Prayer Requests

I have a few prayer requests I'd like to put out there... Thanks in advance.

My Mother-In-Law had knee surgery and is still in the hospital due to blot clots that have moved to her lungs. Please keep her and the doctors who are treating her in your prayers.

My childhood friend, Stephanie, lost her Grandmother last week. Grandma Donn was always very kind to us, and we stayed at her house a lot. Please keep their family in your prayers. 

Our family has something weighing on our hearts and we feel we've been called to action by the Lord. Please help us pray that we are doing the right thing and that we have everything we need to follow through.

Please pray for my brother, Chad, as he in a time of transition.

Amen.

Trophy Wife

By standard definition, a "Trophy Wife" is a charming young woman who is typically quite attractive, both physically and facially. She casually marries a much older man who has a good deal of money. Despite his age, he is rich and/or powerful enough to attract her. She becomes a "trophy" for him to show what he has earned; her affection via his wallet.

I am a trophy wife. Certainly not by the standard definition, because my husband I are the same age, he is far from wealthy (sorry, Babe) and I don't fall into that "extraordinarily beautiful" mold that society seems so fond of these days. (I can be pretty charming though!) LOL

So, how am I a "Trophy Wife"? Well, I'm so glad you asked!

My husband is a great man. He works very hard for our family, he values our relationship, respects our privacy and he does everything in his power to make me happy. He places me in high regard, as one would a trophy. He "won" my heart and now that we are together he continues to make sure that I am cared for, tended to, and "polished" in any way possible. He is proud of me, I am the trophy of his heart, and that means more than any young bombshell ever could.

I am not on a shelf to be admired from afar or glanced at every now and then. I am wrapped in his arms, adored and cherished... and it's the best feeling in the world!!

I am proud to be a Trophy Wife, and just so you know, I have a Trophy Husband to match. My trophy is his heart. I guard it tenderly and protect it in every way I can. He loves me more (and better) than I ever could have imagined! Loving him faithfully, wholly and endlessly is the least I can do!  The richness of a marriage with true love and deep commitment is an amazing thing and we are very lucky to have found it. It makes us quite the power couple! ;o)

Project 2:10

So I briefly mentioned Project 2:10 the other day. What is it? Where did it come from? What will it do? I can't wait to tell you!!

What is it?

Project 2:10 is a company that my husband and I started. We are buying vehicles (motorcycles at the moment) at auction and repairing them, making them shine like new and giving them a new chance at life. We are then selling them. Half of the proceeds from the sale will be donated to charity. The other half will be put back into the business so we can continue to grow and give more.

Where did it come from?

The idea actually started with Jason. He loves motorcycles and has rebuilt a few with friends. He also had to fix his own after a "somewhat minor" accident in the Blue Ridge Mountains in 2009. He has often discussed owning a "bike shop" when he retires from the Coast Guard so this was just a little push start.

One Sunday we had a sermon on making a difference. Our pastor, Brother Larry, talked about how we could make a difference in this world and the things we can do to change the lives of others. God has abundantly blessed us. We have never gone hungry or cold. We have always had a roof over our heads and clean clothes on our backs. We have struggled, but we have always had enough. That cannot be said for everyone.

Through Compassion International, our family sponsors a boy named Kelvin in Tanzania. We have donated to several charities such as The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Paralyzed Veterans of America and a few others. What breaks my heart is when they keep sending letters in the mail, thanking us for our help and asking us to donate again. I always want to do more, but we can't always donate to every cause, every time. Jason started putting the pieces together and came to me one day with a plan. We talked it over, decided we could do it, that we should do it and most importantly that we had a responsibility to help others.

"If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother." 
-Deuteronomy 15:7 

When it came time for a name, Jason left it up to me. He says I am better at things like that. ;o) I turned to the Bible.

For we are God’s workmanship, His masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus so we can do the good works He prepared for us long ago.  -Ephesians 2:10

And so, "Project 2:10" was born. 

What will it do?

We ARE God's masterpiece, and just as we are restored, we are restoring these machines and giving them new life and new purpose. Everyone, everything, every BODY deserves a second chance (human body or mechanical body). So God's masterpieces will now create their own, for His greater good, for His purpose, to care for His people. 

The money will go to both local and nationwide charities that help many groups of people; the homeless, disabled, unwed mothers, crisis centers, and more. We will keep everyone posted when money is donated. We are SO excited to be able to do this and we look forward to seeing it grow. 

We bought our first bike at auction last week and without half the work done, it already has a potential new home! We are making many new business contacts and have spread the word about our mission. Love, hope and compassion are guiding Project 2:10 and with God at the helm we can't wait to see where He leads us next!

________

HERE ARE THE "BEFORE" PHOTOS: 

Inspiration!

What inspires you, in terms of creativity?

For me, inspiration often comes from the wind! I will be sitting somewhere and *POOF*, an idea!! I swear it came in on a breeze! OK, so maybe it wasn't the wind. Maybe I'm just listening a little deeper these days and allowing God to guide me in the direction He wants me to go. (i.e Project 2:10, but we'll get to that tomorrow)

I've also been drawing inspiration from Pinterest, as I has mentioned before. That site is genius! I now have quite the gathering there and it's so much fun to share ideas and "finds"! I used to look at the amazing pictures of all the creative crafts and rooms in magazines and think, "I can't do that". But now I AM doing "that", AND I'm taking the photos, too! (Pssst! You can do it, too!!)

Lately I've seemed to notice a lot more of what's around me, too. Maybe it's just that I can take pictures of everything with my new iPhone 4s (shameless plug here, LOL) but things I see in stores, on the street, everything seems to be a source of another idea!! The problem I have now is having the time and money to put all these ideas into play! I have about a million crafts I want to make and home projects I'd love to do!

I've been very pleased and honored to see that this blog has been a source of inspiration for some of you. I'm so glad you've tried (and loved) the pumpkin muffins and many of you have since joined Pinterest!! :o) I also greatly appreciate the feedback on other subjects, and religious inspiration. (You know who you are.)

So, be inspired! Listen to that inner voice, wherever yours originates, and do something creative at least once a week! You'll be glad you did.

With heavy hearts...

We were very sad to hear the news today about the loss of Italian MotoGP rider Marco Simoncelli. Our hearts and prayers go out to his family and friends.

At church this morning, we learned that a young man who is friends with several members of our youth group committed suicide over the weekend. He was a senior in high school.

As we were pulling in the driveway after church, my son's girlfriend got a call from a close friend of hers. The friend just found out she has a tumor in her brain the size of a quarter. This young girl is only 16 years old.

We are in prayer today for many other reasons, but these are brand new. I ask you all to join us and pray to God for comfort and strength, for whatever lies ahead in the lives of these families.

Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. -1 Peter 5:7

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. -Matthew 5:4

Thank you, and have a blessed week.

Get Ready!

PROJECT 2:10

Because every body deserves a  second chance.

For we are God’s workmanship, His masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus so we can do the good works He prepared for us long ago.  -Ephesians 2:10

More info coming soon. ;o)

Busy, Busy!!

