Blog Thoughts...

Well, I have become the blogger that I never wanted to be! :) I didn't want to become one that let a couple of months lapse between posts, but I have. I guess I have been on a summer break! In fact, this blog has taken me weeks to finish. Anyway, throughout the last couple of months, several things have come to mind about what I could share, but I have never had the time to sit down and actually do it. The older my precious kids get, the busier I seem to be. Whatever the case may be and whether I am blogging or not, I consider the start of my blog to be a blessing to me. That is why I have entitled this entry, "Blog Thoughts." As soon as I began my blog, I considered it to be a ministry of mine, but even when I am not able to sit down and share my thoughts, I am still thinking of things I can write about.....positive things related to the goodness of our Lord. I consider all of my "blog thoughts" to be of the Lord and what I am even more thankful for is that I have these thoughts. I don't know if I am making any sense at all, but let me try to explain. This world is so full of negativity, trash, filth, sadness, fear, and things that simply disgust our God, and even when we aren't trying to be of the world, it is very easy to have these things overshadow our thoughts in a negative way. I know I struggle with this daily and even if my thoughts aren't necessarily "filthy," I do struggle with things just as bad. We all have things that fill our mind that shouldn't. This is a normal thing and something we can't avoid, but what we can do is think of other things to offset what could literally tear us down if we let it. And...I do firmly believe that God sends "blog thoughts" our way to remind us of His presence and the blessings that we have. We just can't shut them out and/or ignore them.


My dad used to always say to me....if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all. I know we have all heard that saying before. Because he taught me this growing up, I think of this all of the time and do catch myself stopping mid-sentence before saying some things, especially if I am with a group of people where gossip is in the making. (I wish this worked every time, because I have definitely had my share of sticking my foot in my mouth!) This can also apply to our thoughts. If you catch yourself going down the wrong lane of thoughts, stop and turn around. Nothing positive can come out of something negative and negative thoughts will indefinitely lead to negativity in your life. 
Well, back to where I was going with this....my "blog thoughts" are good for me because when I find myself thinking, "I could share this on my blog," it is usually something that encourages me and lifts my spirits even if it is just for a moment. Sometimes that is just what we need in the middle of a busy day that could be filled with receiving bad news, feeling sorry for yourself, feeling negative toward someone, coming across a person that was just plain out rude to you, or just waking up feeling down. Next time you have one of these days, don't block out the "blog thoughts" that God sends your way as these can be that little reminder that He is with you. And no, you don't have to have a blog to "think" them! When you feel even just a little bit of encouragement inside, I can almost bet you that it is your loving Savior just squeezing your shoulder saying, "get up....keep going....I am with you." 


These "blog thoughts," are great, but on the other hand, we all go through seasons of life where we feel God is passing us by. Can you relate? We know that God never leaves us, but there are definitely times when we feel alone. I came across an old CD a couple of weeks ago that I had forgotten all about. My favorite song on the CD is Pass Me Not. It is an old hymn that has such a strong message. Hopefully we will do it in the praise band at church soon. Because I came across this hymn, I have looked into it and the true meaning of the words. So many times I have sang hymns such as this one and never really known what I was singing about. This song goes along with exactly what I spoke of above and I am speechless when I think of how God brought this all together. By reading the lyrics of, Pass Me Not, Oh Gentle Savior, you can definitely tell that it was written during the 19th century. We might overlook songs such as this because of the way they are written, but thank God, I didn't this time. 

• Pass me not, O gentle Savior, Hear my humble cry; While on others Thou art calling, Do not pass me by. Savior, Savior, Hear my humble cry; While on others Thou art calling, Do not pass me by. Let me at Thy throne of mercy, Find a sweet relief, Kneeling there in deep contrition; Help my unbelief.

When I read this, I can definitely relate to Fannie Crosby, even though it was written so long ago. She is basically talking about how God makes calls to others and she pleads for Him to hear her cry and not to "pass her not." Have you ever felt that God is not near? Have you ever felt that our Savior is in hiding? I think we all have. I believe that these feelings do occur, but just for us to trust God even more. I know that He never leaves me (even though I have felt that way) and regardless, I trust God. That is faith. Sometimes we just need something to jump start it. 

