Snakes and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails

Twenty-four years ago today, my life was forever changed.  I was no longer the lone princess.  Erm, well OKAY, I was still that.  I was no longer the lone "star". My parents introduced me to my little, yet chubby, brother.  Our Khris....not Christopher, just plain old Khris.

Seeing that we are only 18 months apart, it is hard to believe that I can remember him coming home, but I do.  I remember it quite vividly.  I had my own, LIVE baby doll and it was the coolest thing ever.  Everyone wanted pictures of him, so I turned on the cute factor and got in there with my brother and cheesed it up.  It was captured that I liked him.  Or at least I pretended to.

Over the years we fought about who had more space on the couch, who got the bigger piece of cake, who got to sit in the front seat.  Or best of all, who had to got to sit in the middle of Dad's little pickup truck.  HAHA.  I still can't believe how many times I made my much bigger "little" brother squeeze in the middle.

Together, we figured out how to beat Nintendo games and how to REALLY irritate Mom.  We figured out that we could get our way if we BOTH asked.  There is power in numbers you know.

We figured out that Mom and Dad were smarter than we thought and figured out our schemes.  I figured out how to blame everything on my brother.  Even cutting my Barbie's hair.  I'm pretty sure he did it.  But he has denied it for 20 years now and he really has me wondering if I did just blame him.  hahahaha.

We played in sandboxes together and built sandcastles.  We made tents out of blankets and igloos out of snow.  We imagined and laughed and giggled until we couldn't anymore.

We fought over who got control of the remote on Saturday mornings when cartoons were worth watching.  We fought over who did what chores because we didn't want to do any.  Actually, at one point we used to get mad if the other one got to clean the kitchen sink or mop at Grandma's because that was a privilege. 

We ran each other over with bikes and slammed our faces into walls.  And some of us have dropped axes on our toes :P  Yes, these are true stories and there are scars to prove them.

We've lived together. We've loved together. We've cried together.  We've laughed together.  We've cheered each other on.  We've blessed each other out.

Twenty four years ago, I might not have been too sure about him.  But, he sure has grown on me.  I wouldn't trade him for a hundred and a thousand dollars ;)  I LOVE YOU KHRIS ANDREW!  I'm so proud of the man you are becoming! HAPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPY BIRFDAY!

Dealing with Discouragement

Have you ever been ready to "harvest" and the rain clouds come in and you don't get to do what you thought you could? 

We know the cliche statements of life:
Life is not fair.
Life is always full of surprises.
Life does not always go as planned.

But how do you deal with life when you come face to face with one of these realities? Discouragement WILL come to all of us.  So how can we deal with it?

1.  Get the frustration out.  After a particularly stressful and discouraging few days, I was done with everyone and everything.  So I came home and screamed into a pillow.  Yes, for real.  I had a mini temper tantrum.  I knew that the stress, tension and aggravation couldn't build up in me any longer.  So I "got it out".  And... I got honest.  I asked God one hundred questions and spilled my guts.  God wasn't left wondering how I REALLY felt.  I'm pretty sure I spelled it out from A to Z. 



2.  Turn to your support system.  Your family and your friends accept you as you are and they usually want to help.  But you have to let them.  They can't read your mind and know what you are thinking or feeling. (Although, I have to say, my mom has an uncanny ability to know when something isn't right with me.  She just doesn't know WHAT it is.  So she nags me until I tell her.  She's good at that too.)  When Coach got home, I grumbled to him and I pretty much let him know how I felt too.  He switched into "Coach" mode and told me that it's not about the wins, it is about how hard we play on the field.  God has not called us to be successful, but to be FAITHFUL.  (I love when God sends me reassurance and love through my tall, handsome, blonde-haired,  blue-eyed man!)

3.  Get an attitude adjustment. (This usually happens during #3 by a member of the support system.)  My mom used to have a device called an "attitude adjuster" that looked a lot like a wooden spoon. Thankfully, I've outgrown those and it just takes a verbal lashing to get me back on the right page now.  After our pep talk, Coach reminded me of who I am and that my attitude was not reflecting that,  So, I had to do a little re-adjustment.  "Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." (Phil. 4:8)

4. Take a hot bath. Find some chocolate.  (Hey, it never hurts right?) Seriously though, you have to take care of yourself and take some time to rest, reflect, relax and rejuvenate, so you are ready for the next step.


5. Get back up.  I was ready to throw the towel in on about 5 of my jobs in life. But after I calmed down and was "set straight" and remembered the promise of Romans 8:28 that "ALL things work together for the good of those who love Him."  Even the discouraging things.  There is a purpose and a reason for everything  I may never know how it all works together for the good, but if I don't keep working, the good may never even happen.  And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. (Galatians 6:9)

Reasons I'm not a teacher....

