I went to Pearly's this morning and as I pulled up to the drive thru window, I heard a conversation between the two girls at the drive thru.

"Well, she was really rude to that guy. Said he didn't look right"

"Well, she shouldn't be like that towards anyone. How does she know that wasn't Jesus? And then what.. what would she say? You can't go by the way a person looks, you have to be nice to everyone."

And then she walked off to get my food. What a great lesson for the morning! I can't say I have been rude to someone who looks different but I have formed opinions based on looks and that's not right. We need to treat everyone the way we want to be treated. Jesus didn't pick and choose the people He wanted to be around. He went into all types of situations with all types of people. Who are we to think we are better than Christ? So the next time you pass someone who may not look, act or even smell the best, take a moment to be nice. It's pretty inexpensive and who knows, that person may be needing it. Remember... "be a blessing"...

Please remember in your prayers Mrs Heath (Charlene's mom) and her treatments but also that today is her 71st birthday!! Happy Birthday Momma Heath.... God is good!!!

Remember Ms. Daniels (Shauwan's mom). Shauwan just called me and said her mom's count was up to 77 which is the highest its been in a long time so thank you God for answered prayers!!!! Mr Aycock (Angie's dad), Valerie, Darlene, Angie (as they continue the job search), my friend Pam, who is also looking for a new job and like many of us, the stresses of life are trying to take over and just needs prayers to have the strength to make it through some tough situations. I miss you Pam!! My friend Quanda and her new baby boy, and Brianna and Morgan. I hope I didn't forget anyone.. if I did, I am so sorry, please respond and I will add it!

Until next time, Lord willing, "be blessed and be a blessing!!"

Last week Chris was given a project. He had to "grow" some candy. Rock candy. Now I have eaten rock candy before (not good for your teeth mind you), but never knew how it was made. Three cups of sugar and one cup of boiling water, color optional. All I could think when we were stirring in that pot was, "well if it doesn't work, we can always go to the mall and buy one so at least it will show you tried!!"

So we mix, poured in a glass, covered, and just waited.

Day one... nothing.
Day two...I saw something, not sure what floating on top, but I was starting to make plans to head to the candy shop.
Day two and a half... I think we should change glasses cause something ain't right.
Day three...what is this I see, something on the bottom?? Sugar maybe, and it seems to actually be making its way on the stick too.
Day four...it sticks!!!!!
Day five... a full fledged rock candy stick!!!




Oh ME of little faith.....

As Christians, our desire should be to grow deeper and trust more in the Lord. But even though we try as hard as we can, our faith is weak and sometimes not stable. Some days we get a "hmmmmm maybe this will work" while later on that same day we get a " I am not going to make it!!". How long is it going to take us (and I am talking to myself too) to realize that we cannot outsmart God. Until we get the "junk" out of our lives, the things that hinder us from following God with our entire minds, bodies and souls, then we will never be able to grow like we need to. We are all going to have things that test us, and we need to make sure that our faith is strong enough to get us through those times.

I pray you all had a great Monday. Until next time, "be blessed and be a blessing" to someone!

iPod Touch

Khaaliq turns 10 on September 5th. My baby is no longer a baby, he's growing up. But along with the growing up comes bigger "wish lists" for birthdays and other holidays. This one is no different.

The boys spent the weekend with their dad but he brought them back this morning to get ready for school. I laid their clothes out and hopped in the shower myself. When I got out, I found the attached two letters on my bed....

Now I get this all the time from them. The boys anyway. They never come out and ASK me for anything, I just get notes strategically placed around the house. I laughed and finished getting dressed. Khaaliq will be 10 and I love his dimpled cheeks to pieces but he is too young (in my house anyway) for an iPod touch. One, it's an expensive gift and he's not the best with taking care of his things and two, his sister got hers when she was 13 so I kinda like to keep them on the same track with stuff like that. So I will come up with another gift for my baby, something I know he will love, but have to deal the look of disappointment which really breaks my heart.