Praise God that through our unbelief, God is still there and the ONLY thing that is always believable. He is unchanging. When God sends those "blog thoughts" your way, don't shut them out. It could be something that your hear on TV, a thought of something that happened in the past, circumstances of those around us, something you read in a book, or just a simple thought that reminds you how blessed you are. Whatever it may be, these are little bits of encouragement from God. He speaks to us in all sorts of ways and He can be in any shape or size. Never underestimate His power. He may seem distant, but He is always just a prayer of faith away. 

I guess I better go see what my girls are up to. I hear them in their room. I can only imagine what I will see when I open the door. Lately they have surprised me and pulled everything out of EVERY drawer and had a dress up show and Pate likes to get right in the middle of them! Here are a few pictures that are sure to bring a smile to your face! What blessings they are to me.....miracles.

 Kam

Hadden

 

Pate

We can never get a picture of all of them together. This is the best we could do:)

Homemade Pizza Night!

Funny how things change with time. When it was just me and Timmy, if someone asked us to do something on a Friday night, we didn't think twice about it. These days I ask myself, "Do I want to actually eat tonight or entertain two very lively little girls in a restaurant?" :) Last night was one of those nights, and we chose to stay home. We have a lot of fun together as a family and it is much more simple to just eat at home rather than pack up the entire house to go to Statesboro, etc....

We called our evening, "Homemade Pizza Night" and Kamryn & Hadden helped and made their own little pizza. I try to involve the girls in as much things as I can these days. For example, when I fold clothes, I ask them to help. Lola (Timmy's mom) actually taught Hadden how to hang shirts on a hanger! She rearranges the lower rack of my closet almost every day to her liking! When I clean the kitchen, they always want to help. Kamryn knows just what to do and always likes helping mommy clean up (I pray this continues as she gets older!). Little Miss Hadden is always cleaning too. She likes to have everything in order.....so much like me! Here is an adorable video from a while ago when I was first getting the girls involved in helping mommy do things around the house! I just had to share! I love the way Kamryn says, "thank you!"

Tonight, the girls had so much fun making their own individual cheese pizzas. First, we spread the pizza dough, then they each spooned out their own pizza sauce, and for their favorite part.....cheese! They love shredded cheese! I like that they eat cheese, but I sure wish they liked another kind besides shredded. You can imagine what the floor under their table looks like when they eat it. We also made shell pasta to eat with the leftover sauce and they really liked that too! I just love to see them eat! When they were smaller, I had such a hard time feeding them so it is very exciting to see them enjoy food finally. Pate is another story. He will eat anything!

I know I have so many pictures of my blog with the girls only in a diaper, but I promise that I dress them! Every time I turn my back, they have undressed themselves and are usually only wearing a diaper and shoes. 

 Hadden was very anxious for her pizza to get ready!

They both really enjoyed it!

When the girls walked away from their table, Pate went over to investigate and pulled down one of their plates. He can pull up now and is getting into everything! He knows that food is always on their little table so he goes for whatever he can get to! After the pizza fell, Kamryn went to get her broom to help clean it up....see, children definitely imitate their parents! 

I also made a large sausage pizza! It was so yummy!! Then of course I ended the evening with a diet coke and unfrosted, strawberry pop tart....you all know my ritual :)

Just as I was writing this and thinking about Pate's baby dedication at church tomorrow, I was reminded how much my children watch me every day. Wow! It humbles me to think that as parents, we have such a profound influence on shaping the thoughts and attitudes of our children. What a huge responsibility. I can't imagine taking on the feat of raising a family without the love and mercy of our Heavenly Father. It is sad to think that so many do..... 

