My pastor today shared a great message about TRUSTING GOD! He used a lot of great scriptures that I have known for a long time growing up in the church. They had new meaning for me today and that is what I love about church and the scriptures...you can never stop learning and growing!
Proverbs 3:5-6 TRUST in the Lord with ALL your heart and LEAN NOT on your OWN understanding; in ALL your ways acknowledge HIM, and he will make your paths straight.
He talked about how God teaches us to trust in Him when we come to the end of our rope! Last night as I laid down to bed, I sure did feel like I was at the end of my rope when it comes to my kids and their obedience and respect to me as their mom. I prayed about it and really felt like God was going to help me through this and really help me to teach my kids.
Isaiah 40:31 But those who HOPE in the LORD will RENEW their STRENGTH. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and NOT grow WEARY, they will walk and not be faint.
There was a lot more to the message, but the last part of the message was a challenge or question to think about...
Which one of MY ways might I be "holding" back from acknowledging God?
I am still thinking about this one...I know there are a lot of areas in my life that I try to control or take care of on my own...but I NEED God to give me that strength and I NEED to TRUST HIM more and more each day!
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Saturday, July 26, 2008
what to do????
I just don't know what to do anymore....
My kids can't get along for 5 minutes of the day. They fight, hurt, tease, and nag each other constantly. I know I NEED to do something about it and I just don't know what to do. I have read so many books on parenting and discipline. I have talked to many friends about this very issue. I guess it boils down to being scared of failing...of not staying consistent (like I know I need to). I want them to listen and obey and treat each other with love and respect. It is so hard...I have yelled most of the day at them. Thank goodness my parents came over for a few hours to visit because I was losing my mind. Of course they were pretty good while they were here. As soon as they left I took the kids to pick out a 99 cent movie at Blockbuster and we got some things for dinner and ice cream for dessert. We got home and of course they started fighting again. Before bed I blew up at them once again because they were fighting during teeth brushing...we do that every night, you would think they would have the system down by now. I tucked them each in and told them tomorrow is a new day and we are making changes around here....I am determined to make those changes and stick to them.........I think for so long I told myself not to be too hard on them, they've been through a lot with the divorce and my 2nd marriage...no more excuses. I need to discipline them because I love them and want the best for them. Don't get me wrong here...I do discipline. It's just not consistent and obviously not working. Ahhhhh....
Off to bed I go to pray and read my Bible and figure some things out!
My kids can't get along for 5 minutes of the day. They fight, hurt, tease, and nag each other constantly. I know I NEED to do something about it and I just don't know what to do. I have read so many books on parenting and discipline. I have talked to many friends about this very issue. I guess it boils down to being scared of failing...of not staying consistent (like I know I need to). I want them to listen and obey and treat each other with love and respect. It is so hard...I have yelled most of the day at them. Thank goodness my parents came over for a few hours to visit because I was losing my mind. Of course they were pretty good while they were here. As soon as they left I took the kids to pick out a 99 cent movie at Blockbuster and we got some things for dinner and ice cream for dessert. We got home and of course they started fighting again. Before bed I blew up at them once again because they were fighting during teeth brushing...we do that every night, you would think they would have the system down by now. I tucked them each in and told them tomorrow is a new day and we are making changes around here....I am determined to make those changes and stick to them.........I think for so long I told myself not to be too hard on them, they've been through a lot with the divorce and my 2nd marriage...no more excuses. I need to discipline them because I love them and want the best for them. Don't get me wrong here...I do discipline. It's just not consistent and obviously not working. Ahhhhh....
Off to bed I go to pray and read my Bible and figure some things out!
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
BFF's...
The other day Drew & Autumn were playing outside with blankets and backpacks and all kinds of little stuff (junk)! I asked them what they had in their backpacks and Autumn showed me a card that she had given to Drew...it was a Valentine card from Nana & Papa. They both took their cards and changed them to be to each other. Than Autumn says, "Me & Drew are BFF's!" I asked, "What does that mean (just wandering if she really knew)?" She said, "Best Friends Forever!" Then they grabbed hands and walked away together! Oh so cute!
Those are the moments I want to remember! Not the fighting and bickering that has been going on way too much around here. Why can't we just all get along and be BFF's all day every day!!!
Those are the moments I want to remember! Not the fighting and bickering that has been going on way too much around here. Why can't we just all get along and be BFF's all day every day!!!
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Lots going on...
We have been a busy family this weekend! Craig is off work until the 14th because of a bulging disk in his back/neck. He is going to Physical Therapy three times a week to get back in place. Having him home 24/7 has been good and very different. I find myself so lazy when he is around. I don't keep the house picked up or anything like I usually would when he is gone.
