Roots and wings...

The older my kids get, the more I refer back to this quote as a parent:

"There are two gifts we should give our children: one is ROOTS, the other is WINGS"

This seems like such a simple concept, except... it's not!  I look at my kids, and I am so proud of each one of them.  They are each different, unique, and special in their own way.  I have tried very hard to always accept them for what they are, and encourage them to follow their dreams.  My oldest son is a free spirit in every sense of the word.  He has a great passion for life, and lives every day and minute to the fullest.  I look at him, and admire everything he has figured out in life at such a young age.  He is truly an inspiration to me, and makes me realize that life is too short not to be happy and follow your dreams.   He is a friend to everyone he meets, and would give you the shirt off his back. He is an amazing son, grandson, cousin, nephew and big brother.

In the next 3 weeks, he will begin the adventure of a lifetime.  I am so excited for him and wish him all the happiness in the world. So...as he is preparing for his journey, I am preparing as well.  I know he has roots....now, he is spreading his wings. 

Advice from Mr. Rogers...

When I was little, I would watch Mr. Rogers Neighborhood - it truly was one of the best children's shows of all times.  I wish Mr. Rogers had been around when my kids were little.  Last night, a friend of mine posted a quote on Facebook from Mr. Rogers and I got to thinking...how many mistakes could be avoided in life, or how many bad decisions could have turned into good ones IF we had taken the advice of Mr. Rogers.  So... here are several things he taught us when we were little, that hold just as much (if not more) value today.

• Love and accept others for who they are. "Love isn't a state of perfect caring. It is an active noun like struggle. To love someone is to strive to accept that person exactly the way he or she is, right here and now." ~ Fred Rogers
• Listen with our ears and our hearts. "In times of stress, the best thing we can do for each other is to listen with our ears and our hearts and to be assured that our questions are just as important as our answers.” ~ Fred Rogers
• Forgive always. “Forgiveness is a strange thing. It can sometimes be easier to forgive our enemies than our friends. It can be hardest of all to forgive people we love. Like all of life's important coping skills, the ability to forgive and the capacity to let go of resentments most likely take root very early in our lives.”  ~ Fred Rogers
• Build caring relationships. “Mutual caring relationships require kindness and patience, tolerance, optimism, joy in the other's achievements, confidence in oneself, and the ability to give without undue thought of gain.”~ Fred Rogers
• Work out your differences and respect others views. “It's very dramatic when two people come together to work something out. It's easy to take a gun and annihilate your opposition, but what is really exciting to me is to see people with differing views come together and finally respect each other.”  ~ Fred Rogers
• Be kind to others. “There are three ways to ultimate success: The first way is to be kind. The second way is to be kind. The third way is to be kind.” ~ Fred Rogers
• Always do your best. “Some days, doing "the best we can" may still fall short of what we would like to be able to do, but life isn't perfect on any front-and doing what we can with what we have is the most we should expect of ourselves or anyone else.”  ~ Fred Rogers
• Always be yourself. “As human beings, our job in life is to help people realize how rare and valuable each one of us really is, that each of us has something that no one else has- or ever will have- something inside that is unique to all time. It's our job to encourage each other to discover that uniqueness and to provide ways of developing its expression.”  ~ Fred Rogers

Happy Sunday y'all!

Looking back and forward...

This morning, I am in my happy place (my kitchen) sipping coffee and reflecting on 2014.  This year has flown by, and has taken many twists and turns. It has been a year of great success for my kids and my "bonus kids".  For those of you who don't know - my "bonus kids" are the three I have known for most (or all) of their lives and love like my own.  They have lived in my house, celebrated birthdays and holidays, my kids consider them their brothers and sisters.  So... this has been a great year for all six! Just a few of the milestones - one turned 16 and got his first truck, one made the high school volleyball team, one got engaged, two have gotten their own apartment/house and one has gotten baptized and recommitted his life.  For me...I have gotten a promotion at work and have successfully completed another year of college while working and raising kids.  All in all - 2014 has been a great year!

2014 was also a year of firsts!  The BIG first...this was the first year spending Christmas without my sister in 43 years (my whole life)!  For some, that may not seem like a big deal - but...it is for me!  All who know me, know I do not like change - at all!  I didn't realize how much I missed my sister being there until at Christmas dinner mom was telling a story, and I realized I needed my big sister for support and for her to take my side (because I know she would have). It was the first Christmas Eve in 9 years that I did not sit in between my sweet nieces at the Christmas Eve service.  It was the first time since B has been born that I was not with her on her birthday.  On the flip side, it was the first Christmas Eve J and I had a nice Christmas Eve dinner with my parents.  It was the first time in 9 years that C & K were able to attend the Christmas Eve service with us (because we changed the service attended).

As I look ahead to 2015 and what it may hold, I am excited.  I am excited about having met new people and reconnecting with old friends, and seeing how those relationships grow. I am excited about my job, and the differences I can make in helping entrepreneurs succeed and about new co-workers joining our team. I cannot wait to see how my kids grow this year - C will start his senior year of high school and K will get her driver's permit.  Yep... this is gonna be a big year!  

As I think about all of the things to come in 2015, I know that I must turn it all over to God and trust in His timing (not my own). I know nothing great can be accomplished without Him.  So, I will pray on a daily basis that I am living my life according to His will and I will remember Philippians 4:6...

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Happy New Year y'all!

Giving thanks..

