"Goodness is the only investment that never fails." - Henry David Thoreau
Where has all the goodness gone? What happened to manners and common decency? What is WRONG with people today??
My kids are very polite. They hold doors for people ALL the time and seldom get a "thank you" or any form of acknowledgement. When that happens, I am quick to thank them for their kindness, often loud enough for the rude person to hear in hopes that it will jog their manner memory.
Yesterday at the grocery store, a lady in a wheelchair was trying to get something out of a freezer compartment. My oldest son quickly went over to help her, unprompted, and made sure she had everything she needed before he came back to me. I was extremely proud!! (She did thank him, by the way.) This is actually a common occurrence for him. He is very helpful to people in stores all the time. He also volunteers at our local hospital and is well respected among his co-workers.
My youngest son is very much the same! At Chick-Fil-A the other day, a teenager dropped something off his table, looked at it and decided to leave it on the floor. My seven-year-old went over, picked it up and handed it to him. His mother muttered an "Oh, thanks" and went on eating. He has also stopped to pick up items that other people knocked off the shelf at the store, and put them back on the shelf where they belong. It makes me PROUD to see them doing the right thing, making good choices and often others DO compliment us on their behavior.
I'm not saying my children are perfect angels by any means, they make mistakes just like the rest of us. We are raising young men who will grow into true gentlemen, teaching them to treat other people with respect, kindness, decency and courtesy. Why is that so difficult for some others?
There is a person who regularly emails me for assistance (in a somewhat professional setting). SO often I have responded at length, but I have never, not ONCE, received a reply. Not a quick, "thanks", not even acknowledging that she has received a response from me. When she sent out a blanket email to many of us with details of her personal issues I sent my condolences and advice when solicited. Again, no response. I did receive another blanket email where she thanked many other people by name for their assistance, care, concern, blah, blah, blah. I know that at that time she had a lot going on, so I dismissed it, but for it to happen SO often, it cannot be excused. I recently went out of my way for one of her requests and again got no response. (Another person thanked me for my help, so I know she is getting my replies.)
Grumpy store clerks, impatient drivers honking all the time, no one wants to let you out in traffic, people don't say "hello" anymore! They pass you and look at the floor. What happened to eye contact and general conversation?
Also, if you desire a polite response, ask in a polite manner. Treat people the way you want to be treated. It's a basic principle, people! If you are nasty to someone, you cannot expect them to be nice to you in return.
I will continue to invest in my future and my children's future. I will teach them to be nice to others, even the ones who are not nice to them. Lead by example! I hope and pray that they will continue to make good choices and I will praise them when they do. Smile at people, it's not difficult, it's free, and you'll be surprised at what a difference it makes! :o)
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Viva LAS VEGAS!
I have always wanted to go to Vegas. I don't know why; I don't really gamble, I barely drink, I'm not much of a party girl, I just wanted to check it out. From a photographic standpoint, it seemed like a dream! I've been to Reno and it was pretty cool, but it wasn't VEGAS! So, my parents came to visit and watched the kids while Jason and I took a little vacation!!
The first thing I saw when we got off the plane... slot machines... IN THE AIRPORT! I was amazed. Jason laughed at me. "Yeah," he said cooly. "This is Vegas, Baby."
Vegas was really cool! Well, no, Vegas was really hot actually! The temperature was over 100° every day! We spent most of our daytime hours checking out the casinos, and wooooooow were they awesome! We spent the first part of our week at the New York New York. The entire hotel is set up like New York city. Inside there are "streets", pubs, restaurants, shops, sports area, street vendors... it was amazing. From the outside it looks like a New York street, complete with a NY Fire Department boat, the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge. The casino was bright and colorful and to my amazement we were allowed to take pictures inside!
Our room was on the 30th floor. Did I mention that this hotel had a ROLLER COASTER that went in and out of it!? Amazing!
Across the walkway from the NY NY is the Excalibur. It looks like a castle from the outside. We took a quick walk through it but it's an older hotel and casino and we weren't as impressed. We followed the walkways through the hotel the the other side and into the Luxor, home of Criss Angel and Carrot Top. The Luxor was more Egyptian in style, pretty cool, but we didn't spend much time there either.
The walkway I mentioned earlier- each of the major roads has a walkway that crosses over it to keep pedestrians out of the road. There are elevators and escalators to get people up top and then sidewalks along the roads below. Most of the way, the roads are barricaded to keep drunks off the roadway. Brilliant idea because people in Vegas drive like maniacs!!
What I knew about Vegas before going there was from watching TV, so I expected to see prostitutes on every corner and trash lining the streets. (That's been my experience living in New Orleans! Well, the trash anyway.) So here I was, trying to look casual while looking for these prostitutes! Again, I've lived a pretty sheltered life. LOL I probably wouldn't know a professional even if I DID see one! Consequently, I didn't see any! What I did see were these guys in bright orange shirts passing out "business" cards for girls "direct to your room" and THESE GUYS were on every corner!! So they were advertising for "escort services"!? WOAH!!! Sometimes I guess I really can be pretty naive.
We walked the strip at night, I didn't take my purse of course! LOL We saw lots of people who were enjoying the night life! :o) It was a lot of fun though. The air was much cooler, almost cold, and we appreciated that very much after the blistering heat of the day. All of the casinos and hotels were lit up so much that it looked like Christmas everywhere.
While we were there we went to the Cirque du Soleil show "KA" at the MGM. It was one of the most magnificent things I have ever seen!! I can't even describe it except to say that it was magical. You have to see it for yourself!! We were not allowed to take pictures or video in the theater so sadly I don't have any to share.
The MGM hotel is huge. Not only do they have a massive casino, but they also have a mall inside, Studio 54, Rainforest Cafe, multiple theaters, high-end restaurants and a Lion exhibit. We took part in The CSI Experiment there. We went in, chose a "crime scene" and got to "solve the crime". It was a little cheesy but Jason and I had a lot of fun.
We spent our last night in Vegas at Harrah's Hotel and Casino. It's on the opposite end of the strip from NY NY. It was equally as accommodating, and the room was spectacular. Our 32nd floor view was fantastic and just across the street was the Mirage's volcano. The volcano erupted several times each night and each was a great show in itself. Our room provided us with the perfect seats!
We also wandered through the Belagio and enjoyed the World's Largest Chocolate Fountain, their gorgeous botanical gardens, bird sanctuary and the millions of dollars worth of glass flowers on the ceiling in the lobby! All this is, of course, in addition to the hotel, casino, bars, shops, restaurants and everything else in there!
After the Belagio, we walked over to Caesar's Palace. Another very beautiful hotel! There were lots of statues with their naughty bits exposed. I took pictures of a few, OK fine... I'll post one. LOL
I have to tell you, this was by far the most architecturally beautiful of all the hotels. I took SO many pictures in Caesar's Palace. Many of them did not come out well on here, but can be viewed much better on my photography website (www.movingstillstudio.com). Look in Gallery Two for the Viva Las Vegas album. It should be done by August 1st. Anyway, Caesar's was where we ran into Dick Butkus signing autographs at a sports shop.
The last hotel we toured was The Venetian. It was there that we took a very romantic gondola ride. Our gondolier sang as we floated down the waterway in the middle of the hotel and mall area. Jason videotaped it so we'll always have that memory. We also have a picture!
We also got to watch a medieval street performance while we were there and they were fantastic. There was singing, dancing, juggling, flipping... it was great. We ate dinner at an authentic Italian restaurant inside the hotel and the food was exquisite!!The week definitely ended on a positive note!