What are your kids seeing when they watch you live your life? It’s amazing how much children learn when we don’t even know they’re watching! I pray that Timmy and I along with other Christian parents will be faithful to Christ starting in the home.This in turn will overflow into the hearts of children. The future of the next generation depends on this. With the direction this world is heading, we are in trouble.....just think of Jennifer Lopez's performance Wednesday night on American Idol, which is supposed to be a "family" show. I was also just flipping through the channels on TV and I came across a movie on Lifetime where 14 year olds were engaging in sexual activity. Really??? What is this world coming to? It is up to us Christian parents to make a difference in the lives of our precious angels. 

Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it. Proverbs 22:6

closet makeover...

When I shared my testimony a couple of weeks ago, the Lord was definitely with me and it felt good to be used in a different way than the ordinary. I was very nervous, but as I got started, the nerves went away and my thoughts began to flow as I focused on praising my Savior. I am usually a "behind the scenes" type person, but at this very moment, I pray that God would open a door if I should do something like that again. I just want to be used for Him and sometimes if you stand behind the scenes too much, you may miss out on an opportunity to stand for Christ and share your faith. I definitely have a problem of wandering what others think entirely too much. While this isn't a terrible trait, it can have a negative impact when speaking to others about Christ or simply standing up for what is right. I see this in my life quite a bit. I have been in situations before where others have spoken ugly about someone or something that shouldn't be talked about. So many times I didn't say anything when I should have. Timmy and I are convicted about this and we try to stay away from those situations. If we find ourselves involved or contributing (which we are all guilty of), we acknowledge each other and stop.I need to stand up for what is right more of the time. This isn't "too" hard in front of one or two people, but in a large group or meeting, it is difficult. I pray that God will help me when I am confronted with this again. Whatever and/or whoever is right deserves to be stood up for and you and I may have to be the ones that do if no one else will. Just like God gave me the words to say during my testimony, I pray that he would guide my words when I am faced with a similar situation. Since sharing my testimony, I have been faced by certain situations that have tested me.....things that satan knows will test me. I am very aware that satan is always on the prowl and he loves strife and things not of God. Because I took a stand for my Jesus, I know he is out to do that in my life, but I refuse to let him. 
Timmy went to Las Vegas last week for business. I missed him so much. Usually, when one of us goes out of town, we try to have a surprise for the one returning home. I racked my brains on what I could do for Timmy this time and the perfect idea came to me. We have a pretty large closet, but between the two of us and our love for shopping, we have done a very good job of making it look a lot smaller :)! I took it upon myself to go to Lowes and add additional features and storage options to our closet.....basically, the closet had a makeover! Timmy was very surprised...most of all because I actually did it all by myself. It turned out great and we have A LOT more room. Because I had to pretty much empty the closet to start the process. Therefore, I had to weed out a few of the things that I don't wear anymore. This is so hard to do! I find myself thinking I may use it later, when I haven't worn it for a year! When I was looking for ideas of ways to organize, I came across a blog that shared this quote, "when we clear out the things that don't matter, we make room for the things that do." This statement spoke to me in a lot of ways both literally and figuratively. This is probably because I definitely have a Type A personality. I tend to take on more than I should. I am also very organized, ambitious, and proactive. This personality type also tends to be sensitive as well as impatient, which is me all over! I hope that I can take this statement to heart and apply it to my life in many ways. Not only in my closet (haha), but also in my heart and mind. I encourage you all to do the same. Clear your mind of the negative, the worrisome attitude, arrogance, pride, the gossip, the doubt, the things in life that really have no significance at all, the fear of the unknown, the fret of what others may think when we stand of for what is right........and make room for the positive, the Lord, family, church and worship(not just on Sunday morning), being thankful, things that make you smile rather than cry, your true friends and those that really love you and build you up, caring for others.....you fill in the rest. This in turn will also help us take a stand for the things of God and stay away from situations of negativity as discussed in the first paragraph....a makeover of positivity! May you all have a wonderful rest of the weekend. God is so good in such a bad world. Let's weed out the ugly in our lives and only leave room for the beautiful flowers of Christ. Be on watch because satan will be out to get you, but remember...1 John 4:4:

But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.

  

Addition to previous post...

