Why I Watch Reality TV

If you took a survey on what people thought about REALITY TV you would probably get an interesting set of opinions on why we should or should not watch these shows.

My opinion is.........I love them!

Now, let me say that I do have my limits.  Nothing vulgar.  Nothing raunchy.  And if the ones I do watch go in that direction, I'll be the first one to change the channel.

For instance - I've chosen to eliminate Dancing With The Stars this season because of their blatant disregard for the public's distaste toward Chastity Bono.  That's right!  I didn't say CHAZ because she was born a she and in my mind she will stay a she!   So, if they are going to rub that in our face, then they have one less viewer - me.

However, the shows I tend to watch are the ones that have to do with music or relationships.   I'm not so much interested in the game show types.

But here's what I get out of them - HOPE.   Not for myself, but for the people on tv.   Does that sound ridiculous?  

My family and I were watching Simon Cowell's new show THE "X" FACTOR last week.   I cried in both shows.   Why?  Because I absolutely love seeing and hearing about the people who just want to do what God's put in them to do - sing!   I have a child like that!!  I get it!

Some of these people that come to these shows, just need hope.   They need a break.  They need to know that they are valuable and that this talent that they have is for a purpose.    


Some of the stories will break your heart.  I think back to Kelli Pickler, on American Idol years ago.  She had a touching story about being raised by her grandfather after her mother abandoned her.  She went from being a waitress at Sonic, to being a country music star.   She's made it a point several times a year since then, to visit our troops overseas and encourage these young men and women.   She most likely, would never have had that opportunity, if not for having the courage to enter a singing contest.

There are many more stories like hers and each one makes me cry!

I also like the shows that offer the hope of love.  Yes, I know!  Are they actually "real"?  I'm sure some are scripted and contrived, but in the end, I'm always rooting for the girl to get her guy (or vise versa).  I guess I'm just a sucker for a good love story.

One of our favorite shows to watch as a family is Top Gear (the British version).   It's informative (sort of documentary-ish), entertaining and oh, so hilarious!    We look forward to at least one episode before bedtime every night.   

Another family favorite was Gator Country, which was all about a local guy (from our area) who would go around catching gators that needed to be placed elsewhere.   We could watch the team on tv, then go down to the restaurant, by the same name, and chat with the crew.    What fun!

Some of my favorite stories are of people who have kicked an addiction and are trying to make something better of themselves.   How can you not root for these people and want something hopeful for them? 

Or what about Secret Millionaire?   I loved that show!  Each week the show would feature a self-made millionaire who would go back to their hometown or into a big city, and seek out local charities that were making a difference in the community.   For one week, the millionaire would give up luxury and fame, to live on the equivalent of what someone on public assistance would live on.   They would spend a week volunteering at local charities, helping out in whatever way the people asked them to.  In the end, they would donate huge amounts of money to three of the charities.   The compassion that was shared and the hope that was created touched my heart every time. 

I don't think there is anything wrong with reality-tv if you are choosing carefully.   I would rather sit with my family and watch real-life stories about people trying to improve themselves, rather than expose my kids to the gore and filth that is portrayed in the primetime dramas.   Even shows on Disney and Nick leave me cringing sometimes, due to attitudes and disrespect for adults.   These channels create a false sense of security for many parents who think, because it's a "kid's" channel, it will be ok, when I have found that to be untrue.   I guess some parents are confused when their kid starts imitating the smart mouthed characters on the cartoons.   I've got news for ya!  Just because it's animated, doesn't mean it's ok to watch!

For those who think TV is evil, regardless of what you're watching, I disagree.   For those who say "we will never have cable because of all the filth on there", I say you are kidding yourself if you think the "regular" channels are saving your family from filth.    If we didn't have cable, we wouldn't be able to watch tv.   You see, on cable we have choices; on local channels, we have filth and news (which is mostly gore).    On cable we can choose the channels we will allow by blocking out the ones we don't approve of.   On local tv, we're subjected to talk shows (filth) and primetime dramas (more filth).    So arguing the "no cable" rule is just ignorant.   

