I am my kids Mom!
Monday, April 23, 2007
Modest Clothing

I'm a mother of two girls and two boys. I am having a very hard time finding modest clothing for my girls and they are only 5 and 3 years old! I do not know how to sew so I can't make my girls any modest clothing. My 5 year old is tall for her age and I'm having to buy her clothes that are to big just so the skirts won't be to short! Its a lot easier for me to keep my boys in modest clothing than my girls!!


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Friday, March 16, 2007
My four year old daughter!

I have been raised in church almost my entire life. I am married to a wonderful christian man and we have four kids. We are now dealing with struggles that our children face. Even as young as mine our there is so much out in this world that they see that looks good to the eye! My daugther who will be five this month. Watches everyone around her. How they dress, what they say, how they fix their hair. She is only four and she is into how she wants to dress and fix her hair. :) I have had to tell her so many times that she can't wear certain clothes or even makeup. I was so surprised a couple of weeks ago when I took my daughter to a birthday party. All of the little girls besides my daughter were wearing makeup and these girls are four and five years old! Not just lipstick. Eyeshadow, lipstick, mascara, eye liner! It seems that things that I wanted to start doing as a preteen are starting even earlier with my almost five year old!

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Friday, March 16, 2007
Three Things in LIfe

Three things in life that, once gone, never come back ~
1. Time
2. Words
3. Opportunity

Three things in life that can destroy a person ~
1. Anger
2. Pride
3. Unforgiveness

Three things in life that you should never lose ~
1. Hope
2. Peace
3. Honesty

Three things in life that are most valuable ~
1. Love
2. Family & Friends
3. Kindness

Three things in life that are never certain ~
1. Fortune
2. Success
3. Dreams

Three things that make a person ~
1. Commitment
2. Sincerity
3. Hard work

Three things that are truly constant ~

Father, Son and Holy Spirit

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Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Bomb Threat at school

Today started off like every other day for me. That is until I went to pick up my daughter Hannah who is in PRE K around 1:30. When I arrived at the school I saw several fire trucks, police cars, and several cops walking the school grounds. I had to park next door at a church. Since the school entrance was being blocked by police cars. I had no idea what was going on. Then I saw policemen putting up yellow caution tape around the school property. I guess that is what that yellow stuff is called! After a minute or so I was told that there had been a bomb threat at the middle school next to the elementary school and that no one could leave or enter the schools. I waited for 3 hours! I'm so thankful it was just a threat and that no-one was hurt!!!!
Hannah had no idea what as going on. When I was finally able to pick her up she said "Mommy you are really late" lol I asked her what they did today and she said they had a fire drill and that was about it.

I know it was just a threat. But I believe GOD was watching over Hannah and the rest of the kids and staff today!


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Monday, March 5, 2007
Tales from the Crypt

 

Tales from the Crypt

Do we have the bones of Jesus?

by Kerby Anderson

 

 

            The last week in February started out with an incredible announcement. James Cameron (director of the film “Titanic”) and Simcha Jacobovici announced that they have found the bones of Jesus! At their news conference, they promoted their Discovery Channel special “The Lost Tomb of Jesus” that will air on March 4th and also promoted the book by Simcha Jacobovici and Charles Pellegrino entitled The Jesus Family Tomb: The Discovery, the Investigation, and the Evidence That Could Change History released by Harper-Collins.

 

            The foundational claim is that they have discovered the family tomb of Jesus Christ. But is this really the tomb of Jesus or his family? There are many good reasons to believe this tomb has no relationship at all to Jesus and his family. Many are asking what to think about these claims. Therefore, I put together a quick two-page summary of some of the criticisms and concerns that surfaced in the first few hours after the announcement. Before we look at those criticisms, let’s first review the history of this tomb.

 

            We have known about this tomb since it was discovered in 1980. Back then,

Israeli construction workers were digging the foundation for a new building in a Jerusalem suburb. Their digging revealed a cave with ten limestone ossuaries. Archeologists removed the limestone caskets for examination.

 

            When they were able to decipher the names on the ten ossuaries, they found: Jesua, son of Joseph, Mary, Mary, Mathew, Jofa and Judah, son of Jesua. At the time, one of Israel’s most prominent archeologists (Professor Amos Kloner) didn’t associate the crypt with Jesus. He rightly argued that the father of Jesus was a humble carpenter who couldn’t afford a luxury crypt for his family. Moreover, the names on the crypt were common Jewish names.

