Teenagers

My oldest is only 9, but I think that is the word I fear most, TEENAGER. I was a crazy teen. I did not do as I was told, and I hope that payback stops. I was a breech baby, and caused my mom severe pain. So, guess what? My first child...42 hours of labor. Everything I ever was when I was little, my children are. And everything that I did, they are doing. So I am hoping this will stop soon, because I really do not want them to do what I did. I hope that through it, and with the Lord's help, I will be able to talk to them about the bad things out there. And there are so many more "BAD" things now than there was when I was their age. So, how do you do it? How do you make sure you are teaching them the things they REALLY need to know?

My oldest son is really liking girls these days, and it scares me. Not that he likes girls, but I know we are going to have to do more talking to him. And what is he going to get and what is he ready for at his age. However, I was reading a friend's blog, and there was a link to another blog I just happened to check out. It is called No Question Left Behind, found here and it is REALLY good. It is teens answering questions. Some posed by other teens, and some by parents of teens. I was reading the one about dating and it was GREAT!!! It was talking about not casual dating. It was a great article. You should really read it, because it makes a lot of sense, and gives you some info to give great info to your child.

I know that all parents want the best for their children, but do they do as we say, or do as WE do. I know that when I hear my almost 3 YO daughter say NOW to her brothers, that maybe I say that too much. I think some times our children put US in check. I know when I see my child do something or say something and it is like looking in the mirror, that I need to do better. What am I showing my children. Am I doing the right things, because that is what they are doing. I think my most of my words go in one ear and out the other. But I need to walk the walk, if I am going to talk the talk. So, I challenge all Mom's to really see what your children are doing, and make sure you do as you say too. I know that we are the ones to give the directions, and be the supervisors over our children. But I am talking about walking the walk with God, and letting them know what walk you want them to do. So, walk and talk with your children every day, and make sure that walk is with God, and I think that all of you will do GREAT!!! Stay safe and blessed!!

Bugs and Spiders and Snakes...OH MY!!!

Well, I just cannot say how much we LOVE the farm, and the Outdoor adventures we get to have. Today was cold, and seemed miserable. But we had SOOO much fun!!! I was SO proud of my oldest son. He heard the older group leader say that they were going in a cistern, and looking for spiders and snakes. Well, I said that that sounded like the last thing on earth that I would EVER want to do. First, I am claustrophobic, so going down into a concrete hole in the ground makes my skin crawl. Then the thought of such a hole being filled with snakes and spiders, makes me want to PUKE!!! It conjures up images of Indiana Jones going down into the pit of snakes. I was really surprised that he would want to go on this adventure. His best buds were not there today to go on the younger kids adventure, so he really wanted to be a big kid. I warned him, because he is usually not so willing to go on an adventure laden with snakes or spiders. So, he went with the older kids, and I went with the little kids.

My baby girl was THE muddiest and dirtiest kid out there, as usual. My little boy had such a good time, and he is so much braver with his gloves on. He is willing to pick up anything as long as he does not have to have it on his skin. He held a Daddy long leg spider, and he loved it. He also picked up a Wolf spider. The kids had so much fun with some nets. Of course, he got the net as muddy and wet as he could, and then placed it over his sister's head. Of course, her head was covered in muddy water and leaves. We saw lots of cool things, and had so much fun!!

When we got back to the house, and the older group was still at the cistern. So, I took the other two over to see what they were doing. And found that the oldest had in deed gone down into the cistern, and had held a snake. WHAT!!!! Is this my child!! Holding snakes, and going down holes!! Who took my child and replaced him with this brave boy? I could not believe this timid little boy was the same one that I took to the farm. I am so proud of him. He has been struggling lately, missing his dad, and trying to find his place. He wants so bad to be a big kid, but still so unsure of himself. As with all my children, I love him with all my heart. And it has been really rough the past week or so. But he was so strong and brave today out there with things he did not know he had within. Then the other two also held the snakes. YUCK!!! What was going on here? I felt like I was in an episode of the Twilight Zone. Someone had come and snuck in and replaced my children with children that are brave, and want to hold snakes. What have I taught them? LOL It makes me laugh.

Then to top it all off, the oldest BEGGED for a pet snake. Of course, I said no. Then we walked down the hill to the craw dad traps. There were none in them, but one had some fish in it. Some Blue Gills, which the middle child BEGGED to have as a pet. So, he instead finds a grub, takes it home, and while holding it, it bit him. We, of course, got rid of it. It hurt but did not even break the skin. The grub was the weirdest thing ever. It fell out of the can we had it in, and was on the floor. So, he was afraid that it might bite him again, so I had to help him find it and get rid of it. The grub was on it's back crawling around on the floor, on it's back (I say it twice because it was so freaky.) I have never liked grubs. They, like snakes and spiders, CREEP me out!!!

