Did You Call Your Mom Today?

When I woke up today, this being Mother's Day, I thought about how lucky I am to be mom to Erica and Hannah. But it wasn't until I got to church that I realized how really really blessed that I am to be sitting at the point of my life that I am sitting right now (I'll get back to that later).

MY DAD:
39 years ago I started out this journey called life. Born to a carpenter and a factory mill worker, and the first child produced from my mom's second marriage. It's hard to imagine that some don't take parenting seriously, but believe me people, not everyone is meant to be a parent, or in my family's case, a Dad. In defense of my father, it's pretty hard to be a good dad when alcohol consumes your life. I have come to know well the tragedy of alcoholism. I have been estranged from my dad for over 20 years now, because of it. I won't go into details, besides most everyone reading this knows. If there is one thing I have learned, it's that not time, but God that heals hearts. I am able to pray for my dad now, and that is just about all that I need to take away from the whole situation.

MY MOM:
My mom is one of the most tender hearted, sweet, funny and caring people you would ever want to meet. If there is anything I fault my mom for, it is not giving up when she needed to. My mom had an idea of family that she fought for, for more than 20 years, but it just was not meant to be. It's that whole thing about free will that messed everything up for her. She prayed for my dad and that he would be the kind of husband and father he needed and she needed him to be. Mom has been through alot, but she has truly become a great friend and role model to me. That is a huge statement considering that I did some very stupid things growing up. I am glad that I always had her watchful eye on me, and that she showed and continues to show unconditional love to me.

Which brings me back to the beginning of my post. So, I go into the upstairs balcony at church, which is where we always sit, and there is my sweet Erica saving a place for us. I was so thrilled that she made it to the early service- that was a special Mother's Day gift for me! So we had a special service this morning in which the Youth was completely in charge of everything. They go through the opening prayer and offering. Then what happened next left me in tears. They did an amazing play about how all kinds of worldly and evil things distract us from God's love. How they pull and tug at you, but in the end, if you just decide to trust God the results can be amazing. Which is when I realized that when I look back and think about at all of those things that tugged at me (and there was alot), I am so glad that I decided to trust God 'cause I get to live this beautiful life including being Mommy to Erica and Hannah, and oh so much more!!!! Thank you girls, for making this such a great Mother's Day. I love you with my whole heart!

Finishing An Unfinished Chapter

Well I did it. I applied to go back to school and finish my degree. I have requested the transcripts be sent, and completed the admissions application. The only thing left to do is meet with a college advisor to see if there is anything left to do. Am I crazy or what! The thing is...is that the motivation that I have to go back is not driven by a job promotion or to add to my success. God has blessed me far beyond my expectations. The reason I want to go back is kind of nerdy. You see, it seems the older that I get, the more I really thirst for knowledge. Too bad I didn't have this thirst back when I really needed to have it. I guess life is funny that way. I'm not gonna get crazy about it though. I figure I will take my sweet time, and if I am graduating college the same time Hannah is, so be it. I am kind of looking forward to mingling with the young folks.........ha ha that sounds so funny to me! This should be interesting. I'll keep you posted.

Third Day

Today was an a-----mazing day. My family and I got to see our favorite band, Third Day. Not only did we get to see them, we were front row center stage! What an great way to spend the day before Easter! We had the best time at the Nashville Super Speedway, thanks to a sweet client, who blessed us with amazing suite tickets to the race. Fun, fun, fun!

The best part of the weekend comes tomorrow, though. It's overwhelming to my soul to think of the sacrifice that was made for the world so many years ago. To think that someone loves me that much to give their Son for me absolutely blows me away. The blood He shed so many years ago is precious and blessed. I am so glad to have the peace of knowing because of His sacrifice, I will live forever. Thank you Jesus, for all you have sacrificed!

~I pray that all my friends and family have a wonderful and blessed Easter. I love you all!

My Sweet Girls

One of the greatest joys in my life is being the mother of my two wonderful daughters. It's so amazing to witness how God fearfully and wonderfully made them. From the moment they were placed in my arms, I knew what God's intent was for them......GREATNESS. Now, I am not talking about the world's definition of greatness...money, fame, power. I am talking about making real impacts on the people they come into contact with, through kindness, leading and walking by faith and basically just knowing that they do have a purpose here.

My 18 year old is in her freshman year of college, and has the everyday struggles of a average ordinary college kid. It has been tough sitting back and letting her work out some of the tough things she's had to get through.....adjusting to her new found freedom, and all of the time constraints with trying to work and keep up with her studies so that she is able to help with her college budget. But, I have to tell you, she is one of the most graceful people I know. No matter how hard it gets for her, she always has a smile on her face and a great attitude. To me that is just the beginning of her GREATNESS factor. I miss having her around everyday, but not nearly as much as her little sister.

