My Grandpa Penrod

Last Tuesday my mom and dad were coming back to Indiana after spending some time with my Grandma and Grandpa Penrod.  This was the first year my grandparents didn't come home for Christmas so my mom and dad made a trip to see them.  She called me about noon on Tuesday to say that her and my dad had turned around and were heading back to Florida. After receiving a call from my Grandma, that my Grandpa had collapsed and was sent to the hospital, my parents thought this was the best thing to do. I am so thankful for the timing of all of these events that took place.  When my mom told me what happened I knew that "this was it." My Grandpa had suffered emphysema for some time now and had been gradually getting weaker.  When at the hospital, my parents realized that my Grandpa ad suffered cardiac arrest several times and was on life support.  At 1:00am he was taken off life support; seven minutes later, he breathed his last breath and  then went to see Jesus!
    I of course feel sad and will miss my Grandpa so much! However, I have such peace about this.  After being around my family all weekend and witnessing how loved he was at his funeral by his many friends and family, I can't help but think, "Wow, what a way to go!"  He was 78 and had 4 children, 12 grand kids and 10 great grand kids! He lived a very full life, and now is spending eternity in Heaven!"
    I had the privilege of speaking at the funeral. This is what I said:

    I'm Shelby Cadwell, one of my Grandpa Penrod's 12 grand kids. When I thought about what to say, my mind kept returning to the past and also reflecting on the future.
   When I think about my childhood, my Grandpa Penrod is very much apart of it! I remember very vividly when I was 11, my dad told me that we were finally going to have a neighbor! I hoped that the neighbor would have a pool or some girls my age to play with.  When I dad explained that our neighbors are going to be my Grandma & Grandpa Penrod.. I have to admit that I was a little disappointed.  VERY little did I know how much MORE of a blessing my "neighbors" would be to me! I cannot count the times in my life when I came through their front door (without knocking) and built memories that will stay with me my whole life. I can still picture Grandma working on a quilt in her blue chair, and my Grandpa reclined back in that big red recliner, the majority of the time watching the Cubs game. unless if was around 5:00, then it would be Gunsmoke.
   When my mom sent us over there to borrow some sugar or oil, she knew she wouldn't receive her needed items for awhile, because I would end up visiting with them for a long time! Usually our visits consisted of me talking, and them listening!  I was so blessed to be able to have my Grandpa be such a big part of my life.  He took me to countless softball practices and softball games; and it was always a treat when we got to ride on the motorcycle! When I think about my years playing softball, I think about my Grandpa.  Whether he was coaching me from the 3rd base line, or from his lawn chair on the sidelines, he volunteering became apart of my life.
When I started dating Brett, I would bring him over to visit my grandparents as well.  Each time after visiting with my Grandpa, Brett would say, "I just Love your grandpa!" And I would say "Really? What do you like so much about him?" He would respond, "I don't know.. he is just a really likable guy" Which is exactly true! I don't remember Grandpa Penrod helping me with homework, or taking me to the pool, or asking me question after question about my day (probably because he knew I would voluntarily give him the info:)) But when I think about my Grandpa.. I have such great feelings toward him and moments with him.. that I knew what Brett meant when he said "He is just a very likable guy"  Brett and I recently built more memories with my Grandpa Penrod when we went to visit in Florida. We had so much fun going on boat rides, riding down Alligator Ally, and then finishing our day at their favorite rib joint.
   So again when I think about my Grandpa, I will think about the past, and how many wonderful memories and moments I had with him.

As all of the events were happening last Tuesday and Wednesday, my sisters and I called each other throughout those two days. The thing I heard from all of them, was that  the pain will be the most real and hardest to handle when they think about the future. I completely agreed when I started thinking about what the next couple months and years are going to be like. How will I feel when Brett and I go to Florida in a few months, and expect to see my Grandpa Penrod there. How will I feel when I go to their trailer on the farm in the summer, and my Grandma is in her blue chair and the big, red recliner is empty. Or the realization that my lil boy will never get to meet Great Grandpa Penrod? As I think about these events, it of course makes me sad.
   But when i think about the future beyond these moments, I thank God that he has created a place for us believers to go and be reunited! Thinking about my Grandpa Penrod's present and future fills my heart with joy, because I know that he is enjoying his brand new lungs, sitting in a much bigger, more comfortable and hopefully a little more fashionable red recliner, having conversations with the Good Lord himself about why He has not allowed his Cubbies to win a World Series in a very long time! Or maybe he is playing rounds of golf with Noah or Moses! We can't imagine how amazing, and how perfect my Grandpa's new home is. And no, my Grandpa and I will not have our next embrace in beautiful and warm, Florida, but our next embrace with definitely be in an unbelievable place!!!   And no, my grandpa will of never have the opportunity to hold this lil guy in my belly, but he does have the opportunity to hold Brett and I's first baby!
   I am so thankful I can carry my past memories of my Grandpa in my heart forever, but I am more thankful and more grateful that I have very real and amazing moments with my Grandpa in the future!!!