 

            All of this hasn’t stopped James Cameron and Simcha Jacobovici from promoting the tomb as the family tomb of Jesus. They claim to have evidence (through DNA tests, archeological evidence, and Biblical studies) to prove that the ten ossuaries belong to Jesus and his family. They also argue that Jesus and Mary Magdalene might have produced a son named Judah. However, a number of biblical scholars say this is a really just an old story now being recycled in an effort to create a media phenomenon that will sell books and guarantee a large audience for the television special.

 

            First, does it really make sense that this would be the family tomb of Jesus? Remember that Jesus was in Jerusalem as a pilgrim and was not a resident of the city. How would his family be able to buy this tomb? As we already mentioned, Joseph (who probably was not alive and died in Galilee) and his family did not have the funds to buy such an elaborate burial site. Moreover, they were from out of town and would need time to find this tomb location. To accept this theory, one has to believe they stole the body of Jesus and moved it to this tomb in a suburb of Jerusalem all within about a day’s time.

 

            Second, if this is the family tomb of Jesus and his family, why is Jesus referred to as the “son of Joseph?” As far as we can determine from history, the earliest followers of Jesus never called Jesus the “son of Joseph.” The record of history is that it was only outsiders who mistakenly called him that.

 

            Third, if this is the family tomb of Jesus, why do we have the name of Matthew listed with the rest of the family? If this is the Matthew that traveled with Jesus, then he certainly was not a family member. And you would have to wonder why James (who remained in Jerusalem) would allow these inscriptions as well as allow the family to move the body from Jerusalem to this tomb and perpetrate a hoax that Jesus bodily rose from the grave. Also, the fourth-century church historian Eusebius writes that the body of James (the half-brother of Jesus) was buried alone near the temple mount and that his tomb was visited in the early centuries.

 

            Fourth, there is the problem with the common names on the tombs. Researchers have cataloged the most common names at the time. The ten most common were: Simon/Simeon, Joseph, Eleazar, Judah, John/Yohanan, Jesus, Hananiah, Jonathan, Matthew, and Manaen/Menahem. These are some of the names found on the ossuaries and thus suggest that the tomb belonged to someone other than Jesus of Nazareth and his family. In fact, the name Jesus appears in 98 other tombs and on 21 other ossuaries.

 

            Finally there is the question of the DNA testing. Apparently there is evidence that shows that the DNA from the woman (in what they say is the Mary Magdalene ossuary) and the DNA from the so-called Jesus ossuary does not match. So they argue that they were not relatives and thus must have been married.

 

            But does the DNA evidence really prove that? It does not prove she is his wife. In fact, we really don’t even know who in the ossuaries are related to the other. Moreover, we do not have an independent DNA control sample to compare these findings with. At best, the DNA evidence shows that some of these people are related and some are not.

 

            All of this looks like sensationalism from Simcha Jacobovici (who has a reputation as an Indiana-Jones type) and James Cameron (the director of the “Titanic.”). The publicity is certain to sell books and draw a television audience, but it is not good history or archaeology.


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Monday, March 5, 2007
Discovery Channel

 
Dear Friends and Family:
 
The Discovery Channel has just aired a ludicrous and damning "documentary" claiming to have found the tomb of JESUS, which includes His mother, Mary, His wife, Mary Magdalene, and their *son*, Judah!!!
 
The perpetrators of this faux discovery, of course, ignore several basic facts, such as: that Joseph and Mary were so poor they could only afford the least expensive offering for the Temple when they presented the baby JESUS there, and so in NO way could these folks have afforded one tomb, much less a family crypt. (Remember, too, that the tomb they buried JESUS in was borrowed.) They ignore the obvious fact that Mary was a long-time widow by the time of JESUS' ministry, and as is often the case today, how much more so in ancient times were women left impoverished and bereft at the loss of their spouse! They fail to take into account that the names JESUS, Mary, and Joseph were three of the most popular names in Israel at that time, --- just as much as John, Joe, and Mary are common names today!
 