I would highly recommend the NY NY or Harrah's to anyone who is going to Vegas. We really enjoyed both places. We booked our tickets on http://www.vegasview.com and got a great deal!! If you know me, you KNOW I'm extremely "frugal" so I looked everywhere before booking and this site really had the best rates. DO NOT stay in a sleazy hotel, you will regret it!! We saw those places on the way in... ICK! You'll also want to stay ON the strip. We thought about staying just off the strip to save some money, but we would have had to rent a car while we were there or take taxis so in the long run we saved money by staying on the strip. We didn't need a rental car and we were able to walk everywhere we went. We did take the Monorail the day we changed hotels, simply because we went from one end of the strip to the other and we had all of our luggage but it only cost us $10. If we'd paid better attention, we could have gotten $10 in free play at Harrah's when we got there by showing our Monorail tickets, so the Monorail trip would have been free! ;o) Also, before you go there, ask your hotel if they offer free shuttle service from the hotel to the airport for when you leave. When we arrived at the airport, there are shuttle services that take you (for a fee) to your hotel. You can buy a one way or round trip ticket. We bought round trip, not knowing that many hotels have free hotel to airport shuttles. Lesson learned!
Jason and I had a BLAST and would love to go back and do it all over again! Who knows? Maybe you'll be reading part two of this blog in the future...
Monday, July 25, 2011
The Draft Is ON!
Football has been cleared and we are on our way! My team name?
Seymore Butts!
Well I AM the ONLY Chick in the league, so I think it's appropriately funny. LOL My husband may be the Commissioner but don't worry, there won't be any special treatment going on.
I'll whoop him just like I will all the other guys.
I'll whoop him just like I will all the other guys.
GAME ON!
Enough Rain Already!!
This rain is really starting to cramp my style. Not only does it mess with my naturally curly hair, but now it's preventing me from working! I have a wonderful couple who has been waiting to do their engagement photos and due to the wet weather we've had to postpone. The streets have flooded so many times and it's caused a lot of accidents. Thank God our neighborhood doesn't flood! That was one of the main reasons we chose to buy our house in this location. Areas around us have been flooding though, and to get anywhere we have to pass through some of those areas.
This week's weather calls for continuing thunderstorms, all week and into the weekend. Several of my friends in other areas have asked me to send some to them. I wish I could!! I would gladly do it so I could get back to work, have a decent hair day and blog by the pool! I'm losing my beautiful tan! ;o)
As for the photo shoots, I am REALLY looking forward to getting back out there. I've had some extra time to work on some old photos and that's been fun, but I can't wait to shoot some new stuff! Plus, making money is always a good thing. Love makes the world go 'round but money makes the ride smoother!
Here's to brighter days... CHEERS!
This week's weather calls for continuing thunderstorms, all week and into the weekend. Several of my friends in other areas have asked me to send some to them. I wish I could!! I would gladly do it so I could get back to work, have a decent hair day and blog by the pool! I'm losing my beautiful tan! ;o)
As for the photo shoots, I am REALLY looking forward to getting back out there. I've had some extra time to work on some old photos and that's been fun, but I can't wait to shoot some new stuff! Plus, making money is always a good thing. Love makes the world go 'round but money makes the ride smoother!
Here's to brighter days... CHEERS!
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Miles A Heart
One thousand three hundred and twenty miles. That's how far away our granddaughter lives from us. It is one of the hardest things in the world to be so far away from her. My bonus daughter, her mother, texts us pictures frequently, but it's just not the same. I want to hold her and love her and kiss her and squeeze her precious little cheeks!!
Our beautiful little angel will be a year old in less than a month. It hardly seems possible that a whole year has gone by already. We have seen her twice. The last time was in June, when she was 10 months old. She was already trying to walk and had NINE teeth!! IMPOSSIBLE! How could she be so big already?? Where had the time gone??
Being a military family we move a lot and seldom live near our families. My parents and in-laws used to tell me all the time how hard it was, only seeing the grandchildren a few times a year. I never fully understood until I became a grandparent myself. Of course you miss your children, but somehow there is something very different about missing a grandbaby. My heart aches, knowing that she is growing and changing every day and we are not there to see it.
We went through the same situation with my bonus daughters. They have always lived with their mother so we were not there for many of their milestones either. It's been so difficult to watch them grow up from a distance and only see them sporadically, and now we are starting the process all over again with our granddaughter. It's truly heart-wrenching.
Isn't she gorgeous!? Blond wispy hair, bright blue eyes, and a big smile that melts me every time I see it. Her picture is my screensaver on my computer and on my cellphone. She is everywhere I go, even if not in the physical sense. As much as I wish she could be in my arms right now, I know it's not possible, and that breaks my heart. I look forward to the day when she can babble with me on the phone.
For now, I'm having a TON of fun buying baby girl clothes and toys. Since I had boys I never got the chance to do all this, and Jason's girls were way past the infant and toddler stages when we met. She is a precious gift from God, our sweet little granddaughter, and no matter how many miles there are between us, love will always bridge the gap.
Our beautiful little angel will be a year old in less than a month. It hardly seems possible that a whole year has gone by already. We have seen her twice. The last time was in June, when she was 10 months old. She was already trying to walk and had NINE teeth!! IMPOSSIBLE! How could she be so big already?? Where had the time gone??
Being a military family we move a lot and seldom live near our families. My parents and in-laws used to tell me all the time how hard it was, only seeing the grandchildren a few times a year. I never fully understood until I became a grandparent myself. Of course you miss your children, but somehow there is something very different about missing a grandbaby. My heart aches, knowing that she is growing and changing every day and we are not there to see it.
We went through the same situation with my bonus daughters. They have always lived with their mother so we were not there for many of their milestones either. It's been so difficult to watch them grow up from a distance and only see them sporadically, and now we are starting the process all over again with our granddaughter. It's truly heart-wrenching.
Isn't she gorgeous!? Blond wispy hair, bright blue eyes, and a big smile that melts me every time I see it. Her picture is my screensaver on my computer and on my cellphone. She is everywhere I go, even if not in the physical sense. As much as I wish she could be in my arms right now, I know it's not possible, and that breaks my heart. I look forward to the day when she can babble with me on the phone.
For now, I'm having a TON of fun buying baby girl clothes and toys. Since I had boys I never got the chance to do all this, and Jason's girls were way past the infant and toddler stages when we met. She is a precious gift from God, our sweet little granddaughter, and no matter how many miles there are between us, love will always bridge the gap.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Forgiveness
I have needed forgiveness many times in my life. When I was little I took an orange crayon and walked all the way around the living room, leaving a nice bright stripe. I saw decoration, my parents saw disaster. But they forgave me. I also climbed a shelf that held my Mother's prized Japanese porcelain dolls, a gift, all the way from Japan. The shelf toppled and the dolls shattered. I was again forgiven. When I was learning to drive I hit a car in the library parking lot. Forgiven, by my Dad and the owner of the other car. He didn't even call the police! Later I kissed a boy my best friend reeeeally liked. Forgiven. (In my defense, I didn't know she liked him, but it was still a case that needed forgiveness.) I also broke the heart of someone who loved me very much, and amazingly, I was forgiven. Forgiven, forgiven, forgiven.
Over the years I have forgiven many people, too. In ninth grade, my then-boyfriend hit me in the mouth while we were goofing around and broke my two front teeth. Accident, and forgiven. My ex-husband cheated and lied to me repeatedly for many years. Eventually divorced, and forgiven. Someone I once considered a friend posted some snide and hateful things (about me and directed toward me) on the Internet. Forgiven.
Giving forgiveness did not come easily for me. I have learned how to do it over the years because it is necessary for my peace of mind. When someone hurts you, it's horrible. You trust them, and suddenly you are let down, hurt or betrayed in some fashion. In any circumstance when you are presented with the opportunity to forgive you have two choices; forgive them, or let the anger consume you.
When you let someone anger you, they control you. That was especially true for me after my divorce. That anger consumed every part of my life, every minute of my day, and even my dreams. I was haunted by this ultimate betrayal, all the things I knew... and all the things I didn't. It took years, but I was finally able to forgive him. When I did, I felt SO much better. It was a HUGE weight off my shoulders. My mind was much more at ease and I was finally ready to move on with my new, peaceful life.