I know some people have chosen to have no tv at all and that's your right.   My family would go insane!  You can only take so many nights of board games and reading aloud, then we would lose our minds!   It's nice to sit down as a family and enjoy some clean entertainment.   Then we get up and go do other things.   It's not an idol; it's just a box that gives us a glimpse into other people's lives now and then and sometimes a look at where we'd like to vacation one day (thank you Hawaii Five-O).

I guess what I'm saying is that I like shows about real people, rather than make believe characters. 
So before you knock Reality-TV, check it out.   Look beyond the music or the game or the silly antics and see the person, the relationship, the change that is offered. 

You never know whose life might be changed right before your eyes.

Just For Fun

Sometimes spur-of-the-moment ideas are the best! 

Here's one I pulled off recently and I think my boys really enjoyed it.

Take any old can of biscuits.  Use a small cap and cut

holes in the middle. 

Use the cut out portion for the donut holes.

 

 Here are the additional ingredients you'll need:

Coconut Oil, Cinnamon, Sugar

(you can also use powdered sugar if you prefer)

 

Heat the oil in a pan.  When it is hot enough

drop donuts in and brown on both sides.

Make sure the middles are done!

Here's the finished product!

Since they were watching a football game, I decided

to surprise them with a little snack.

They were delighted!

Here is the recipe.  

It came out of the No Greater Joy magazine.

These beat the store bought ones by a mile!

YUM!

Catching Up

Today is going to be a "catching up" day in blog land.

I've not been consistent lately, as I've had numerous things going on, and though I have several topics on my mind to write about, today's not the day.  

So here's a quick rundown of my life lately and hopefully next week I will be back to writing about things that mean something.


AROUND THE HOUSE
Haven't been here much this week.  David had to go to Corpus for business so Collin and I went with him.   When we got back,  the love bugs had invaded the inside of the house, as well as the outside.  First thing I did, while the men were unloading the car, was vacuum up all the bugs around the house.  YUCK!     It's great to be home though.   A woman needs a place to put her skills to use.  Therefore, I will be dusting today! hahaha


SCHOOL WISE
School has been slow going this week, due to traveling.  This is when I have to remind myself of all the times I've said to other women "life is the teacher" because the books have been on the shelf this week.    However, when I think about all the things Collin encounters each day and all that he teaches himself, I am comforted in the fact that this kid of mine always has his head in a book and is forever reciting facts to me from one of said books!   He's a never ending stream of information!  So much so, that David and I have to stop him from regurgitating all the facts back to us.   It can be mind-numbing at times.    If you've ever watched the show "The Middle", then you know what Brick is like.  That's Collin to a T!


NEW ADVENTURES
Well, all in one week, Ted and I have ventured out into the business world!   My 18 year old awesome son is now opening up his own recording studio!  He's been doing this out of his bedroom for a few years now, but that has run it's course.   He went on a quest to find some space to rent and God dropped a building right in his path!  Now he won't have to kick us out of the house on recording days and he can move on with his music career.   We are so proud of him!

On a more personal note - I have also ventured out into the business world, although a little closer to home.    I am now "An Independent Consultant for Thirty-One Gifts"!  Which basically means that I have been in love with their products and wanted way too much stuff, so I signed up to sell it and take advantage of the great deals.    I'm not a salesperson, so even if someone asks me to do a "party" it will mostly consist of me displaying and then "ooooooing" over the products along with them.   I'll order for them (and a little for myself) and move on.   The products will basically sell themselves because they are so darn cute!

BIBLE STUDY WISE
As I mentioned in my last post - I am studying 1John along with the Good Morning Girls.   It's a great process (SOAP) and I am really soaking it all in.    I'm definitely a person who needs a guide when I study.   It just gives me direction rather than turning randomly through the pages and hoping to land where I need to. 

PRAYER NEEDED
As it turns out, this week while we were in Corpus, my dad ended up in the hospital again.   He's not doing well and needs a lot of prayer.    I think I've reached the point of knowing how it feels when you just don't want to see them suffer anymore.   If Jesus wants to call him home, I'm going to be ok with it.   I've never seen my dad look so pitiful and hopeless.   I think his body has just had enough and it's not functioning anymore.    I truly fear that hospital visits and progressive deterioration is inevitable. 

