Eat, watch tv, scream, take a bath, laugh, cry, run, walk, lock myself in a room, read a book, run away from home, go on vacation, yell, tickle my kids, pet my dog, hug someone, or sleep.
I do not even know which one of those is the most pressing at the moment, ever had one of those days?
And with that.....that is all......
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
The Raising of Teenage Girls....
Well I have come upon a point that I was not ready for. My beautiful teenage girl has come to a place where she is looking to me to help her understand an unknown mystery......
THE TEENAGE BOY.......
After a fabulous evening at the military ball, and 10 hours straight of texting between the two of them the very next day, for some reason, unknown to all of us, he has quit communicating with her. She's perplexed. She has stepped so far out of her comfort zone with this young man, texting first, calling to ask him to the movies, buying him a valentines day card AND his favorite candy. But alas, nothing. No response texts, no to the movies and not so much as a thank you for the Valentine Card and Candy.
I'm torn between being several females here. First there is the teenage girl inside that remembers all too well what it feels like to be that girl that desperately just wants to noticed, wants desperately for him to think she's beautiful, and longs for him to just once hold her hand as they walk throught the school hallway. Second, there's the best friend girl that wants to take the young man and push him up against the wall and say "what are you thinking? Why are you ignoring my girl? Why did you give her the impression that you wanted to be her boyfriend and then leave her hanging?"
And last, but certainly not least, is the mom that says "honey, dating is not worth it right now, you need to focus on your grades, do not worry about boys or boyfriends or anything like that. There are more important things in life like being grounded in Christ."
While I want to wrap her in bubble wrap and protect her from all of the pain and heartache that comes along with dating and crushes and puppy love, I know that these things will happen whether I wrap her in bubble wrap or not. I am sure there is not enough bubble wrap in the world to protect her from heartache that will come, so with that in mind, I will choose to be the Mom who points her to the unfailing, everlasting, never changing, enduring, unconditional love that can only come from God.
And pray, lots of praying....and maybe many nights of ice cream, reese's peanut cups and girl talk.
It may be a bumpy ride....but I am looking forward to the journey....
THE TEENAGE BOY.......
After a fabulous evening at the military ball, and 10 hours straight of texting between the two of them the very next day, for some reason, unknown to all of us, he has quit communicating with her. She's perplexed. She has stepped so far out of her comfort zone with this young man, texting first, calling to ask him to the movies, buying him a valentines day card AND his favorite candy. But alas, nothing. No response texts, no to the movies and not so much as a thank you for the Valentine Card and Candy.
I'm torn between being several females here. First there is the teenage girl inside that remembers all too well what it feels like to be that girl that desperately just wants to noticed, wants desperately for him to think she's beautiful, and longs for him to just once hold her hand as they walk throught the school hallway. Second, there's the best friend girl that wants to take the young man and push him up against the wall and say "what are you thinking? Why are you ignoring my girl? Why did you give her the impression that you wanted to be her boyfriend and then leave her hanging?"
And last, but certainly not least, is the mom that says "honey, dating is not worth it right now, you need to focus on your grades, do not worry about boys or boyfriends or anything like that. There are more important things in life like being grounded in Christ."
While I want to wrap her in bubble wrap and protect her from all of the pain and heartache that comes along with dating and crushes and puppy love, I know that these things will happen whether I wrap her in bubble wrap or not. I am sure there is not enough bubble wrap in the world to protect her from heartache that will come, so with that in mind, I will choose to be the Mom who points her to the unfailing, everlasting, never changing, enduring, unconditional love that can only come from God.
And pray, lots of praying....and maybe many nights of ice cream, reese's peanut cups and girl talk.
It may be a bumpy ride....but I am looking forward to the journey....
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Busy, busy, busy....
That pretty much describes my life over the course of the past couple of days. It started with some bad weather last week that left me in traffic trying to get home for more than two hours (although I fared much better than some that were stuck for up to 7 hours).
Friday was Jacole's birthday party and her mom surprised her by coming in for the weekend. Saturday was "Wendy K" day. Her birthday is the 10th and we started celebrating by taking her to Easely Amused. What a blast that was. I will have to come back and post pictures of that later as they are all still currently on my cell phone.
After that started the preparation for the Military ball. Hannah and Jacole's first. And my girl Hannah has a date. Very sweet and cute young man named Curt. They has a blast and my daughter looked like a princess. She started the day in a pair of jeans and a flannel button down shirt and this was the finished product.
Wendy trasnformed my baby girl from the sweet adorable girl to the beautiful mature princess that you see above. I must say though, that my daughter had more product in her hair that night than I have ever had in my entire life. She kept putting more stuff in, including baby powder (who knew????). Now I know why Wendy looks glamorous every time I see her and why my routine takes 30 mintues, including showering and dressing. Ha.
