Leaf Project

Abby came home and announced that she had a leaf project due.  She handed me the paper with the instructions and we read over it together.  She had 5 days to complete her project and their were 17 different leaves to be found.  We started out on day one and found 4 of the 17 needed.  We felt pretty good about this and quit for the evening.  The next couple of nights our calendar of activities kept us busy and before we knew, it was the night before and we still had a ton to do!!!On the way home from work, I stopped at every tree and stole a leaf!  Now please understand....I know nothing about trees.  So with every leaf I picked, I was just hoping it would be on the list.  Once home, Abby and I got our supplies and instructions and went to work!  To our surprise, we had quite a few, but we were lacking 5 leaves on the list! 

By this time it was 9:00 at nite, and we decided to drive around the neighborhood to see if we could find what was needed.  We drove slowly, shining our flashlight on tree after tree.  Occasionally Abby would think she saw what we needed and would jump out, run into the strangers yard and pick a couple of leaves.  It became funny to us...mostly because we were tired but also because we felt like we were creepers stealing 2 leaf's off people's trees without their knowledge.  Instead of being frustrated that the project was not done and procrastination had won, we wound up laughing and laughing!  We did not finish our project until 10:30p.m. and even then we knew it was not our best effort.    You know what?  I don't care that we procrastinated this time.  And after a speech, we both knew we could have done better.  You know what I did like?  Spending one on one time with my 16 year old daughter.  Driving around neighborhoods looking for the perfect leaf and "creeping" through strangers yards to find them.  We talked, sang with the radio and laughed!  We made a memory.

It was a great nite!  I loved every moment of it!  Thank you Abby for including me....I had fun.  But next time....let's not procrastinate to the last moment.  :)



A Note From Leanna Claire

My days of having little ones in the house are over.  No more toys, tiny snack foods, juice boxes, little shoes and socks or pajamas with the feet in them.  I now have three teenage daughters.  And with them comes hair straighteners, hair spray, makeup, Converse, skinny jeans, peace signs, strange music, Ipods, cell phones (which if you didn't know, their cell phones are their LIFE!,  or so I've been told  :)  ).....and I love every minute of it. 

When the girls were little, they would always bring me their coloring pages, drawings, water color paintings, hand print paintings, and love notes.  I have kept almost all of them.  I have a box for each one of the girls and have put their craft projects in their perspective places.  Every once in awhile, I go thru them and look at them again.  And, every once in awhile, I add something else to it.  When they were younger, I was adding things to their boxes on a weekly basis.  But, as they have gotten older, I don't have to pull their boxes out as often. 

I hadn't really thought about missing those items from the girls.  As they have grown, they have moved onto other things and I have moved on with them.  Now its color guard, band, football games, Renaissance Club, Key Club, Tumbling, Competition Cheer, plays and much more!  The girls stay busy and I stay busy right along with them. 

Today, I got a note.  It was placed on my pillow so that I would see it. Leanna Claire left me a note letting me know she loves me.  (Which by the way....is nice to know.  Sometimes teenagers don't act like they love their parents. )  I grinned from ear to ear.  I went and found her and thanked her and gave her a big hug for which she looked at me and said "Your welcome!  I got bored in school and drew it for you!"  hahahaha!

OK......so, she drew it in school when she should have been paying attention.  And....she was bored when she did it and felt like that was the only thing she could do to not  fall asleep.  SOOO.....she wasn't actually thinking about how much she loved me and how I was the greatest mom in the whole world.  But, I'm going to take it anyway......its the thought that counts......right? 

LOL!!  I love it and I am going to add it to her box of other crafty items and love notes.  I think its special and it made me smile.  So, thank you Leanna Claire!!  I love you too!  Your an amazing young lady and I am blessed to have you in my life and a part of my heart. 