Oh WOW this week has been a wild one!

Jason is home on leave (vacation) so we've been enjoying a little extra time together. I've been working like crazy between my two jobs, studying for my certification exam, volunteering at B's school, editing pictures from my last two shoots (one for fun, one for money) and I have another shoot for senior portraits this Saturday. I am really excited! I like staying busy, especially in this situation, because "crazy" means "money"! ;o)

Speaking of money, we won the lottery last night!! Yep! I bought $8 worth of Power Ball tickets on my way home from work yesterday and we hit the Power Ball!! Well, one number and the Power Ball. But hey! We won $20, and I can still say we won the lottery! LOL We just didn't win BIG! ;o)

While Jason was cooking dinner the other night, I made another batch of the Pumpkin Muffins, but I used Spice Cake this time instead of the Vanilla Cake. They are REALLY good! The kids said they like these even better! You guys really HAVE to try these!!

And speaking of Jason... he will complete his Bachelor's Degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University this December! We are so incredibly proud of him! It's been a long time coming but he's worked very hard to get here, AND has maintained "honors" status the entire way!!!

Ok, off I go! Today is my "off" day, so that means it's another volunteer day at B's school to work on reading and comprehension with the kids. LOL (But I love it!)

See you on the next one!

Heal The Wound, But Leave The Scar...

Scars. Each one tells a story, usually not a happy one. The song "Heal The Wound" by Point of Grace is amazing. It talks about finding beauty in suffering, not being able to rewrite history, carrying our scars and being reminded that God is merciful...

Click here for Point of Grace "Heal the Wound" on YouTube

Here are the lyrics:

"I used to wish that I could rewrite history
I used to dream that each mistake could be erased
Then I could just pretend
I never knew the me back then

I used to pray that You would take this shame away
Hide all the evidence of who I've been
But it's the memory of
The place You brought me from
That keeps me on my knees
And even though I'm free

Heal the wound but leave the scar
A reminder of how merciful You are
I am broken, torn apart
Take the pieces of this heart
And heal the wound but leave the scar

I have not lived a life that boasts of anything
I don't take pride in what I bring
But I'll build an altar with
The rubble that You've found me in
And every stone will sing
Of what You can redeem

Heal the wound but leave the scar
A reminder of how merciful You are
I am broken, torn apart
Take the pieces of this heart
And heal the wound but leave the scar

Don't let me forget
Everything You've done for me
Don't let me forget
The beauty in the suffering

Heal the wound but leave the scar
A reminder of how merciful You are
I am broken, torn apart
Take the pieces of this heart
And heal the wound but leave the scar"

The types of scars they talk about in the song are the ones we are ashamed of, that follow acts we are ashamed to admit. By leaving the scar, we are detailing God's mercy in the fact that He forgave us for this act, whatever it was, and He healed our wound, but left the scar as a reminder.

There are all types of scars, and many of them are emotionally painful reminders of God's mercy in one way or another.

We all have scars. Some are deeper than others. Some physical, some emotional. Some are self-inflicted. How we choose to carry them is important. We cannot hide from them because God knows every hair and freckle (and scar) on our bodies. By sharing our scars with others, and caring for each other we can help others to heal their wounds, and in turn most likely heal some of our own.

We are often "torn apart" by things in life that are suppose to be wonderful, but they end leaving us broken and scarred. When we are most vulnerable, it can be the hardest to open up and allow people into our heart, but that's when we need others the most. At the point that we are broken and in the rubble we can come together with others to share our scars and begin to heal those wounds.

What are some of your scars? What things in life have impacted you in such a way that left you feeling broken and scarred? Some of mine include poor decisions, a broken heart, loss of loved ones, prayers that weren't answered the way I hoped they would be, and actual physical scars from accidents or illness, and subsequent surgeries.They remind me how lucky I am to be here. There have been many points in my life, for various reasons, that I may not have survived to write this blog. It is by God's grace and mercy that I am alive, and for that I am eternally grateful!

So tend to your wounds, and try to embrace your scars. Hopefully you can get to a point that it all starts to make sense. I am still trying to figure out a few of mine, but I have faith that it will come in time.

Peace be with you...

Il Divo (Divine Male Performer)

I am in LOVE with the music of Il Divo, which in Italian, means "Divine Male Performer", and they ARE divine!! I cannot get enough of this group, they are absolutely amazing! I have always loved classical music, but this is a little different. Their voices blend with the music in a soothing, almost therapeutic way... it's magical.

Il Divo is a quartet of male singers: Spanish baritone Carlos Marín,42, Swiss tenor Urs Bühler,40, American tenor David Miller,38, and French pop singer Sébastien Izambard,38. They have been together since 2003 and sing in English, French, Spanish, Italian and Latin. The genius behind this creation? None other than Simon Cowell.

The song "Hallelujah" has long been a favorite of mine. Il Divo does the most majestic rendition I have ever heard! It is powerful! Don't take my word for it...

Il Divo - "Hallelujah" on You Tube

And if you didn't follow the additional links on You Tube, you don't want to miss "Amazing Grace"!! Another of my favorites, and another amazing rendition. I was absolutely breathless, and in tears, while this was playing. Their power, their energy, the full dynamic and sheer magnitude of their performance is overwhelming. It makes the hair of the back of my neck stand up!!

Il Divo - "Amazing Grace" on You Tube

They have performed duets with Celine Dion (what a dream!!), Toni Braxton, Barbra Streisand and Mariah Carey. They have appeared on many television shows including the Oprah Winfrey Show, American Idol and America's Got Talent. They captivate audiences by lending their unique blend to familiar songs. They continue to deliver magnificent performances all over the world. It's no surprise that they have sold more than 26 million albums worldwide!

Their seventh album, Wicked Game, will be coming out in November. Count me in!

Semper Ride & Semper Fi!

The 2011 Semper Ride in Belle Chasse, LA was AWESOME! As you may know, the Marine Corps is near and dear to my heart, so this Ride was especially great for me! Hangin' with "Jarheads" is always a plus! ;o)

I took over 500 pictures that day, and many of them will make it onto my website, a few will be in this blog in a minute, so be patient. Most will be of my favorite rider, the man on the Repsol... my sweet husband.

To get things started, let's show you what Semper Ride is all about. Check out this video, and don't forget to watch for the Repsol! ;o)

Click to watch video

So, did you see him? Now you get the idea! It was a great day, the weather was perfect and the riders had a fantastic time! In between taking pictures I sat in on some of the courses and they were VERY informative! The riders learned how to adjust their suspension, navigate corners with tighter precision, ride more defensively and be better riders overall.

Now to the pictures...

 

 

Yep, that's my hubby! *swoon* Oh, did you want to see some of the other bikes?? LOL Well, OK.

 

If you want to see the rest, you'll have to visit my website. Go to Moving Still Studio and check out the Semper Ride 2011 album in Gallery Two.

See you on the next blog!

**And HEY! No stealing my pictures!!**

Thanks, Frank!

