Thursday, May 31, 2012
Toddlers and Tiaras......
I am ashamed to say that I wasted an hour of my life and a billion and one brain cells watching "Toddlers and Tiaras" last night. I only watched it because it was filmed in Mississippi and I recognized 2 people on the show. But I am still floored at the way parents behave and allow their children to behave. Come on people, this is the future of America! And these parents are in a salon with their 3 year old girl having her hair colored, yet crying because her baby is growing up too fast. And you allow your child to dress like Marilyn Monroe, and strip down to a bikini, not just on a stage, but on national television. What is wrong with people?! And then there was that sweet little girl who had a total meltdown and threw her crown because she didn't win overall. I'm sorry, but did you just allow your child to have an all out tantrum because she didn't get the biggest crown?! Come here, and I will show you where you can stuff the crown. I'm sorry, but I would think that these over-the-top pageant parents who parade their children around like pieces of meat should be just as guilty of child abuse as the parents who mistreat their children in other inappropriate ways. What are you trying to teach your children exactly? That certainly isn't glorifying to God. You bleach their teeth at ridiculously young ages, or give them bleach-white fake teeth, bleach their hair, send them to tanning salons, and teach them to flaunt themselves for a trophy. You feed them sugar, sugar, and more sugar so they can "perform". You allow them to yell, throw themselves on the floor, and mistreat others when something insignificant doesn't go their way. Wow, I would love to know what life lessons these parents think they are actually teaching these precious gifts from God. I will never watch that show again. I can't even believe that these people are allowed that kind of attention. In 20 years I hope this same network will do a show called "Toddlers and Tiaras: Where are they Now?".
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Thursday, May 24, 2012
The only thing that stays the same is everything changes.....
Well, there have been a lot of celebrations/changes in our family. I'm not always a big fan of change. Quite frankly, I HATE change. Most of the time anyway. Sometimes change can be a good thing and is needed. While our celebration/changes have been good ones, it still makes this Mama a little sad. Okay, a LOT sad.
Friday was our 10 year wedding anniversary. Not really a change, although we are maturing in our marriage each year that passes. So, that was a happy celebration. So as I posted on Facebook, here is the way I felt Friday:
Ten years ago, I married my best friend. Literally. They say if you can survive the first year of marriage, then you can survive THE marriage. I disagree. If you can survive the first TEN years, then you can survive. The first year is just full of petty things like getting used to your new roommate and learning how many times a day they do things like brush their teeth. Chad and I have never been caught up in pure wedded bliss. Our marriage has not been easy or perfect. We've had a lot of bad times. But we've also had equally wonderful times. Once we learned to put Christ first, things got much easier. Christ is now the center of our family. So, to the true love of my life, soulmate, and the father of my beautiful children, happy ten years! May God fill our lives with many more adventures, good times, and even the bad ones--- so that we can remain humble in Christ. I love you, Chadwick. Look forward to the next ten years.
But then I cried on the way to our dinner date Friday. Why? Because I was so emotional about all the things that the month of May brings us. The day after our anniversary was Brennan's birthday. Then his last day of second grade was Tuesday. And then tomorrow, it will be the one year "anniversary" of my grandfather's death. I miss him SO much.
So Brennan is now officially a third grader. I'm not going to sit here and brag and brag about all the good grades he got (just thought I'd slip that one in) and I'm not going to get too emotional or sappy here. But, if you're a parent, you know how fast our precious babies grow up. How sometimes you find yourself wishing them out of a certain stage in their life, only to find yourself missing them in that same stage you found yourself getting worn out from.
I'm convinced that somewhere in that stage of life between getting married and having your last kid, that you wake up one morning and realize that life really is short and fleeting. And then we realize that we're all going to leave this earth one day. And then once you realize those things, once it clicks inside the brain that our kids are aren't going to be little forever, our parents aren't going to be around forever, and we are now the same age that our parents once were, but we still tend to think of them as our age, then that's when life seems to take on a speed that seems to almost be overwhelming. You can pray for SO many things every single day, but the power to control time, or stop time, or even slow it down, that is something we aren't allowed.
So it doesn't always work, but when I'm tripping over toys or saying dirty words about the never-ending pile of laundry, I sometimes have to stop myself and take a few deep breaths and envision no toys scattered from one end of the house to the other, no little baby clothes to wash, no tiny pajamas to wash, no dirty "Thomas the Train" plates piled in the sink and then I relax just a little. Because I do understand that I am the age of my parents when I was little and thought they were "old" and that my children will be gone before I can soak up every single moment of the happy times. If I could just bottle up their smells, their laughter, and sometimes (I can't believe I'm about to say this!) their bickering. Because they really do love each other. And one day that may be on opposite ends of the planet. So yes, they drive me CRAZY. And yes, I still cherish their bedtimes so that I can have some peace and quiet as temporary as it may be. But while the days are very long, the years are passing too quickly.