Please let Chairman John Hendricks and The Discovery Channel know that you've had *enough*! Please don't remain mute about this latest demonic blow against our Lord JESUS Christ. The time has come to stand up and be counted; are you for the Lord or against Him.
 
Here is a link to the AFA. They have provided us with an email (which, btw, you can change/rephrase any way you want) that will be sent straight to the Chairman of the Board at The Discovery Channel. If you scroll to the bottom of the page, you will also find Mr. Hendricks personal email address, snailmail, and phone numbers should you choose to contact him by any of those alternatives.
 
 
Of course, I would not advise you to do anything without praying about it first. However, I would ask you to please remember Matthew 10:32-33,
"Therefore, every one who acknowledges Me before men, I will also acknowledge before My Father Who is in Heaven; but whoever denies and disowns Me before men, I also will deny and disown before My Father Who is in Heaven.
 
Pleas also remember to pray for Mr. Hendricks and the entire Discovery Channel staff.
 
May GOD have mercy on our souls and on our country.
 

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Monday, February 12, 2007
Christians - By Maya Angelou

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not shouting "I'm clean livin'."
I'm whispering "I was lost,
Now I'm found and forgiven."

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble
and need Christ to be my guide.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak
And need His strength to carry on.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed
And need God to clean my mess.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are far too visible
But, God believes I am worth it.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I still feel the sting of pain.
I have my share of heartaches
So I call upon His name.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not holier than thou,
I was just a simple sinner
Who received God's good grace, somehow!


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Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Ten Warning Signs of an Abusive Relationship


What do you do if you think your friend or family member is in an abusive relationship, but you’re not sure? Go with your instincts - you probably wouldn’t be concerned without reason. Here are some signs to look for that might indicate an abusive relationship:
1. When your friend and her husband or boyfriend are together, he acts very controlling and puts her down in front of others.
2. He acts extremely jealous of others who pay attention to her, especially men.
3. She becomes quiet when he is around and seems afraid of making him angry.
4. She stops seeing friends and family members, becoming more and more isolated.
5. She often cancels plans at the last minute.
6. He controls her finances, her behavior and even whom she socializes with.
7. You see him violently lose his temper, striking or breaking objects.
8. She often has unexplained injuries, or the explanations she offers don’t quite add up. (Sometimes you won’t see any bruises, as batters target their blows to areas that can be covered with clothing.)
9. She casually mentioned his violent behavior but laughed it off as a joke.
10. Her child is frequently upset or very quiet and withdrawn and won’t say why.

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Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Christian Alphabet

A lthough things are not perfect
B ecause of trial or pain
C ontinue in thanksgiving
D o not begin to blame.
E ven when the times are hard
F ierce winds are bound to blow
G od is forever able
H old on to what you know.
I magine life without His love
J oy would cease to be
K eep thanking Him for all the things
L ove imparts to thee.
M ove out of "Camp Complaining"
N o weapon that is known
O n earth can yield the power
P raise can do alone.
Q uit looking at the future
R edeem the time at hand
S tart every day with worship
T o "thank" is a command.
U ntil we see Him coming
V ictorious in the sky
W e'll run the race with gratitude
X alting God most high.
Y es, there will be good times and yes some will be bad, but...
Z ion waits in glory...where none are ever sad!

"Too blessed to be stressed!" The shortest distance between a problem and a solution is the distance between your knees and the floor. The one who kneels to the Lord can stand up to anything. Be Blessed.

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Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Heroes

Momma combs his hair and Daddy helps him brush his teeth
Day after day for thirty years the same routine
The special needs he lives with make life seem so unfair
But he thanks God every day cause he knows Mom and Dad are there

(chorus) He's a hero and she's a hero
It doesn't matter that nobody knows their name
They keep on giving to make life worth living
Might go unnoticed but they're heroes just the same

They tried for many years to have a baby of their own
But God knew a little girl who didn't have a home
Someone else's burden was their blessing in disguise
And now she's got a Mom and Daddy there to hold her when she cries

(chorus)

Every single parent who must carry twice the load
And those who sacrifice to raise a child that's not their own
They dedicate their time to make a difference in someone else's life
And in my eyes

(chorus)

They might go unnoticed but they're heroes just the same.