I took my first loss in Fantasy Football this week. I'm now 3 and 1. Thank you, Frank Gore! I benched ol' Frank because he wasn't do anything for the team and he was questionable at best! How does Frank repay my benching? BY SCORING 19.90 POINTS! Thanks a lot, Frank!

Drew Brees pulled in 6 points less than expected and even my back up QB, Colt McCoy (who was on the bench) got a point more than he did! Antonio Brown, who I picked up this week, did well, but that's who I put in for Frank. Brown's 7 points didn't hold a candle to Frank's finally-come-to-life 19 points. Ugh.

By the way, I lost by less than 5 points. So if I'd kept Frank, or Drew Brees had played a smidgen better, or any of my other players had... I would have won. I choose to blame Frank (because it can't be my fault for benching him!! LOL). If he'd been doing better this season I wouldn't have benched him in the first place and I'd still BE in first place! Now I'm in second place.

The best part... the funniest part... the most BRAG WORTHY part... JASON IS IN THIRD PLACE! Ahahahahaha!! I am beating my husband in Fantasy Football! And if you remember, this is HIS work league, the Air Station League, and HE is the Commissioner. HAHA! I know it's early and anything can happen, but I've been ahead of him since the beginning, and even if it's only for this moment, I am ahead and it's fun!


Hey, Jason- I have a book for you... LOLz.

Oh YUM!

I made THE MOST DELICIOUS muffins today!

Pumpkin Muffins!

I saw a recipe on Pinterest and massacred it to make it my own! LOL I'm sure the original recipe was very tasty, but I have to change things, it's who I am! So, here goes:

15oz can of 100% pure pumpkin
French Vanilla cake mix
1/4 cup brown sugar

So, mix the ingredients together in a big bowl, divide into cupcake papers and bake on 350° for 20-25 minutes.

I chose to make some smaller muffins in my silicone pan too, so those didn't take as long to bake.

These are SUPER FANTASTIC!! I wanted to sit there and eat every single one!! My kids love them just as much as I do!!! I think next time I'll have to make a double batch. Jason is at work tonight, I hope there will be some left when he gets home tomorrow...

I just can't tell you enough how delicious these are! You have to try them! If and when you do, let me know, and if you change the recipe again, let me know what you changed. The original recipe said you could top them with a sprinkle of confectioners sugar, but I chose not to do that. I'm interested to know how others create their own edible masterpieces. 

Happy Eating!

Character & Integrity

Several years ago I heard motivational speaker Zig Ziglar at a conference in New Orleans. He is an amazing speaker and completely lived up to everything I had ever heard about him! One of my favorite quotes of his is this; "With integrity you have nothing to fear, since you have nothing to hide. With integrity you will do the right thing, so you will have no guilt. With fear and guilt removed you are free to be and do your best."

We constantly impress the importance of integrity upon our children. Where is your heart? Where do your intentions lie? Integrity is clearly important. Honesty is number one on my list. I cannot stand to be lied to, and my children know that they will be in a lot less trouble if they just tell the truth. I also know that we are human, and as such, lies are told. I do believe in forgiveness and second chances. We ALL make mistakes. Forgiveness is another very important part of life. (I wrote a blog on forgiveness a few months ago, if you're interested.)

Our character really encompasses who we are overall. It's comprised of our moral, mental, ethical and religious qualities, and forms our unique person. Some of the the things we try to instill in our children are the difference between right and wrong, openness, acceptance, treat others with equality (and as you would want to be treated), forgiveness, kindness, be thankful for what you have, to apologize when necessary, respect others... the things children SHOULD be taught! They actually helped me come up with that list. :o) We hope and pray that their character is whole and healthy. So far, so good!

So, what type of "character" are you?

You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him. -James D. Miles 

I had mentioned in a previous blog that my youngest son was packing an extra snack for a classmate who could not afford to bring one each day. He is still doing that every day, and he is very proud to be helping her. He does this out of the kindness of his heart, and he expects nothing in return. I am so proud of him!

This is how I pray our children will be for the rest of their lives; giving, loving, open souls who care about other people simply because they are people. I don't care what color you are, and neither do my children. We don't care because it's not important. You are a human. I don't care how much money you have, and I don't care about your house, or your car, or the label in your clothes. You are a human. If you are a morally decent human, I'll be proud to call you my friend. If not, I'll pray for you. And I don't mean that with a cute Southern drawl, "Bless yer' heart, I'll pray fer' youuu". I mean, literally, I WILL pray for your soul.


You can tell more about a person by what he says about others than you can by what others say about him. -Leo Aikman

I have found this to be very, very true! Have you ever listened to a person who picks apart others? The things they choose to talk about are really the things they are most insecure or unhappy about in themselves. People who constantly degrade other people are usually pretty miserable inside, and want others to be just as unhappy. Those who gossip are avoiding their own reality by involving themselves in the lives of someone else. Avoidance becomes a cycle and soon it's all too easy to get lost in a downward spiral...

Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny. - Author Unknown

All is not lost! By changing habits, removing the drama from your life and keeping your distance from toxic people (emotional vampires) it's completely possible to break the cycle. I know, because I recently did it! In order to maintain MY character and integrity I have distanced myself from the drama that comes with some younger, less mature women. I know I have maintained my integrity, and I have nothing to fear. I have no guilt.

Times like this become good lessons for our children, too. Lessons in forgiveness seem easy to come by these days. :o( Some people just don't seem to know when to quit. Hopefully something, no matter how small, will spark in them and it will all start to make sense.

Until next time... Peace, Love, and Happiness to all.

She's Crafty!

Thanks to my friend Angie, I just got addicted to a new website that lists links to news about ALL KINDS of crafts and photography and everything else I love!! It's called Pinterest, have you heard of it? I have spent HOURS looking and clicking! I found A TON of projects I want to do and I can't wait to get started!! Sometimes I run out of ideas... well, I will never run out of ideas again! LOL

I am a "Room Mom" for my youngest son's class and volunteered to be in charge of the Christmas craft. I was excited to find something to do with the kids, but now I am REALLY excited because I know I will find something super-cool to make with them!! I do things like this every year and I love it. There is something so energizing about being in the classroom surrounded by all the kids and watching them learn. When they give you the big smiles and hugs it's the best feeling in the world. Children are simply wonderful.

I finished my photo hanging project for our granddaughter's pictures. As simple as it was it never should have taken so long. Time, as usual, was the culprit. Speaking of my baby girl, have I mentioned how much I miss her??? Well, not in this blog anyway. :o( Yes, I miss her so much. We'll get to see her at Christmas. I can't wait!! Christmas seems so far away, but then again, not really. I have actually started shopping already. I picked up a few small gifts the other day! I even shocked myself, but the items were so perfect AND they were on sale! LOL That's a combination I couldn't pass up!

I need a craft room, but that's not going to happen. I don't even have a craft corner! We're having a yard sale this weekend so we can get rid of some outgrown items and make room in the shed and garage. Wait, now I can make a craft workshop in the shed! I like where this is headed!!

I'm off to organize...

One Day At A Time

You know when you get hit in the gut, and the wind gets knocked out of you... those few moments, when you are standing (or laying) there in limbo, waiting for breath to come... those moments seem like an eternity!