I just cannot express how much fun the farm is, and how much fun we have when we are there. I grew up on a HUGE farm, and played everyday with WILD abandon. When I got older, I hated the fact that I had chores to do, and resented the farm. But now I long for a big place to call home, and somewhere that my children can run wild, and have fun. But we have a great home, and lots of love, and that is enough. If you ever have a chance to be out in nature, run and play with WILD abandon. You may never realize how much it means to your children!!! Stay safe, and blessed.

TIME

Well I guess that says it all. My nephews just turned 20 and 13. WOW!!! And my baby will be 3 in a couple of weeks. My friends baby is 1 today. So, time is really on my mind lately. It seems no matter what I do, I can never complete everything in a day. Why do we try so hard to cram as much as we can in one day? 24 hours used to seem like a reasonable amount of time. Now, it seems like someone took a few hours out of it, and has never given them back to me. Where did they hide them? REALLY, where did they go? I know you all feel it too. Can we get together and demand someone give them back? Well, as much as that makes me laugh, I really do need more hours in my day.

But how do you spend your day? Do you get up bright eyed and bushy tailed? Or do you drrraaaaggggg your hiney out of bed and struggle to get to that first task? I, most of the time, am in the middle of those roads. I sometimes would rather stay in my nice, warm, comfy bed, but I know that much must be done. And my kids are eventually going to come find me. My friend wrote on her blog that she was hiding under the desk, but they found her. I laughed so hard when I read that. I feel like doing that sometimes. Just pulling the covers up and not saying anything when they come to look for me. But then my mind goes a little crazy and I picture all of the things my kids are getting into. Sometimes they decide to make their own breakfast, and sometimes it isn't pretty. One day my oldest son brought me breakfast in bed. It was the sweetest thing in the world. HOWEVER, he LOVES peanut butter sandwiches, so guess what he made me? You guessed is, a PB sandwich, and a glass of milk. It was on the heel of bread, and had so little peanut butter on it that it made it so dry. Needless to say, I ate it. I love my children, and just to think of me like that made me so happy.

Well, we have to get ready to go to the farm, and see if we can find some bugs and fun things to come home with. We have to bundle up because it is cold outside, and breezy. Boots are a must, because it rained all day yesterday. So mud, LOOK OUT, here we come!!! Stay safe and blessed.

Past, Present, and Future

So, we all have a past, present and future. Should we judge someone on their past alone? No, absolutely NOT!! UNLESS, they have not changed from that past. I have done some things in my past that I would not want ANYONE to judge me on. I think all of us have a right to escape our past, as long as it is your PAST, and not still in your present!! If you have done questionable things while you were young and dumb, then you find your way, and repent, and ask forgiveness, then you are forgiven. Forget it!! Let it go!! But if you, for 20 years, do the same thing, and then associate yourself with questionable people, you should still be judged on what you are currently doing, and have done. I do think that everyone should be given a second chance, and wipe their slate clean.





So, when you look at people do you judge them on what you hear, or what they do? I would like to be judged on what I am doing right now. I am now a Mom, a wife, and above all a Christian. I want to be judged on those things, not what I did when I was in my early 20's. And you know who gives me that chance? Jesus!!! I can never thank Him enough!! I can know that my past does not make a difference. I have been saved, and I will be forgiven each time I ask. And I try not to do those things again that is what repentance is. NOT doing the things in our past that harm us and others. NOT associating with the people that might lead us down the wrong path. I would not hang out with people that do things that I do not believe in. I would not hang out with people that were liars, thieves, and adulterers. And I will try my hardest to teach my children to find the right people in their lives.



I just want to say that I think that I have found the greatest friends and people in my life now, and want to thank them for being there, and being the wonderful friends that they are. Stay safe and blessed!!

Does Absence Make the Heart Grow Fonder?

Well, my dear hubby left today to go to a class for 4 weeks. Let me start this by saying we have been married for 12 years, and together for 14. So, with 3 children that love their Daddy with all their hearts, it will be a rough 4 weeks. We have a routine that we go by each day, and when it is time we look for Daddy, and it is fun for all of us when he comes home. Today was sad when the door never opened, and no little feet went running. But you know what? We are so lucky, there are so many families that Daddies and Mommies have been gone for so long at a time. Daddy went to Bahrain when my oldest was 8 months old, and was there for a year. And we have been so lucky that he has only had to go at 4-6 weeks at a time ever since. So, we pray for all of those Mommies and Daddies to be safe and come home to your families. To hold, love and adore your babies.

We are also lucky that we can call every day, and have video calls. So, we will trudge through and do school, and love whole heartedly. We will take care of each other, until our head of household comes home, and takes over again!! We will probably have another Poopa Palooza, and lots of picking on their sister. And I am SOOO sure that we will have lots of FUN. But we will miss Daddy, and we will welcome him home with open arms. Stay safe and blessed!!