A Large Sweet Tea...PLEASE!!!

This has been one of those weeks.

Ever have one?

Where you question a lot...

You are frustrated a lot...

You are weary and can't wait till Friday only to realize you wasted a week waiting for Friday...

I was there.

I can't complain too bad. I have all I need and then some. My kids are healthy. My hubby even cleaned the kitchen Friday for me.

BUT,

every once in a while I have to ask myself "WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU DOING, MICH?!!!"

Sometimes my JOY hides from me and I get swallowed whole by the mundane tasks set before me. This week it was my job that got me down. Frustration over decisions made that were out of my control. Being put in the middle of something bigger than me. Headaches, worry, walking on eggshells... Wondering if I have what it takes to handle days like this... or weeks.

I Don't. I never will.

BUT my God does.

And what is so awesome about my God is He can see me through the rough patches and then add a blessing on top that takes my "joy" out of hiding.

So yea, it was a hard work week.

But it was nothing my God, quiet time and a large sweet tea (The SWEETER THE BETTER!!!) couldn't handle everyday.

What makes you feel better?

Have a GREAT weekend!

Kayla's Garden...it makes me smile...

I have said before on numerous occasions that I have a black thumb. My Granny had a garden full of beautiful roses when I was younger. I can still smell the garden if I close my eyes and think of her. My Grandpa and her also had a BIG garden full of the yummiest fresh veggies. My Nanny loved green plants and had them all over her house and back patio. My mom always has a yard full of seasonal flowers and a house full of thriving beautiful green plants. My in-laws also always have a big garden and flower beds lining the house. And then there is me.

I can't grow a thing. I am the black thumb of the family.

I either water too much...or not enough. I can't ever seem to get it right. My hubby and I tried the garden thing one time. I ended up with a few tomatoes, but not enough to say we were successful at gardening. Through the years I have gained house plants, for many different reasons...gifts, hospital stays, family funerals...I have killed all but one.

My only success story, if you can call it that, is what I call "My Granny Plant." I got it in January of 1994, when my Granny passed away. How it has survived all these years through babies, pets, moves and ME, I will never know. She is frail, but she doesn't die. She is a fighter.

Enter my daughter and her latest passion.

PLANTS.

SHE LOVES THEM!!!

She names them, talks to them, buys special little glass bulbs so they will get just enough water, sets them in the sunlight and lovingly takes care of them all. For Valentines, I bought her a mini rose potted plant and another little plant and you would have thought I had handed her the moon. She talks about when the weather warms up and makes up it's mind what it wants to do, that she wants to transform my front porch and yard into her garden showcase.

ME?

I am just sitting back and letting her do all the work, while all of a sudden I am surrounded by greenery. She even gave "Granny Plant" a new pot and soil and is loving the old lady.

It all makes me smile...

"Granny Plant"

A polka dot plant that we call "Dot."

Kayla and her Grandma picked her out. Kay loves her pink leaves.

"Zehavi" is Hebrew for light. Kayla said the real name of the plant means light as well.

And the other plant is "Rain drop" for the design on the leaves.

"Arabella" or "Bella" for short. It is Dutch for beautiful. These little red roses were her Valentine's day gift.

Of course she is already saving for more...

When I think of Kayla's little potted garden, and all the love she gives each plant, it reminds me of how loving my Heavenly Father is. He too, calls me by name, provides daily what I need to grow and watches me with hopeful eyes to see if I bloom where He has planted me.

And that makes me smile...

Cheating...REALLY?!!!

My hubby got a phone call from Jordan's teacher today. She was having serious questions over whether he cheated on an assignment. He didn't. Not just because I know in my mommy heart that he didn't, but rather we actually saw him do the assignment.

It was like this. He had to read a newspaper article, then write a summary and answer questions about it. We didn't have a paper, so he called his grandma and I went and picked up a stack of papers from her. He chose an article out of the sports section, imagine that. He asked his dad questions about the article. He proceeded to write. Only he forgot one thing... the article. He forgot to take the article to class.

No big deal, right? WRONG!

You see, another boy chose the exact, same article. Since Jordan didn't turn in an article, she thought it was suspicious that Jordan had the exact same article as the other boy. It created doubt in her mind, I get that, BUT here are the FACTS in my son's favor...

1. My husband could tell her the exact article that he read and summarized on the phone and that we saw him do his homework.

2. His summary and the other boy's were NOTHING alike. She at least believes he didn't copy word for word.

3. The other boy was questioned and had NO idea what the teacher was talking about.

4. Jordan was questioned, was calm because he was telling the truth and also told her that he had no idea what article his friend had written about.

5. Another friend heard the conversation between Jordan and the teacher and went and told the teacher that Jordan wouldn't cheat. Also he saw Jordan take it out of his binder, because Jordan asked him to turn it in for him, since he was walking up to turn his own in.

6. It would not be unheard of for two 13 year old boys who LOVE football to both read and write on an article concerning Manning and the Superbowl, now would it?

7. My son has a 100% in her class right now. Why would he have to cheat?

8. I'm not saying kids don't copy off each other from time to time, but why would he start today, when we went to all the trouble of getting articles for him.

9. She said that she believes now that he didn't copy, but that he just used the other boy's article. Hmmm...even if that was true, which it isn't because we have the article cutout to prove it, would it be so bad if he did his own work? Could just count off points for not having article, right?

10. He has no prior record of cheating or misbehavior at school.

Unfortunately, all those reasons were not good enough for her. OK, so he is no longer being called "cheating," he still has to redo the assignment. Instead of just taking off points for not having the article or letting my hubby take the article to her, Jordan had to find a new article and summarize it. Only he still gets 10 points counted off for not having the article today in class.

Fair? Hardly.

BUT, there is a positive here. My son learned a valuable lesson in what could happen if he really were to cheat and get caught. He learned that his parents are there for him to help and he learned that he has some pretty good friends who stood up for him when needed.

And we are just thankful he doesn't have a "0," even if 10 points will be deducted off his paper.

Life sometimes isn't fair. Sometimes the bad guy gets away and sometimes the innocent are accused. And sometimes life is just plain chaotic.

And sometimes the mommy heart just hurts because the we can't stand it when our babies are under attack. Sometimes it is so hard to be a mom...

"My strength comes from the Lord..."

A picture and a "THANK YOU!!!"...

Saturday was Kayla's All Region concert. Two days of practice and a lot of running around for mom on Saturday, but so worth it. I am in awe of how talented kids are today. She was in the first band and was fourth chair on flutes. She was overwhelmed that people stood for them at the end. They did a really good job and we were really proud of our girl.

Way to go Kayla!!!

*****

For those who prayed for the test my mother-in-law had done Monday, THANK YOU! They came back clear. God is good.