Thursday night we took the kids to the Plymouth Fireworks at McLumpha Park! It was great just late at night! We got there around 8:30pm (Drew & Autumn fell asleep on the way there which was good). We played on the big hill until Grandma Neville (Lou) arrived to watch the fireworks with us. Finally around 10:15pm they started...We got home around 11:00pm. The kids went right to sleep and we did too!
Yesterday, on the 4th of July, we stuck around home until around 3:30pm. We went to my parents house to grill some hot dogs and then went to see Wall-E the movie! It was a good movie and the kids enjoyed liked it.
Today we are once again just hanging around the house. Played outside with the neighbors awhile then came in to eat. We are going to Rob & Ellen's later for a BBQ with our small group. That will be nice. I am not sure how much Bible Study time we will get tonight but it is nice to just get together.
Tomorrow is the end of the weekend but we have plans again...after church we will eat a light lunch and then around 3pm do a BBQ with Michael & Katherine across the street. Their girls, Jessica & Miley, are fun and we are hopefully gonna get the slip in slide out and just relax some more!
I am ready for Monday when we can get back into a routine and I can hopefully get motivated to clean up our big mess of a house! The kids have been playing in the Living Room with "tents" they made out of blankets and furniture! They love it and if they are playing nice together, I don't care about the mess!
Thursday night we took the kids to the Plymouth Fireworks at McLumpha Park! It was great just late at night! We got there around 8:30pm (Drew & Autumn fell asleep on the way there which was good). We played on the big hill until Grandma Neville (Lou) arrived to watch the fireworks with us. Finally around 10:15pm they started...We got home around 11:00pm. The kids went right to sleep and we did too!
Yesterday, on the 4th of July, we stuck around home until around 3:30pm. We went to my parents house to grill some hot dogs and then went to see Wall-E the movie! It was a good movie and the kids enjoyed liked it.
Today we are once again just hanging around the house. Played outside with the neighbors awhile then came in to eat. We are going to Rob & Ellen's later for a BBQ with our small group. That will be nice. I am not sure how much Bible Study time we will get tonight but it is nice to just get together.
Tomorrow is the end of the weekend but we have plans again...after church we will eat a light lunch and then around 3pm do a BBQ with Michael & Katherine across the street. Their girls, Jessica & Miley, are fun and we are hopefully gonna get the slip in slide out and just relax some more!
I am ready for Monday when we can get back into a routine and I can hopefully get motivated to clean up our big mess of a house! The kids have been playing in the Living Room with "tents" they made out of blankets and furniture! They love it and if they are playing nice together, I don't care about the mess!
Monday, June 30, 2008
Home from vacation!
We are home from a great week in the Smokey Mountains of Tennessee! My parents figured we have been going there to the Hidden Mountain Resorts for 17 years now.
Craig was off of work a couple days before we were heading down to TN so he flew down to Atlanta to spend some time with Ryan. They went to Six Flags and Craig's shoulder hasn't been the same since...that just means I get my husband around the house an extra week or two! We still had fun on vacation!
The kids and I drove down following my parents starting on Friday (20th). Autumn rode with Nana & Papa and I had the boys! It was great! They watched movies as I listened to my ipod and enjoyed the scenery around us. That night we stopped in Dry Ridge, KY and got a good nights sleep before finishing our journey.
The mountains are just gorgeous. I couldn't help but be sit there in awe while I was driving just thanking God for the beauty around me. We got to the cabin and enjoyed a little bit of time in the hot tub.
On Sunday the rest of the family arrived. Starting with Craig & Ryan around 2pm...we showed them around, played some ping pong, a little pool on the pool table, and prepared dinner. Rob, Ellen, Josh, Emily, Hannah & Ethan joined us around 6pm for dinner! Then around 8pm Aunt Sue, Uncle Rick, Gage & Zack arrived. The teenagers hit it off and had some fun on the Wii (Rob too of course)!
On Monday the 8 guys went on a 10 mile hike up a steep mountainside in the Smokey Mountain National Park! It took them ALL day! We played with the kids and took them out shopping for their new Webkinz! Grandpa & Memaw Pritchett joined us with Amber & Ariel! It was fun to see them and visit some...if you are keeping count, that makes about 22 people in our cabin at some points of the trip! Thank God there were 3 levels to spread out on :) Rob told his kids it was mandatory to swim EVERY day of the trip so we did...Ellen & I sat and watched while Rob took the kids in because the water was so cold. Not a heated pool!
On Tuesday the ladies enjoyed some shopping time, we took the kids to the park, and relaxed some.