Matthew 7:7 says " Ask, and it shall be given unto you...", but we all know as adults, that sometimes when we ask God for things, we don't always get what we want. God knows what's best for us even though we seem to think we have all the answers for our lives. Sometimes we ask and it may take minutes, hours, days or even years to get an answer. That's the patience thing I always have a hard time with. But even with that, I feel like God is prepping us for something that is so wonderful, that what we asked for will seem like nothing. And sometimes, well, it's just not meant to be, period. And those are the times that make us sit back and wonder if God really is even listening to us, because after all, He DOES want us happy right?

I've been praying and thinking about some things lately and I haven't gotten my answer yet.. well at least I don't think I have (still trying to figure that one out too), but I know that one way or the other, God will show me the way. He always does.... and on the 5th, when Khaaliq wakes up for his birthday and the iPod is not there...well, lets hope that he understands that good things come to those that wait.

I pray you all had a wonderful weekend. I actually got nothing done that I planned and that bummed me out, but I'm okay now. Just have more to do next weekend is all!

Please keep in your prayers Mrs. Heath (Charlene), Mrs Daniels (Shauwan), who did get to go home and be at her granddaughter's 1st birthday party, Mr. Aycock (Angie's dad), Valerie, Darlene and Angie as they are looking for jobs, Quanda and her new baby boy, Brianna and Morgan (Valerie's daughter) because high school and being a teenager are not as easy as it was when we were growing up, and everyone who was effected by the storms this past weekend.

Even if we don't get everything we want, we have more than we need...we are a blessed people. Act like it!!

Until next time, Lord willing....

So I have been talking with a friend this morning about life and how it is stressing me right now. How sometimes you have to find the little things that make getting out of bed worthwhile even when you don't want too. How you can't take on everyone else's problems even though you have the best of intentions because you want to help them (some people are beyond help I think) cause you really need to deal with your own stuff and seems like no one is ever around for THAT conversation. And then as I hit "send" on my whine to her, I hit my in box and this was there....

Find the Giggle
by Marilyn Meberg

"I love to laugh. I believe a giggle is always loitering about even in the most devastating of circumstances. I make a point of shuffling through the rubble in search of that giggle.
This isn’t denial. I need to feel and express my pain. But I also need to find the light side—and there is always a light side! I’ve noticed that when I laugh about some minor part of a problem or controversy or worry, the whole situation suddenly seems much less negative to me. After a good laugh, I can then rethink my circumstances. As a result, that which was threatening may now seem less threatening."

Marilyn Meberg is a Women of Faith speaker and one of the reason I hate I am going to miss going again this year. Trying to find the calm, the light in a situation, the giggle... well, let's just say it is not the first thing on my mind when I have problems. I'd much rather sulk, whine and lock myself up from the world around me... except, I gotta come out, or the kids will come in! lol

So I stopped, said a prayer to myself and really vowed to have a good day. A positive day even if I don't really want too. To realize that yeah, my situation my not be a fun one for me right now, but there really are alot of people who have it a whole lot worse. God is good in ALL situations, even the ones we raise our eyebrows at.

I pray that whatever you all are going through, whether people know or not, that you too find the giggle in it...



Until next time... "Be blessed and be a blessing!"

After I dropped Christian off this morning at school, I was headed to work and got stopped by a traffic light. As I was waiting for the green light I looked over and noticed a man on a payphone. I also noticed that in all the cars around me, the people sitting in them were looking at him too. Now first of all, I didn't even know p[payphones still existed and second, why would you want to use one anyway.. germs and all. The man was probably in his mid to late 50's, and I assume was driving the truck parked next to the payphone, a city work truck. And I couldn't help but say to myself.. now he is driving a work truck so he has a job, why in the world does he not have a cell phone. But it didn't seen to bother him, as he talked and actually was leaning on the phone laughing. I drove on as the light turned green shaking my head in disbelief.

Then I got to work, and I was still thinking about that man. I mean I felt sorry for him. I had just had a conversation a week ago with Tony about the new iPhone 5 coming out and how I KNEW he was getting it even though he already have the iPhone 4 and how although I have a Droid X, I sure could "USE" a Droid 3... cause it's faster ya know.....

