A little less talk please

Okay, I just gotta say that, well, this is MY blog and some times a person just has to gripe.  This would be one of those times.  So, if you would like, please feel free to skip to the next blog on your list.  It's okay.  Promise I'll never know and if I do find out, I won't hold it against ya! ;)

I am tired of a lot of talk and so little action.  That is what it all boils down to.  I could stop there and be done because the rest of my paragraphs will just reiterate that sentence.  But, my mouth won't let me!  I am not perfect my any means.  I get mad.  I yell when I shouldn't.  A bad word will escape my mouth once in a while.  I like to stick my head in the sand and pretend things are peachy.  BUT, I have taught my kids some good things.  My kids know what it's like not to have it all, but they also know that there are others who would gladly trade them places.  I am a big believer in volunteering.  It is a big part of my heart.  My kids have helped a free lunch program.  They have helped animal shelters.  They have cleaned an elderly person's home on the wrong side of town.  We have gone to nursing homes.  My kids have big hearts for service.  But, it is not because I've talked about it.  It is because as a family I have scheduled it and made them live up to our promise.   It is not because we are not busy and don't have things to do.  It because I made it a priority in our life and other things will have to wait.  I am proud of that.

I get tired of everyone talking about it.  When I offer to schedule a day to serve, I don't even get a reply back.  Or when I do schedule something and I only have a couple workers.  We are all busy and there will always be others things to do.  It is just the matter of saying, I am committed to this and it will come first. (so yes, soccer falls to the wayside at our house)  It is easy to gripe about the young people today because they just don't understand because things are handed to them so easy.  It is not the young people's fault.  It's the parents.  Yep, it's our fault.  Not because you give your kids everything, or most things, they want.  It is because you have not given them a servants heart.  It is more than just talking about it at church.  Or washing someone's feet that went and got a manicure on Saturday just for the service.  It is getting them out of their comfort zone and into some one else's shoes.

I hear people talk about forming "loving relationships," but I don't see any work being done besides meetings at church.  Relationships take work.  It means making time for some one else. Maybe something is happening and I am just not a part of it so I don't see it.  I don't know.  When I think of loving relationships,  I think of the kids in my Wednesday night group.  We spend time together outside of church walls.  They will text me or I'll text them during the week.  They know they can talk to me about anything.  That is a loving relationship.  Or the Hens and Chicks ladies group at church.  I love those ladies.  We spend time together.  We eat and laugh while we are working.  It has nothing to do with our ages and things in common.  Most of them are old enough to be my mother and can do wonderful things I am just learning.  It is time together with a common goal.  If I want to cultivate a loving relationship with others, it might mean having a pot luck at your home with some people that you don't know very well just for the chance to get to know them better.  I've done it before...it works.  Relationships are messy and they take time.  But the first thing you have to do, is to take the first step and reach out. 

Sorry, I will step off of my soap box.  Please let's just stop talking about service or relationships and let's DO.  Remember you are the example for your children.  If  you don't make the time to help others or to reach out.... that is what your teaching you kids.

Loosing Our Way...

"Enter by the narrow gate.  For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads

to destruction, and those who enter it are many.  For the gate is narrow 

and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few." 

 Matthew 7:13-14

As we go on our Christian walk, there are times when we are not as close to God as others.  It's not God fault.  I hear people complain that God just is so distant.  He left me through this situation.  I am going through this alone.  But, God doesn't leave us or forsake us.  The Creator of this universe is waiting patiently for you and me.  We're just human.  Sometimes easy is well... easy.  Too easy to resist.  How many times do we walk away from Him??

God doesn't say the narrow way will be easy.  The Bible says it's the hard way.  It's forgiving others, even when undeserved or unasked.  It is letting go of anger.  It is making time for Him in ways like prayer and church.  It's teaching your kids about God.  It's reaching out to others with the love of God.  It's a relationship with God.  It's putting God in the center of your life...then putting the things you want in.  God first. 

"But FIRST seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness..."   Matthew 6:33

"For those that live according to the flesh set their minds on the things

 of the flesh, but those that live according to the Spirit set their mind 

on things of the Spirit.."   Romans 8:5

If you are reading this and you feel a distance between you and God.  Know deep inside your heart that God loves you.  As messed up as you can get.  He loves you.  He loves the way you look first thing in the morning.  You know why?  Because you are His child.  HIS!  And know something else too.  Just know that we have all been there.  We all go through periods in our Christian walk that we wonder off a bit.