Yesterday was my dad's surgery. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer last year. Thankfully it was caught VERY early and they removed his prostate yesterday. Prognosis is excellent. They are confident it had not spread, they removed the lymph nodes as well and we expect him to go home tomorrow and be back to his engineering self in no time. Thank YOU God for the peace you provided throught this entire experience. Relying on YOU and nothing else is an amazing feeling.
Things should slow down a bit now (I hope)....
Have a blessed day....
Friday was Jacole's birthday party and her mom surprised her by coming in for the weekend. Saturday was "Wendy K" day. Her birthday is the 10th and we started celebrating by taking her to Easely Amused. What a blast that was. I will have to come back and post pictures of that later as they are all still currently on my cell phone.
After that started the preparation for the Military ball. Hannah and Jacole's first. And my girl Hannah has a date. Very sweet and cute young man named Curt. They has a blast and my daughter looked like a princess. She started the day in a pair of jeans and a flannel button down shirt and this was the finished product.
Yesterday was my dad's surgery. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer last year. Thankfully it was caught VERY early and they removed his prostate yesterday. Prognosis is excellent. They are confident it had not spread, they removed the lymph nodes as well and we expect him to go home tomorrow and be back to his engineering self in no time. Thank YOU God for the peace you provided throught this entire experience. Relying on YOU and nothing else is an amazing feeling.
Things should slow down a bit now (I hope)....
Have a blessed day....
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Parenting....
Today I had a chance to spend some time with Kari Jobe and Ben Pirtle. In the two hours I sat in that small room with them I could feel God in the midst. This weekend is the D-Now weekend in our area and they were the speaker and the worship leader this year. They took the time during the break out session (i think that is what it's called) to minister to the parents of the kids, for free. I feel for the parents that did not take the time to join this meeting today because they truly missed out on seeing the heart of the people ministering to their children this weekend.
They both opened up and shared things from the depths of their heart and I was truly blessed by both of them. Knowing more about them made me feel even better about them ministering to my girls at D-Now. Their transperency today about their lives as children and what their parents did right and wrong and how it shaped them into the people they are today was very encouraging.
Kari Jobe spoke about how her parents were always there for her. And when they could not give her the answers she sought they ALWAYS pointed her to hearing from God. They were open and honest and there for her. She told a story about her dad just being there with her during a down time and how he just cried with her for the two hours she cried.
Ben Pirtle said that one of the biggest mistakes parents make is not recognizing the gifts in their children. Not honing in on those things that God placed within them, not trying to find common ground to develop those things, and putting pressure on them to be what the parents want them to do, or what the parents think would be the best for them.
Of course I'm paraphrasing and telling this from how it impacted my heart, but I cannot impress how much I learned in that two hours. Besides hearing Kari Jobe sing less than 10 feet from me and literally getting lost in the worship to the point of tears, I learned more about the parent I want to be.
Ben spoke of this scientific test to determine a person's gifts and that out of the 7 billion people in the world only .6 of a person would score the same in the top 5 gifts (out of 50) as another person. He followed that with that out of that 7 billion people in the world God chose ME to be Hannah and Mitchell's parent because He knew that only MY gifts would be the right ones to raise them.
I am so thankful for all of the nuggets I took away from that meeting and I am truly thankful that those two amazing, talented people of God took the time to impart that wisdom and sharetheir heart with me.
They both opened up and shared things from the depths of their heart and I was truly blessed by both of them. Knowing more about them made me feel even better about them ministering to my girls at D-Now. Their transperency today about their lives as children and what their parents did right and wrong and how it shaped them into the people they are today was very encouraging.
Kari Jobe spoke about how her parents were always there for her. And when they could not give her the answers she sought they ALWAYS pointed her to hearing from God. They were open and honest and there for her. She told a story about her dad just being there with her during a down time and how he just cried with her for the two hours she cried.
Ben Pirtle said that one of the biggest mistakes parents make is not recognizing the gifts in their children. Not honing in on those things that God placed within them, not trying to find common ground to develop those things, and putting pressure on them to be what the parents want them to do, or what the parents think would be the best for them.
Of course I'm paraphrasing and telling this from how it impacted my heart, but I cannot impress how much I learned in that two hours. Besides hearing Kari Jobe sing less than 10 feet from me and literally getting lost in the worship to the point of tears, I learned more about the parent I want to be.
Ben spoke of this scientific test to determine a person's gifts and that out of the 7 billion people in the world only .6 of a person would score the same in the top 5 gifts (out of 50) as another person. He followed that with that out of that 7 billion people in the world God chose ME to be Hannah and Mitchell's parent because He knew that only MY gifts would be the right ones to raise them.
