Share one thing/event/ time in your life that God has taken to make and mold a part of who you are today
It's really hard to narrow it down to ONE thing. My childhood and family relationships have been a definite plus in my life. Knowing financial hardship has made me a more compassionate person and living with a husband who is chronically ill has definitely made me more patient (usually LOL).
But I guess motherhood is the biggest thing. Knowing that unconditional love and what real sacrifice is can only come through being a parent. It's the closest thing we have on earth to the way our Heavenly Father feels about us. Whenever I feel like questioning that aspect of my life, I remember how I feel about my children and I realize that's how He feels about me. It is, in the words of Chris Tomlin, "indescribable".
Thursday, February 28, 2008
OCP blog challenge #2
At what point in your life did you realize that you actually had a relationship with Jesus?
Hmm...I was in my teens when the "relationship" developed but probably was much older when I actually realized that it was a "relationship". I was saved when I was 9 years old but I didn't realize then that my salvation was secure or really what it even meant. But I continued to have "conversations" with God throughout...well, I still do! LOL
After I got older and more involved in church and Bible study, I began to realize the relationship aspect of knowing Jesus and what everyone was so jazzed about! I thought it was something different but began to realize it's what I'd been doing all along! I can't possibly put into words what all He has meant to me over the years--the things He's helped me through, the person He's helped me become, the blessings He has poured out on me. What an awesome friend!
Hmm...I was in my teens when the "relationship" developed but probably was much older when I actually realized that it was a "relationship". I was saved when I was 9 years old but I didn't realize then that my salvation was secure or really what it even meant. But I continued to have "conversations" with God throughout...well, I still do! LOL
After I got older and more involved in church and Bible study, I began to realize the relationship aspect of knowing Jesus and what everyone was so jazzed about! I thought it was something different but began to realize it's what I'd been doing all along! I can't possibly put into words what all He has meant to me over the years--the things He's helped me through, the person He's helped me become, the blessings He has poured out on me. What an awesome friend!
Friday, February 22, 2008
Bringing home Mia!
Monday, we had another one of those rare days when we were ALL off so we seized the opportunity for a road trip!
My girls are BIG into the American Girl dolls and stories. Of the 13 historical character dolls, we have 8. We have Kit, Samantha, Nellie, Kirsten, Felicity, Molly, Julie, and Ivy. We also have a lot of Kit's furniture and accessories and Felicity's horse, Penny. And of the 6 girls of the year, we now have 3--Jess, Nicki and now Mia!!
Mia is the Girl of the Year 2008 and she is special to us because my youngest sister is named Mia and to me, this doll really favors her! As soon as we saw that she was going to come out 1/1/08, the girls started saving their money and making plans to get her. They've also been wanting to check out the American Girl Bistro & Boutique in Atlanta so we decided to make the trip!
It was really neat! Though it's not as big and extravagant as the American Girl Place in New York, Chicago and LA (no theatre, etc.), it was still nice to see all that they had. The displays set up for each character were lavish, the book section extensive and the doll hair salon interesting. But the place was T I N Y! And crowded! We did not get to eat at the bistro because Mommy wasn't sure we'd want to eat there and so I didn't make reservations. But we spent some time looking around. I learned a few tips on fixing the doll hair without paying the $20 to actually get a doll's hair styled (Hello? I don't pay that much to get MY hair styled!) We took a few pictures and most importantly, we got Mia!
Here are some pictures to share:
Along for the trip to get the new member of our American Girl family is Nicky, one of Brooke's favorite's and Kit, Kayti's absolute favorite.
The doll hair salon...
Brooke posing in front of Samantha's disply. Samantha is Brooke's favorite historical character doll. (Nicky, her other favorite is a girl of the year! You know you have to keep this stuff straight! LOL)
Kayti posing in front of the Kit display (did I mention Kit is her FAVORITE!!!) We already knew that the Kit movie is coming out in July and we got to watch the trailer. But we also learned that they are coming out with a doll for Ruthie, Kit's friend in June. It just so happens to coincide with Kayti's birthday which is June 24 so guess what she wants!
The girls posing outside the store with Mia. Check out the pictures of Mia in the store window!
To keep the boys from dying of boredom, we agreed to go to Bass Pro Shops after we were done at the American Girl Store. But we first had to grab a bite to eat at Mommy's favorite restaurant, Joe's Crab Shack!
Now I'm after Jeff to build some shelves in the girl's room so we don't have to keep stashing all this neat American Girl stuff in the closet! I am not holding my breath though. LOL
Blessings!
My girls are BIG into the American Girl dolls and stories. Of the 13 historical character dolls, we have 8. We have Kit, Samantha, Nellie, Kirsten, Felicity, Molly, Julie, and Ivy. We also have a lot of Kit's furniture and accessories and Felicity's horse, Penny. And of the 6 girls of the year, we now have 3--Jess, Nicki and now Mia!!
