Pam, Paige, Jazzmine, Tomecca and George.....

just wanted to give you all a gift.... check out the "Honest Scrap" blog...



Be blessed!!!!!!

Honest Scrap and a few other thoughts

When I first started writing, or blogging as it has so been named,I only did it for a few select friends. I mean after all, I didn't really want any and everyone knowing things about me. And not really thinking, when I started this page, little did I know that people might actually stumble on my page and actually follow me. Well, that's what has happened and it's been good. I mean it's really weird to have people you do not know at all, make comments, send words of encouragement and tell you they are praying for you. I have make some great "friends" on here. One would be Christine (http://thesilverlining122.blogspot.com/) who has given me an award, that was also given to her. The award called the Honest Scrap Award.




And from what Christine researched the award goes to bloggers who write posts that come from the heart and soul.I really appreciate it Christine.. all I really wanted and want to do is let people know that not matter how bad things seem, it will get better if you trust in the one who is always there for you... God. I actually started this blog to help MYSELF remember that on a daily basis.


THEN, she said I had to tell you all 5 things about myself that you might or might not know and then pass this award on to 5 other people. So I will do my best:


1. I am a single, divorced mommy (of three kids) and I got my Bachelor's Degree in Management at age 35 while working full time. So if I can do it, I know you can too if you already haven't!!

2. I actually have a brother (which most of you know) but also a sister who is 50 yrs old. SURPRISE!

3. I like sitting outside on my patio, wrapped in a blanket,with my laptop and a cup of wine or coffee (whatever the weather allows)

4. Disney World is my most favorite place on earth.. I wish I lived in the Magic Kingdom.

5. God is the reason I am here today, because I really think given how I lived the early part of my life, I should not be here. He has a plan for me. I have NO clue what it is still, but I pray. I ask and I know that He is prepping me for things that are so great that will make my head spin. I pray that He doesn't give up on me even when I mess up or give up on myself.


and so I pass this great award on the 5 deserving bloggers (in no particular order):

http://missreaddiva.blogspot.com/ (Pam)

http://thepeacegirlplace.blogspot.com/ (Paige)

http://fabfunkydivasdesigns.blogspot.com/ (Jazz)

http://twilliams952.blogspot.com/ (Tomecca)

http://thetrirunner.blogspot.com/ (George)


I pray you all had a wonderful Christmas, realizing it's not about the gifts you got, or even the gifts you gave, but about our Savior. New Years is fast approaching and everyone is making resolutions and promises to lose weight and save money. But let's just all remember, we are not all going to be rich or skinny, things are not always going to go our way, but every single day, every minute is a blessing from God so act like it.. myself included!!!

Love you all and until next time.... peace and blessings!!!

Today is my kids last day of school until after the first of the year. Brianna (my oldest), took her 9 weeks finals this past week. Now my daughter is an all around student. She's in the Honor's program at her high school, she is taking 4 AP classes this semester, she plays basketball, softball, throws the disc in track and plays golf (yeah, golf). All on the Varsity teams. She really is smart and pretty well rounded. BUT she is a teenager and what use to come to her naturally, she actually has to work at now. She HATES that, especially when it comes to her classes. She is a last minute type girl, never early so going in to the last week of the semester, her grades, although passing all of her classes, had some really low B's in some of them. Actually close to C's which does not work in the Honor's Program.

So me being the mom I am, fussed left and right for 2 weeks prior to these exams. I mean my thing is if you start out strong it won't be such a hassle at the end. But Bri, naw, she is like " I got this momma". So thanks to technology, I can log into all of her classes and see what she makes on grades, if she misses a class, if she gets in trouble, etc. Yesterday, end of the day, she is sitting in my office and I log in while she is here. Low and behold, she has passed and pulled all her grades up. She has this big smile and I look like "uh huh" . If she had only done this from the beginning.........

"When the clouds are full of water, it rains. When the wind blows down a tree, it lies where it falls. Don't sit there watching the wind. Do your own work. Don't stare at the clouds. Get on with your life.: Ecclesiastes 11:4 (Message) According to this passage, it seems really clear.... don't keep putting things off until the last minute, you may never get anything done. How many times have we all said, just wait until the first of the year, I will start my diet? Or just wait until I have more money, I am going to....Or wait until I do this or that and I can get that done, or in my daughter's case, I will wait until the last minute and it will all come together. Luckily for her (and her butt) it did. But that may not always be.

