I know it's been an eternity since I last posted on here....like 4 years to be exact. But, with all of the social media outlets, blogging just doesn't seem as convenient. However, I decided to do a little project on here to get my thoughts out. So, a week ago I attended a "webinar" at work on stress and how to get rid of it. I am the queen of stress and definitely welcome any suggestions on how to de-stress my life. I took all sorts of notes, but please don't ask me where I put them because lack of organization is another thing that I struggle with. However, there was one suggestion that was given that I didn't forget, which was to write down 3 things that you are thankful for everyday for at least a month (Yeah, I've tried that Facebook game in November where everyone writes something down a day and I totally stink at it).
There is totally some irony in this little project that I am doing. I decided that I was going to start this blog back on June 1st. And this just happened to be the day that we were told that my Mom was diagnosed with lung cancer. I attempted to write my thoughts down on paper, but nope, just couldn't find those things I was thankful for. I've tried multiple times since and just can't seem to find the right words to express. I've not really wanted to talk much about it because it hurts. I know that my Mom is scared and that hurts me. I know that my Mom will be sicker than she has ever been and that hurts me. I am used to my Mom feeling the need to always help me, and now I have the need to want to help her. It doesn't really seem real. It all makes my heart ache. But, there is hope and a happy ending! We have a God that will give her strength when she doesn't think she can go any further; a God that will comfort her when she believes that all hope is gone. He is a God that will lay his healing hands on her and make her whole again. I have seen this all first hand and know that our God is almighty and faithful.
So, after many tears have been shed, I have found the words that I have wanted to write for days now. I do know 3 things that I am thankful for today...actually, I know quite more than just the three, but that's not how it is supposed to go! So, here's to the beginning of being "stress free"!
1. I am thankful for a Mommy who has always loved me unconditionally. We may not have always seen eye to eye, but that never stopped her from loving me. I'm the middle child, so I guess that gave me excuses not to always make the best decisions for myself, but my Mom never gave up on me. She would absolutely give me the shirt off of her back (and actually, I think she literally has before).
2. I am thankful for a Daddy who has always given everything of himself to make sure that his family never wanted for anything. He is loving and unselfish and I pray that my boys will grow up to be just like him. My Daddy can be serious when he needs to be, but I love his quirky sense of humor and I love that I have that same trait!
3. I am thankful for a Heavenly Father who has mended my broken pieces time after time after time, His love has never failed me and He has never left me. His love is Omnipotent. He loves me when I am unlovable. He gave the ultimate sacrifice for me! What more can I ask for??
So, my friends, I am asking that you keep my Mom and our family in your prayers. Pray for peace that surpasses all understanding for my Mom.
Much love!
~Amy
Monday, June 6, 2016
Friday, March 23, 2012
Life's Simple Pleasures...
"Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things." ~ Robert Brault
All of our lives are filled with simple pleasures; you know, the little things that bring satisfaction; maybe the things that you aren't anticipating. Whatever they may be, they bring great pleasures. I have taken the liberty to share with you a list of 20 things that bring me "simple pleasures". Feel free to comment and add yours too!!
All of our lives are filled with simple pleasures; you know, the little things that bring satisfaction; maybe the things that you aren't anticipating. Whatever they may be, they bring great pleasures. I have taken the liberty to share with you a list of 20 things that bring me "simple pleasures". Feel free to comment and add yours too!!
- Your child sleeping late on your off day
- Putting on your winter jacket for the first time of the season and finding money you didn't know you had
- Running the yellow light when you are late for work
- Finding the last parking spot
- Hearing a song just at the right moment, that brings back floods of memories
- Seeing lightening bugs on the first Spring night
- Laughing until you cry
- Finding an old photo album with pictures of people who have come and gone in your life
- Noticing that second glance and seeing them smile at you first
- A new hair cut, and someone compliments you on it
- The smell of rain on the hot pavement
- Holding hands with someone you adore or love
- Fresh brewed pot of coffee
- Playing in the rain
- A kiss on the forehead
- Tired, yet refreshing feeling after a workout
- Finding the lost remote for the t.v.
- The smell and feel of fresh sheets on your bed
- Jumping in a pool on a hot summer afternoon
- An unexpected phone call or email from a friend you have been thinking about
Friday, June 3, 2011
Peace comes with time....
Where has time gone? Apparently out the back door with the dish water! Lots of things to reflect on from the past couple of months.....