The world encourages us to be materialistic you know. You have to always have bigger, better and faster just to keep up with the times. And we don't even have to pay cash for them right then. We have credit cards and even buy now pay later. It's all so convenient. and never once do we stop to think about how much we don't really NEED all this stuff, how life can be so much simpler and how much debt we could not be dealing with if we had just been satisfied with what God provided for us.

"Don't be obsessed with getting more material things. Be relaxed with what you have. Since God assured us, "I'll never let you down, never walk off and leave you," we can boldly quote, God is there, ready to help; I'm fearless no matter what.Who or what can get to me." - Hebrews 13:5 (Message)

I have no clue if that man on that payphone had a cell phone or not, or even if he was a Christian but I am thinking that he may have the right idea. and the idea that Christians should have. Wanting to have nice things is okay, there is nothing wrong with it I don't think, but when it keeps you away from God, when you are so consumed with getting the latest and greatest and can't wait to show it off, it won't be long before we lose sight of God's word and then what kind of message is that going to send to the world around us.

I pray you are all having a blessed week! Please keep Ms Daniels in your prayers. Shauwan text me this morning and said her mom's count was really low and she is going to 4 treatments a day. Also for Ms Heath and her cancer treatments.

Until next time, Lord willing.... I Love you all

The mornings in my house during school, no matter how organized we try to be, tends to be a bit crazy. Three kids, three different schools and things going on, everyone in the bathroom at the same time, (praise God I have my own bathroom..lol). And every morning like clockwork, the last question I ask is " Check your bags, do you have everything you need?"

This morning on top of the normal rush, we had to make a Wal-mart run. So we all get up and hour early, and get ready to go out the door. I ask my questions, "Do you all have everything, heck now!?" I get back a resounding YES from them all and off we go. After the Wal Mart run, I take the youngest to school first. Then its off to Robert Cross, with 15 mins to spare. Traffic is crazy by now and we are kinda singing w/ the radio. I am on Westover now, right by the high school and I hear " Momma I left my notebook on the counter" UGHHHHHHHHHHHHH I am HOT now! And I know what you are thinking.. make him suffer, don't go get it. But this notebook has ALL his classwork, homework, everything in it, I do NOT want him to make zeros cause that would be another butt beating in addition to the one he is about to get for even leaving the notebook in the first place. So I whip around and all I can hear Brianna say is " get your butt muscles in order" and I am fussing the whole way home.

"You gotta use your time better". "This is why I tell you to get all your stuff at night together so you won't leave any of it." "You're gonna learn." " I don't have time for this this morning." and on and on.... I think he got the hint by the time we got back to the house and if he didn't, well, I hope he works on them muscles like Brianna said cause he was tardy for class and that would be a day of detention.

"Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise,making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." - Ephesians 5:15-16 (NIV)

It's very true that in my house, there is ALWAYS something going on. We are up before the sun and normally don't even make it home until the moon is up most days, but I (as we all are) are still accountable to God for the time we spend and how we spend it. We need to be aware of HOW we use our time, WHAT we use our time on and are these things pleasing to God because one day, we will answer for it.

I pray you all have a wonderful Tuesday. Softball has started and we have a game today.. GO SQUAWS!!!

Please keep in mine the people we have on our prayer list:

Ms. Heath
Ms. Daniels
Brianna (and me please)
Darlene
and also, I got a call this morning from my cousin and I have three cousins who are having surgeries tomorrow here in town. Two found lumps and they are doing biopsies to remove the tissue and see if it's cancer, and I am not sure what the other surgery is but please be praying for them. Their names are Cathy, Antria, and Denise.

Have a good Tuesday and remember " be blessed and be a blessing".

Making the most out of bad stuff...

Khaaliq, my youngest got a spanking last week. I don't even remember for what because he gets them so frequently, but nevertheless, he got it. I noticed that even though I did my normal spanking routine.. explained why he was getting it, told him that this did not mean I didn't love him, and held back my own tears (cause yeah, I hate to do it), he really didn't cry like normal. I just chalked that one up to him getting tougher and realizing that maybe I have to change up my tactics some.

