James 1:16-18 (The Message) - "So, my very dear friends, don't get thrown off course. Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light. There is nothing deceitful in God, nothing two-faced, nothing fickle. He brought us to life using the true Word, showing us off as the crown of all his creatures."

All I can say is THANK YOU GOD! I got a chance to pack my family and Tony up for the day and we headed to Daytona Beach. Just one day, to meet some very good friends of mine. Daytona is 5 hours away from me, but let me just say that God knew I needed a day away because the weather was PERFECT, the kids got a chance to go to the beach and play and I got some thinking and calm time. After a week of being disheveled, things coming from every which way, I got some time to regroup and prepare for the week ahead.
It was the gift from God I needed.

It's gonna be a good week. I am gong to make it one no matter what happens. Staying positive are the words for the day! Be blessed my friends, and until next time, Lord willing....

Yesterday I saw a quote that someone at my church posted on Facebook:

"To manage a life of pain, as a believer in Jesus, remember: This is all the hell you will ever bear."

I thought about all the things that have been going on in my life lately. The things that basically keep me in a funk and my mind wondering how I will ever make it through. Petty things to be honest with you. I think about my friends, who are sick, going through divorces, having issues with friends or family members, lost jobs and homes and are trying to figure out just how to make it.

Then I remember what God said (we read it last night in Bible study) and it happens to come from my favorite Book:

James 1:2-5 - "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,whenever you face trials of many kinds,because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

Now I don't consider depression, loss of a spouse, a job, a home or whatever fun things by any means, but I do know this, God works in all situations! Good ones and bad, but when we let our own selfishness get in the way of looking for what it is God wants us to see, we miss out on so much. It's hard to think about heaven when things are not going as we planned, but James said that when we face these trials, we are building our faith and maturity so that we will be complete. Complete to do good works while we are here and to prepare us for a place that has no pain or suffering.

Ohh my the brain is working in overdrive this morning, sorry!!! Hope you all are having a good week, and until the next time, be blessed!

I got an e-mail for one of my kid's teachers yesterday about some concerns he was having about him. He talked about a bad attitude in the mornings mainly and how he had been writing notes that said "everyone hated him, including the teacher". I knew when I go the email exactly what was wrong and actually have been dealing with it for a few months now. So I called the teacher and set up a conference for this morning.

My son is having issues with bullying, and maybe not bullying in the fighting sense, but kids are picking on him because they think he is "fat" and have called him that among other things. It literally broke my heart because when he came home and told me the first time, he asked would I bring the treadmill out so he could lose weight and how long did I think it would take. Now, being someone who is over weight and have been all my life... I have heard the names, I got called them alot as a child AND as an adult, I knew exactly what was going on in his head. And no doubt that pretty much all his life that since he has heard me moan and while about losing weight and not liking being the size I am, it hasn't help his issues at all. Now my son is 10 and I know that he has not ever hit puberty yet. He has alot of growing and stretching to do, but in his mind that means nothing. He just needs and wants my help and I will in whatever way I can to make him feel better about himself BUT also letting him know that God loves everyone and not all people are going to look, act, dress or be shaped the same. It doesn't mean you love hem any less. But explaining that to a 10 year old... well.. you can imagine.

"Oh be careful little ears what you hear.... oh be careful little eyes what you see............"

As adults, we need to instill in our kids that God really does love us the way we are. After all, He made us all unique. All with different talents and gifts. If He wanted us all to look the same, He would have done it! I said yesterdy that Satan looks for way to eat at us, to make us feel like we have nothing and that we are nothing.. this is no different. Stop trying to be what you see others are on television and in your daily life.Kids will be kids and I know that but I also know that they learn from the adults around them. If we expect our children to grow up to be responsible adults, God loving adults, then they have to see us doing it.

I keep wondering when God is going to stop giving me examples to write about...

I really hope you all have a great day... "be blessed and always be a blessing!! "

It's really amazing how Satan works if you think about it. We are strutting through our days, minding out own business, with seemingly not a care in the world and all of a sudden, he hits us like a ton of bricks: with all the things we should and need to be thanking God for, all the blessings He gives to us on a daily basis, we instead concentrate with our lips poked out about what we DON'T have and why God has not given us what we asked for. And it really doesn't have to be big things..... I need to lose weight, I need to gain weight, I wish I had new furniture, I need a new job, kids are working my nerves, I really wish I had more money, and on and on and on. Never satisfied, never really happy.