My oldest baby boy decides he wants to grow up and get his driver's license. I reluctantly agreed, and he managed to do it all by himself without my help or holding his hand. What? How did that happen? I can't believe that I have a child that can actually do something on their own!! Do you know how long it took me to convince him that he didn’t need to sleep in the floor of my bedroom next to my bed, and now he thinks he can be alone in a car driving down the highway?? I cried tears of joy that day, and then I cried tears from fear. Then I called the insurance company and I cried tears of financial pain. I can’t believe that I don’t get that cute little discount for his insurance because he refuses to dress out in P.E. and has managed to fail every semester. Nice, right?!?
I watched my youngest baby boy walk down the halls of the elementary school for the last time. Seriously, where did that time go? How did he just grow up right before my eyes, and I never saw it coming? I met with his speech teacher, along with his primary teacher and the principal the day before he “graduated”. I sat there with the three of them and expressed his apprehensions and concerns about taking speech once he started Middle School, with tears rolling down my face, and they assured me he will be fine. Mrs. Thompson, the speech therapist, begins to read to me the end of the school year evaluation…”John Michael’s likes are baseball, video games and Oreo cookie ice cream.” She made sure I knew that he was very specific about the Oreo cookie ice cream! That’s my boy!! We are stress eaters around my house, and all of that speech stuff seems to stress him out! Lisp or no lisp, I am super proud of him! Who needs to say “She sells seashells down by the seashore” anyways?
If you read any of my previous posts, you know that a beautiful friend of mine was dying of cancer. Unfortunately, I am now living with the fact that I just couldn’t bring myself to see her or even speak to her before she died. I tried, I really did. I was scared that I wouldn’t say the right thing. I was scared that she would want me have the right answers for her questions. Really, I think I was just scared that I would have to face the real fact that she wasn’t going to live. Tracy didn’t want a big shindig when she died, but sorry my friend, it happened! The preacher read a letter that she had written, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the place…not because it was all sad and sappy, but because every word of it was just Tracy and we all had a laugh! She had a great sense of humor and even in her sickness, she showed it. I will forever be grateful for our friendship and will miss her dearly.
And, last, and most definitely not least, we have had the displeasure of Michael losing his job. The dreaded phone call came in to me at work on Tuesday, May 31st at 2:21 pm. It was something that we knew would eventually happen, but not something that you are ever prepared to hear. Michael tells me that he has been laid off, and then tells me not to get myself in a tizzy. Well, that didn’t happen. I sat at my desk, cried like a baby, and wondered how in the world we are going to survive on one income. Michael is at peace with what has happened, and seems to feel like a weight has been lifted off of his shoulders, since the unknown of when this was going to happen is now over. I, on the other hand, am the one that worries. I handle our financial needs, and all I see is bills that need to be paid with no money available. I don’t feel like talking to anyone(so please don’t have your feelings hurt if I don’t answer my phone), and every night I tend to cry myself to sleep. The middle of the night, 3:00 a.m. crying didn’t take place last night, so I find that a small accomplishment. My children have been very sympathetic and have been very helpful that last few days. My sweet middle baby boy, Jacob, unfortunately has taken after myself and worries. He worries that we’ll lose our house and every time he speaks to me, he wants to know if I am ok. He prays with me every night that Michael will find a job and we will be ok. He’s such a sweetheart and I hate that at 12 years old, he feels the need to worry. I know we will be fine, and I know that God will never leave us nor forsake us. But, I am human, and I haven’t been able to let go of the fear. I read something today that reminded me of how I should not worry and to let God be in control. I sat there, again at my desk, and cried, but this time because I realized that I am not in control of this situation, but God is and that should be good enough for me. I don’t need to worry, I don’t need to cry, and I don’t need to wonder…..give it to God, and walk away.
“When peace like a river attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot thou hast taught me to say,
It is well; it is well with my soul.”
My oldest baby boy decides he wants to grow up and get his driver's license. I reluctantly agreed, and he managed to do it all by himself without my help or holding his hand. What? How did that happen? I can't believe that I have a child that can actually do something on their own!! Do you know how long it took me to convince him that he didn’t need to sleep in the floor of my bedroom next to my bed, and now he thinks he can be alone in a car driving down the highway?? I cried tears of joy that day, and then I cried tears from fear. Then I called the insurance company and I cried tears of financial pain. I can’t believe that I don’t get that cute little discount for his insurance because he refuses to dress out in P.E. and has managed to fail every semester. Nice, right?!?
