Yesterday... good or bad... our nation, as well as ourselves as individuals... witnessed, & were a part of history... history that many citizens felt they would never experience. Barack H. Obama was inaugurated as the 44th President of the United States... also the first African-american president.
I could definitely sit here & speculate, criticize, voice my own personal concerns or worries... but today as we watched the events unfold live on television... my son was paying particularly close attention at times. We try to never plant negative opinions in the kids' minds, because to me, belittling or bad-mouthing ANYONE or ANYTHING sometimes makes us, as adults, look foolish in the eyes of the child. Through others, I've learned that my kids have a very good head on their shoulders... & have had enough disappointment in their lives that would rock the average adult to the core.
Anyway... a friend (of the kids) made the comment that "A black man shouldn't be our president." Jackson took offense immediately. Now keep in mind, this wasn't exactly our choice for the presidency... nothing at all to do with race, but political issues & viewpoints... but it is what it is, & we, as a family have spent alot of time discussing it & praying for our newly elected leaders.
We cling to the fact that "NO MATTER WHO WON... GOD IS STILL GOD." God doesn't make mistakes & mess things up.... we, as humans, do a good job of that ourselves.... & no matter how far we try to push him out of the equation that IS 'One nation under God', He's a gracious & merciful God who is right there when we run to Him for help.
Yesterday... Jackson's little 10 yr. old heart spoke volumes when he said "Mom, he COULD be a good president, especially if we keep praying for him... I think we should just give him achance." What could I, or anyone, say to that!? I just hugged his big teddy-bear self & said "You're right Jax... we SHOULD give him a chance... & we will." No matter the circumstance, whether personal or as big as a nation... God simply tells us to trust Him. It's simple childlike understanding... not rocket science~
Matthew 18: 3 & 4 tells us: 3)And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4)Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Merry Christmas... Happy New Year... & everything else I've missed~!
It's been FAR TOO LONG since I've updated here... & one of my NYResolutions is to blog regularly again. It's already the middle of January... I KNOW (no better time than the present, right?) I've had so many friends visit Disney World this year... as a matter of fact, I have one returning home today & another leaving today... not to mention the many that went during the summer & autumn months~
SO much has gone on since I've posted here... including the births of a new nephew (Tate) & niece (Ella)..... two beautiful blessings.
There are also some health issues in the grand scheme of things, but this post isn't about any of that.... it's about wishing Heidi & her family a WONDERFUL time at Disney~!
Visit Heidi's blog for lots of fun "Disney Stuff"...
I hope you're all having a great new year so far... & keeping warm. So far, it's not been bad at all down here in Texas...(but winter's not over yet, right?)
..... well, funny in a ridiculous kind of way. We're getting ready to leave in the morning for San Antonio, Texas. Hubby has a business conference there... so we'll be there thru Sunday. I'm not particularly looking forward to the 8-9 hour drive... but AM looking forward to seeing & visiting with my BFF from high school, Lisa. I've not seen her since my Jeremey's funeral. I'm anxious to see her & her hubby, as he's been diagnosed with MS in the last couple of years. As it turns out, she works for Schlitterbahn Water Parks. Not sure exactly what she does, but I know she doesn't sell tickets or work in the snack shack. She's an artist... so I'm thinking it's something to do with art director/ marketing.... something along those lines. (I'll let you know for sure when we get back). All I know, is she's offered her office for me to cool off while we're there.
OK... so anyway, I was packing earlier... getting things together. I was down to my bag that carries my toiletries, make-up, & such. As it turns out, EVERY TIME we go anywhere that requires strenuous packing (lol) , I find myself cleaning out ALL my make-up & skin care products. So today I was going thru... & I have enough make-up... LIP GLOSS... to support a small family in some very foreign land. Keep in mind, I worked for Lancome back when Kennedy was born... & still have TONS of stuff, some still in packaging, & as I was going through it all... I actually found myself thinking 'keep'....'trash'....'oh, I need to keep this'.... 'trash'...etc. OK... WHY would I keep ANY of it!?!?! Sure, it's fun to look at, fun to use, fun to just HAVE... but I NEED NONE OF IT! Let me just tell ya... not only did I throw it ALL away.... but I also threw away the bag it was in! Why do I think I'll use some makeup I've YET to use.... but I think I'll use it on this jam-packed whirlwind of a trip we're taking?!?? Kennedy's 11 yrs. old... I quit working when she was FIVE MONTHS OLD~!!! You do the math.