Have you ever had that happen? Has anything ever just knocked the wind out of you? Maybe physically, or emotionally? I've experienced both.

When I was about 10, my brothers and I were at my great-grandparent's house in Findley Lake, New York. We loved to play outside! We were playing baseball one day and I stood a little too close to my middle brother as he swung the bat around. He caught me right under the ribs, full swing, and POW! I was down on the ground! I will never forget that feeling, waiting for air... waiting... waiting... it felt like forever before I could take a breath! It was awful but I was lucky, no broken bones and I did breathe again!

I have also emotionally had the wind knocked out of me, in hearing unexpected news that took me to my knees. Unfortunately this has happened more than once. In high school I met a boy named Lee. He worked part-time at my aunt and uncle's TV repair shop. We started hanging out after school sometimes, we were both in ROTC, and we soon became good friends. Because he was close to my uncle, we started joking that we were cousins. So, he became my cousin Lee. He joined the Army and moved away after high school but we stayed in touch. He met a girl, fell in love and wanted to marry her. We were all thrilled! One day I got a call from my aunt. Lee was dead. Just like that, he was dead. Dead. I couldn't breathe. My knees buckled and I hit the living room floor. When my breath returned I was sobbing hysterically. Lee had been driving back from seeing his girlfriend. He had just proposed to her that night. He fell asleep on the way back to his base and drove head-on into a tractor-trailer. My cousin Lee was gone forever.

I wish I could say my heart has never been broken, but that would be a lie. Each time, I've felt the wind get knocked out of me to some extent. Each time I get bad news, or sad news, I catch a whiff of that old familiar feeling. This time in my life is no exception.

My middle brother, the "Slugger King" himself, is off to Afghanistan, and I am terrified. If you know me, or have read my previous blogs, you know I am very protective of my brothers. I always have been our whole lives. I am the oldest, we are all two and a half years apart. I love them tremendously, and I worry about them like they are my own children sometimes. He just returned, along with our father, from Iraq. Now the thought of him going to a worse place is almost too much to bear. I will be praying for him daily.

I got some other deeply personal news yesterday that I won't be sharing on here. I'm mentioning it because it needs immediate prayer for tremendous healing, and it pertains to the reason for this blog. If you are so inclined, any and all prayers would be greatly appreciated. This is the time when my family needs to be together, to draw strength from each other. My family will now be divided by continents... once again. My heart is aching and I feel like I can hardly breathe sometimes.

This is where faith comes in. As hard as it is sometimes, I must have faith. There is a reason for all of this, God has a plan, this is under control... I don't understand, but I'm not supposed to. Just because I don't understand doesn't mean I have blind faith. God has never let me down. He has always fulfilled His promises to the world, to all His children. My faith is NOT blind.

Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. -1 Peter 5:7

I know I use that one a lot, and I often go back to it, because it pertains to my life so much! I am a worrier, and as hard as I try NOT to be, I can't help it, I still worry. I'm working on it. 

Let go and let God. 

Simple. Awesome. True. So why can't I do it? I have so many things going on right now! Actually, it always seems that way to be totally honest. But all we can do it take it one day at a time, learn from our mistakes and hope tomorrow will be a better day. Oh, and don't forget to pray... that is a given! ;o)

Truth > Drama

Yes, I am a child of God. My name, Rachelle, means "Lamb of God"... blessed from birth. It's a good thing too, because I came into this world a scrawny miracle with a birth defect that could have killed me had the doctors not found it in time. Luckily, one did.

Over the years I seem to have had my fair share of challenges and trials. I won some, I lost some. It's the way of the world. But God has never forsaken me, because I am His child.

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."
-Marriane Williamson

I LOVE THIS! We are meant to do SO much! And we should! We should never let anything hold us back.

As a mother I am constantly encouraging and challenging my children to do more and to better themselves, but I can't forget to do the same for myself. I often get so wrapped up in their lives that I forget about my own. I'm not dead yet! I have to remind myself to KEEP GROWING! My kids have been my life for the past fifteen years! That's a hard habit to break. ;o) They are my favorite people in the world. Sometimes they seem like the only people in the world. Sometimes, amid all the aggravation and let-downs of the day, I wish they were the only people in the world.

Mother Teresa said, "People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway. If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway. The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway. For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway."

This is one of my most favorite things I have EVER read in my life. Sadly, it's also one of the truest things I have ever read. Some people will never be happy, no matter what you do. Don't do it for them. Do it for the greater good. Doing the right thing always makes me feel better, even if I am the only one who knows what I did. ("Well, you and God", as B would say.)

Even when we do the right thing, we may be ridiculed and falsely accused. In the Bible, we are told not to fear, and to consider ourselves blessed.

But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don't worry or be afraid of their threats. -1 Peter 3:14

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. -Matthew 5:10

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him. -James 1:12

As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. 
-James 5:11

Consider Jesus' suffering, the persecution He endured, the murder that ended His precious life. He endured it all for US, without complaining, without anger, without questioning. We are to live our lives for Him out of Gratitude, not out of fear. Our God is a gracious, loving, merciful God. I strive to live my life in a way that glorifies Him. Am I perfect? Absolutely not! Do I make mistakes? You better believe it! But I am learning, and growing and every day is a better day. I learn from every trial that comes my way, and lately there have been quite a few.

I am in no way comparing my life's trivial issues to what Jesus endured, because there really is no comparison! My problems are small, and I know who "has my back". Truth is greater than drama! It's not the focus here, and it's not relevant. The truth is known to those who matter, most importantly- to God.

I will continue to do what I do; raise my kids to the best of my ability, live my life, praise my Lord and carry on! Each day presents its own unique challenges, and I look forward to them.


Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 
-Philippians 4:5

Breakfast In Bed

It's been awesome! I have the best husband... truly. :o) He got up the last few mornings and got the kids off to school and then came back to bed. We'd sleep a while longer and then he'd get up and make me breakfast in bed. All while HE'S been as sick as a dog!!

So then I laid in bed with my lap tray and ate, drinking my coffee (so perfectly made) and when I was done, he'd come and take my dishes to the sink! He is awesome! I've been hooked up electronically so I could be entertained and work on my blog, Facebook or whatever. I caught up on PostSecret since I was not able to read it on Sunday like I usually do. We sat in bed and ate Chicken Noodle Soup for lunch together and watched a movie. :o) When the kids got home from school he helped them with their homework and made dinner. They all took turns coming in to sit and talk with me.

On one hand it's nice to be waited on, but on the other hand, after 4 days in the hospital not being allowed to do anything, and then coming home and not being able to do anything... it does get boring. It is a little different at home though, because I have all my "creature comforts" and I am much more at ease here. I love our house!

So that Bronco game was a bust, huh? LOL The Raiders didn't play so well either, but they played just enough to beat the Broncos 23-20. Lousy game. Oh well, there's always the next game.

I go back to work today. I only have one session though, so it will be a short day. It's nice to ease back into things. My boss (the owner) has been WONDERFUL! I absolutely adore her!! My supervisor has been great too. I haven't had a chance to spend as much time with her yet. I have to say that I have been very lucky to land some fun and fantastic jobs in my lifetime, but this one totally rocks!