   I love you Grandpa Penrod and will see you again!!!!

Ho Ho Ho! Christmas in January!

Well not exactly Christmas in January.. but it has taken me this long to post about Christmas.. plus, we still have our outside lights up outside.. so I think I'm ok to still talk about Christmas:)
  
    How blessed we are! Brett and I love and very much look forward to Christmas time (as I'm sure everyone else does:))  We did some fun Christmas things before Christmas. We went to the IMAX to see The Christmas Carol and out to dinner with our Cadwell Clan. Brett and I even stayed downtown that night! Thanks to my Uncle Richard and Aunt Lisa, we got to experience Christmas Eve on the Connor Prarie with two of my favorite cousins!

We packed up on the 20th, and were home for 12 days!!

   First stop.. Neier Christmas.
We have so much fun watching all of the kids play and get their present from Santa! The picture to the left is all the girls cousins (Minus 2.) This is our traditional picture with our antlers. The gold antlers are reserved for anyone who is engadged!

    Monday, Tuesday, & Wednesday, Brett and I stayed with his mom and dad. I love spending one on one time with Vickie, and staying up late talking (even though I do 90% of the talking) We had fun wrapping presents together too. I got to see Danika & Kadin too.. and spent some time going bowling with them! I scored my best ever! 178! Believe it or not!!!

On Christmas Eve, we go to the Kessler's during the day. This is one of Brett and I's favorite traditions. We first have to find the hidden "socks" (I love how G-ma & G-pa call the stockings that:)) and then we eat the best Chicken & Noodles! After lunch, we listen to Grandpa Kessler read the Christmas story, and then we all write a note to Jesus, giving him a gift. Gma & Gpa Kessler send us what we wrote exactly 6 months later! We feel so blessed receiving gifts from the aunts and grandparents too! We have fun the rest of the day playing game after game with one another!

Christmas Eve night we go to my Mom & Dad's for one of the best meals of the year! My mom goes all out and does an amazing job with dinner.. featuring Prime Rib! This year Ashlee made Krem Brulet! This year was emotional, as my dad sat at on end of the table looking at my mom at the other end and his four girls filling the table with their husbands. The kids were all in the kitchen at their own table. He talked about how proud he was of each one of us, and why he feels so blessed by how each one of us turned out.
     I sat their looking at each member of my family, and thinking the same thing! I have a mom and dad who love me so much, and who never hesitates to tell me how much they love me and how proud they are of me.. I have 3 sisters who are my three best friends! Each one of them is such a blessing in my life; their husbands who are now three of Brett's greatest friends, and how thankful I am how much they love each one of my sisters. My three nephews and my niece who have brought so much job to my life! Brett and I's child growing inside me.. created by the Lord himself, BRETT, who I don't deserve to have as my husband!... my two niece or nephews on the way and how much of a blessing they are and will be to our lil guy, and above all else.. the realization of why we celebrate Christmas. GOD, knowing what He knew about his Son's death, sent him anyway, to come to this earth in a form of a baby, so that one day when He died for us on the cross, that each one of my family members, who I love so much will have eternal life together!
  As you can see, what a blessing all of this was to me!!! Besides ALL of those things, Brett and I were blessed beyond measure with gifts from my parents!

