De-weeding

To say our life has been jam packed busy lately would be a major understatement! A couple weeks ago I went out to check the mail, and got side tracked by the massive amount of weeds in my flower beds. It occurred to me that I haven’t pulled weeds from the flower beds at all this spring. So, I sat down and started pulling weeds. As I was pulling, I started thinking.... This flower bed is much like my own life-- full of weeds, and not looking so pretty at this moment.

That isn’t to say that anything going on in my life is bad, there is just alot of it. And, sometimes when we don’t have the sense or courage to say no, our lives fill up with weeds that after time will choke out the beautiful flowers. Too many commitments, too many projects, being too many things to too many people. You have probably heard it said this way, “Jack of all trades, master of none.” I was coming to realize that I was trying to do so many things that I wasn’t able to do any of them well. So, it is time to start pulling some of the weeds out of my life.

Deciding to do something is the easy part, following through is where life gets hard. Like my flower bed, there are different types of weeds in my life. First, the easy ones are the big clumps of grass. Easy to see as something that doesn’t belong, and thankfully the roots aren’t very deep, grab them by the bottom and a quick, swift jerk will remove them. Second, are the small individual blades of grass or weeds. Like the big clumps, the roots don’t run very deep, they are easy to pull. However, it takes forever to pluck those guys one by one. These guys not only covered my flower bed, they cover my life. I see these as the little social calendar events that I have committed to that we don’t really want to do, small little projects that I said I would handle but really shouldn’t have, and the general busyness that I often fall victim to. All of it fairly easy to deal with, you just have to take them time to consider each one and let it hang out a while longer or yank. The third weed is those stubborn, thorny, vine like weeds that have roots of steel that run deep. To be honest, getting rid of them is difficult and down right hurts sometimes. I see these as my bad habits that I have developed that affect my life in a negative way, large commitments that I have signed on for, a few “toxic” relationships that I need to avoid. I know, the last one seems a bit harsh. But, let’s be honest here. There are some people in our lives that we have tried to “minister to” or befriend that just flat out drag us down. Not to say that we can’t be Jesus in skin to them, but maybe we don’t need to so absorb them into our lives. My mom used to tell me “one bad apple will ruin the whole bunch”.

So, I came to the point that I knew I had some gardening to do.... what did I do? Nothing immediately. I just went inside with dirty hands thinking about the next project that I had coming my way. I had 10 days to take and pass my broker’s exam or have to retake my classes. So, I didn’t have time to de-weed; I had to study! That is a whole other concept, but those of you who know me well know that taking standardized tests is probably my single greatest fear in life. I would rather sit in an open room and write you a 300 page essay about what I do know, than be forced to sit in a small cubicle with a tiny computer screen and click on boxes with a definite answer that will tell you what I may not know. Well, I took the test last Thursday, and I passed. Great news, project complete, big clump of grass pulled. Kinda.... just opens a new era of weeds that have to be dealt with.

Thursday I came home from the test, I walk back into my house, look around, and completely freak out! My kids are wild, my house is a nasty wreck, and laundry is every where. Again, those of you who know me well know that I like my house straight and clean; laundry is always washed, dried, folded and put away on Mondays; my meal plans are established weeks in advance; and I expect my kids to behave. I start thinking, I don’t remember the last time I picked up the house, I haven’t scrubbed the toilets in months, and those pop corn kernels in the floor have been there at least a week, and my kids have been jumping off the back of the couch at least 2 weeks now, because I haven’t had the energy to tell them to stop. I AM DONE. This has to stop, I have to rest and regain control. I MUST DEWEED MY LIFE, NOW!

So, I have spent the greater part of this weekend in bed. Not just in bed, but with 4 books beside me. I have been resting, studying God’s word, and praying about God’s plan for my life. I figured before I started yanking weeds out of my life, I needed to see what God’s idea was....

Times change

I remember the day when I dropped Lexi Kate off at school and she cried, I mean bawled for hours. You would have thought they were killing her in there. Yesterday, I had to pick her up from school 5 minutes early so we could leave before traffic and take Sam to the doctor. She bawled! She even told me it was the very worst day of her life. Why? Because she wasn't ready to leave school. She wanted to spend the rest of her minutes with her friends and teachers. Wow, how times have changed!

