Redeemed

So there has been a song on the radio that has completely taken me over.


Redeemed by Big Daddy Weave.

I find myself singing the lyrics, mostly the chorus, several times a day at the oddest times.

“So I’ll shake off these heavy chains, wipe away every stain now, I’m not who I used to be, I am redeemed.”

Oh just those few short words have brought me to tears over the joy that God has enough grace to love me. Enough grace to forgive me and all of my faults and failures. Everything that has bound me has been removed by God. He has redeemed me. He has changed me and made me His own. And for that I am grateful.



 

Lamar Baseball

So we actually had a free weekend. Something that doesn't happen very often. So what do we do when we have a free weekend? Go watch some baseball, Lamar Cardinal baseball. 

 Here is where we spent our Saturday. 

One of hubs' childhood friend has season tickets, the first eight seats right behind home plate. 

Lamar played a double header Saturday against University of Washington. They games were great and the boys got plenty of foul ball souvenirs to get signed after the second game ended. 

I couldn't have asked for a more perfect way to spend our free Saturday. The weather beautiful, the seats were awesome, the company was fabulous, and the Cardinals won both games!

And next weekend is our opening weekend for baseball so I will be spending another full Saturday at the ball park. 

And those of you who have been around here for a while, know that's just how I like it. 

10 Compliments Your Kids Need To Hear

I saw this on a friends Facebook page. And it struck a cord with me. I tend to get so wrapped up in the day to day things I don't take time to always say or do some of these even if I am thinking about them. 

1. Compliment their character. We live in a world where integrity is neither consistently taught nor widely expected. When our children demonstrate honesty, kindness, trustworthiness and reliability, that’s a great time to take them aside and offer a sincere compliment.

2. Compliment obedience and respect. It’s too easy to fall into patterns of disapproval, where the only time we notice is when kids do wrong. Rather than waiting for disobedience or disrespect (then coming down like a ton of bricks) try noticing obedience and respect: “I don’t always remember to tell you, but you are an awesome young man, and I appreciate the way you treat your mother”.

3. Compliment them for simply being part of the family. “Every time I see you, I’m thankful that I’m your Mom.” Kids need to understand that they are valued simply because they are.

4. Compliment contributions to the family. “Clearing the table (sweeping the porch… putting out the trash) makes a real difference. I appreciate your contribution.” Kids need to understand that what they do makes a difference, that the adults notice, and that pitching in is a good part of family life.

5. Compliment the quality of their work. “This is one clean porch, mister!” “You mowed the lawn right up to the edge.  Way to go!  I’m so glad you take this job so seriously, it shows.” Doing a job at a high standard is always worth noting.

6. Compliment the effort, even when the result is not the best. “Your willingness to help makes me happy! Now we need to take a look at how you can get the trash to the curb without leaving a trail!” Compliments can be an important part of our role as teachers.

7. Compliment when they achieve something new. “Wow! That’s a huge leap forward for you there in math, pal.” “Awesome! I’m not at all surprised after you worked so hard.” A well-placed compliment can keep a positive ball rolling.

8. Compliment their sense of style even if we don’t exactly share their taste. We don’t want to force our kids into being clones of us. “When it comes to putting together an outfit, you certainly have some flair!” “I can tell that you put a lot of thought into the way you look.” “I’ve never seen a table set quite like that before – you have an amazing imagination!” It’s not useful to limit compliments to the narrow range of our own taste.

9. Compliment steps toward a long-term goal. “Son, the improvement you’re showing is commendable. Thanks for trying.” Waiting for perfection before we’re willing to dish out a compliment is inefficient, may dampen enthusiasm, and does little to help the process of growth.

10. Compliment their friends. But only do this when you can do it honestly! “Your friends are the greatest!” “That Jake is such a good kid.” “You know, it gives me a lot of confidence to know you use common sense in choosing your friends.”

The road less traveled

I have a friend who lost her husband sixteen months ago. They had been married just over one year before Wes passed away. She is now raising their son, and doing a fabulous job.

Stella is one of the strongest women I know. She has accomplished so must in her life since Wes' passing.

She bought a house. Purchased a brand new car. Gone back to graduate school. And like I said earlier she is raising their son Trent.

She started a blog a while back. Just somewhere to write down her thoughts and help her navigate through this new stage of life.

