Guess who got to drive a fire truck??? Miss Claire was one excited little girl!...We now have an obsession with fire trucks and guess what color they are?? PINK!!! Gotta love her!
Disney with the Dance team!
1 year ago
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Firewoman
Guess who got to drive a fire truck??? Miss Claire was one excited little girl!...We now have an obsession with fire trucks and guess what color they are?? PINK!!! Gotta love her!Monday, August 2, 2010
For Granted
My sister recently wrote a post about taking something for granted. I think we all do this in some form or fashion, it is simply our nature. For the most part we have all grown up in America where this is the only life we know. We have no earthly idea what it would be like to sleep on dirt floors, have to walk 5 miles to the closest market, to put our babies in their bed for hours on end while we go to work, to be able to only talk to God in our minds for the fear if anyone heard us say "God Bless" or "May the Lord be with you" we would be beaten or jailed....like I said most of us cannot comprehend this life.....we are free and I mean really free....it is so hard to believe there are people out there that are not free and their daily lives amount to how many of us might imagine Hell.
So about those things we take for granted; those days playing around the house with no agenda, the wonders in your our backyard, friendships, family, hearing your baby say a new word, ...
...just being silly, putting up a tent in the living room....
...just being silly, putting up a tent in the living room....
...just another day playing at the pool...
...and the smiles it brings...
....swimming all by yourself...Do you remember when you felt so small in the swimming pool? Trying to touch? Afraid to jump off the diving board?....
....simply spending time with family and friends.... Call your friend you haven't talked to lately, know need to take that relationship for granted....
....do the Hokie Pokie with your child....chances are they won't want to spend 10 minutes with us in about 10 years....
...remember wanting to move away from that small town...boy, did I ever take my hometown for granted....this weekend alone we enjoyed things I have done 100 times but it was so nice to feel at home....a feeling many of us take for granted...
....swimming in the lake...swimming areas everywhere..
...collecting rocks....sound familiar?...
...fishing off the bank with the smell of hamburgers cooking from the nearby pavilion...none other than a family reunion...laughs, kids running around, walking down memory lane, good food...take that for granted?
... catching that tiny fish...but it was sooo big to my little girl...
...how many fish have you caught with your children?....pull out your fishing pole and go out to the lake this evening...it might be in your our backyard...
...digging in the dirt...of course she needed my help...trying to help and letting her grow, a process I am trying not to take for granted....
...spending time my husband doing what he loves...watching him fish with our little girl...
...Claire discovering the tube of crickets...do you remember playing with crickets?...
...still fascinated... before she drops the tube....
...and crickets go everywhere...its hard to get mad at that one in Barbie life jacket....one of those moment you can't help but laugh.... look at those boys "cricket hunting"...
...playing at camp meeting...a week long camp out that is surrounded by friends and worship...this something I took for granted that was in my our backyard...I wish I would have spent countless hours at camp meeting during my younger years...
...there are so many places and things I took for granted at "home"...I would love to have all those things back...and there is so many more to "want back"...time, family, friends...
... catching that tiny fish...but it was sooo big to my little girl...
...how many fish have you caught with your children?....pull out your fishing pole and go out to the lake this evening...it might be in your our backyard...
...digging in the dirt...of course she needed my help...trying to help and letting her grow, a process I am trying not to take for granted....
...spending time my husband doing what he loves...watching him fish with our little girl...
...Claire discovering the tube of crickets...do you remember playing with crickets?...
...still fascinated... before she drops the tube....
...and crickets go everywhere...its hard to get mad at that one in Barbie life jacket....one of those moment you can't help but laugh.... look at those boys "cricket hunting"...
...playing at camp meeting...a week long camp out that is surrounded by friends and worship...this something I took for granted that was in my our backyard...I wish I would have spent countless hours at camp meeting during my younger years...
...there are so many places and things I took for granted at "home"...I would love to have all those things back...and there is so many more to "want back"...time, family, friends...I think the important thing is we try and savor the things that are important to us, even if they are daily routine...think of 5 things you think you might take for granted, they can be small or they can be huge...
1. Lakes and Rivers...I grew up on, I wish they were in my backyard now
2. Old Friends...the "ones" that will always be there...I need to call them more often
3.Changing my daughters diaper...this season of my life with her will soon be over, not sure if I am ready?