God has forgiven us for all of our sins, even the ones we refuse to admit. He also tells us to forgive others. How many times? Seventy times seven!
"Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"
"No, not seven times," Jesus replied, "but seventy times seven!" -Matthew 18:21-22
Ok, so technically that is 490 times! Obviously this is not to be taken literally. It's not like you get 490 times to hurt me and then, "Welp! This is number 491, sorry, you're finished!" I believe that God means for us to be kind to others, to love them as we would want to be loved, to love them as He loves us, and to lead by example... HIS example. And how does God love us? Well, as I said in my previous blog, He loves us unconditionally, mercifully, without ceasing.
Please don't mistake forgiveness for being a doormat. Many people in this world will take kindness for weakness and will exploit it every chance they get. Just because I have forgiven a person does not mean they are welcome to still be a part of my life, to further hurt me. I do give second chances, and sometimes more than that. It depends on the person and the situations. However, I am NOT a doormat. You'll notice that in my "bio" is says I have a "low tolerance for liars, fakes, and drama queens". I've had enough of all three to fill ten lifetimes. I CHOOSE to have a quiet(ish) life and keeping these types of people at bay helps me to do just that.
When it comes to forgiveness I've learned a lot of things:
-I can love my neighbor/fellow man as God commands, but I can love them from a distance. I love and value myself enough to protect my sanity.
-I can forgive someone without allowing them back into my life, and that's OK.
-Everyone makes mistakes and I may be the one asking for forgiveness at any given moment.
-If you tell someone you have forgiven them, then let it be. Don't keep bringing it up after the fact.
-It is much better to forgive, truly forgive, all the way to the bottom of your heart, than to harbor the anger and resentment. You aren't hurting anyone but yourself.
-Forgiveness is never guaranteed. If you receive it, you are very lucky.
I know there's more but I can't think of it right now. I may come back later and add to the list. ;o) I hope you'll forgive whomever has hurt you, and I hope there aren't too many times you'll need to ask for forgiveness.
God Speed,
~Rachelle
Over the years I have forgiven many people, too. In ninth grade, my then-boyfriend hit me in the mouth while we were goofing around and broke my two front teeth. Accident, and forgiven. My ex-husband cheated and lied to me repeatedly for many years. Eventually divorced, and forgiven. Someone I once considered a friend posted some snide and hateful things (about me and directed toward me) on the Internet. Forgiven.
Giving forgiveness did not come easily for me. I have learned how to do it over the years because it is necessary for my peace of mind. When someone hurts you, it's horrible. You trust them, and suddenly you are let down, hurt or betrayed in some fashion. In any circumstance when you are presented with the opportunity to forgive you have two choices; forgive them, or let the anger consume you.
When you let someone anger you, they control you. That was especially true for me after my divorce. That anger consumed every part of my life, every minute of my day, and even my dreams. I was haunted by this ultimate betrayal, all the things I knew... and all the things I didn't. It took years, but I was finally able to forgive him. When I did, I felt SO much better. It was a HUGE weight off my shoulders. My mind was much more at ease and I was finally ready to move on with my new, peaceful life.
God has forgiven us for all of our sins, even the ones we refuse to admit. He also tells us to forgive others. How many times? Seventy times seven!
"Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"
"No, not seven times," Jesus replied, "but seventy times seven!" -Matthew 18:21-22
Ok, so technically that is 490 times! Obviously this is not to be taken literally. It's not like you get 490 times to hurt me and then, "Welp! This is number 491, sorry, you're finished!" I believe that God means for us to be kind to others, to love them as we would want to be loved, to love them as He loves us, and to lead by example... HIS example. And how does God love us? Well, as I said in my previous blog, He loves us unconditionally, mercifully, without ceasing.
Please don't mistake forgiveness for being a doormat. Many people in this world will take kindness for weakness and will exploit it every chance they get. Just because I have forgiven a person does not mean they are welcome to still be a part of my life, to further hurt me. I do give second chances, and sometimes more than that. It depends on the person and the situations. However, I am NOT a doormat. You'll notice that in my "bio" is says I have a "low tolerance for liars, fakes, and drama queens". I've had enough of all three to fill ten lifetimes. I CHOOSE to have a quiet(ish) life and keeping these types of people at bay helps me to do just that.
When it comes to forgiveness I've learned a lot of things:
-I can love my neighbor/fellow man as God commands, but I can love them from a distance. I love and value myself enough to protect my sanity.
-I can forgive someone without allowing them back into my life, and that's OK.
-Everyone makes mistakes and I may be the one asking for forgiveness at any given moment.
-If you tell someone you have forgiven them, then let it be. Don't keep bringing it up after the fact.
-It is much better to forgive, truly forgive, all the way to the bottom of your heart, than to harbor the anger and resentment. You aren't hurting anyone but yourself.
-Forgiveness is never guaranteed. If you receive it, you are very lucky.
I know there's more but I can't think of it right now. I may come back later and add to the list. ;o) I hope you'll forgive whomever has hurt you, and I hope there aren't too many times you'll need to ask for forgiveness.
God Speed,
~Rachelle
Friday, July 22, 2011
Miracles In Tiny Form
My firstborn son just turned fifteen. Wow! FIFTEEN! My Mother-in-law told me that the aliens come and take them away somewhere around twelve, and you're left with this creature you don't recognize. I remember the day that happened! Suddenly he was two inches taller, his feet smelled funny and he had two hairs in his armpit!
I remember the day he was born. He was so tiny, only 5lbs 14oz. Such a beautiful little bundle and I could not have been more excited.
I always wanted children, even from the time I was a small child myself. I was two and five when my brothers were born and I thought (or wished) they were mine. I even tried to get them to call me "Mom". I bossed them around when we were kids and parented them even more as we got older. They are still "mine". :o)
After extended illnesses as a child, my parents were told that I may never have children. When I was old enough to understand what that meant, I was devastated at the mere possibility. When I got married, my husband and I discussed it briefly but brushed it off. I was in denial. We were both young and healthy. Why wouldn't we be able to have a baby? It didn't happen right away, after all those times my Mother told me, "It only takes once!" LOL I started to get discouraged and sought the advice of my doctor. With timing, temperature and a few other hints... three months later I was pregnant! About ten minutes after that I was throwing up!! And it didn't stop for eight months.
My pregnancy was rough. I was horribly sick, dehydrated because of it, and my kidneys were shutting down. I spent a lot of time going back and forth to the hospital. I kept going into labor way too early and was ordered to bedrest. For anyone who knows me, you KNOW that was nearly impossible! Eventually I started to put on some weight and it was time for him to arrive! After three hours of labor and twenty minutes of pushing, I was holding my tiny miracle.
As the months passed he thrived and grew. He was so smart, and of course, beautiful. He was the fattest little baby! He had rolls on his rolls and a bald little head. My friends affectionately called him Charlie Brown. We became best buddies. I was a stay-at-home Mom and loved spending all day with him. We played, colored, watched Teletubbies and sang. My Miracle was growing strong!
As the years went by, my heart ached for another baby. My life situation had changed, God had plans for me that I didn't have for myself and I wasn't sure that I would ever have anymore children. (A blog for another day, maybe.) When my oldest was five, the time was finally right again, and Jason and I decided to try for another child. Hope gave way to heartbreak as the months passed without result. I knew it was my fault. At the same time I was so angry at myself for ignoring the fact that God had already granted me ONE miracle child when I surely wasn't guaranteed any at all.
Again, I sought the advice of doctors. We ended up taking more extreme measures this time, fertility treatments, but to no avail. We talked about giving up, but we wanted another child so much! Then, finally, I was pregnant! We were so excited! We told everyone! We started preparing our oldest son and he spent some of his money to buy a book for the new baby. We purchased little things here and there, not wanting to get too much until we knew if we were having a boy or a girl. Secretly Jason and I both hoped for a girl, but our oldest desperately wanted a little brother.
