April Showers...

We have had a wee bit of rain lately. . .

There is a normal size fence in there...

I really wish I would have gotten pictures during out flood. It was amazing how much rain we got in such a little bit of time. The places and roads just flooded with water. I did get out today with my camera and got a few. The usually dry creeks were water rapids. The little pond by our library was filled to the brim.

The water reminded me of life. How it can throw things at us we don't expect. How life happens right now ~ not some time in the future. We don't know when the floods in our life are going to happen. Those moments when you can throw you hands up and just cry, "why?" Or those times when no words will come out. The floods...

It's how we handle the floods that matter. Do we stay rigid and break and become uprooted? Will our circumstances determine us? Or are will learn to bend? There is a difference between getting knocked over and bending. Bending does not mean letting go of our beliefs or what we stand for. Bending means acceptance. Knowing deep inside that God's plan is better than our own. Allowing God, in His wisdom and love, to have His way in our life.

Notice the flowers and plants this spring...They bend as well. They are reaching towards the sun. That's where I want to be... Reaching for the Son.

"A bend in the road is not the end of the road, unless you
fail to make that turn." ~ author unknown

Easter Sunday

God's Forgivness

Isn't it amazing? That's what I've been thinking about this Easter. We even spoke about it in Sunday school this morning. (amazing how God can plant the seed before we need it!)

We mess up each day.

Maybe with words ....or actions.

Maybe even just thoughts that no one even knows about.

Yet ~ God knows. He's there through it all. And not only does He continue to love us...

He forgives us.

He died on the cross for you and I.

So we could be with Him together... forever!

Our loving Father is standing there with His arms open wide.

What a Blessed Easter Gift that each of us can have!

Easter Boxes

As a child, I remember my Aunt Avis. Really she was my grandmother's sister; my great-aunt, but I didn't know that at the time. I know I've mentioned her before, but I still think of her from time to time. She would send me birthday cards, Christmas cards, Thanksgiving cards, Easter cards. Even a small gift once in a while. It was so awesome to get something from the mailbox with my name on the envelope. When your a kid, it doesn't happen very much. As an adult, the stuff with your name on it ~ we usually don't want!! LOL

I send off birthday cards. And, a few times ~ I send off some goodies for them! This is my Easter box this year. It's filled with some candy, sugar cookies, double chocolate chip cookies, and some butterscotch brownies. It's not much really. It's just the fact that when they get it and see their names on it ~ they will know that I was thinking of them. That I made the time to make them something and send it. I'm thinking that I should do it a little more often. It's been a while.

Life can get so busy. Busy with work. Busy with kids. Busy with laundry and cleaning. We keep wishing for the weekend to get here ~ then it's over before you know it and what's left from it?? Are there any memories that we can hang on to or look back on? We all wish there was just more time in the days. But, I wonder if I'm getting everything out of the time that God has given me. I don't think I am most days. I need to stop. Just stop. Enjoy what's around me ~ the people that God has placed in my life. I need to make sure they know they are thought of and loved, near or far away.

"Show me Lord's my life's end

and the number of my days;

Let me know how fleeting my life is.

You have made my days a mere handbreath

the span of my years is as nothing before you.

Everyone is but a breath;

even those who seem secure.

Surely everyone goes around like a mere phantom

in vain they rush about..."

Psalm 29:4-6

Weekend

We work all week just to finally enjoy the weekends which seem so fleeting. Usually Saturdays consist of soccer in the morning, then coming home to clean up and do laundry. Dishes. Laundry. Bathrooms. Then, laundry. Have I mentioned laundry? LOL

This weekend was a little different. It's Sunday evening and I still have some laundry in the basket. There are a few dishes in the sink. And, I'm just going with it. :) I'm enjoying the last moments of my weekend!!

Saturday we went to the movies. I don't remember when we went to the movies last time. It's been a while. So, what a treat when we get to go and see a wonderful movie that had substance. It has hope! Soul Surfer was wonderful! My kids even enjoyed it. The theaters were filled with families. Families watching a main character (Dennis Quaid) read his Bible. Families listening to Christian music. Wonderful! The advertisements for other movies were other Christian movies coming out soon. And ~ my kids were saying, "I want to go see that!" :) Love it!

Afterwords, we met some friends for dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings. Friends we haven't sat down and visited with in a few years. What a blessing just to sit down and have a meal together! Oh, yeah, and that it one of my favorite places to eat! :) I recommend the Asian Zing. YUMMMY!! I forgot how much I like it!! We usually get the bottle and do it ourselves at home! What great Saturday just being with family and friends.

Oh, and everyone has loved the baskets as well. Such a nice feeling to give it away! To know that in some little small part ~ I made their day a little better. Good church services today to wrap it up. Now, we are going back to Monday just wishing for another weekend with our families...

"Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art...It has no survival value;

rather is one of those things that give value to survival."

~ C. S. Lewis

Love Thy Neighbor

Isn't it amazing what you'll find when you get on the Internet? Some good. Some, well, not so good, but I did love this one! :) I'd love to see this as we are driving through traffic in the morning trying to get to work while we drive over one another. Just a little reminder from the Man upstairs.

"...whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one

command: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' Love does no harm to

a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law."

Romans 13: 9-10

Looking in the mirror, I have to think about how am I fulfilling the law. Am I doing my best at loving my neighbor? Am I reaching out when ever possible? Last year I tried to find an organization for us to volunteer at once a month together as a family. My goal was a different one for each month. Twelve different organizations. You really wouldn't believe how hard that is. We made it to a Veteran's Nursing Home and an organization that raised horses for special needs kids. We also made cookies for the people working at the Circle of Life and helped out an animal shelter. But, there is a lot of red tape for people who want to help out. Several the kids have to be closer to 18. Some require background checks and fees. If we're doing a different one every month, it didn't seem worth so much trouble. Maybe my perspective needs to change.