Here say.  Chitchat.  Scuttlebutt.  Tattling.  Rumors.  Call it what you want, but when one person talks to a second person about a third person, you've got gossip.  Gossip fills our work places, school hallways, magazines and political campaigns.  But God doesn't like gossip.  The above are traits of gossip; and these things can anger God.

But boy-oh-boy, it sure has become such a part of our day and so common place in our conversations that I'm not sure we think of it as gossip anymore.  This is a sad state of affairs.  But God's word says we can change....we can change our conversations and the way we talk.  But, it will take some practice and "doing" on our part to see that we are not a part of whats happening.  It's a choice!  Whenever you hear something negative about someone else, counter it with something good.

Gossip is everywhere!!!  But it is rampant in our schools.  Kids say mean and awful things about others.  Learning to not repeat what you hear and not being a part of whats being said helps to stop the hurt!  "...where there is not talebearer, the strife ceaseth."  (Prov. 26:20)  What mom hasn't had our kids come home and tell us something about another kid in their class or school.  I know my girls have come home full of info about someone else.  I am guilty of talking to them about it asking questions  --  I am opening the door to gossip.  This has happened in our home recently, and I found myself getting caught up in what was being said.  Days later, I felt terrible that I did not stop the conversation and even encouraged my girls by asking questions and being a part.  I now wish I had made a better choice by wrapping the conversation in prayer, asking God for wisdom and sharing that with my girls.

So leave the hurtful heresay, chit chat, scuttlebutt, tattling and rumors to the magazines at the grocery store.  As I have said before, words can hurt.  But words can also heal and build up too, especially when you refuse to be a part of second and third hand information.

I write this for many reasons.....but mostly to remind myself of what gossip can lead to......which is a lot of hurt.

"Let everything you say be good and helpful,

so that your words will be an encouragement

to those who bear them." 

Ephesians 4:29

My Abnormal Has Become My Normal

Somewhere along the way, I've lost what "normal" is.  I cant remember what it looks like or feels like.  I know its a place where I want to get to and settle on leaving behind the stress and busy schedules of life.  I'm pretty sure I've been there before.

We have three teenage daughters in the house right now.  While I am very blessed, thankful and grateful for them, we do have days with lots of drama, tears and eye rolling.  Do you have teenagers?  Then you have seen their signature eye roll.  :)  I tell my friends and family that I will catch up with life when things get back to "normal".  I tell myself that I wont feel sooo tired and the girls will be less dramatic when things are "normal" again. 

So,.......... I wait.                   

                                                       

Then, I wait some more.                                  

Yet "normal" never comes.  Could it be that my life is already "normal"?  Maybe ---just maybe abnormal is my "normal".  So, if my abnormal is "normal" then some of your normals might look like mine.  :)  Such as:

1.  You show up for your doctors appointment on the right day, but the wrong month.  :)
2.  You might be normal of you forget to pick your child up either from school or a practice and you get the call,  "Mom, where are you?"  :)
3.  You might be normal if you walk out of the bathroom with Toilette Paper stuck on your shoes....and you notice everyone sharing huge smiles at you but don't figure out till later that the smiling was at your expense....not because they were happy to see you.  :)
4.  You might be normal if you go grocery shopping on Senior Citizen day and wind up helping one of them out because you feel bad for them and you get none of your shopping done.  :)
5.  You might be normal if you hold your mouth open when your putting on mascara.  :)

6.  You might be normal if you turn down the radio while looking for an address while driving.  :)

7.  You might be normal if you sit down by the wrong person at the movies and start talking to them before you realize they are perfect strangers.  :)

8.  You might be normal if with your middle age comes weird and disturbing physical changes on your body.

9.  You might be normal if you meet to exercise, but would rather watch the info commercials of people exercising and cheer them on instead.  :)

The above statements are all true experiences of mine.  That could only mean one thing....according to my life, ABNORMAL is my NORMAL!

