Schedule Change

I have not posted in awhile because I have been BUSY!!! The kids have been in school almost 6 weeks and I have yet to touch my "big to do list" that has things like organize toys, clean closets, bleach tub, etc. I am barely getting the groceries bought, clothes cleaned, dinner on the table, homework done, ball games attended--the list goes on.

Today I have planned to have a home day. I was going to organize some of the huge stacks of paper in my kitchen, clean the house, and just refuse to go anywhere. But of course that won't happen. I got an email asking me to come to my kids' class to volunteer and then possibly finish out the day substituting. Which just ensures that I'll get absolutely nothing done here at home. The best thing is I'll get the spend the day with at least one of my kids. That will totally make the dirty house and the even larger stacks of paper worth it. And there will be another day to tackle all the home duties of life.

Blessed Memories

One of my oldest and dearest friend's grandmother passed away today. This sweet lady who passed away at the age of 92 is also my great aunt. You see, I have the honor of not only calling this dear family friends but also family. And right now my heart is hurting for what this family is going through. I know the days ahead when they would give anything for just a few minutes spent with their grandmother. I know the times when they will feel her up in heaven watching them. I know the joy they have from knowing that her joy is complete in heaven, praising Jesus and cheering on those left behind.

I remember the day my cousin and I found a pack of gum that was in a plastic, pink dip cup. My great aunt was appalled and promptly confiscated it. I remember getting to drive the old jalopy. I remember hiding in the market and being scared to death because it was really dark, I mean really dark. I remember playing dress up in her upstairs rooms that were full of treasures. I remember parties in the basement, and playing hide'n seek in the basement. I remember a home of love and a place where everyone was welcome, even this obnoxious little girl from Georgia, who really does not remember wrecking the jalopy.

I cannot wait to get to heaven and hug all my family I miss so much, some days more than others.

Our Dearly Beloved Pet Liz

My dear, sweet son caught a lizard today and named it "Liz." But, due to the fact that it was 100 degrees outside, it died in captivity. My son was beside himself, crying and sobbing. It was a pitiful sight until I came to the rescue. I offered to have my hubby bury the lizard, and I would say a prayer. That seemed to console my son until we got outside to bury it. It seems that while retrieving the dead Liz, my son dropped it and couldn't find it. We were all on our hands and knees outside looking for a dead lizard. And remember that it is still around 90 degrees outside. My husband thought some not so kind thoughts; I know because I could hear those silent thoughts. We finally decided to place a cross in the area where Liz was dropped and said a prayer for the little Liz. I can't wait until the kids go to bed tonight so my hubby can tell me all those thoughts he had, just in case I missed anything. :)

Can't Wait for Monday

Ever have a time in your life where you are so exhausted that it's hard to even think straight? I feel like that. There is just alot of stuff going on here, and it's mainly because school is starting Monday. I wish Monday was here already so we could just get on with it. Right now I should be balancing the checkbook or finish organizing my pantry cabinets (I know, I'm living the life) but I'm going to take a quick moment to write down some precious words of wisdom from my daughter.

Last night was open house and both kids have wonderful teachers. They are both sweet, kind, fun, excited, and organized. We're a family of engineers and live for organization. Nothing wrong with that, right? As we left the school, Miss A commented, "This is painful." I was puzzled and had to ask what exactly was painful. She said that it was painful that she had to wait until Monday to go to school. Classic. I can't wait until she doesn't want to get up one morning and I remind her of this quote, maybe when she's 16 years old. I snuck in to check on my kids after they were asleep last night and found Miss A had laid out her school clothes and shoes so she would be ready. I guess just in case it did turn out to be Monday today. :)

Sweet, Sweet, Sweet

I want to remember this forever. Yesterday, Miss A was invited to spend the night with a friend. I told Mr T that we would do something special with him because his sister would be gone, and he seemed ok with that. A few hours later, I called the kids to get in the car so we could take Miss A to her friend's house. Mr T came down first and said, "Mommy, I miss Miss A already." Be still my beating heart.