I was working as a Camp Director for the YMCA that summer. The day had come to find out the gender of our baby. I was so excited I could barely stand it. I almost skipped work that day, but we had a field trip to the local movie theater and I needed to make sure everything went as planned. We got to the theater and another group was also there to watch the movie. It was a group of disabled children from a local facility. Their disabilities ranged from mild to extremely severe. I watched as their staff and caregivers brought them in, my hand on my growing belly. Immediately it didn't matter if I was having a boy or a girl, I simply asked God to let me have a healthy baby. I didn't know if I was strong enough to care for a child with special needs. I sat in the theater and cried in the dark.
When I got to my doctor's office, Jason was waiting in the parking lot. We hurried upstairs to the waiting room and checked in. Once inside the exam room we watched the minutes tick by on the clock until the doctor came in. FINALLY! Then he mumbled something, then something else, and then all I heard was, "no heartbeat" and a few other mumbles. I just laid there. I don't know what happened next. I don't remember. The next thing I do remember was getting off the elevator in the lobby. I turned to walk out, and getting in was a woman with a huge, pregnant belly. I lost it. I began crying hysterically and fell to the floor.
The next few days I asked a lot of questions. In my grief I thought back to that quiet prayer in the theater. I wondered if maybe there was something wrong with my baby so God took it away from me? Then I wished for it back. I wished for my baby back, wished I could take those awful words back. I felt horrible! People always try to say the "right" thing after a loss, to make you feel better. Several people said things like "maybe something was horribly wrong with the baby..." but that only made me feel more guilty for that selfish prayer. It took a lot for me to realize that God doesn't act like that.
Jason and I took a while to decide we were ready to try again. When we were ready, we went through the same trials as before; tests, shots, temperature, medicine, injections... well, I did all that. ;o) He went to the appointments with me. Month after month went by. No positive tests. Pretty soon it was transfer time, and we had to move, so we had to stop all the fertility stuff and pick up again with a new set of doctors at our new station. But that never happened. About two weeks after we moved I got that feeling... I'm pregnant. I took the test and WHAMMO! Positive! I called my best friend immediately!! Then I told Jason, but we were scared to tell anyone else.
Miraculously the rest of the pregnancy went perfectly! No morning sickness, no problems, nothing! We rented a fetal heart monitor so I could listen to the heartbeat everyday at home. It was wonderful. Morning, noon and night I listened to the glorious "thump-thumping" inside my belly. Again, we prayed for a healthy baby, and hoped for a girl. This time our oldest was on board. He actually wanted a baby sister! At our gender-telling appointment they gave the news- GIRL! We were thrilled!! We started buying pink everything!! A few months later I had a 3D ultrasound done and the tech looked right at my oldest and said, "Oh that is DEFINITELY a little brother!". We were all shocked to say the least! Once the shock wore off, we gave all the pink stuff to our neighbor who really WAS having a girl and we started buying blue.
A few months later, our second gorgeous baby boy joined us, weighing in at 6lbs 13oz. He had a head completely full of long dark hair, a stark contrast from his older, balder brother. The nurses quickly decided that his hair deemed him worthy of the nickname "Elvis"! Through the years he has proved to be an equal match for his brother's charm, cunning and intelligence! I'm sure he'll be a force to be reckoned with during his teens. ;o)
Now fifteen and seven, the boys are very close, despite such an age difference. Of course, the fight like all siblings do, but they share a very special bond. They are very good friends, and I can only hope that it continues into the rest of their lives. I thank God for them every day, in one way or another. On the good days I say, "Thank you, God, for these beautiful boys." On the not so good days I just thank God that I haven't given them away yet. ;o)
I remember the day he was born. He was so tiny, only 5lbs 14oz. Such a beautiful little bundle and I could not have been more excited.
I always wanted children, even from the time I was a small child myself. I was two and five when my brothers were born and I thought (or wished) they were mine. I even tried to get them to call me "Mom". I bossed them around when we were kids and parented them even more as we got older. They are still "mine". :o)
After extended illnesses as a child, my parents were told that I may never have children. When I was old enough to understand what that meant, I was devastated at the mere possibility. When I got married, my husband and I discussed it briefly but brushed it off. I was in denial. We were both young and healthy. Why wouldn't we be able to have a baby? It didn't happen right away, after all those times my Mother told me, "It only takes once!" LOL I started to get discouraged and sought the advice of my doctor. With timing, temperature and a few other hints... three months later I was pregnant! About ten minutes after that I was throwing up!! And it didn't stop for eight months.
My pregnancy was rough. I was horribly sick, dehydrated because of it, and my kidneys were shutting down. I spent a lot of time going back and forth to the hospital. I kept going into labor way too early and was ordered to bedrest. For anyone who knows me, you KNOW that was nearly impossible! Eventually I started to put on some weight and it was time for him to arrive! After three hours of labor and twenty minutes of pushing, I was holding my tiny miracle.
As the months passed he thrived and grew. He was so smart, and of course, beautiful. He was the fattest little baby! He had rolls on his rolls and a bald little head. My friends affectionately called him Charlie Brown. We became best buddies. I was a stay-at-home Mom and loved spending all day with him. We played, colored, watched Teletubbies and sang. My Miracle was growing strong!
As the years went by, my heart ached for another baby. My life situation had changed, God had plans for me that I didn't have for myself and I wasn't sure that I would ever have anymore children. (A blog for another day, maybe.) When my oldest was five, the time was finally right again, and Jason and I decided to try for another child. Hope gave way to heartbreak as the months passed without result. I knew it was my fault. At the same time I was so angry at myself for ignoring the fact that God had already granted me ONE miracle child when I surely wasn't guaranteed any at all.
Again, I sought the advice of doctors. We ended up taking more extreme measures this time, fertility treatments, but to no avail. We talked about giving up, but we wanted another child so much! Then, finally, I was pregnant! We were so excited! We told everyone! We started preparing our oldest son and he spent some of his money to buy a book for the new baby. We purchased little things here and there, not wanting to get too much until we knew if we were having a boy or a girl. Secretly Jason and I both hoped for a girl, but our oldest desperately wanted a little brother.
I was working as a Camp Director for the YMCA that summer. The day had come to find out the gender of our baby. I was so excited I could barely stand it. I almost skipped work that day, but we had a field trip to the local movie theater and I needed to make sure everything went as planned. We got to the theater and another group was also there to watch the movie. It was a group of disabled children from a local facility. Their disabilities ranged from mild to extremely severe. I watched as their staff and caregivers brought them in, my hand on my growing belly. Immediately it didn't matter if I was having a boy or a girl, I simply asked God to let me have a healthy baby. I didn't know if I was strong enough to care for a child with special needs. I sat in the theater and cried in the dark.
When I got to my doctor's office, Jason was waiting in the parking lot. We hurried upstairs to the waiting room and checked in. Once inside the exam room we watched the minutes tick by on the clock until the doctor came in. FINALLY! Then he mumbled something, then something else, and then all I heard was, "no heartbeat" and a few other mumbles. I just laid there. I don't know what happened next. I don't remember. The next thing I do remember was getting off the elevator in the lobby. I turned to walk out, and getting in was a woman with a huge, pregnant belly. I lost it. I began crying hysterically and fell to the floor.
The next few days I asked a lot of questions. In my grief I thought back to that quiet prayer in the theater. I wondered if maybe there was something wrong with my baby so God took it away from me? Then I wished for it back. I wished for my baby back, wished I could take those awful words back. I felt horrible! People always try to say the "right" thing after a loss, to make you feel better. Several people said things like "maybe something was horribly wrong with the baby..." but that only made me feel more guilty for that selfish prayer. It took a lot for me to realize that God doesn't act like that.
Jason and I took a while to decide we were ready to try again. When we were ready, we went through the same trials as before; tests, shots, temperature, medicine, injections... well, I did all that. ;o) He went to the appointments with me. Month after month went by. No positive tests. Pretty soon it was transfer time, and we had to move, so we had to stop all the fertility stuff and pick up again with a new set of doctors at our new station. But that never happened. About two weeks after we moved I got that feeling... I'm pregnant. I took the test and WHAMMO! Positive! I called my best friend immediately!! Then I told Jason, but we were scared to tell anyone else.
