to stop here and walk along the river.

Mom and Dad arrived safely home by 11:00 p.m. on Friday night after a LONG day of travel.

How thankful we all are to have been blessed by this amazing trip.  We are truly blessed to have each other and to have shared these treasured memories.  Thank you God!  Thank you Grammy...

Day Six: Hollywood Studios

Michael and Courtney and my family went to Hollywood Studios in one van, and Mom, Dad and Jason’s family came shortly after.  We stayed separated most of the day and among us all, hit all the main attractions.

Jason’s family and mine both started at Toy Story Midway Mania which was a riot!  This ride is difficult to access, with Fast Passes usually  selling out by midmorning.  We waited less than an hour.  Jason’s family scored Fast Passes from another family who gave them away.  It was such a fun interactive ride where we got to use our little cannons to shoot at various targets.

Michael and Courtney went ahead and got Mark, Christian and I fast passes to Tower of Terror.  They were able to go on it right away.  

They also got us Fast Passes to Rockin’ Rollercoaster: the Aerosmith ride.  

We took turns doing the rollercoaster and our youngest three got to eat cinnamon rolls and see Beauty in the Beast in the meantime.

  

Jason’s family got to see Voyage of the Little Mermaid and Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show.

We also experienced Star Tours, Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, Muppet Vision 3D, Studio Backlot Tour, and The Great Movie Ride.

Jason's family, along with Mom, went back to the house a little earlier than the rest of us, but we were all back by late afternoon.  We celebrated Jacob's 6th birthday with Angry Birds cake!

And of course, swimming!  Lots of swimming.

Despite great plans of park hopping, we all just hung around, packed and enjoyed our final hours at our amazing home in Kissimmee.

The end is always bittersweet. Michael misses his dog, Izzy, Courtney longs for her own bed, Abby and Jason are ready to get back to Chicken Ravine, Dad needs to fire up his dozer and get to work, Mom needs a rest, and Mark and I want our own pillows.  Still, this has been the vacation of a lifetime, one we have planned for many months.  It has been one that brims with great experiences and joy-filled moments.  How can it already be over?