You know, after my "What- the- Heck?" moment, I thought about my own life. The life deep inside... that no one gets to know about but me. How much am I holding on to that God just wants me to LET GO of? How much easier could my life be if I 'cleaned out all the clutter'? "Re-decorated", so to speak.... that's what I think I'll do... & see how much wasted space I clear out.
His birthday was actually earlier this week... & his party is next weekend... I guess you could say we like to drag out our celebrations. The kids are gone this weekend... to Pappy & Gran's lake house... but Kevin & I were talking about them last night. Talking about how much they've grown just since he's been here. Jax is now 10 yrs. old... but about 2 years ago, he & Kevin had gone to Super WalMart. Jax had gotten a new cowboy hat, so naturally, he wanted to ride the horse in front of the store. Well, Kevin just tried to wiggle out of a "looming predicament" he was certain Jax was getting himself into. As they were approaching checkout, they ran into my brother & his wife... OMGosh, this is perfect!! Uncle Clint's here!! So of course, the next thing from his mouth was "Clint, ya'll watch me ride the horse!" So Kevin reluctantly gave the money he needed... & off he went... smiling, looking back to make sure 'they' were watching. Ok, keep in mind, these animals you ride at the front of ANY store... are for SMALL children... like, 2, 3, 4,... maybe 5 or 6 yrs. old- TOPS. Here's Jax, 8 yrs. old... almost 9... & big for his age as it is... wanting to ride this horse. Kevin said as soon as he climbed onto the 'saddle', the look on his face made it certain that this wasn't 'as he remembered'... well, by this time, he was "committed" to not only ride this electric beast... but to enjoy it. You know the feeling... when you've played something up so much in your head, it's just a given that you'll ENJOY IT! Ok, so... after a completely humiliated glance back toward Kevin, he put his money in to start his 'joy ride'. OH. MY. GOSH... Kevin said it was as if he were moving in slowwww motion... the thing was barely moving, however, it made the loud rumbling sound that it WAS, in fact, 'running'. To top it all off... by this time, Kevin, Clint, & Shannon weren't the only ones watching. After what seemed like F-O-R-E-V-E-R... it was over. The ride was over, Jax climbed down... & in his own little "Jackson fashion", managed to wave his hat & take a dramatic bow. (Kevin says that's just proof that I gave birth to him)... By the time they got home... he'd been mulling the reality of what had gone on at WM that night. When he walked in the door, he was holding his hat in his hand... no smile, no happiness from earlier... just a sad "Hi Mom..." ... I said "Hi! How was WalMart?" ... he said "Not good...I rode the horse like I wanted, but I'm not a little kid anymore." OMGosh... THAT broke my 'mommy heart' into a million pieces. How terrible I felt that what started out to be a fun time, actually turned out to be a harsh reality he was forced to accept.
You know... many times in our 'grown-up' lives, we may want something sooo bad... but our Father says "Not now... just trust me... this isn't what's best for you." ... BUT, we continue to ask, beg, whine... & finally, it's as if God let's us have our own way... knowing it isn't going to turn out as we think it will, but because we can't just take "No" for an answer... He chooses to let us have our way... & see for ourselves... inevitably forced to accept the harsh reality that we were WRONG! "His ways are not our ways..." yet His way is always the BEST way~!!
No Jax, you're not a little kid anymore... you're 10 yrs. old now... & because of that, we celebrate YOU~!