So once Satan has filled our head with a bunch of lies, we forget everything that we know and try to go out and get all the things we think we need. Forgetting the whole time about waiting on God and His promises. THEN, we mess it up and what happens? Well, from my own personal experiences, I can tell you its either blame God or try to hide from God. Both of which will mess you up every time.

Instead of listening to the lies that Satan is trying to sell us on, we need to remember that God made us all unique. We are not and will not all be the same. God is not interested in any of the material stuff that we accumulate. It's His anyway. Start each day off by thanking God for the things that He's done for you. Concentrate on the positive and not on the things that keep you down. I'm learning that it really makes the days better.

It's going to rain all day here today. Be careful if you are out and about today and until next time, Lord willing... be blessed!

My daughter turned 16 this past Friday. She had games Friday and Saturday night so we decided to just have dinner on Sunday night. I invited just a few friends, nothing really big, but I also invited her dad and his girlfriend. It's no real secret that we haven't gotten along for a while, but Bri was turning 16, she asked would I invite him, so I did. He told us earlier in the week that he would be there. She was excited although she didn't act like it and me... well I wasn't holding my breath, after all if WAS football playoff night ya know.

Sunday came and we all met at the restaurant and low and behold, he and his girlfriend walked in, ON TIME. A friend of mine who was there I think was almost in as much shock as I was to see him. lol. As we talked, I was again amazed that he was actually carrying on conversations with me, talking to Brianna and just having a really good time.

I know that things don't happen over night and they take time to develop, but Ecclesiastes talks about there being a time for everything. I just pray that this is a time for change in the relationship between my daughter and her dad and that they both are willing to work hard and not give up. With as many things that may not have gone right this weekend for me, yesterday made it all better. thank you Lord!!

I pray you all had a wonderful weekend. I love cold weather but I think I am about ready for Spring to arrive. Until next time, Lord willing, be blessed my friends.....

Since the first of the year, I have been hearing about resolutions. I check my FB page, and people are still talking about losing weight, posting pictures of the food they ate on a certain day, being a better person (like they were the devil last year or something), the list goes on. I look at other blogs and talk to people (myself included!!) who are consumed with relationships with people, making sure we make them happy so they will stay and sometimes so they will go. and I don't guess there is anything wrong with any of that, but I guess the focus seems to be wrong. So I really don't do resolutions like I said before but I have been thinking about things that have gone on in my life the past year. It's amazing how pumped up I was at one point, trying to get a book written, thinking, meditation, studying, praying none stop. I don't really know when why or how by the end of last year that stuff either dwindled or completely went away but it did.

Job 8:5-6 - "But if you will seek God earnestly and plead with the Almighty, if you are pure and upright, even now he will rouse himself on your behalf and restore you to your prosperous state."

There is no excuse. I could make up alot though that makes sense to me and would make folks feel sorry for me, but nope. So its time to start fresh again. Maybe it is for you too. Thank you God for loving us so much that even though we tend to forget about you, you never forget us!

I pray you have all had a really good week so far. I normally look forward to Fridays, but this Friday, I will have a 16 year old and I am not sure my brain is ready for that yet. : ) Be blessed my friends and until next time, Lord willing.....

Hard lessons....

Never would I ever claim to be the perfect mother. I have said and done things that I really am not proud of and probably had God wondering if He had made a mistake with me. But through all of that, I really do try hard to help my children understand the world and some of its good and not so good ways. My daughter will be 16 this week and for all intents and purposes, thinks I am probably the craziest woman on earth. I don't think she thinks I have a clue as to how the world operates and that's okay cause at 16, I thought the same thing about my mom and dad. So our relationship in any given day could be a little shaky for lack of a better term.