Mia is the Girl of the Year 2008 and she is special to us because my youngest sister is named Mia and to me, this doll really favors her! As soon as we saw that she was going to come out 1/1/08, the girls started saving their money and making plans to get her. They've also been wanting to check out the American Girl Bistro & Boutique in Atlanta so we decided to make the trip!
It was really neat! Though it's not as big and extravagant as the American Girl Place in New York, Chicago and LA (no theatre, etc.), it was still nice to see all that they had. The displays set up for each character were lavish, the book section extensive and the doll hair salon interesting. But the place was T I N Y! And crowded! We did not get to eat at the bistro because Mommy wasn't sure we'd want to eat there and so I didn't make reservations. But we spent some time looking around. I learned a few tips on fixing the doll hair without paying the $20 to actually get a doll's hair styled (Hello? I don't pay that much to get MY hair styled!) We took a few pictures and most importantly, we got Mia!
Here are some pictures to share:
Along for the trip to get the new member of our American Girl family is Nicky, one of Brooke's favorite's and Kit, Kayti's absolute favorite.
The doll hair salon...
Brooke posing in front of Samantha's disply. Samantha is Brooke's favorite historical character doll. (Nicky, her other favorite is a girl of the year! You know you have to keep this stuff straight! LOL)
Kayti posing in front of the Kit display (did I mention Kit is her FAVORITE!!!) We already knew that the Kit movie is coming out in July and we got to watch the trailer. But we also learned that they are coming out with a doll for Ruthie, Kit's friend in June. It just so happens to coincide with Kayti's birthday which is June 24 so guess what she wants!
The girls posing outside the store with Mia. Check out the pictures of Mia in the store window!
To keep the boys from dying of boredom, we agreed to go to Bass Pro Shops after we were done at the American Girl Store. But we first had to grab a bite to eat at Mommy's favorite restaurant, Joe's Crab Shack!
Now I'm after Jeff to build some shelves in the girl's room so we don't have to keep stashing all this neat American Girl stuff in the closet! I am not holding my breath though. LOL
Blessings!
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
SOOO much to blog and so little time!
I am working on blog challenge #2 from Online Christian Parents and I also want to share about my recent return to my old church and also about our day in Atlanta yesterday at the American Girl store and Bass Pro Shops! But I am so overwhelmed right now with housework and errands to catch up on so I'll have to put my real blogging on the backburner for now. Until then, hope you enjoy this in the lighthearted humorous way it is intended:
TEN THINGS I NOTICED ABOUT GEORGIA
1. They have just as many crazy drivers as Alabama!
2. All the crazy drivers in Georgia drive either incredibly SSSSSSLLLLLLOOOOOOWWWWW or REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY SUPER SPEEDY FAST!!!
3. They have way more road construction than Alabama! I'll never again complain about our road construction because it was just crazy. It was only by the grace of God that we didn't get stranded on I-20 once because there was NO SIGN telling you the road was actually going to RUN OUT in the right lane at a certain point. It just so happened we got in the left lane with the road split due to construction. I felt so sorry for all those who stayed in the right lane and I don't know how they got out of it.
4. You really have to pay attention to interstate signs, which may explain why so many drive so slowly. There's no indication of the direction you're supposed to go in until you almost (and sometimes do!) miss your exit point.
5. Apparently the roads are so crazy in Georgia that even expedia and mapquest can't keep up because the directions I had downloaded were off.
6. The people who name the streets in Georgia have NO imagination (must be the same people who name the Cabbage Patch kids!). Everything in Atlanta is Peachtree something. Peachtree Street, Peachtree Blvd, Peachtree Court, Peachtree Parkway, etc. and then each of THOSE has a North, East, South, West, Northeast, Northwest, Southeast and Southwest. Go north to Alpharetta and all the roads are named North Point something! Go east from Alpharetta to Lawrenceville and all the roads are some kind of bridge street or Amber something until you get to the sugar section (Sugar Mill, Sugarloaf, etc.) Sheesh! Could ya be a little more confusing there? LOL
7. Drivers in Georgia need a LOT of space to back up/park etc. regardless of the size of their car. (you'd have to be there, but me, I can park a Mack truck in a bike stand!)
8. It must be appropriate or stylish or something while in the malls to let children run wild like bucks! Maybe next time I'll try that!
9. We (bama) have nothing on their malls. They are huge and there are several of them. All good if you're a shopper, which I am NOT. I'm thankful to be back close to my Walmart!
10. Speaking of Walmart, I did not see ONE Walmart in the entire Atlanta/Metro area. Are they all hidden somewhere? I could not survive there!
Nonetheless, we had a great time! I love road trips (confusion, mess and all) Georgia is beautiful (hey, it's the south, it's gotta be!)--almost as beautiful as her neighboring state, Alabama THE beautiful!!
TEN THINGS I NOTICED ABOUT GEORGIA
1. They have just as many crazy drivers as Alabama!
2. All the crazy drivers in Georgia drive either incredibly SSSSSSLLLLLLOOOOOOWWWWW or REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY SUPER SPEEDY FAST!!!