May. 6, 2008
Celebrating an Anniversary... & Friendships~
"An encouraging friend is a lifeline to steady a floundering heart, to bring sunshine to a cloudy day, and to deliver a blessing just looking for a place to land." --- Susan Duke
My sweet friend, Charity, is hosting a contest on her blog. The contest is a celebration... a celebration marking her one-year anniversary of blogging here at HSB... & a celebration of FRIENDSHIP. The contest will run from April 29th- May 29th. All you have to do to enter is visit her blog... & tell her about the person you have had as your OLDEST/LONGEST friend – tell her how long you have been friends, when and where you became friends, and why that friendship is valued by you.
On MAY 29th – She will pick & announce the winner.... and send a FRIENDSHIP PACKAGE for you to enjoy –The package will be filled with:a prim stitching about friendship, a book on friendship, a gift card to FRIENDLY’s and a few other surprises for you to discover when you receive the FRIENDSHIP PACKAGE~
Be sure and let all your 'bloggy friends' know about the contest. Who knows, it may even rekindle a beautiful friendship......
"Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in it's various forms." 1 Peter 4:10
"Christians and the Christian worldview were crucial to the formation of the early sciences.... If science, technology, and medical advances are examples of God's grace to us when they are used properly, then those who brought them into being should be credited for them....."
I'll be completely honest here. When I found out that this book review was to be written on a book about SCIENCE, of all things... I was immediately daunted. I wasn't enthused in the least. Science has never been my favorite, & I hate to admit that, as I'm a 'homeschool mom'. My kids LOVE it... & we have lots of fun with it... but for me to sit down & read a book about SCIENTISTS, (on purpose)... was completely out of the question.
Well... I stand humbly corrected. I LOVED THIS BOOK! OMGosh... who knew!? To me, Christianity & science never really "fit" together... until now.
It was good from the very beginning... the introduction. (Be sure & read the INTRODUCTION!) This book tells the stories of the lives and works of 48 men who were diligent in "interpreting nature", while demonstrating humility & faith in worshipping nature's Creator.
Each biography is short. Easy to read, easy to understand, and are written in terms that people of all ages can enjoy and appreciate. I found my husband reading through it a few times (he loves science)... AND my 9 year old son was even reading it... giving me his thoughts! It's the perfect addition to the "homeschooler's library." My kids will definitely read it thru the years, as it's very much a timeless read. Very insighful... very positive look on the hows & whys of Creation.....the way the Creator meant for it to be understood.
Needless to say, I am now almost a scientist! No, I'm kidding... but what I DO know, is this little paperback book completely reversed the way I look at science now. I honestly recommend this book to EVERYONE! Two enthusiastic thumbs-up!
I'd like to say "Thank you" to Kregel Publications for the opportunity to read & review this fantastic book.
If I'd not already marked in mine, I'd have a little contest here for you guys & give it away... but you can find it here or here. It's absolutely worth it. If you do decide to purchase, please let me know what YOU think about it. or ?
Once again... my blog has been put on "HOLD". I HATE when it gets this far "past due"... Grrrrrr... Not sure what's been going on... my excuse last week was that we were "getting back on track from Kevin's parents' visit." ... this week, not sure what my excuse could be. I do have a book review coming up... & another 'contest'... so I'll HAVE to post. "Forced-Posting" is better than NO POSTING, I guess.
The remodel has officially physically begun. As I type, my head's ringing with every bang of the hammer... ... ('precious hubby')...
Even more than I need to catch up on my blogging... I need to catch up with all my "Bloggy-Friends"... & plan to do so this week.
After a beautiful weekend... we're about to get MORE STORMS! Goodness. However, the weekend promises to be GORGEOUS again!
We've been busy. Kevin's parents are coming to visit (from Nevada). They'll be here April 13-19. We're so excited. Kennedy is fighting a horrible cough/cold thingy... & this morning, Jackson sounds as if he may be getting it, too. That's our first priority, to get them well before 'Memaw & Poppa' get here.