And there is Hannah. What a great kid! She has the uncanny gift of never having met a stranger. She is like her dad, she has an old soul....you know the kind of person I'm talking about..........the first time you talk to them, you feel as if you have always known them. I could go on and on, being the doting mother that I am :-) I guess what I am trying to express is how blessed I feel by having the privilege of helping raise such 2 amazing girls. Thank you God!

I Love Sunday's!

Well, another week has come and gone, and now it's Sunday. Sunday! Sunday! Sunday! I love getting up on Sunday morning's, starting the coffee, and then getting ready for church. It's usually a mad rush to try to make it out the door......the devil really tries to entice you to stay home, but somehow finally we make it to church to hear a wonderful teaching of God's word. Isn't it funny how most of the time, something that you've had to deal with during the week, whether it's difficult people, poor choices made, or any other garden variety of life's little problems, somehow always seem to make it into the sermon. Then all you can do is look up and say, "ok God, you have my attention."

Now it's time to start another busy week, full of it's own worries, but I know that I will have, (God willing), another Sunday to look forward to help me through another week of this wonderful crazy beautiful life.

Oh, it's a big week for Hannah Banana this week. We have our first meeting to discuss cheerleading tryouts. This is something that she has been preparing for. She has come so far with the atheletics of it. She can do a backflip, frontflip, back tuck- it's amazing and scary for me to watch. So keep your fingers crossed for her. Until next time- Bye!

Happy Friday!

The weekend is here and I am headed to Memphis to have a girl's weekend with my cousin, Missy. Actually she is more like my sister. I love hangin' out with her because, she is probably almost as goofy as I am. We likes to laugh!

Our mothers were sisters and for most of their lives, were best friends. When they got together they laughed and laughed, and shopped and shopped!!! The most valuable finds were always at yard sales. It was more of a treasure hunt for them than a shopping trip. They were very poor as children and as a result didn't have much, so I guess that is why they loved shopping so much as adults. The thing that I remember most about their shopping trips wasn't the stuff they came home with for themselves, but the hoards and hoards of things they would either buy for each other, or other family members, or friends. They were always thinking of someone else, never themselves. I can remember many times when one or the other would mention that they liked an outfit or a bottle of lotion. That would be all it would take for the other to either sneak that item in a suitcase or a "here, you take this- I want you to have it."

My aunt has passed on, but the memory of my mom and her sister live on in thier daughters. Missy recently came for a visit. She and I took off on a Saturday morning and wound up at none other than the Goodwill store. As we were shuffling through the Goodwill treasures, we got so cracked up when we looked at each other, because at that instant- each of us saw our mothers. Especially as we took our treasures home to our children and our husbands. So Linda and Dottie, thanks for the precious memories!

Happy V.D.

No.....I don't mean that. Happy Valentine's Day to all of you reading my thoughts today! It's a day of love, or for some of you, (and you sweet people know who you are) a day to reflect on past loves. Loves that impacted, if only for a short time, our hearts like no one else. My prayer for you today is that you draw comfort from those past moments, and great hope to love that way again. Most of you who know me, know what a blessed girl I am. It is because of those blessings that I know what love, true love, God has for his children. Life is full of hills and valleys, you just need to keep rolling with the terrain until you stand upon the mountain of God (sorry 3rd Day, I kinda ripped that off from you :) Ok, that's enough of the "deep" stuff. My husband will be rolling in from PA in the morning, and he say's he got "some'in real special" for me. I just didn't have the heart to tell him that "Aunt Flow" is visiting. (Do you like my code writing to keep my blog PG :) I want to wrap it up by saying thanks for all of the sweet comments you guys posted on my very first blog. Until next time.....

My First Blog

Well, today is the day that I debut my blogging talent or lack there of!. I am a 38 (on the cusp of 39) year old wife and mother who is holding on to her 30's for dear life. I love my life, and I am very blessed to be married to not only my best friend but my best everthing I could ask for in life, soul mate! You'll be hearing more about him I'm sure, and sometimes I won't feel the same as I just described....but most of the time I do. I have two beautiful daughters, Erica, 18 and Hannah, 11. They are the lights of my life and the reason that I smile- and cuss sometimes! I try to live for my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, but most days fall short from that, but I keep trying because I know He will finish the work he started in me. I work for an insurance agency as an account manager......far from the life I pictured for myself as a child. I just knew I would grow up, move to Nashville and become the biggest star country music has ever seen! Well, at least the first part came true. I guess God had different plans in mind for me.....I know he wants me to be a good wife, I know he wants me to be a good mother, but and insurance agent? Oh well, that's why He is God and I am not. As a supplemental income, it does provide a pretty nice life style for us, but I can't help but wonder if this is as good as it gets. Stay tuned.......