I watched my youngest baby boy walk down the halls of the elementary school for the last time. Seriously, where did that time go? How did he just grow up right before my eyes, and I never saw it coming? I met with his speech teacher, along with his primary teacher and the principal the day before he “graduated”. I sat there with the three of them and expressed his apprehensions and concerns about taking speech once he started Middle School, with tears rolling down my face, and they assured me he will be fine. Mrs. Thompson, the speech therapist, begins to read to me the end of the school year evaluation…”John Michael’s likes are baseball, video games and Oreo cookie ice cream.” She made sure I knew that he was very specific about the Oreo cookie ice cream! That’s my boy!! We are stress eaters around my house, and all of that speech stuff seems to stress him out! Lisp or no lisp, I am super proud of him! Who needs to say “She sells seashells down by the seashore” anyways?
If you read any of my previous posts, you know that a beautiful friend of mine was dying of cancer. Unfortunately, I am now living with the fact that I just couldn’t bring myself to see her or even speak to her before she died. I tried, I really did. I was scared that I wouldn’t say the right thing. I was scared that she would want me have the right answers for her questions. Really, I think I was just scared that I would have to face the real fact that she wasn’t going to live. Tracy didn’t want a big shindig when she died, but sorry my friend, it happened! The preacher read a letter that she had written, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the place…not because it was all sad and sappy, but because every word of it was just Tracy and we all had a laugh! She had a great sense of humor and even in her sickness, she showed it. I will forever be grateful for our friendship and will miss her dearly.
And, last, and most definitely not least, we have had the displeasure of Michael losing his job. The dreaded phone call came in to me at work on Tuesday, May 31st at 2:21 pm. It was something that we knew would eventually happen, but not something that you are ever prepared to hear. Michael tells me that he has been laid off, and then tells me not to get myself in a tizzy. Well, that didn’t happen. I sat at my desk, cried like a baby, and wondered how in the world we are going to survive on one income. Michael is at peace with what has happened, and seems to feel like a weight has been lifted off of his shoulders, since the unknown of when this was going to happen is now over. I, on the other hand, am the one that worries. I handle our financial needs, and all I see is bills that need to be paid with no money available. I don’t feel like talking to anyone(so please don’t have your feelings hurt if I don’t answer my phone), and every night I tend to cry myself to sleep. The middle of the night, 3:00 a.m. crying didn’t take place last night, so I find that a small accomplishment. My children have been very sympathetic and have been very helpful that last few days. My sweet middle baby boy, Jacob, unfortunately has taken after myself and worries. He worries that we’ll lose our house and every time he speaks to me, he wants to know if I am ok. He prays with me every night that Michael will find a job and we will be ok. He’s such a sweetheart and I hate that at 12 years old, he feels the need to worry. I know we will be fine, and I know that God will never leave us nor forsake us. But, I am human, and I haven’t been able to let go of the fear. I read something today that reminded me of how I should not worry and to let God be in control. I sat there, again at my desk, and cried, but this time because I realized that I am not in control of this situation, but God is and that should be good enough for me. I don’t need to worry, I don’t need to cry, and I don’t need to wonder…..give it to God, and walk away.
“When peace like a river attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot thou hast taught me to say,
It is well; it is well with my soul.”
Friday, March 18, 2011
I Promised.....
I swore I would never do this….I even made a promise to God….. It went something like this: Please let me have a little girl and I promise I’ll never make her do pageants, wear dresses or bows, or cute shiny shoes. I’ll not let her be sassy, bossy, and prissy or any of those other words to describe silly little girls! So now, I must ask for forgiveness. Forgive me for forcing my baby girl into a pageant tomorrow. Forgive me for encouraging her to wave; blow kisses and bat her sweet little eye lashes in order to get the attention of the judges. Forgive me looking around at the other babies and thinking (out loud) that my baby girl is so much prettier than the others. Forgive me not just sending in two photos, like I promised my husband, but slipping the lady at the front office desk an extra $5.00 and a third picture so I can be assured that she would win at least one of the photogenic awards. Forgive me for buying 4 more dresses just to make sure I had the “right one”. Forgive me for threatening to spank her if she gets to the end of the stage and yells “I pooted” to the audience (she does really do that, and often, in public). Forgive me for asking my oldest child to escort her on the stage because he is so handsome and that might just give her extra points with the judges. Please Lord, since I have asked for forgiveness, please just let her win….I would really hate to embarrass the family if she doesn’t…. And, I promise, Lord, I won’t put her into another pageant…..at least until next year.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Top 10 Thursday
I think that I am going to start a "theme" blog each week. I might change it up, but I thought this top 10 thing would be fun!!