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Wednesday, January 17, 2007
The Key to Clean: Consistency

by Kim Brenneman

 

The key thing to keeping your home consistently clean is a consistent chore time. It does not mean that you and your family clean and then sit around twiddling your thumbs in order to keep it clean. You can still be creative and messy, the children can still play with playdough and legos; you simply need a system for everyone to help get things cleaned up and back into place. The key thing to keeping your home consistently clean is a consistent chore time. Every work day of the week do the work.

Deuteronomy 5:13
"Six days you shall labor and do all your work."

Work is not discouraging unless we let it be discouraging. Work is simply the process needed to get to an end point. In this case I am talking about a clean house, the goal of every keeper of the home in the world. When a large homeschooling family lives in a home 24 hours a day, seven days a week, things get dirty, messes are made, clutter is left lying around, and small children create chaos. Yes, it will be a mess--it’s a fact. Don’t let it discourage you, just get to work. Make the work a habit that happens without thought and it becomes easy work that can be done quickly. Then there will be more time to do things that... create more work. Now smile! Work is simply the process needed to get to an end point. You want a clean house, you want to do fun things that give you pleasure–living is work. Work is living, work is fun if you make it fun, and work is a joy because it is serving the Lord. Rest is what God has given to us for our physical bodies on the seventh day. Rest is not something that you do during the daylight hours unless you are ill, work nights, or are post partum.

Clean is not the only goal of the home keeper. The home keeper also wants her family to live with love, comfort, and happiness. These are intangibles that have more to do with atmosphere and attitude. It is hard to create the atmosphere and attitude of love, comfort, and happiness in our homes if our homes are pig pens and we moms are drowning in self-pity.

Have you ever watched pigs or seen their pen? Pigs root around with their noses turning over anything and everything in order to find something to eat. This process is very destructive to the place they are kept. They eat anything and everything. Pigs will wallow, they move their bodies around in the dirt in order to create a bed and when it rains into their wallow, it becomes a mud bath where they take residence until cold weather when they pile on top of each other and suffocate the pigs at the bottom of the pig pile. So understand this--pigs wallow in the mud, sleep in the mud, root around destroying things for food, eat anything and everything, and then pile on each other with no regard for their fellow pigs and kill the pigs who can’t get out from underneath. Think of the word images that come from the lifestyle of pigs, “pig pen” “wallow like a pig” “pig pile”. Imagine a family doing the same thing: rummaging through cupboards looking for food and then wallowing about in their mess, never cleaning and then sleeping in their mess. It happens, I’ve seen it up close and personal! It is our nature to be lazy. We must renounce ungodly habits and worldly passions.

"How long will you lie there, you sluggard?
When will you get up from your sleep?

A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest-

and poverty will come on you like a bandit
       and scarcity like an armed man."
~ Proverbs 6:9-11

"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works."
~ Titus 2:11-14

Keeping your home tidy and clean is as simple as keeping a daily chore time. It is important to my husband that the house be tidy in order for him to have a relaxing evening so we hold "Afternoon Choretime" every day. This is the time of day that we restore order. We put away the schoolbooks and projects that we were working on. If it’s a large project that we will come back to the next day, we tuck it away in a safe place and straighten up as much as possible around the project. We make the mood one that Dad can come into and relax in and enjoy his family. We have food cooking that tantalizes the senses for an enjoyable family suppertime. We listen to calming music that sets the mood for the evening. All these things are done in the hour or two before Dad arrives home. We are setting a place for the king of the castle. Let me show you how to go from the creative chaotic homeschool home to a relaxing haven of rest for your family.

First you will need to announce to the house that it is "Afternoon Choretime" and tell the children to quickly put away whatever they are working on. While you are instructing them, light a candle (high out of reach of the littlest climbers of course) and put on music. This helps signal to the children that evening is coming and it is time to prepare for it. Then go to your bedroom and bath and spend 5 minutes freshening up. You want a picture of loveliness to your beloved when he comes in the door. Now, put on a fresh apron and start the supper work while the children do the room straightening and cleaning.