Today, I took care of 15 kids who ranged from 3 to 13 and a few with special needs.  After two hours, I realized why God changed my heart about teaching. 

15 kids in one room is about 12 too many.  I decided today that elementary teachers don't make nearly enough money.

Runny noses make ME run.

Kids are so off the wall.  This kid told me he shreds his homework, gives a fake copy to his robot and then his robot does him homework. Thing was, he was dead serious.  All the other kids were laughing and he was completely serious about his robots. He proceeded to tell me he has billions of robots and he'd sell me one for $159.  I almost wrote the kid a check.   Oh, and then he told me that aliens wake him up. ?????  

My patience lasts for about 15 minutes, or until they start crying.  Whichever comes first. 

Kids are disorganized.  I am not.  My world was in shambles when they were putting crayons in the marker box.

Whining gives me a migraine.

Did I mention my patience?

I have to restrain myself when a four year old looks me square in the eye and repeatedly tells me no when I tell them to do something simple such as sit down.

After 2 hours of madness, I would have loved to have done this:

I love kids and I will love my own.  But I'll just stick to being a mom.  To all those teachers out there, you have my love, respect..... and prayers!!!

You Snooze... You Lose

I've always heard it said "Do what you can, with what you have, where you are" but I've come to really put it in action and believe it in the past few months.

I admit that in the past I was a perfectionist. Something inside of me wanted my life to play out like a dream.  I wanted everything done the right correct way.  Okay, so I might still have some of it in me.  But I've come to realize that things work even when conditions aren't perfect.  

In the past, I would've passed up the opportunity to serve someone because I didn't have the means that I felt were necessary.  My theory was more like "If you can't do it all the way, don't do anything at all."  I was afraid my gift wouldn't mean anything if it wasn't everything.

After starting my "kindness-a-day" project back at Easter, I've come to realize that even the small things can mean the world to people.  A bottle of water or a meal to a homeless person.  A smile to the lady in the grocery store who is exasperated with trying to control her kids and shop for groceries. A note to a struggling friend or family member.

Our opportunity to serve this week arrived late one evening in the shape of a hungry football player. I was in my pajamas and my hair wasn't fixed.  Eek. As the student came in, I realized he was deaf.  Double eek.  God must have forgotten that it's been four years since my last ASL class.  JUUUUUUST kidding.  I know God forgets nothing and I knew it was no coincidence that this kid showed up on my door step.  I said a quick prayer and struggled through some sign language with him.  His eyes just lit up just to see someone who knew how to communicate with him (even ever so slightly). 

I quickly heated up some leftovers... which we "coincidentally" happened to  have.  Normally we don't have leftovers.  I cook two pieces of meat, enough veggies and whatever else for me and Coach.  But on this night, we happened to have a TON of leftovers.

In the past, I would've worried about the way I looked, the quality of food I had and I probably would have not even tried to communicate with this young man in sign language because my ASL is far from perfect.  I would've been too worried about me and the things that truly don't matter and I would've missed the opportunity to serve. 


Our gifts don't have to be perfect for God to use them, we just have to be willing to serve. We can't only serve when it is convenient to us.  To be a true servant, we have to be available to God any hour of the day or night.  My mom used to tell me "You snooze, you lose".  I used to hate that saying because it usually meant I missed the last piece of cake or something else I really wanted.  But the statement sure rings true.  What are we missing out on if we wait for action until things are how WE want them to be?  Here's the answer...  Ecclesiastes 11:4 - If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done. (NLT).   Ouch.
I am SO thankful that God has allowed me to move past those expectations of being perfect and that He was able to use me...with what He has given me, where He has put me.

Out of the mouths of babes

Kids have this amazing ability to be truthful... and cute at the same time.  Like this...

Today in church, the pastor who was giving a children's message asked for a volunteer.  This little kid,about four years old, was eager to stand up on stage and help.  The pastor gave him directions to cling as tight as he could to the pastor who was playing God.  But first, he'd have to hold a few things.

First up... a clock.  The pastor explained that we want to cling to God, but a lot of times, we just don't have the time.   We are always racing to beat the clock.  So the kid took the clock.  And emphatically announced to the church "It's 10:00 guys!!!"  When he turned the clock around though, it looked like this:

So he needs a little work on his time telling skills.

The pastor then handed him a baseball and explained that a lot of times, we get tangled up in sports and other activities and make our schedules so busy that we don't have time for God.

Next up was a cell phone.  The pastor explained that sometimes we intend to spend time with God, but technology takes up our time.  We end up spending our times texting and catching up on Facebook instead.