Before Mr T was born, I prayed and prayed that my kids would get along, but I had no idea they would become such great friends. I pray that they always will love each other. Thank you Jesus for doing more than I even asked.

Art is Everywhere

We just back from our final summer vacation...or at least the last one we plan to take. Who knows what the future holds? I am still trying to get my feet back under me before I post anything profound.



I am going to try to slow down and enjoy the simpler things, including all the beautiful nature God has created.

Fishing and Stuff Like That

Last night, we went up to my in-laws to go fishing and to just hang out. It was a really fun time to just relax. I'll post some pictures and let them speak for themselves.

Pulling My Foot out of my Mouth Yet Again

I just called my hubby to ask him what time he would home for supper.
He replied that he would be home around 5:45.
I then said that I was making chicken Parmesan.
He replied that was fine.
I then said, "Honey, when I tell you I'm making chicken Parmesan, you are supposed to tell me that I'm the best wife. That you love that meal and you love me. You are so lucky to have me. Now lets try it again. I'm making chicken Parmesan."
He replies, "Well, I need to get back to my meeting. See you later this evening."

Oops, hope I wasn't on speaker phone.

Where did the time go?

This post is to inform the owners of WalMart that I am appalled that they have decided in their infinite wisdom to begin selling school supplies. Do they not know that I am in denial that summer is half over? Do they not know that half of the summer is still left? Do they not know that seeing all those crayons for 25 cents just about pushed me over the edge? I am refusing to participate in their little scheme to make time fly by even more quickly than it already does. We still have camp meeting, another trip to Ohio, possibly a beach trip, swim lessons, and tons of play dates left. I will not be rushed.

Keep Riding

This is the story of a go-kart, the go-kart that my mom, my aunt and uncles rode for miles as kids. The go-kart that my cousin drop up the side of the barn when he couldn't remember which was forward and reverse. The go-kart I drove up a hill and into a tree and had to go get the local towing company (my dad) to get it down. The go-kart that has survived because it broke down and had to be put up for months at a time. The go-kart that you could ride through my grandma's back yard but NEVER the front yard. I am sure my grandparents had no idea that their great grand kids would one day ride this same go-kart.

Day 7: California Vacation

Day 7: Our last day in California was spent in San Diego. We waited for my dad to get off work at lunch and then we headed out for San Diego. We toured the USS Midway, which is a retired Navy aircraft carrier. It was so neat to see the boat that literally has a city on it. I could not live on a boat like that but it was neat to see how others have done it. We ate at a delicious seafood restaurant right there on the pier but I cannot remember the name of it. I don’t care for seafood, but I ate it there and it was delicious.
After eating, we drove around San Diego and then headed for the airport. I remember when I was a kid, seeing my parents get teary eyed when we would leave my grandparents, but I don’t think I really understood how they felt until my parents dropped us off at the airport. I really didn’t want them to leave and I can’t wait to see them again.
We got to the gate and found out our plane was delayed, and that they would have about a 30 minutes window to get the plane unloaded, reloaded, and in the air before the “noise restrictions” began. If we didn’t get out of there by 11:30 p.m., we would be sleeping on the floor in the airport. Oh joy. They did manage to get us airborne with 2 minutes to spare. By that time, my hubby and I were so keyed up that we could not sleep. I was so afraid that I would fall asleep and end up leaning on the guy beside me that I stayed awake the entire time. We got home around 7:30 in the morning and everyone took a 2 hour nap. I spent the rest of the day in a fog and could not wait for bedtime to come.
All in all, it was a great trip and I am so thankful that we got to go. Thanks Mom and Dad for making our vacation so wonderful. It would not have been half as much fun without you both there.