Assign each person a room to straighten and clean. If you have no big children yet, you will need to do it. Bring your children along with you to do these chores. This is training for them. They might be a hindrance now, but in this training they are learning the work and will be soon training their younger brothers and sisters how to do it. Make a list of daily chores for each room and laminate it or put it in a sleeve protector to be kept in that room. As you go to each room, refer to the chart; show it to the children so that they will know that there is a list of work for the room. Take a photo of the room when it is picture perfect so that the children know what the room should look like when they are done and attach the photo to the Daily Chore sheet.

At a certain time say “Afternoon Choretime! Let’s pick up and clean before Daddy gets home!” Children love to please their dad. If you keep them focused with encouraging words and do the work quickly they will grow to love the satisfaction of looking at a pleasing room and showing it off to Dad when he walks in the door. Don’t be a drill sergeant, be an encourager. Say things like you would want to hear it from your mom. Sing while you work, make up a silly song to go along with the work. Work quickly and efficiently. Pull a basket or wagon around to collect toys with and send the children on little missions to put the toys away. Give a trash bag to a child and send him around to be the trash collector. Hand out feather dusters and/or dust cloths and teach them to dust. By quickly dusting every day, the rooms do not get dirty. When things are picked up on a regular basis, there is not so much to put away.

Take a step back for a minute here and do this during the day. Tteach them to put things away when they get them out! When they are done playing with something train them to put it away before getting out a new toy or activity. This works if you are with them and remembering to teach them every minute. It is when you become busy with another thing in another room that they will drop what they are doing and move on. Work on making “Don’t lay it down, put it away” one of your mantras.

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
~ Ben Franklin

If you have big children that can work well at room cleaning then have them work alone or with a little buddy. Assign them to teach a little child how to clean their assigned room. Teach the big buddy to be an encouraging teacher. If there is a need for speed, then set the little ones at the table with an activity that will keep them busy during the clean up time. There are some children and some ages of little ones that are simply more distracting to the assigned room cleaner than necessary. For instance, toddlers seem to delight in following a room cleaner around and undoing what was just done and cause the room cleaner to be working in a never-ending cycle. ARGH! Put these children at an activity at the table or in a high chair. Assign a day of the week for each toddler activity to be done while the rest of the crew cleans. i.e. Monday-playdough; Tuesday-washing dishes (water play); Wednesday-chunky puzzles; Thursday-coloring; Friday-finger paint. Not all of these will work for all children and situations, come up with your own list of activities for that particular child who is not able to clean or be a good little helper-buddy yet.

Have the children choose their favorite room to be the one they are responsible for cleaning. This adds ownership to it for them because they care more about what their favorite room looks like. If there is disagreement about who gets what room then have the children draw straws. Keep the same rooms for a long stretch of time (3-4 months) so that the children will get really good at that room’s particular chores. This teaches them to do their work with excellence. By changing room assignments frequently, nobody gets really good and fast at doing a particular room. It is easier to let tasks slide by for the next room-keeper to do next week. It also makes it easier for the home manager by having a short period of room chore training rather than re-training new room-keepers every week.

When the daily Room Chores are done for the main rooms of the house, then the children are to do their daily Bedroom Chores. By focusing on one area of the bedroom, the work there gets done on a regular basis and the bedroom is never very dirty. When the bedroom chore is done, do the Deep Cleaning chore for the day. Sometimes it is a big chore, sometimes it’s miniscule. It all depends on the Focus Area of the house, the chore for the day, and how many helpers there are. If a chore doesn’t get done one day, it’s OK, you can get that chore done next time it comes around in the housecleaning schedule. Try hard to keep the deep cleaning chores small and daily and you won’t have embarrassing deep dirt and cobwebs hanging around.

Now, if the house is clean and Dad is not home yet, have the children do "Sit Time." Assign them a chair and give them a stack of books to “look” at. If they can read, then give them some reading time. The big kids could play a game that is easy to set up and tear down before supper like checkers or pick up sticks. If you eat dinner late and the children are starving, do a small snack time and clean up before "Sit Time."

At our house, after the Afternoon Choretime, the big kids go outside to do their Animal Chores. Sometimes they are done by the time Dad comes home and sometimes they do outside chores with Dad. Each home is going to be a little different; the goal though is to have as much of the work done as possible before Dad comes home from work so that everyone can have a relaxing and pleasant evening enjoying each other.