The Road Less Traveled

She wrote a post on February 12th that just touched my heart. I actually ripped right through it and brought me to the brink of tears. I as much as I hate for her to be in pain, I know this is a process for her and not an easy one. I know she has good days, bad days, and really terrible days.

So if y'all don't mind just say a quick prayer for her.

And Stella, I am in awe of your strength and your ability to continue to function on a daily basis. You are loved by so many. And we will continue to pray for you and Trent each and every day.

A little bit of this and a little bit of that

I didn't blog. Can we say epic fail? I my defense I didn't say I would, I said I might. I really had every intention of blogging but other stuff just kept getting in the way.

I would love to say that in my extended absence I have been on a fabulous adventure. Well actually motherhood is an adventure and it really depends on whether your kid is sick or not which translates into they are laying on the couch with a trash can by them just in case they feel need to throw up and the bathroom is to far away. Oh and no the boys are sick that random thought just popped in my head.

OK say a prayer they don't get sick.

Anyway, things have been moving right along here. We have begun baseball season. Insert BIG SMILE!! Right now we are still trying to schedule practices because all it has done for the past 2 weeks is RAIN, but I'm not bitter about it really. All this really translates into we get to eat good home cooked nutritious meals for a few days longer. But I'm sure the corn dogs, french fries, chicken strips, and popsicles will come in due time.

And school for me is going. I will be honest, I'm not really liking the class I am taking right now. I loved my last one and I know it's wrong to keep comparing them because hello we are talking about American Lit and Government. And Government and I are not meshing very well.

I was siting at the computer over the weekend working on my assignment and I went to post it to our discussion board and the the system told me to log in. Well I thought I was already logged in or how else would I be posting in my discussion board? But I clicked OK and proceeded to log in again. And then it happened. I lost EVERYTHING. I remember slamming the top of the laptop down, walking away and then the ensuing meltdown occurred. It took me almost an hour to formulate a coherent thought. How is the H-E- double hockey sticks was I going to type all that over again. So after much screaming and running around the house yelling at the computer again and then sending Hubs and the boys to Academy, which by the way I vaguely remember telling them to go there and then locking myself in the bedroom, I began to type away another post. I came out to ask Hubs a question and they were gone. I was like where did they go? Did the second coming happen and I was truly left behind. Then I remembered telling them to get out and they for once took me serious and left. So I ended up finishing my homework just as they were coming back home.

And that is what we have been up to. Oh and planning our vacation. It's never to early to start when there will be 10 of us going. I can't really tell y'all anything other than it's a place where dreams come true and some kind of magic happens when a cute mouse appears with his entourage to open the park for the day. But lets just say this...I'M EXCITED!! I think even more so than the kids.

Two words

Knock knock, is this thing on? Oh well.

I've got two words for you...BASEBALL SEASON!

Oh and maybe, just maybe I might be back tomorrow to blog again.

Happy 8th Birthday R2

Eight years ago today God blessed me with another little boy and my life has never been the same. He completed our family.

And in his honor here are eight things I love about him.

1. His sense of humor. He keeps me laughing.

2. How he loves to be outside. He would much rather be outside any day than sitting in the house.

3. He loves to help. Whether it's passing papers out or mopping the floors. He just likes to lend a hand.

4. His laugh. It's infectious. 

5. How curious he is about anything and everything. 

6. How competitive he is.  A game of Uno, baseball, or just being the first one dressed in the morning. 

7. How he likes to spend time with his grandpa fishing and hunting.

8.. How he loves God. He is always ready to go Sunday School and church.

Happy 8th Birthday R2! I love you!
 

WHOOP!

I think it's safe to say that I have been bitten by the football bug. 

This was Hubs' status on Facebook on Friday night:   Oh how the tables have turned. There is someone in this house screaming at the football game on TV and it isn't me.  

Yes that was me screaming at the TV. And for good reason I was watching the Cotton Bowl. An interception was just thrown and OU caught it in the end zone. Yeah, that's me using the term end zone and interception. I know I almost fainted too.

It was a great game. For those of you who were out of touch and couldn't watch The Cotton Bowl I'll just tell you this AGGIES WON!! They BTHO OU! Final score...A&M 41 OU 13. 

After seeing this how can you not like football?