10 Things you probably don’t know about me:
· I secretly have a crush on the “Blue Wiggle”, Anthony Fields
· I love to mix creamed potatoes in my spaghetti-o’s
· I wish that I could play the guitar and/or piano
· Is horrible at math, and apparently has shared this disability with my children
· Wanted to be an archeologist when I grew up, and now I want to work in law enforcement
· I put peanut butter and chocolate syrup on my pancakes
· I only shave my legs when I can’t stand for my legs to touch each other (yuck, I know!)
· Have to put things “in order” on the conveyer belt at the grocery store
· I stand in front of a mirror and do Zumba moves just to see how stupid I look to my instructor
· Afraid of scary movies
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Discipline or Disappoinment? The choice is yours.....
'There are two pains in life. There is the pain of discipline and the pain of disappointment. If you can handle the pain of discipline, then you'll never have to deal with the pain of disappointment,'- Nick Saban
We’ve all had to deal with this realization in that quote at some point in our lives. Unfortunately, we have to watch our children go through it as well. Most recently, I have had the ultimate displeasure of watching Matthew go through this. He had a weight gain of about 20 pounds over the past year, which put him in two higher weight classes for wrestling. Could be partly because of the Little Debbie snack cakes we took stock in over this past summer, and maybe some growth spurts he went through. Could be genetics, but look at me and Dave. So, I’m putting my money on Little Debbie! We all talked to him about losing weight, which ultimately was not an option, given the fact that he is only 3% body fat. So, the next suggestion would be to work out, build some muscle, and make it work for him. But, that would take discipline. Something he wasn’t willing to give or take. Thinking he could get by, he wasn’t going to face the fact he wasn’t going to win matches on his looks (which, by the way, he is gorgeous, but it won’t work on other guys in spandex). He was given options by his Coach to be in Athletics and have use of the weights, but again, that would take discipline, and he wasn’t willing to do it. So, when it came down to “Sectionals”, which would determine if he would make a trip to the State tournament as a contender and not spectator, he struggled. I think for the first time all season he realized that he wasn’t going to be able to do it. He worked harder that weekend than I had seen him work all season long, but unfortunately, it was a day late and a dollar short, as the old saying goes. I hated to see him lose. I hated to see all of his friends and fellow wrestlers, one by one, make it to the State tournament. I hated to see the tears flow down his face. I hated it really bad. There was nothing I could do for him at this point, but reiterate that next year, try a little harder, be a little more disciplined, and he can achieve what he couldn’t this year. Disappointment is not fun. And, it is especially not fun when it’s one of your own going through it. But, hard work and determination will always pay off.
At the same time I was watching one of my children crying, another one was rejoicing! Jacob had just found out that he had made the “travel” soccer team in North Jefferson. He decided that he wanted to try out for this team instead of just playing again at the park. Again, just like with Matthew, we told him that he needed to get re-conditioned. He, just like me, has struggled with a weight problem. He has outgrown his sixteen year old brother, and seems to be shaped like his Uncle Jason. However, he took on the treadmill like a true champ and started his conditioning regime. He was determined that he was going to make this team, and show everyone that he too can accomplish anything that he sets his mind to, or is willing to fight hard for.
John Michael has given up a lot for a nine year old, but he has dreams. May sound silly to some, but the only thing he has ever wanted for himself is to play baseball for a major league team. I truly believe in speaking something into existence and this child has spoken this since he was able to speak! For Heaven’s sake, his first real word was “ball”!!! He has missed many a birthday party, play time with friends, vacations, and all because his dedication has been to his love of baseball. He practices several days a week, three to four hours at a time, then plays 5 or 6 games a weekend. This is what he chose for himself, and I am here to support that decision. He wants more for himself and he knows all too well, without that dedication, he will experience disappointment. He hasn’t always had winning seasons, but he can always say that it wasn’t because he didn’t try. He has accomplished quite a lot these past couple of years. He just happens to be the best first baseman around! Well, I am his mommy, so I can think so!!!
There is no way to completely shield your children or yourself from disappointment. But if you can instill discipline into their lives, you can try to steer them away from that disappointment. Not always, but there are times, and when there is, there is a lesson to be learned.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Where am I???
I had plans to update this blog more often than just once a week, but apparently, I have more going on than I need to have. I think yesterdays incident of going to work and not discovering that I forgot to wash the conditioner out of my hair until my work day was over, just proves this point.