3. They have way more road construction than Alabama! I'll never again complain about our road construction because it was just crazy. It was only by the grace of God that we didn't get stranded on I-20 once because there was NO SIGN telling you the road was actually going to RUN OUT in the right lane at a certain point. It just so happened we got in the left lane with the road split due to construction. I felt so sorry for all those who stayed in the right lane and I don't know how they got out of it.
4. You really have to pay attention to interstate signs, which may explain why so many drive so slowly. There's no indication of the direction you're supposed to go in until you almost (and sometimes do!) miss your exit point.
5. Apparently the roads are so crazy in Georgia that even expedia and mapquest can't keep up because the directions I had downloaded were off.
6. The people who name the streets in Georgia have NO imagination (must be the same people who name the Cabbage Patch kids!). Everything in Atlanta is Peachtree something. Peachtree Street, Peachtree Blvd, Peachtree Court, Peachtree Parkway, etc. and then each of THOSE has a North, East, South, West, Northeast, Northwest, Southeast and Southwest. Go north to Alpharetta and all the roads are named North Point something! Go east from Alpharetta to Lawrenceville and all the roads are some kind of bridge street or Amber something until you get to the sugar section (Sugar Mill, Sugarloaf, etc.) Sheesh! Could ya be a little more confusing there? LOL
7. Drivers in Georgia need a LOT of space to back up/park etc. regardless of the size of their car. (you'd have to be there, but me, I can park a Mack truck in a bike stand!)
8. It must be appropriate or stylish or something while in the malls to let children run wild like bucks! Maybe next time I'll try that!
9. We (bama) have nothing on their malls. They are huge and there are several of them. All good if you're a shopper, which I am NOT. I'm thankful to be back close to my Walmart!
10. Speaking of Walmart, I did not see ONE Walmart in the entire Atlanta/Metro area. Are they all hidden somewhere? I could not survive there!
Nonetheless, we had a great time! I love road trips (confusion, mess and all) Georgia is beautiful (hey, it's the south, it's gotta be!)--almost as beautiful as her neighboring state, Alabama THE beautiful!!
Saturday, February 16, 2008
A "Quick" Update
Pardon the pun!
I've had a very trying last couple of days so I'll make this one as brief as I can. But I'm realizing I never got around to posting about last weekend.
Last Saturday, we had one of those very RARE free days. Not one of the five of us had a single prior committment and Jeff was off, for the first time in weeks. So we decided to take advantage of an idea I'd read about somewhere a few months ago and we had a Family Fun Day. Everyone got to pick something (within reason) that he/she wanted to do and we spent the entire day doing all those things. I wanted to go to the Trussville Antique Mall because I'd never been. Jeff wanted to go browsing in the tool store over in Homewood. Dylan wanted to go fishing somewhere. Kayti wanted to make homemade ice cream and Brooke wanted to watch family home movies. So we set off on our adventure!
I think we ALL loved the antique mall! I didn't realize how big it was and they had some of the neatest little treasures! Of course they had the big expensive furniture, estate jewelry, fine china, etc. but they also had old albums, 45's (I had to explain to the kids what those were!), old car tags, toys, books, magazines, etc. They had SO much stuff. Some of it wasn't very old at all, but collectible. One day I hope to take my mom because I think she'd really enjoy looking at some of those things and I'd like to eat at the cafe, too. It smelled really nice!
But we'd already planned to eat at Applebee's so after some refreshment, we headed to the tool store! What can I say? It was a tool store! LOL I know Jeff and Dylan enjoyed it.
Then we headed to Oak Mountain to fish for a bit but they really weren't biting. So we explored the park for awhile until it started to get dark. I think we've decided to spend our Spring Break there--renting one of the cabins and hiking, fishing, horseback riding for a few days.
We came home, made our ice cream and watched our movies! My, the kids sure have grown. You don't realize it until you start pulling out the pictures and videos. But we watched the births and a lot of when they were babies. We watched when Dylan was about to start 4k! I can hardly believe he'll be starting college in just a few years! We watched happy, giggly Kayti learning to pull up and bouncing around in her first girly nightgown and we watched Brooke and her crazy hair playing in her ball pit. We watched the trip we took several years ago to Gatlinburg with Dylan's football team and could hear Adam's mom screaming! She still sounds the same! LOL We watched our Disney trip and I'd forgotten about Brooke being afraid of the characters! We also got to see a lot of Maw Maw on the tapes, too and that was a blessing on the heels of Uncle Gene's passing. I'm so thankful for these tapes and that the kids get to look back and see that there were never a bunch of more loved, more doted on kids than my three!