Sooo, yep! Things are looking up! We got some other lucky news, too! Our credit union was doing a refinance deal, so we got BOTH of our vehicles refinanced for 1.99%!! HOLLA! LOL I was very excited!

Aaaaannnnnnddddd... We have some other news to announce, but it's not quite time for that just yet... coming soon. ;o)

Have a great day, see you again soon!

Truly Unexpected!!

Yes, speaking of unexpected things... I have been discharged and am now home in my own bed!! Praise God!

I am still in a decent amount of pain, but at least I am home! I got some Vicodin and Toradol, along with some cortical steroids to take for a few days.

During the stomach biopsy they found I had a hiatal hernia and duodenal erosion, as well as some other junky stuff I won't get into.

So, they said this new thing is Costochondritis- a problem with inflammation between the bones and cartilage in my chest and it's amplified by my mixed connective tissue disorder and Fibromyalgia. The doctor doing the EDG and biopsy probably manipulated me in such a way that twisted my upper body and stressed my breast plate. They think he also put pressure on my chest (sternal rub) while inserting the camera. My doctor today said it can take up to 4-6 months to heal and I may have to get cortisone shots in my chest between the rib bones to help!

I realized tonight that I have lumps in my belly where I got the blood thinner shots. What an "interesting" weekend! I feel terrible that we missed our friend's wedding, and I will miss two days of work! I plan to go back on Wednesday. At least I am home now, in my own bed, with my family, where I belong!

And now the Denver Broncos are playing... so I have to go!

Thanks for your thoughts and prayers!! Much love to all!

Expect the Unexpected

Sorry I haven't been online to post lately. I went in for my biopsy and something went wrong... I have been in the hospital since then and have no idea when I am going home. No one is really telling us anything. I've had CAT scans, X-rays, tons of bloodwork, morphine, blood thinners (shots in the stomach!!), toradol, and plenty of other meds I was too out of it to remember... I've been in a great deal of pain and the right side of my chest sunk in. I've also been on oxygen since I got here. The first few days I was on an IV drip. I started to swell up! My arms, legs and face ballooned and my arms and calves were so hard! Jason was massaging them for me because they hurt so much! The took me off the IV and the swelling slowly started to go down. I've continued with all the other meds. The good news is, I am finally starting to feel a little better!

Jason has been SO awesome! He smuggled in some Peanut Butter Twix (my FAVORITE!!!) and brought me my laptop today so I could get online and check more than my Facebook on his iPhone. LOL I can't stand the little touch screens and tiny keyboards! LOL Everyone here has been so great! They let the kids and Jason stay as long as they want and one of our pastors came by last night to see me. :o) James went to church yesterday and told them what was happening and they made an announcement in church and everyone prayed for me. I was very touched!! :o)

So that's where I am! Hopefully I will be home soon, and back to work! For those of you who have called, prayed and sent messages, thank you so much! I appreciate all of you! Have a Happy Monday!

"We Will Never Forget"

September 11, 2001. The world was forever changed.

With the 10 year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks approaching, media and message boards everywhere have been booming with tributes, updates on the loved ones left behind, and people talking about where they were when it happened.

I remember where I was when the news broke. I had just left my Geology class at Armstrong University and walked to my advisor's office. As I was standing in the doorway, I saw the news footage of the smoldering towers and watched in horror as they fell. I went home and turned on the news. My husband called and told me he didn't know when he would be home, that all hell had broken loose and we were under attack. He couldn't talk for long, and I was terrified to let him hang up. We will never forget.

Being a military wife is a great honor and often a source of great worry. There are dangers that my husband faces to ensure the safety of others. Many people are VERY misinformed about the Coast Guard and their duties, believing they are not a part of the military, they do not deploy, they do not go overseas, they are not in any real danger... well, if you believe any of that you would be very mistaken.

The Coast Guard does deploy, the duration depends on the unit and mission. Where they deploy depends on the same. My husband flies Search and Rescue, and yes, he has deployed. I worry even when he is not deployed though. When he flies there are still inherent dangers and even a routine flight can end in devastation without warning. We have seen it happen all to often in recent years, and the Coast Guard family has been greatly mourning the loss of many brothers and sisters. We will never forget.

My husband works very hard for our family and for our country. We are extremely proud of him! He is a well-decorated Guardian. Jason has helped to save many lives throughout this military career. Never was this more crucial than during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. For his hard work and heroic efforts, Jason was awarded a medal. He also appeared on the CBS Morning Show with a few of his fellow crew members. He has received many awards and meritorious citations during his time in service and was also awarded Enlisted Person of the Quarter last year. As I said, we couldn't be more proud! We often go days at a time without seeing him, as duty calls. When he is deployed, it is much longer. His sacrifice, and our family's sacrifice, is for the benefit of others. It's an important mission. We will never forget.

The Coast Guard, what do they do? Think about it. Coast Guard. They Guard our Coasts, ports, and harbors from all kinds of dangers such as drug smuggling, migrant interdiction, terrorist attacks, illegal fishing activity, and much more. In addition, they also provide life-saving search and rescue services. If you're interested, you can read more here: USCG Missions

I can't help but think of all the servicemen and women who have given their LIVES for us. I support our troops 110% but I DO NOT support this war. Too many of our men and women have died, and for what cause? We MUST NEVER forget! My father is a Vietnam Veteran, my middle brother has served overseas during wartime in Saudi Arabia and Turkey, and they both just returned from work in Iraq. We have all been lucky, but unfortunately many others have not. We will never forget.

As the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks nears, I continue to pray for the families affected, for our nation, for the world. I am not naive enough to think we will ever achieve world peace, but I will still pray for it. I don't think it's impossible, however I do believe it's highly unlikely. I don't think anything is impossible through the power of prayer. Our God is amazing, and I have seen it with my own eyes, witnessed it happen in my own life. I KNOW what He can do. He has a plan for us, even though we don't understand it, we may not agree with it, and we often try to change it. God has it under control. God is in charge... and I will never forget!

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
-Jeremiah 29: 11- 13

Holding Down The Fort

We are holding down the fort in all this nasty weather. Tropical Storm Lee has been keeping our lawn extremely hydrated these last few days!! Our poor dog has NOT been happy about the weather at all. He is rather spoiled and does not like to get wet so he's only been going out when it's an absolute emergency! The cats, however, have enjoyed sitting in the windows and watching as the trees sway and the rain pelts our patio. Until today we've been content to stay home, snuggled up in our comfy jammies, and watch movies. We watched Rio yesterday and it was fantastic!

Speaking of movies... the one I am REALLY waiting for is Lion King on Blu-ray! It is scheduled to be released on October 4, and I can't wait! We had it on VHS and I'm sure we wore it out. B has never even seen it, so I'm excited to show it to him. I'm sure he will love it!