Wednesday we all went to Ober Gatlinburg. The guys played at the arcade, Rob & Ellen took Josh & Emily down the mountain slides, the rest of us went up the mountain for another great view on the ski lift! That evening we had some pizza & salad and went to "The Track"...a great place for everyone. The little kids enjoyed the ferris wheel, go carts, swings, and other rides while the big kids enjoyed the Go Carts! The first round the little kids went with the big kids.
Thursday was the day the Pire clan & the Pritchett clan left the cabin. Craig flew home that night to get into the doctor first thing Friday morning. The rest of took some time to relax and just play around the cabin. Alex was into the Wii and playing all the sports. Nana was playing some bowling with the kids. Rob, Ellen & I got away to do some more shopping at the outlets! We had our favorite BBQ chicken kabobs that night.
Friday we all went on a hike up to Laurel Falls. It is a 3 mile round trip hike up a mountain to see some beautiful waterfalls. Papa & Rob took turns pushing Nana in the wheelchair so she wouldn't miss out on any of the fun! The kids did great...the occasional whine and complain but I was getting tired myself so I understood their pain! Almost to the bottom and it started to pour down rain! We went back to the cabin and cleaned up for our favorite restaurant...The Apple Barn! We all sat around and told what our favorite thing was about the trip and then we went around again and said one nice thing about the person next to us. It was nice to hear the kids come up with great things to say about others! After dinner the guys took the kids back to the cabin and once again Mom, Ellen & I hit some last minute stores...we found some GREAT deals!
Saturday was pack it up and head home day! It was a long day! It was so nice to come home and have my hubby waiting to help us unload and greet us after a 10 hour trip in the car!
I am so blessed and it was such a great week. Even thought there were times of chaos, it was fun and once again we made memories we will never forget! I'll post some pictures after I get the disk from my mom & Ellen (I took some pictures but they always take LOTS)
Craig was off of work a couple days before we were heading down to TN so he flew down to Atlanta to spend some time with Ryan. They went to Six Flags and Craig's shoulder hasn't been the same since...that just means I get my husband around the house an extra week or two! We still had fun on vacation!
The kids and I drove down following my parents starting on Friday (20th). Autumn rode with Nana & Papa and I had the boys! It was great! They watched movies as I listened to my ipod and enjoyed the scenery around us. That night we stopped in Dry Ridge, KY and got a good nights sleep before finishing our journey.
The mountains are just gorgeous. I couldn't help but be sit there in awe while I was driving just thanking God for the beauty around me. We got to the cabin and enjoyed a little bit of time in the hot tub.
On Sunday the rest of the family arrived. Starting with Craig & Ryan around 2pm...we showed them around, played some ping pong, a little pool on the pool table, and prepared dinner. Rob, Ellen, Josh, Emily, Hannah & Ethan joined us around 6pm for dinner! Then around 8pm Aunt Sue, Uncle Rick, Gage & Zack arrived. The teenagers hit it off and had some fun on the Wii (Rob too of course)!
On Monday the 8 guys went on a 10 mile hike up a steep mountainside in the Smokey Mountain National Park! It took them ALL day! We played with the kids and took them out shopping for their new Webkinz! Grandpa & Memaw Pritchett joined us with Amber & Ariel! It was fun to see them and visit some...if you are keeping count, that makes about 22 people in our cabin at some points of the trip! Thank God there were 3 levels to spread out on :) Rob told his kids it was mandatory to swim EVERY day of the trip so we did...Ellen & I sat and watched while Rob took the kids in because the water was so cold. Not a heated pool!
On Tuesday the ladies enjoyed some shopping time, we took the kids to the park, and relaxed some.
Wednesday we all went to Ober Gatlinburg. The guys played at the arcade, Rob & Ellen took Josh & Emily down the mountain slides, the rest of us went up the mountain for another great view on the ski lift! That evening we had some pizza & salad and went to "The Track"...a great place for everyone. The little kids enjoyed the ferris wheel, go carts, swings, and other rides while the big kids enjoyed the Go Carts! The first round the little kids went with the big kids.
Thursday was the day the Pire clan & the Pritchett clan left the cabin. Craig flew home that night to get into the doctor first thing Friday morning. The rest of took some time to relax and just play around the cabin. Alex was into the Wii and playing all the sports. Nana was playing some bowling with the kids. Rob, Ellen & I got away to do some more shopping at the outlets! We had our favorite BBQ chicken kabobs that night.
Friday we all went on a hike up to Laurel Falls. It is a 3 mile round trip hike up a mountain to see some beautiful waterfalls. Papa & Rob took turns pushing Nana in the wheelchair so she wouldn't miss out on any of the fun! The kids did great...the occasional whine and complain but I was getting tired myself so I understood their pain! Almost to the bottom and it started to pour down rain! We went back to the cabin and cleaned up for our favorite restaurant...The Apple Barn! We all sat around and told what our favorite thing was about the trip and then we went around again and said one nice thing about the person next to us. It was nice to hear the kids come up with great things to say about others! After dinner the guys took the kids back to the cabin and once again Mom, Ellen & I hit some last minute stores...we found some GREAT deals!