I was just reading Seeds From The Sower in the Penny Saver and what it said really stood out to me. It read, "St. Paul said, "Dear brothers, if a Christian is overcome by sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help him back onto the right path, remembering that next time it might be one of you who is in the wrong." In my prior post, I talked about how we can all be stumbling blocks, but we should also help each other get back on the right track when we struggle because it could be us on the other side the next time. This is so true and I just wanted to share. Night!

Stumbling blocks...

We recently celebrated Easter and we were reminded of the ultimate sacrifice that was taken for us. It definitely got me thinking about what I actually sacrifice for my Lord. 


I know it has been FOREVER since I posted last. I didn't want to be a blogger that went days without writing anything, but I guess I have become one :) When I first started blogging, several things came to mind, but I haven't had any of those "thoughts" lately.  I am sharing my testimony at church in a couple of weeks, and I have been praying a lot about it. It is so out of my element to stand up in front of a crowd and talk about myself and life, but I know the Lord has led me to do it. I feel good about it, but I am nervous. I just want to get my point across, and above all, I want to give Him the glory.


I am encouraged in the smallest of ways and last night, I was encouraged by something that was said on TV! I enjoy TV, probably because during the day I am unable to watch anything that doesn't involve singing the ABCs, Cedarmont Kids, or Elmo :) I refer to the shows I enjoy as "my shows" and I have one on every night but Friday! I record them and watch them usually much later than they actually air, but it is still one of my favorite past times. Anyway, last night, I was watching Dancing with the Stars, and Sherri Shepherd was voted off. I don't know much about her, but I have read that she is a Christian. I have read a lot of other questionable things about her, but I have to remember that our Lord is the Lord of second chances and I believe that with all my heart! She speaks publicly as her growth as a Christian and definitely seems to be a very positive person. It was very obvious that she was broken about being voted off of the show. She really did a good job so I was a bit surprised. After they announced her as the one who was leaving, she said something that really stuck out to me.... she said something like this....
"The thing that scares you the most and makes you say, "I don't know if I can do it" or "I'm scared," run toward it in full force because it is so amazing on the other side. 
We all have things that scare us, and it definitely isn't easy to face your fears, much less run toward them. How many times have you done something that you never thought you could? It makes you feel very good! When she said what she did, I thought about my testimony because it is something that definitely scares me, but because I know I am being led to do it, I am ok. I also thought about sharing my faith to others. That scares me too even though when I think about it really hard, that is so dumb! I'm sure it is because of the fear of rejection or not having the right words to say. I am sure most of you can also agree. However, like Sherri said, we must run toward these opportunities. In fact, they may be our last opportunity to share the Lord with others. I have been very burdened about this lately and all I can think about is how people that I love and care about may be in hell one day because I didn't share the Lord with them. Yes, it is one thing to live a life glorifying God and that is very important, but it is a completely different thing to have a conversation with someone about it. 
Two other things definitely go together with this discussion. Your testimony and daily life must reflect that which you are trying to share with someone. If you are a person who lives differently during the week than on Sunday, someone who gossips or curses, someone who disrespects their parents, someone who continually has ailments and complaints, someone who worries (I struggle with this, but I need to show others that I have faith!).....then, someone may not want what you have. I wouldn't! No one is perfect, but we must strive for our lives to be the a bible for others to read. This is very important so I encourage us all to think about this the next time you make plans for the weekend or simply get frustrated in the line of a store or if someone doesn't drive fast enough after the light turns green. Anyone could be watching. This refers to the following verses:


1 Corinithians 8:9, "Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak."
Luke 17:1-4, He said to His disciples, "It is inevitable that stumbling blocks come, but woe to him through whom they come ! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea, than that he would cause one of these little ones to stumble. Be on your guard ! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. "And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, 'I repent,' forgive him." 