Memories

My grandma's sister passed away on Sunday, and I have been listening to all kinds of memories in my mind for the past few days. I don't think I have a childhood Thanksgiving or Christmas celebration that doesn't include going to my Aunt Bernice's house. She would have the house full of people by the time we arrived and she would be buzzing about making sure everyone had everything they needed. Her home is a beautiful 2 story house that movies should be made in. The beautiful banister that begged to be held, the stairs that went to a "secret" little attic, the huge living room with the most beautiful Christmas tree and cozy fireplace, the bathroom the size of a bedroom. She would tell me how the bricks for the house were fired there on the property down by the pond where she would host parties. My aunt B is the only person besides my parents to throw me a surprise birthday party. For my 21st birthday, my aunt gathered all the family she could together for a cookout down by the old pond. I felt so important. Once, my aunt had the most beautiful bouquet of dried flowers and I remarked about how pretty they were. I got that bouquet for Christmas later that year, and I still have it today.
My aunt had a knack for giving the most unusual Christmas gifts. I remember the stilts we got one year and how I loved to use them. She gave my parents a flag pole one year and all the cousins got gloves one time. My all time favorite gift is the pair of flip flops that are adhesive and just stick to the bottom of your feet. I brought those with me when I got married and my husband wanted to know what in the world they were. I simply replied, "They were a Christmas gift from Aunt B." Enough said. We still joke about my saving them for some special occasion when they are perfect to wear.
Sunday night, we were at church when my aunt passed away. Our pastor was talking about wanting to be the type of person that others know just by being around that they are a person of faith. That is my Aunt B. You knew by the time she took to care for people and all that she did there was something special about her; she had a faith that lasts for a lifetime.

Day 6: California Vacation

Day 6: We woke up early and headed out to Disneyland. It seems like we had all been waiting for this day to come, and it was finally here. We got parked, got our tickets and walked in just as the gates were opening. Perfect timing.

Once again, the weather was superb. It never got above 80 degrees, the sun was shining and there was a beautiful breeze. I would give anything for a little bit of that breeze now. In the evening, one of the ride operators even had her winter coat on; I suppose they aren't used to cool weather in sunny California.

We rode just about every ride there is to ride and enjoyed it all. We rode the Bobsleds, which was Mr T's favorite roller coaster. It's pretty mild and perfect for all of us. We rode Peter Pan and It's A Small World, which are the 2 rides I remember riding as a small child. We rode the teacups. My hubby rode with the kids. My mom and I rode together because we refused to spin, party poopers I know. We rode the Thunder Mountain Railroad and Mr T's response was, "That was awesome. I don't ever want to do it again." His response to the Splash Mountain was in his most cheerful voice, "That was fun. I didn't like it." We rode Dumbo, which was a ride we missed at Disney World and Mr T has been reminding me of that for the last 2 years. That was a MUST ride for us.

My favorite part was the fireworks at the end of the night. Disney is doing a new show for the summer and Tinkerbell flew through the air. There were fireworks to look like shooting stars and Dumbo flew through the air too. It was so magical.

I'm sure I'll think of more stuff to say about this day but that's most of it.

A Whole Lot of Nothing

It's so hot here. I haven't complained because I hate to be cold and have been looking forward to the heat, but this heat is a bit much. Just a few degrees cooler would be perfect.

My kids went to spend the night with their cousins last night and came home talking about the great time they had. My son came home in a different shirt but was wearing the same pants he was wearing yesterday. Note that they were long pants, not shorts. His reason, "The other shorts you sent didn't match." Remind me whose child you are. :) No one else in this house seems to mind if they don't match.

I am cooking stuffed bell peppers, fried squash, and cooked green beans for dinner. Don't you just love the fresh veggies from the garden? And especially the ones at the beginning of the garden when they are fresh and well-watered. I can't wait to eat.

My Arms Don't Want to Help

I have 2 more days of the vacation story, and I'll get to it eventually. But this week has been a week already and it's only Tuesday. I've been in a funk and can't seem to break out of it.

This morning, my hubby asked me to do something and without thinking, I replied, "I can't. My arms are broken." And we both laughed because we both KNOW I'll do it. I always try to do what I can to help people out; I just don't always do it with the right attitude. As soon as I said my cute, short retort, a story came to my mind of my son when he was 4 years old.