Secondly, Ted is currently wearing a heart monitor for 30 days.  All his tests turned out normal, which was great news, but we'll have to wait and see what they find with this monitoring.   I think my 18 year old has too much stress.   But, that's just a mom's diagnosis.   Please pray for him too.

So that's it folks!   I am aching to write from my heart and I hope to do that next week.   In the meantime, I'll just keep filling you in on the happenings around here, which may or may not be exciting.   You never know!

Until then.......
blessings to you!

Good Morning Girls Link Up

Happy Wednesday!
This week is proving to have some challenges but that's ok!

I'm super excited about joining the Good Morning Girls for Bible Study and so far, have thoroughly enjoyed my morning quiet time.

This week, as I've used the SOAP method to study God's word,  I've been able to really see the scripture in a whole new way.   Studying it, Observing it, Applying it, and Praying over it, has been such a blessing. 

What I've read this week has confirmed to me that Jesus was real; He walked this earth and had real relationships that impacted lives.   Also, when we've encountered the living God in a personal manner, we not only need to proclaim it, but we need to invite others to fellowship with us, in knowing Christ.   

Our God is relational; He's real and He desires our fellowship.

Awesome stuff ladies!

If you'd like to join us - we'd love to have you!

Go HERE

Are You Accessible?

While listening to a message recently, I heard a Youth Pastor say: "Are you accessible?" and I wrote it down because I knew this one question applied to so many areas of our lives.

My first thought was that of friendship.  How accessible are you as a friend?  Are you easily available when someone needs a listening ear or prayer or just an hour of your time?  Or do you have a list of reasons why you can't get together or pick up the phone?   Do you reach out to others or do you keep yourself so busy that your life revolves around you and only you?

Then my thoughts turned toward marriage.  How accessible are you as a wife?  Does your husband have to make an appointment,  just to spend a little quality time with you?  Do you take time away from the kids to make him feel important or is he last on the agenda; after the chores, the kids, the activities outside the home, etc.? 

That led to thoughts of the Lord.   How accessible are you to the Lord?   Does spending time with Him come first or last?  Can you hear Him when He whispers in your ear; or are you so much on the fast-track that all you can hear is the roar of the world as you run into it?   Could He even get your attention with His whisper?  Or does He have to shout at you to make you listen?

What about your kids?   How accessible are you to your kids?  Do you spend time with them; listening to them with your full attention?  Or are you only half-way listening, while on the computer, your phone, or in front of a tv?   Do you have fun with your kids?  Or are you simply existing in the same household, doing your duty as a mom, until they are old enough to leave?

There are many roles we play as women (and men), but are we truly accessible to those who love us and want to be a part of our lives?   If we're not - then we are just glorifying ourselves,  because this life is about more than us.   It's about relationships.

If your relationships are suffering - you might want to ask:

How accessible am I?

Our Love Story

Twenty-three years ago today, on September 17, 1988,  there was a hurricane that changed my life.  And, as I've been told.......a tornado that changed David's.

I was working in a gift shop in the Hershey Hotel in Corpus Christi, when Hurricane Gilbert was predicted to come my way.   Of course, I was not scheduled to go to work on the day it was set to come to shore, but when it turned and headed farther South, I was asked to come in, and I was not a happy camper!

At the time, I was 22 years old and had lived in San Antonio all my life.  We didn't have hurricanes there, so I was really terrified that I would get caught in this horrible storm and die.   But, as it turned out.....God had bigger plans for me that day.

The hotel was empty, as far as regular guests, but was full of media crews that were staying there to get the big story.   There weren't many customers in the shop that day, but later that evening, a crew from ABC in Beaumont walked through the door, and my life was changed.