Miraculously the rest of the pregnancy went perfectly! No morning sickness, no problems, nothing! We rented a fetal heart monitor so I could listen to the heartbeat everyday at home. It was wonderful. Morning, noon and night I listened to the glorious "thump-thumping" inside my belly. Again, we prayed for a healthy baby, and hoped for a girl. This time our oldest was on board. He actually wanted a baby sister! At our gender-telling appointment they gave the news- GIRL! We were thrilled!! We started buying pink everything!! A few months later I had a 3D ultrasound done and the tech looked right at my oldest and said, "Oh that is DEFINITELY a little brother!". We were all shocked to say the least! Once the shock wore off, we gave all the pink stuff to our neighbor who really WAS having a girl and we started buying blue.
A few months later, our second gorgeous baby boy joined us, weighing in at 6lbs 13oz. He had a head completely full of long dark hair, a stark contrast from his older, balder brother. The nurses quickly decided that his hair deemed him worthy of the nickname "Elvis"! Through the years he has proved to be an equal match for his brother's charm, cunning and intelligence! I'm sure he'll be a force to be reckoned with during his teens. ;o)
Now fifteen and seven, the boys are very close, despite such an age difference. Of course, the fight like all siblings do, but they share a very special bond. They are very good friends, and I can only hope that it continues into the rest of their lives. I thank God for them every day, in one way or another. On the good days I say, "Thank you, God, for these beautiful boys." On the not so good days I just thank God that I haven't given them away yet. ;o)
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Furbabies!
I love animals. My house is getting quite full actually. We have a dog and three cats. I ALWAYS feel like we have room for "one" more. My husband feels otherwise. LOL
Our first cat, Tanner, was a Hurricane Katrina rescue. My husband flies Search and Rescue for the Coast Guard and we were stationed in New Orleans at the time. He often jokes that Tanner was his last "save". A friend of ours called one day and asked Jason to come over. He said he found something in his boat and needed Jason to look at it. A few minutes later Jason called me and said that I need to come over, too. When I got there, Jason greeted me at the door with this tiny, furry thing in his hands. It didn't have it's eyes open yet. I asked if it was a squirrel. He said, "I think it's a cat." I squealed!! "Can I keep it!!??" Sighing he replied, "That's why you're here."
Our Vet said he was probably only a few days old when we found him. He took baths in the sink. I washed him with baby shampoo once a week. He slept in the crook of my neck and I fed him with an eyelet dropper. He was the sweetest little thing I'd ever seen. We watched him learn to walk and meow. It was amazing!
Our dog came next. I called a local rescue group and told the lady we were looking for a mid-sized dog for our family. She asked some basic questions about us, our experience, who lived in our household, other pets, did we all want to adopt a dog... and then she said, "I think I have the perfect dog for you!" A few days later her minivan pulled into our driveway and we all watched as she went to the back. The door went up and she unlatched the kennel. The next thing we knew, this red dog was pulling her up across our front yard, through the bushes and flower beds! He bounded up the front steps and met us at the front door. "Here he is!" she panted. I thought, "What on EARTH has she brought us???"
We took him out back and she let him off the leash. She told us that "Lonnie Bear" had been dumped with his sister, but she had already been adopted. I watched as he immediately pooped in our yard. He was about 10 months old, already 45lbs, a beautiful Golden Retriever and Chow Mix, with possibly some German Shepherd in there somewhere.
He ran around the yard with our boys and they played. All of the sudden he knocked down our four-year-old and he started to cry. We ran to our son as he yelled, "I hate this dog!" He got back up and eventually started to run with the dog again though. Soon I was getting "the look" from both boys. "Can we keep him?" they asked. I really couldn't answer. We went ahead and signed the papers and paid the money, with the agreement that it was a trial period. Two days later I was SO in love with him there was NO sending him back. It didn't really matter because the "adoption" lady never called again anyway and ended up going to jail for hoarding and had all her other animals removed! His name HAD to change though. We went through a bunch of choices. One morning I called him Duke and he came running to me. He loved it, and we loved him!
Next came Maggie. Oh Maggie. Sweet, crazy, psychotic, insane Maggie! Again I went looking for a new companion. I wanted a sweet, fluffy kitty, specifically a white or grey one with blue eyes. I had my mind made up and I would take nothing else! My Mom and I went to an adoption day for a local shelter. Instead of my ideal kitty, I found this tiny little dark grey thing with stripes. She reminded me of Tanner when he was little, only because of how tiny she was. They told me that someone had left her behind the pet store with a can of food when she was about 4 weeks old. She was 5 weeks now. That's was it. Love. I signed the papers, paid the money and took her home.
Somewhere along the line she turned into a nutcase! She developed Pica, a disorder where she craves non-food items. People have Pica, too. Maggie's items of choice are toilet paper, headphone cords, carpet, plastic, the metal antenna of the radio, and sometimes paper. She is moody and temperamental, more so than a typical cat (or female) LOL and she jets through the house like a crazed wild animal! She's a gem alright, but we love her, quirks and all.
Our most recent addition is Angel. I went home to Florida last month and a kitten turned up at my parent's house while I was there. A Siamese mix... the cream colored, blue-eyed kitty I had wanted before! Was it FATE? I told myself it must be!
Each day when I went to my parent's house, this kitten would arrive! My Dad said other cats had been there before, but never this one. She started sleeping under my Mom's SUV. One day, as we sat in the porch swing, she jumped up there with us and rocked. The next day as we pulled into the driveway she was already in the swing waiting. She would run up to us and purr, and sometimes cry. She was hungry! So I bought food and a dish.
The kids and I more seriously discussed taking her home. My Mom is allergic to cats so her answer was, "TAKE HER!!" I snapped a quick picture on my cell phone and texted it to my husband. His reply was bland and didn't seem to suggest we adopt her. So I set out to surprise him.
We bought a carrier and some flea stuff. Then we picked up a brush, a few toys for the road and a nice soft blanket for her kennel. The day we showed up to get her she ran to us, and jumped up in my SUV, just like she knew she was going with us! I couldn't have been happier! We took turns brushing her and trying to get her cleaned up.
Pretty soon we hit the road. We put Angel in the kennel and she sat quietly for all of 3 seconds. Then this screeching started! She was clawing the kennel and trying to get out. My fourteen-year-old and I talked about what to do. If we let her out, will it get better? Maybe she'll stop? Maybe she hates the car moving? Maybe she'll go flying around the car like Maggie does at the house? What if she claws and scratches us?
So we left her in the cage, and we let her screech, praying she's stop... but she didn't... and she screeched... for 45 minutes. My son and I kept looking at each other. We couldn't take it anymore. So we decided to let her out. We opened the cage door and the screeching miraculously stopped! She cautiously peered out, and then took a step. We held our breath, waiting for her to go wild and take our eyeballs with her. Instead, she walked over to my youngest son who was sitting in the back seat next to her. He gave her a kiss and she laid down in his lap. WHAT? That was it? Wow.
About twenty minutes went by and she started to get a bit more curious. She sniffed around the car a little, came up to the front seat to say hello to me and my oldest son, and checked out the windshield. She watched the cars go by and seemed to be doing fine. As she made her way to the back seat again we all relaxed. "Let her wander" I told the kids. We had put a litter pan on the backseat floorboard so I wasn't too worried about her going to the bathroom in the car. All of the sudden I heard the rush of wind and the highway going by!! Angel had stepped on the window button in the back seat and rolled the window down! She was standing in the window, frozen and I started screaming! All I could imagine was her getting sucked out of the window going 70 miles an hour on the highway! We got the window back up and put the locks ON.