The next morning, Brett and I wake up very early and travel to Avon to spend Christmas morning with his mom and dad.  This is another very special time for us.  As you walk in the door, you can smell the breakfast! All 8 of us sit down for our breakfast and then we get to open our stockings.  Vickie and Dusty are great gift givers, and Vickie spends so much time on each present, you don't want to open it because it looks so pretty!  Dusty always has "surprise" gifts that nobody knows about.  I love seeing everyone open the gifts that we gave. Ryan, Lanell and the kids are so fun to watch as they open their gifts from us, because you can tell how much they like them.  Ryan pulled the tags off immediately, Lanell takes off her necklace and replaces it with the one that we gave her, Danika begins on her yarn craft thing we got her, and Kadin begins putting his nerf gun together before opening another gift:)

After the Cadwell's, we all got ready and celebrated ANOTHER Christmas with Dusty's family! We have a lot of fun with this side because of the traditions!  The next day we spent with the Penrod's. I LOVE seeing this side. They come at 11am and leave at 11pm:)

Brett and I are so blessed to be apart of two amazing families.  We talk about and thank God for the blessings he has poured upon us. Every Christmas event we went to, we would think and dream about what it would be like a year from now!!!! Until then, we will thank God for what he has given us and enjoy kick and moment inside my belly:):)

34 week update!

A lil update about how this whole pregnancy thing is going:)

How far along? 34 weeks along! (41 days to go:))

Total weight gain/loss: According to my scales at home- 24 pounds!
Stretch marks?

    Thank you Mom! I owe my "no stretch marks" answer to you! (I heard they are genetic)
Best moment this week: My latest baby shower... I have had two so far: The first was the Kessler family in late Nov. and then yesterday Vickie's friends hosted a shower! I get so excited opening each gift and picturing our lil guy using it! We have felt so blessed with all the gifts given!
Movement: Several times on the hour. This is one of the Lord's greatest blessings. This child loves to roll from side to side, and his parents LOVE watching him to do!

Food cravings: Surprisingly, and disappointingly, NO! I was really looking forward to "milking it" when it came to the food craving!
Gender:  

 BOY OH BOY! We LOVE our lil BOY:) 
Labor Signs: 

    None... I'm looking forward to this lil guy "dropping." It gets so hard to breath sometimes!
Belly Button in or out? My Belly Button is basically flat! It hasn't popped out, but it is definitely not in!
What I miss: Being able to get comfortable in the evenings. I tend to go to bed early, simply because I can't lay on our couch very easily!
What I am looking forward to: Baby showers coming up! My friends are throwing a "friends" shower on Friday. Then a school shower next Thursday.. and then Whit and I will have our double-shower on the 23rd!!! I love getting to see people I haven't seen in awhile.. and then saying to them, "Next time I see you, I'll be a MOMMY:)"

Weekly Wisdom: Well, The Dahlstrom's & The Cadwell's began our Labor & Delivery class on Wednesday! I'm receiving ALOT of "wisdom" from that:)
 

Milestones:My nursery is as complete as it can be right now! Now I just have to fill it with his actually necessities!

Busy Parents already!!!

Has it really been a month since I have posted a blog? WOW!  Well I assure you, I've had great intenstions.. but preparing for a baby is a lot of work! A lot of work.. but Oh.. it is so fun:) We have been very busy painting, shopping, painting, buying, shopping... you get the idea:):)

   I can't put into words how thankful I am for Brett. I honestly believe that for some reason, the Lord reserved the best guy out there.. all for me!!! He has been so great through this whole pregnancy thing! He talks about the baby and to the baby! He has done everything that I have asked helped with.. plus MORE when it comes to the nursery, and he goes out of his way to make me comfortable and feel beautiful! We are so so excited for our lil guy to get here, but are really trying to appreciate the calm nights we have at home until he does!
        I was so excited when one of my Kinder student's parents gave us several BRAND new clothes and this Baby Bjorn! We like to make Tuck feel part of this whole baby process, so he gets to try it out first:):)  

  
The baby nursery is coming along great. It took me awhile to decide what color scheme I wanted.  I originally bought some green and brown bedding, but wasn't too happy with it when it arrived.  Brett said he didn't care what color I chose, but the more I thought about it... I knew he would love a baby blue type color (His favorite color is represented by his North Carolina Tar Heels:)) My friend Sue came over to help me paint (as she does when I decide to do any home decor dealing with paint:))  I used the leftover brown that was in our kitchen and wa-la!!