David was the photographer traveling with the anchorman, Albert Zipp.  They were stopping in Corpus, on their way back to Beaumont the next day.  They had been down south, filming the storm and needed a place to sleep before heading home.   David walked by the glass front of the store and I can remember seeing him look through the window at me.   He went on by and I went back to work and that was that.

An hour or so later he came into the store and three hours later he was still there!  We talked all evening, until I closed the shop at 11:00pm!   He asked me to go out for more conversation, which I did, and we had a great time on that first night.   

I was scheduled to work the next day as well, and when I came into the shop, there was a business card left for me that said "I'll be back" to which I thought "yeah, right!"    I had no idea where Beaumont was, but it might as well have been on the other side of the country.   We had had a nice evening together but I didn't think I would see him again, unless there was another hurricane.   Little did I know, I was wrong!    David went home after that trip and told his mom he had met the girl he was going to marry!

Two weeks later (with a few phone calls in between) he did come back and we had our first official date.    After that, our months were turned into calls and sporadic visits (270 miles one way) until we finally got engaged in November (just 2 months of dating!).   I'm sure everyone thought we had lost our minds.   However, it is as "they" say......when you know, you know!

We were married just 10 months after we met and we've had an awesome marriage every since.  

September 17th will always hold a special place in my heart.  When God orchestrates your marriage, it will stand the test of time and ours certainly has.  

I am blessed beyond belief with this man!  He is more than I dreamed I'd ever find and I hope I am the same for him.  (At least that's what he says.)

So here's to hurricanes (that change course at the last minute) and going into work when you don't want to!  You never know what God wants to do with that day!

Happy September 17th David!

I love you!

Love,

your tornado:)

The Longest Week

This has been a long week and I now know what a hamster feels like when he gets stuck on one of those wheels and it just keeps going and going and going.

David left for Atlanta on Sunday afternoon for a week of business meetings.   That makes for a long week, just because the house feels empty when he's gone.

However, I had many plans and only 5 days to get it all done, so I kicked it into high gear the minute he pulled out of the driveway.

My goal this week was to re-do our livingroom so that I wouldn't have to look at the colors green or brown anymore. 

My plan was to make my own slipcovers because I couldn't find the ones I wanted.

The reality is it didn't turn out quite the way I hoped.

The bottom line is that I wasted 2 full days trying to make a slipcover for a wingback chair, only to have my brand new sewing machine mess up when I only had 2 seams left to sew.   But it wouldn't have mattered anyway because when I put the cover on the chair, just to see how it looked - it was pathetic!

Which meant that Wednesday, after spending the day in Houston with Ted at the heart doctor, I had to spend until 7:30 that night, trying to find 2 slipcovers for the two chairs, plus pillows and a rug, that would pull the room all together and not even the colors I originally wanted.

I got everything done by Thursday evening and David drove into the driveway at 12:30am.   That was close!!

I'm happy with the way it turned out, but I'm not posting pictures until I get everything done.  I have to hang the valances, paint the coffee table and add pictures on the walls.   Then and only then will I post the pictures.

I often wonder why I do these things to myself.

I guess I'm just an adrenaline junkie or something.  Although right now, my tank is empty.

I'm going to sit back this weekend and just enjoy being with my family.  

No decorating allowed!

A Link to Time Warp Wives - 6 Ways to Build up Your Husband

Today I am linked to Time-Warp Wife with a post about my awesome husband.

Go HERE to read my post, plus many others.

Have a blessed day!

(I'm off to work on my project.  Shhhhh!)

The First Day of School - Two Weeks Ago

This is my "First Day of School" post that should have been written two weeks ago.  However, so true to my 13 years of teaching my children at home, the past two weeks have been overly eventful, so I'm just now taking time to write about this subject.

Collin started the 7th Grade this year, which seems like a really big deal to me.  David and I have both been hit with the realization that he is no longer that little boy that he has been for the last 12 years; but a young man, with a very deep voice!

But, his heart is still tender and that's what matters to this mom.  Yet, he's tough enough to handle the horses when daddy's gone, so it's a great combination!

First Day
For Collin's first day of school, I planned some very light work and little tidbits of things to do.   David was having a work-from-home day, so it worked out great that we could do these things together.