What time you start doing chores is also going to vary with your home, the ages of your children, how big of messes they make with their projects, what time your husband comes home from work, and more variables. If Afternoon Choretime is a new thing for your house, you will need to have a period of fine tuning to iron out these sorts of details. It takes time to learn new chores and new routines. Stick with it for a month and then work on making it more efficient.

When we do daily chores in every room of the house, the house always looks clean and is never more than 10 minutes from looking picture perfect. If we skip Afternoon Choretime for a couple of days or a week then our house looks like a pig pen. Holding a regular chore time maintains your house beautifully. Having a system for doing the regular maintenance chores helps the house seemingly run by its self. It becomes consistently clean.

Tip:
Because of large messy projects we rearranged our house by putting all the girls in one bedroom and now use a bedroom as a sewing/craft room.

In the past we use the unfinished part of the basement for these types of things before we turned it into a Laundry Room. Think creatively for making room for the creative projects. In our case, it was more efficient to move the girls into one room for sleeping. Sleeping is all their bedroom is used for anyway. Their toys are in the playroom and their craft projects are in the Sewing Room. Their clothes are in the bedroom closet.

The Sewing Room is our place for all crafting endeavors. This is a bit of a jump from our culture’s idea of the use of rooms. Take a look at a house plan book, in the home decorating magazines and catalogs, watch a home decorating show, visit a 2.3 children family’s home and you will see bedrooms specially decorated for a boy or girl. Great expense and detail is given only to be outgrown in three years. With all the “proper” furniture and décor there is only room for one or at the most two children. What is the bedroom used for? Being an individual with a personal TV, stereo, and computer?  Hanging out with friends? This doesn’t fit the philosophy of the Christian family of each one living for the other and all living for Christ. How many houses are large enough for each person in the large family to have their own bedroom and live that individualistic life? As Christians do we want to promote that kind of narcissism in our children? It is far better to promote the skills of loving and taking care of one another, of working creatively with our hands and hearts to benefit others.

By narrowing the use of bedrooms for sleeping or reading quietly on a bed, this is accomplished. Use any extra room created in the home for a workspace. This keeps craft mess from spreading around through the house.

If your house is small, work hard at thinking creatively, try different avenues and uses.

What about “alone time”? What is the alone time used for? Think about the child that is seeking alone time. Is it a need for quiet reading or study? Is it a self-centered escape? If the child needs alone time to calm their spirit in a healthy way then help that child carve out a niche somewhere to have that quiet time. It doesn’t need to be a bedroom. It can be workshop, a reading chair, or a bubble bath.

Let go of the culture’s idea of how things should be. Make a list of priorities.

Do what you can with what you’ve got.

 

 


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Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Shoes

I showered and shaved...............
I adjusted my tie. I got there and sat..............
In a pew just in time. Bowing my head in prayer.........
As I closed my eyes. I saw the shoe of the man next to me.....
Touching my own. I sighed.

With plenty of room on either side......
I thought, "Why must our soles touch?"
It bothered me, his shoe touching mine...
But it didn't bother him much.

A prayer began: "Our Father".............

I thought, "This man with the shoes..has no pride.
They're dusty, worn, and scratched.
Even worse, there are holes on the side!"

"Thank You for blessings," the prayer went on.
The shoe man said...............a quiet "Amen."
I tried to focus on the prayer.......
But my thoughts were on his shoes again.

 Aren't we supposed to look our best..
When walking through that door?
Well, this certainly isn't it," I thought,
Glancing toward the floor.

Then the prayer was ended............
And the songs of praise began.
The shoe man was certainly loud.....
Sounding proud as he sang.

His voice lifted the rafters.........
His hands were raised high.
The Lord could surely hear....
The shoe man's voice from the sky.

It was time for the offering.........
And what I threw in was steep.
I watched as the shoe man reached....
Into his pockets so deep.

I saw what was pulled out............
What the shoe man put in.
Then I heard a soft "clink" ....
as when silver hits tin.

The sermon really bored me..........
To tears, and that's no lie.
It was the same for the shoe man.....
For tears fell from his eyes.

At the end of the service........
As is the custom here.
We must greet new visitors....
And show them all good cheer.

But I felt moved somehow......
And wanted to meet the shoe man.
So after the closing prayer..........
I reached over and shook his hand.

