The REAL Gwen Oatsvall ;)

Too soon...

I was going through some old pictures, found this pic of my friend Misty from college, she passed away in a car wreck soon after college. When I started thinking about her, the first things that came to my mind were that she loved Jesus, she loved her family, and she always made the people around her feel loved no matter who they were. That's how I want to be remembered.

Testing....

Only have a minute...hodge podge:)

1. God is awesome beyond comprehension, words could never adequately describe how he is working in my heart and the heart of this wonderful man he has blessed me with for life. I am seeing maturity in both of us that is almost scary:) Still just the tip of the iceberg, but God is faithful ALL THE TIME.

2. My church is incredible. If you do not feel your place of worship is an absolute HAVEN and place of TRUE worship and AUTHENTICITY, sell your house and move to Nashville, I am not even kidding, it is that worth it!!

3. I have had an epiphany in my spiritual development, I have long been preparing myself for greatness in the kingdom...the next Elizabeth George, Stormie O'Martian, or Beth Moore...(PLEASE don't laugh) but Sunday I was COVERED with peace when I internalized the statement ***I want to be God's agent in the world accomplishing HIS will HIS way.*** If it is as Joyce Meyer Jr., sobeit...if it is as a real estate agent...teacher...counselor...pre-school worker...mama...WHATEVER...I truly desire to be only what God would have me to be

4. I went to my first Nashville Predators game last night...I thought I hated hockey...but I am HOOKED! I love it!!

All for now...more to come:)

Trouble comes in two's I guess...

I didn't blog about Zach's tumble down the stairs outside, the concrete stairs, and I had really almost forgotten about it except for when I see his half tooth that had to be filed down...who knew they couldn't put a cap on a baby tooth?? Makes sense I guess...

I have had 4 children over the last almost 7 years, never have they broke a tooth, but now in less than a week Zach broke a tooth and I noticed yesterday that despite my belief that he hadn't broken a tooth, he also has a broken tooth (I think it might have cracked it and the piece didn't break off until later because I was pretty sure he hadn't broken a tooth) ! 7 years, no broken teeth, now 2 in one week!!

The same thing happened with black eyes, 7 years, no black eyes and over Christmas break 2 black eyes in one week.

Yadda, yadda, yadda...

Crazy Day!! 3 Cheers for Mayfield!!

Yesterday had big ambitions...all of which came to a screaming halt about 5 minutes after productivity commenced, I was finally dressed with all the kids dressed, fed and ready for the day...I was putting the trash out when I heard synchronized wailing from the back yard, I assumed each was to blame for the others angst, until I saw Zeb with a mouth-full of blood running down his face and shirt...he was apparently standing too close to the metal bat Zeke swung at full-force, both were extremely traumatized, took Zeb to a walk-in clinic that didn't accept our insurance and eventually ended up at the ER because they did accept our insurance.

It took 3 hours for them to say the cut was in a place that they don't stitch (the little thing on your gums above the line directly between your 2 front teeth that attaches your lip to your gum had been "lacerated" aka ripped apart) and that his teeth would be sore for a while and he needed a tetanus shot. For our 3 hours of combined waiting we were awarded with a total of 3 minutes between the dr.'s assessment and the tetanus shot. Praise the Lord he didn't need more than that.

Zeke was still extremely upset, so we all went to Chuck E Cheese to take everyone's mind off of the physical and psychological turmoil that was present...called my 4:00 hair appt to tell her I was about 10 minutes late and she informed me that she had gone home early and wouldn't be cutting my hair...thanks for letting me know...hadn't washed my hair that morning...so I had to take Zeke to baseball practice looking very pretty (still in my yardwork clothes...)

Got onto the interstate where unbeknownst to me a tractor trailer had overturned...took 1 hour and 10 minutes to get to the next exit...Zeke missed his first practice...the night ended about 2 hours after bedtime with happy meals for everyone.

Chuck E Cheese and Mc Donald's in the same day...my kids thought it was the greatest ever...there goes the eating out budget for the rest of the month!!

All in all the day didn't go how I planned, but it ended well with a bowl of moose tracks:)

Self-disclosure of sorts:)

So I recently read on a great website, www.48days.com a startling statistic, only 4% of people who are job hunting find their job via the internet. This makes me feel a little better that I have been looking for a job for over 5 months now and haven't found one...I have been using the internet exclusively...wish I would have read that statistic 5 months ago!

