Mad Life-Skills

Intentionally, I think we want to live a better life.  I believe we are responsible for choosing the path we'll follow.  But herein lies the problem - We complain about how others live, yet we live the same way they do, even we think we don't!   I'm sure we all want to do better and live the best life we can.  We spend too much time comparing our lives to the lives of others.  

"Oh I won't eat that, it's junkfood!"  "I would never do that."  "I can't believe you don't eat organic food!"  "Wow, that plate looks like a heart attack just waiting to happen."  "I could never feed my kid chicken nuggets, gross."  "Juice, no way, it's full of sugar!"  "There's no red 40 or MSG in our diets, that's toxic stuff."  Blardy, blar blah!  ...  And the list goes on and on.  I think we try to justify our supposed 'better' lifestyle by comparing our lives to the lives of others whom we think are totally doing it wrong.  "Well at least I'm not doing dot dot dot ..." (Fill in the blank). 

Have you ever noticed moms who sit around and compare the bestness of their children?  Comparing their mad momma skills and it all comes off like it's a competition to see who is doing it 'best'.  Being a mom/dad/parent is tough work, I don't care who you are!  It's hard to rear children.  I say you are doing the best you can, and you're doing awesome!  Just keep marching to beat of your parenting drum and get your roll on!

Live your life your way, stop the comparison.  You are responsible for the happiness and the bestness of your life.  Who cares if you don't eat organic, whole foods, who cares if your entire diet consists of fried foods, or refined sugar and chocolate or caffeine.  The choice is yours. I'm not saying it's healthy by any means, not for you or me or our children or anyone else for that matter.  I'm simply saying to LOVE the life you live, because you'll only find yourself miserable and feeling worthless by comparing your life to everyone else's.

Too many people use their 'better' lifestyle to launch themselves into a cesspool of snobbiness.... Because this makes them better than you, at life!   It's makes me not want to be around someone with that kind of toxic personality.  I can't stand that.

Here's a toast to living a mad crazy awesome life, because this is YOUR LIFE TO LOVE, YOUR LIFE TO LIVE.

Fabulously 40!

So, last month I turned the big 4-0!  I decided that instead of being bummed about hitting this huge milestone, I figured I would embrace it and be glad to have been blessed with the 40 years I've been given so far.  There are many many people who will never make it to 40.  I am so grateful God had allowed me to make it thus far.

My day started out with a ladies breakfast at my home church, beautifully decorated tables, a lovely speaker, and nice breakfast prepared by the hands of a bunch of baptist men.  I decorated two tables, one was an Over the Hiill birthday theme (because the breakfast was on Feb 8th, which was my birthday), the 2nd one was Star Wars themed (it was very poplular!).  It was a nice morning/afternoon.

When I arrived home to my family, I was greeted by some decorations and a Dairy Queen Oreo  ice cream cake - it was goooooo-ood!  I received a few gifts.  I got a larger Orgreenic pan - mostly for panclarks.  

Had a restful afternoon.  Hubby had some plans for us for later on but I didn't know what we were doing except that we had to leave by a certain time and that he had a quick errand to run on the sly.  We left at the specified time and headed in an Iguana Joe's type direction.  I knew when we turn off our street and went left, that was where we were going.  Yes!  I figured he'd have invited my brother and family, simple dinner.  Nope!  He got the party room and invited my bro and family, my BFF and her family and his BFF and his family - all the people I cared about being there were in that room!   We got there first and the rest trickled in.  I was excited to see everyone.  He did a great job!  I was so blessed to be surrounded by my loved ones and that was really all that mattered.  A very enjoyable time!  And we had our favorite server, Ms. Ruby who is 1/2 my age and doesn't believe that I was turning 40.    

I was missing my sweet momma up in heaven though, it was weird to be celebrating this 40 without her here.  Missed my daddy too, way up in Minnesota and who knows when I'll get the chance to see him again.  Missed my dad and mom in Louisiana too.  Wished they could have ALL been there.  All in all, it was a GREAT Birthday!  Hubby made is more special than he realizes, it was EXACTLY what I wanted.

Happy 40th Birthday to ME! 

Enamored with Enamel and other things that peel

Ok, I am absolutely enamored with enamel!!  I love nail polish!  There are so many colors, textures, glitters in fine, medium and jumbo glitter shapes, there are glazes, crackle finishes, matte colors, glossy enamels, pearlized, iridescent, holographic, metallic.... I can go on, but I'll spare you the torture.  My point is that I love nail color!... and toenail color!  (especially glittered!)
In conjunction with the nail polish obsession, I have a really bad habit of nail biting, which I quit doing that a long time ago, but I had to replace it with something else.  Its the act of keeping my hands busy.  Besides, I've learned just how gross nail biting is.  Totally grossed out by watching my sons chew on their toenails of all things!  I mean seriously, how limber are these boys to actually be able to do that.  (who knows, I probably chewed on mine when I could actually get my foot that close to my mouth).
Anyways....