My new job is picking up speed. I need to get my First Aid and CPR re-certification. I'll be in four different schools this coming week and four schools over five days the following week (visiting one school twice). Exciting stuff!! :o)

We had a wonderful day today!! Jason, the kids and I spent the day shopping, hanging out at the mall, running a few errands and then we went out to dinner at a new Sushi bar. Very relaxing, and nice to be together for once. Jason works so much and we are seldom in the same place. It's so nice that he has a few days off that I can spend some time loving on him and actually just being together! :o)

I hope you all enjoy what's left of your weekend, and if you have the day off tomorrow, that you spend it wisely. Never take your time with loved ones for granted, as we never know how many days we are gifted.

Until next time...

Change of Scenery

Things are changing around here!

You might know already, but I took on a part-time job. I get to work with children and it's PERFECT! I also get to travel a bit. I'm in different schools each week and meeting lots of sweet little faces. I love it!

The blog has obviously changed a little. I get tired of the same "look", although I really loved the last one. Not sure if I'm digging the swirls of colored wire, I might actually change it... yep, I think I will. You may never even see the swirls and all of this will have made no sense. LOL The point is, I like to change it up!

I'm finishing a few projects, too. I love crafty stuff, as I've said before, and I am finishing a photo display for our granddaughter's pictures! She just turned a year old. It seems impossible, but it's true. Time is whizzing by, and I hate it. I hate being so far away from the girls and our baby girl. She is such a cutie pie and I miss her (and them all) SO much! I needed to have another place to put up her pictures because my brag book, front hall, cell phone display and computer screen just weren't enough! :o) We have pictures everywhere in our house. I bought a really cool photo "vine" from Pier 1 and it's in our front entryway. The pictures slip into it and it's easy to change them out to display new ones. I often go through the kid's baby books and take out a picture here and there and put it on the vine. They are growing up way too fast...

The weather is HORRIBLE today, thunder crashing overhead, I am not a fan. At least it stopped raining long enough for me to walk B to the bus this morning, and I am very thankful for that. We did need the rain though, to help with some wildfires that have been burning in our area. As for me, it's a good day to stay home! It's raining so hard my dog won't even go out to pee! LOL

Eh, looking at the colored wires on the page again, maybe I'll leave them for a little while. I guess they are not so bad. Change is good. Perspective is important. Changing perspective is often necessary and several things in the last two weeks have caused me to change my perspective.

Yes, there will definitely be a change of scenery around here...

"You Raise Me Up"

I love Josh Groban's voice. I remember years ago when I first saw him on TV. I was instantly amazed by him. For being so young, he is soulful, soft, and yet has such a powerful voice. His singing is so heartfelt and passionate. It resonates in hearts and souls everywhere. 

Like so many of his others, the song, "You Raise me Up" is beautiful. The chorus of the song goes like this:

"You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up... To more than I can be."

The whole song is here:  Josh Groban on You Tube

I am blessed to have several people in my life who "raise me up". My Mom has long encouraged me to do more with my music. God gave me the gift of writing, and I am ashamed to say that I have wasted it for many years. I actually did take some time out in 2005 and recorded a CD, but then that's as far as it went. I never sent it anywhere or did anything with it. A wasted opportunity. 

Jason is a great proponent of any and all of my whims and desires. He's a wonderful "Yes, Dear" kind of guy. ;o) If I want to try it, he's all over it. Pampered Chef? Did it. Avon? Did it. Another cat? Did it, three times. Rearrange the furniture for the umpteeth time? Did it. Jewelry business? Did it. Photography business? Doing it. Paint a room? Did it. New kitchen table? Did it. What's for dinner? He doesn't care, he'll eat it. Go back to school, if you want. Get a job, wherever you want. Be a stay-at-home-mom, if you want. He's awesome!

Then there are my friends. I have several "I'll pray for you" friends. I always appreciate prayers!! My best friend, Cindy, is SO in tune with me, I swear she KNOWS when I need her and she calls me! It's amazing. She is always there when I need her. Her advice is always introspective and right on target. She knows me ridiculously well. I have other friends who raise me up on a daily basis in many different ways. Sometimes they don't even know it. A hug, a smile, a "poke" on Facebook just to they just let me know they are thinking about me. Many others read this blog and send me little notes. I always enjoy the chuckles and comments. All the "little" things raise me up.  

I am still growing as a human being. I am trying to be a better person, more of who God desires me to be. My personal and professional goals have changed as I've gone through life, but my Spiritual goals remain the same. Sometimes I get off track, but I have been fortunate to have friends who keep me headed in the right direction, and I love them for it!

So, for all of you who love me unconditionally, support me and my goals, encourage my aspirations and push me to be a better person... thank you from the bottom of my grateful heart! You are the light that leads me through my dark times and the courage I need to continue my journey. I could not do it without you.

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. 
-1 Thessalonians 5:11

But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. -Hebrews 3:13

God Bless. 

Refrigerator Privileges

Last Sunday's sermon was a masterpiece! It really got me thinking about my own life, my currant situation and where I want to be in this world. So, I took a few key points from the sermon, and here we go:

Focus On Family
I have two younger brothers who I love very much. They are lucky enough to live in the same city and state as my parents (who I also love very much). Being military, we are not afforded that same luxury. My husband is the youngest of his siblings. He has three older sisters, a step-brother and step-sister. His parents live in different states. His family is very spread out, so it would be impossible to live close to all of them, and mine. Our combined family is huge!!

Family is very important to me. I work very hard to keep my family strong, and I am proud to say that there have been relationships in my family that I had a hand in strengthening. I firmly believe that NOTHING is more important than family! I have family members who I am not close with, and it really hurts me to know that they are out there and we don't speak more often. I recently got back in touch with one of my cousins on Facebook. I had not seen her in probably 20 years. It's heartbreaking how life goes by and we don't see each other, we only keep in touch through our parents, or not at all. My grandparents have all passed away. I often wonder about my cousins, aunts and uncles who are not a part of my life. There are a few others who I call from time to time to catch up. Others I "talk" to through the Internet.

My family, my blood, my desire to make sure they know Christ...

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. -Ephesians 2:10

Why You Don't Want To Be An Outcast
Are you an outcast among your family, your circle of friends (or lack thereof) or from the family of the body of Christ? During the sermon I started to answer a maybe/yes. I have so much family I don't know. Does that make me an outcast? I have a lot of "friends" (er, acquaintances) but I have reduced my circle of friends for various reasons. Even though it was my own choice, does that make me an outcast? I am a believer in Christ. I have asked Him into my life, into my heart, into my soul. I pray. I ask for forgiveness. I confess my sins. I go to church. How could I be an outcast from the body of Christ? I don't want to be an outcast! I know what I would be missing!

And just like that, I realized that I don't want to be an outcast, and why no one should want to be an outcast. We should desire to stand in community with our brothers and sisters in Christ and to worship with them. Yes, I am a Christian, even if I didn't go to church on Sunday, but to have that community connection, that communion with other Christians who will love and care about you, nurture your relationship with God and help you grow in your Faith... you're not going to get that by praying at home on the couch. As Christians we have a duty to serve our God and our church. We need to minister to others, to further the mission and continue to plant the seeds so faith and the knowledge of God's eternal love for us can grow in the hearts and souls of others!