BUT - if you read my "First Day Mishaps" post a few weeks back, you know that the first day of school always starts out with some kind of mishap or exciting, out of the ordinary thing, that takes place, and this day was no different!

It was only about 6:30 am when the mishap started.   Loud barking and carrying on was suddenly waking up the whole neighborhood.   I was going down the hall to tell David he needed to go check it out, just in case it was a person walking around where he shouldn't be, when Collin comes bursting out of his room in his pj's and a BB Gun in hand!  Whatever or whoever it was - he was ready for them!

Turns out, it was two roaming dogs that had cornered and attacked a young cat.  When David braved his way over toward the neighbor's fence (in the dark)  to see what all the noise was about, the dogs ran off, but the cat stayed wedged underneath the privacy fence.    After Collin and David did a little investigating, we called Animal Control to come remove the cat, because it was alive but couldn't walk.    It seems the cat's back was broken.   The Animal Control picked it up and took it away and I'm not going to seek out the answer of what happened to it after that.  Sad! 

Because of all of this activity and excitement, we didn't get our first day of school started until almost 10:00am!!

I had to just laugh at the whole thing because it happens every year!


Anyway........


The first thing we did was take Collin to breakfast at one of our favorite little spots downtown - The Cafe.

 Of course, we let him have a cup of coffee......

 We had a wonderful breakfast.......

 Then we came home and started our "orientation".......
First stop - Smarties.   Can't be smart if you don't eat your Smarties.....

 Only assignment for the day.......Setting Goals.
I wanted Collin to write down five goals that he hoped to accomplish this year in his life.  They could be spiritual, educational, personal, etc.    I think it's important at his age to think about what areas of his life he would like to concentrate on and make those goals his own, not just "mom's".

After goal-setting, we went over the subjects and how our days would flow.  

I introduced him to his "subject cards"
  

Which correspond with his boxes.......

Each day I will hang the subject cards, according to the subjects we will cover that day.   He pulls the first card off, goes to the corresponding box, gets out the books and the assignment sheet that's in the box, and completes the assignment.   He then drops the subject card in a bucket on the desk and moves on to the next card/subject.   This is my version of The Workbox System.    So far it is going great!

I don't have him doing all 8 subjects every day.   We are doing a block schedule, where he alternates certain subjects, twice a week.

Here's a rough look at what he'll do each day:

Monday - Bible, Math, Language, Logic, Music
Tuesday - Bible, Math, Spelling, Handwriting, Logic, Music
Wednesday - Off  (we've taken Wednesdays off for a few years now. Helps break up the week)
Thursday - Bible, Math, Language, Nutrition, Music
Friday - Bible, Math, Spelling, Handwriting, Nutrition

**Music consists of several different elements this year: History of the Orchestra, Hymn Stories, and Violin lessons.
** Nutrition is our Science for this year, including anatomy which is covered in the same course
**History  - He was doing the Jonathan Park series, but finished it in the first 2 weeks, so now it will be current events, and various things we'll add throughout the year.   There is no shortage of politics, current events, history, documentaries, etc. that are always going on in this household.  Plus, the history of the orchestra and hymn stories both cover the history of music, which is history.   I love homeschooling! 

After going over the system and subjects we carried on with our tradition of reading this book:

Can't start the year off without reading about the Diffendoofer school!


So that's what we've been up to in school so far.   I might have to tweak a few things here and there, but not much.   The biggest challenge is always this crazy ride called life!

Being a homeschool mom/wife/accountant/secretary/cook/maid/chauffeur/teacher, etc. etc. is a challenge because we don't have 8 hours of child-free time to pay the bills, grocery shop, clean, and do all the other tasks that have to still be done during the day on top of teaching.     We have to teach AND fit in all the other things there are to do in life.   That's not always easy to do.

However, I've said it before and am saying it again......I wouldn't trade this life for any amount of free time.   And, I have to constantly remind myself that LIFE is the greatest educator of all.   Books are just something to do when life slows down.  