There is no time like the present to start doing those things God wants us to do. Especially with the holidays coming up. Do you realize that there are so many people who are doing without today? Don't know where the next meal will come from, or if they will have a warm coat for the winter? A place to live? A job? It is our job as Christians to seek these people out and help them in any way we can. Nothing is to big or small. There is alot of work to be done in order for us to be a blessing in someones life. Let's get to it!!

Today is my Friday and I am off next week . YAYYY for vacation. I pray that each one of you have a really good holiday next week. If I don't talk to you before have a Very Merry Christmas and I love you all!! "Be blessed and be a blessing"!!!

I never really like watching the news. Too much negativity and bad news but this morning, I woke up and flipped to WALB so I could "listen" as I got ready. They started talking about a story in Florida. A man had gone into a school board meeting, upset because his wife had gotten fired. He pulled a gun out and ordered all the women and children out of the room, leaving the mail board members and him. There was a camera in this room so it taped the entire thing which they showed on the news. One of the board members, a woman, sneaks back in, gunman not knowing, and tries, to no avail, to hit the gun out of the gunman hands as his back is to her. He knocks her down to the floor. Then he stands in front of the board members and you can hear the Superintendent begging the man to please keep only him and let everyone else go. The man says no and point blank fires on the Superintendent. It looks like he hits him dead on because he falls to the floor. Then a security person fires on the gunman and shoots him in the leg it seems before the gunman took his own life they said.

As I listened to the Superintendent, the woman board member who tried to hit the gun out of his hand and another member talk this morning I could not help but think about what God said:

"I've told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I'm no longer calling you servants because servants don't understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I've named you friends because I've let you in on everything I've heard from the Father." John 15:13 (Message)

Then the Superintendent said something that actually gave me chills and I got tears in my eyes. He said, he had a family and he did not want to leave them but he knew that if this was his time to go, he was ready because he knew he would be in heaven.

I have no doubt that God protected those Board members. The Superintendent was in point blank range when that man fired and I guess one could say that maybe he was a bad shot.. OR that God is powerful and that He actually had a shield around those people. That man was willing to die in order to let the other members, his friends live and he was prepared. I wonder how many of us could say and would do the same thing???

Remember folks, this life is not about trying to grab everything we can get in 50 to 70 years. Let's not get sidetracked by all the glitz and glamor that the world has to offer. It's not about getting the latest gadget, wearing the cutest styles, driving the best car or living in the biggest house. It's about living your life the way God wants you too, thinking about others before yourself and being ready when God calls you home. My friend Pam always says " be blessed and be a blessing" and this school board in Florida is a perfect example of that to me this morning. Thank God they are all safe!!

Love you all, have a wonderful day!!!

Khaaliq is the baby and thinks he can get away with anything he wants. It was Friday, this past Friday actually, and a good day.. then I had to pick them up from school. The boys normally wait in the lobby for me but as I walked up to the door, Khaaliq was standing outside and said " Mrs Anderson needs to see you" and all I could think was this CANNOT be good because it's Friday and I know she wants to go home. Sighhhhhh.. so I truck down the LONG hall, Khaaliq in tow who is now telling me some story about some little boy elbowing him. This is REALLY not gonna be good so I prepare myself as I walk in the class. The look on her face told it all...

Seem that Khaaliq was a tad bit hyper and wanted to walk around. SUPPOSEDLY a little boy elbowed Khaliq. Now mind you, this boy sits in the BACK of the class ad Khaaliq the front. Khaaliq decides to throw paper in the trash and then proceeds to go over to this boys desk and tell him to "get out of his space"

Khaaliq is at this little boys desk telling him to get out of HIS space.....WHY KHAALIQ WHYYYYYYY. But it gets better... he THEN tells him that if he doesn't get out of his space (the boy was to my knowledge minding his own business) he is going to punch him in the eye. Now Khaaliq INSISTS that the boy elbowed him, at what point, I have no clue but all I know is that the boys stood by his desk (ahhhh where was he gonna go Khaaliq????????) and this boy, the one who lives with me, the one i gave birth to, punched this boy in the eye. Dear God WHYYYYYYYYYYYY????

So the teacher, who was just in shock because Khaaliq is a straight A student and really never gets in trouble, is NOW gonna get suspended (they gave him one day) and she is looking at me. I couldn't speak, barely move and all I could think was " where did I last leave that belt?!?!?!"

Long story short, I thought my hand would fall off from swinging so much or he would call the police for sure. Mad does not begin to express what was going on in my head!! But for as mad as I was that very moment w/ my son, I mean what a stupid stupid decision, I didn't like what he did by any means, but I loved him just the same.