What about you?  :)

Compliments

Everybody loves a compliment.  In our heart of hearts, most of us feel that we deserve more compliments than we receive.  But maybe one of the reasons we don't hear as many compliments as we'd like is because we don't give any out.  Who needs to receive our praise?  Our families, friends, co-workers and even strangers. 

The definition of a compliment is, "an expression of esteem".  Compliments can make someones day and can lift a hurting heart.  Become abundant with your compliments to others.  The one person you think needs it the least, is probably the one who needs it the most. 

Start with a compliment a day.  You will feel good when you do, and soon it will become one of your daily habits.  Wouldn't it be awesome if each one of us had the great habit of giving out kind words?

Just as words can hurt........words can heal.

I want a nap! :)

"The great question...which I have not

been able to answer,

despite my thirty years of research into

the feminine soul is,

'What does a woman want?' "

--Sigmund Freud--

Well.....I have the answer for you Mr. Freud.  It would be a nap.  Yes.....I said a NAP!  Now. Today........ All right if not now or today, at least on Sunday afternoons. 

This is the average day of a woman:  wake up, eight hours of work, eight hours of rest, eight hours to do things that need to be done.  Should one of those hours be spent napping on your bed under a cozy blanket, door closed, curtains drawn, I would say that she had a great idea. 

A nap is not to be confused with sleeping.  We sleep to recharge our bodies.  When we nap, we are resting our eyes and rehearsing our speech that we need to give to our children, or planning out the rest of the day.  But we are doing it in the form of laying down with our eyes closed.  :)

Where to have a proper nap?  Your own bedroom.  The living room couch works well.  Or a hammock. On a chaise lounge.  In a recliner.  The list can go on and on.  Where ever you feel the most comfortable and where you will not be disturbed. 

How long do we nap?  Never less than an hour!  Longer if need be.  How do you nap at the office?  Unfortunately you don't!  This is only reserved for when your eyes are sizzling out of their sockets.

If you want to be happy for the rest of your life  --  a nap is essential to the health and well being of your husband and your children.  :)  The tradition should begin on Sundays  -  the day of rest.  Around 3p.m., tell your family you will be busy for at least an hour and retreat to your room.

Now crawl under your covers.

Rest your eyes.

And stay there for at least 60 minutes. 

"No day is so bad it cant be fixed with a nap!!  No day is so good that it cant be made better with a terrific time out!"  --Carrie Snow

zzzzzzzzz NAP on my friend!  I know its one of my favorite pass times.  :)

Grace For The Day

Oh, God, give me grace for this day

Not for a lifetime, nor for next week,

Nor for tomorrow, just for this day.

Direct my thoughts and bless them,

Direct my work and bless it.

Direct the things I say and give them blessing too.

Direct and bless everything I think and speak and do.

So that for this one day, just this one day,

I have the gift of grace that comes from your presence.

--Unknown

Over the years I have learned a little about grace.  I have been on my knees many times.  Gratefully, most of my prayers have been answered as I had prayed for.  Some prayers were not, at least not as I had expected they would be.  Others were delayed until I thought my heart would break.  Still others were denied.  But never have I asked for just one day's portion of grace and not received it.

Grace is available to each of us every day, but we do have to ask for it living one day at a time and not worrying about tomorrow.  Tomorrow will be here soon enough and there will be plenty of grace to cover that day also.

One day at a time, with God's grace on my side.....I can do it!

Playing Second Fiddle in the Orchestra

Olivia, our daughter, has been in band and orchestra for 7 years now.  And one of her goals has always been to play "first chair".  But, it kept eluding her and would be given to someone else.  She was not the one in the limelight -- she was playing and supporting the limelight.

That also makes me think of housekeepers (Maids) at hotels.  They work behind the scenes.  They work hard and sometimes long hours.  For the most part, the guest does not see them, but they do reap the benefit of their hard, tedious and back breaking work.  They are defiantly not in the limelight.