 The main thing is getting back on that narrow path. Nurture your relationship with God.  How? The same way you nurture your relationships here on this earth.  You spend time with Him.  He is waiting with open arms just for you.

Little Eyes Looking At Us

It feels like it's been forever since I've been able to write on here! My computer was on the brink and I just don't like to write at the library. But, I am back y'all! :)  To catch everyone up, lets see... kids are now in school.  For the first time, I didn't get a first day of school picture.  :(  I think one of mine was still in bed moaning when I left for work actually!  I now have a junior, sophomore, and a 7th grader.  My kids are getting bigger and older, hopefully I am getting a bit wiser.  One thing I realize, it doesn't matter how big they get  ---  little eyes are always watching me.

I know today that I am one of the most important examples for my children to look up to.  How I treat others is how they learn to treat others.  What is important to me is what will become important to them.  And we all know that action speaks louder than words.... So, what is important to me?  And to them??

How should I even begin to unravel these questions?  To me, something of importance is something that you do even when it's not convenient.  Let's look at an example.  One of the first things that pops in my mind is the importance of God and church.  So, how am I proving this to my kids? They know when I am struggling with problems, I am praying to God.  I am leaning on His strength. Sometimes it is in the little things.   Like for example, I have to set my alarm for church.  I love to sleep or lounge in my pj's.  But, I have a weekly alarm for me to get up and ready for church.  I make small group night a priority.  I  co-teach a class for junior high.  My kids see in my actions every week that God and church is a priority. Now, even when I am dragging and my pj's are feeling a little too comfy on Sunday morning, my kids are pushing me to get me up and ready because they are ready to go.  They have God and church as a priority in their life now.

Another subject of importance for me would be serving others.  That is why we volunteer.  That's why I am on the youth board.  That's why we help before we are asked.  My kids now have a heart for service.  They love to get out there and help others.  I know that if I didn't take them to nursing homes and bake cookies for firemen when they were little, it would seem odd to them now.  Seeing my children serve others makes me so proud.

I am not a perfect mother.  I have moments that I am not proud of.  But, those big things like God, service, and family are a priority in my life.  I don't just talk about them and their importance.  I show my kids with my actions, that they are important.  What are your examples showing your kids?  What is important to you?  Work?  Yourself?  A bigger home?  A new car?  Are you showing by example that God and church doesn't matter?  Remember, actions speak louder than words.  What do your actions say?

Joey's Last NY Fundraiser!

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Next month, Joey and his tuba will be there!  Riding a ferry over to play patriotic songs while people visit the Statue of Liberty.  What an amazing opportunity!  I SOOO wish I could go!  But I am excited for him.

Joey wants to do one last fundraiser for his NY trip.  So, he will be baking next weekend. (sorry, we are out of town this weekend)  We'll be taking orders until the 14th and baking over the weekend.  We've decided to branch out instead of doing cakes:  BREAKFAST!  One batch of scones makes 8, so that is how we will sell them.

Scones  (8 count)    $10

Double Chocolate Scones
Apple Cinnamon Scones
Pumpkin Oatmeal Scones
Orange Scones


Breakfast Sweet Bread $10
(one loaf)

Cinnamon Bread
Banana Bread (with or without nuts)
Lemon Loaf
Apple Bread



Thank you for your support this year with all of the fundraising!   Please let me know what you would like to order.  Everything is made from scratch (of course!  No cake mixes here!)   Joey will be happy to make what ever you'd like to order!  :)

Spring Break!!

I must be getting old.  I admit it now.  (Tomorrow I might be in denial, so take it moment by moment people! LOL)  I've been looking around at social media this week and looking at everyone's vacation photos --  New York, California, Colorado, ect. ..... beautiful pictures that look like fun.  We have been home.  And.. it is right where I want to be.  I don't take it for granted like I used to.

We've been working on the home that God has blessed us with.  Yes, the kids would rather be some where else then having mom tell them to get their work clothes on.  But, what a blessing the past few days have been. Digging in the dirt and playing with the worms.  A friend gave me some lilies to add to my collection up front.  So the front is almost full! :)  In the back flowerbed, I'll be replanting some of the plants Ms. Myrtle left me that have been struggling to survive for several years.  The ornamental grass and the cannas are going.  I found homes for the cannas.   It has not much fun digging that grass up.  My thighs might be sore, but progress makes me feel good!