This morning, my ex husband came to pick the boys up as usual and decided to take Khaaliq to school first and come back to get Chris because he was not ready. When he came back he and Chris were at the table and he said " Did Christian tell you what Khaaliq said?" I always hold my breath when people ask me that question because you never know WHAT will come out of his mouth but I said " No". They both die laughing and said the last time you gave Khaaliq a spanking did you notice he didn't cry much? Yeah, I guess, why? "Well," he said, " Khaaliq said when you went to get the belt, he rushed to put on four pair of his boxer shorts under his shorts so he wouldn't feel it and then he said he kind of made his bottom go up in the air to make sure you would hit it instead of his legs"

All I could do was laugh... the things we do to make our situations better.

When you are dealing with situations that you really don't want to deal with, we try to make the best of it. If your attitude is automatically negative, then guess what, the situation will not be good. Being upset and angry, finding someone who will sulk with is is not right and does not please God. But if we choose to change our attitudes and our actions to the situation, we can actually find something positive in the whole thing and maybe learn from the situation.

Aww what a fun way to start my Friday off. I pray you all have a blessed and happy weekend. Stay safe and please remember Mrs. Heath, Mrs Daniels, Brianna (and me), and Darlene in your prayers this weekend.

Love you all and until next time, Lord willing.... "be blessed and be a blessing"

oh and by the way.... I'll be checking for extra undies on the next spanking! : )

"I am not my hair...."

In a few weeks, I am cutting my hair off. Pretty much all of it. I have a relaxer in my hair and for my friends who don't understand the process of a relaxer on black hair (I love y'all...**MUAHHH**), the relaxer straightens my hair. Makes it bouncy and stuff, but a while ago, I had a natural. No relaxer, no chemicals, it was more of an Afro and I loved it. I could kick myself for ever getting rid of it. So anyway, I want it back but in order to get the big Afro back, it's gotta start out kind of little. So I spent the last few weeks "prepping" some folks for this chop. I told Tony and the kids and I got this look of disgust. They like it long. Told a few friends and I got mixed reviews... some are like " ohhh cute, I loved it like that" and some " ahhhhh, you're gonna look like a boy." Maybe, except with jewelry and a little lipstick. But never the less.. it's getting cut.

Then I started thinking this morning, why do I care what people think about my hair? Having it long or short, straight or kinky does not change me, the person inside. So why am I so concerned about their reactions? ...Because in the world we live in, we have been programmed to do things to be accepted, and almost at any cost.

And sadly even sometimes in church, we are programmed the same way. We have to have the biggest building because that will surly make more people come, we have to drive the best cars because they know we "have something" then, wear the most popular name brand, have the best sound systems and choirs or praise teams in town so we can get invited to other places..... the list goes on and on. No one wants to be rejected or hurt, laughed and talked about, so we conform to the things around us to "fit in" and make it seems like we are the same as everyone else.

I read this in a devotion a few days ago:

"The challenge of being true to who we are- realization that no one else's skin will really fit on our body- the inner knowing that we are loved by God and others for who we are. Could a God who knows all really be satisfied with relationship with us when we are less than true to who He created us to be? Could He deeply interact with us when we try to relate to Him through our facades? He, after all, is the One who really knows we are faking it."

Maybe this doesn't make sense to some of you, but it did to me. To really be in Christ deeply, to know Him and be about His business, we have to be that unique person God created. If God wanted us all alike, same clothes, same hair, same goals, same abilities, then guess what, He would have done that back in the Garden. But He didn't. He wants us to use the gifts He gave us, our very own uniqueness I guess to further us and other in His kingdom.

I pray you all have a wonderful, peaceful day. Until next time... Lord willing.. and oh.. P.S. -- I'm not stressing the hair anymore, it will grow back... :)

So the first week of school is over and after only one breakdown over 6th grade Language Arts homework (and that was me and not Christian) we managed to make it through the week. It's been a while since I had a middle schooler, and well, let me just say, I see alot of communication between me and the teacher so I can keep up!