Wow, how about that? It's obvious that God takes this seriously. Have you been a stumbling block....everyone has at one point, but it should be our goal as Christians not to be. It isn't easy, but a command. Timmy and I were just talking about this the other day. I don't drink and I absolutely despise cursing and movies that include nasty talking. Regarding drinking, I don't judge those that do because I realize it is a personal conviction, but if I were to drink, I know I could be a stumbling block to others. This is besides the fact that nothing good comes from it....in my opinion. If you think about that statement enough, you would also agree with me. Same thing with bad movies.....If it is a movie (or anything for that matter) that you wouldn't want Jesus to be sitting next to you during, you probably shouldn't be watching it, no matter how popular it is. I am not writing this to degrade anyone or make someone feel bad. I am just as much speaking to myself because I struggle with these things every day. I was just recently reminded how I need to take this more seriously in my life. I also want to encourage others to be burdened to live a life for Christ. Yes, we will always have times that we fail, but God knows your intentions and He will see and bless your efforts. 


I hope everyone has a wonderful week. Ponder these thoughts as you finish it out. Let's take a stand for what is right and have personal revivals on our lips and in our hearts. 

these are a few of my favorite things...

Well....this morning has just been one of those "mornings!" At 7:30 am, I decided I would cook Timmy breakfast and usually when I do this, the girls hear us and wake up. This is very early for them considering that they usually sleep until 9. They either smell the food or hear us talking. The latter is probably the cause because all of you know how loud Timmy is! Anyway, we went ahead and got them up, which resulted in an ill mood. When they are ill, they definitely don't want to share and they are clingy to mommy. I love this, but sometimes you can't hold a child 24/7. That's how I felt this morning, but I made it to nap time and they are now snoozing away! :)


I never rest or take naps. People always say I should, but I can't sit still. I have to keep myself busy or I feel very unproductive. It also keeps my mind from wandering into places it shouldn't. If I stay busy, I don't have time get anxious about "anything and everything," dwell on things that may be upsetting to me, or let my insecurities get the best of me. This is something I deal with on a daily basis....just struggling with worry and fear. I know this is not of the Lord and it is very hard to deal with. Just in the past few months, however, I can see God delivering me from this. I was just telling Timmy this morning how I have a peace in my heart that I have never felt before. Yes, I still struggle with the fear of the unknown, but when I start to feel shaky or as if I can't go another step, Jesus steps in. My mind quickly diverts to thoughts of Him and sometimes I just say the name of Jesus out loud over and over. Satan definitely knows our weaknesses and tries to kill, steal, and destroy us (John 10:10). Don't let him get the best of you. This is a daily prayer of mine (from the book, Prayers that avail much by Germaine Copeland).
....I pray that I can put on the whole armor of God so that I  may be able to stand against the tricks and traps of the devil. God, I stand above all, taking the shield of faith and being able to quench the attacks of the devil with Your mighty power. Today, I stand in faith, not giving any room to fear. Amen, amen! 


Another thing I do to keep my mind on positive things is do something that I enjoy, and lately this has been sewing. I am loving it and I know my nana would have been so proud of me. My technique definitely isn't perfect and the under side of the garment....who knows what it looks like! But, it is the final product that matters, right? I have a list of things that I want to do at some point and this was one of them. I always wanted to learn and through the sewing class at Eastside, Mrs. Deborah Wise taught me! She is so talented herself:) There are many other things on my "want to do" list. First of all, I want to potty train my girls!! :) We are in the process and we were making progress, but now they have gotten to where they want to be like Pate and wear a diaper. I hear this happens a lot when a new sibling arrives. I'm definitely not stressing over it. I know it will happen in time, but it sure would be nice to not have to buy so many diapers every week! Some other things on that list include, learning to play the violin, which I am working on as well. Timmy gave me a violin for Christmas and through a beginner book I bought and youtube, I am trying to teach myself how to play. It is still pretty rough to listen to at times, but I am slowly getting better. I can play a few songs. I especially like to play along with Timmy on the guitar. We can play Wild Thing & Wonderful Tonight :)! Here is a video of when I first started. I am proud to say that I have improved A LITTLE since this day. It is funny that I still have the tag on the violin in this video....