     

Is it to early for this

I hope everyone had a safe and happy new years eve.

I would like to say we are the party people but we had a very laid back holiday. It was rainy and cold and to be honest I just didn't feel like getting out in that mess. But we all managed to make it past midnight which is a first in a very long time.

Anyway after the terrible display of football this past weekend from both pro and college teams I started wishing for this... is it to early?

Happy New Year 2013

Well another year has come and gone. So many people are thinking about the past year. I on the other hand have chosen to think of the year ahead. 

There are so many wonderful things in store for this new year. And while I would love to tell you about a few of them the superstitious girl inside me is a bit scared to. So as they come to be this year I will let you know. 

One thing I can tell you is this, God is in control. He is on His throne. He has guided me and my family this past year. He has been gracious, loving, and forgiving. 

We have seen his hand in so many situations this past year. How he closed a door to keep us safe but then opened another one later in the year. How he has provided for several circumstance and how we praised him during and after each storm no matter how big or small.

Prayers were prayed through out the year and the blessings that flowed these prayers has left me speechless. 

So as I look to the new year. I look towards God. I will keep my focus on him. 

Wishing each of you a wonderful 2013. And praying for His blessing upon you!


 

Merry Christmas 2012

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." ~ Isaiah 9:6

Reflections

I sat on the couch last night while Hubs was watching television and looked through some older posts around this time from years past. 

This time last year I had a taken a trip for 24 hours to New York. My cousin sent the boys bobble head dolls that look like them. Hubs' received his Masters degree. One year it seemed I couldn't get enough of watching A Year Without A Santa Claus. I guess I've always had a soft spot for Heat Miser and Snow Miser. I cried at the end of Toy Story 3. I missed Pam-Maw my heart felt like it was going to break into a million pieces. It snowed in Southeast Texas, twice. Beth and I put together several "Taste's of Christmas".

But my one of my favorite things about this time of year is our candle light service we have at church on Christmas even. Hubs and I have been attending this service since we have been together, and that was seventeen years ago. 

Another favorite tradition we started once we had kids was to go look at Christmas lights on Christmas eve. Last year we started something new. We all went over to Beth's house and made homemade pizzas and then went out in search of the best and biggest light display we could find. It was so much fun, we are doing it again this year. 

So if I don't get on here again, I wish each of you a Merry Christmas!

God's Love

My heart is still just so heavy right now. The events that took place in Newtown, CT. last week have really hit home for me.

I didn't want to admit to Hubs but Monday morning when he and the boys left for school I was a bit nervous. My whole world walked out the door at 7:20AM and headed off to school.

My heart is breaking for the families who kissed their loved ones and said have a good day, I'll see you later and later never came.

May God wrap his loving arms around each and everyone affected by this tragedy. May he give them the strength, peace, and comfort they need. 

 

Calvin & Hobbes

Yeah, I know I've been gone and haven't blog in a while. I'm sorry but please see my previous post.

School is over, and while all of the exams are graded and by the way my last exam...I made an A, I'm still waiting for my research paper to be graded. And if I don't totally bomb my research paper I should have a B for my final grade. WHOOP!

And speaking of... Congratulations to Johnny Manziel from Texas A&M on winning the Heisman Trophy on Saturday. He is also the first Freshman to ever to win this award. WHOOP!

So since my brain is still fried, obviously I just blogged about football and you all know how I feel about football, I thought I post a few of my favorite Calvin & Hobbes snow cartons. 

Life

Life, that is what's happening around here right. 

I don't usually write something profound. Heck I don't even write regularly anymore. What I am writing right now is a research paper that is due in three weeks. 

Since going back to school I'm also reading a ton of American literature. And that's OK, I'm enjoying it. 

Life has taken over.  

Not just the extra stuff such as football and basketball. The weekly tutoring sessions. Not the extra projects at work that have kept me busier than normal, and not the Black Friday Shopping but the every day stuff that happens.

The laundry and cleaning the house, which with four people seem to be never ending. The homework and cooking dinner. The going to the grocery store. All the things that happen to make sure our household runs smoothly. And then there are the little things thrown in here and there to just add to our life. Such as a last minute birthday party, someone gets sick, or a major appliance breaks. 