Sunday, the kids and I went to worship service and then Dylan and I went and met my mom, cousin and her son on a little trip down memory lane. My mom showed the boys were some of our ancestors are buried and we also found the graves of the Tarrant's, founders of Tarrant City. I've never been one much for visiting gravesites but it sure is a shame that the city doesn't care for it's founders graves better. It's as if they were lost and I wouldn't be a bit surprised if in a few years, they are unlocatable. We then took off to the Reservoir of Robinwood/Pawnee where my mom, dad, bio dad and other relatives have so many fond memories. Of course, we were trespassing to be able to see it (ssshhh!!!) and we then went to the Rock House in Pawnee. Everyone climbed it but me. Weak knees and a fat rear end are not a good combination when rock climbing so that's one adventure I do not participate in! Then we went to Turkey Creek Nature Preserve. Nett hadn't been in a while and though we went just last year, it's a nice spot to visit, especially now that it has been fixed up. I'm sure it's a lot different from the days when our parents used to hang out there.
This week has been fairly uneventful--nothing worth rattling on about too much. You can check out our Homeschool Blog for more!
I've had a very trying last couple of days so I'll make this one as brief as I can. But I'm realizing I never got around to posting about last weekend.
Last Saturday, we had one of those very RARE free days. Not one of the five of us had a single prior committment and Jeff was off, for the first time in weeks. So we decided to take advantage of an idea I'd read about somewhere a few months ago and we had a Family Fun Day. Everyone got to pick something (within reason) that he/she wanted to do and we spent the entire day doing all those things. I wanted to go to the Trussville Antique Mall because I'd never been. Jeff wanted to go browsing in the tool store over in Homewood. Dylan wanted to go fishing somewhere. Kayti wanted to make homemade ice cream and Brooke wanted to watch family home movies. So we set off on our adventure!
I think we ALL loved the antique mall! I didn't realize how big it was and they had some of the neatest little treasures! Of course they had the big expensive furniture, estate jewelry, fine china, etc. but they also had old albums, 45's (I had to explain to the kids what those were!), old car tags, toys, books, magazines, etc. They had SO much stuff. Some of it wasn't very old at all, but collectible. One day I hope to take my mom because I think she'd really enjoy looking at some of those things and I'd like to eat at the cafe, too. It smelled really nice!
But we'd already planned to eat at Applebee's so after some refreshment, we headed to the tool store! What can I say? It was a tool store! LOL I know Jeff and Dylan enjoyed it.
Then we headed to Oak Mountain to fish for a bit but they really weren't biting. So we explored the park for awhile until it started to get dark. I think we've decided to spend our Spring Break there--renting one of the cabins and hiking, fishing, horseback riding for a few days.
We came home, made our ice cream and watched our movies! My, the kids sure have grown. You don't realize it until you start pulling out the pictures and videos. But we watched the births and a lot of when they were babies. We watched when Dylan was about to start 4k! I can hardly believe he'll be starting college in just a few years! We watched happy, giggly Kayti learning to pull up and bouncing around in her first girly nightgown and we watched Brooke and her crazy hair playing in her ball pit. We watched the trip we took several years ago to Gatlinburg with Dylan's football team and could hear Adam's mom screaming! She still sounds the same! LOL We watched our Disney trip and I'd forgotten about Brooke being afraid of the characters! We also got to see a lot of Maw Maw on the tapes, too and that was a blessing on the heels of Uncle Gene's passing. I'm so thankful for these tapes and that the kids get to look back and see that there were never a bunch of more loved, more doted on kids than my three!
Sunday, the kids and I went to worship service and then Dylan and I went and met my mom, cousin and her son on a little trip down memory lane. My mom showed the boys were some of our ancestors are buried and we also found the graves of the Tarrant's, founders of Tarrant City. I've never been one much for visiting gravesites but it sure is a shame that the city doesn't care for it's founders graves better. It's as if they were lost and I wouldn't be a bit surprised if in a few years, they are unlocatable. We then took off to the Reservoir of Robinwood/Pawnee where my mom, dad, bio dad and other relatives have so many fond memories. Of course, we were trespassing to be able to see it (ssshhh!!!) and we then went to the Rock House in Pawnee. Everyone climbed it but me. Weak knees and a fat rear end are not a good combination when rock climbing so that's one adventure I do not participate in! Then we went to Turkey Creek Nature Preserve. Nett hadn't been in a while and though we went just last year, it's a nice spot to visit, especially now that it has been fixed up. I'm sure it's a lot different from the days when our parents used to hang out there.
This week has been fairly uneventful--nothing worth rattling on about too much. You can check out our Homeschool Blog for more!
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Who I am
This assignment is from my dear Sheila from OCP.
Who I am
I am a woman created by an awesome God. I am wonderfully made, according to His word and I believe that, despite being terribly overweight, mouthy and brutally honest because I am also a woman who cares deeply for others (even those who get on my last nerve!) I am always ready to give someone the benefit of the doubt. I am a fan of the underdog. I try to see the other person's side and I look for the good in everything and everyone.
I am a woman who enjoys being a woman and love exploring new ways to celebrate how wonderful women are! (like bellydancing!) I am a woman who enjoys sisterhood and the special relationships women form with one another. I am a woman who enjoys fellowship with others and fellowship with her Creator and a woman who regrets often not making enough time for either.