That's how it is with God. On days where we mess up,. I mean REALLY mess up and we are not the lovable beings that God created, He loves us still the same. And that love is the same kind that we should be showing for everyone around us, even the people we don't necessarily like.

My children.. God love em (and so do I) : ) I think I just needed to get this one off my chest.. have a wonderful and blessed day all and don't forget " be a blessing"!!

"Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life." - Philippians 4:6-7 (The Message)

I think that my day, every day, should start and end with this verse. Worry seems to be commonplace for me. I can be truckin along just fine, like this past weekend. It was absolutely GREAT, every minute of it. Although a bit chilly, I was able to get out in the beautiful weather, watch my daughter play basketball, run around with Tony doing some Christmas shopping and just enjoying things that God has placed in my life. And then Sunday night happened. Nothing actually happened, but I knew that once my head hit the pillow, Monday would soon be upon me. Now this may seem crazy to some of you, and that's OK, but Fri-Sun is not just a weekend for me, it's a time of peace. No work, no worries, no stresses that normal life brings. Sunday night, ahhhhh that is a beast of another character. Every issue that I have seem to all creep back in my mind on Sunday night and yesterday, I, being the person I am, added yet ANOTHER stress to my life.

I know God is up there. I mean I can't see Him, but He's there but I always have a hard time remembering that He is in control no matter what. I am a helper. That's my job as a mom ya know. I HELP my kids when they can't do things. I help at work, I help my friends... I'm a helper. So seems really natural for me that even though I pray for peace, calmness and God's help and guidance in my life, that I still "help" Him along and fix the things that need fixing in my life. Makes perfect sense to me. After all, I have said it before, time and time again.... it IS MY life, and I am perfectly capable of knowing what is best for me and my family, right?

But I guess what it boils down to is when I try to do God's job in my life, I am basically saying that HE can't handle it. That He doesn't have a clue as to what I need and what is best for me. And I do know better than that, but for folks like me, the helper, the one who can always fix stuff, the truth of the matter is ...that's a hard pill to swallow.

Praying and worrying don't mix well together. There is nothing good at all about worry. Praying is always good. Worry stresses you and everyone around you out. It can make the strongest man or woman break totally down. Praying is noting but positive, makes all the fears go away. It is what I have to remind myself of everyday. So I woke up this morning after a really "EH" night and prayed. I got to work and prayed. No need in worrying about things that I have no control over. God knows best and knows what is best in my life as well. May not be what I think I need or want, but will probably work out better in the long run anyway.

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. It really was a nice one. A bit cold for Albany, but beautiful. Until next time, Lord willing, we will talk again. "Be blessed and be a blessing"

I use to whine alot. About what was always going wrong in my life, people getting on my nerves, why I couldn't have what I wanted when I wanted, why my ex left me, why my parents died, why my life seemed to be really jacked up.... why, why, why... why me?!?!?

Actually, every once in a while, I catch myself doing it now.

But I remember during those times, I had a few really good friends, who no matter how many times they had heard the story, they probably could repeat it word for word, they still listened to me and never once belittled me or told me to shut up. For that I am grateful. It helped me get though some really rough times.

And now, although I still don't have everything I want, and life is not perfect, I am OK, I find myself forgetting that there are other people around me that need the same help I did. I think its really easy to get caught up in things going "good" for us. We are happy and assume everyone around us is and should be happy as well. And point blank, we really don't want anyone bringing our "high" down for any reason. Who has time to listen to a bunch of issues that don't really concern you anyway right? But as the verse goes "encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness."

There are so many people around us hurting and just because you have come out of your own issues and your life is gravy now, does not give you the right to forget the ones who are not as fortunate as you are right now. We need to listen, encourage and pray daily for those people and if it means that you have to give up a day or two or your life, so be it. I honestly don't see how we can grow as a family, if one of the members is hurting? Remember, "be blessed and BE A BLESSING!!!"

It snowed yesterday... well, a few flurries, but snow just the same : ) Hope you all have a wonderful day and remember, keep praying!!!

Yesterday Elizabeth Edwards passed away from her 6 year battle with cancer. I am not a real political person, but I would imagine that everyone knows who this lady is. When her husband was running for President, she found out that she (1) had cancer and (2) he was having an affair and somehow the affair got way more attention (even now in her death) than her battle w/ that disease.

Every time I saw her on TV, she was ALWAYS positive and upbeat about her home life and her battle with cancer and she didn't let either of those things stop her from campaigning for the things she believed in, even up until this past weekend where I heard that she was calling friends and sending out e-mails because she knew her days were coming to an end. In my book, from what I could see, a real class act, someone that I have not heard anything negative about.