What It Means To Be In Community With Christ
When we are in community with Christ, when we are a part of His family, we are "in"! We have full access to all the promises in the Bible, and all the promises of Heaven! We get refrigerator privileges! You're family now, go help yourself, make yourself at home!! BUT, we also have the obligation to uphold our promises to God, to be faithful to Him and live our lives for Him. As I said before, we also have a responsibility to care for the others in his flock.

Do we fully realize the amazing PRICE that was paid for us? Jesus suffered and DIED for our sins.

But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to Him through the blood of Christ. -Ephesians 2:13

Once we were far, but now we are near. God wants us to be close to Him, just as He wants us to be close to one another. We need to get reconnected to those who have become "lost", and we need to share what we know with others. 

And He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that HE is the ONE appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. -Acts 10:42

Proclaiming aloud Your praise and telling of all Your wonderful deeds. -Psalm 26:7

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. -Romans 10:17  So go tell someone!!


Open your heart, open your arms, and lift your eyes to the sky for surely God's overabundant love will be raining down upon you. God Bless!




---
*The term "Refrigerator Privileges" came from our pastor, Brother Larry, in his sermon last Sunday. ;o) I wish I could take credit for that gem, but it's not mine! LOL

Learning To Love

"Carry on!" Two words I heard a lot during my time in the Marine Corps. Those two small words have such great meaning. It's something we have to do, to "carry on", even when we feel weak, afraid, forlorn... we must carry on.

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. -Psalm 46:1

We never carry on alone! Our Father is always with us in times of hurt, pain, trouble, and in joy, celebration and prosperity. My Aunt Nicki describes hard times as this; the devil sees how well our lives are going at any given time and he can't stand it, so he throws trouble and problems our way to mess things up. We have to lean on God, and trust in Him, asking for His help, wisdom, guidance and protection to weather the storms, and He WILL be there. We are HIS CHILDREN and he will never forsake us.

He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us. On Him we have set our hope that He will continue to deliver us. -2 Corinthians 1:10

It's hard to love the hardest of times. How do you "carry on" when you feel the weight on the world crashing down on your shoulders? I have never been one to publicly ask for help, but occasionally ask for prayers. Generally we're a fairly private family. I am learning though, that asking for help, asking for prayers, sharing my burdens and allowing others to pray with me has been an amazing outlet. It has also given me a chance to bond with other people through the hard times... giving me a real reason to learn to love the difficulties I am encountering. The devil has been working overtime at our house.

This blog has also been a good outlet for me. For years I had talked about doing it, but the thought of opening my heart and soul to the Internet, and total strangers, was a bit daunting. I know I can pick and choose what to share, and when my best friend read it she said I was being "guarded". I knew that I was to an extent, but I wanted this to be real, a real expression of who I am. Some days I put more thought into my writing than others, some days it's just a quick "jot down a note". Hey, it's my blog... they won't all be editorials! ;o)

I was encouraged to start a blog by my Mom (who encourages me to do EVERYTHING!!) and several friends. It was very interesting because last March, one friend in particular emailed me following a Facebook post and said, "Your prayer was so touching. Even hard-hearted me is wiping away some tears. With your talent for writing, the ease of your relationship with God, and your willingness to put both out into the world, I really think you have a calling as a Christian writer or blogger. You're really inspiring, Rachelle, and I don't think I tell you that enough." After I started my blog, and our friendship soured, she sent me a long, quite nasty email calling it "self-righteous pontificating, childish, self-indulgent, mediocre writing". Wow. That's a pretty far leap from the first compliment. Either way, I make no excuse or apologies for WHO I am or WHAT I post. She also suggested that I make it private or take it down if I didn't like her comments or her constant presence. I will do neither. I will learn to love the difficult times, because they make me closer to what matters; my God, my family and those who truly love and care about me.

But all these things will they do unto you for My name's sake, because they know not Him who sent me. - John 15:21

Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. -John 16:22

Our God Is Greater

And those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? -Romans 8:30-31

I am working VERY hard to change my attitude for today. With the help of some truly wonderful friends and their loving, uplifting comments it's getting a bit better. Thank God for my husband and my friends.

One of the songs we sang yesterday in church is a Chris Tomlin song that I absolutely LOVE. It says, "If our God is for us, then who could ever stop us? If our God is with us, then what could stand against (us)?" Take a listen...

Chris Tomlin - Our God Is Greater

Our God IS greater!! He is greater than any worry I have, any doubt in my mind and any trouble that burdens my heart. Although I currently feel very bogged down and really overwhelmed, I know the God is handling it and when He is ready, this will be resolved. He is in control, I am not. For a "control freak" like me, that's hard!! But I put my faith in Him and I am trying so, so, so hard!!

Derailed

This past week has a been a doozy! I spent several days throwing up everything I tried to eat accompanied by horribly intense stomach pain. I went to the doctor and had more blood work done. They've scheduled a stomach biopsy for me to try to get more answers. Because I was so sick and not getting all my other medications, my body started a withdrawal process and I was even more nauseated! I was so sick, in fact, that I couldn't even sit at the computer to blog! (Now you KNOW it's bad!! LOL)

Then our newest cat, Angel, got worms! I started getting paranoid, wondering if I got worms from the cat!! We washed all the bedding and wiped everything down with Lysol wipes, took her to the Vet... She got a shot and the Vet assured us that what she has is not transferable to humans, so I could relax. ;o)

I went to church yesterday morning, feeling pretty well. The service was excellent!! The sermon was perfect for everything I have been feeling lately. I often feel like our pastor is talking directly to me! God is so amazing in the way that He speaks to us!!

Jason was on duty so I took the boys out to lunch at a new Panda Express by our church. We went to a friend's house, I visited with the parent while the kids played and then took James to church for youth group. It was pouring down rain and the streets were literally flooding!

When I got home, I sat down to write a blog, so moved by the morning's message, and it took off in so many different directions. I was trying to rein myself back in, focus it a little better and make sure I was getting my own message across clearly for all of you. While I was taking a break last night, I got some news that completely threw me off track. That was it: Derailed.

I found out that someone made a very, VERY bad decision that will ultimately affect my family. This person has a long history of making poor choices and continues to repeat mistakes and not make changes to their behavior. Now we (my family) will be affected, yet again.

If you know me, you know that I am VERY protective of my family! You do NOT mess with my family!

When I found out last night I was irate! I don't even think irate is the right word. Is there a word that means more mad than irate? Infuriated? Outraged? REALLY TICKED OFF!!! After a few seconds, when the news set in, I realized that it had implications for us, and I began to get scared. When that fear set in, I got even more mad! How could this happen? How could this person be so stupid? AGAIN?? At what point to you WAKE UP and realize that what you're doing IS NOT working?? Ugh!

Outside of what it will mean to my immediate family, this person's decision has major implications for other people, which was the cause of my original anger, concern and frustration. Some people just never grasp the concept of the "ripple effect". This decision will also have lasting and damaging repercussions for their own life. It upsets me on SO many levels.