I am a woman who holds grudges--for LOOOONNNNGGGG periods of time. But I am (thankfully) also a woman who will ultimately forgive and when I have, it is TRULY forgiven. I am a woman who does not have many regrets. For I believe that every experience in life, good and bad, makes us who we are. And I like who I am, faults and all. I am a woman with a lot of confidence in my God-given talents, secure in the purpose of my life today and eager to discover my purpose for tomorrow.
I am a woman who struggles daily between flesh and spirit. I am a sinner and even on my most righteous days, am but a filthy rag and I KNOW this and I can't hide that I am a woman who wishes others knew that same thing about themselves! But I am also a woman saved by grace because I know the Son of the One true God--Jesus--and I am a woman who is thankful to know the REAL Jesus and not only His holiness but His heart for sinners like me. Just like the Todd Agnew song says, "I think He'd prefer Beale Street to the stained-glass crowd!" Amen!! And I sometimes can't hide that I am a woman who wishes EVERYONE knew THAT!
I am a woman who is married to a man, who, when he isn't sinking in depression and chronic illness, almost walks on water. I am a woman who struggles daily to lift him up, cover him in prayer, be attentive to his needs as much as my own and the needs of others. I am a woman who tries desparately to follow when her natural born tendacy is to lead and I am a woman who loves her husband deeply and yet sometimes fails to undertand how men, who are supposed to be the stronger sex, can have such delicate psyches!
I am a woman who discovers every day what an awesome responsibility motherhood is. The ONLY person who understands the word "sacrifice" better than a mom is God Himself. I am a woman trying (and often failing) to set a good example of godly womanhood to both her daughters and her son. I am a woman who attempts daily to balance wanting to give her children everything she can and at the same time wanting them to know what it means to earn something and therefore appreciate it all the more. I experience daily both the joy and the sorrow of being a mother--in other words, I walk daily on holy ground. I am a woman who tries to bring beauty to my children's worlds through my creativity, tenderness and compassion.
I am a woman who loves from the depths of my heart. And with that, what more can I say?
Who I am
I am a woman created by an awesome God. I am wonderfully made, according to His word and I believe that, despite being terribly overweight, mouthy and brutally honest because I am also a woman who cares deeply for others (even those who get on my last nerve!) I am always ready to give someone the benefit of the doubt. I am a fan of the underdog. I try to see the other person's side and I look for the good in everything and everyone.
I am a woman who enjoys being a woman and love exploring new ways to celebrate how wonderful women are! (like bellydancing!) I am a woman who enjoys sisterhood and the special relationships women form with one another. I am a woman who enjoys fellowship with others and fellowship with her Creator and a woman who regrets often not making enough time for either.
I am a woman who holds grudges--for LOOOONNNNGGGG periods of time. But I am (thankfully) also a woman who will ultimately forgive and when I have, it is TRULY forgiven. I am a woman who does not have many regrets. For I believe that every experience in life, good and bad, makes us who we are. And I like who I am, faults and all. I am a woman with a lot of confidence in my God-given talents, secure in the purpose of my life today and eager to discover my purpose for tomorrow.
I am a woman who struggles daily between flesh and spirit. I am a sinner and even on my most righteous days, am but a filthy rag and I KNOW this and I can't hide that I am a woman who wishes others knew that same thing about themselves! But I am also a woman saved by grace because I know the Son of the One true God--Jesus--and I am a woman who is thankful to know the REAL Jesus and not only His holiness but His heart for sinners like me. Just like the Todd Agnew song says, "I think He'd prefer Beale Street to the stained-glass crowd!" Amen!! And I sometimes can't hide that I am a woman who wishes EVERYONE knew THAT!
I am a woman who is married to a man, who, when he isn't sinking in depression and chronic illness, almost walks on water. I am a woman who struggles daily to lift him up, cover him in prayer, be attentive to his needs as much as my own and the needs of others. I am a woman who tries desparately to follow when her natural born tendacy is to lead and I am a woman who loves her husband deeply and yet sometimes fails to undertand how men, who are supposed to be the stronger sex, can have such delicate psyches!
I am a woman who discovers every day what an awesome responsibility motherhood is. The ONLY person who understands the word "sacrifice" better than a mom is God Himself. I am a woman trying (and often failing) to set a good example of godly womanhood to both her daughters and her son. I am a woman who attempts daily to balance wanting to give her children everything she can and at the same time wanting them to know what it means to earn something and therefore appreciate it all the more. I experience daily both the joy and the sorrow of being a mother--in other words, I walk daily on holy ground. I am a woman who tries to bring beauty to my children's worlds through my creativity, tenderness and compassion.
I am a woman who loves from the depths of my heart. And with that, what more can I say?