The one thing she is good at, or THINKS she is good at is playing both sides of a fence when she wants her way. Now,. let me say, I am ALL for sticking up for my kids when they are wronged, but I will bust some butt when they mess up. In come basketball practice yesterday....sighhhhh

Now Bri and her friends think they run the school and can do what they want. I have told her since her first day of high school, " BE CAREFUL" who you call friends, don't tell everyone your business, keep things to yourself and if you have issues, come to me, no matter what and not anyone else. Personally, I HATE my children learning the hard way, I wish they would listen, EH.. but I guess, well I know, Giod knows best.

I picked her and a friend up from practice and all I heard was " we cant play tomorrow cause SHE (that's the coach) said we didn't work hard enough and blah blah blah. Now this lady and I are not friends and that's okay. She stays away from me and I do her but in case our paths do happen to cross we are civil. See, not everyone is meant to be your friend.... But the things that got me, the thing that made me almost wreck on Slappey was what she said the coach's comment was that she over heard..." Brianna's problem is that her mom spoils her and gives her what she wants all the time." Ergo my mad u-turn on Slappey. It was time for me to deal with her and time For Brianna to learn a hard lesson.

Now I had heard this comment (plus alot more actually) all freshman year and this year too (from alot of people actually) so I had no doubt with the looks I had gotten and a few comments that they were true. I went in, mad, and actually I think they already knew before I open my mouth because the first thing I heard was "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO bring her in here, why would we jeopardize our jobs" But I knew, and didn't go in there expecting them to tell me the truth, just to let them know that I knew and that if they needed to ask me anything, to please do. Brianna came in and I simply asked " did she say blah blah blah.... Brianna said yes and they all said no. Now, let me say this and I seriously mean this .. I believe Brianna heard just what she said she heard. Did she tell all of it and how she didn't practice to full potential, no, did she tell me that she had been going to this same coach when she was getting in trouble in class and a few other issues and having HER deal w/ them instead of me, no. Did her friends, who had heard the same comments, who had told me time and time again the same stuff Brianna had come in when she ASKED them to come in and back her up....sadly. no. So they went on and on about what Brianna was doing and how she was acting and sop forth. All of which is news to me because honestly, these women have no people skills and if my child had slapped a teacher, they wouldn't tell me, but try to deal with it so ttheir "team" would not be jeopradized.

So for 30 minutes, I stood there and wait and prayed in my head " Brianna just say it, tell them to their face, stand up for yourself, never let anyone call you a liar and you aren't... just say it. Don't back down when you are right", which is something I have told all my children. She never said a word. She was scared, I knew it, but a lesson she was learning. As we went to leave, I told Brianna in front of the coaches "that this is their team, they can run it how they chose but I will not let you quit because they made you mad. You will finish out the year and next year, if you decide not to play, so be it."

Feeling myself about to cry from frustration and just the fact that I REALLY wanted to beat the crap out of that coach cause she WAS lying, I composed myself long enough to say " thank you for your time" and walked off.

After taking one of Brianna's "friends" home,. she pretty much lost it. I told her that not everyone is meant to be in your life forever and that as hard as it was for me to see her upset, that sometimes the lessons we learn in life have to be hard ones. That maybe it was time for her to reevaluate some of the people and things in her life that she thought were "good"..

Proverbs 18:24 - A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

I could tell by the look on her face she was hurt, not so much by the coach (which I knew she wouldn't ) admitting to what she said, but that her friends, her BEST friends stood back on the sidelines, trying to hear what they could but never, coming to her defense.

Romans 12:1-2 from the Message "So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you."

To put it in MY terms and I really hope this doesn't offend, but God doesn't give a rip about the people you hang out with, if it's not going to please and bring joy to Him. Choosing friends who will influence you in a positive way, ones who stand up for what is right, even if they are the only ones, ones who believe in God and His promises, those are the people we need to be around. Not everyone means us good, ya know. Some people, well they live their lives looking for ways to make us as miserable as they are. It is up to us to pray and stand firm in our beliefs. There are SO many verses in the Bible about being "equally yoked" with people.. 2 Corinthians 6:14, Philippians 3:2, Romans 16:17... and it is up to us to continuously pray to God to help us be around and stay with people who are going to promote our spiritual growth.

Ohhh there is so much more I want to say, REALLY want to say, but I know that sometimes, God wants us to keep our mouths closed.