I also want to lead a choir one day and sing a trio of 3 part harmony with my girls. I can't wait to teach them about music! Most importantly, I long for my kids to be as close to me as I am to my mom. I want to be their best friend and I also want them to know that their parents are their biggest fans. 
I wanted to share some photos of my recent sewing projects. They have brought on many late nights and many sounds of ripping out seams over and over, but it is a lot of fun for me. I really enjoy it.

 I am in the process of working on this outfit.... :)

I am so excited about this project. I can't wait to finish! It is going to be a quilt for my girls made out of their old clothes. These are the squares I have cut out so far! Each have a special memory related to it.

I encourage you all to divert your thoughts if they are ones that will bring you down. Believe me, I know it isn't easy, especially if you struggle with anxiety. I struggle so much and I definitely don't always have it together. Thankfully, we can rest knowing who is in control......satan has nothing on my God!

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I have come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

- John 10:10

Oh be careful....

It is 1 am and of course I am up. I used to be the first to always fall asleep in my house, but these days, I have become quite a night owl. I don't know if it is because this is the only time that things are quiet around here or if it's because this is the only time I can get anything done! I'm tired, but at the same time, I have a huge load of energy just dying to be used up!! 


It is funny how God can speak to you....Sometimes through the bible, while other times it's through a previous experience or a simple encounter with someone. God speaks to me in the most unusual ways, and I guess that's something to be thankful for :) Usually it is in a very simplified way. Maybe because the majority of my company these days are 2 years and under...my thoughts are usually very simplified! I would like to think it is because I long for God to speak to me. I feel His presence and power in the most random times. Usually it's like one of those "lightbulb over my head" moments!


My mom recently purchased the Cedermont Kids videos for Kamryn, Hadden, & Pate. It was part of their valentines day present and they absolutely love it. Since then, I have probably watched it thousands of times.....seriously. For those parents who also have this video, you can totally relate. And, for those who do not, buy it. Not only does it occupy your kids for a little while, it also shares an amazing message. It is crazy how intrigued they are in these lip-singing, 80's dressed, permed hair little kids. I have really enjoyed the dvd too. The songs share a great message and probably my favorite is, "Oh be careful little eyes." We all know it, and this song really spoke to me a few days ago as the dvd played through for the forty-fifth time :)! I can learn from every verse of the song. I decided to break it down in a way we can all relate it to our daily lives. I hope this encourages you. A quote that always sticks in my mind is....your life may be the only bible someone will read. How true that is. Someone is always watching and as Christians, we need to all strive to be more "Christ-like!" Remember this bible verse as you are reading the lyrics below. 
Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. 1 Corinthians 8:9.  

O be careful little eyes what you see O be careful little eyes what you see For the Father up above, is looking down in love So, be careful little eyes what you see There are so many distractions around us everywhere. What are you looking at? What are you watching on TV? What types of movies do you go see and support? What catches your eye when you are surfing the internet? O be careful little ears what you hear O be careful little ears what you hear For the Father up above Is looking down in love So, be careful little ears what you hear We can definitely relate this verse to the music that we listen to.....Would you listen to that same song in your car if Jesus was sitting in the passengers seat? Another thing is this....it seems like you can't get away from nasty talking while watching TV these days. Take a stand in your household and avoid watching anything that fits into that category. We must live by example. If anything, you can always resort to the Cedarmont Kid videos :) O be careful little hands what you do O be careful little hands what you do For the Father up above Is looking down in love So, be careful little hands what you do What are your hands doing? Are they doing things to benefit others or yourself....are you serving in your church....are you doing things that will bless those around you? Are you doing things that you are REALLY proud of? O be careful little feet where you go O be careful little feet where you go For the Father up above Is looking down in love So, be careful little feet where you go Wow.....this song just keeps getting better and better. Where are your little feet going these days? Which path have you chosen? What types of things/people do you follow behind? O be careful little mouth what you say O be careful little mouth what you say For the Father up above Is looking down in love So, be careful little mouth what you say This has to be my favorite part of the song. I'll let these verses from the bible speak for themselves. Remember, once something comes out of your mouth, you can never take it back. What is coming out of your mouth?  Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. Ephesians 4:29 Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Psalm 34: 13 A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1 And because our words are usually a reflection of what's inside.... Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:8 Just to make you smile.... My sweet Pate! Here are my sweet, little singin' divas :)

what a wonderful surprise...