On Mr T's 4th birthday I took him for his 4 year check up. I figured it didn't matter if it was on his birthday because shots happen when they are 5 years old, and we wouldn't be celebrating his birthday until later that night. Boy was I wrong. The doctor did all her "examining" and then suggested that we go ahead and do the shots. I figured it was a good idea since I was sure he would bellow and scream more at age 5 than 4 years old. The shots were given, the screams were yelled, and we left with Mr T sobbing on my shoulder. We got home, and he immediately went to the sofa to watch tv while I got lunch. I figured I would treat him and let him eat in front of the tv since it was his birthday; aren't I great? I brought him his lunch and he said that I was going to have to feed him. I asked why and he replied that his arms didn't work. Then he said, "See?" Imagine my 4 year old sitting there with his arms at his side not moving, pretending in his mind to try to move them. "See?" he said. It was the most pitiful thing I had ever seen.

I am sure that my hubby thought I was just as pitiful this morning. And don't worry. Everyone I talked to on Mr T's birthday fussed at me for getting his shots on his birthday. I know it was a horrible thing to do.

Pink Toenails

I really do have to go back to Day 1 of our vacation and comment more on our plane ride. We were so blessed to have 6 seats between the four of us. My hubby and Mr T were in one row with an extra seat, and Miss A and I were behind them with an extra seat also. As soon as we took off Mr T moved back to join Miss A so that my hubby could fall asleep. I got to read and the kids watched movies and read. It was perfect, except for the 2 obnoxious girls behind us. The easiest way to describe them might by "potty mouth." I think that about says it all. It makes me angry again just thinking about it. I wanted to turn around and say something to them but I figured that would just make it worse so I just buckled up and refused to listen.

About 30 minutes into the flight, one of the girls behind us decides to put her foot on Mr T's foot rest. Her big mistake was that she had taken off her shoes. So there beside Mr T was this foot with bright pink toenails. My kids just giggled and giggled. Mr T began to pretend that he was tickling them, smiling devilishly the whole time. I tried to be the good mom and said no while inside begging him to disobey. In retrospect, I should have just told him to go ahead and tickle them. That would have gotten their attention.

Day 5: California Vacation

Day 5: We got up and ate a breakfast of fresh fruit and granola bar and then hit the door running. We went to see General Sherman, the biggest tree in the world. We headed out of the national park around lunchtime, planning to eat lunch after we got out of the park. We decided to follow the GPS----BIG MISTAKE!!! We ultimately found ourselves on a 40 mile stretch of curvy road with absolutely nothing to eat. Mr T ended up sick and the rest of us were starving. It was a blessed relief to see a McDonalds once we got back to civilization. I don't care to ever go on that road again. Ever. Have I made that clear?

We got back to my parents around 7; the kids went to bed, my dad was grilling out, and my mom and I ran to the grocery store. We got back and were so exhausted that we decided to put off Disney for a day and spend the next day just touring a national park that was close to my parents. It turned out to be a great choice. We saw one of the neatest thing I've ever seen.

Day 4: California Vacation

Day 4: We headed out to Sequoia National Park which is 5 hours away from my parents. It was a neat drive through the desert; there is absolutely nothing there but flat land, sand, and wind mills and solar panels that are used to generate power. Then all of a sudden we entered these huge fruit groves. We stopped at a roadside stand and picked up strawberries, blueberries, and some apples. We then began our trip up the mountain. Let me just say that I only thought I was prone to car sickness. Mr T, I now know is a car sickness child. He almost got sick on the way up and definitely got sick on the way down. I pray I never have to travel either of those roads ever again. Ever again. It was grueling.

We finally got to the park and saw the most amazing trees. They are huge, just like I knew they would be but I could never imagined just how huge they are. No words or photos could describe how majestic those trees really are. They don't even look real. I don't know how anyone can doubt there is a God when they something as spectular as those redwood trees. It was awe inspiring. We found ourselves walking amongst these trees and everyone was whispering, even my kids, and believe me when I say this is the ONLY time they whispered. It just felt like a holy place that deserved respect. We saw 4 deer and a black bear as we were hiking. We hiked up 400stairs to the top of a mountain and saw the most panamoramic view of the area.