As I'm typing, it has started to rain...no, POUR outside. We have to finish up school, but it'd be soooo nice to find a cozy place to nap. I'm sure the kids would agree, as they both feel rotten today. :( I think Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup would hit the spot for dinner tonight. "Chicken Thoup is Good for Your Thoul." (as Jackson used to say as a toddler). We still say it to this day... just like that. :) (Real intelligent...no?)
I'm not sure if either of them will go to taekwondo (Jax) or art (Kennedy) this evening... we'll see how they feel.
Jackson asked this morning, "Is today the Green Holiday?" Well.... yes Jax.... yes, I suppose it is...lol. I'm not Irish... well, maybe a little (Humphrey)... but mostly Indian ( the native american kind). My great grandmother's name was America & she lived most of her life in a tee-pee. I kid you not. Needless to say, Jackson LOVES studying about the Indians, so getting them interested in anything remotely different (the Irish) has proven to be a bit difficult. SO... the extent of our "celebrating" today, is wearing green, doing a St. Patrick's Day Unit Study, & making pistachio (green) cupcakes with green frosting. I did find some really neat 'fact sheets' online... very interesting. We're enjoying reading thru those. (Believe it or not, Jax IS interested!) I guess it just takes the right materials, & the right 'timing'. Anyone with kids is fully aware... TIMING IS EVERYTHING!
My friendHeidi is having a HUGE SPRING CONTEST over on her blog. Too good to not check it out! I'm so excited it's almost spring!
Heidi's contest prizes include: A magazine subscription to TOS, quite a few books, a puzzle, Math Galaxy software on 2 CD-roms...lots of good stuff! Go over & check it out... & be sure to leave her a message... she'd love to hear from you! :)
OMGoodness... My sweet girl is ELEVEN YEARS OLD today! Thinking back... & looking at the tons of pictures.... makes me wonder, "HOW!?"
However... as I look at her today... listen to her laugh, listen to her talk, listen to her "negotiate" with her brother...lol... & listen as she talks about what she wants to do when she grows up... & hearing what's truly in her heart as sheer compassion pours out. Right now, in her mind, she could fix everything that's wrong in the world... every child who's sick in the hospital, every stray animal that doesn't have a home. Even every kid she sees if she watches SUPER NANNY! "Momma, if those kids loved Jesus & their mom, they wouldn't act like that." ... all said in sheer disgust, yet saddened by the "disrespect".
She's growing into a beautiful young lady. Having to go through what she has, in her short life, she demonstrates the surpassable childlike faith that we're ALL commanded to have.
"Whoever will humble himself therefore and become like this little child [trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving] is greatest in the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18:4 (Amplified Bible)
1 To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven: 2 A time to be born, And a time to die;
A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted; 3 A time to kill, And a time to heal;
A time to break down, And a time to build up;
4 A time to weep, And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn, And a time to dance; 5 A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing; 6 A time to gain, And a time to lose;
A time to keep, And a time to throw away; 7 A time to tear, And a time to sew;
A time to keep silence, And a time to speak; 8 A time to love, And a time to hate;
A time of war, And a time of peace.
In February 2001... on this day... my life changed seasons almost as quick as I could blink an eye. My world, as I knew it, came crashing down all around me. My husband... my kids' daddy... passed away in a tragic car accident. There were no other vehicles involved... but to ME, it was tragic. I'll never forget him leaving that night, for a fun evening with his dad, brothers, even one of my brothers. Then the phone call....hearing my brother on the other end of the line. Complete numbness.... our precious babies (2 & 3 yrs. old) were sleeping peacefully in their beds. It was a little after midnight (12:20am when the call came- to be exact).... As dark as it is at midnight, my world became much darker at that moment. So dark, I couldn't "see my hand in front of my face". In my numbed state... before I talked to anyone else that night, I remember calling out to God.... don't ask me what I said... but it was a plea.... over & over.... "Please let Jeremey live..." , "Please don't leave me, God..."... on & on...