Hope your year is off to a great start!
Thanks for stopping by!

On My Mind

Sometimes I have so much on my mind that it's hard to write about any one thing.  Sometimes I have things on my mind that are controversial or would become controversial if said outloud, so I ponder these things, instead of writing them out for others to pounce on.  But, today's the day I have to write.

I remember, back in "Beauty School" (as we called it in the 80's), there were two things you were told not to talk about with your customers: politics and religion.   The older I get, the more I understand that rule.  Yet, the older I get, the more importance those two subjects hold in my life!

Both politics and religion will bring out the passion in people and it's not always pretty!  Yet, they are important subjects and well worth talking about.   The problem is, when we are passionate about something, it's hard to keep our tone nice and sometimes we say things that offend, which is something this country has become afraid of. 

We've become so politically correct that to offend someone with the truth these days, is almost akin to committing a crime against them!   People are so into themselves, that any little thing that comes against them is seen as monumental.  

Likewise, religion is becoming off limits; well, at least Christianity is.  You can talk and gloat and worship anything you please, as long as it's not Jesus.   To which I say: bring it on.   That's why my kids don't go to the government school, because I want them to have the freedom to worship and acknowledge Christ at all times; not just after school hours and on the weekend.   In public school, Jesus is off limits and Muslims get put in the History books.   How screwed up is that?


Which brings up something else that has become a hot topic: education.   If you are a Christian and you're politically minded, then you add homeschooling to that mix, and you can bet you will be persecuted!!  But, I'll save that for another post, as I will the post about how teachers don't respect parents anymore.     You see?  I have alot on my mind.

Someone recently commented on FaceBook that you shouldn't argue with people in that forum.  I seriously can say I've never written a post, looking for a fight.  However, I have written my opinion about something and had arguments ensue.    Likewise, I have commented on other people's posts, in an opinionated manner.   Hey, it happens!   I guess that's another one of those places where you need to keep it to all roses and sunshine, so no one gets offended.    Just talk about what your dog ate for dinner and you'll have tons of "friends".     Apparently, no one wants to hear about how the president is an idiot and is ruining our country.  "That's mean!"  

Add to that subject, the holier-than-thou's that have to remind you, everytime you post some kind of opinion, that God is Love, and we need to just pray for everyone.   DUH!   Everyone needs prayer AND some people need a good butt-whipping!   I'm as much of a Christian as you are, but sometimes the truth needs to slap people in the face!  That's what's wrong with this country!  We are W I M P S!

Christians have laid down in the road and invited the world to run over them - time and time again!

Get up people!!
Fight for our Savior!
Fight for our country that was built on Christian principles and values!
 
But no! 
That would be mean and unChrist-like! 

Let me just remind you that God was and is a God of LOVE.   BUT - He is also a jealous God; a just God; and a holy God, who cannot tolerate sin.   But his people tolerate it.  Tolerate it, coddle it, justify it, pray for it, pet it, and the list goes on.    We don't stand for or against anything these days.  It's disgusting to me, so I can only imagine how God feels about it. 

Sometimes I feel saddened by the state we Christians are in.  Makes you want to shout it in every forum you can - "Wake Up Christians"!!   But, then you would be called unkind, argumentative, intolerant; a weird homeschooling mom who's radical.   So be it.

If I need to take that title, I will.  

What title are you willing to take?

Just remember the old saying:
"If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything."

And that's what's on my mind.

Happy Labor Day and a bit of Word Association!

When I hear the word labor I think of work.  

Any way you slice it - whether you think of laboring, as in working, 

or labor, as in birth, you've got work!

When I think of work, 

I think of my awesome husband, David; 

also known as Honey, Dad, Son, Boss, Brother, Councilman, and Tuba Man.

No matter what - 

the word WORK 

makes me think of him!

 

He's worked hard for 22 years to make me the happiest woman in the world!

He treats me like a queen and I love him for that and so much more.

He's great on the grill and our resident outdoor cook.

 He's the mischievous little brother.

 

 Yet, the faithful son.

 He has taken an old farmhouse and completely restored it from the frame, up.