4. My pay check...I am grateful to have a job during this economic crisis
5. We no longer have 2 mortgages...need to continue praising the Lord for answering our prayers. When we sold our NWA house I told Nick I wanted to shout from the roof tops "Praise the Lord, Thank you Lord" he responded "There is a ladder in the garage"....I should have taken that as a moment of opportunity to shout "Praise the Lord" for the world to hear.
Has God answered your prayers??? Do you still praise Him? Let's all remember the good times He has shown up...taking Him for granted?
"I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the desolate pit, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord."
"I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the desolate pit, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord."
Psalm 40: 1-3
I might just go get that ladder and shout from the roof tops!!!
Friday, July 30, 2010
Fire Academy
We officially have a Fireman in the family!!! We attended an event last week where the soon to be fire academy graduates showed their families somethings they have learned. It was pretty neat and of course Miss Priss wanted to be in the middle of the action.
Congratulations Uncle Ry Ry!!! We are so proud of you!
Giving Uncle Ry Ry a hug before the event
Claire with Papaw...passy & shades
Claire lovin her shades....smiles with Nene
Cheetos face makes a happy girl:)
Fire....HOT!!!
Love the rainbow!
Giving Uncle Ry Ry a hug before the event
Claire with Papaw...passy & shades
Claire lovin her shades....smiles with Nene
Cheetos face makes a happy girl:)
Fire....HOT!!!
Love the rainbow!
Monday, July 26, 2010
Let's Focus?...Small Town USA
Though I have never thought of myself as some one with strong-willed politics I have come to the realization that just because you ignore politics does not mean they will go away. Please excuse the vent session if you want, no one is forcing you to read on. Just my opinion...every one is entitled to one:)
Recently, in the small Arkansas town I grew up in the City Board voted to change the name of main corridor (street) in a very back-handed way. They claim the primary reason for the name change is to honor Dr. Martin Luther King. The cost associated with this name change will be unprecedented; this street stretches for one end of the town to the other, includes more businesses than any other street in the city and numerous homes. The economy of this town is stagnate and has been for probably close to 30 years, I would predict when the new census data is available the population has declined. The voices in the town say "change" but the actions of the City Board say the opposite. Where is the common sense in raising expenses of the businesses in your community during this ugly recession? I have read many opinions about this issue and for what ever reason the ugly "race card" is being played? However, from my small corner of the world I don't care if you wanted to rename it ABC Street or Hometown USA Blvd; it makes absolutely no sense to try and fix something that is not broken! There are so many issues in this town that NEED attention; the school system, the lack of businesses coming to the area, the unemployment ratio, the viability of a beautiful downtown. There are so many pluses about this little town that could be monopolized on; lakes, colleges, rivers, interstate, Amtrak, the possibilities are endless!!! The people stand in the way of progress...sad but true. The truth is not always pretty. This town has so much potential and there is no reason what so ever that it should not be functioning like many others towns with similar characteristics that are booming during this recession. I think the people with the power to change this place, say they want change, but will not make the move to make the change. If this small town does not try to move forward it will only fall behind. The rest of the world is changing, like it or not; I just hope this little town decides to jump on the bandwagon and reap the benefits. A new generation of leaders needs to be born, a new generation with new ideas and an open mind. Maybe they are there?? Maybe they are already yelling in the ears of the people that continue to hold the "power" but is it going in one ear and out the other? I am really not sure. I would love to see this little town "that is a great place to call home" prosper but the train of thought needs to be reformed if the powers at be think renaming a street is where the local businesses need to spend their money? (If the majority of the businesses want to spend there money that way and they vote to change the name then more power to them... welcome, MLK Blvd.) The focus needs to change....the heart of a community is only as good as the education it provides its future leadership!!! Without education, it will be hard for leaders to be born, without leaders it is going to be hard to climb the ladder of economic prosperity and this little town will just wither away! Once again, ignoring change will not make it go away...sad but true!