My resume is less than impressive, and even when I get an interview few people (none so far) will be able to appreciate the skill sets that are involved in being a mother of 4 and having been a youth pastor's wife for 8 years despite the fact that I earned a Master's degree with a 3.9 GPA while also staying home with 2-4 children...(shameless plug to make myself feel better and compensate for not finding a job yet...)

I have to admit part of me is ecstatic about not finding a job, I love being at home...but when it comes time to pay bills I realize we do need a second income...I am praying God will bring me something family friendly and lucrative all in one:)

T-U You Know!!

Headed back to Chattanooga for the day Saturday, met with some old friends and toured our old stomping grounds, The Walking Bridge, Downtown Chattanooga and The Chatanooga Choo Choo, ate pizza in a train car which was the highlight of the day for the kids.

Man I miss that simple, simple time in my life!! Why did I think life was so hard?

Gettin' Out of Debt Dave Ramsey Style!

Last fall sitting in our missions conference I listened to a presentation from a missionary family to Peru. They needed people with a heart for missions to come and join their work to help with Women's Ministries and their whole work in general. I wanted to stand on a desk and say, "Here I am, send me!!" I tried to mentally stand up until I realized I was hopelessly glued to my seat by DEBT. (not really hopelessly, I have Hope)

I have long been saddled with this heavy burden...it has felt so impossible to ever be
debt-free...my fabulous friend Leah got me hooked on Dave Ramsey and yesterday we invested a nice little sum of our tax return and went to Dave Ramsey's HQ in Brentwood, TN for financial advisement, and it was worth every last penny!

So now I see some light at the end of the tunnel, it is still a VERY long tunnel though, but I have commited myself to God that I am going to follow the guidelines set in place yesterday in the hopes that we will be able to get out of debt and someday go to the mission field, or adopt internationally, or make a lot of money and help a lot of other people do those things.

I have started selling a ton of stuff on Craig's List to pay off smaller debts...I have already made $240 on things that were just sitting around my house!!

Stay tuned for more updates:)

The Creditors

Wednesday night someone called and offered us 2 tickets to go see a Nashville Predators game. I am not a hockey fan, but I will always try a pro sporting event at least once.

Well, Zanna got sick, so I didn't want to leave her with a sitter, and Zeke had to be up for school the next day, Zach at hockey game would put somebody in the psych ward, so by process of elimination Zeb ended up going with Kevin.

Zeb thoroughly enjoyed the experience, particularly memorable to him is the "video" on the jumbotron which apparently shows the mascot devouring a few opposing players.

On the way out to the car, Zeb looked around in the dark parking lot, and said, "I hope no creditors jump out and eat us."

Valentine's Extravaganza

A few weeks ago I casually asked Zeke if he wanted to buy or make Valentine cards for his class. He said he wanted to make them, I figured he would want to buy them. This week has been crazy, so finally at 8 pm last night we sat down with construction paper, glue, scissors and most importantly to Zeke, glitter; because in his words, "Glitter just makes everything nicer." Who knew??
We figured out what he wanted to do and got started, he tired out after cutting out the 2nd heart, so I finished cutting, gluing, and *GLITTERING* 17 little cards...it looked like a glitter factory exploded on my kitchen table...I am anticipating a clause next year in Zeb's Valentine letter, "Parents, please, no glitter!"
I learned a lesson, next year we can make cards for family, but for the class we will be buying!!

An epiphany...

In a recent...ahem...disagreement with my husband, in an instance where he had (in my opinion) been insensitive (kind of like a buffalo) I was very angry, and hurt. Obviously I am not anymore or I wouldn't be blogging about it.

I was doing the dishes, and I was praying that God would help me know how to handle this situation. My train of thought was how exactly can I approach (manipulate/control) this situation and get the most emotional bang for my buck (or the most sorrow on my husband's part in wronging me) not in a vengeful way, but I had been wronged and it needed to be made right, and he needed to understand my delicate nature and how he had offended his bride. I waited for an answer and heard nothing.

I thought about the story about the beggar woman finally achieving her goal from the ruler because of her persistance, and how the Bible says if you lack wisdom or understanding just ask. So I put on my best 4 year-old impression and told God that his Word said to ask, so I am asking; and I just started asking, "What should I do?" over and over in my head...thankfully I was alone because I probably looked like a crazy woman.

God in his infinite love and mercy overlooked my self-centered immaturity and whispered to me I Corinthians 13. (Not audibly...but I heard him) This was NOT what I was looking for, so I stopped asking. I would like to say I obeyed immediately...but I don't want to get in trouble for lying...so this morning I read it, this is howthe Message Bible put it.

