Let the Dog Days Begin...

Summer is here. If not in temperature, then in schedule. School is out. It always takes me a few days to adjust to the carefree days of summer. And although I'm teaching summer school this year (just can't pass up that $$), it's still a great feeling knowing that I have a week and a half to myself. No where to be, no schedule to follow; no alarm clock, no bells dictating my day... yes, summer is here and summer is good!
Lax as the schedule may be, it is still setting up to be a busy one. 3 weddings in the next 5 weeks (one this weekend... yay for Erin & Luke!). The next 2 are the weddings of girls who were in our youth group! How is it even possible that someone who came through our youth ministry is now old enough to get married?! I'm going to keep telling myself its not... possible, that is.
Summer school lasts all of June. This will be the first year that Cole will EVER attend Super Summer without me... I'm kind of bummed. No, I'm really bummed. But I know that this is the way it has to be, so I'm making my peace with it. Pray for us... that God will work mightily during those 2 weeks in the hearts of teenagers and adults alike on those 2 campuses; and that Javik & I will survive 2 weeks without Cole!
July, though, is all mine. Well, almost. Javik & I will spend the week with Cole at Grand Oaks Camp in Chilicothe again this year (by far the best associational camp I've ever been too!). We're particularly excited about the pool. And then some eMints training days, followed by Cheerleading camp for 3 days.
Then, finally, a little relaxation... nope, wait, then its August! School again!
Oh well. Nonetheless, I have nearly 70 days of little to no schedule and no real responsibilities. Sitting here with another entire summer ahead of me, my ambitions are big. I have lofty goals of all that I will accomplish in the next 2 1/2 months. Times like these make all of the headache days fade from my memory and renew my love for the career that I chose.
Happy Summer everyone!

A Mom's Mom

When I was a little girl, I wanted to be just like my mom...
This Sunday is Mother's Day. A whole day to honor the woman who gave me life. I've always liked Mother's Day...even when I was a little girl, I would pick flowers or draw a picture for my mom, excited to try and show her just how much I loved her.
However, Mother's Day took on a whole new meaning when I became a mother myself. Not until then did I really appreciate everything I have in my mom. For those of you who are not fortunate enough to know her,
my mother is AMAZING.
She truly is the most beautiful woman I know.
As a child, I was never really aware of all that my mom did for our family. I think that's part of what makes her such an amazing mom... she never requests thanks or praise; she gave selflessly to us because she wanted to.
I know that with everything in her, my mom wanted to be a stay-at-home mom. She wanted to be there when we came home from school each day and to spend our summers playing together. But she couldn't. Financially, it would have been a bad decision for our family. And so she didn't. I never saw the labor of love in my mom's working until it was my turn to drop my baby off at daycare while I went to work all day. What about all the moments of his life I would miss?! How could I ever trust that anyone (even the best "nanny" of them all) would take care of him like I would?! "You're doing this FOR him," my mom told me. "I know it's hard. But it's not the number of minutes you get with him that matters... it's how you make those minutes count in his life."
Advice from a woman who's been there.
And she's right. And so every day I try to make the most of the hours (however few) that I spend with my son... teaching him and playing with him and laughing with him... just like my mom did with me.
I also never understood why my mother wore the same winter coat for the entirety of my childhood... Didn't she realize that it was the farthest thing from stylish?! In fact, I'm not sure that a navy and red "trench coat" (for lack of a better word) was EVER stylish! How could she wear that thing year in and year out and not seem to care?! Now I know... she wore the same coat every year because her growing babies couldn't, and even when we reached the age where we could... so we wouldn't have to. She kept her tapered leg jeans and out-of-date sweaters so that I could have the latest. My mom never mentioned if she wanted new things... she showed me what it means to be content with what you have. And now I understand why... I'd gladly wear the same jeans for the rest of my life so that Javik could have whatever he wanted. Recently I had a conversation about this very topic with my girlfriend and she relayed a similar message... for HER recent birthday, she requested clothes for her SON!
The proverbial trench coat lives on.
There are countless more examples of how my mom gave and gave without ever asking for anything in return. Exhibits A through eternity: my laundry was ALWAYS done and I KNOW I didn't do it... Somehow there was always enough money for me to pay class dues, and go to the movies, and buy ANOTHER t-shirt for whatever I was doing that week... When I fell in love with a boy who had stolen my heart, my mom loved him too, she made him part of our family without any reservation...
My mom has given me more than I ever acknowledge... so many things in my lifetime that I'm certain I've forgotten many if not most of them. But the one thing my mom has given me that I'll never forget or take for granted is her unconditional love. I know without a doubt that my mother loves me, for who I am... not ever for what I have done or will do, could give or take, wanted or provided...
she loves me because I am hers.
It was because my mom painted such a beautiful picture of unconditional love and grace that I realized my need for a Savior and ultimately gave my heart to Jesus. And when I made that decision it was my mom who was there to lead me in that sweet, life-changing prayer. I pray that I can lead that same kind of life for Javik. That through my example he will meet Jesus and his life will be changed. And I know that when that day comes, he'll have the greatest grandma on Earth cheering him on!
So this Mother's Day, thank your mom. And on this Mother's Day: thank YOU mom! (assuming she'll ever read this)... And so now, as an adult, a wife, a mother to my own, if ever I grow up: I want to be just like my mom!