See life is happening over here. And with all of the everyday stuff going on when we get the chance to have some family time I jump on it. Although I don't know if the boys going to see Wreck It Ralph while I went to see Breaking Dawn Pt. 2 with the girls counts as family time. But we did ride to and from the movie theater together. 

Life is happening and I don't want to miss a thing. I feel like I'm already missing out on things because of school. I miss bedtime prayers with the boys. I miss night time snuggles with them. I miss sitting and talking to Hubs after the boys have gone to bed. I miss watching our favorite TV shows together.

I guess what I'm trying to say but also trying to avoid is this.

I mentioned when started school that this blog might be affected and quit frankly it's pretty much been put to the back burner. Don't get me wrong. While I love to write and read your posts. Along with reading your comments and me leaving you comments I just don't have the time. So if I disappear for longer than a week please don't be offended. 


Life is happening.

Happy Thanksgiving 2012

Happy Thanksgiving!!

I hope each of you have a wonderful day with your family and friends.

 

I can do this!

Three more weeks. 

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.

If this next test and research paper don't kill me first! 

Y'all have a great day.

I love my #63!

R1 had a great football season. I'm so proud of him. He put forth a great effort, played hard, and gave it everything he had. 

I love you #63!

 

I'm at a loss here

I know you can here me say, I'm at a loss here in my best "the geek" voice from Sixteen Candles were they go to the party and the geek leans on the table stacked with beer cans and knocks them over. Then three big tough guys stand up and groan. 

I know now you are thinking...this person knows way to much about the movie Sixteen Candles. And yes you are correct. I could recite the entire movie. I watch it every time it comes on and I own it. It's one of my all time favorite movies. 

And now since I have gotten totally off the subject...

I just really need to vent here. In my class we had a group assignment. First I hate group assignments because you receive a grade based on something that other people had input on. I don't like or agree with that at all. Because lets be honest, what if their work is not on the same level as your work.

Here's what's going on.

My group consisted of me and two other people. One person has never even joined our group. The other person and I collaborated for a while and then she kinda dropped out. I emailed her several times and she finally responds last night at 8pm. Since I work on campus I emailed one of the professors and asked him what to do. He said if the one girl that has never joined our group contacts either of us to refer her to him. He also said that if the other person does post anything in our group board to just submit what I have.

Our project is due tonight by midnight. This leaves no time for corrections and trying to work out something together. It's a frustrating situation. I had my work submitted two weeks ago so we could work on it and now with less than 24 hours this person submits theirs. And it's just thrown together with not much organization. 

So now I have to submit what I would call sub-par work that will affect my grade. 

UGH!!

I know this makes me sound like a snob and I'm really not trying to be. I guess I just think that if I put forth my very best effort then I think the others in the group should too. 

OK, stepping off the soap box and going to watch Sixteen Candles. I know that will make me feel better. That and a few scoops of some Blue Bell Ice Cream.





 

The cleanest toilet on the block

A few weeks ago a friend on Facebook posted about a new punishment for her children and I thought it was brilliant and would give it a try. 

She said if her kids back talked her or argued with her or were just ugly to their siblings they would have to clean the toilet and maybe the entire bathroom. 

Well I jumped on this because I live with three boys. And three boys and the bathroom...lets just stop there you get the picture. 

So Hubs and I talked and agreed it sounded like a great punishment. We sat the boys down and told them of the new rule. To be honest, they were kinda shocked by what we just said. Basically a dirty mouth equals a clean bathroom. 

The boys did great for the first few days and then the niceness began to wear off. And lets just say I was reaping the benefits. It seemed that everyday for a while one of them was in there wiping down the toilet with the Clorox Wipes.

I know this doesn't say much for the boys and their dirty mouths. But what I really mean by dirty mouth is no backing talking to me or Hubs. No telling each other to "shut up" and no name calling. When asked to do something, do it with no lip.

The "fun" of cleaning the toilet only lasted about 8.7 seconds before the arguing started and then it turned into cleaning the bathroom. Lets just say that when we cleaned the house Saturday and the argue starting the boys thought they were scott free because I had just cleaned the bathrooms. 

Boy were they wrong. 

They then had to dust, sweep, mop, and vacuum. So not only do I now have the cleanest toilet on the block but I now have a clean house to go with it. 

As much as I want them to stop having a dirty mouth I sure am loving the cleanness.