After that, the rest of the trip was rather uneventful, thank God. She rode nicely and we got home safely. Jason was surprised to see yet another cat, but he knows how I am. He said, "No more, this is the LAST one." He's said that before.
---After we got home, my Dad called to tell me that a Mama and baby kitty had showed up on their doorstep the day after we left. He then asked if we were coming back any time soon. ;o)
Our first cat, Tanner, was a Hurricane Katrina rescue. My husband flies Search and Rescue for the Coast Guard and we were stationed in New Orleans at the time. He often jokes that Tanner was his last "save". A friend of ours called one day and asked Jason to come over. He said he found something in his boat and needed Jason to look at it. A few minutes later Jason called me and said that I need to come over, too. When I got there, Jason greeted me at the door with this tiny, furry thing in his hands. It didn't have it's eyes open yet. I asked if it was a squirrel. He said, "I think it's a cat." I squealed!! "Can I keep it!!??" Sighing he replied, "That's why you're here."
Our Vet said he was probably only a few days old when we found him. He took baths in the sink. I washed him with baby shampoo once a week. He slept in the crook of my neck and I fed him with an eyelet dropper. He was the sweetest little thing I'd ever seen. We watched him learn to walk and meow. It was amazing!
Our dog came next. I called a local rescue group and told the lady we were looking for a mid-sized dog for our family. She asked some basic questions about us, our experience, who lived in our household, other pets, did we all want to adopt a dog... and then she said, "I think I have the perfect dog for you!" A few days later her minivan pulled into our driveway and we all watched as she went to the back. The door went up and she unlatched the kennel. The next thing we knew, this red dog was pulling her up across our front yard, through the bushes and flower beds! He bounded up the front steps and met us at the front door. "Here he is!" she panted. I thought, "What on EARTH has she brought us???"
We took him out back and she let him off the leash. She told us that "Lonnie Bear" had been dumped with his sister, but she had already been adopted. I watched as he immediately pooped in our yard. He was about 10 months old, already 45lbs, a beautiful Golden Retriever and Chow Mix, with possibly some German Shepherd in there somewhere.
He ran around the yard with our boys and they played. All of the sudden he knocked down our four-year-old and he started to cry. We ran to our son as he yelled, "I hate this dog!" He got back up and eventually started to run with the dog again though. Soon I was getting "the look" from both boys. "Can we keep him?" they asked. I really couldn't answer. We went ahead and signed the papers and paid the money, with the agreement that it was a trial period. Two days later I was SO in love with him there was NO sending him back. It didn't really matter because the "adoption" lady never called again anyway and ended up going to jail for hoarding and had all her other animals removed! His name HAD to change though. We went through a bunch of choices. One morning I called him Duke and he came running to me. He loved it, and we loved him!
Next came Maggie. Oh Maggie. Sweet, crazy, psychotic, insane Maggie! Again I went looking for a new companion. I wanted a sweet, fluffy kitty, specifically a white or grey one with blue eyes. I had my mind made up and I would take nothing else! My Mom and I went to an adoption day for a local shelter. Instead of my ideal kitty, I found this tiny little dark grey thing with stripes. She reminded me of Tanner when he was little, only because of how tiny she was. They told me that someone had left her behind the pet store with a can of food when she was about 4 weeks old. She was 5 weeks now. That's was it. Love. I signed the papers, paid the money and took her home.
Somewhere along the line she turned into a nutcase! She developed Pica, a disorder where she craves non-food items. People have Pica, too. Maggie's items of choice are toilet paper, headphone cords, carpet, plastic, the metal antenna of the radio, and sometimes paper. She is moody and temperamental, more so than a typical cat (or female) LOL and she jets through the house like a crazed wild animal! She's a gem alright, but we love her, quirks and all.
Our most recent addition is Angel. I went home to Florida last month and a kitten turned up at my parent's house while I was there. A Siamese mix... the cream colored, blue-eyed kitty I had wanted before! Was it FATE? I told myself it must be!
Each day when I went to my parent's house, this kitten would arrive! My Dad said other cats had been there before, but never this one. She started sleeping under my Mom's SUV. One day, as we sat in the porch swing, she jumped up there with us and rocked. The next day as we pulled into the driveway she was already in the swing waiting. She would run up to us and purr, and sometimes cry. She was hungry! So I bought food and a dish.
The kids and I more seriously discussed taking her home. My Mom is allergic to cats so her answer was, "TAKE HER!!" I snapped a quick picture on my cell phone and texted it to my husband. His reply was bland and didn't seem to suggest we adopt her. So I set out to surprise him.
We bought a carrier and some flea stuff. Then we picked up a brush, a few toys for the road and a nice soft blanket for her kennel. The day we showed up to get her she ran to us, and jumped up in my SUV, just like she knew she was going with us! I couldn't have been happier! We took turns brushing her and trying to get her cleaned up.
Pretty soon we hit the road. We put Angel in the kennel and she sat quietly for all of 3 seconds. Then this screeching started! She was clawing the kennel and trying to get out. My fourteen-year-old and I talked about what to do. If we let her out, will it get better? Maybe she'll stop? Maybe she hates the car moving? Maybe she'll go flying around the car like Maggie does at the house? What if she claws and scratches us?
So we left her in the cage, and we let her screech, praying she's stop... but she didn't... and she screeched... for 45 minutes. My son and I kept looking at each other. We couldn't take it anymore. So we decided to let her out. We opened the cage door and the screeching miraculously stopped! She cautiously peered out, and then took a step. We held our breath, waiting for her to go wild and take our eyeballs with her. Instead, she walked over to my youngest son who was sitting in the back seat next to her. He gave her a kiss and she laid down in his lap. WHAT? That was it? Wow.
About twenty minutes went by and she started to get a bit more curious. She sniffed around the car a little, came up to the front seat to say hello to me and my oldest son, and checked out the windshield. She watched the cars go by and seemed to be doing fine. As she made her way to the back seat again we all relaxed. "Let her wander" I told the kids. We had put a litter pan on the backseat floorboard so I wasn't too worried about her going to the bathroom in the car. All of the sudden I heard the rush of wind and the highway going by!! Angel had stepped on the window button in the back seat and rolled the window down! She was standing in the window, frozen and I started screaming! All I could imagine was her getting sucked out of the window going 70 miles an hour on the highway! We got the window back up and put the locks ON.
After that, the rest of the trip was rather uneventful, thank God. She rode nicely and we got home safely. Jason was surprised to see yet another cat, but he knows how I am. He said, "No more, this is the LAST one." He's said that before.
---After we got home, my Dad called to tell me that a Mama and baby kitty had showed up on their doorstep the day after we left. He then asked if we were coming back any time soon. ;o)
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Not Just For Boys...
Boys dig in the dirt. Girls play with Barbie dolls. Boys wear baseball hats and blue jeans. Girls wear tiaras and pretty dresses. Boys climb trees. Girls play house. Boys play football... and well, now girls do, too!
Fantasy football for me at least! Yes, I have joined the Air Station's Fantasy Football League, and I FULLY intend to win some money!!! Jason was grilling me the other night... "Who do you select in the first round? How about the second? When do you really make your points? Where's the best place to be in the line-up?" Oh, because I'm a GIRL he thinks I don't know anything. HAHAHAHA! I think he's scared. Why? Because I will be playing against him! ;o)
I need a good team name, and the NFL needs to get themselves straightened out so we HAVE some football, other than that, I'm ready to rock! Let the smack-talk begin!!!
Fantasy football for me at least! Yes, I have joined the Air Station's Fantasy Football League, and I FULLY intend to win some money!!! Jason was grilling me the other night... "Who do you select in the first round? How about the second? When do you really make your points? Where's the best place to be in the line-up?" Oh, because I'm a GIRL he thinks I don't know anything. HAHAHAHA! I think he's scared. Why? Because I will be playing against him! ;o)
I need a good team name, and the NFL needs to get themselves straightened out so we HAVE some football, other than that, I'm ready to rock! Let the smack-talk begin!!!