Have you ever had one of those days where you knew something was going on. You had a gut feeling but you really couldn't put your finger on it. Like you should be remembering something but you have no clue what it is. I was like that all last week. I honestly had no clue and with school starting, it didn't much matter anyway. And then my brother text me....

" It's a sad day"

And then it hit me, hard. I know I have said this for the past few years, but it really is true. It had been 13 years this past Friday that my mom passed away and I didn't remember until he sent me that message. Some kind of mental block I guess. I figure it keeps the pain and stress out that way. But I knew something was going on, in my gut. So that pretty much took care of my weekend. I never talked to my brother this weekend, only text, because I knew if I did, both of us wouldn't be getting too much done. So I did like I always do.... stayed home, cried a little, thought alot and wrote.

I thought about how I REALLY needed her Thursday night with that middle school work cause I knew she would know just want to do. Thought about ho she would be beaming ear to ear knowing that Brianna had her first job. Thought about how Khaaliq probably would have her wrapped around his finger like he does me. Thought about those days that we would just go to the mall and walk. Window shopping mostly, maybe having a iced coffee from Books A Million and just talking. She just knew how to take the stress away. I miss that most. So I went and got some flowers... I haven't been able to take them just yet, but I will... this week.

What can I say.... it never goes away but with God's help, I seem to push through.
John 14 :27 (NIV) "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

I pray you all had a wonderful weekend. Remember folks, "be blessed and be a blessing" always! Until next time, Lord willing...

JOY last! (Jesus, Others, Yourself last)

So I read this article on Yahoo Sports this morning:

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Steelers-coach-sells-Mercedes-to-team-cafeteria-?urn=nfl-wp4503

My first thought was , WOW what a nice guy to give this man his car like that. But then as I looked over the article again, I read that the coach asked the guy could he borrow whatever money he had in his packet and the guy reached in and handed him a 20. Now, I am not in Mr. Horton's checkbook, but as a coach for a national league football team, driving a Mercedes, I would imagine money is not an issue for him. I would also assume, that the two men led very different lifestyles, but again, I do not know this for sure. But what I do know and read was that Mr. Matthews didn't even think twice about giving this guy whatever money he had on him. And I thought, WOW, to have that kind of giving heart.

He was getting ready to bless someone and turns out, he got blessed as well. I know all stories won't and don't turn out like this one, but I can definitely see Christ in Mr Matthews actions!

I pray you all have a wonderful and blessed weekend. Today is my Friday and I am off tomorrow, thank you Lord!

Please don't forget Mrs. Heath. Mrs Daniels, Brianna, and me in your prayers. Also add my friend Darlene. Her family is about to go through a "shift" I guess you could say thanks to (once again, sighhh) our economy and she could just use some positive prayers.

Love you all bunches and until next time, Lord willing...

I talked with a friend of mine this past weekend and she had some pretty upsetting news. And although she had come to a certain peace about the situation, it was still not a good one to be in. I have two friends that are dealing with some major stress with their moms being very ill. On top of just everyday living and life, the possible thought of a parent not being here, well it's pretty devastating. I went to the funeral of a friend a few weeks ago. He was m age and I bet his parents never thought they would have to bury their son. It's just not suppose to work that way in our eyes.

So it got me to thinking.

James 5:13-16 (The Message) - "Are you hurting? Pray. Do you feel great? Sing. Are you sick? Call the church leaders together to pray and anoint you with oil in the name of the Master. Believing-prayer will heal you, and Jesus will put you on your feet. And if you've sinned, you'll be forgiven—healed inside and out. Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with."

And that last verse.... "the prayer of a person living right with God is something POWERFUL to be reckoned with!!" We have to be in constant prayer and communication with God. There is so much going on in the world around us and sometimes, well for me anyway, I can barely think straight much less try to talk to God and ask for help. So why not pray for each other. But not just pray for each other, do it by name. Most of you don't know each other, but I figure since we have been communicating this long and are still here, well God must have done that for a reason. So, if the feeling hits you and it doesn't make you too uncomfortable... if you ever need specific prayers, just reply all to any of my e-mails and we got you!! We have to get to a point (myself included) where we don't let our own selfish pride get in the way of having a better more productive life in Christ.

