Life has a way of reminding you

that sometimes things are not as bad in your corner of the world as it seems. I stumbled across the following website through a baby center post. It made me realize thought my children have their issues and Christopher has his problems.......I have so much to be thankful for.

Go to
www.ethanpowell.com

He is just a baby, he was born in Dec 06 and diagnosed with Lukemia in Feb 07. He needs a miracle.

So I realize........what do I really have to complain about? Puts things so in perspective!

Mother's Day

Why is it we only get ONE day? LOL. I love mother's day don't get me wrong. The one day my husband does the cooking and most of the child care with lots of help.......LOL. But I often wonder why it is as a world we only celebrate mother's day 1 day a year. Just thinking about the sacrifices my mother made, astounds me. There are times when we had no money and the cupboards were bare, she would make a meal with what meager staples she had and she would say "No baby you eat the 2nd piece, Mommy is not hungry". Was she hungry......of course she was but she new I was still hungry and did not want me to go to bed without having my hunger satisfied. I remember her pretending to discipline me in the back room when my father had ordered her to go back their and give me a "whipping" or he would, with the yard stick. She hit the bed and I hollered like I was being killed. Perhaps this was dishonest, but the punishment most definitely did not fit the crime I had "committed" as a 10 year old child. So I a great drama queen put on an oscar winning performance and my mother saved me from being beaten by my father. She put up with so much from my father THINKING because of the way she was raised that it was best for us to be a family then to break up. She suffered things at the hands of my father we never witnessed or understood until we were adults. So why is it......why do we celebrate motherhood, 1 day a year.

When I became a mother, suddenly the sacrifices made....were all too clear. As I looked into my newborn son's face, the earth moved. My world changed forever. I was now a mother with more responsibility than I had ever known. I was now responsible for the beautiful little being who looked at me with such clear eyes of trust and love that my heart felt it. My heart leapt within me and it has never been the same. Oh I had felt him move with in me, but when I beheld that tiny face for the first time......there are no words to describe it. Then as each of my daughters were born it happened again. Each time I looked into a newborn face.....something changed.......the earth moved and I was different. My girls opened open another part of my heart. As I think about mothers throughout the world and the sacrifices they make; I am awed. Moms who have to go to work by choice or by neccesity, and leave the care and responsiblity of their children in someone else hands for a while. That is a sacrifice. Moms who stay at home and sometimes see the same 4 walls for days on end, drowning in chores, crying, tantrums and so much more. The mother in Africa who has no food to feed her child but will walk miles and miles to find it. The mother in Iraq who holds her bleeding, wounded child dying in her arms and refuses to leave the child though she is still in danger. The mother who sends her child to war to fight in a battle that he or she may not come home from. The mother that leaves her child to fight that same war....that is sacrifice. The mother who gives her child to a couple who can not have one of their own. The mother who loses child after child from her womb and aches to hold a living breathing child in her arms. ALL of them are mothers, from different walks of life, different roads traveled yet all effected by the role of motherhood. Motherhood is the greatest gift to me but with that awesome gift comes great responsibility, sacrifice and a love undescribable

Happy Mother's Day......today and everyday.

Blog Meme.....my 1st....

Are You a Spiritual Person? I guess I would have to say yes, if you count faith as spiritual. I don't believe in religiosity. That is people who are so busy being religious that they can't see that real people have real pain that does not necessarily have a cliche or easy answer. Our just telling someone to have faith and pray about it, does not solve their problems. To me my faith goes deeper than that. My faith is like the breath I breathe. I can't survive without it. My faith in my Lord nourishes my soul, my heart, my mind and my body. Faith is believing in what I can't see and it gives me hope beyond description. I often wonder what life would be without faith and I don't want to try it. Faith helps me find sunshine on a cloudy day. Faith helps me see that God has touched my children when their laugh rings out pure and true. Faith is spiritual to me. It connects me to my Lord and draws me closer. Yet my spiritual walk is not perfect. I make mistakes; I stumble, I have regrets, BUT....my Lord is always there for me helping me throught that. My children are spiritual too. I believe part of our spiritual being is born into us. What we choose to do with it, either helps it to grow or starves it. My son is so spiritual, so faith filled, so close to God in his sweet innocent way that it awes me. He can talk to God for hours just like having a converstation with his best friend. He talks to God about everything from his hotwheels cars to his Mommy's headache. When he really deeply prays, it will take your breath away. His faith is pure, innocent and beyond his years. From him I have learned to persevere even when you can't feel or see the answer. Even when you feel like your faith is gone......I have learned to hang on. Spiritual to me is something beyond religion.....it is a connection with the Lord who builds you up in faith and grace.