I'll admit, NOTHING made sense in my mind... the biggest fear being "WE HAVE TWO BABIES!!"
Well... it wasn't in His plans for Jeremey to stay here with us. He needed him home with Him. I can honestly say, I've never asked God "Why?". Oh, I've had & asked PLENTY of questions... but never "Why?"... Even now, seven years later, He doesn't give me a chance to even wonder why. He has a plan... a plan for the lives of all who loved Jeremey... but it's only my place to heed His plans for ME.... in obedience. "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. Isaiah 55:8
This verse is never easy to swallow for me. I like to think I can "figure it out" all by myself... but over & over, I'm reminded "It's not for you to figure out, Missy... just obey... & never let go of ME." I know God has to remind me of this DAILY... & in His loving patience, He's never let go of me.... no matter how stubborn I seem.
Do I miss Jeremey? Of course... He's still very much a huge part of our lives. I often wonder what he'd think... about the way I'm raising our kids... about decisions I've made... etc. Is it hard sometimes? Definitely.
But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31
I exchange my weakness for His strength every single day.
Today is a hard day... but it's a day that was handed to me 7 years ago. I refuse to make it a day of mourning & sadness for my kids. There are many times.... nights... with tears, even now, & we work through them together. They have every reason to not be sad, as one day they'll see their Daddy again. But for now, we're here, doing what God has planned for us.
Yes, Jeremey is missed... tremendously... especially as the kids get older. But together, we thrive..... & TRUST.
"I BELIEVE"
(playing now)
Every now and then soft as breath upon my skin
I feel you come back again
And it’s like you haven’t been gone a moment from my side
Like the tears were never cried
Like the hands of time are holding you and me
And with all my heart I’m sure we’re closer than we ever were
I don’t have to hear or see, I’ve got all the proof I need
The pictures of the"Ice Cream Contest" prizes!! Can you believe it? I obviously didn't get close enough in the picture... but it's an ice cream scoop...a Power scoop + water well... put in warm water to help with scooping... plus 12 black & white polka dotted file folders.... & a stand-up photo display. I guess it's kinda hard to see in the pictures, but Ginny & Crystal, you'll be looking at it in person SOON! YAY!!
Thanks to all who "played". I already have a contest in mind for SPRING, & I was going to post pictures of those prizes, but hubby said "NO, NO... let it be a surprise!!" I didn't know it mattered that much to him...lol. Men are all about a competition, I guess.... bless 'em.
OK... be on the lookout for the SPRING CONTEST....
"Lord, help my friend to glimpse the rainbow through the tears, to see your light shining in the darkest night, & to behold your love reflected in me. May your love be with her wherever she goes. Amen"
Love one another deeply, from the heart. 1 Peter 1:22
Happy Valentine's Day!
No matter what your plans include... whether extravagant or super-simple... there's just a certain "feeling" on this day. Things seem "sweeter", happier. I love today... not only is it a special day... but it's a beautiful day out... the sun is shining.... it's a little cool, but supposed to warm up after noon.
I was sent an e-mail earlier, & it asked to name your favorite romantic movie... well in my case, MOVIES... I couldn't pick just one....
My All-Time Favorite Romantic Movies
1. "An Affair To Remember"
2. "Phenomenon"
3. "Pretty Woman"
4. "The Lake House"
That was fun. Actually, I'd forgotten about "Phenomenon" until a friend brought it up last night... I LOVED that movie!! "Some things in life just can't be explained." (I love that)
Leave me a comment & tell me YOUR favorite romantic movie... or movieS~
I'm a bit behind announcing, as Jackson's been sick all week. He's better now... but NOW I can't find the cord to my camera to upload pictures of the prizes. WHO loses a cord?!? It's not lost... it's in a "oh yea, there it is" place. I'll find it. God knows where it is... (I just wish he'd hurry & tell me.)