I Corinthians 13:4-7 (Parentheses mine)
Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn't want what it doesn't have. Love doesn't strut, doesn't have a swelled head, doesn't force itself on others, Isn't always "me first," (ouch) doesn't fly off the handle, doesn't keep score of the sins of others, Doesn't revel when others grovel, (Oh me!) takes plesure in the floweing of truth, PUTS UP WITH ANYTHING (Even having my feelings hurt?? How can this be??) trusts God always, always looks for the best, never looks back, but keeps going to the end.

Save me from myself, Lord!!

Here's to another month of not being pregnant!!

I'm just really excited about not being pregnant and I thought I would share.

More lip from Zanna...

Zanna to Zeb, "Mommy's a meanie bo beanie." (Because she is not allowed to go out to play until she cleans up her current excursion which happens to be the art box.)

Zeb in stern reply, "No she's not. She follows the law. The law that says you can't go outside until you do your job."

At least I am getting through to somebody.

Embarrasing things...

Zanna has recently screamed while standing and pointing in restaurants.

"Mommy, they're chewing with their mouths open!" Referring to a woman and her daughter sitting across from us, who were indeed chewing with their mouths open.

"Mommy, he got ice-cream without permission!" Referring to the 50 year-old man sitting at the table next to us.

"Mommy, his shirt in on backwards!" Referring to a man, whose shirt was not on backwards.

Save me from myself!!

The other night we had a re-enrollment meeting for Zeke and Zeb going to school next year. It was pretty late when we got done, so we stopped for a quick bite at Steak N Shake. I locked the car door, put the key in my pocket, and went inside.
When we left, Kevin went out first and started my car and buckled Zach in. I sat down in the driver's seat, took Kevin's keys out and reached for mine in my pocket...it wasn't there. Now we are not talking about a key you can just copy at Wal-Mart. It was the kind that is one huge single key with lock, unlock, approach and alarm buttons on it. It is VERY expensive. Remembering I had taken my jacket off in kind of a wierd position I realized it must have fallen out of the pocket, so I ran back in certain I would see it on the floor before I got to the table. I didn't see it, and the fact that the floor of Steak N Shake is covered in little black squares about the size of my key didn't make my search any easier! I looked in the cracks of the booth, all over the floor underneath and when the waitress came back I asked her if she had seen it, which she hadn't. She offered to go look through what she had cleared off to double check for it.
While she was gone, I went back and emptied my purse out thinking maybe I had stuck it in there, retraced my steps about 100 times, and went back in.
The manager suggested I call someone for an extra key, I not very graciously told him I wanted my key because it was very expensive...he didn't seem very interested in helping look too much...and I immediately became suspicious (either he was very lazy OR he knew we weren't going to find it )...I remembered he had also walked outside retracing my steps, and unfortunately irrationality took over and I concocted in my head that he had indeed seen my key, picked it up and then gone out and written down my license tag so that he could later steal my car...fairly certain of my hypothesis I debated on confronting him (THANK YOU LORD for inhibition) after a final sweep of the restaurant which did include me prostrating myself on the floor and rubbing my hand under the booth several times with my rear up in the air...I ended the 45 minute search by leaving my number in case it was found.
On the way home I was so angry, not so much about not having my key but about the poor moral quality of the Steak N Shake manager...the Holy Spirit began to deal in my heart...and I finally came to the point where I could say maybe God is going to use this someway, but no matter what my being angry about being taken advantage of wasn't going to hurt anyone but me, the poor man was probably just glad I was gone!!
It occured to me the next morning that I didn't check the seat where I sat down in the car...maybe it was the Holy Spirit reminding me of how pathetic I am when I 'get in the flesh' which I had in BIG way...but it took about 3 seconds to find it under my car seat.
The moral of the story is I'm nuts, and I thank Jesus for loving me anyway.

A prisoner in my own home...