What Makes Your Blog Unique? I am not sure actually. I try to use humor and sometimes add something from my children's point of view. Looking through their eyes opens up a whole new world of possiblities and creativity. They see the world in rainbows and butterflies and if I can add a few rainbows and butterflies to someone else's day I would love that.

What Are Your Feelings on the “Blog Popularity” Issue? I truly did not know there was an issue. I don't get to get on as much as I like but now I may be addicted again since I started writing this meme, suddenly my creative mode has kicked in and ideas are popping in my brain like microwave popcorn. Better not leave them too long or they will burn. (lol) Mine is not a popular blob as it only gets traffic from those I know and I dont have a whole lot of people on my blog as of yet. But maybe it will grow. I have this blog and the one on myspace so I guess I will have to generate some traffic.

When Did You Start Blogging?Last summer thanks to my Shawna and a few others. I don't blog much but love it as a hobby. It really helps me put my thoughts down, so maybe I should get my sister hooked up. She has the gift for "gab" but she is a busy pediatric nurse, so she may not. But I can try as she is on myspace.

I am tagging: *TINA* .......*THERESA* and.........hmmmmmm not sure will have to get back on that........LOL

Socks, binkies, and the vortex

What is that vortex that sucks in socks, binkies, and puzzle pieces? For that matter anything you need at a given time will be sucked into the vortex. It is huge, it is sneaky and it is ugly. That same vortex works in reverse when it comes to laundry. You think, "Oh I am just about caught up" then VIOLA, Laundry suddenly increases 10 times. So there must be some vortex in the lives of mothers. This same vortex sucks the energy right out of mom inversely proportional to the energy level in your child. The more energry your child displays the less you have. What's up with that? This same vortex seems to suck all responsibility and answers from a child when this child has done something wrong.

Who tore this up(knowing full well who did it)? I dunno with a shrug of the shoulders.
Now Hannah, I saw you tear up brother's paper. "No Mommy, Jennener(Jennifer) did it". "I a goooooooood girl".

This vortex works on husbands too. They have plenty of energry for certain things despite how little sleep or how hard they have worked. But you as that same husband to do a chore, start a load of laundry or take the kids out for an hour or so and suddenly, WHAM the vortex strikes and zaps eery ounce of energy from him. "Oh honey, I am so tired. It was such a hard day at work". uhhm, yeah, and I sat around and ate bon bons all day. Yes, this vortex strikes at all times of the day, in any weather condition and any season. If the item or clothing you are looking for is very important it is even harder to fight the vortex and find it.

It also works on babies. Only the vortex on babies does dastardly things. Such as; you have baby all dressed up in pink ruffles, frilly socks and patent leather shoes......and suddenly the vortex presses on the baby and she erupts from her diaper with the foulest poops known to man kind. Requiring not only a bath, but a change of clothes for both of you and the dreaded search for more baby socks that match. Yes, my friends the vortex, if we could find a way to fight the vortex, perhaps, just perhaps we could get ahead of the drool, messes, laundry, lost binkies and socks.

Then again if we didn't have the vortex our lives might be more boring.

And we would not have such humorous stories to embarrass our children with one day in the future.

Wordless Wednesday--helping Mama with laundry

All about me......A to Z

ACCENT:
:L. A.........that is lower Alabama mixed with North West Florida and Georgia. I grew up in the Florida panhandle and oh yeah I do have that good old southern accent ya'll.

BIBLE BOOK THAT I LIKE: Psalms
CHORE I DON'T CARE FOR: LAUNDRY

DOG OR CAT: Niether but one day I want a beagle

ESSENTIAL ELECTRONICS: The Computer and my digital camera

FAVORITE COLOGNE: my allergies dont allow me to wear it

GOLD OR SILVER: Gold is my favorite when I actually get to wear jewelry

HANDBAG I CARRY MOST OFTEN: a green and white Sesame Street diaper bag......LOL

INSOMNIA: No, well unless you count the fact my one or the other of my children wake me up at least 6 times a night

JOB TITLE: Mom, chief cook, bottle washer diaper changer, and oh yeah I baby sit two kids during the day as well while my son is at school......and last but not least associate pastor's wife

KIDS: 1 boy age 6, two girls age 3 and 8 months

LIVING ARRANGEMENTS: 3 bedroom 2 bath house......on church property
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MOST ADMIRABLE TRAIT: I think I am pretty easygoing and forgive quickly and dont hold grudges.
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NAUGHTIEST CHILDHOOD BEHAVIOR: oh man do I have to admit this........I cut mine and my sister's hair, I stole Sunday School money out of my mom's purse, oh man I was a handfull

OVERNIGHT HOSPITAL STAYS: well I was sick a LOT as a child so was in the hospital a lot then. But other than that for my endometriosis surgery and for the births of my 3 children..