I told Brianna that there was one thing that coach said that she was correct on..." Ain't nothing but the devil" and she was very right.. Satan is going to find ways, look at our weaknesses (because he knows them) and go on the fact that we think we can "handle him" alone. He will pit us against and at each other in every way imaginable to try to hinder our way into heaven.. only way to stop him is to "pray without ceasing", never giving up and to know that we can't do it alone, we needs God the whole way.

I hate that it was hard for Brianna, I really do. I mean after I dropped her off I cried all the way back to work. But I know God will make her a better person after this, she'll remember and she will continue to learn and grow. That's my prayer anyway....

And just so you all know, as mad as I was, I did hold it together long enough to let Brianna know that no matter how mad she or I was at any of them, being angry was not the answer either. Not everyone will think like we do but God said " anyone who is angry at his brother is liable to judgment".

Ughhhhh so much in my head but I digress. I pray that you all have a nice day, peaceful day. We actually have a game tonight... so pray for Bri AND me.... I'm thinking its gonna be a bumpy ride here on out! : )

Until next time, Lord willing....

Thank You Dr. King....

Had it not been for you, chances are I would not have gotten my college degree, I would not have the job I have now, my kids wouldn't participate in as much as they do, I would not be living in a home that has my name on the papers, I could not worship with the people that I worship with and nor could I even write what I want to in this blog. Thank you for fighting to give us a chance to just be equal. My life would be so different if you had not done what you did. Happy Birthday!

Every since I went to that Women's Conference I have loved this verse...Ephesians 3:20 -"God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us." And as Priscilla Shirer, who was giving the devo simply put, " God goes beyond beyond." There is nothing our minds can come up with, nothing so simple or complex, that IF it is within God's will, that He cannot do. And if He so chooses to do it, you better believe it is going to be bigger and better than we could have ever done on our own.

Something was brought to me this past weekend, that honestly scares me to death for alot of reasons. But I am thinking, talking it out and praying about it. I have talked and wrote about it not being about us and I guess the time has come to act on that.

I pray that you all are having a good Monday. Until next time, "be blessed and be a blessing" to everyone!

Pretty close to two years ago I told you about a guy that I had gone out with for a short period of time. How he was cute and nice and all that jazz, but that I didn't really think we would hit it off well. I just remember thinking that something is just not right, I had a feeling but really didn't know what it was about. I saw him one night and the very next night, he was arrested for rape. Since then, although I haven't seen him, I was waiting for them to send him to trial. Literally I would google his name and make sure I had not missed it. But day before yesterday, getting ready at home, they flashed his picture across the screen and I about lost my breath. He was finally going to court. I think I checked WALB and the Albany Herald every 5 mins for updates. Long story short, he pled out, got a lesser sentence but still, is going to prison for a very very long time.

Romans 8:26-27 - "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches out hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will."

God is a much better judge of character than we are. We tend to see what we want to see and hope for the best. Not everyone out there wants what is good for us. All I know is that when we have doubts, when things just don't seem right, we need to pray hard because God may just be trying to tell us something. We may not like it, may not make much sense at the time, but we sure need to listen!

I pray you all have had a good week. I know some of you are snowed in so be safe and stay warm all! Until next time, Lord willing......

Proverbs 18:24 (The Message) puts it pretty plainly... "Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like family."

When I was in high school, I hung out with my little group of friends. I was pretty quiet, and although not in the "in-crowd" I still had quiet a few people that were in my group. We went to games together, proms, dinner, rode down Slappey Blvd and sat in parking lots (when it was legal).. we just had fun. I had friends at church in my youth group that I did alot of things with as well. I considered myself a pretty all around person with ALOT of friends.

I still talk to some of those people from time to time, but I realized when things in my own life were kind of out of control, that God placed certain people in my life for a reason and I learned very quickly who had my back and who was just there for the fun.

"So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you'll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. I know you're already doing this; just keep on doing it." I Thessalonians 5:11 (The Message)

I would definitely say that it is important to be around people of like minds, like values, like goals. Honestly, when I was 18, it was all about the next party I could get too, 20 years later, I can tell you that it is about me and my family not only being together here, but being together for eternity and the only way that is going to be possible is for me (and you) to surround ourselves with people who have the same goals in mind. They will get on to you if and when you need it, laugh when its funny, listen when necessary and encourage and share your walk with Christ so that not only will you be family here, but also in heaven.