Yesterday I had MIRACULOUSLY gotten all 3 kids down and sleeping at the same time. I thought I deserved a little nap too, Zanna had been up at 3 am going potty and as dramatic as she is in the light of day, she takes it to a whole new level in the middle of the night. I am usually not at my finest then either...so it makes for a testy exchange...anyhoo...
I was just going to kick back in the recliner with a blanket for a little bit, and out of the corner of my eye I saw something moving on the floor. Reassuring myself that I was seeing things, I had just about talked myself out of what I saw until like he had read my mind and wanted to make sure his presence did not go unnoticed the unwelcome visitor made another lap around my entertainment system. It was a little black mouse!!
As I debated whether or not I should call Kevin's school and tell him to come home for an emergency, I was eventually able to calm myself down until the brazen menace made another lap around the entertainment center and then made a beeline for my chair. I screamed and stomped my feet up and down on the foot rest hoping to scare him back behind the tv, but it was like he had already decided there was no turning back. I felt safe in my chair until I pictured him climbing up the interworkings of the chair and coming out the seat, so I jumped up on top of the chair, ran across furniture until I got to the kitchen, propped the door wide open and got my broom determined to defend my family AT ALL COSTS!! (It was like 30 degrees outside)
With my broom I climbed back across the furniture and started beating on the chair hoping to scare him out of his hiding spot and out the door...he didn't budge. I thought maybe he had gone to one of the other couches or baskets I have around the coffee table and end tables...no luck. I started dragging shoes across the floor with my broom to throw at various places around the room hoping to flush him out of hiding...but he was just too good for me. I finally gave up, although I stayed out of that room for the rest of the day and warned the children to do the same.
This of course brought an onslaught of questions about the fatality of a mouse bite and what kind of germs they carried on their little claws...I realized my paranoia was frightening them so I played it down despite my desire to completely freak out until the beast was brought to justice...
Long story not as long as it could be, we set a trap, apparently he isn't a fan of organic almond butter which Kevin accidentally used instead of peanut butter, and I dreamed about mice all night long, in my dream we caught the black one but there were about 4 more to take his place and they were all mocking me...I never had a mouse in my house until I moved to the South!! Alaska here I come I have had it! The bad grammar and ignorance I can handle, but the rodents, I cannot!!

Random Ramblings

Original title, I know...I have a dear sweet friend who is on my case to update, but there isn't much exciting going on in my life.

My sweet husband surprised me with peanut m&m's last night:)

On the way home last night Zanna asked, "Mommy what's a zavior (savior)?" To which I replied, "A savior saves us from something just like Jesus saves us from our sins."
She thought for a second and then came back with, "Yeah, Jesus saves us from our sin, and bad guys and bears and wolves and monsters and gooses and if you are stuck in a wall!"
I would say that about sums it up.

My house is clean which is a great feeling.

God has been so faithful to me and my family. I am so blessed to have found such a fabulous church.

Last week I thought we were going to maybe have a snow day, didn't happen. Then I really thought we were going to have a snow day yesterday...didn't happen. I checked this morning thinking it will probably happen on the day I don't expect it, and I got really excited because there were school closings...but not us. But, since I do have plans to go to lunch tomorrow, if I were a betting woman I would put my money on a snow day;)

Interviewing 101

Here I am, 30 years old, looking to begin a career, not really wanting to just yet, but it seems to be about that time, I have a master's degree but no experience, so I am in the catch 22 of over qualified for some jobs and underexperienced for all the rest, I finally got an interview with a company that would have been a FABULOUS opportunity and I learned so much I thought I would share. Key word there is would, they are going to pursue other candidates.

1. If you leave an interview feeling like it was more like a therapy session, that is not a good sign. The less you talk, the better.

2. Figure out what in the world muti-tasking is other than cooking dinner, cleaning the kitchen and doing some laundry at the same time. Also better not include the term multi-tasker in your resume profile and then say that you prefer to work uninterrupted.

3. When they ask you questions, such as are you an introvert or an extrovert, are you a servant or a leader, etc. etc., don't answer both to all questions.

4. Don't tell them that you frequently end up working with a sense of urgency due to poor planning and time management even if it's true. Spin it a little bit with something positive.

5. Don't completely freak out and feel like a huge loser because all 3 people that are interviewing you are SIGNIFICANTLY younger than you are (and apparently all drank a red bull immediately before the interview.)

6. Drink a red bull immediately before the interview.

7. If everyone else at the table is taking notes, that may be a clue that you should be writing something down too.

8. When asked where you see yourself in 5 years, do not answer, "Wherever God wants me to be." EVEN IF IT IS A CHRISTIAN COMPANY.

9. If your potential boss has written a book, READ IT.

Well, this certainly has been cathartic, finding a job would be more cathartic, I really did learn a lot on that interview, I wish it hadn't been my first one. I will probably reapply in a different department of the company if anything comes open...in the meantime I will be reading a book and developing an affinity for red bull.

For Leah

I can't remember if I have apologized for all the horrible things I did to you in college, but rest assured I am getting what is coming to me now. I remember how I used to set my alarm for an hour before I had to get up...and how you hated it for all 3 years that we lived together...well I am going on 8 years of marriage, and that is the cross I must bear...I guess you really do reap what you sow...

I wonder, has Buddy ever hit you in the face with a mirror?