Yet, maintained his role as "The Boss" 

 overseeing three offices in three different cities.

Recently acquiring the entire city of Houston

and Corpus and Gulf Coast Region.

 In his "spare" time

He is a musician.

Once known as the Tuba Man,

he has now traded in his tuba for the bass trombone,

 In the Remember When Orchestra.

But when he's not dressed in a tux

you can find him on our little

ranch, building, mowing, restoring

and working.

   

 Another role he has faithfully played

for 17 years

was that of Councilman.

(retired this year)

  

 And his best role (besides husband)

is DAD.

He's an amazing Dad with

just the right amount of love and respect

for his boys.

He's taught them how to work and 

that the most important things in life

are Family and God.

He's a great example of what a godly husband should be.

 And now we see even more of him, 

as he's traded in his high-rise office

for one a little closer to home:

Oh, wait......it is home!

With every promotion comes

a "perk".  

He became the Vice President

and gets to take his conference calls

right from home.

No matter where he is; 

in his office at home, 

his car office, 

his Gulf Coast offices, 

or working on the ranch; 

we're proud of him for everything he does.

You're an amazing man Mr. Slaughter!  

And we love you!

Happy Labor Day!

Having It All Together or Not

If you've ever looked at one of your friends and were amazed at how they have "IT"  all together, then this post may be for you!


Women are notorious for comparing themselves to other women.  MAN......this is not a good thing!  Well, I guess it could be a good thing, but it depends on what you do with the illusion you've created in your own mind.

I often hear comments about how organized I am.   I am not great at receiving compliments (never have been) so it's really uncomfortable for me to handle these comments.   One of the reasons is that I know what it takes for me to get to the place of being organized and it's not a short route for me!

If I've come to the finished product, it's been a long road of thinking, preparing, procrastinating, revamping, rethinking, procrastinating some more, and finally putting something together.    It's rare that a project just comes together on the first try.

But, I've learned over the years that everyone has their strengths and everyone their weaknesses.  I'm trying to teach myself to look at each person and appreciate their strong areas, instead of envying them.   If I truly take a look at myself and my strengths, recognizing that these things (or talents) were given to me by my Creator, then I can look at others and their areas of strength, and appreciate them too.

Likewise, when I recognize my areas of weakness, I need to look at that as an opportunity to grow and better myself.     Life is all about learning and growing, and weak areas are just talents that need to be acquired and worked for.    (Afterall, we can't expect God to just make us good at everything, can we?)

If we look upon others and allow envious feelings to spring up, knowing that we'll never be as good, or allowing those feelings to deflate us, we have failed to see what God would have us to see - the value that's already in us and the value in others.

I saw a beautiful example of this in the last meeting I attended with my new found group of young girls and moms.   The subject of weddings came up and the girls started thinking of "who could do what" for each other.  In other words - "I'll do her flowers, she's going to do my hair, so-and-so can do our make-up"  etc. etc.   They were each aware of what talents the others possessed and were quick to acknowledge those gifts and how the group, as a whole, could benefit. 

That's what we need to be doing, when looking at our friends or co-workers, leaders at church or wherever we are.    Look at their talents and if it's something you long to do better then get to work!  What's stopping you from gaining that talent for yourself?   You may not perfect it, you may not be the best at it.  But, you might be "ok" and you will be proud of yourself for trying.

And, remember.......the next time you look at the great job someone has done or some area where they seem to be successful,  keep in mind that it may have taken great effort for them to get there, to the finished product.     They put the time in and it payed off.   

Now you try it.

You never know who will be watching you and using your strengths to strengthen themselves.

It's The Little Things

Some of the greatest memories I have of being a mom at home with my kids, are the snacks I've made them over the years.

Not anything fabulous or amazingly healthy. 

Just funny and with love.

When they were little I would always arrange their plate like a big smiley face. 

Now I try to leave them notes, letting them know that I'm thinking about them and how much I love them.    Who doesn't need to be reminded of this?

So - here's to all the snacks and lunches fixed with love!

It's just what moms do, right?