Friday, February 8, 2008
The Best of Both Worlds
Last night, I took the girls to see Hannah Montana's Best of Both Worlds Concert in 3D. Those marketing guys at Disney are geniuses! The movie is only out for a week so everyone is scrounging for tickets, or so the buzz is. I didn't have to work too hard for mine and though some complained about the price ($15 each), it's really not that much more than it costs to go to a movie anyway. But I compare it to the several hundred dollars SOME people spent on the actual concert tickets and I think WE got the better deal!!
I really enjoyed it!! I think that kid is a great little role model for little girls. That is, if you're looking to tv and things for role models anyway, which we are not. But I have no problem with my girls liking her. She's cute as a button and very talented. I guess it runs in her family because her daddy is still hot! LOL And it's obvious he loves his little girl. Every time I hear that song he wrote for her, I just want to cry! It makes me think about how soon mine will be getting ready and getting set and how I'll be wanting to scream, "Don't go!"
They showed a lot of behind-the-scenes stuff, too and I found it all really interesting. If you have a daughter that wants to go and are considering it, I promise it is well worthy your time and money.
Here are a few pictures:
I really enjoyed it!! I think that kid is a great little role model for little girls. That is, if you're looking to tv and things for role models anyway, which we are not. But I have no problem with my girls liking her. She's cute as a button and very talented. I guess it runs in her family because her daddy is still hot! LOL And it's obvious he loves his little girl. Every time I hear that song he wrote for her, I just want to cry! It makes me think about how soon mine will be getting ready and getting set and how I'll be wanting to scream, "Don't go!"
They showed a lot of behind-the-scenes stuff, too and I found it all really interesting. If you have a daughter that wants to go and are considering it, I promise it is well worthy your time and money.
Here are a few pictures:
Mom, can we get one?
Wednesday, we had our first class of Spanish. We're doing a co-op with some sweet friends from our homeschool group. One of the families just adopted a baby from Guatemala. I have always wanted to foster, adopt or be a surrogate mom (though I'm getting too old for that!) but Jeff just isn't on board with the idea and until this week, neither was Brooke. Anytime the topic was brought up, she's say, "I'm the baby in this family and it's gonna stay that way!"
Now, she is in love!!!
And who can blame her? Look at that sweet baby!!! Now she is BEGGING for us to "get one" as if they are a fashion accessory! LOL I told her it would really take an act of God to get Daddy to be on board with that, first of all and then it would take a few of God's miracles for us to be able to afford it! But maybe someday we'll foster or something...who knows!
Check out our Homeschool Blog for more on our new Spanish Co-op.
Now, she is in love!!!
And who can blame her? Look at that sweet baby!!! Now she is BEGGING for us to "get one" as if they are a fashion accessory! LOL I told her it would really take an act of God to get Daddy to be on board with that, first of all and then it would take a few of God's miracles for us to be able to afford it! But maybe someday we'll foster or something...who knows!
Check out our Homeschool Blog for more on our new Spanish Co-op.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Mardi Gras!!!
Yesterday was Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, the last day before the season of Lent. In the past, our family has observed Lent and I always like the idea of Lent. Though I think we should ALWAYS be reflective of the sacrifice of Jesus and our preparation for His second coming. But we don't always "give up" something! It's a lot harder than it sounds! I've even tried to pick something easy to give up and have failed! So it really can make you appreciate the meaning of the word sacrifice.
And I've always been fascinated by Mardi Gras. We don't usually go to any of the festivals--especially not New Orleans! New Orleans is enough of a carnival without the holiday! LOL Nor do we get drunk, gorge and act like loons (no more looney than any other day of the year anyway! LOL) But we generally eat Jambalaya and King Cake and I wear my wig, mask and beads! When I was teaching, the kids always got a big kick out of it. Yesterday, I walked in to pick Brooke up from dance wearing it and of course, Kayti got embarrassed! It doesn't take much--she's at that age. But I'm using every opportunity to help break her of being embarrassed at things others do. Everyone knows I'm nuts, they don't think anything of it (or if they do, I don't care). It doesn't bother me to act silly so it shouldn't bother her. I know it will take time. Brooke did not care at all. She walked right out and said, "Hey mom! Can I wear your beads?!"
So after everyone got home, we ate our Jambalaya (it was YUM!) and then had our King Cake:
Wonder who will get "da baby?"
Does Dylan have "da baby?"
Does Kayti have "da baby?"
Does Brooke have "da baby?"
Nope!!! Dylan has da baby!!!
For those of you who don't know or are misinformed, Mardi Gras is NOT a pagan holiday. Though I wouldn't necessarily call the festivals today "Christian". But it is a faith-based celebration and cultural in nature. (And we DO have a lot of Louisiana relatives!) Here's a little history behind the King Cake:
The King Cake is believed to have originated in France around the 12th Century. These early Europeans celebrated the coming of the three wise men bearing gifts twelve days after Christmas calling it the feast of the Epiphany, Twelfth Night or King's Day.
The main part of the celebration was the baking of a King Cake to honor the three Kings. The cakes were made circular to portray the circular route used by the Kings to get to the Christ Child and confuse King Herod, who was trying to follow the wise me so he could kill the Christ Child. In these early King Cakes, a bean, a pea, or a coin was hidden inside the cake. The person who got the hidden piece was declared King for the day, or was said to have good luck in the coming year.