We didn't want to drive back out of the park because of the fear that Mr T would be sick so we decided to get a room in the park. By this time, we were all tired and cold so we got into the room, got under the covers, turned the heat on, and ate our fruit. It was so cozy. Thank God for heat. I think everyone fell asleep right away, worn out from our hikes and the drive.

Day 3: California Vacation

Day 3: We headed to Hollywood to spend the day. We got there in time to eat lunch at Pink's, a really neat street diner that serves hot dogs and hamburgers of every kind of variety. The last time I had a hot dog was in 4th grade and I still remember how sick it made me so I chose the chili cheese burger. It was awesome. Everybody who got the hot dogs said they were great too. I'll take their word for it.

We then headed to the street where all the Hollywood stars have their stars on the sidewalk. We went to Grauman's to see where alot of stars have put their foot prints and hand prints into the sidewalk. It was neat to see how our feet matched up.




We headed down Rodeo Drive and then made our way to the beach to watch the people surfing. Once again the weather was beautiful, sunny, breezy, and cool. It was a neat day to see some of the sights that you hear everyone talking about when they visit Hollywood. We didn't go to any studios or anything like that because most required the kids to be at least 12 years old. Oh well. Maybe another time.

When we got back to my parents' we went swimming. There is a heated pool which was great because it was in the 70s and cloudy. The guys swam with the kids while my mom and I worked on dinner. Then they would all go sit in the hot tub to warm up before coming in. The swimming wore my kids out. The kids would eat dinner and then fall into bed. It was great. I never took my camera to the pool so I don't think I have any pictures.

Day 1 and 2 California Vacation

Day 1: We arrived in California around 10:00 at night and my parents met us there. It was so good to see them and to be finally there. We drove a couple of hours to their place and immediately went to sleep.

Day 2: We woke up and headed out to see where Papa works and see his really cool big airplane he's fixing.




We got to drive on Route 66, the road that Cars is all about. We got to see tons of airplanes, trains and lots of people countryside. We went through one town that is a really a ski town that I could just imagine spending a week in during the winter. The weather was really cold so it wasn't hard to imagine some good snow.



We found an ostrich farm and the Roy Rogers' farm. Lets just say the smell of the ostrich farm leaves me thankful I live closer to the city.



All in all, it was a great day to just get settled in and spend the day with my parents.

Once again, a quick update

Just a few little things on my mind.

1. Yesterday was my birthday and my favorite gift was a glow in the dark phone cover my mom gave me. I have a tendency to drop my phone so maybe this will prevent me from breaking another one. And the fact that it glows in the dark is just extra.

2. There is a sweet lady at church who gives my kids candy, and my kids give her hugs. She really is precious. Last night she told me that she keeps a picture of my family in her prayer journal and prays for us all by name every day. I think that's the first time anyone has told me they are praying for me and it warmed my heart. It gives me the strength to want to try again at some things I have been failing at miserably.

3. We got home from a week of vacation on Sat. morning, and I am going to try to journal about it here so you can all know what went on and I'll have a record of what went on. It really was a great week. I miss being there but am looking forward to what we have planned next.

Weekend Update

This past weekend, we all went to Nashville. My hubby ran/walked the marathon and had his best finish time ever. He wasn't even sore after it was over. I am so proud of his accomplishment. Here's the worst part, I didn't get a single picture of my hubby. The marathon people will be sending us some and I'll be sure to purchase those.

My cousin that lives in Nashville had a baby shower that same weekend so we got to see lots of out-of-state cousins. It was fun seeing my kids playing with my cousins' kids. It was a very fun, exciting, jam packed weekend. I only wish that we all lived closer so we could see our kids grow up together.

On the way home, we stopped at Ruby Falls and Rock City, which my parents say I saw when I was little but I don't remember. We managed to get off the beaten path in Rock City and stretch that 45 minute tour into over 2 hours. No idea how we did that. And my clausterphobia kicked in when I had to squeeze through some small spaces, but overall it was very neat. Then we went to Ruby Falls and saw the most amazing waterfall. It's amazing the things God has created. I wonder how many others there are that haven't even been discovered yet. My only regret was that they wouldn't let me stay down there longer and sit to take in the beauty.