I don't know if Elizabeth Edwards was a Christian, if she had some kind of faith she believed in or even if she believed in God at all. I DO know that through all the things she went through, all the interviews and questions that were thrown at her, she was always composed, never negative or hateful and seemed to be very positive and to me.... that can be nothing but God.

It's really hard to imagine our loving and compassionate God letting or allowing things like what happened to Mrs. Edwards to happen, or to any of us for that matter. When they do, God knows that our emotions are all over the place and we tend to start doubting. I think that's ok. We are not promised a life full of good, good , good all the time. As a matter of fact, there are several verses that say we WILL go through trials and troubles and that as sure as we are born, we WILL die. A hard pill to swallow sometimes when you see so much evil in the world and people "seemingly" getting away with everything. But the thing to remember during all of those hard times is this.... whenever we go through hard times, things we think we will never get past, do not cut off the one person who will not put us down, who will always be there no matter how low we get... God. And the other thing I do know is that even through the death of a lady who really seem to have a faith that I wish I had more of, God is gonna work like He always does.

Keep praying folks. For the Edwards family because those two little kids just lost their mommy at Christmas, for John Edwards... maybe he'll get some stuff straight, for the people who don't have it as good as we do right now. I read that there are over 700,000 homeless people in the US right now, this winter! Pray for each other. Sometimes, you just can't pray for yourself anymore ..we all get tired, but when you have others that have your back... well, you know. Just keep praying!!

Love you all and as always.. "be blessed and be a blessing". Until next time, Lord willing....

I recently read somewhere that " if Christians only trusted in God more, that all their stress would go away".

A rocket scientist I am not, but I am a human being, a mom, a sister, a friend, a co-worker and a Christian and I believe that God is sovereign over all, and in control even when we seem to think we have it all handled. I don't however think that just because we believe, means that the stress automatically goes away. We ARE human and whether we like to hear it or not, our humanity can be easily cracked and get very weak. And a BIGGER surprise to some of you, God is fully aware of this but it will not stop things from happening or issues from coming up. He knows also that we will probably not handle most of them well, because it IS US trying to handle them.

I so think though that the stress we have, some brought on by our own hands, is a way of reconnecting with God. In the past few months, I haven't written much, not talked to alot of people, and pretty much been to myself because of stress. Some by my hands, some not. And to be honest, I have been trying to figure it all out. See, I know that God is Jehovah Elohim, the Eternal Creator, I know that He is Jehovah Jireh, our Provider, He is Jehovah Shalom, Lord of Peace and Jehovah Eloheenu, the Lord our God. He is Jehovah and Elyon, Sovereign and Most High and even knowing all of that, I still have a really hard time letting go and saying I can't do it.

Matthew 11:28-30 (The Message) "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."

My fears of loneliness, the stress of life, my own sins that seem to resurface even after years and years, being terrified and not able to provide for my family like I need to make me paranoid, afraid and basically a prisoner in my own body. I have seriously been wrestling with if the places I am today are really where I need to be. I am not a big fan of change of any kind, makes me nervous and in order to avoid that, maybe that meant me making some moves. I told a friend today that its really sad when you KNOW better and still don't do it. Wait til stuff is so bad to just get down and pray. Makes you wonder if He's even listening to anything you have to say anyway.

A mother, a sister, a friend, a co-worker, but before all of this I am a Christian and if my fears paralyze me enough to stop me in my own tracks, what am I showing to my kids, friends and co-workers? That I can talk really good games....but when it all boils down, if I can't do it myself, then it's not worth doing?

I think I have spent the past few months trying to come up with the perfect answer. You know, the Bible one that sounds really good and makes us seem really smart. Like we did it ourselves. But after racking my brain over and over, all I got is

"And the peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep you hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

Yep, biblical, I don't get any kudos for being extra smart. When we are really praying and asking God to help us because we are at our breaking point, whether we asked from the very beginning or we waiting until we couldn't take it anymore. When we are truly sincere about our prayers and the things we are asking for, then God gives us a peace that will keep us jumping off that ledge or reaching that point of no return for some. He is going to make happen what we thought would be impossible or couldn't be done, IF it's in His plan (that's the part that trips me up all the time). And when we truly case those burdens and worries, the stresses of life on Him, that is when He will do what He promised and take those burdens on Himself and gives us some rest.

I really do hope that all of you have been good. Keep praying for each other, even the ones in this e-mail you might not know. And as always " Be blessed and be a blessing"