Again

I know it has once again been months since I have posted. I am right now sitting in a hotel in California. I am at an army weekend with my husband. Tonight is our Christmas party. I am excited to go tonight. We are going to the Winchester Mystery house. It should be a great time. I went to Ihop for breakfast by myself and read my book. I love those simple little places. They don't have the fancy decorations but that is ok by me. I love that. Since I last posted my brother and his wife had twins. They are the sweetest babies. I am so in love with them.

We are excited about Christmas this year. We aren't going out of town so that is great. We have the cards out and the tree up. We are excited to have a special season celebrating the birth of Christ. Merry Christmas to all!

So I knew I had to get this on here before the excitement wore down and I didn't remember all the details. My kids love Jesus. They love him and want there friends to know him. They aren't perfect children and they are still naughty and mean to one another. However this has me so excited to see where God is going to lead them. This particular incident was mostly Brayden. Riley was involved a little at the begining. In June we went to our friends kids birthday party. They had rented a bounce house and the kids jumped all afternoon. We love this family and believe God has put them in our life for a reason. So our kids know we pray for them to learn to know Jesus. They know I meet with the mom and we sometimes talk about Christ. On this particular day nothing major was going down. We happened to be the last ones to leave the party. On the way home Brayden tells me that him, Riley and the boy were chatting in the bounce house and J doesn't know Jesus. Hum I say. Yes, and he isn't sure he wants him in his heart yet cause he doesn't know much about him. Interesting I say. Mom, he doesn't have a bible either. Oh. I say. I was pretty sure about that but found this very interesting that the kids had talked about this. Now I have to jump off to say that Brayden had been planning a lemonade stand for WEEKS if not Months. He really wanted to have one and we were having a garage sale so I had told him he could have it then. So he tells me he is going to use the money from his garage sale to buy J a bible. I thought that was a great idea. So the garage sale was going to be in 2 weeks. He talked about it non stop. He was so excited. He prayed for his friend daily. He asked Jim and I if he didn't get enough if we would help out. Of course we said yes. How could we not. So awesome was this. He was excited to read the bible with his friend. The weekend of the garage sale came. He sat out there and told everyone who came he was raising money to buy his friend a bible. That Sunday we went to church and he went to buy the bible and he had all but $2 for it. It was very exciting. Now because his parents don't know the Lord we felt we had to make sure this was ok. We knew they were open to it because they do upward with us. They wanted him to go to camp with Brayden. They know we are very involved in church. So, I texted the mom and just said hey Brayden wants to do this for J. And she said that was fine. Phew. That was an answer to prayer. Well, Brayden gave it to J and all was good. And then camp came. Off to camp they went ready to enjoy there week. I picked the boys up the first day and Brayden jumps off the bus. "Mom, J asked Jesus into his heart". What?? I gave him a big hug and was so thrilled. I hugged J and told him I was so happy for him. He asked if he could come to church with us and I was absoultly buddy. Later I asked Brayden more details. He said that after bible time they were putting there bibles away and he asked J what he thought and he said that he thought he would like Jesus in his heart. And so Brayden prayed with him and then wasn't sure if it worked so he told J to pray again. That was last week and the parents LOVED camp night and I have seen mom a few more times since then. They haven't been able to come to church yet and we are gone the next few weeks. But we are praying that they will come and that they will also learn to know the Lord. But Brayden keeps talking about how excited and happy he is to know his friend will be in heaven with him. Next, I will have to tell about how my sister thinks Brayden will end up over where she is and what he told me last night.

My Sweet kids

Brayden at Camp

Riley

Sometimes

Sometimes I wonder why I try. Sometimes I wonder what I am good at. Tonight I tried making cake pops. Everything I have seen and read said they are easy. Well they aren't. So, I am at home here pouting and reminding myself about my inability to do crafty new things. And while I was cleaning up my big mess I prayed. God, what am I good at? What is my skill? The only thing I came up with is I am good at loving and taking care of my family. Most of the time. The times I don't do such a good job are when I am grumpy from trying a new project. So, tonight I go to bed happy. Even though my stuff didn't turn out. I know my kids will think it was great I tried and they will love me and celebrate the 4th with friends and my wonderful family. Happy Birthday America.

I have been trying some knew things. I always get excited about a new project. Now a reminder to myself. I am not good at it. Crafty projects. I LOVE pintrest. However, I am not good at it. I love all the ideas, but I am not going to go buy the clothes I like, I am not going to make the stuff I see. I will however make some of the yummy recipes. I love that as I get older I can be okay with it. I don't have to decorate like anyone else. It is okay that I don't like stuff. I like the simple clean lines of my house. I love that for the most part it is clean. I love that because I don't have a lot of hobbies (and the stuff that comes with that) I play with my kids, hang outside and chill with my husband in the evening. I love that about myself. So I will probably keep on doing pintrest and be completely okay with the fact that I am a simple person who is who she is. I also need to post pictures soon.

Feeling Challenged

I have been reading a blog called "Hands Free Mama" I am loving it. I don't feel like I am overly absorbed with my Iphone or my computer. I LOVE being away from them and have my phone on me more for security of being able to be gotten ahold of when the kids are in school. I do love texting. Even as I sit here writing this I hear my phone going off in the other room. I love that I don't have to respond right away. I love that if I am busy or don't know the answer I don't have to right now. My husband does tease me about taking the time to phone. It is just that I feel like it takes more time to call than to just text. However, after reading this blog I am challenged to put my phone down. Leave it in the house when we are outside playing. (When I have both kids with me) And just enjoy. Really connect. I don't do all the things that they say on the list but I for sure want to engage and connect more. I adore my kids and just don't want to miss anything. They are growing far to fast.