This past week, I went to my moms and while looking through some old boxes of things I had saved, I came across a great surprise. It brought back so many wonderful memories and it also taught me a few things.....things that I already knew the importance of, but I was just reminded of it even more. Here is what I found...

My dad was such a wonderful man, but unfortunately his life ended earlier than I ever thought it would. For those of you who know me well, you know my father's life ended very tragically. I am not going to go into all of that, but there is one thing I know for sure, my daddy loved me so much and he always made me feel like the prettiest, most special girl in the whole world. I have heard that if children get this encouragement from their parents, they are less likely to look for acceptance and love in the wrong areas of life. So true...

After his death, I sort of forgot all of this and the good was out-shadowed by the bad. I am just being honest here.... I was very upset, angry, confused, and heart-broken. This really doesn't make much sense when I think about it though because as a nurse and through personal experiences, I know first hand how real chemical imbalances are and how these sicknesses are just like cancer or any other terminal illness. However, it was still the hardest thing I have ever had to deal with. This past week, when I found these letters, it was a reminder that I should definitely remember the good again when it comes to my dad. I began to think of his personality and all of the good moments we had. He was such a jokester and "cut up." This is just one example.... When I lived in the dorm as a freshmen in college, daddy sent me a lot of letters and often sent me a little money. One time, my letter was open and the money was taken. Here's what he wrote on the next letter he sent.... :)

Everyone loved him and half the time, he was so stupid, that he was funny. I also began to think about how much time he invested into my life. He always had a million questions for me after every day of school, after every trip I took without him, and of course a billion questions after every date! I remember him saying to me, as I reacted to his constant curiosity....
"At least I want to know all about your life. You'll understand one day." 
He was so right! As a concerned parent and one that wants to be a big part of my children's lives too, I now know exactly where he was coming from. Another thing is for sure....he loved Jesus and he constantly shared this with me and the importance of loving Him too. He shared this in almost every letter he wrote me and when I found the letters I had saved, I remembered that and it was almost like his way of telling me again how much he loved me and the importance of trusting God. My favorite part is where he writes.....stay close to Jesus. I will always save these. 

I am very blessed to have been born to Christian parents. I am also so blessed to have a God-fearing mom, who daily demonstrates a love for Christ and others. She is awesome and even before I can remember, my parents took me to church. I think I was only 13 days old when I first attended :)! Even though (like I said before), I have had a problem forgetting how my father's actions and sickness affected my life negatively, so many of his actions affected me in a positive way and helped me to become the person I am today. I know my dad is in heaven and I can't wait to see him again one day. Because of him, I am a better person, a stronger Christian, and a thankful, more attentive, parent. So here is the lesson of the day.....

• If you are a Christian, long to be a stronger one.
• If you are not a Christian, become one. Life is not worth living, if not with Christ. If you don't know how to become one, find someone who can help you or contact me and I will!
• If you have lost a parent, remember the good times.
• If you still have your parents, tell them how much you love them every chance you get. Be thankful for them and don't take them for granted. Mend the relationships that aren't great and make those that are great even greater. 
• If you are a parent, invest as much time as you can in to the lives of your children. It really does make a difference....no matter how young or old they are.
• If you are not a parent, remember this blog when you do become one (or even in your daily life when you interact with others).... write your children (or others!) letters, tell them how "pretty" and special they are, encourage them, and constantly remind them to "stay close to Jesus."

These are some of my favorite photos of Timmy and I with our precious children. My dad sure would have loved them. I am overjoyed and speechless when I think of them....they are miracles and God allowed me to be their mom! Wow.....really makes me forget all the silly things in life that we dwell on and worry over. I'm sure it does you too when you think about all God has blessed you with. God is so good.