Saturday was pack it up and head home day! It was a long day! It was so nice to come home and have my hubby waiting to help us unload and greet us after a 10 hour trip in the car!
I am so blessed and it was such a great week. Even thought there were times of chaos, it was fun and once again we made memories we will never forget! I'll post some pictures after I get the disk from my mom & Ellen (I took some pictures but they always take LOTS)
Monday, June 16, 2008
Big Words...
the last few weeks we have been really talking to the kids about love and respect. Some mornings they are so cranky and tired and won't even say Good Morning...that is rude. We have been talking about using our words to be kind to others even when we don't want to. Alex learned an important word in Kindergarten this year. His teacher Mr. Lloyd had the letters INTEGRITY really big on the bookshelf in the classroom. When I first walked in I thought, "That is too big a work for those little kids." Boy was I wrong. Alex came home the first week of school telling me all about integrity. He says it like this, "Integrity is doing what is right when somebody is looking and even when nobody is looking." That's right...but God is always watching. I thought that was so cool that my little 5 year old could tell me such a big word. It challenged me that maybe I'm not giving my kids enough credit that they can learn more and understand those big words and the impact they have in our lives.
Our key words right now...Love, Respect, Integrity, Truth, Listen & Obey! Such important things to know and really use in our daily life.
Our key words right now...Love, Respect, Integrity, Truth, Listen & Obey! Such important things to know and really use in our daily life.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Summer officially begins...
Today marks our official begin to Summer Vacation! Drew & Autumn have done with preschool since May 15th but Alex finished Kindergarten today and is now a 1st grader! I am not the emotional type mom to get gooey about something like that, but today I did! My kids are growing up too fast!
Here are some pictures from the first days of school and the last...
Today was productive. It started with dropping Alex off for his last day of Kindergarten! Then I dropped Drew & Autumn off at my sisters so I could go bathing suit shopping...not fun! I have been looking for a new bathing suit for a couple weeks now. It hit me that the 12 pounds I have gained doesn't look so good in my bathing suit. I can admit that last summer I needed to gain a few, but I don't want all of it. I am working out daily and trying to eat better too! The other day Craig and I were running some errands and my bathing suit shopping began...very depressing. I came home and found a few cute ones on the internet but decided I wouldn't get in time for our upcoming family vacation and if I did get it, it might not even look good. So, my sister was gracious enough to watch the little ones while I went out again...I found one and at Meijers of all places! I also found a cute one at Target but decided I liked the other one better! I feel better now just knowing I have something descent to where. After my shopping spree I went back to the school to pick up Alex. He was excited. Got his report card from Mr. Lloyd, took their picture together and that was it...he is now a first grader! I can't believe it!
To celebrate the end of the school year and beginning of summer, I took the kids to the Plymouth Spray Park...boy was it busy! There were people everywhere but the kids had a blast. Alex's friend Andrew and his mom Robin and brother Kevin went with us and we enjoyed our time together!
I am exhausted and can't wait for bedtime tonight. The kids are pretty tired too and will be going to bed real soon!
Here are some pictures from the first days of school and the last...
Today was productive. It started with dropping Alex off for his last day of Kindergarten! Then I dropped Drew & Autumn off at my sisters so I could go bathing suit shopping...not fun! I have been looking for a new bathing suit for a couple weeks now. It hit me that the 12 pounds I have gained doesn't look so good in my bathing suit. I can admit that last summer I needed to gain a few, but I don't want all of it. I am working out daily and trying to eat better too! The other day Craig and I were running some errands and my bathing suit shopping began...very depressing. I came home and found a few cute ones on the internet but decided I wouldn't get in time for our upcoming family vacation and if I did get it, it might not even look good. So, my sister was gracious enough to watch the little ones while I went out again...I found one and at Meijers of all places! I also found a cute one at Target but decided I liked the other one better! I feel better now just knowing I have something descent to where. After my shopping spree I went back to the school to pick up Alex. He was excited. Got his report card from Mr. Lloyd, took their picture together and that was it...he is now a first grader! I can't believe it!
To celebrate the end of the school year and beginning of summer, I took the kids to the Plymouth Spray Park...boy was it busy! There were people everywhere but the kids had a blast. Alex's friend Andrew and his mom Robin and brother Kevin went with us and we enjoyed our time together!I am exhausted and can't wait for bedtime tonight. The kids are pretty tired too and will be going to bed real soon!
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