Reasons I have temporary memory loss on occasion (more often than not here lately)? Besides the fact that I have had one child with the flu, two with the stomach virus, one wrestling, working a full time job, trying to pay bills, keep a house somewhat presentable and everything in between. But, in the midst of all of this, I have discovered that I need a GPS, not only for my car, but for my children!
This past Tuesday, I left work on a mission to Hueytown High School to watch my oldest child wrestle his last match before "sectionals". I googled the directions because it had been a long time since I have been on the west side of town. I left work, armed with my directions, made it to Hueytown, stopped by the ATM because it always cost at least one of your arms to be able to see your child do what he loves to do, and found the school with no incidence. As I arrived, I noticed that I didn't recognize any of the cars in the parking lot, but then again, I was 30 minutes early. I find the door, pay my money, and walk into the gym only to find no one from Hayden, including the wrestlers. Oh.My.Word. They weren't there and no one can tell me where to find them. I can't call my son, because he decided to take pictures of his friend in class, and now the principal is the temporary owner of a Samsung cellphone. I try to call a few of the parents that I know, to no avail. Finally, found someone, and is told that this match has been canceled for a couple of weeks, and that our school is visiting Dora to wrestle. WHAT??? I am in Hueytown, and they are in Dora. Ok, ya'll may not know this, but my son only weighs 119 pounds, and normally they wrestle in order of weight classes. So, that means that he'll be the third one to wrestle that evening. Ok, so now the dilema of do I go home and prop my feet up, get a cold drink and hope he enjoys the bus ride home or do I drive like a mad woman to Dora and just see if I can out run the cops if they decide to slow me down? I did decide to drive to Dora, to which after I had been on the road for an hour, needed to go to the bathroom. I made it, ran to the bathroom, walked in the gym (had to pay to get in there too), sat down, only to be told by the parents that I just missed Matthew wrestling. You. Have. Got. To. Be. Kidding. That is the story of my life. Seriously.
So, see, if I had a GPS in my children, I could have just dialed him in and wouldn't have driven all over God's green creation to find out where they had chosen to go that night. Laughed at the idea earlier? Makes sense now, right?
I like my sister's email that she sent me today....."My cup runneth over, and I have a lot on my plate (and have an appetizer and dessert too)". That about sums it up, huh?
Reasons I have temporary memory loss on occasion (more often than not here lately)? Besides the fact that I have had one child with the flu, two with the stomach virus, one wrestling, working a full time job, trying to pay bills, keep a house somewhat presentable and everything in between. But, in the midst of all of this, I have discovered that I need a GPS, not only for my car, but for my children!
This past Tuesday, I left work on a mission to Hueytown High School to watch my oldest child wrestle his last match before "sectionals". I googled the directions because it had been a long time since I have been on the west side of town. I left work, armed with my directions, made it to Hueytown, stopped by the ATM because it always cost at least one of your arms to be able to see your child do what he loves to do, and found the school with no incidence. As I arrived, I noticed that I didn't recognize any of the cars in the parking lot, but then again, I was 30 minutes early. I find the door, pay my money, and walk into the gym only to find no one from Hayden, including the wrestlers. Oh.My.Word. They weren't there and no one can tell me where to find them. I can't call my son, because he decided to take pictures of his friend in class, and now the principal is the temporary owner of a Samsung cellphone. I try to call a few of the parents that I know, to no avail. Finally, found someone, and is told that this match has been canceled for a couple of weeks, and that our school is visiting Dora to wrestle. WHAT??? I am in Hueytown, and they are in Dora. Ok, ya'll may not know this, but my son only weighs 119 pounds, and normally they wrestle in order of weight classes. So, that means that he'll be the third one to wrestle that evening. Ok, so now the dilema of do I go home and prop my feet up, get a cold drink and hope he enjoys the bus ride home or do I drive like a mad woman to Dora and just see if I can out run the cops if they decide to slow me down? I did decide to drive to Dora, to which after I had been on the road for an hour, needed to go to the bathroom. I made it, ran to the bathroom, walked in the gym (had to pay to get in there too), sat down, only to be told by the parents that I just missed Matthew wrestling. You. Have. Got. To. Be. Kidding. That is the story of my life. Seriously.
So, see, if I had a GPS in my children, I could have just dialed him in and wouldn't have driven all over God's green creation to find out where they had chosen to go that night. Laughed at the idea earlier? Makes sense now, right?
I like my sister's email that she sent me today....."My cup runneth over, and I have a lot on my plate (and have an appetizer and dessert too)". That about sums it up, huh?
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