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Sin, Love and Mercy...
"If you love me, you will obey what I command." -John 14:15
"But whoever obeys what Christ says is the kind of person in whom God's love is perfected. That's how we know we are in Christ." -1 John 2:5
What does it mean to obey God's commands for us? What is it that God commands us to do? The Ten Commandments are laid out for us in Exodus 20:1-17.
1. You shall have no other gods before me.
2. You shall not make for yourself any graven images.
3. You shall not take the Lord's name in vain.
4. Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.
5. Honor thy mother and father.
6. You shall not commit murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
10. You shall not covet.
We are all sinners. We have all broken God's commandments. We talked back to our parents as children, we work on Sundays, we wish we had that cool thing that our friend just bought. Some of us have committed adultery, some of us have committed murder. God does not hold any sin in a "worse" position than the rest. They are all God's word, and are all to be obeyed.
As humans we have socially weighted each sin. We cannot imagine that telling a lie could equal murder, but both are sins against our Father as both mean we disobeyed Him. We will all have to answer for them, and I for one to not look forward to that day. It saddens me to know that I have been weak and allowed myself to stray from the path that God has set before me. Although His mercies are great, I try to lessen the amount He may graciously bestow. ;o)
As humans we have socially weighted each sin. We cannot imagine that telling a lie could equal murder, but both are sins against our Father as both mean we disobeyed Him. We will all have to answer for them, and I for one to not look forward to that day. It saddens me to know that I have been weak and allowed myself to stray from the path that God has set before me. Although His mercies are great, I try to lessen the amount He may graciously bestow. ;o)
In addition to the Ten Commandments, God also commands that we read His Word, the Bible. He tells us to witness to others, and to pray for them. One of my greatest joys was hearing my seven-year-old son witness to a girl in his first grade class. She told him that she didn't have a father. He replied, "Of course you do! Don't you know about God?" He then proceeded to tell her! I was so proud, and I'm sure God was, too.
Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." -Matthew 19:14
God knows our hearts. He knows, when we ask for His forgiveness, if we are sincere or not. He also knew that we were going to sin before we even did it. That's a pretty heavy concept for me. He KNOWS what I am thinking; all the ugly thoughts, all the hate I've held for people who have hurt me in my life, all the wrong I have done... and yet He loves me in spite of it all. AMAZING!
"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. "-Jeremiah 29:11
I work hard to be a good person, to be a proper example for my children, to be kind to others. Some days it's hard, and some people make it even harder. I do my best to make decisions based on my sense of right and wrong, my beliefs and my own experiences. You cannot "earn" your way into Heaven's Gates. That toll has already been paid. Being a good person is the right thing to do, and we are also commanded by God to love our neighbor as we love ourselves (Mark 12:31).
Several times I have heard the phrase, "Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some sort of battle". It's true! You never know what a person is going through, maybe right before your eyes. The pain a person buries in their heart can manifest in many ways. How we choose to deal with it is up to us. God's desire is for us to give it to Him, pray for guidance and let Him carry our burden's weight. We are to fall back on our faith, finding comfort in knowing that God has it all under control. Satan wants us to question God's devotion to us as His children and His love for us. He puts doubt in our hearts and longs for us to sin. We are tempted just as sure as we are human, but if you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, if you have recognized God as the Almighty, you are forgiven, and you will be saved.
I know that I have fallen short of God's glory, and I am saved only by his grace and mercy. It's a wonderful feeling, one that I find myself taking for granted all too often! I am a mess, and God knows it! But He loves me, unconditionally, mercifully, without ceasing.
Rely on God. Put your faith in Him as your Lord and Savior and rest your weary head at his feet. We are not perfect, nor does God expect us to be. He knew we would sin, that's why he sent his Son to die for us.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Creativity
I love to be creative. I like to make things, crafty things. I'm awesome with a hot glue gun! ;o) I cannot sew, I am not a painter and I cannot draw. Well, I take that back, I CAN draw, but you may not recognize the intended figure unless it's a tree, cloud or stick figure. THOSE I can handle! ;o) My Mother is ridiculously gifted in ALL of those areas!! None of it was passed on to me. LOL
My passion is photography. I love it!! As a kid I would sneak my Mom's Polaroid camera to take pictures of the clouds. I would pose my younger brothers and take silly pictures of them. They were great test subjects. I still have all of those pictures, such a great reminder of where this love began.
Fifteen years ago I started out in sports photography and found a real love for it as a job. With military moves, the job didn't last nearly as long as I would have liked, but it gave me a basis to branch out on my own. Years went by, I finished my associates degree and headed back to school for my bachelors. We moved a lot, had another baby, but I still wanted to pursue photography. Unfortunately the time was just never right, I never had the money for the equipment, the time to set it up, the nerve to follow through... until two years ago. My Dad blessed me with the start up money and off I went!
So here we are today- Moving Still Studio My FAVORITE pictures are the kids. I love children and I love working with them. My kids, thank God, love to be in front of the camera!! They are always ready to test a new pose, new lights or just goof around!
A new realm for me was automotive photography, which is completely awesome! I never thought I would get so "into it" but I really enjoy the edgy side of it. It's a little sexy but not too over the top. A friend of ours, who is a fantastic photographer and editor, showed us some of his stuff and let us tag along on one of his shoots. A new love was born!
I also do a lot of real life art; houses, flowers, places, things like that. I like to take pictures of just about everything!! My Mom has actually gotten in on the action, too! It's great to see her love for photography grow as well. We took a trip together last summer, just the two of us, and took tons of pictures; learning, teaching, photographing, talking. It was a lot of fun!
Life is what you make it. I've found so many new things in the last few years. I am still learning and I'm nowhere near done! Things I would never have stopped to photograph before are now really interesting to me. I've opened my eyes to many new things and have found myself in some really cool places, right in my own city, my own house, my own life!!
Look around you!! You don't need to wait until you're looking through the lens of the camera to to see what's right in front of you! I don't know why it took that for me, but at least I see things now! Maybe that's another reason why I started this blog. As I said, I love to be creative!
My passion is photography. I love it!! As a kid I would sneak my Mom's Polaroid camera to take pictures of the clouds. I would pose my younger brothers and take silly pictures of them. They were great test subjects. I still have all of those pictures, such a great reminder of where this love began.
Fifteen years ago I started out in sports photography and found a real love for it as a job. With military moves, the job didn't last nearly as long as I would have liked, but it gave me a basis to branch out on my own. Years went by, I finished my associates degree and headed back to school for my bachelors. We moved a lot, had another baby, but I still wanted to pursue photography. Unfortunately the time was just never right, I never had the money for the equipment, the time to set it up, the nerve to follow through... until two years ago. My Dad blessed me with the start up money and off I went!
So here we are today- Moving Still Studio My FAVORITE pictures are the kids. I love children and I love working with them. My kids, thank God, love to be in front of the camera!! They are always ready to test a new pose, new lights or just goof around!
A new realm for me was automotive photography, which is completely awesome! I never thought I would get so "into it" but I really enjoy the edgy side of it. It's a little sexy but not too over the top. A friend of ours, who is a fantastic photographer and editor, showed us some of his stuff and let us tag along on one of his shoots. A new love was born!
I also do a lot of real life art; houses, flowers, places, things like that. I like to take pictures of just about everything!! My Mom has actually gotten in on the action, too! It's great to see her love for photography grow as well. We took a trip together last summer, just the two of us, and took tons of pictures; learning, teaching, photographing, talking. It was a lot of fun!
Life is what you make it. I've found so many new things in the last few years. I am still learning and I'm nowhere near done! Things I would never have stopped to photograph before are now really interesting to me. I've opened my eyes to many new things and have found myself in some really cool places, right in my own city, my own house, my own life!!
Look around you!! You don't need to wait until you're looking through the lens of the camera to to see what's right in front of you! I don't know why it took that for me, but at least I see things now! Maybe that's another reason why I started this blog. As I said, I love to be creative!