When we got home, I felt like we had been gone a week. Normally when I get home, I wish we had gotten to stay longer or that we had come home earlier. But this trip was perfect. I'll try to post pictures later.

Anniversary

My hubby and I celebrated our 12th anniversary a couple of weeks ago. It was actually on Easter this year, which made the day feel even more special. We celebrated by going out to eat ribs earlier in the week because we knew there would be no time on Sunday. The highlight of the dinner happened when my hubby tried to convince our server that I was having a birthday and turning 39. The server looked at me and said, "No way. She might be turning 29, but not 39." Bless his heart.

During the day on Easter, I was thinking about the past 12 years. Twelve years ago, I never could have imagined this life today. I hoped and prayed for kids and a wonderful life but never could have pictured how wonderful my life really is. I also thought about where I would be in 12 more years. I assume Miss A will be in her 3rd year of college, and Mr T will be a senior in high school preparing to head to college. I wonder how my heart will ever take that transition when I still struggle with sending my kids to school each fall. I want so badly to treasure each moment of the next 12 years so that I can look back and have no regrets, wherever we are in 12 years. I just anniversaries that make me slow down and appreciate all I've been given.

Spring Break

Guess what we did over Spring Break?
We babysat a hamster. Who knew hamsters were nocturnal? I'm a quick learner. It took one sleepless night for me figure that out.


Our church held a bike-a-thon for a fundraiser. Miss A did 5 miles in 40 minutes and Mr T did 4 miles. It was so much fun cheering them on.

I looked out the window on afternoon to see my kids loading up in the wagon and flying down the hill. They obviously had no control over where they were going so I chose to take a picture and then stopped watching.

My kids got to go to ChuckECheese for the first time. That was alot of fun.

Here is my favorite. It was 65 degrees on Sunday and snowed on Monday. So here are my kids in their short sleeve shirts out in the snow. Gotta love this Ga weather.

Stopping for a Moment

We've had a busy few weeks and I've been doing just enough to hopefully stay one day ahead of the game. There's been spring break, my hubby and my 12th anniversary, my daughter's 9th birthday, a spend-the-night party for that birthday, my hubby's grandmother's 92nd birthday party, planting a garden, and all the other stuff that just happens to keep life going. It's been a ride. Sunday afternoon, my hubby was out walking, the kids were playing together and I just sat in my comfy yellow chair and stopped. I didn't try to sleep, read a book, or plan anything. I just sat and the only thought in my mind was, "Be still and know that I am God." I get so busy that I begin to feel like I don't need God; I'm doing fine without him; I don't really have time for him. (Can you believe I am foolish enough to believe those lies?) So I get busier because I know something is lacking and before I know it, I'm fed up with everything and everyone. I never realized before this past weekend how important it is for me to BATTLE busyness. "Be still and know that I am God."

Which Way Do I Go?

So much has been going on with me this past month, and alot of it I am still processing. But, I am beginning to see the cloud and fog lifting. I finally had that "good cry" and I am ready to move on. I am beginning to understand what has had me so down. When I found out that my job was ending, I told myself that this was the best thing that could happen to me because I got the chance to be whatever I wanted. I was getting a "do over", a "begin again". And after months of trying different avenues and seeing them end in dead ends or in frustration, I have begun to finally realized that I loved my engineering job. I love what I did, and I want to do that again. I don't need a new career; I just need to do what I'm good at and be content with that. I have tried several different jobs, and I have learned that some jobs are just plain hard. Lots of people work very hard and receive little compensation and little thanks for what they do. I have learned that you have to love what you do because the true reward is knowing that you've done a job well. I am still thankful for this time of transition and soul searching because it has made me realize that every person is important; every person has a story and most are dying to tell it. I am still praying that God will lead me where he wants me to be, and that I will willingly follow. I have no idea where I'll end up but I know it will be perfect because he is planning that for me. I'm trusting him.