      Brett has been busy putting up the chair rail, and putting the crib together! What a great sport!!
   When the nursrey is COMPLETE.. we'll show you more.. this is just a lil sneak peak:)

  We can check a few things off our list..
  1. Bedding - Check!
  2. Crib-    Check!
  3. Dresser- Check!
  4. Glider- It's in the process of being recovered!
       Baby B-Cad has some amazing grandparents who have helped so much with buying things for the nursery! He has an awesome Aunt Whitney as well! We have had so much fun buying decorations and putting together a pregnancy scrapbook!

    Well thats the update on the nursery! As for me and Baby B-Cad.. we're having a BLAST together! We play this lil game often where he pushes my ribs and I push back on his lil bum!  Again, I can't wait until I am actually holding my lil buddy,  but in the meantime- I LOVE LOVE LOVE carrying this child!!!  And everytime I feel him move inside me, I ALWAYS smile, and give the Praise back to the One who created him!!!
 

Popcorn in my Belly!

My greatest moment of pregnancy happened last night!!! (Well, 2nd to when we found out what Baby B-Cad was going to be:)) I was sitting in small group, and hoping that this child would move.. nothing! Once everyone left, and I was laying down, I not only felt him move, but my blanket moved too!!!!
   It was the 1st time that Brett got to see him move in my stomach.. he was going crazy! My stomach looks like one of those air pop popcorn machines:)

    I'm now 25 weeks... LOVING everyday of pregnancy!  I cannot wait to see this lil guy.. but I know that I'm going to miss actually being pregnant!  We just had a Dr. appointment.. and the Dr. said he is measuring BIG! She had "he has definately hit a growth spurt, but should slow down a bit about 30 weeks. I think he is about 2 pounds!!... Brett and I are starting to wonder if Baby B-Cad is going to take after his Pawpa Neier!!!!

Ordinary, yet Extraordinary!

  Brett and I's small group is made up of 5 couples.  Each of these couples are very ordinary people.. but have huge hearts!  Each year, we have focused on a specific area where we can grow.. the first year together, it was Fellowship.  Each couple was new to Noblesville, and had no other friends or family in the area... so we spent a lot of time fellowshipping together.. last year, our focus was study. We dug into the word and grew more on a spiritual level.. this year, we tried to take the focus off of ourselves, and try to give more back to our community... 
 I in no way, want this to sound like we are patting ourseleves on the back, but rather as accountability that we will continue this mindset...
   We have done various things around our community that in small ways might impact others.  We adopted a single mom, and have helped her wih her girls, along with moving out of a bad apartment.  About every other month we will have a lunch-in after church and donate the money we would normally spend on an after church meal, and use the money instead to help someone in the community. We provided Christmas for a family, helped a boy (who was the first to go to college in his family), purchase items he would need in he dorm, and most recently, we saved up some money to buy gift bags to take on our next little adventure...

   We not only wanted to help in our own community, but to expand this midset into our country.  We decided to go on a short mission trip to the Appalachian Mountains in Kentucky, an area very effected by poverty.  We found an organization called "God's Love from a Diaper Bag."

  Going on a mission trip, you think that you go to "Change" or "Help" them in some way.. and maybe in "some way" we did... the guys did some small construction projects (the girls tried to help), and we got to do some neat things in the community, like pass out the gift bags at a nursuring home.. and spent the afternoon visiting, we passed out pizza to elderly in apartments, and passed out school supplies to kids on Halloween... but after we left this place after a short 3 day trip.. we realized that we didn't do much.. instead we came away from this place inspiried and challenged...

     Bessy & Lester are the founders of "God's Love From a Diaper Bag." You could go on the web and try to find more info on this, but you will find none.  They don't even have an email address they use consistantly.  They are the most kind-hearted, sweetest people you could meet, yet they are very ordinary.  This ministry began by Bessy giving away diapers out of her truck in a Wal-Mart parking lot.. and because she has been obedient to the Lord, and has heard his calling, He has used Bessy in such a mighty way to impact her community.  Lots of people and various churches have come by her side and helped her and this ministry.  They have donated lots of diapers, other baby products, and their time to help the people in this community.  The people in this area can come day or night and recieve diapers, formula, blankets, clothes, medicine, etc for their babies.  She has baby showers for groups of 20 women at a time, and they have begun construction and are adding on to this mission.. when the contruction is completed, she will have a couple dental offices to help people with dental problems.  She has no day off, and works long hours and even lives in the same place they do their ministry.  She would be nobody special to someone in the next county over, but to those who have bennifited from this ministry, she is a celebrity!
  I could go on and on, about how amazing this ministry has been to the people in Jenkins, KY, but my point is simple.. We are all such very ORDINARY people.. ordinary yes.. but if you are willing to go outside your comfort zone, and invest some time.. you can become extraordinary... 

