I Refuse...

Yesterday was another milestone in our family. This little guy...

my little "bubby"

the baby of our family

the giver of bear hugs

his daddy's shadow

our inquisitive little man who asks hundreds and hundreds of questions

the one who helps mom with directions when she can't find her way

the brother who can pick on his sis all day, yet cares enough about her, to ask how her day went

the artist

the PlayStation pro

Mr. Smarty pants

my absolute favorite little boy in the world...

My little one who I REFUSE TO ALLOW TO GET OLDER!!!

Once again, nobody listened to me!!! He turned a big whopping "11" yesterday and I'm not liking it one bit! Why do they have to grow up?!!!

Happy Birthday, Jordan!

You will always be mommy's little "bubby."

I love you!

My Mom Would Be So Proud...I Put my Big Girl Pants On!!!

I am going to be honest...I HATE NEEDLES!!!

It is one of those fears that consumes me. When I know blood is going to be taken or a shot is in order, I feel sick to my stomach. I know it won't hurt. I know that it is just a little prick. I know that it only last a second. I KNOW!!! I KNOW!!! I KNOW!!!

Doesn't make the fear go away....

I was the little kid that they had to "chase, and hold down" to get any kind of injection at all. I gave my parents grief about needles, even in my teens. I've been known to pass out when blood is taken. The only time I didn't moan about it was when my babies were being born...I think fear of labor, took over.

Anyway, after much debate, I signed the papers for my kiddos to have the flu vaccines, both of them. The hubby wanted them to have the H1N1, so my name went on the dotted line. They are scheduled to get them next week at school.

But here is the thing...I felt like a hypocrite after signing. I haven't had the flu shot before, that I know of. I avoid the needle at all cost. Thank the Lord, I haven't suffered thought the flu either. But I felt so guilty MAKING my kids get stuck, and not do it myself.

So I didn't tell anyone what I was planning, in case I chickened out, but on my lunch break today I went and got stuck. They had a free clinic in town and had had huge lines all morning, but I got there and didn't have a chance to back out...no line at all. God knew I would turn around and leave if I had to wait too long to be stuck with a needle.

I didn't get the H1N1, because they are running out. Only the little ones and pregnant women are able to get one. I'm wondering if they will have them for the kids next week, if we already signed for one...

Anyway, the point is...

I SURVIVED.

Maybe I'm growing up after all. Mom would be proud.

I Just Had To Open My Mouth!!!

Ever have one of those days when you wish the Lord had put duct tape on your mouth?

I don't have a "potty" mouth, my dear sweet mom made sure of that in my growing up years. I am not one who starts the "gossip" when it runs wild... I'm not usually a big complainer, well except at home, anyway! I usually mind my own business. Usually.

But then there are certain people put in our lives, that both the devil and the Lord use for testing purposes. They might be the sweetest individuals on the planet, but they can test the patience of a saint or Job himself. Whether they are "Ms. Busybody," "Mr. Testy" or "Mrs. Rude," they can stir the pot thick. The test is whether "I" decide to "simmer" and let things go OR whether I hold it all in until I BOIL over!

Does anyone out there understand what I am talking about? Please tell me I am not the only one!!!

Anyway, today wasn't "a lose my cool" day, but rather "I just wish I would have kept my mouth shut" day. I didn't do anything extremely wrong in any one's eyes, yet I had a guilty heart, later when I got home. Why couldn't I have just been quiet? Why did I have to add my two cents about a certain situation? I don't want to be labeled later as a possible complainer or even a troublemaker? Did I solve anything by speaking my mind? What kind of impression did I leave with others?

Of course as I was thinking this all through, I was convicted on so many levels. What about the situation where I "snapped" the other day and yelled at my daughter. Yeah, I can get loud. What about the other day when I came upon a conversation about someone, why didn't I walk away or shut it down? I guess I did gossip didn't I? What about the unkind thoughts I had, while waiting in the checkout line...fortunately I didn't say them out loud, but my heart was full of rudeness. Doesn't make it any less of a sin, does it?

The mouth can be a mighty tool for the Lord, but at the same time it can be our Achilles heel.

There are plenty of great verses in God's word on the mouth and tongue. Two, that always leave me thinking about my own tongue and the words I speak are:

"The tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark." James 3:5

"For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks..." Matthew 12:34

I especially love the verse in Matthew, for I would love to think that the words that flow out of my mouth are from a beautiful heart...

I guess as I am rambling on today, I hope to gain encouragement to try to do better and ask God for His "duct tape" every once in a while. Because honestly, I do need a lot of help in this area sometimes.

I pray that if you share my concerns, that God will send a little duct tape your way too.

The Grade Is In...(and other ramblings on the day after my birthday)

I would like to start with a BIG hug and "THANK YOU!" for all the sweet words and birthday wishes. As I have said many times before, I feel blessed, and you are all a part of that big bundle of blessings God has graced me with. ( If only several of you could ride around on my shoulder all day, "pumping me up" with kind words and encouragement, day to day life would be a snap!)