Baseball and stuff

Mr T is playing baseball this year for the first time and those little guys are so cute out there in their uniforms. I don't care if he ever wants to play again; it was totally worth seeing him in the uniform. Too cute.

The last game, the coach called all the team in to give them a pep talk and say a quick prayer. Aren't we blessed to have a county team coach who wants to pray with the kids? The coach reminded them to watch the ball, play hard, do their best, and most importantly to have fun. This is when my little guy has to add, "And don't cheat." I don't know if I should be proud that he knows not to cheat or be worried that people think cheating is an issue in our home. :) Too cute. Just a side note, he also has to slide every time he reaches home. The only problem is he runs across the bag then slides. We might or might not need to work on that.

What A Check Will Get You

My kids' school is holding a fundraiser for Jump Rope for Heart. It sounds like it'll be alot of fun. The kids raise money through pledges and then jump rope for a set amount of time. All the money goes to help research through the American Heart Association. The kids get prizes based on how much money they raise.

When I picked up my kids yesterday, my son gets in the car and says, "Mom, I need a check for $5000."

I replied with, "You need a check for $5000? Why do you need a check for $5000?"

He told me that if you brought a check for $5000 you got a free Wii.

I said, "Well sweetie, I don't have $5000."

He replied, "You don't need $5000, just a check for $5000."

Oh now I see. It's all becoming clear. All I need is to send a check for $5000 and they'll give me a Wii, no strings attached, no money needed. Got it, little 6 year old child.

When I told him that you had to have $5000 to write a $5000 check, there was alot of groaning. Thank goodness he's only 6 since we need a few years to work on the whole concept of money.

I'm Still Learning

God has really been working on me about a couple or a million things. One of those things is learning to be content with whatever circumstances are going on in my life. That means being content and happy with who I am even in no one else seems to notice that I've done something good or kind or exceptional or even ordinary. I want so badly to look good in other people's eyes that I will go to any lengths to receive praise. And then I am always disappointed because people don't notice at all or if they do, they don't notice enough. And then I began to wonder if I will ever do enough to be accepted or loved.

Then God steps in and says to me that He is the only one that matters. I ask the question of how do I stop seeking the approval of others. Through His word I am reminded that He has done so much for me. I should serve Him because He has done so much for me. When I serve Him, he is proud of me and pitches a party because I have honored him by my service to Him. And then I smile because I realize that's the key. If I do everything to serve and honor Him, then he is proud. And what could make me happier than knowing that the God of the Universe is proud of me and notices when I do things for him? I am realizing that I don't have to stop wanting to be recognized for the good things I've done. I just need to want to be recognized by Him. No one else will see or appreciate what I've done but God never misses it. And He is pleased. And that makes me happy and loved and accepted to know that I've done something for The One who has done so much for me.

"Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written." John 21:25

It's All Those Math Classes' Fault

Last night, my hubby and my son were at ball practice. Miss A and I were just hanging out, and she decided she was going to fix my hair. She combed, and twisted my hair and basically almost pulled all of it out, or that's what it felt like. After a few minutes of this, she asked, "What kind of classes did you take in college?" I replied, "Alot of math and science." She replied, "Oh, that explains why your hair is so bad." So now I can blame my hair on my college education. Perfect. I love girl time with Miss A.

I Am So Gifted With Technology

I sent out a couple of resumes a couple of days ago and am anxiously waiting to see if I will hear anything back. I just love checking my email and our answering machine to see if anyone has responded. That is until just a moment ago. My hubby called and when I didn't get to the phone, he left a message. I heard the pre-recorded message we have on the machine say in my voice, "I don't know what I did to this thing. Oh well." And that's all it said. I accidentally erased our greeting and left that completely inept message. I was cracking up. Luckily no one called who really cares if I am computer savvy, at least not yet.

Last Night's Dance

I haven't written in awhile (seems like I start each post like this.) But it doesn't mean I haven't been thinking and writing. I just haven't written here.