He was old and his skin was dark.....
And his hair was truly a mess.
But I thanked him for coming.........
For being our guest.

He said, "My names' Charlie..........
I'm glad to meet you, my friend."
There were tears in his eyes.........
But he had a large, wide grin.

"Let me explain," he said...........
Wiping tears from his eyes.
"I've been coming here for months....
And you're the first to say 'Hi.'" "

I know that my appearance.........
"Is not like all the rest.
"But I really do try.................
"To always look my best."

"I always clean and polish my shoes....
"Before my very long walk.
"But by the time I get here.........
"They're dirty and  dusty, like chalk."

My heart filled with pain............
and I swallowed to hide my tears
As he continued to apologize.........
For daring to sit so near.

He said, "When I get here...........
"I know I must look a sight.
"But I thought if I could touch you..
"Then maybe our souls might unite."

I was silent for a moment............
Knowing whatever was said
Would pale in comparison...
I spoke from my heart, not my head.

"Oh, you've touched me," I said......
"And taught me, in part;
"That the best of any man............
"Is what is found in his heart."

The rest, I thought,.......
This shoe man will never know.
Like just how thankful I really am...
That his dirty old shoe touched my soul

You are special to me and you have made a difference in my life. I respect you, and truly cherish you.

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Friday, December 22, 2006
Stressful Week!!!!

Well...this week has been a very stressful one for me. 

Have you ever been out in public and you see and hear someone's kids screaming and making a big scene? Well that was my kids this week. I was in Walgreens and Nicholas was screaming to the top of his lungs. Celie was running all over the store. Brent was trying to get Celie to stop running. Celie then thinks Brent is chasing her. So she is screaming and laughing very LOUD! Hannah is crying because Celie has eaten her chapstick. Then when I get to the checkout some of my money is missing. (I never did find the rest of my money!) There is a long line of customers behind me. People are looking and getting upset because it is taking me so long. By the time I get out of that store I'm so stressed I can't even talk to my kids!!! All I wanted to do is cry and I did! :(

This was Monday! I'm to tired to write about the rest of the week right now.

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Monday, November 20, 2006
2006 Cookie Swap

Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies

 

2 1/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 sticks butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 large eggs, beaten
1 tablespoon vanilla
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
2 cups chocolate chips, 2 Hershey's chocolate bars, chopped or M&M'S
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

 

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a bowl stir together flour, salt, and baking soda. In another large bowl stir together butter, both sugars, eggs, vanilla and cocoa. Gradually stir flour mixture into butter mixture and mix until combined. Stir chocolate chips and walnuts, if using, and stir to distribute evenly.
For cookies: Drop dough by tablespoonfuls onto greased baking sheets and bake about 10 minutes. Cool on a baking rack.
For bars: Pat dough into a greased 9 inch square baking pan and bake 20 to 25 minutes. Cut into squares when cooled

 

Courtesy of Food Network!


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Thursday, November 9, 2006
A little bit about me!!!

1. FIRST NAME: Lisa
2. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?  I've been told Lisa Marie Presley :) LOL     

3. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY? Today
4. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?  Sometimes
5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Honey Ham
6. KIDS? 4
7. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?  Yes
8. DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL?  No
9. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT?  Second Language
10. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yes
11. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?  Not any more
12. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?  Honey Bunches of Oates with Almonds
13. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?  Yes
14. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?  Yes
15. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?  Chocolate Chip Mint
16. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? Smile
17. RED OR PINK?  Pink
18. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? Complexion
19. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST THAT HAS DIED? My Peepaw
20. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU?  Sure
21. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Pink, Orange, Green, Yellow and Blue PJ's and no shoes...white socks :)
22. THE LAST THING YOU ATE? Grilled Chicken
23. What are you listening to NOW?  News
24. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?  White...that color is hardly ever used.
25. FAVORITE SMELL?  A Clean house
26. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Isaiah
27. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? Yes
28. FAVORITE DRINK? White Chocolate Mocha
29. FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH?  Nascar
30. HAIR COLOR? Brown
31. EYE COLOR?  Hazel Green
32. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Yes
33. FAVORITE FOOD? Lasagna
34. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDING?  Happy Ending
35. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?  Cars
36. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? White
37. SUMMER OR WINTER? Summer
38. HUGS OR KISSES?  Hugs
39. FAVORITE DESSERT? Chocolate Chips Brownies
40. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Mom???
41. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING? None at the moment
42. WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? Don't have one
43. WHAT DID YOU WATCH LAST ON TV?  Grey's Anatomy
44. FAVORITE SOUNDS? Thunderstorms
45. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?   Beatles
46. THE FURTHEST YOU BEEN FROM HOME? Arizona
47. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?  Raising four kids and keeping some of my sanity
48. WHEN WERE YOU BORN?  26 years ago! :)
49. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?   Little Rock