I had a good birthday. I know this is going to sound crazy and make me seem a little "old," but my favorite gift of the day were these house shoes my hubby got for me. Crazy huh? He knew I had to throw my old ones away and with the colder air coming and wood floors, I needed a little something for the footsies. Let me tell you, they are the softest things...like walking on a cloud. OK, before all of you start wondering if that is all I got from my fam, it wasn't, just a favorite
gift. :)

My in-laws cooked me a birthday dinner last night. Sorry Sis, I didn't take pictures. Just trust me...IT WAS GOOD! One of my favorite meals...steak, baked potato, salad, bread and green beans. She even bought me a small birthday cake. Grandma, believe it or not, the "yellow" roses were pretty. Thanks!

I was surprised at work with a few little gifts and a big cheesecake. Cheesecake just happens to be my favorite. My mom use to make me one for my birthday dinners when I was younger. My dear sweet Nanny use to have one ready for me, about every time I would visit too. So the cheesecake was a nice gesture.

My daughter got the "pink eye" on my birthday. Happy Birthday to me, right?!!! You know what that meant? Momma got all new makeup for the day after her birthday, celebration. Praying nobody else in the family comes down with it. She had to stay home from school today, and was not happy. Imagine that! A kid who WANTS to go to school. She is working real hard on those grades and is so afraid of getting behind. Doctor said she can go back tomorrow, but of course she will have to wear the glasses for a few days.

Since I hinted about grades...

Let me just tell you, I'm one proud Mom! Report cards arrived...

Jordan:

Spelling = 99%
Language Arts = 97%
Reading = 90%
Mathematics = 91%
Social Studies = 94%

Kayla:

Science = 96%
Gymnastics (her physical education) = 95%
Accelerated English = 99%
Band = 97%
Math = 97%
Social Studies = 92%
Keyboarding = 100%

Woo Hoo! Mommy is definitely doing the happy dance today! Don't you just love it when your kids are doing well? And I am not a person who puts a lot of pressure on grades, "just as long as it is your BEST." I like their best!!!

Well, I could probably ramble on and on, but I will be quiet and let someone else take over for a while. Happy Tuesday Everyone!

39 Blessings...

1. GRACE.

2. FORGIVENESS.

3. JESUS.

4. The WORD

5. The Hubby

6. My girl.

7. My "Bubby"

8. My Mom

9. My Dad

10. My "Sis"

11. The Bro-in-law who takes care of my sister.

12. My nephew the writer.

13. My nephew the red headed athlete.

14. My nephew the babe of the family.

15. My Mom-in-law

16. "Papa"

17. "Bro." and engineer of the family.

18. His loving and talented wife.

19. My one and only beautiful niece.

20. Memories of slobbery kisses from my dear Nanny who is with Jesus.

21. Memories of farm life with Granny and Grandpa.

22. "MeeMee"

23. Aunts and Uncles and cousins dear to the heart.

24. "Jack"

25. Friends.

26. Church family.

27. Blog land support.

28. Memories of travels around the world.

29. Missionary families from my childhood.

30. Youth groups near and dear to the heart.

31. Reasons to laugh.

32. Baby Girl our four legged friend.

33. A Baby Brother I look forward to seeing in Heaven one day.

34. Tears leading to strength.

35. HOPE I have in Christ.

36. Music and the strength TRUE worship gives.

37. FAITH in a Heavenly Father who loves me.

38. LOVE.

39. The years God has blessed me with on this earth.

I'm thinking as I turn the BIG (ALMOST) 40 today, that if 40 is the new 30, then 39 must be the new 29, right? But then it really doesn't matter, does it...?

I'm celebrating in my heart today, for I know I'm one very blessed gal!!!

In honor of today, my son had a little fun with the camera...

Pirate Pizazz...

We are not big Halloween celebrators around here. My kids have always gone to church sponsored carnivals and that is it. No witches, ghosts or goblins for us... So when Kayla asked if she could go to the Halloween dance at school, well I was a little "iffy" on it. However, we finally decided since it was "school sponsored" that we would let her go.

Next problem? A costume, Mom and Dad approved that was still "cool" enough to be seen in. Not an easy task, let me tell you. Kayla insisted that she DID NOT want to be any kind of princess, fairy, angel, etc..etc...etc... She wanted something a little edgy. EDGY?!!! What is that suppose to mean?! I guess a clown is out of the question!

So I set out to find the perfect "EDGY," dad approved costume. Do you know that if you google "teen costumes" you find outfits that are way beyond a little edgy..."embarrassing" is a better word. Is a teenager allowed to be modest anymore? We live in a sad, sad world.

I finally found at Kmart, a costume that I thought all would approve of. A Pirate. It wasn't cut too low, wasn't too short and it fit the edgy requirement. When I got the dagger it had a BIG skull on it, which I wasn't happy over, but as Kayla said, "MOM, IT IS A PIRATE COSTUME!!!"

So last night after I got off work, we went to work on getting her ready for the big dance. She turned out cute. I haven't heard how everything went, for she went home with a friend afterwards. But I do know that she was so excited when she left last night. Oh, they grow up too fast!