Jason, God bless him, keeps reassuring me that everything will be alright. WE will be alright. This will not effect us as much as it seems right now. I love him, and I am SO thankful that he's in my life.

I've had all night to digest the news. And I did. All night long I thought about this situation and how there is absolutely nothing I can do except give it to God and ask Him to deal with it on everyone's behalf. This morning I am still mad. I am still worried. I am still trying to accept that there is nothing I can do, for us or anyone else involved. :o/ I don't like that. I am a "do'er". I do things, and fix stuff, and solve problems... but not this time. I have to wait, pray, and let God handle it.

So, if you are also the praying kind, please put in a good word for me and my family... and also for the person who keeps making poor choices. I have prayed for this person a LOT and will continue to do so. I hope that one day they will realize the impact of their decisions. This time it was a HUGE mistake and may already be too late.



P.S. I will finish my blog from yesterday and post it soon. ;o)

 

*Mommy Brag*

So the kids are back in school and things are going very well. Our oldest, J, has a FULL class load! In 10th grade he's already doing college prep work and hopefully he'll be setting himself up for some scholarships! He's a smart young man, and headed in the right direction!! We've had some unexpected bumps along the way, but he's definitely back on track now!! We are very proud of all his hard work and strong determination.

Our youngest, B, is settling in to 2nd grade and making new friends. Unfortunately none of his classmates from last year are in his class this year, but he does know some of his classmates from around the school so he wasn't completely "new". B is a wonderful, friendly, outgoing child with a heart of gold. He showed it again this morning while we were getting ready for school. I was packing his snack and he told me about a classmate who didn't have a snack the first day. He asked her if she forgot it but she didn't answer him. He said, "I thought she was just shy." On the second day of school she didn't have snack again. When they went to wash their hands she told him that she was hungry. He asked if she brought a snack today. She said no, her mother didn't have any. He told me that he felt so sad and that he had shared his snack with her. While they were talking over snacks, she told him that her mother didn't have any money to buy snacks. My heart broke. So as I was packing his snack this morning he asked me to pack extra for her, so he could share again. :o) He is just the sweetest, kindest child I have ever met. He loves and cares about people in the most amazing, unassuming ways.

We did pack extra snack today, another bag of Cheese Nips and another juice box. The smile on his face was amazing, just knowing that he was caring for someone else, and he was so happy to do it. God has truly blessed us in SO many ways, and we are so lucky to be able to share our blessings with the world. I've said it many times, but I wouldn't be at ALL surprised if B grew up to be a pastor. Our kids are our biggest blessings, and they continue to pass it on. That's the best gift of all.

Cat-astrophic!

Truly! As I mentioned before, we have three cats and one poor, lonely dog who wishes he had some back-up! LOL Our cats, Tanner, Maggie and Angel are real characters. Duke, our dog, tries to keep them all in line but he he needs a few Deputies at his side for these three!!

Tanner is almost six, and we've had him since he was born. He's pretty laid back most days. He'd rather sit and watch the action and give a disapproving glare from the top of the refrigerator. Don't let him fool you though, he's a sly one. He was the first one to get on the pool table and go under the plastic to roll on the felt top, leaving his fur all over... totally negating the reason for the cover in the first place. Like most cats he comes to you when HE wants something; food, water, cuddles, etc. He will stand on the bathroom counter and demand water, calling to us with a loud, piercing shriek. He will ONLY drink water that is freshly poured for him. If it's been in the sink for more than 10 minutes it is too old and he doesn't want it. He's fussy, and we love him.
 

Maggie is a year old, and we've had her since she was five weeks old. She is our psycho cat. As I said in my other blog (Furbabies), she has Pica. She eats non-food items such as toilet paper, head-phone cords, plastic bags, house plants... nothing is sacred. It makes it very difficult to keep up with her, and we have to be very careful about what is left laying around. She darts through the house like a wild banshee and still somehow is the fattest of all our cats! She started out a petite, tiny orphan and ballooned into a full-on fluff-a-lump! She took over Duke's bed, and for whatever reason, he let her do it. Duke outweighs her by 50lbs but he's such a sweet guy and he loves her so much. He lays on the floor next to her, just looking at her, in his bed.

Angel is also a year old, and she is adjusting very well to our family. She's been here almost a month now, has gained 2lbs and has stopped yelling at Duke every time she sees him. Apparently on the outside she didn't have friendships with dogs because the first time she saw him her fur stood straight up and she got three times her size! She made the most awful sound I'd ever heard! It was obviously an immediate demand for the dog's demise!! They are now at least on speaking terms. They talk casually as they pass in the hall, still not quite friends, but no longer mortal enemies. Duke would love nothing more than to be her best friend, but she's not ready to commit to anything. In time I'm sure she'll come around just like the other two.

Duke is five, and we've had him for four years now. He's so much a part of my heart!! He follows the cats around, and he lets them drink out of his water bowl whenever they want to. If they walk up while he is drinking, he will stop drinking, back up, and let them drink. He waits until they are done and then goes back to the water bowl. How many dogs do you know who would do that? They play together, chase each other around the house and even share treats. When the cats get a Pouncy, Duke sits for one, too. :o) He is the silliest, sweetest dog I have ever met. He is always by my side and checks on me when he knows I don't feel well. It's amazing how "in tune" they are with us.

We're considering potty training the cats. I've heard that a lot of people have done it. It would save a lot of money in cat litter since we change the boxes twice a week! It would be really weird to get up in the morning and see one of the cats on the toilet (did you see the movie "Meet the Fockers"?) but it would be pretty cool! We'll see what happens.

Yes, we have a full house! We love all of them so much, I can't imagine them not being here. It does make more work, vacuuming, sweeping, dusting fur, scooping and changing litter boxes, but you can't put a price on love! In fact, the kids just asked me last night if we could get a hamster... hmmm... hamsters are cute!

Coast Guard Day!

Today we celebrated the 221st birthday of the Coast Guard! We went to the base for a BBQ, some volleyball, water slides, bounce house, and even a dunk tank! ;o) It's always a good time when you can dunk a co-worker!! I got to hang out with a few of my friends and have a good time. It was a much needed break from being sick in the house.

While the kids were playing, our youngest got knocked in the head by another boy who was jumping lanes on the water slide. The result was a huge, perfectly round bruise on his beautiful cheekbone. :o( Later this afternoon I was surveying the "damage" and said to him, "Oh, my sweet baby". He looked me right in the eye and with a little smirk said, "It's OK Mom. Chicks dig scars." Yep, he takes right after his father!! LOL Seven years old and ready to take on the world and all the girls in it!! ;o)

So, yes, we had a good time. I took a ton of pictures, as expected. I love my camera. I really want a new lens, but the one I want is SUPER expensive, so I'm saving my pennies. I can do a lot with the two I have, and for now they will work fine. I just know that I could be doing more, if I had the additional equipment. All in good time...

Anyway, I'm tired and that's all I have for today. Not the usual blog you're used to, I know, but I'm drained!! Maybe tomorrow I'll feel more whimsical, deep, thoughtful or introspective. Who knows what the day will bring?

Happy Birthday U.S. Coast Guard!