RELIGION: Assemblies of God

SIBLINGS: two brothers, one is 6 years older, the other 2 years older and my identical twin sister.

TIME I WAKE UP: way too early....usually 6 am.....thanks to my 3 year old.

UNUSUAL TALENT OR SKILL: I can pick up things with my toes and even write with my toes

VEGETABLE I REFUSE TO EAT: asparagus, brussel sprouts.....ick and since my last pregnancy raw tomatoes

WORST HABIT: thinking I am fat, being negative about myself, and disorganization

X-RAYS: hmmmmmm I think the last time was when I locked my hand in a car door.....yes people I LOCKED my hand in my car door, automatic locks......sigh yeah it hurt
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YUMMY STUFF I COOK: just about anything.......LOL . I love to cook but dh and children like my fried chicken.....remember I am from the south......LOL

ZOO ANIMAL I LIKE MOST: I have to say the monkeys, especially the little minature ones with those wee little hands.......makes me think of baby hands......LOL

Is it time to go for a swim

Lately I have been overhwhelmed in this journey called motherhood.

With Christopher I want him to "grow up and act his age", when that is just what he is doing. He is 6 years old and he is acting just the way 6 year olds act. He is very bright and too often I expect him to be on the same level emotionally as his brain is mentally. That isn't fair. Because when you get down to it, yes he is bright but he is still only 6 years old. Yes, he has faith beyond his years, but he is only 6 years old. Why can't I enjoy the fact he is just a little boy and he needs me to treasure these childish moments. He asks, begs, pleads for me to play with him. Yet, too many times, I am "too tired" or "too busy right now". I have to stop that. How long would it take to just sit down and play with him for a bit and see the joy light his face like the sunshine in the eastern sky at dawn.

With Hannah, she at 3 years and a couple of months is finally interested in potty training again. She quit when the baby was born. Yet, I find myself impatient with the whole potty thing and wanting to rush her and yes even scold her. She IS trying.....but lately it hasn't been good enough for mommy cause mommy is tired of cleaning up her messes. That is so unfair. She is trying and she cant learn overnight. Yet sometimes that is how I act. She is such a happy little girl and sees beauty in everything, including mommy when I am at my worst. She tells me all the time "I just like you mommy". Yet do I want her to be like me with the poor attitude I have had lately. I dont want to crush her beautiful spirit. She is like a budding flower so beautiful, yet so fragile. Why can't I just let her go at her own pace and grow up like the Lord intended.

With Jennifer, at all of 8 months, lately I even get frustrated with her. She is still just a baby. She is so petite and so tiny and so precious. Yet I get frustrated when she loses her binky at 3 am and I have to get up and help her find it. Why cant I use that moment to gain an extra cuddle and sweet time with her without anyone else clamoring for attention. Instead, I try to reinsert the binky and see if I can get her back to sleep quickly. Yet those times I do take the time to hold her and cuddle her and not rush her back to sleep are so precious. She lays her little head on my shoulder as I pat her back and strokes my face with that tiny little hand. As if to say "Mommy, I am so glad you are here". She can't say I love you......but oh how she shows it.

Why is it I get so frustrated with my dear husband simply because he doesn't do things the way I WANT them done. He does help.....just not exactly the way I want. Help should be help and so many men don't help their wives. Many men aren't the awesome fathers to their children my husband is.

Why do I leave my Lord out so much. When He is calling me to a deeper place in Him. Yet, there I stand at the edge of the water dipping my toe in like I have something to fear. I have never had to fear anything the Lord has called me too. The water is nice and calm yet there I stand, still toe dipping instead of jumping in head first. Maybe it is time to go for a swim and find out what happens when I immerse myself in a deeper place in Jesus. Perhaps then all this frustration will be washed away by the calm, quiet waters of His presence. So maybe just maybe I need to go for a swim, no not maybe IT IS TIME to go for a swim. So I need to work on myself to make myself a better Christian, a better wife, and a better mom. I need to value each person in my family for who they are and look for the good in them. It is time to jump in, get wet and go for that swim.