I Choose to Live...

I don't about anyone else, but I forget many times to "choose to live"... or maybe it is not that I forget as much as I let other things cloud my thoughts on a daily basis.  I don't know of one single individual that doesn't deal with trouble and struggle in this day to day earthly life...do you?
Thank you Lord for the all good days and for the not so good days too!  Thank you for the life lessons we learn as we sometimes struggle to understand just why things happen like they sometimes do.

  
I know there are a lot of things, I've yet to figure out, 

but as I live I'm learning more of what life is all about

They say life is full of choices and you have to live with the choices you make.  

So, if I have to choose, here are some choices that I've made.

I choose to laugh instead of cry, 

I choose to spread my wings and learn to fly.

To love rather than hate, to see the good and not complain.  

I choose to take a chance and risk it all, get up again after a fall

I'm throwing caution to the wind.  I choose to live.

Everyday I make decisions, some big and some small.  

But, I'm glad I've made up my mind on the greatest one of all.

I gave my heart and life to Jesus

I have no doubt that he died for me

Since, I've been forgiven, I am living abundantly.

I choose to laugh instead of cry, 

I choose to spread my wings and learn to fly.

To love rather than hate, to see the good and not complain.  

I choose to take a chance and risk it all, get up again after a fall

I'm throwing caution to the wind.  I choose to live.

Thirty or forty, maybe even fifty years from now,

I pray the choices that I've made will help somebody in someway or some how

I choose to laugh instead of cry, 

I choose to spread my wings and learn to fly.

To love rather than hate, to see the good and not complain.  

I choose to take a chance and risk it all, get up again after a fall

I'm throwing caution to the wind.  I choose to live.

My Little Ray of Sunshine...

One of the best things I have ever done......becoming a Mama

When You Thought I wasn't looking...

Lately,  I have been thinking a lot about example and what kind of example I set...not just for my children, but for any person I encounter along the way.   I am striving to teach by example when it comes to my children.  Naturally, they are my first and foremost priority when it comes to teaching about serving God.

At the close of many days, I think about the example that I showed others during the day.  Unfortunately, there are days that I know I failed in setting the right example for my own children and others that I have encountered.  

I am so thankful that, even on those days that I mess up and many of my imperfections come to the surface, I serve a God that has provided a way for me to come before Him and ask for forgiveness and help to do better in the days to come.

  Around our house for the last few months, I have heard these words coming from the mouths of my precious children.

 "Serving God by serving others!"

  Nothing makes me happier than to hear those words coming from the lips of my children...because it reminds me that EVERYONE can serve God by serving others!

  WHEN YOU THOUGHT I WASN'T LOOKING...

  

   (A message every adult should read, because children

   are watching you and doing as you do, not as you say!)

   When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you hang my

   first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately wanted

   to paint another one.

   When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you feed a

   stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind

   to animals.

   When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make my

   favorite cake for me and I learned that the little things could be

   the special things in life.

   When you thought I wasn't looking, I heard you say a

   prayer, and I knew there is a God I could always

   talk to and I learned to trust in God.

   When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make a

   meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I

   learned that we all have to help take care of each other.

   When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you give of

   your time and money to help people who had nothing

   and I learned that those who have something should

   give to those who don't.

   When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you take

   care of our house and everyone in it and I learned

   we have to take care of what we are given.

   When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw how you

   handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't

   feel good and I learned that I would have to be

   responsible when I grow up.

   When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw tears come

   from your eyes and I learned that sometimes things

   hurt, but it's all right to cry.

   When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw that you

   cared and I wanted to be everything that I could be.

   When you thought I wasn't looking, I learned most of

   life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and

   productive person when I grow up.

   When you thought I wasn't looking, I looked at you

   and wanted to say, "Thanks for all the things I saw

   when you thought I wasn't looking."

  Little eyes see a lot.

   Each of us (parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle,

   teacher or friend) influences the life of a child.

   How will you touch the life of someone today?

 

Before I was a Mom...