I just know that it's important. I know my kids and I are going to do the Meals on Wheels and Salvation Army this summer. Those are during the week for lunch only, so we can't really can't help out during the school year. My kids really enjoy volunteering and helping out. Everyone loved being able to pick what organization we'd help each month. The ones that I really believe in would be the Children's Shelter and the Women's Shelter. I just want to get out there and make a difference. What a great lesson for my children to be able to see what other kids think of as a normal day. Blessings on both sides!

So, maybe it's time to pick up where I left off last year. Time to be out there...be involved. What about you?

Contest Winners!

Lots of Yummy Chocolate Goodies!

My first contest has come to a close. It was fun for me. I hope that you enjoyed it as well! I finished baking last night. This morning, I frosted the big chocolate cupcakes with chocolate frosting. (enough chocolate for ya'?) Faith drew out the names for our red bowl. (you can tell from the monkey/peace nightshirt! LOL) Oh, yes ~ you can see that we have three winners instead of the two. Well, as I was baking I realized that I had enough for one more basket so Char lucked out! She was lucky number three.

Thank you everyone for participating. It makes contests more fun when lots of people play. I will have to do this again. Let me know if you have any ideas. Mother's Day is coming up in May or Father's Day in June. Huummmm.....

Have a Great Weekend!

"We are each gifted in a unique and important way. It is our priviledge and our adventure to discover our own special light." ~ Mary Dunbar

Diggin' In The Dirt

Luke, Joey, and Faith Joey and Luke Faith

It's nice to get back to the basics. I think that what this past year has been about for us. To get rid of all the stuff. We have downsized as much as we can downsize. Now, it's time to dig in the dirt, get our hands dirty, and replant. Of course, before we begin we need a plan. And the right kind of seeds.

I'd like to plant some patience, but I've learned not to ask for that!! LOL When I ask for patience, God doesn't zap me and give it to me. Noooo...He provides something for me to do that needs lots of patience so it can expand and grow. So, no, strike the patience seeds right now!! LOL :~D Huummm... I'd like to plant the seed of Love in my children. That, maybe, they will be the generation that doesn't judge others. They maybe the generation that actually loves one another. I'd also like to plant some selflessness. I'd like for my children to realize that this world is not here to serve them and provide for them. But, we are here to serve, provide, and help others. The seeds need to be planted now. Cared for. Given opportunities to grow. Yet, it all starts now.

"Train up a child in the way they should go,

and even when they are old, he will not

depart from it. " Proverbs 22:6

Don't forget to enter to win an Easter Basket! :)

Drawing will be Satruday!

Spring Contest!

It is spring time! And Easter is around the corner! I know that all of the wonderful parents out there make sure that the kids have an Easter basket filled with good stuff. (well, at least what kids call good stuff!! LOL) Peeps are a must, of course. Chocolate bunny perhaps? Maybe some spring colored jelly beans.

I'm thinking that a basket filled with things us adults enjoy would be wonderful! So, I am giving away two Chocolate Lover's Easter Baskets! Yes, you read that TWO. Because one is just not enough! :D

No, no pictures of them yet because they will be filled with HOMEMADE goodies. I wouldn't want them to dry out so I'll be busy baking this week. Chocolate Chip cookies, of course. Brownies. Fudge. I make this yummy chocolate mousse. Brownie Biscotti. So, many things I could think of! Oh, I can't wait to get started. I will post pictures when I get them done!

I'm excited because this is my first contest! There is one rule, sorry guys! You have to be local so I can deliver it to you! They just wouldn't send well! :( So, if you are in the Springdale area and would like to have a Chocolate Lovers Easter basket for yourself (or maybe surprise some one else), just hit the comment button and leave me your name (first and last please!). Contest starts April 10th and will be open until April 16th. Saturday we will randomly draw out two names and I'll announce who has won. Good Luck everyone!

All must give as they are able, according to the blessings given

to them by the Lord your God." ~ Deuteronomy 16:17

Power of Autism

Luke & Faith, 2007

I love those moments when you can take a step back and just be proud. Proud of your kids for who they are becoming. We are given things in this life that shape who we are. Autism has changed our home. It has changed us as parents. It has changed Luke. And, it has changed Joey and Faith.

Both of them understand people with disabilities better than others. Joey has developed an understanding. He has patience for other people with disabilities, yet with his brother ~ his expectations are too high sometimes. Faith from a very young age was sensitive to Luke. Maybe it's the nurturing aspect of a girl. She was a very quick reader and understood that Luke struggled with it. Yet, even in kindergarten and first grade was sensitive to this and would help Luke without bragging.

Now, in school, she loves to help others. I've heard that from all of her teachers that she loves to get her work done and help others that struggle. She is protective of boy with special needs that's been in her class the past two years. Faith likes to sit by him so she can help him stay focused. She has told me that some of the boys make fun of him. It makes me sad because I know that happens ~ it happens to Luke as well. Kids don't understand that disabilities mean they don't have feelings! Just because they might seem like they are in their own little world sometimes does not mean they don't understand what's going on.

A proud moment this weekend. It was this special boy's birthday. After the party before we left, his mother crouched down to Faith and told her thank you. Thank you for helping her son at school. That her son talked about Faith and said that Faith was his friend. I got misty eyed when that happened and right now, I have tears going down my face. It's so important to me that my kids have that character. Acceptance. Tolerance. Love. Because one day, when we are all on the other side, autism will be gone. And these wonderful, special kids will be able to look us in the eyes and speak for themselves. Until then ~ it takes people like my daughter to accept them as they are now.