SEPTEMBER 25, 2008 "SWEET CHILDHOOD MOMENTS"

HER FIRST LOST TOOTH

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL AUG. 2008

Thursday, September 25, 2008
Sweet Childhood Moments Current mood: thoughtful Category: Life
So in the midst of the start of a new school year, in a new school district, homework, school functions and a busy soccer season- with both daughter and son playing soccer- practices twice a week and games everyday Saturday- a little childhood moment has slowed things down a bit and made me sit back and cherish these times of raising little kids even more!
My baby girl, Madison Rae, who is now 6- lost her first tooth Sunday night! What a bittersweet moment it was! She let Dustin Bryant pull her tooth- which made me happy and sad- I really wanted to pull it- but I am glad she loves/trusts him enough to let him do it! The tooth had been loose for a month now and it was an everyday occurrance for us to talk about how much more loose the tooth was that day! Madison is a typical girl- she thinks the world revolves her and sometimes it pretty much does- so her loosing her first tooth has been a big deal this week in our house! That night Dustin Bryant took her to the store and got ice cream for the entire family and she got her own small pint! She was so so so proud! Her first words were- "I wonder how much money the tooth fairy will bring me?"- always thinking about money and how she will spend it! That night she put her tooth in a baggy and wrote her name, date and phone number on it- how cute is that!
Both of my children are in the stage where they are starting to question if there is a REAL Santa, Tooth Fairy and Easter Bunny- and as their mom- I just do not have the heart to break the news to them- that it is in fact- ME- that plays those crucial roles in their little lives! When Mady woke up Monday morning- her tooth was with the "tooth fairy" and she had 5 dollars- for which she immediately said she would have me take her to Wal-Mart afterschool to get a Littlest Pet Shop- her new item of collection! Then she says "Mom if you were the tooth fairy- where would you hide my tooth?"- I was like, "well I am not the tooth fairy so I don't know". She says she had wanted to take tooth to school to show off and she was sad that she didn't have it anymore! I felt so guilty for playing the role of tooth fairy and taking her tooth. Now I am wondering- should I put the tooth back under her pillow and tell her that the tooth fairy is letting her have it back for a few days to "show off"- because of course- the know all see all tooth fairy heard her say she had wanted to take it to school that day???!!!????!!!!
So without blowing my cover or shattering my daughter's hopes and wishes that the tooth fairy- along with Santa and the Easter Bunny are indeed real- how should I play this, I ponder??? So tonight- the tooth fairy is replacing the precious FIRST TOOTH (on temporary loan of course) so my baby girl can take it to school to show off her lil 6 year old tooth with pride!!!
As I sit here and wait for the perfect time to go in her room as she sleeps- tip toe in there and be oh so quiet as I put her tooth back under her pillow- still in the bag with her contact information written in her lil 6 year old handwriting- I have to say- I love these sweet childhood moments and I love being a mother to two precious awesome kids! They make me so proud and I treasure these moments more than they will ever know! Even though it makes me sad that my baby is growing up and loosing teeth- I thank God each day that she and her brother are happy, healthy, smart kids who are growing up to be such good kids!

MAY 20, 2008 "FORGIVE, LET GO AND MOVE ON"

MAY 20, 2008
Forgive, Let Go & Move On Current mood: blessed
Do not say, "I'll do to him as he has done to me; I'll pay that man back for what he did." - Proverbs 24:29
"And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins." - Mark 11:25
I can honestly say that these two scriptures remain firmly implanted in my mind as time progresses and things from the past....remain unchanged....but still in the past- where they belong. As I grow closer to God and continue this journey as a wife and mother- I have come to realize one important thing- forgiveness is essential in growing and learning. If I keep looking back into the past at the hurt at the abuse I endured in my home growing up and the violence I endured at the hands of the father of my children- I am not allowing myself to see the full brightness of the future. The reality is that all of those hurtful experiences made me the person I am today- and that person is someone I proud to be! I am at a point in my life where I can finally stand up for myself and choose the people whom I let into my life and let stay in my life. As trying as it may be- letting toxic people GO has been the most productive and therapeutic experience for me as an adult. They must work to fix themselves- I cannot fix them only GOD has that POWER. As I sever ties with people who have been a part of my life since I was born and I am choosing to let GO of the hurt, pain and the past. They have not changed and unless they make major life changes- they never will. I am not a child anymore- I am an adult- wife and mother- I owe it to my children to show them that people who choose to hurt you in anyway- do not deserve a place in your life.

As each day passes and I learn to forgive (even though forgiveness was not asked for or wrongs were not acknowledged) happiness becomes a bigger part of my life and sorrow and confusion disappear. I believe that when you wrong a person- either by actions, words or in a physical way it is the right thing to do to go to that person and ask for their forgiveness- admitting the wrong you have done to them- and in turn completing the circle of forgiveness. Unfortunately we do not live in a perfect world and often times we grant forgiveness in our heart without the person who wronged us coming to us for their forgiveness. God knows our hearts- and only God. When we leave this world we will answer only to God about our actions on this Earth- and I will make certain when I meet my maker I will not have to answer for any hard feelings I have carried, burdens I failed to let go of and hurt I could not move past. I grant forgivness daily- sometimes I struggle with it- sometimes it is easy- but everyday I am faced with it. I know as I long as I choose the high road and I forgive, let go and move on....my heart will contiue to overflow with happiness, gratefulness and all the blessings this life has to offer.

APRIL 24, 2008 "LOVE IS FREE & SHERYL CROW ROCKS!"