Who We Are...

I've been inspired by some friends who are regular "bloggers" to begin blogging about my own life. The nature of the blog is, in itself, slightly presumptuous on my part... that anyone besides myself is interested in my life... and that you will continue to come back for, what I can assure you will not be exciting, updates.
'Tis the nature of the blog beast, I suppose. So here goes...

I'll start with a brief introduction... however I think its safe to assume that anyone reading this already knows me and my family. Nonetheless...

My name is Jeana. I am graciously saved by the Lord Jesus Christ, the wife of Cole, the mother of Javik, the friend of several (dare I say many?!), and the teacher of 98 8th grade math students.

I gave my life to the Lord when I was 8 years old, when I realized through the life-example of my mom that I was sinful and needed HIM. In the last almost 2 decades, my Savior has never failed me, never failed to guide me, never failed to love me...

I gave my heart to a boy named Cole when I was 15 years old, at a camp called Super Summer. He was a brand new believer, and renewed in my heart what passion for Jesus really looked like. We dated for 5 years before we married in 2002... what an amazing 11 years we've shared together!

My heart lept outside my body in the form of a baby boy named Javik Nolan on June 27, 2007. He brings so much joy to our home... its really unbelievable. I have a constant reminder of the love that the Father has for me in my love for Javik. He is now 19 months old and does not stop! Those of you who are fortunate enough to be called "mommas" and "daddies" yourselves know what I am talking about. The boy is a sponge! He learns something new, I swear, every second. Through him, we see the world all over again. What I view as mundane, he sees and says "Wa Oww." He notices every moooo, every neeigh, every Bah Bah, as well as every "tactor," "beep beep," "brooom brooom," and (my personal favorite) "Biiiig Daddddie!"

2009 is off and running, and in the Calloway-Hodson household we didn't miss a beat! School marches on for me, where it's almost sad to look forward and think about our lone day off between now and May 22nd. (Good Friday is truly Good!)

Cole is continuing on with the vision the Lord has given him regarding the hearts and souls of teenagers across the great state of MO. God continues to bless (tremendously) Cole's work as an evangelist... even when it appears as though there is no way, HE will make a way!!

And Javik's world remains, day in and day out at Ms. Carolyn's (thank the Lord for wonderful babysitters who care for the babies of working moms as if they were their own!). We're currently dealing with a biting friend at daycare... pray for us as we strive to impart to our son the importance of truth, that right is always right and wrong is always wrong... and pray for Javik as he continues to bear the brunt of the bite!

I think that should do it for my 1st post. I suppose I'll try to update every now and then... those of you who really know me know that there will potentially be months between posts, but no matter. The lack of updates should serve as a thankful reminder that the Lord is good, and where there is no update, there is full blessing and peace! :)

lots o' love...