       Three beautiful blessings, Three bundles of pure joy, Three precious hearts...that I am 

       privileged to call mine...

        Before I was a Mom...

        I slept as late as I wanted and never worried about how late I got into bed.

        I brushed my hair and my teeth everyday.

       Before I was a Mom...

        I cleaned my house each day.

        I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby

        I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.

        I never thought about immunizations.

        Before I was a Mom...

        I cleaned my house each day.

        I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby

        I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.

        I never thought about immunizations.

        Before I was a Mom...

        I had never been puked on.

        Pooped on. Spit on.

        Chewed on.

        Peed on.

        I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.

        I slept all night.

       

        Before I was a Mom...

        I never held down a screaming child so that doctors could do tests.

        Or give shots.

        I never looked into teary eyes and cried.

        I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.

        I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

        

        Before I was a Mom

        I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put it down.

        I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.

        I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.

        I never knew that I could love someone so much.

        I never knew I would love being a Mom.

        Before I was a Mom

        I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.

        I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.

        I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.

        I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.

     

        Before I was a Mom

        I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.

        I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of  .         being a Mom.

        I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much before I was a Mom.

                                        

         

Questions and answers...through the eyes of my child.

This edition is questions and answers from my kids in regards to me...stay tuned for the answers about Daddy.  So funny to read how they answered these questions and to get a glimpse of their viewpoints...I have typed the answers just as they wrote them because that makes it more fun.
  
What is the funniest thing I do?

Mallory:  laugh
Kennedy:  laugh
Parker:  say funny words like Goofy


What is my favorite TV show?

Mallory:  Reba

Kennedy:  Mr. Brown

How tall am I?

Mallory:  5'7
Kennedy:  5'3


What is my favorite thing to do?

Mallory:  play with us!
Kennedy:  love us!

What makes me sad?

Mallory:  when someone passes away
Kennedy:  when we get hurt

What makes me laugh?

Mallory:  when I cross my eyes and leave them like that
Kennedy:   when I do something funny

How much time do I spend on the phone each day?

Mallory:  20-45 minutes per day
Kennedy:  1 hour

Am I a better driver than Daddy?

Mallory:  Yes!!!!!  a million times yes!!!!
Kennedy:  yes

What do I do when you are at school each day?

Mallory:  clean the house
Kennedy:   watch Parker

What should I be famous for?


Mallory:  singing
Kennedy:  loving us!

Can it be?

It seems like reality really hit me this weekend when I looked at what my baby boy had written on the driveway with sidewalk chalk!!!  Is it really possible that this precious boy will start kindergarten in only five short months?  Surely not...or at least that is what my heart is saying!  

Parker wrote his name on the bottom.  I am not sure how or why...but this boy picked up a pencil after being shown one time how to write his name and wrote Parker.  I was in shock and still am in shock that he can write his name after only being shown once...and that was a while ago!  Saturday he was showing us again!  Daddy wrote the top name and Parker followed right along on the bottom copying what his Daddy had written!  Good job Parker-Man!!!

Conversations with my kids...

I have been using this awesome book called..."Scrapbook Shortcuts with Quizzes and Questions" over the last few weeks to spark interesting conversations with the kids.  It has been so funny to hear some of their answers!  I thought I would share a few of them here on my blog...they are pretty cute!

Who is the smartest person in your family?

• Mallory - Daddy
• Kennedy - Gram
• Parker -  Mallory

What is your Daddy really good at doing?

• Mallory - Science
• Kennedy - playing games on his computer
  
• Parker - working like a worker  :)

What can you do better than Daddy?

• Mallory - Grow hair on my head!
• Kennedy - Put my hair in a ponytail!
  
• Parker - Play 

What is your favorite song?

• Mallory - Just Keep Casting your Bread upon the Water
• Kennedy - Old Camp Meeting Days
  
• Parker - Jesus loves Me

What nicknames do you have?

• Mallory - Molly and Mal Mal
• Kennedy - Banjo Butt and Sis
  
• Parker - P.J...that's what Pap calls me!