Then the pastor pulled out a gun.  Yes, a gun.  In church.  The little kid's eyes got real big and he said 'ARE WE GOING TO FIGHT?"   The pastor explained, no they weren't going to fight but a lot of times these toys get in our way.  (He sure could've picked a better toy).  In all his boy glory, the little fellow took a few good shots with the gun towards the congregation.

As you can imagine, the little guys hands and arms were full.  He was even was using his neck to hold the gun.  The pastor asked him to go cling to God.  The little boy scooted over to the edge of the stage and tried to jump onto the pastor playing God, but he dropped some things.  The pastor urged him to pick them up and cling to God.  The little boy looked at him with a very angry face and screamed  "I CAN'T!!! YOU PUT TOO MUCH STUFF IN MY HANDS AND I DON'T WANT IT."  And he proceeded to run away from the stuff and JUMP full force into the arms of the pastor playing God. 

While the little kid was as cute as could be, he was right on.  To my young readers out there,  I want to encourage you to stand boldly in your witness and love for God as this little boy did.  1 Timothy 4:12 says "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity."  Maybe the adults around you aren't setting a good example.  Well, set an example for them!   The words you say and the things you do may speak volumes more than the words of a pastor. 

This little boys words got me thinking.  How many times do we fill our hands with things that we truly DON'T want?  We may think we want them, but after awhile those things get old and we are still left with a hole.  The only thing we desire (and NEED) is a relationship with God.  That relationship is the only thing that can transform us, renew us, restore us.  Giving ourselves to our jobs won't satisfy us.  Being plugged into too many activities won't satisfy you (or your kids).  Buying new vehicles, new televisions and new gadgets won't satisfy us either.   Getting to know our God and clinging to Him... now THAT will fill your cup.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. - Romans 12:1-2

What is it that you need to sacrifice?  What is taking you away from God?  Jesus, God's only Son, made the ultimate sacrifice for us to have a relationship with God.  If Jesus wasn't exempt from making sacrifices, we sure aren't!

Put on a Happy Face

Back around Easter time, I decided to start a "Good Deed of the Day" quest in an attempt to make the world a little happier... one person and one day at a time.

After arriving back in the South, I quickly came to the realization that I don't come in contact with enough people everyday to do something nice everyday.  But I still make an attempt.

For instance, when I go to the grocery store, I try to always ask the cashier how he/she is doing... and genuinely mean and listen to their answer.  Tonight I had to run to the IGA, which we actually call the GGS (Ghetto Grocery Store).  It's right around the corner, so it is very convenient, but it's one of those stores where you have to check the dates on the stuff you buy because it could be from 2002.  I always seem to end up in this one young man's line.


This man reminds me of one of my favorite childhood stories:

Seriously... every time I ask this kid how he is, I get one of the following answers:
Not Good
Terrible
Could be better
I'm having the worst day of my life

AND, he always explains why life is "terrible" (i.e., he hurt his thumb, it's raining, it's hot, etc)

I try to encourage him and remind him things could be a lot worse, but he just doesn't get my good vibe.  Sigh.  Next time I'm taking him a roll of these stickers.  Maybe that will remind him to smile and enjoy life a little more. 

Clean up, Clean up, Everybody, Everywhere

Except it wasn't everybody.  It was just me.  And I didn't intend to clean everywhere. Our sheets needed changed... bad.  Coaches can really stink sometimes. (I LOVE YOU HONEY!)  So I went to the "spare room" to get the extra set of sheets and found a mess.  Which I cleaned up.  Walked out and forgot the sheets.  But I remembered the clean laundry in the dryer.  Took the clean laundry to the bed to fold and realized I never put sheets on the bed.  Got the bed sheets, made the bed and dumped the clothes out on the bed.  Went to put the laundry basket at the end of the bed and decided I was really sick of the clothes baskets at the end of the bed. 

I decided if I moved the *ahem* firearms to another location, I could move the dresser down and sit the laundry baskets beside of it.  In the process of moving the dresser, I realized JUST how dusty it was.  After cleaning it off, I realized I could move one thing that was on the dresser into another room to make more room on our dresser.  So, I went into the guest bedroom.  The desk with our printers on it was extremely cluttered and needed to be reorganized.... and dusted.  Then I spotted a lamp that I forgot I had and remembered how I wanted a desk lamp at work.  So I pulled the plug only to find that it was stuck underneath our filing cabinets.  Ugh.  So I broke out my muscles again, got that free and realized that some "junk" had fallen in between the desk and cabinet.  So I cleaned that out and had a trash pile and a file pile.  Upon taking the trash pile to the kitchen, I realized the trash needed to be emptied. And so did the dishwasher. 

And to think all I wanted to do was change the sheets on the bed....