My bad habit of nail biting totally became nail polish peeling.  Yes, totally on purpose.  I'm pretty sure there is a name for it but I cant remember it and Google has no clue what I'm talking about.  I am usually walking around with half my nails painted and the other half peeled/picked off.  I love the glitter ones because they are the easiest to get off!!  This doesn't stop with nail polish, I also peel the coating off of Styrofoam plates and or bowls and I still like to resort back to 2nd grade at times and cover my arms with Elmer's school glue, waiting for just the right time to peel it off only realizing I jumped the gun again and begun to peel it too soon. Good grief, can't this crap dry any faster and why does it have to pull my hair so bad!!  Don't even get me started on satin finish or semi-gloss paint left in a paint tray!  
If I have left a trail of glitter at your house, your business or in front of the pew I sit in at church, please accept my apologies.

She always leave a trail of glitter everywhere she goes (me!) ......

Stop the hate, spread the love

There’s this unfortunate side of life where no one agrees with anyone else, we each have our own stance on what truth is and what it’s not.  We each have different passions and those are made known through our words or actions or what we participate in.

Take religion for example….scratch the example part.  Let’s talk religion, spirituality, relationship or whatever you’d like to refer to it as. 

The bible has been translated so many times that it seems “man” adds to the word of God or takes away from it or interprets it in a way that contextually it loses its true meaning, it’s intended meaning from when it was actually spoken or God-inspired to the writer who penned those words.  There are numerous translations of the bible as well as many different languages, and the text itself being theologically reworded to a more understandable level.   The ability to comprehend what the word says comes from God.  He is the one who gives us the wisdom to read into the word what it was intended to say from the get go.

We are not all going to agree on every single thing that is in the Word (in translation) because to each one of us a particular scripture could mean anything, especially when we relate it to what’s currently happening in our life.

There is a huge uproar with Christianity, this has been going on for a long time.  Everywhere, across the globe, Christians are facing persecution for their faith, they’re being mocked, martyred, rights of religious freedom are being taken away, ten commandments being removed, prayer not allowed in school, the moral fabric of our country is being ripped apart stitch by stitch on a daily basis.  We are allowing ourselves to be abused by the media.  It’s “said” repeatedly that all Christians hate gays and lesbians and of course the ever so famous one “all Christians are hypocrites.”  We’ll get that that in a moment.

 

As Christians, we place our faith in a man named Jesus, who says he’s the son of God, but there are lots of people who believe he is just a teacher and a prophet who died a criminal’s death.  Personally, I believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, the one true God.  I have placed my faith in Him.  I trust in Jesus, for he is my Savior.  I also believe that the bible is the infallible word of God. 

Back to my mention of gays, lesbians, same sex marriage, hypocrisy, Christian folks hating on others, others hating on Christians and the like.  Hate has to stop, but it has to begin somewhere.

I know what the bible says about marriage – man + woman = biblical marriage.  As a Christian, this is what I believe.  But I am not going to mistreat someone else, or make feel like less of a person for the choices they make in their life.  God is in charge of their heart changes; therefore, I won’t stand in judgment of that.   My place is not to judge ANYONE.  I can still uphold my beliefs and what I value in the Word of God and not become caught up in their world or their lifestyle – but I can still love them!

Hypocrites.  Yes, we are ALL hypocrites, especially those who think they aren’t.  I believe what the bible says, truly I do!  Do I live it every day?  No, I honestly don’t.  Do you realize how hard that is?  All we can do is strive to be Jesus to a broken and damaged world.   Honestly there are days that I don’t really feel all Jesus-like – at all!   Sometimes, when days are rough, emotions are raw and I just ain’t feeling it today – I just want to be free to meddle in my own bad thoughts.   So yes, I too am a hypocrite.  If you’ve ever or never graced the door of a church, you too are a hypocrite my friend.  And if you’ve never been to a church – think about the world you’re living in, anything you said you’d never do and you did it or still do it anyway?   Hypocrite.  I am seeking help for my hypocrisy.  What are you doing about yours?

I understand so many are bound by old school thinking, that’s the way there were raised and that’s the way their church taught them or maybe they are just very black and white when it comes to reading scripture.  I respect that.  I wasn’t raised in church, at all.   I realized my need for Jesus in 2006, that’s when I gave Him my heart.  I wasn’t raised to believe the all hell, fire and brimstone side of God’s word.  When I began going to church, I learned of God’s love, love came first.  As I grew and lost my sea-legs, I began to wade into the word more and more and have been learning every since…. I know about the wrath and wiping out the planet due to sin.  It doesn’t change the fact that I serve a loving God.  Serving God to me is by loving the unlovable, taking care of the less fortunate, not passing judgment on anyone , loving and accepting His people, his creations.

The bottom line to all this is simply this – we all need Jesus, even those of us who have Jesus, need more of him or we wouldn’t be acting like we have no Jesus at all.  How do you expect the world to listen to you and the hope you have when you aren’t acting any better than an everyday, unrepentant sinner.

Good heavens we all need a Savior, so act like you truly have one, then maybe someone who doesn’t have one, will maybe one day want yours!

Can’t we just love each other and leave the rest to God.  