Christmas around here was chaotic, but simple. The kids got way too much stuff, and have already broken some toys and forgotten about others. It really makes me sad how little the realize how blessed they are. I don't want to say they are ungrateful for what they have, because I am not sure they even know what that means. And, they both say thank you, and feel they truly mean it, for their presents. What makes me sad is that I want them to have all these fun things, and I have set a terrible example of what they should expect to get. My house is almost twice as big as the house I grew up in, and it is overflowing with stuff. We have got to get control of this before we have 2 grown spoiled kids that have a messed up reality of what to expect out of life.

Life around here is crazy again, I guess it is just the way my life is meant to be. In addition to working for Jeff, doing real estate, and taking back my consulting job, I have started another business with my friend. My new adventure is the kind of work that doesn't seem like work- creating fun things with a friend. But, it takes time. I have also started my final class for obtaining my broker's license. I had an unrealistic reality of how much time this class was going to take. I do most of my classes via home study, and can complete them in about half the time they say. Well, it looks like this one isn't going to be that way. I thought I could complete 2 units a week, in about 4 hours each week. I spent 5 hours last week, and only finished 1 unit. :(

So, if you don't hear from me much in the next few weeks, it is because I am a book worm again.

Happy Birthday Jesus Cake

Lexi Kate loves to help me in the kitchen and she loves to help me decorate and get things together for parties, she especially loves to help me bake. She is also very perceptive at this age, and understands a great deal about Jesus and what actually happened at Christmas. So, I decided to start a new tradition this year to further instill what all the celebration is about this time of year. Today, we made a Happy Birthday Jesus cake. My "plan" was to use the original story of the candy cane to talk about the cake we were making. So, we did a strawberry cake to represent Jesus and the blood He would eventually shed to cover our sins. Lexi Kate was okay with that choice, but was especially excited because strawberry is her favorite cake. I tried to get her to focus on the story, but I must remember she is only 4 and we are just planting seeds here.... We used white icing to represent the purity of Jesus, the plainness of his birth and lifestyle. My intention was to keep the icing plain white, simple. Then, just write "Happy Birthday Jesus" in green. I wanted to use green to symbolize new growth and hope we have in Jesus. Lexi Kate talks alot about being ready for spring to see the fresh green leaves and pretty things growing, so I thought she would get this. Lexi Kate was good with that. However, she was not good with the plain white icing being it. She insisted we add sprinkles to the cake. I went back over why we used plain white. But, she kept insisting that Jesus was the greatest person ever, and He certainly deserved sprinkles on His cake. And, she wanted to make His cake super special all by herself. So, I let go of my need to control the situation, and decorate the cake myself and handed her the jar of Christmas Sprinkles. She was so proud of herself. She was so proud, she insisted I set the cake on the floor and let her take the picture herself.

Happy Birthday Jesus! Thank you for giving us the greatest gift we will ever receive. We hope you enjoyed the worship we put forth in making your cake. I know we will enjoy the cake. And, Lexi Kate says you may get a little sick in her heart because she plans on filling you up with that cake she puts in her tummy. (Again, remember she is 4- but she is precious!)

Day 1 = Success!

After everyone constantly telling us we should sell our stuff or do this for a living- we have taken the plunge! Lanesia and I have created Our Swanky Designs and our now customizing products to sell. Making a living may be a stretch, but at least we are making money. So, be on the lookout for more information.

Today was our "first official day" and we made 2 sales. Woo Hoo! We will be customizing a facebook and blog page, so keep your eyes open- and tell your friends.



You can see more of our creations on facebook.

Two's company, three's a crowd

After today, I have decided this statement must have been first stated by a mother of 3 children. I kept my 5 year old niece today. So, that made 3 kids that wanted to play. Guess what happened- someone was always left out, and that someone was always pitching a fit. It wasn't the same one all day, but no matter what was going on someone didn't have a partner.

So, my advice for mom's of 2 children considering having another- make sure you have twins. Life is much easier when everyone has a playmate. On second thought, if you already have 2 kids- maybe you should call it a day. Four kids is alot of racket, and poop to clean up. I have friends that can attest to that.