May is always a time of big change for us. I don't really like the month of May. It sort of puts me in a very melancholy mood. But no use in having a pity party. I just have to enjoy the moments. For they only last just that---- a moment.
Friday was our 10 year wedding anniversary. Not really a change, although we are maturing in our marriage each year that passes. So, that was a happy celebration. So as I posted on Facebook, here is the way I felt Friday:
Ten years ago, I married my best friend. Literally. They say if you can survive the first year of marriage, then you can survive THE marriage. I disagree. If you can survive the first TEN years, then you can survive. The first year is just full of petty things like getting used to your new roommate and learning how many times a day they do things like brush their teeth. Chad and I have never been caught up in pure wedded bliss. Our marriage has not been easy or perfect. We've had a lot of bad times. But we've also had equally wonderful times. Once we learned to put Christ first, things got much easier. Christ is now the center of our family. So, to the true love of my life, soulmate, and the father of my beautiful children, happy ten years! May God fill our lives with many more adventures, good times, and even the bad ones--- so that we can remain humble in Christ. I love you, Chadwick. Look forward to the next ten years.
But then I cried on the way to our dinner date Friday. Why? Because I was so emotional about all the things that the month of May brings us. The day after our anniversary was Brennan's birthday. Then his last day of second grade was Tuesday. And then tomorrow, it will be the one year "anniversary" of my grandfather's death. I miss him SO much.
So Brennan is now officially a third grader. I'm not going to sit here and brag and brag about all the good grades he got (just thought I'd slip that one in) and I'm not going to get too emotional or sappy here. But, if you're a parent, you know how fast our precious babies grow up. How sometimes you find yourself wishing them out of a certain stage in their life, only to find yourself missing them in that same stage you found yourself getting worn out from.
I'm convinced that somewhere in that stage of life between getting married and having your last kid, that you wake up one morning and realize that life really is short and fleeting. And then we realize that we're all going to leave this earth one day. And then once you realize those things, once it clicks inside the brain that our kids are aren't going to be little forever, our parents aren't going to be around forever, and we are now the same age that our parents once were, but we still tend to think of them as our age, then that's when life seems to take on a speed that seems to almost be overwhelming. You can pray for SO many things every single day, but the power to control time, or stop time, or even slow it down, that is something we aren't allowed.
So it doesn't always work, but when I'm tripping over toys or saying dirty words about the never-ending pile of laundry, I sometimes have to stop myself and take a few deep breaths and envision no toys scattered from one end of the house to the other, no little baby clothes to wash, no tiny pajamas to wash, no dirty "Thomas the Train" plates piled in the sink and then I relax just a little. Because I do understand that I am the age of my parents when I was little and thought they were "old" and that my children will be gone before I can soak up every single moment of the happy times. If I could just bottle up their smells, their laughter, and sometimes (I can't believe I'm about to say this!) their bickering. Because they really do love each other. And one day that may be on opposite ends of the planet. So yes, they drive me CRAZY. And yes, I still cherish their bedtimes so that I can have some peace and quiet as temporary as it may be. But while the days are very long, the years are passing too quickly.
May is always a time of big change for us. I don't really like the month of May. It sort of puts me in a very melancholy mood. But no use in having a pity party. I just have to enjoy the moments. For they only last just that---- a moment.
Friday, May 11, 2012
That's not just any lady....... It's Supermom!!!!!!
In honor of Mother's Day, here is a tribute to all of us mothers everywhere:
You remember the intro to the comicstrip "Superman"--- Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound.......
Well, to mom's everywhere:
Faster than a speeding mini-van, more powerful than a dose of Prozac, able to leap the soccer field in a single bound, known as the Woman of Strength..... It's SUPERMOM.
What other creature on earth can gently nurture little babies, wipe away tears, and kiss away boo-boos while being the pillar of strength for her family? Simultaneously clean up vomit while cooking dinner, checking homework, and folding a pile of laundry without even breaking a sweat? Drive down the road and swat at her misbehaving child, answer 1,001 questions, silence a ringing cellphone and without for a moment taking her eyes off the road? What other creature can boldly and confidently say, "I told you so" at least a million times a week? What other creature takes pride in the shine of clean toilet bowls and clean floors and perfectly baked cookies for the PTO?