Its cold. I like cold weather, but it's REALLY cold right now. Be safe if any of you have to travel or be out in the rain, ice and snow! And as always, " be blessed and be a blessing"!

My oldest son (he's 10) had been complaining about a stomach ache for a few days. He actually cried a few times from the pain. I figured it was just all the junk he had been eating during the holidays but with school starting back today, I decided to take him to the doctor just in case he needed a little medicine to get him going. So I went yesterday with every intention of coming back to work cause I figured it would not take long. After a few test and a jump from a steep that took Christian to his knees, the doctors immediately sent us to the hospital to have x-rays. X-rays???? for a stomach ache... this is not good and immediately my stomach was in knots at the thought of possibly it being his appendix and him having surgery. I sent out a few text to some people for prayers, called his dad to meet us there and off we went to the hospital.

Chris was scared too. He cried most of the way there and all I could do to keep myself from crying was pray! I assured him that everything would be okay and he said " well what if they have to cut my stomach open????" Sucking back tears, I said, God is gonna take care of you and you are gonna be fine!!

We went in and within a few minutes they were doing x-rays. As his little brother and I sat there, all kinds of thoughts raced through my head. I looked over once and saw a tear in my youngest son's eyes and I just gave him a hug and said "Chris is gonna be fine". When they were done, we went back to the doctors office to hear results and by the time I got back, they had already called. He was FINE... well he has some stomach issues, but nothing that medicine and a few more days out of school would not fix. Thank you God it was nothing more serious!!!!

Chris was afraid. I was scared to death. And even though this turned out to be ok, aren't there times when we are literally walking in fear of what will happen? The unknown? But God says " I'm leaving you with a gift: peace of mind and heart! And the peace I give isn't fragile like the peace the world gives. So, don't be troubled or afraid." John 14:27 and of course Hebrews 13:5.. "I will never leave you nor forsake you." There is no need to be scared or fear anything no matter how big or small it may be to us. God's love allows us to have victory in and over everything that comes up in our lives.

I hope you all are having a great day. I an see the sun outside my office window. Haven't seen that much lately and it's kinda nice. Be blessed and until next time, Lord willing....

Still waiting....

Tony and I have been dating a close to two years. May will be two years to be exact and things are really good. Not that we don't have our moments of " I need to be alone" but we deal with them responsibly and respectfully and well.. we are good. There is not a day that goes by, not one single day, that one of us have not heard this question " So, when are y'all getting married?" So much so, that it's almost like a game to see who gets asked the most. We both just kind of blow the question off, saying "when it's time" and move on.

Now, I will admit and he would tell you, I am probably more ready than him. I'm almost 38 so in my mind, all I think is I am getting older and I wanna still have that white picket fence and two rocking chairs on my porch to have someone to grow old with. But Tony, my very level headed boyfriend always tells me, "one day at a time, two would be too many." So I wait..... Over the holidays I started thinking about it a little more and I read a devotional that said "Are you waiting patiently for God's will? Not for a man, but for God Himself?" And I realized... I have not been waiting patiently on God. I mean I do try, and I have asked God for patience, but in all honesty, I want what I see everyone has, or at least think they have anyway and that is not good. And God knows it's not. And I do remember once our minister saying if you ask God for something, be careful cause He just might give it to you. Instead of worrying about my picket fence 20 years from now, God wants me to concentrate on today. On the things I do and say, how I put myself out there for others, my willingness to help when needed and my daily walk with Him. After all, I could be dead tomorrow. I love this verse:

Romans 8:28 (NIV) "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

I can rush the process (as I have with so many things many times before) but knowing what I know now, it'll probably end in a big mess. God is going to work everything out he way HE wants to in HIS own time. And when that time comes... I promise to let you all know!! : )

Be blessed my friends!!

All my life I have heard God will never put more on me than I can handle. I am going to assume that people get that form this verse:

I Corinthians 10:13 - "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it."