WE HAD AWESOME SEATS- 4 ROWS FROM STAGE
MARCIE, ME, SIS AND CHRIS- FUN GALS!

ME AND MY SIS- LOVE HER!

Thursday, April 24, 2008
Love is Free & Sheryl Crow ROCKS!

Current mood: rockin Category: Music
Last night Sheryl Crow performed at the Grand Reopening of the newly renovated Brady Theatre In Tulsa. It was the most awesome concert I have been to in a long time- runs a close second to Fleetwood Mac! To start off the night me, my sis Shelby, and best friend Marcie and Chris met up at McNealy's had a great dinner and laughed til we cried! Then we get to the Brady and as we are walking to find our seats- we get closer and closer to the front row- and there they are- 4 rows back from the stage- we were so excited- I thought my sister and I were going to cry! Seriously- we have loved Sheryl Crow and her music for the past 15 years! Not only were we at the concert but we were going to experience it up close and personal. Her new songs are just as good as the old ones- they are deep, with a message about love, relationships, religion and politics. She is so in your face about things it's so moving! I had chills the entire time! She come out and sang "God Bless This Mess" and "Love is Free"- two awesome songs from the Detours album- she is so real! We were up and dancing so much an older lady behind us told us to sit down! Then Sheryl announces to everyone to keep dancing and for people to lighten up! I loved it! It was truly amazing and even better than I than I could have imagined! My sister and I have not had this much fun together- ever! It is a night I will never forget! Great music, great friend, awesome sister and good times! I wish she was coming back soon because I can't wait to see her in concert again! Everyone went crazy when she sang "Strong Enough"- I think everyone woman in the crowd was singing it! I feel blessed to have been a part of it and to add the experience to my list of wonderful life memories! She has a new song out- "Now That You're Gone"- and I about jumped out of my skin when she sang it! For anyone who has not heard it- go now and download it- because it is the best! I took so many pictures and videos- Im working on getting the videos uploaded but the pics are up! So until next time my friends....remember....."LOVE IS FREE" and SHERYL CROW ROCKS!!!!

MARCH 14, 2008 "BEING THANKFUL"

new haircuts!!!!

Nascar Races March 2008 lots of fun!

love my mother-in-law and sister-in-law! I have the mom I always wanted! and the sweetest little sis ever!

love her.....

They are such a good example of TRUE LOVE through the years! Im blessed to be in their family!

Church Directory Pic March 2008

Friday, March 14, 2008
BEING THANKFUL Current mood: thankful Category: Religion and Philosophy

All too often we get caught up in our daily routine of kids, relationships, family, jobs, household duties, kids’ school, kids’ sports and friends that we fail to stop and look at all God has blessed us with- and JUST BE THANKFUL. For a moment- maybe even two- each day- how many of us can say- we take a deep breath- look around us- take it all in- and just say "thank you God for my home, my healthy family, my sanity, my health, the clothes I wear, the car I drive, the people in my life that are loving, caring and wonderful"- so we acknowledge all the blessings in our lives the way we should? Do we give back to those who are less fortunate or think for a moment that maybe we overindulge in things we think we need- but really only society tells us we must have? I know many times I am guilty of buying too much for my children and myself and others I care for- instead- I should be teaching my children to give what we have to those who really need- those who go without day in and day out. Once I tried to make a statement to my children about "the starving kids in Africa" and it only made my daughter (who was 3 at the time) think her skin would turn dark if she got hungry! Statment not interpretated quite the way I had intended! I learned our children are better off learning from our actions- not a TV show!!
Now that I am staying home each day and I have time to actually think quietly and take it all in- I am so blessed! I know that most of the people in my life can say the same thing as I- we have homes, cars, jobs, healthy children, educations, and most importantly- the love of God and our families- we are truly blessed people- and we take it for granted so much of the time! At an early age I was blessed with the spiritual gift of mercy- I was the child who would sneak clothes to school for the girl who wore the same outfit days in a row- the girl less fortunate than myself- and now I see the same merciful gift in my daughter- and for that- I am truly thankful. Not always does having mercy on others pay off the way we intend it to- but in the long run- God blesses the merciful and the giving- tenfold. Being home and getting out of the hussle and bussle of the working mother life- has made me realize- it’s not about what kind of house you live in, what kind of car you drive, who your friends are, how much you have in the bank, flat screen tvs, ps3s, psps, the name brand clothing/shoes, vacations, how many extra cirricular activities your kids are involved in and the extravagant ways of many parents- ITS ABOUT being THANKFUL for what we have- without GOD we would not have all the things we have- ITS ABOUT what we had to go through to be where we are today- ITS about love- ITS about family- and GOD is the one who gives us those things- and for that- I AM BLESSED- and for that- I AM THANKFUL- IMMENSELY! So when we find ourselves being caught up in the ways of the world- the extravagant spending ways- maybe we need to stop and look around us at those less fortunate- be thankful for all we currently have- and instead of going out and buying our 100th pair of shoes for the year- give back- not just to your church- but to those that you know need it- those who struggle- those who go without- and those who are thankful to wake up in the morning- as we all should be! So for now- I am thankful- I am blessed- and I am hoping that I can teach my children to always give back more than you have- and that- will teach them integrity and the true value of being successful!!!
ENDING THOUGHT: Nothing we have or buy here- no money we have in the bank- will go with us to heaven- so why not do something good with your money while you are here to have it? Having money does not equal having happiness- but giving your money can bring happiness to someone’s life- and in turn- your own life!