But for now... these are our winners... & I promise to have pictures here soon. Girls, I'll contact you for your shipping info, or you can e-mail it to me. (Crystal, I may have yours)
HAPPY SATURDAY!!
LOVE-- out loud & on purpose
Blessings... Missy
"The greatest sweetener of human life, is friendship."
Jan. 31, 2008
"Across The Wide River"....My thoughts...
"Freedom. Some take it for granted. Others consider it worth dying for. Lowry Rankin knows all too well the cost of freedom, after all, his family's red brick home is the first stop on the Underground Railroad north of the Ohio River. He's seen friends beaten for the color of their skin. He's watched simple farmers make a difference. He's even risked how own life transporting escaped slaves to the next "station". But will Lowry be able to conquer his greatest fear when he's called to speak out?"
First of all... this book literally "takes" you back to the time the author... Stephanie Reed... so incredibly portrays to the reader.... absolutely amazing. So many emotions are experienced while reading. I was totally enthralled throughout the entire book. It's very humbling to realize how much we DO take our freedom for granted these days. Join Lowry Rankin as a young boy... then follow him into young adulthood as he's faced with serious fears & moral dilemmas concerning his place in the "family business". For me, this story of courage & compassion will not be soon forgotten... as it's carved a place in my own heart, & will definitely be added to my kids' library for when they get a little bit older, & can understand the struggles those before us faced.
I also found it so interesting to see that the author, Stephanie Reed, has a place right here at HSB! (scroll down the page the link takes you to)- Looking over her blog almost physically takes you back in time to where this story actually took place. Thank you, Stephanie!
This book absolutely gets TWO thumbs up from me. (because I only have TWO...lol) A must-read for teens & pre-teens... but adults will enjoy it as well... I know I did!
A special thanks to Kregel Publishing for allowing me to read (experience) this book... & share my thoughts~
Several days ago, my friend Heidi suggested that when you want to post on your blog, but really don't have anything 'insightful' to say or pass along... find a fun quiz to share... so I found this one (& happen to LOVE ice cream)...
Here's what we can do to make it REALLY fun....... If you take the quiz, post it on your blog, OR just come here & leave me a comment, I'll put all of the names that comment in a hat, & draw a winner! (maybe even TWO winners!) I don't know what the prize is yet because it's almost midnight & this idea JUST NOW struck me... BUT, I think I can be trusted to give a pretty good "prize"... (I have a list of references...lol) It'll be fun... & now I'm excited! Ice cream AND prizes... what's better! When I figure out the actual prize(s)... I'll post it here......We'll do the drawing on Monday, Feb. 4.... How fun!
Blessings... Have a great Tuesday!
"Open your mouth & taste, open your eyes & see-- How good God is. Blessed are you who run to Him." Psalm 34:8 (The Message)
You Are Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
You are kind, popular, and generous.
You tend to be successful at anything you try.
A social butterfly, you are great at entertaining a crowd.
You are most compatible with strawberry ice cream.
My blog seems to be suffering severe neglect for some reason. I think it's because it's a new year... we've added a few things to our school studies... & the spring-like weather we've been getting completely throws me off. Ok, do ANY of those sound like a good excuse?? (I didn't think so, either)
Besides changing their Writing courses up a little, we've added full-on Astronomy, & Civics (they LOVE that). I'm SO thankful to be able to homeschool. My kids seem to want to "learn it all"... RIGHT NOW! The reasoning behind "it's not on your grade level yet" doesn't phase them in the least.... & for that, I'm truly grateful. At times, it can be daunting... slightly overwhelming... but at the end of the day, I'm aware of, & at complete peace with, what those two little sponges of mine "soaked up."
My sweet aunt sent this to me today in my e-mail. There are so many lists for this, that, or whatever... mostly speculations that stem from worldly opinions. It's good to see a 'list' that's literal... never failing... a constant source of comfort in our lives.