Favorite Child

I have heard several times that every mother secretly has a favorite child. At first I was thinking that is crazy! The more I have thought about it though, I agree. I do have a favorite child. It is the one who isn't throwing a fit at that moment. Who is obeying. Who comes up and cuddles. Who is kind to someone new at school. Who is running crazy through the house crazy like. The one who is sensitive because someone was mistreated. So yes you may have figured it out. Both of my kids are my favorite. It is because they are different and have qualities that are different and make them individuals and so very precious.

God can change you 2

I have to give you a warning. One thing that happens when you open your heart to the Holy Spirit to come in and work through you. Well, you may get put into uncomfortable situations. Ones that aren't always in your "Spiritual Gifts" column. This has happened to me lately. So, the neighbor boy is good and all that. And my husband and I are really called to a group of non christians. Not totally sure how it all happened it just did. It started out (however) and we really gravitated to the 3 couples in the group who had kids. They were close in age to ours and they all played well together. Well the one lady whom I felt I knew the least. Her son is younger and they live out in Turner, where as the rest of us are west siders. Her and her husband came to the birthday dinner my hubby set up for me. Well, she plops herself right next to me and proceeds to tell me that she went to church on Sunday. I mentally made note not to let my jaw drop. And she was telling me that the pastor challenged them to choose a word for the year. She chose learn. She has one other friend that was a Christian, however, she had decided to become jewish and since that just didn't seem very solid to just switch that way. Well, she asked if I would mentor her and help her understand it all better. Yep thats right HOLY COW. If you know me, that isn't me. My spiritual gifts are not teaching, leading any of that. Now if you need me to encourage you, have faith or show hospitality. I am all over it. Needless to say I am freaking out and yet so excited that God feels like I can do this. We have invited one of the other ladies to join. Not sure if she will yet or not. Her husband has been asking mine questions and they do upward with us. But, since all that I feel like satan may be attacking her. Just strange things she is doing. So, I am praying harder for them and their marriage. So again I give you a warning be careful what you pray. And yet be ready for the ride of your life that God will lead you on.

God can change you!

God sometimes puts you in places or situations you didn't ask for and if you are willing he can use that for his glory. Last year I took two additional neighbor boys to school. Not a big deal. They were on time and easy. But they were off to middle school and so I was excited to have it just be my son. However, that was not to be. Right before the school year started our neighbor came down and asked if I would be willing to take his son to school and pick up. Here is a little background on our neighbor. First, they are nice and all and have been through so much. But, the little boy is rowdy, wild, and had no supervision. His mother had died before he turned 5. He lives at Great Grandmas house. With Grandma, dad, uncle, sister (17) and Brother (16) and himself. Needless to say he was at our house a lot and sometimes just wore me out. But, it is someone to play with and like Jim said. Would you rather not have a kid for our kids to play with? I know, at least they were always at our home and I could supervise. So, I begrudgingly said yes I would take him to school. Well, every morning I would pray for patience and that I would grow to care for him. I was encouraged by the people who told me good job. He needs this and my husband telling me I was becoming like a mother to him. Another neighbor saying they could tell he was with me a lot because he was getting Sparkman manners. (I expect my kids to have good manners) I started kind of side hugging him when he would come out after school. He started leaning in. He has started being even more respectful in the mornings and he LOVES good news club after school. So much that his grandma called and asked if he could go to church with us. Now you must know. I was still praying about him but I have grown to LOVE him!! I don't worry now about dropping him off after school if I have stuff to do. I just bring him with me. So of course I told his grandma YES he is more than welcome to come with us. The kids were estatic. They couldn't wait for Sunday. However, that first week was not to be. They overslept. That was okay. My kids cried and we prayed he would be able to come after Christmas since we were going to be gone. Well, last week I had to go to the church after school on Wednesday to set up coffee for my mom's group and so I took him with me. His grandma asked for the churches address so that maybe they could come. We got there and he loved it. Again we weren't doing anything amazing. There was no programs or anything. But he asked several times if he could come back with me. I said of course. Just come down Sunday morning. Well, he didn't come but I saw his dad and grandma getting in the car and figured they had something to do. Well, they did. They ALL came to church. They didn't stay for Sunday school so we are going to see if he can stay late with us but they all came. I am so feeling loved by the Lord in all this. That yes he can for sure use me where I am and how I am loving on the kids in my life. Jim and I have always said 2 kids was for us and we wanted to be open to having kids in our home that need us. I just didn't think it would be happening when ours were so young. So excited about his leading. I will post another one on some other things he is doing. :)

Another sad thing of Divorce

Our kids are growing up in an age where divorce is so "normal". I hear my kids playing it, they tell me when they get their new mommy or daddy. It breaks my heart. I explain to them that that won't happen to mommy and daddy. It is so sad to hear of separations and divorces of friends and people we know from church. It is so hard to here how they must have let their focus come off God. I know marriage takes a lot of work but it is so worth it. Now I know there are some situations where it is a must and it is safer for all involved.
So, I pray for our kids and that they realize how sad divorce is and that they should be so thankful that we have no plans for divorce. Today I think it actually sunk in to Riley how sad it is. I clean a new house where the dad was married before and his daughter from that marriage comes only a couple days a week and then he is remarried and has a son.
So as we are driving there and I am explaining who lives in the house. I left out the daughter. And she asked if they had a girl. I went into the divorce and remarriage and how there is a girl just not all the time. She got quiet and then she said, so she doesn't get to see her daddy everyday. I said no. Isn't that sad? She said yes that is really sad. Made me glad that she got it and yet sad that we even had to have that talk. And so happy that she loves her daddy SO MUCH she can't imagine not seeing him every day.