As I am sitting in my favorite spot this morning, my house is quiet, the kids are still in bed, my daddy is here visiting, the dogs are playing. I have a job I love, and the people I work with are awesome. Yes... all is good in my little part of the world. I have so many things to be thankful for this Thanksgiving, but most of all I am thankful for my friends and family that love and support me unconditionally - there is nothing better!

Friendships are truly a gift from God - we should always be there to support one another and build each other up.  They give us so many things we need - encouragement, love, and honesty (even when you don't want to hear it).  Friendships take time... you have to nurture them, and invest time and energy into them if you want them to grow. Yesterday, I talked to a friend I had not talked to in over 20 years - we started talking, and picked up where we left off. It  was awesome to see the things that God has done in his life.  It was even more awesome, knowing that maybe - just maybe - you and your family had a small part of being the positive influence. Honestly... I could not be more proud of him and the things he has accomplished in his life. I am so very grateful that I still have awesome friendships from every time in my life!

As for my family - I think I have the best one around!  The older I get, the more I appreciate everything my parents have done for me and my kids. And.. I know I should tell them more often that I love them and thank them for everything they do.  My kids... well they are amazing!  Not only do I have three amazing kids that are mine - I have three "bonus" kids that I have the privilege of loving on every day.  There is nothing better than Sunday night family dinners that are full of laughter, surrounded by people you love.

This holiday season... I encourage to spend time with family and friends, give great big bear hugs (they're the best) and be sure to tell everyone how much you love them!

Happy Thanksgiving!

"O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good"

1 Chronicles 16:34

Relationships and Friendships

Have you ever noticed (especially when you are single) everyone around you tends to have relationship advice?  Everyone knows exactly what you need, and exactly what you are missing in your life.  It's funny... everyone around you wants you to be happy.  They want you to have that someone special in your life.  Honestly...they mean well, they want to be sure you are getting everything you want out of life, and they simply want you to have the same happiness they do.  These types of people are the ones you want in your life - they are the ones that love you and only want what's best for you!

Everyone says that the best relationships start with the best friendships first...while I am sure that is a true statement, there are also times in life where you have truly found your best friend... that's all.  So, when you find that one person that you truly enjoy spending time with, that makes you smile, that loves your sarcastic tone and they not only tolerate but love your crazy kids.  This person is the one who confronts you when you make bad decisions, and they are your biggest cheerleader and supporter. Why take the chance of messing it up with the "other" stuff? The "other" stuff is what adds the possibility of losing your best friend. Then...you also have the possibility that you really could be missing out on the relationship of a lifetime - the one you have always dreamed about.

I guess my point in all of this is... there are times in your life where you may make decisions that everyone does not agree with, they make think you have not thought the process through. Decisions may be made that even your are unsure of - all you can do is surround yourself with people you love, ask them to support your decision and pray that your are living out God's will.

Today...I know I am blessed by having the best friends and family around!

My Granddaddy...

We all have our favorite memories while growing up.  For me ~ some of mine, are of my grandparents.  They were my heroes growing up, and although they are both gone now ~ they are still my heroes in so many ways. Growing up I would spend weekends at their house, and I truly loved every minute of it.  We would all sit downstairs in the den and watch TV... HeeHaw, The Lawrence Welk Show and whatever else they may want to watch.  As the "good shows" were over,  granddaddy and I would sit for hours and play cards.  He taught me how to play Rummy and Solitaire (with a real deck of cards).  We would sit on the couch at the table (which I have in my house today) ~ the table was carved and had a scene on the top.  He would tell me stories of what he saw on the table.  We would get done with cards, and then would move upstairs to the chess table.  Then, if I was still bored we would grab Granny, and we would play Sorry.  When it was nice outside, we would play yard darts (yes... the real metal darts), climb trees or play golf.  There are so many memories that I have with them, that I would NEVER trade for anything!  We always sat at the table for dinner ~ that was family time!  There was ALWAYS dessert ~ because that's what you had with dinner.  I can still remember one night after watching HeeHaw, I asked Granny for a popsicle ~ she said, "Sugar, we don't have any."  I thought the world was coming to an end, and just like any good little girl did ~ I went to Granddaddy.  I asked the exact same question, but I got a completely different answer.  His answer was, "Sugar, we don't have any, but let's go to 7 Eleven." And... off we went.

It's funny, he has been gone for years now and I still remember that day like it was yesterday.  I was in the 9th grade at Hawkins Jr. High School, and my dad came to pick me up early.  I was pretty sure my heart would break that day!   As the years have gone by, I so wish he was here to meet my kids and share in their lives.  I just know he would be proud!   He was my hero, he fixed everything and always made everything right!  One big bear hug from my Granddaddy and all the sadness was gone! It's funny... I think I may miss him more the older I am ~ and I did not think that was possible.

Tomorrow, he would have been 105!  It's hard to believe, he has been gone for so many years ~ but the memories never fade.  Happy Birthday Granddaddy! I love and miss you!!

Actions...

How many times have you told your kids, "actions speak louder than words?" Even though we learn this as kids, I think it is even more important to remember this as adults.  Romans 12: 9-21 is the perfect reminder I needed today:

        9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.[a] Do not be conceited.

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”[b] says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;

    if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.

In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”[c]

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Be sure to mend fences that need to be mended, treat others the way you want to be treated, and tell your loved ones you love them. You never know when this could be the last opportunity you have!