TOP TEN PREDICTIONS FOR 2008
1. The Bible will still have all the answers. 2. Prayer will still work. 3. The Holy Spirit will still move. 4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people. 5. There will still be God-anointed preaching. 6. There will still be singing of praise to God. 7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people. 8. There will still be room at the Cross. 9. Jesus will still love you. 10. Jesus will still save the lost.
Here we are... the last day of yet another year... seems impossible. As we look to the future, we may wonder, Could this be the year of Christ's return? If so, we will experience for the first time what it feels like to be pure & blameless. You will see your loved one walk without a limp. You will witness the stroke survivor walk without his cane. You will know family members & friends as God intended them to be all along, their best attributes shining brightly, & their worst traits gone with the wind. No confused thoughts, no mental illness, no Alzheimer's disease.
You will see what lessons the angels & demons learned about God from observing Him at work in you or a family member as you struggled thru different trials & sufferings in your life. You will stand amazed at how your perseverence thru pain sent repercussions rumbling thru the lives of people you never knew were watching. You will be awestruck to see how your endurance thru hardship forced others you hardly even knew to make tough decisions about God & suffering.
HOW AMAZING WILL THAT BE!?
No matter what our tomorrows hold... we must continue to press on... hold fast to Him who holds our future. Every tear will be wiped away. Let this fact encourage you for the weeks & months ahead. Commit to deepen your walk with Jesus Christ in the new year, preserving for yourself "an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you." (1 Peter 1:4)
My sweet girl. The last thing I remember, is her getting ready for her bubblebath, coming into the living area where I was, wrapped in a towel, & hearing, "Mom, how old do I have to be before I shave??" Me: "What are you going to shave, honey?" Her: "I dunno!" Me: "Then you're not old enough." Fast-forward a day... last night, my neice Hannah, wanted to take some pictures of her... with her new haircut (that already needs trimmed)... So they did the hairstyling thing... Hannah took some pictures... & I STILL didn't notice! Only when she walked right up to my face... did I notice... if you'll take a good look at her eyebrows... the one on your left.... you'll see that she was only asking me about shaving as a "reference".... maybe....??? She took the "You're not old enough." as a suggestion... not a "Because-Mom-said-so" command. OMGosh, I have to admit, I laughed so hard... I just couldn't help it.... I mean, really, WHADDYA DO at this point!? She did NOT love us laughing at/with her. So I had to tell her about a time when Mommy did something crazy (stupid) like that when she was young... & yes, it had to do with my eyebrows. I explained to her how there are ways to take care of her eyebrows.... & they don't include a razor. I didn't go into the fact that those ways DO include skin-ripping-hot-wax & a strip of cloth, & for about 10 seconds after the removal of the fabric, wax, & undesired brow, you see green and yellow spots... & can't take deep breaths. No, I didn't go into such detail... although, she's seen me have it done a few times. I even went as far as to tell her to never ever try to "trim" her eyelashes... NEVER. She has the prettiest eyelashes. My mom (her Nanny) has always said they look like fur... when you're closer, you can really tell. My little girl.... just "trying something new"... lol. It could've been worse, I know. This is her first experiment (besides the hair she cut when she was much younger)... & I'm sure it won't be her last. Bottom line: She's growing up... & it KILLS ME! Every day... I think to myself, "Cherish every moment..." Try as I might, they won't last forever... Kennedy's eyebrow will undoubtedly grow back... but the way I "handled it", will forever last in her little mind.
It is the sweet, simple things of life, which are the real ones after all. ----Laura Ingalls Wilder
Not sure if she's checking out her new shirt from Nanny (their shopping trip)... her lipgloss... her hair... or her eyebrows.... this was still before I knew...