So, last night was the father/daughter dance. My hubby took Miss A to Longhorns and then to the dance. They of course went in "Ol' Blue," a Ford F150 baby blue truck that is older than my daughter. She was in heaven, and really enjoyed being her daddy's date. After they walked out the door, my son looked at me and said, "Now I don't know what to do." He and Miss A are such great friends. I pray that lasts forever.

I took Mr T to Moe's, his favorite restaurant, for dinner. There was a little girl in there with her dad all dressed up ready to go to the dance. My son started talking to the little girl and she said, "See that guy in the blue costume (she meant his suit)? That's my dad." I just loved hearing her call her dad's suit his costume.

I'll try to share some of the stuff I've been learning. Have a great day.

A New Dream

I dreamed last night that I was the new manager at the local grocery store. My hubby said maybe it's a sign from God. I'm gonna believe it's just indigestion. :)

Goals for my Life

Today I had the most wonderful day. I got to meet an friend of mine that I have known since college. She probably knows me better than most people; she's definitely seen me at my worst and my best. It takes a real friend to stick with you through it all. We went shopping for material and ate lunch together, with her daughter and her mom and dad. It was almost like old times. Her dad asked me if 17 years ago I could have imagined my life like this, and I had to say that I would not have. I don't think I'd even recognize the person I was 17 years ago.

And that got me thinking. I have decided that 3 hours in the car is exactly what I need every so often, maybe even once a month. I was thinking that for the last 8 years, I haven't really had any goals. I guess my goals if I had any were to make sure that I didn't totally lose it with my kids and to just make sure I made it through that day the best I could. And after awhile, that kind of living gets to be habit. It's like I stopped striving to become a better person, a better mom, a better engineer, a better wife, a better everything. And I don't want to get to the end of this year and think that I haven't gotten anywhere. That I'm no different than I was a year ago. (I am not saying that the last 8 years haven't been great. I've loved this time and I'm going to miss having my kids all to myself all the time. I just want to make sure I continue to grow and become who I'm supposed to be.)

So, I'm trying to set some goals. And I'm honestly afraid to write them down for fear that someone will try to hold me to them. :) But how I will I accomplish them if I'm even afraid to try? So, I have given up sodas for 90 days and I'm already on day 4. I'd like to spend time in the Bible every day. I'd like to exercise and be able to walk a half marathon with my hubby in April. I'd like to do something to make me better at my career, the one I had before kids and the one I'll one day return to. Does that mean grad school or just a class here or there? I haven't figured that one out.

It's been so long since I've thought about the future and where I want to be that just having a goal excites me. We'll see where this goes.

A Day that Changed our Lives

About this time, six years ago, I was wishing my baby boy would hurry up and get here. I was pacing around the hospital trying to make the contractions start up again. The doctors eventually gave me meds to make that whole process move faster. My hubby and I had gone to bed the night before and finally decided on a name. The contractions started about an hour later. (I think Mr T was just waiting for us to figure out what we could call him.) We headed to the hospital and I remember asking the midwife if this was really it. Around 2 in the afternoon, my pastor and his wife stopped by to check in on us. Our pastor prayed for us and during the prayer, I realized that this little boy was ready to be born. (I had an epidural so I wasn't in any pain.) Mr T was born about 30 minutes later. And what a joy he has been ever since. He loved to snuggle and cuddle when he was a baby and now he gives the sweetest hugs. He has such a tender heart and cares about other people's feelings. This morning, his sister gave him her birthday gift. It was a scarf she had made, and he just loved it. He wanted to call all his extended family at 7 this morning to remind them that it was his birthday. :)

Mr T, I pray that you always stay this sweet. I pray that you continue to learn and grow. That you will always have a tender heart and that you will use that tenderness to great and amazing things for God. I love you more than I can write or say. You give your dad, your mom and your sister so much to laugh about. You keep us from getting too serious about life. You make us stop and smell the roses. Just keep being you and you'll be alright.

Now I'm off to go buy groceries so that I can make Mr T his favorite meal: ham slice, yellow rice and mashed potatoes. :)