I am so thankful for all of the nuggets I took away from that meeting and I am truly thankful that those two amazing, talented people of God took the time to impart that wisdom and sharetheir heart with me.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Dontcha just love
Getting a hair cut (or as we have to say around here a hairS cut)? It's one of my favorite things ever. And where I have mine done they wash my hair before the cut, she even does a scalp massage. I think I love that part even morethan the cutting, but either way, I could sit in a chair and have someone do anything they want to my head. It's like an escape for me.
Today I had an opportunity to show Christ in a situation that involved getting my hair cut. I had an appointment scheduled at 10 am today since December 10. I was there at 10 when they opened. Turns out my stylist was not there, they told me that she'd be in there in about 30 minutes, well 45 minutes later she still was not there, they asked me if I wanted to continue to wait or to reschedule and repeatedly apologized. I told them I'd reschedule because I definitely wanted Cassondra to do it. I asked them to quit apologizing that I understand things happen.
When I went back at 3:30 for my appointment Cassondra apologized again and explained what happened with the schedule. She then proceeded to tell me that EVERYONE in the salon was amazed that I did not raise a fuss, demand anything, holler, yell, or even seem upset about it all. I guess they talked about me most of the afternoon. I told Cassondra that getting mad or upset or angry was not going to change the situation and that it certainly would not have shown the love of Christ. I then told her I would continue to come back to her because of the job that she does and that was all that mattered to me.
It felt good to walk out of there knowing that my attitude had made an impression on staff at the Salon. I hope to always be that example of His peace in every situation. Thank You God for living through me!!
Remember that in every situation YOU have the choice to show the Jesus in you.
Today I had an opportunity to show Christ in a situation that involved getting my hair cut. I had an appointment scheduled at 10 am today since December 10. I was there at 10 when they opened. Turns out my stylist was not there, they told me that she'd be in there in about 30 minutes, well 45 minutes later she still was not there, they asked me if I wanted to continue to wait or to reschedule and repeatedly apologized. I told them I'd reschedule because I definitely wanted Cassondra to do it. I asked them to quit apologizing that I understand things happen.
When I went back at 3:30 for my appointment Cassondra apologized again and explained what happened with the schedule. She then proceeded to tell me that EVERYONE in the salon was amazed that I did not raise a fuss, demand anything, holler, yell, or even seem upset about it all. I guess they talked about me most of the afternoon. I told Cassondra that getting mad or upset or angry was not going to change the situation and that it certainly would not have shown the love of Christ. I then told her I would continue to come back to her because of the job that she does and that was all that mattered to me.
It felt good to walk out of there knowing that my attitude had made an impression on staff at the Salon. I hope to always be that example of His peace in every situation. Thank You God for living through me!!
Remember that in every situation YOU have the choice to show the Jesus in you.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Let it begin with me....
For the first time in almost two weeks I am beginning to feel like myself again. That flu thing...well let me just put this bluntly....it SUCKS!!! I can feel how out of whack I am. I have been exercising three days a week since the end of August and now to have gone almost two weeks without it, I can feel it. I plan to get back into the swing of things this Friday.
This weekend was great. Had a great time at Crop Connection and ended up completing more than I thought I would. Now that I'm feeling better, I am looking forward to taking some control of my life and circumstances.
Last night I had a discussion with my daughter that had me in tears. She is an amazing, beautiful young woman with great thoughts, but she has a very selfish side. I do not know where this comes from besides that old human nature that seems to take the blame for everything.
She has this attitude that she is somehow better than some people. Not everyone, it's not like a constant thing, but some people it is like because they do not fit into her little package she treats them poorly or ignores them. I do not understand it. I am the complete opposite. I have spent many years in a place of feeling like I do not fit in somewhere so I have made it my goal to see to it that no one I know ever feels useless, unwanted or neglected. I did not raise her to be this selfish. Selfish is not in the nature God intended us to live by.
How do I break this in her? How do I instill in her that ALL people are valuable, even if they are annoying, irritating, not as cute as you think they should be, etc? How do I get her to see that the very thing she cannot stand in her biological father is the very thing she is doing to so many that just want her to friends with them.
I know that I am probably still the only one reading my blog, but I have high hopes that one day someone will stop and have an answer to even one of my questions.....
I pray that she will be like the furtile soil talked about in Matthew 13. The one that hears, listens and understands the things of God. Lord let me be that person in front of her. Help me mold her into what it is You have set before her. Lord let it begin with me.....
This weekend was great. Had a great time at Crop Connection and ended up completing more than I thought I would. Now that I'm feeling better, I am looking forward to taking some control of my life and circumstances.