Today... was an interesting day. Well, it definitely started off interesting. "Katie", our kitty, had an appointment to be spayed & de-clawed this morning. SO... Kevin took her in on his way to work. They checked her in... told Kevin we could pick her up in the morning... he loved on her... said his 'goodbyes'... assured her we'd be back tomorrow... & was on his way... out of town, actually, to work. He said about 30 minutes after he left, his phone rang. It was the vet. As it turns out... Katie... ISN'T FEMALE!!! OMGosh... he thought that was just THE funniest thing! He called me... laughing so hard. In reality, we never did check to see if it was M or F. When Kennedy found HIM in the fence on my parents' land, HE had on a pink collar... so I guess we just assumed it was a girl. I don't know how to tell...on a cat. Kevin does, but we never even thought about it really. Well, NOW WE KNOW! NEVER ASSUME! I told the kids.... they laughed so hard.... I was laughing at THEM... they're so funny. SO, we decided we need to keep the name close to what it is since HE knows & responds to his name so well. Kennedy wants Kaden... Jackson wants Kasey... we've not decided. We're just ready for him to be home. He'll need extra TLC after being neutered AND de-clawed (ouch).
A few of my friends on the message board I'm a part of, said the very same thing has happened to them, & that it's more common than we know. It's still a weird feeling to me...lol. We love him so much.... & thinking about some of his "ways"... yes, being male 'fits' him. He sleeps on top of Cocoa's (guinea pig) cage when she's here in the living area with us... as if he's protecting her. Very sweet.
No matter what... He's a "gift" we've been blessed with... a MALE gift... & we love him.
If you've read or listened to NOTHING else on my blog... you MUST listen to this clip. It's a 12 yr. old boy named Logan... calling in to a christian radio station. It isn't a long conversation, but this 12 yr. old boy seems wise beyond his years..... AMAZING! So many times, I receive things in my email, & I just automatically delete it... sometimes out of frustration from receiving the same thing over & over... sometimes because I just don't want to take the time to read it... but today, something told me to open this one... & I'm so glad I did.
You know, as Christmas gets closer, I can't help but think of things I miss... those I've lost. I never really ask God "Why"... but I'll admit, I sometimes wonder "What if...". "What IF Jeremey was here for Christmas to see the kids open their gifts.... hear them read Christmas stories, & take part in all the memories we've made & will make."... "What IF he could see how big they've gotten."... "What IF I had more time, if only a day, with him." .... I've learned that you can "What if" yourself into a frenzy... & I choose not to do that very often. Sometimes it just happens, & it's those times I'm reminded that God had a plan then.... & He has a plan now. A perfectly orchestrated plan... & none of my "What if"s have a part in the presentation.... & He's NEVER asked my help in editing the script.
It will always be fun to buy a new box of crayons, catch a snowflake on your tongue, & try on a pair of high-heeled shoes.......
Completely random thoughts about our little corner of the homeschool world...
Jackson took offense immediately. Now keep in mind, this wasn't exactly our choice for the presidency... nothing at all to do with race, but political issues & viewpoints... but it is what it is, & we, as a family have spent alot of time discussing it & praying for our newly elected leaders.
God doesn't make mistakes & mess things up.... we, as humans, do a good job of that ourselves.... & no matter how far we try to push him out of the equation that IS 'One nation under God', He's a gracious & merciful God who is right there when we run to Him for help.
I hope you're all having a great new year so far... & keeping warm. So far, it's not been bad at all down here in Texas...(but winter's not over yet, right?) 
By the time they got home... he'd been mulling the reality of what had gone on at WM that night. When he walked in the door, he was holding his hat in his hand... no smile, no happiness from earlier... just a sad "Hi Mom..." ... I said "Hi! How was WalMart?" ... he said "Not good...I rode the horse like I wanted, but I'm not a little kid anymore." 
OMGosh... THAT broke my 'mommy heart' into a million pieces. How terrible I felt that what started out to be a fun time, actually turned out to be a harsh reality he was forced to accept. 
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Have a great weekend!
The kids... today (WHERE did 7 years go?)
"Friendship is a sweet responsibility."
Every day... I think to myself, "Cherish every moment..." Try as I might, they won't last forever... Kennedy's eyebrow will undoubtedly grow back... but the way I "handled it", will forever last in her little mind. 