So, being as these people have replied before, I know I can go ahead and add these to our list:

Ms. Jesse Daniels (Shauwan's mom) -- please be praying that the doctors get her medicines tweaked right so that her plasma/blood count stays up and that she feels better. I talked to her last week and she actually sounded great but I need for her to stay that way! And pray for Shauwan (and her brother).... me and her have been through alot together and I know although strong in faith, it's a really scary situation to watch her mom go through this.

Mrs. Zenobia Heath (Charlene's mom) - a few months ago I guess it has been, they found cancer and she started her chemo treatments. Last week she had a heart attack that had her in the hospital for a week. Please pray for comfort and peace for Mrs Heath. Again, watching a parent suffer, whewww.... there are just no words, honestly, but God is good in all situations and this one is no different. Please pray for Charlene too.. I think the back and forth to the hospital caught up with her and she got a little sick too last week.

Brianna (that's my baby) ... just that she makes wise and smart decisions. When I was growing up, things were VERY different than they are now. Pressures and things kids get into are not what I even thought about so we tend to clash on those. But she's a smart girl, talented beyond anything I ever did so I know it's there .. I just need her to see it too! And of course me. Honestly, there are still days when I just don't even want to get out of bed. It's easier that way. The economy, every time I think about it, it makes my head swell. Just pray that God continues (as I pray He will) to allow me to be able to just take care of my kids and the things they need. Help keep my attitude positive even though sometimes I wanna scream and help me stay focused on the things that need to be done.

So that's my list. You'll probably see those names alot, just without all the details each time. And really, it doesn't take that long, it doesn't have to be fancy because God doesn't work like that... but just pray! "The prayer of a person living right with God is something POWERFUL to be reckoned with."

I love you all bunches.. have a wonderful Tuesday and as always, "be blessed and be a blessing!!"

Today was the first day of school for our school system. I was all pumped up, so ready for them to go back because I cannot tell you how much my food and utility bills go up during the summer, among other things. Plus I can get back to some form of routine.

So this morning I got up early and cooked breakfast and decided to take all three of the kids to school this morning. (They are for the first time in three different schools). First Khaaliq. He's in the 4th grade but still wanted momma to walk him in. So of course I did, and he was a big boy about. Brianna who is in the 11th grade this year, does not need me to walk in and directed me to drop her off at the side door cause she has some kind of "swagg" she needs to show off. Whatever.

Then there is Christian. He is in the 6th grade this year. Middle School and well, I think I was more emotional then he was. He wanted me to go in with him, but then he didn't. So I went in anyway, and walked down the hall with him. I felt the lump forming but I held it in. We got to the class and he just slid in and disappeared. I stood there a minute, not really sure if he was gonna come back out and say hi, or bye or anything. But nothing. So I slinked back down the hall. I saw a teacher there that I actually had when I went there in Middle School and she gave me a hug and just said " I know I know, its gonna be okay" and she just kinda laughed at me. I walked out of the school and came to work.

I Chronicles 28:20 - "David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished."

Christian is growing up and letting go, as much as I talk about wanting my house all to myself one day, is not always easy to do. I want to protect them from all the things I know that go on in middle school since I have had one that has been through it. I want to sit with him and make sure he makes the right decisions. But like David told his son Solomon, don't worry about it, be strong cause God is right there with you, He's right there with Christian too and all I can do is pray that all the teachings he has learned thus far, stick with him throughout his middle school (and beyond) years. I don't have to worry or cry (although I did a LITTLE), cause as long as he's got God on his side, he is going to be OK.

But just FYI---- I am secretly waiting until 3:15 when he calls me to tell me how it goes!! : )

I pray you all had a great weekend! and until next time, Lord willing, we will talk again. Until then, "be blessed and be a blessing"!!