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Bonus Family
When I hear the word "Step-mother" I think of the movie Cinderella. That wicked laugh, all those chores while her "real" kids got to do the fun stuff. Cinderella resorted to playing with rats! Or how about Snow White? She moved in with seven guys just to escape her evil step-mom!
When Jason and I got married he already had children, and I was determined NOT to be ANYTHING like Cinderella or Snow White's step-mothers. I met his girls, and I fell in love. These sweet, blond-haired, blue-eyed angels were a part of me now, even if only in my heart. I grew even more to hate the word "step-mother" and all the negative images it conjured.
So who would I be, if not their step-mom? Well, at first Jason's ex-wife didn't like the idea of me being anything at all to their girls so I was just "Rachelle". She didn't know me, she didn't want to know me, and yet she was already sure she didn't like me. I gradually became "the step-mom" but was not happy about it. Still, I welcomed the title simply because it wasn't my name, and it included some form of the word "Mom". I fell evermore in love with his little girls.
Over the years things have changed drastically. We have DEFINITELY had our ups and downs, but in the end, Jason's ex-wife and I are friends, closer than I ever could have imagined actually! My place in the girl's lives has changed as well. I am a third parent, a "bonus" parent. I am their "Bonus Mom" and I love it!! They refer to me as their Bonus Mom and it feels much warmer and closer than a "step" title. We all work together to raise the kids, it works so much better that way. No fighting, no hassles, and no yelling.
Our Bonus Family has extended to include Jason's ex-wife's other two children as well. Our two boys were very excited to have Bonus Brothers. Even though they are not our blood, they are still our family because they are connect to us through the girls. We have a HUGE family now, and the best part about that... there's never a shortage of love and hugs!
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For the record, let me add:
Just because a person marries someone who has children, doesn't automatically make them a "parent"; step or otherwise. I have known some really awful step-parents!! (Not mine personally, thank God, my parents are still married.) A person who marries into a "family" should be prepared to take on the responsibility of such a role. You HAVE to know that those children were there before you were, and they deserve the FIRST and UTMOST priority! I absolutely love and adore my bonus kids and treat them just as I do my biological ones. They are a part of my husband, and thus, a part of my heart. What kind of person would I be if I turned them aside?
My point is, the title of "Bonus Mom" was not one that came fast, easily or without work. It should not be given or taken lightly. I am VERY proud of my title for many, many reasons... just as I am ALL of "my kids".
When Jason and I got married he already had children, and I was determined NOT to be ANYTHING like Cinderella or Snow White's step-mothers. I met his girls, and I fell in love. These sweet, blond-haired, blue-eyed angels were a part of me now, even if only in my heart. I grew even more to hate the word "step-mother" and all the negative images it conjured.
So who would I be, if not their step-mom? Well, at first Jason's ex-wife didn't like the idea of me being anything at all to their girls so I was just "Rachelle". She didn't know me, she didn't want to know me, and yet she was already sure she didn't like me. I gradually became "the step-mom" but was not happy about it. Still, I welcomed the title simply because it wasn't my name, and it included some form of the word "Mom". I fell evermore in love with his little girls.
Over the years things have changed drastically. We have DEFINITELY had our ups and downs, but in the end, Jason's ex-wife and I are friends, closer than I ever could have imagined actually! My place in the girl's lives has changed as well. I am a third parent, a "bonus" parent. I am their "Bonus Mom" and I love it!! They refer to me as their Bonus Mom and it feels much warmer and closer than a "step" title. We all work together to raise the kids, it works so much better that way. No fighting, no hassles, and no yelling.
Our Bonus Family has extended to include Jason's ex-wife's other two children as well. Our two boys were very excited to have Bonus Brothers. Even though they are not our blood, they are still our family because they are connect to us through the girls. We have a HUGE family now, and the best part about that... there's never a shortage of love and hugs!
-------------
For the record, let me add:
Just because a person marries someone who has children, doesn't automatically make them a "parent"; step or otherwise. I have known some really awful step-parents!! (Not mine personally, thank God, my parents are still married.) A person who marries into a "family" should be prepared to take on the responsibility of such a role. You HAVE to know that those children were there before you were, and they deserve the FIRST and UTMOST priority! I absolutely love and adore my bonus kids and treat them just as I do my biological ones. They are a part of my husband, and thus, a part of my heart. What kind of person would I be if I turned them aside?
My point is, the title of "Bonus Mom" was not one that came fast, easily or without work. It should not be given or taken lightly. I am VERY proud of my title for many, many reasons... just as I am ALL of "my kids".
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Friendship, Or Is It?
“The friendship that can cease has never been real.” ~ Saint Jerome
I’m going to have to disagree on this one. During my life, I’ve had many relationships that have come and gone. Just because they changed over time doesn’t mean they were never “real” when they were alive and well.
You’ll have to give me a little room for this next one. OK, a lot of room… If we followed that logic in other areas, believing that anything, if changed, was never real in the first place, the world would be in a heap of trouble! What about the caterpillars that changed into butterflies? Were they never “real” caterpillars to begin with? Grapes made into wine were never grapes? So where did we get the butterfly, the wine, the raisin and a host of other turned-into creations if the things that created them were never “real”? Ridiculous, right? My point exactly.
Every end is another beginning. People come in and out of our lives all the time. We never know how long we have them. We move away, relationships change, God has other plans for us… the whole reason/season thing. Let’s face it, we forget about people! Do you remember all of your “friends” from high school? Middle school? Elementary school? Even marriages end, the most sacred of all relationships, but it was still a marriage. However unhealthy, strained or whatever lead to their demise, it was still a “real” marriage at some point. Chances are they really loved each other when they got married. Yes, there are those exceptions, but for the sake of this argument we’re looking at the majority here.
The same goes for a friendship. They can also become unhealthy or strained, and be forced to end. Most often it’s ugly, painful and loud. Hurt usually leads to the most intense anger and the biggest blowouts. If nobody cared, they wouldn’t fight. There would be nothing to fight over and they would simply walk away. The passionate fight comes from the emotion within, the feeling one has about the relationship, the situation, the other person, etc. At some point, there is a change, and the friendship may cease, often out of self-preservation of one of the parties.
Taking care of yourself is necessary. You know when you get on an airplane, and they give the safety speech and they tell you to put your own mask on before helping your children or others? The first time I heard that I was appalled! I thought, “Who would put on their own mask before helping their kid?” Then I realized that if you’re unconscious, you’re not much good to those around you, so if you don’t put your mask on first you probably won’t be helping too many other people. (Kid wisdom is fantastic, but slow.) ;o)
The idea that a broken friendship was never a real one is just ludicrous to me. I’m sure there are arguments to the contrary, such as “a real friend would never leave, never let us fall apart, would work to save the friendship” but sometimes it just can’t be saved.
I have learned that it’s OK to walk away from a bad situation, a bad friendship and even a bad marriage. In some cases, it’s even necessary to run.
Welcome!
Welcome! Let me introduce myself… (Wow, that was boring and typical, huh?)
My name is Rachelle and this is my blog. (Nope, that was even worse.)
Welcome to the BEST blog you’ll ever read! My name is Rachelle and I’ll be your host on this adventure! (OK, a little more exciting, probably a bit advantageous, but it would likely get more attention than the first two!)
Anyway, you get the idea!! LOL I can’t really tell you what you’ll find here from day to day, it will probably be a conglomerate of exciting little tidbits. My life is anything but boring! I am a military wife, a Mom, a Step-mom (well, we prefer “Bonus” Mom, but we’ll get into that later I’m sure), a Grandmother, a photographer AND a million other smaller titles that come with the bigger ones.
This is my first attempt at a blog, so bear with me. A public diary… interesting concept for sure, but I do have a LOT to say so I’m sure you’ll get an ear, err, eyeful. ;o) Anyway, as I said, welcome aboard. I’ll try not to disappoint you!
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