Last night I had a discussion with my daughter that had me in tears. She is an amazing, beautiful young woman with great thoughts, but she has a very selfish side. I do not know where this comes from besides that old human nature that seems to take the blame for everything.
She has this attitude that she is somehow better than some people. Not everyone, it's not like a constant thing, but some people it is like because they do not fit into her little package she treats them poorly or ignores them. I do not understand it. I am the complete opposite. I have spent many years in a place of feeling like I do not fit in somewhere so I have made it my goal to see to it that no one I know ever feels useless, unwanted or neglected. I did not raise her to be this selfish. Selfish is not in the nature God intended us to live by.
How do I break this in her? How do I instill in her that ALL people are valuable, even if they are annoying, irritating, not as cute as you think they should be, etc? How do I get her to see that the very thing she cannot stand in her biological father is the very thing she is doing to so many that just want her to friends with them.
I know that I am probably still the only one reading my blog, but I have high hopes that one day someone will stop and have an answer to even one of my questions.....
I pray that she will be like the furtile soil talked about in Matthew 13. The one that hears, listens and understands the things of God. Lord let me be that person in front of her. Help me mold her into what it is You have set before her. Lord let it begin with me.....
Friday, January 14, 2011
Purpose.....
Purpose....that is my "vision" word for 2011. I decided to take the KLove challenge this year of finding one word to define my vision for the year. I did not do it last year, I was not in a place of being able to look past the end of my nose to see vision for anything at this time last year. This year I decided that maybe that is why last year was as lousy as it was. I started out with the wrong attitude.
So....Purpose....I plan to live on purpose, love on purpose, encourage on purpose, work on purpose and in all of that hope to find my "purpose" so that i can Live with a Purpose. Far too often in the past 12 months I have allowed circumstances to interfere with seeking God and His will and plan for my life. I let anger, hurt feelings, frustration, despair cloud out His love and His purpose. Not gonna happen this year.
I have asked God for years what my purpose was, what I was supposed to be doing for Him. I always, always, always wanted it to be in some form or fashion of me singing. Singing is where my heart has been since I got saved. I am no Kari Jobe or Francesca B, but I can carry a tune in a bucket (with a lid on it). But I'm realizing that where I am, there is not a place for me in that area. I am accepting that and seeking His will, my second passion has always been serving. I don't care where you need me, just need me and tell me. I love the feeling of knowing that I have done something for someone that they couldn't do, didn't have time to do or just didn't want to do themselves. I don't care if anyone knows about it either. Tied with serving is encouraging, I LOVE to bring a smile to someone's face with a simple compliment.
So since singing is out (except in my shower and in the congregation at church), serving and encouraging is where my PURPOSE is focused right now. I will serve with a purpose and be thankful to be used when needed, where needed.
So I challenge you (if there is a YOU lol), determine what your vision word is for the year 2011, pray about it, ask God to show you what it is and then come back and post here, I'd like to know what it is too.
To borrow a phrase from one of my favorite bloggers, Darlene Schacht:
YOU ARE LOVED BY AN ALMIGHTY GOD!!!!
So....Purpose....I plan to live on purpose, love on purpose, encourage on purpose, work on purpose and in all of that hope to find my "purpose" so that i can Live with a Purpose. Far too often in the past 12 months I have allowed circumstances to interfere with seeking God and His will and plan for my life. I let anger, hurt feelings, frustration, despair cloud out His love and His purpose. Not gonna happen this year.
I have asked God for years what my purpose was, what I was supposed to be doing for Him. I always, always, always wanted it to be in some form or fashion of me singing. Singing is where my heart has been since I got saved. I am no Kari Jobe or Francesca B, but I can carry a tune in a bucket (with a lid on it). But I'm realizing that where I am, there is not a place for me in that area. I am accepting that and seeking His will, my second passion has always been serving. I don't care where you need me, just need me and tell me. I love the feeling of knowing that I have done something for someone that they couldn't do, didn't have time to do or just didn't want to do themselves. I don't care if anyone knows about it either. Tied with serving is encouraging, I LOVE to bring a smile to someone's face with a simple compliment.
So since singing is out (except in my shower and in the congregation at church), serving and encouraging is where my PURPOSE is focused right now. I will serve with a purpose and be thankful to be used when needed, where needed.
So I challenge you (if there is a YOU lol), determine what your vision word is for the year 2011, pray about it, ask God to show you what it is and then come back and post here, I'd like to know what it is too.
To borrow a phrase from one of my favorite bloggers, Darlene Schacht:
YOU ARE LOVED BY AN ALMIGHTY GOD!!!!
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