God reminded me that in order to serve, we have to be willing to step out of the limelight and play second fiddle.  There are many second fiddle positions to fill.  If more of us would get involved wherever there is a need, then God could accomplish great things.  We have to lay our pride to the side and have a servant's heart.  God wants to work with us if we ask him to.

Olivia called me at work today.  She was very excited and couldn't wait to tell me her good news.  She is playing Bass Clarinet this year and she has first chair!  It took her 7 years of being second-fiddle in the orchestra, but God has rewarded her practice, hard work and patience.  I could hear her smiling thru the phone, and I was so very excited for her!

Playing second fiddle in God's orchestra is a marvelous way to start serving others.

My Oscar Winning Pity Party Performance

Just this past week, I was on my lunch break and was eating with a co-worker.  We got on the subject of how tired we are and that opened the door wide for me to start complaining.  I began to tell her how I was feeling "left out".  Left out of all the FUN stuff in life.  Then I went on to tell her all about how busy I was.  Always on the run.....always going, going, going!  That lead into how my house will never be clean for 24 hours straight.  I told her all about how my kitchen rarely stays clean.  I clean it up, start the dishwasher and feel good about it.  Come back an hour later and "BOOM!"  there's an empty glass in the sink along with a plate that has left over signs of pizza!!!  Once I finished the kitchen scenario, I told her in a very pitiful voice that no one appreciated me.  Not my husband, not my children, not my dogs and certainly not the fish in the fish tank who watch me day in and day out do the same things over and over.  Of course, please picture all of the above with me using lots and lots of expression!  Not only with my hands but with my face and I definitely used the tone of my voice to really drive some of the important points home.  It was an Oscar defining moment for me. 

Have you been there?

Why do we complain?  Once again, I will be the first to admit that I complain.  I think we complain because it's easy!  It's simple to say what is wrong about a situation; its more difficult to find what is right and talk about it.  Another reason we complain is because we tend to find fellowship with others who have the common complaints as ours.  When we have something negative to talk about  --  BOY OH BOY  --  we can talk for hours!

Grumbling has been around for a long, long time!  Some of our grumbling to others is to show case our pity party.  We want some one to show us sympathy...it makes us feel a little better knowing that someone else knows our complaint.  Charles Spurgeon once said, "He is richest who is content with the least."

Are we content?  The truth is contentment comes from the heart; it is not dependent on material things.  Are you waiting on a new house  -  or a better school for your kids  -  or for a car who runs normally with out the exhaust fumes choking everyone out in the car line at school  -  or for the day when your husband is more sensitive and understanding of your feelings?  The truth is your contentment is independent of what we have or who surrounds us.  It comes from the heart. 

Back to my Oscar Winning Performance.....later in the day when I was home, I sat down to do my devotions.  The devotional book that I was reading mentioned the verse "I can do all things thru Christ who strengthens me."  Wouldn't you agree this is a great verse?  We all know this verse and use it for all kinds of occasions.  But I learned something...it is often a mis-used verse.  Paul wrote this verse.  Did you know he was talking about contentment when he wrote it?  The verses before this one says,  " I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me.  Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.   I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.  I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do all things thru Christ who stregthens me." 

He was giving us the key to unlocking our prison of self pity: believing that with God's strength we can get through whatever life brings.  After I read and re-read this, I began to remember my pity party at lunch and started to feel very, very badly.  Paul wrote these verses while in a Roman prison.  If anyone had the right to throw a pity-party, it certainly would be him.  Instead, Paul chose to face his jail time by looking up and not down.  He did not focus on how bad his circumstances were but what God could do thru the circumstances.  Paul wrote from that prison cell, "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances."  WOW!  If Paul can have that kind of contentment in jail, then I'm sure I can have it in my laundry room.

SO...., a lesson learned for me.  One I already knew, and will need to be reminded of -- but I am grateful that God reminded me of all I have to be content about.  Through all the stressful challenging situations of my life (and yours) we can still find contentment when we fix our eyes and place our hope in God.  He's the only one who can give us strength to make it through.