In Louisiana, Twelfth Night also signifies the beginning of the carnival season, which ends on Mardi Gras Day (the last day to feast and party hardy before the Lent Season!) The beans, peas and coins have been replaced by a small plastic baby to symbolize the Christ Child. The person who gets the baby is expected to carry on the carnival festivities by hosting the next King Cake Party.
And I've always been fascinated by Mardi Gras. We don't usually go to any of the festivals--especially not New Orleans! New Orleans is enough of a carnival without the holiday! LOL Nor do we get drunk, gorge and act like loons (no more looney than any other day of the year anyway! LOL) But we generally eat Jambalaya and King Cake and I wear my wig, mask and beads! When I was teaching, the kids always got a big kick out of it. Yesterday, I walked in to pick Brooke up from dance wearing it and of course, Kayti got embarrassed! It doesn't take much--she's at that age. But I'm using every opportunity to help break her of being embarrassed at things others do. Everyone knows I'm nuts, they don't think anything of it (or if they do, I don't care). It doesn't bother me to act silly so it shouldn't bother her. I know it will take time. Brooke did not care at all. She walked right out and said, "Hey mom! Can I wear your beads?!"
So after everyone got home, we ate our Jambalaya (it was YUM!) and then had our King Cake:
Wonder who will get "da baby?"
Does Dylan have "da baby?"
Does Kayti have "da baby?"
Does Brooke have "da baby?"
Nope!!! Dylan has da baby!!!
For those of you who don't know or are misinformed, Mardi Gras is NOT a pagan holiday. Though I wouldn't necessarily call the festivals today "Christian". But it is a faith-based celebration and cultural in nature. (And we DO have a lot of Louisiana relatives!) Here's a little history behind the King Cake:
The King Cake is believed to have originated in France around the 12th Century. These early Europeans celebrated the coming of the three wise men bearing gifts twelve days after Christmas calling it the feast of the Epiphany, Twelfth Night or King's Day.
The main part of the celebration was the baking of a King Cake to honor the three Kings. The cakes were made circular to portray the circular route used by the Kings to get to the Christ Child and confuse King Herod, who was trying to follow the wise me so he could kill the Christ Child. In these early King Cakes, a bean, a pea, or a coin was hidden inside the cake. The person who got the hidden piece was declared King for the day, or was said to have good luck in the coming year.
In Louisiana, Twelfth Night also signifies the beginning of the carnival season, which ends on Mardi Gras Day (the last day to feast and party hardy before the Lent Season!) The beans, peas and coins have been replaced by a small plastic baby to symbolize the Christ Child. The person who gets the baby is expected to carry on the carnival festivities by hosting the next King Cake Party.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Flying home...
This past Saturday, my grandmother's brother, Gene, passed away at the age of 72. He is now home with Maw Maw, Granny, his younger brother, Frankie and his grandson, Dustin and they are all with the Lord. I was carelessly reminded by someone that "I didn't see him much anyway" and though that is true, his presence was always felt to me.
A rock is what I think of when I think of Uncle Gene. Even as he grew older and more frail, I have never known such strength as existed in this man. The 2nd child of six and the oldest boy, when my great-grandfather left his family, he dutifully dropped out of school at a very young age to go to work to support his mother and brothers and sisters. All the boys did as soon as they could. My whole life I have never heard one of them complain. I've never even heard it second hand and it never seemed to me like they had any regrets over their difficult lives. It's amazing the things people complain about these days--people who have things no where near as hard as they did. The mutual love and respect and closeness that existed among those six kids and their own families is unbelievable and if that doesn't convince someone of the love of our God, I don't know what will. I know I am not even doing it justice with my pitiful attempt to put it into words.
After he married and started his own family, he still took care of everyone else on some level. He either helped support them or provided them with a place to live in his own home. Whenever anyone needed anything, as soon as he found out about it, it was done, no matter what it cost him financially or otherwise. He worked so hard and was even working (in his mind) on his deathbed, trying to fix something.
When my grandmother passed away (11 years ago this June) I remember the ENTIRE family being there--kids, grandkids, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces, cousins, inlaws & outlaws--were all there. And yet, aside from my own mom, it's my Uncle Gene that I will remember as the most prominent presence even though he rarely spoke a word. Not then, not ever as I remember. He was a very quiet, very gentle, very sweet man. I can remember standing at the foot of my grandmothers bed just sobbing. I don't know where everyone else was, I'm sure they were around but I felt so alone in my pain at that moment (even though I knew I wasn't the only one hurting) and he walked up behind me with one arm on his cane and the other arm reached around my neck and pulled me in and oh my gosh, he was so strong. He just held me for awhile and never said a word. He didn't have to. His strength was enough to let me know that he was hurting, too. Not only for himself but for me. He knew and understood my and it was though he was trying to absorb some of it for me.