   Allow Bessy & Lester.. a couple 50 year olds with no special talents to be an inspiration.  I know that Brett and I have thought and talked about this a lot.. we don't know what the Lord has in store for us.. but we are excited to find out!

October 2050

Have you ever thought about what your life will be like in 41 years from now?  I believe that most of us just live day to day, and week to week, just plan a few months at most in advance!
   My dad, who continues to amaze me with the creative ways he uses talents, thought of this idea... "Let's do a Papaws Pond Time Capsule!"
     The sealing of the Time Capsule was a day made of many wonderful memories.  We began the day, with 15 kids under the age of 5, parading around in their Halloween costumes.  We passed out candy and went on a Hay Ride. Later, we all gathered around to share some of the things that we included in our Time Capsule...

  My extended Neier family now represents over 20 individual families.  Each family put something in a PVC Pipe that they, or their children or grandchildren would open in 2050.  Each family's time capsule was different.. some chose to reflect on past memories made and special moments they had at Papaw's Pond, some wrote letters to their children and grandchidren.  Lists were made about cost of living and gas prices, details about where our culture is in terms of morals and ethic.  Brett and I made a CD of our favorite songs, along with a detailed description about where we are in our lives,  my cousin put his college basketball jersey in, my dad wrote about a typical day in his life, along with where he wants his children and grandchildren to be.  The lists goes on and on....

   One particular time capsule that was shared really stood out in my mind:  My Aunt Rhonda's.  She reflected on WHAT Pawpa's Pond is, and how important is has become to our family. More importantly, she reflected on the person behind this amazing Pond, My PAPAW!
   My Papaw Neier has been gone now for over a decade.  Its easy to forget about WHO he was because at the time died, I was in middle school.  After hearing her talk about how much he loved his children, and how much more he loved the Lord, how hard of worker he was, and how respected he was (and still is) around his community.... I started thinking how much I owe this Papaw of mine...
  He wasn't someone I personally knew very well.. the few memories I have of him aren't even pleasant ones! When I stayed at his house, he fixed me oatmeal... the NON-FLAVORED kind... He gave me "boy" presents at Christmas time,  he ALWAYS smelled like the backyard, and when I asked him a question, he never gave me a direct answer.. "Papaw, How old are you?" "Do you know how old Dirt Is!?" he would respond...
   However, little do I know how much my faith in Jesus is in exsistance because of his wisdom, leadership, and his own heart for the Lord!  Because of him and his faith, my dad became the man of God that he is, and chose to marry someone, like my mom, who loves the Lord as well, and through my Papaw's example of a father who loves Christ, my dad became that, and much more to me and my sisters.
   Its amazing to think about the fact that my Papaw didn't impact me directly, but his memory and character still lives on, and because of that, I am who I am, and where I am today!!
   Not only was this "assignment" my dad gave to us going to be something we appreciate in 41 years..but even more importantly, it made me think about my current life.
   What are Brett and I doing in our day to day lives that is going to make an impact on who our children turn out to be in 41 years? Will it matter what color of bedding I pick out for our lil boy? What his baby clothes look like?  What we choose to do for fun on the weekends?  What kind of car we drive? Are those the things that we will remember in 41 years? Or that someone will remember about us?
   I think of the day when our lil boy (and Lord willing, his siblings, spouse, and children) open this time capsule...and he reflects on his parents and grandparents. What will he think of us?  When he thinks of us, will he think of us as Godly parents who have love and respect for each other and their kids?
   I think we all wish and hope that our children will see us in a positive light. as Christ Followers and Servents!... but what we sometimes miss, is that we ACTUALLY have to BE that person, for our children to see us that way!

I challenge you to reflect on your life today, just as Brett and I have done, and don't just HOPE that in 41 years that someone will be talking about you, and thanking you for showing them Christ.... But actually BE that person.