No other creature but us MOM'S, that's who!
But above all else, Mothers can pray for their children like nobody else can. They can fervently beg and plead with God to just give us the strength, the wisdom, and ability to just do this one thing right. If we fail at all else in our lives, please, God, let us raise happy, healthy children who have their eyes set on things above. Let us raise children who will be salt of the earth. We pray for our children to be a beacon of light for His glory in this ever darkening world of evil and faith that is continually being watered-down. Let our children and their lives be used for God's glory while His hand of protection and safety go before them. We beg and plead for our children to make wise choices, make the right friends, and despise sinful acts. We beg and plead for future spouses of our children to be God-fearing, God-loving spouses who will treat our children the way husbands and wives should--- under the authority of God. We even pray for our grandchildren in the distant, not-so-far-away future. That as a mom, our legacy will last for generations. We beg God that our entire family tree will all be together in Heaven bowing down to the loving Savior that showed so much mercy and grace. If I can't get anything else right here in my time on earth, I just fervently pray that I can at least raise my children right. Not what the world deems right. But what my GOD says is right. I pray that I can teach my children to give God all the glory and honor in every last thing they do for their entire lives. If I never pray for any other thing in life, that would be my prayer. God give me the wisdom to be the mom that YOU created me to be, to these priceless gifts you've loaned me for just a short time. Let me just get this right. Three little souls depend on it. Amen.
You remember the intro to the comicstrip "Superman"--- Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound.......
Well, to mom's everywhere:
Faster than a speeding mini-van, more powerful than a dose of Prozac, able to leap the soccer field in a single bound, known as the Woman of Strength..... It's SUPERMOM.
What other creature on earth can gently nurture little babies, wipe away tears, and kiss away boo-boos while being the pillar of strength for her family? Simultaneously clean up vomit while cooking dinner, checking homework, and folding a pile of laundry without even breaking a sweat? Drive down the road and swat at her misbehaving child, answer 1,001 questions, silence a ringing cellphone and without for a moment taking her eyes off the road? What other creature can boldly and confidently say, "I told you so" at least a million times a week? What other creature takes pride in the shine of clean toilet bowls and clean floors and perfectly baked cookies for the PTO?
No other creature but us MOM'S, that's who!
But above all else, Mothers can pray for their children like nobody else can. They can fervently beg and plead with God to just give us the strength, the wisdom, and ability to just do this one thing right. If we fail at all else in our lives, please, God, let us raise happy, healthy children who have their eyes set on things above. Let us raise children who will be salt of the earth. We pray for our children to be a beacon of light for His glory in this ever darkening world of evil and faith that is continually being watered-down. Let our children and their lives be used for God's glory while His hand of protection and safety go before them. We beg and plead for our children to make wise choices, make the right friends, and despise sinful acts. We beg and plead for future spouses of our children to be God-fearing, God-loving spouses who will treat our children the way husbands and wives should--- under the authority of God. We even pray for our grandchildren in the distant, not-so-far-away future. That as a mom, our legacy will last for generations. We beg God that our entire family tree will all be together in Heaven bowing down to the loving Savior that showed so much mercy and grace. If I can't get anything else right here in my time on earth, I just fervently pray that I can at least raise my children right. Not what the world deems right. But what my GOD says is right. I pray that I can teach my children to give God all the glory and honor in every last thing they do for their entire lives. If I never pray for any other thing in life, that would be my prayer. God give me the wisdom to be the mom that YOU created me to be, to these priceless gifts you've loaned me for just a short time. Let me just get this right. Three little souls depend on it. Amen.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Counting Blessings....
There is a saying that goes something like this: "What if you woke up tomorrow with only the things you thanked God for today?" Yes, chew on that for just a minute. So in my praying this morning, it occurred to me that things in life seemed to be okay. I was not having to pray urgently for anything in particular (except for my children, which I pray for like a mad woman!). So then I started naming my blessings and thanking God for each of them. It is then that I realized just how many blessings have been so generously poured out onto my family and me. I urge you to stop and pray. But without asking God for anything. Just stop and start listing off your blessings and thanking God for each one of them. I promise, you will feel l00 pounds lighter afterwards.
When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings. Wealth can never buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings. Wealth can never buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
So, amid the conflict whether great or small,
Do not be disheartened, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.
Do not be disheartened, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
"Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,"
Ephesians 5:20 ESV
"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV
"Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!"
Psalm 107:1 ESV
"Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!"
Psalm 105:1 ESV
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