New Years, ummmm, Decisions

I've sat here today and reflected upon the last year and I have concluded that there are some changes I'd like to make in '14.  Some things I would like to fix about myself - physically and mentally, the way I think, my financial situation, and mostly my relationships with my hubby and boys.

I don't believe in making a resolution that I can't stick to, promises to myself that I won't keep, and disappointing myself  all over again, then ultimately giving in and giving up.  Ending up frustrated and never facing the decisions I've made.  I have to allow myself some grace when I mess up and then dust off my bottom and get back up.

Attempting these changes.

* Physically - weight, manage my food consumption

* Mentally - lose the negative thoughts, begin to move passed some things

* Financial - possibly job hunting, following God's guidance

* Relationships - treat others the way I want to be treated, show them who Jesus is through me, love them with all my heart

Sounds like I have some serious work to do on myself, but I can't do it in my own strength, I rely on God to change me as He sees fit.  I am still under construction!

IT'S 2014, SO, HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Chillin with my homies

On this glorious last day of 2013, we spent the day at home, actually we've spent several days at home. This morning our plans were foiled by my son, who woke me up this morning at 7:30ish to inform me of his vomiting escapades through the night - what fresh hell is this?  Here we are all packed up and ready to be on the road to my aunts' for a couple days (I desperately needed to get out of town).  We thought we'd wait a couple hours and see what happens and maybe it was just an upset stomach - because in this house, that's a very common occurrence, lucky us!  After he ate a piece of bread and drank a little water and lost it, that's when we figured it may be more than just a tummy issue.  Yeeeess!  Just what I wanted to end the year with. We like to do things BIG around here.  I am crossing my fingers that no one else gets it too.  I've heard that this garbage has been going around for a while.  I try to keep the boys from people whom I know have been sick or been around other sick persons... and I make them wash their hands, which is one of the horrible things I ask them to do that's for sure to make them wind up in a therapist office one day.  Guess what happened this evening?  Yep, started running fever.  This excites me beyond words.  Now I don't have to worry only about him puking everywhere tonight, I am also pretty sure he won't be able to keep down a fever reducer.  Good for me, I am an essential oil junkie, so peppermint oil to the rescue!  

My youngest hijacked my ipad earlier and has pretty much camped out with it all day.  I think he misses his brother hanging out with him.  I can say it's been much quieter in this house today.  I can't complain too much, the kids hardly ever get sick.  I am very thankful for that.

This pretty much encompasses my New Years Eve Day - 

Rice Football (they lost), a handsome dog curled up on my feet, child #1 has a stomach bug and currently contaminating my love seat, child #2 has hijacked my ipad yet again ... this is how we wrap up 2013. Party on. On a positive note - I have Cheetos Puffs and that makes life extra cheesy and finger-licking good, it's just a crying shame they aren't stale already. That's okay, because tomorrow is another day for stale PUFFS!

Get your act together

I was at a ladies retreat Nov 1-2 and then again Nov 8-10.  At the first retreat I went with a group of ladies, whom I've been going with each year, this is my 4th year in a row to go with them.  It was themed - The Frazzled Female and how to rely on God to give you the rest you need, how to manage your time so you're less frazzled and not to overload your plate because you can't be everywhere, all the time.  Some things are just not as important as we think they are.  Skits, music, games, fellowship and food, all followed up by our main guest speaker for the retreat.  It was a nice time to relax and just retreat without being responsible for the retreat itself (like I will be the next retreat).  Too bad I got all ticked off during this retreat due to the childish antics of a more mature woman...or shall I say very immature Christian woman.... grrrrr.

So then the following week, I gathered, packed, searched for, stuffed and studied, as I went through the women's ministry closet to get things together for our retreat for my home church.  Our theme was First Love, based on Psalm 51:10-12 - restoring the joy of our salvation and the hope we had in our hearts when we first came to know Jesus.  I so wanted to be prepared for this retreat and for it make a huge impact, not for me, but I truly wanted God to move among our ladies.  I desired His presence to be felt by everyone there.  I was so excited to see what He was going to do, breaking chains, freeing the captives, setting the ladies free, no more bondage.  As a part of the women's ministry, I have a responsibility to God to live by scripture and to minister to the ladies he sets before me - as I have been called to 'women's ministry'.  The retreat was waaaaay better than my expectations, because even my best can't outdo God!  God showed up, that was my prayer!

Here we are 7 weeks away from those 2 retreats.  I am at a loss.  I would like to chalk it up to being November/December busyness.  But I am not sure what I feel anymore.  I still have the same desire to see these ladies fall prostrate before God and love him in the fullness of who He is.  No matter what 'I' do, I can't make them love God more than they do.  Opportunities can be offered to these ladies, but that doesn't mean they're going to open the door.  I think folks (men & women) are just at a point where they are comfortable.  They don't want to be moved.  They don't want to be challenged.  They aren't motivated to participate in anything.  They aren't open to change.  Their walk doesn't matter much to them anymore.  They're complacent.

At this point I am asking myself these same questions above....  that's scary.  I am not judging them, it's just as if God has revealed this to me as a heart issue - with ME.  I am merely comparing what I think/see/feel with other ladies.  What does this mean?  

God doesn't like lukewarm.