And to be quite honest... I hate when people tell me that. I read a devotional one time and the guy hit the nail on the head and I totally agree with him. He said and I quote ..."Are there times when God allows more troubles in your life than you can bear? Absolutely! Positively! If you can accept my testimony as an example, let me tell you that sometimes life throws more at me than I can handle, at least more than I can handle alone. The reason God allows you and I to experience times when we are consumed by trials, when they are bigger than our own strength can handle, is so that we have no where else to turn, except towards Him. We are faced with one solution, and that we realize Christ is our only hope."

See, there really are times when we have too much on us to bear. I am a living witness to that. I have the scars to prove it if you wanna see. There really is only so much one person can take before you break down and are lost. But the key is and as the point was made above God allows those things to happen to us so that we will know who we can turn to, who we can trust and who is the only one who can help and handle the situations... HIM! And that verse in I Corinthians.... Satan does tempt us, all the time as a matter of fact, but God allows us ways out, He allows us to resist and say no, but the choice is ours.

I make no bones about not being able to handle stress well. It actually cripples me to the point of literally breaking down and going into some kind of "pit" as Ms. Beth Moore calls it. But I know from past experience also, that through lots of prayer and patience, God has helped me through and there really was a light on the other side. These situations I face now.. are no different.

I hear all the time from people and someone told me this last night that we as parents try to "do so much for our kids, better than our parents did for us". In my case, I don't know if I can do as much as my parents did for me and my brother. We were not rich by any means but I wanted for nothing and I can honestly say that their goal was for my brother and I to live like God wanted us to and go to heaven. I only pray that I am half as good with my kids and they were to us. The ultimate goal, MY goal... for me and my kids to get to heaven. With God's help and power, I know it's possible. Say a prayer for us cause we kinda need it right now!

Four days into the new year and God is very much working as He always has and will. I pray that you are all well and giving out as many blessing as He has given to us! Until next time.....

I was on Facebook the day before New Years and all I saw was " Happy New Year" and how that this year (2011) was going to be THE year and that they were all going to do things so different and so much better.... Now,I don't do New Year's Resolutions at all, but that doesn't mean I down other people for doing them. I mean whatever works for you and keeps you motivated. But it kinda bothered me that on December 31st, people were already screaming Happy New Year. In my old age, I think I have become more of a realist and alot more blunt. Everyone was so concerned about parties, drinking and 2011, that they were forgetting that day, December 31st and how they could really be out doing something right then. After all.. none of us were promised January 1st on December 31st.

And then on January 1st, I learned that a man, his name was Curtis, who I didn't personally know, but had graduated from my high school two years before I did had died in a car accident December 31st on his way home. Later that night, I read that 2 men, ages 21 and 22 had died in yet another car accident.

None of us know the day or hour that anything will happen. We have no clue how long we have on this earth and I am not here for doom and gloom by any means but the fact is, this could be the very last e-mail I type. We could not make it home form work. We may not see our next birthday or see our kids have kids. All we have is right now so we have to make the most out of every opportunity we have. Quit talking about all the changes we are going to make in 2011. We have to "be a blessing". Seriously. Even when you think it won't matter, you think its too small, do it anyway. I cannot tell you how many things have happened to me, how much has been done for me, and the people who did it probably don't even realize it. I remember when I read my friend Pam's blog and she said " be blessed and be a blessing". I mean being blessed, I got that part. I want God to bless me when I do good and when I do bad actually. Always want things to go my way. But to go out and be a blessing?? Go out and intentionally put someone before me and not wait until I see an opportunity? And I have been trying to do that. Its not about having alot of money or material stuff because I don't. But just finding a need and acting on it.

I don't think that when Curtis or those other two boys got up on December 31st, they knew it was their last day on earth. I bet they actually had plans for bringing in the new year. Sadly, it didn't happen. I pray for those families. As much as we like to plan (myself included) tomorrow is not promised to any of us. But God wants us and more importantly expects us to use the time we are given wisely. Don't let moments slip by, don't miss opportunities to serve, to be blessing.

I DO pray that you all had a safe holiday. Please be praying for these families who have lost loved one and each other for that matter. I love you all and Lord willing, we'll talk again soon. As always......." be blessed and be a blessing"!