Surely, Mary Didn't Know

"Mary Did You Know"
[Originally written by Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene]
Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy would one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy would save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your Baby Boy has come to make you new?
This Child that you delivered will soon deliver you.
Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy will calm the storm with His hand?
Did you know that your Baby Boy has walked where angels trod?
When you kiss your little Baby you kissed the face of God?
Mary did you know..
The blind will see.The deaf will hear.The dead will live again.
The lame will leap.The dumb will speak. The praises of The Lamb.
Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy would one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your Baby Boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?
The sleeping Child you're holding is the Great, I Am.

One of my favorite Holiday songs is "Mary Did You Know". I think I first fell in love with that song when one of my best friends sang it at a Christmas program in high school. I have always thought about the words, and whether or not Mary knew anything related to her baby boy at all. For example, how many times in your life have you known God was calling you to do something, and you followed through with the action, but you really didn't understand what all was involved and how it would turn out in 10 years....

Well, now that I am a mother, and more specifically a mother of a baby boy born at Christmas. I have to believe Mary didn't know. I think we would all like to claim that we would have faith like Mary, surrender to the virgin birth process, and raise a son surrending him to Ministry, and maybe be willing for him to save our sons and daughters. But, here is where I have to aruge Mary didn't have a clue. Becuase, as a mother I am here to tell you there is no way a woman agrees to carry, deliver, and raise a child only to watch him be crucified to save us from our sins. If God was to tell me that in order to save ME, You, your sons, your daugthers from going to Hell; I would have to watch my Sam die on a cross. Guess what- we are all aboard the Hell express. I am not kidding, not even remotely trying to be funny. I would not have bothered getting pregnant and delivering that precious child, and raising him for even 15 minutes if I knew I had to watch him die, especially hanging on a cross.

I hate to say that, but I am human. And, Mary was human too. The minute Jesus, Emmanuel, Prince of Peace, was delivered from her uterus she became an earthly mother. And, you haven't seen fight until a momma has to protect her baby boy- even if he is 33 years old. Let me just tell you, starving momma bear watching someone trying to capture her cub hasn't got anything on me if you come near my Sam, my baby boy, with a cross. As much as his daddy would love for him to be a Marine, I am going to be just like Jeff's mom and fight like hell. I don't want to risk him dying in battle, even to protect our country. Mother's, even Mary, couldn't knowingly do that.

That makes this story/song even more precious. Because, as much as NO MOTHER IN THE WORLD could watch thier baby boy be crucified; Mary did it. She may not have known what it all meant when that angel first told her that she was going to have a baby boy, but she delivered. She gave up her son for us, each one of us. If there is ever a time to believe in Christ, Christmas is that time. We get all wrapped up in buying the perfect present, wrapping it perfectly, and having the perfect meal. We don't deserve a bit of that.... we were given the only gift we will ever need thousands of years ago.

Mary, you didn't know. But, I do know. What you did was amazingly remarkable. I have no idea how you brought yourself to watch your son be crucified. I have to believe that God gave you a supernatural peace about what was taking place; but, I still don't think I could have done it. Thank you for that gift! Thank you Jesus for being that gift, that ensures I need nothing more in my life. And, thank you for my children, that helps me understand even better what an amazing gift we have.

Choo-Choo Sam is turning 2!

Because in my infinite wisdom and serious planning, we had a baby the day after Christmas. Great, convenient idea, right? Well, let's just say I wouldn't reccommend trying it on purpose. But, we are very thankful for our most precious day after Christmas present ever.

But, for convenience sake, we decided to celebrate his birthday a little early this year. We had Sam's 2nd Birthday party at Peek A Boo Playtown in Cool Springs on Saturday, December 4. It is a fun little place for the kids to play, but if you are planning a birthday party there, I highly recommend you paying the extra money to rent both rooms and have a totally private party. Sam loved playing with all his friends, the only problem was gettting the kids to stop playing and come have cake and pizza.

Sam loved all of his presents. His favorites have seemed to be the remote control car and tricycle.