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Monday, November 6, 2006
My sister in law

My sister in law Brittany left for Afghanistan last night. She should get to come back home sometime in February of 2007. Brittany is a MP in the Army. I know I will be praying for her and the other soldiers every day who are away from home fighting this War on Terror. I ask everyone who reads this to please do the same and pray for all of the soldier’s safe return.


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Thursday, November 2, 2006
Poem for my husband

How do I begin to tell you how lucky I am to have you in my life?
I'll start by saying what an honor it is for me to be your wife.

You're my best friend in the good times and my rock in times of sorrow.
You're the reason for sweet yesterdays
and my promise for tomorrow.

I never thought I could feel this loved until I became your wife.
You made this year and every year
the best one of my life.




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Monday, October 23, 2006
Surprise

My husband David surprised me with beautiful Flowers and a Teddy Bear. :) How sweet is he? :)

I called him to say "Thank you" and he said "It was just a little something to say I love you!" :)

 


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Monday, October 23, 2006
My thoughts at the moment.....scary I know! :)

If someone was to ask me what I want in life. I'm sure I would say something that would include my husband and my kids. David my husband has told me you are always complaining that you never get a break and when I tell you to take a break and go do something you argue with me about it. For one thing..... its  late at night when he tells me to just go and if I do go any where even to walmart I feel guilty for not bringing at least two of the kids with me. I don't know where to go or what to do for my self. I'm hoping I can reach the place where I am happy with wanting things and doing things for my self. I don't know how to get there. I don't think I have any hopes or dreams for my self. I can tell you what I use to want before kids and marriage. I like to think there are other moms out there that feel the same way.
I started homeschooling Brent this school year. We had not planned on doing that this year. With Brent's hearing loss that made the decision much easier for me to make. Every day can be a struggle. I just try my best to take it one minute at a time. Hannah has started PRE K this year. So that makes things a little easier. Celie is still home and into everything! Nicholas has threapy three times a week and I'm not counting any of the other appointments I may have to take the kids to during the week. I'm not complaining...I'm really not. I'm so thankful for my kids, husband and my entire life.
During the summer the thought of things getting easier crossed my mind. I was thinking I will just have two kids at home during the day. Brent will be at school and Hannah will be in Pre K. Things changed....I don't mind because I feel that I try to make the choice that will be better for my kids. I had planned on going back to college next Fall. If I'm still homeschooling Brent I don't think that will happen. So now I'm thinking when the kids are older I may go back to school. But I really know if I don't go now I probably will not go back. That can't happen right now. To many things are going on all around me. I guess I'm fine with that. I have to be. I tell my self I have no other choice but to fine with not going back to school. I made the choice to have this life and I do love it. I just for get who I am as a person. I sometimes feel like I'm a stranger to my self. That I'm on the out side looking in at my life.

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Wednesday, October 18, 2006
I need to take a moment to breathe

I'm having one of those moments when all I want to do is cry and scream! LOL
I got home a little bit ago. I had to go buy a few items at walmart. I got home put everything away...went to my room to sit down for a minute...the next thing I know Brent is telling me that Celie broke all the eggs and that milk was all over the place. I run into the kitchen. I find eggs and milk every where. I clean that all up. Yell for Celie...she is hiding. She knows what she did was wrong. I find her in the bedroom under her covers. I get her up to tell her what she did was wrong....and some how the dresser mirror falls and breaks. I clean that mess up. I have had that mirror since I was a little girl......Any way.....
Then I go into the living room to find some of my nick naks broken. I don't even have to say who it was that did that. Now my heart is beating so fast....David is working late again and I'm still not ready to go camping!!
Calgon Take Me Away!

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