Thinking back on it now it reminds me of the arms of Jesus that hold us when we have no one else to do it. He knows our hurts and is there when we need comfort and how people fail to see the parallels in our earthly relationships and the one we can have with Him is beyond my understanding. I don't have enough faith NOT to have faith in Him!
I remember while we were at the hospital with my grandmother, my mother telling him how upset that Maw Maw was that there were no grave markers where some of our relatives were buried. The week following her funeral--there were markers. Uncle Gene made some simple, concrete headstones with his bare hands.
There is a family story going around that he once had bought several burial plots intended for his wife and immediate family but as people who knew passed away and their families had no money to burry them, he gave them all away one by one. I am not sure of all the facts of this family rumor but I do find it to be characteristic of how he was--he gave all he had. Remind you of anyone else?
My husband and I attended a funeral recently where several white doves were released. One white dove was held by the lady's daughter and the owner of the doves explained that we will miss our dearly departed because they are no longer here. But that so many who have gone before her have missed her since and are waiting for her to join them so they can all fly home together. Indeed the released doves were circling, waiting for the other dove. When the daughter released it, it took a few seconds to get its bearing but it DID remarklably join the others and they circled together for a while. The owner further explained that they will be home at his house before he got there and no one knew exactly how they found there way back, etc. but it was just one of God's miracles. Sort of like how we all eventually find our way back "home" to be with our loved ones who have gone before us and with our Heavenly Father. I imagine it was just that way this weekend as so many flew down to show Uncle Gene the way home. And one day, he will fly down with them to help us all find OUR way home.
A rock is what I think of when I think of Uncle Gene. Even as he grew older and more frail, I have never known such strength as existed in this man. The 2nd child of six and the oldest boy, when my great-grandfather left his family, he dutifully dropped out of school at a very young age to go to work to support his mother and brothers and sisters. All the boys did as soon as they could. My whole life I have never heard one of them complain. I've never even heard it second hand and it never seemed to me like they had any regrets over their difficult lives. It's amazing the things people complain about these days--people who have things no where near as hard as they did. The mutual love and respect and closeness that existed among those six kids and their own families is unbelievable and if that doesn't convince someone of the love of our God, I don't know what will. I know I am not even doing it justice with my pitiful attempt to put it into words.
After he married and started his own family, he still took care of everyone else on some level. He either helped support them or provided them with a place to live in his own home. Whenever anyone needed anything, as soon as he found out about it, it was done, no matter what it cost him financially or otherwise. He worked so hard and was even working (in his mind) on his deathbed, trying to fix something.
When my grandmother passed away (11 years ago this June) I remember the ENTIRE family being there--kids, grandkids, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces, cousins, inlaws & outlaws--were all there. And yet, aside from my own mom, it's my Uncle Gene that I will remember as the most prominent presence even though he rarely spoke a word. Not then, not ever as I remember. He was a very quiet, very gentle, very sweet man. I can remember standing at the foot of my grandmothers bed just sobbing. I don't know where everyone else was, I'm sure they were around but I felt so alone in my pain at that moment (even though I knew I wasn't the only one hurting) and he walked up behind me with one arm on his cane and the other arm reached around my neck and pulled me in and oh my gosh, he was so strong. He just held me for awhile and never said a word. He didn't have to. His strength was enough to let me know that he was hurting, too. Not only for himself but for me. He knew and understood my and it was though he was trying to absorb some of it for me.
Thinking back on it now it reminds me of the arms of Jesus that hold us when we have no one else to do it. He knows our hurts and is there when we need comfort and how people fail to see the parallels in our earthly relationships and the one we can have with Him is beyond my understanding. I don't have enough faith NOT to have faith in Him!
I remember while we were at the hospital with my grandmother, my mother telling him how upset that Maw Maw was that there were no grave markers where some of our relatives were buried. The week following her funeral--there were markers. Uncle Gene made some simple, concrete headstones with his bare hands.
There is a family story going around that he once had bought several burial plots intended for his wife and immediate family but as people who knew passed away and their families had no money to burry them, he gave them all away one by one. I am not sure of all the facts of this family rumor but I do find it to be characteristic of how he was--he gave all he had. Remind you of anyone else?
My husband and I attended a funeral recently where several white doves were released. One white dove was held by the lady's daughter and the owner of the doves explained that we will miss our dearly departed because they are no longer here. But that so many who have gone before her have missed her since and are waiting for her to join them so they can all fly home together. Indeed the released doves were circling, waiting for the other dove. When the daughter released it, it took a few seconds to get its bearing but it DID remarklably join the others and they circled together for a while. The owner further explained that they will be home at his house before he got there and no one knew exactly how they found there way back, etc. but it was just one of God's miracles. Sort of like how we all eventually find our way back "home" to be with our loved ones who have gone before us and with our Heavenly Father. I imagine it was just that way this weekend as so many flew down to show Uncle Gene the way home. And one day, he will fly down with them to help us all find OUR way home.
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