The original flowerbed with overgrown ornamental grass, cannas, daffodils,
and bushes.  There is even tulips in there!  The flowers were so overgrown
with grass  they barely flower.

We finished the front flowerbed and halfway through the side one.  Blank canvas
 waiting to be planted!

So spring break is almost over.  My house is still dirty.  My laundry is still not caught up.  But, I still have that feeling of accomplishment.  We did get some things done around here.  Fall might be my favorite season, but spring is a close second.  :)  My lilies and hostas that I planted last year are breaking through the dirt.  Love it!  We are almost through digging up the years of overgrown stuff.  Bushes are about gone!!  One more left at the end of flowerbed.  I think Ms. Myrtle would like what we've done.  Things she just couldn't do any longer.  We did get to squeeze in a fun day in Eureka Springs. I hope that you've enjoyed your spring break whether it's been all fun or work days or a mixture of both!

Faith and my niece, Abby, sharing some ice cream :)

Momma' Bear Growls Again

This is supposed to be spring break.  We're only getting 3 days off because of all the snow, but I'll take it.  It's to the point when we all need a break, even if it is cut short.  The school year is almost done.  Which is kinda hard for me to believe.  Wasn't it just Thanksgiving not that long ago?  Anyways --  Luke's teachers have had him all year.  The year is almost over.  They should know a little bit about his IEP. (even if it took half a year to figure out he had one!)   They should have some idea what he can do and what he cannot do.  But apparently not.

Not a recent picture, of course :)  Luke and big brother, Joey

Luke's civics teacher has handed him a blank world map and expected him to use the word bank of 55 countries and fill it in.  Seriously.  Ummm.... every hear of a memory disorder??   It's clearly stated that he has one.  It's clearly stated that his assignments be reasonable.  He failed the test twice already.  When I say failed, I mean a very low F.  Luke was about to go on and do it again.  No, I don't think so. 

So, tonight an e-mail went out which included the teacher and the special education principal at the school.  (there is one assigned to spEd)  And we studied the first row of countries in which included North American and South American countries.  And guess what -- with a couple acronyms like Cows Vomit Apples (Columbia, Venezuela, Argentina).... Luke might pass this test. 

His math -- well, it's even worse.  He is not comprehending the algebra at all.  I don't know if it's one of the teachers (he's not fond of)  or if it's the subject.  But, that grade is a solid F and we have to get it up to passing.  Maybe it's the way she is explaining it, but he doesn't get it at all.  It is hard to watch him struggle so hard and the teachers just think he's lazy because his works not turned in.  (and she's one of the special ed teachers!!!)

Luke with baby Olivia.  He was so excited to hold her

In Hebrews God says, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."   I know that God's plan for Luke's life (and mine)  included everything we are going through.  It included teacher that did not understand.  It included bad grades that affect his self-image.  It included me having to be the thorn in some people's flesh.  I just wish I could fix it.  Not for myself,  but for Luke.  His struggles very few will understand.  I am blessed to be his mother.  I do love him so much, but I know that God loves him even more.  I trust the promises of God for my life, and more importantly, for my children's lives.

A small catch up!

Hello Blogger Friends!  Have you forgotten about me?  I can't really blame you.  After all, it's been about 3 months without a word from me.  I wish I could say something deep in meaningful about the break...but I can't.  I guess the only deep moment would be that I was living life instead of writing about it.  :)  The south has had some crazy weather.  We've seen snow...and snow... and then more snow.  You'd think that with those snow days home from school/work that I would have written a post or two.  But honestly, my oldest son is 16 1/2 (yes, he informed me of the half last week!)  and as my kids grow bigger, I know my time with them is short.  Snow days are days spent with my kids.  Faith and I love board games.  Then Luke will come and join us.  Joey will want to watch movies with us.  And I know that I only have a few more years of this left.  :( 

Faith and Teddy out during one of the many snows :)

Uncle Brent with Joey and Luke (they LOVE having their pic taken)

Well, I am going to have to go and get busy.  It's a nice Saturday morning.  Faith just went to soccer practice with the coach so I could get some stuff done around here with the boys.  I'm going in to wake the sleeping lions!  They love it when I have a work day planned! :D  Hope you enjoy your weekend with your family.  Enjoy those moments because they will be grown before your ready.