If you are still reading, thanks for listening, sorry if I stepped on any one's toes, not my intention, just my opinion:)
Recently, in the small Arkansas town I grew up in the City Board voted to change the name of main corridor (street) in a very back-handed way. They claim the primary reason for the name change is to honor Dr. Martin Luther King. The cost associated with this name change will be unprecedented; this street stretches for one end of the town to the other, includes more businesses than any other street in the city and numerous homes. The economy of this town is stagnate and has been for probably close to 30 years, I would predict when the new census data is available the population has declined. The voices in the town say "change" but the actions of the City Board say the opposite. Where is the common sense in raising expenses of the businesses in your community during this ugly recession? I have read many opinions about this issue and for what ever reason the ugly "race card" is being played? However, from my small corner of the world I don't care if you wanted to rename it ABC Street or Hometown USA Blvd; it makes absolutely no sense to try and fix something that is not broken! There are so many issues in this town that NEED attention; the school system, the lack of businesses coming to the area, the unemployment ratio, the viability of a beautiful downtown. There are so many pluses about this little town that could be monopolized on; lakes, colleges, rivers, interstate, Amtrak, the possibilities are endless!!! The people stand in the way of progress...sad but true. The truth is not always pretty. This town has so much potential and there is no reason what so ever that it should not be functioning like many others towns with similar characteristics that are booming during this recession. I think the people with the power to change this place, say they want change, but will not make the move to make the change. If this small town does not try to move forward it will only fall behind. The rest of the world is changing, like it or not; I just hope this little town decides to jump on the bandwagon and reap the benefits. A new generation of leaders needs to be born, a new generation with new ideas and an open mind. Maybe they are there?? Maybe they are already yelling in the ears of the people that continue to hold the "power" but is it going in one ear and out the other? I am really not sure. I would love to see this little town "that is a great place to call home" prosper but the train of thought needs to be reformed if the powers at be think renaming a street is where the local businesses need to spend their money? (If the majority of the businesses want to spend there money that way and they vote to change the name then more power to them... welcome, MLK Blvd.) The focus needs to change....the heart of a community is only as good as the education it provides its future leadership!!! Without education, it will be hard for leaders to be born, without leaders it is going to be hard to climb the ladder of economic prosperity and this little town will just wither away! Once again, ignoring change will not make it go away...sad but true!
If you are still reading, thanks for listening, sorry if I stepped on any one's toes, not my intention, just my opinion:)
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Momma & Me Morning
Claire and I had a "Just Momma & Me morning". We headed out to the local donut shop, ate donut holes and then headed over to the library!!! Our first trip to library! Where else would a bookworm be in heaven??
Claire loved all the books, books, books!!! Read Momma, Read Momma!
Dora and Tractor Books...Double Favorite!!
I would own a children's book store if there was anyway to make a living doing it! I LOVE children's books and have so many wonderful memories of my hometown library and school library....it was so fun seeing my old friends this morning; Ramona, Ameila Bedelia, Dick and Jane, The Babysitters Club.... it makes my heart warm to see this little similarity between me and my daughter! It did make me a little sad when we went to check out our books. I asked if we could get a library card for Claire. They said she was too young and she had to be 5 before she could have her own library card. Oh, well I guess it's a day we will look forward too!...and yes, I still have my first library card, you can call my nerd, it's ok:)
Friday, July 16, 2010
Where are you Time?
I have had this post on my mind for awhile now but knowing it is a touchy subject with some I have steered clear of it, with that said I am not here to offend anyone.
Honestly, I write about issues and different things because I want my daughter to know who I am and my prospective on life. I think it is important for children to know their parents and not just as "Mom and Dad" but really know them. Given that we don't live in a world of certainty and the good Lord can call me home at any second, I want my daughter to know me even if heaven forbid I am not here with her every day. I never want her to wonder who her mother was? What I would say or how I would feel? I have thought many times about writing a book to her on every topic I could think of and just run with it...I might just do it, when I get the time.
I recently read the book "The Help" and I highly recommend it if you are looking for a good read. It made me think even more about a topic I have pondered on many times. Time,Women, and the our role today. Quiet time. Me time. Quality Time. Girl Time. I know I am not alone in the sea of water I thread. As most of you know I am a working mother and I often struggle with balancing my time.
Back in the day a mother, a wife had a different role than she does today. The Bible talks about the woman's role of being a wife and a mother and up until World War II this was pretty much how women functioned in the world. They were married, and known as Mrs...... or ...so and so's mother. The men provided for the household, the men worked outside of the home during the day and the women tended to house and the children. Most white women even had "help" keeping house and raising the children. Here is the touchy part: Up until about 50+ years ago most white women had a husband that worked all day, help that came to the house everyday to cook, clean and nanny to the children. What did they do what there time?!!! Organize fundraisers, go to league meetings, volunteer for this, that and the other. Then came along the War and the Civil Rights movement...women went to work in the factories and the "help" eventually found better opportunities. The men came home from war but the women continued to work. The children now went to childcare centers or stayed home alone. The Dad works all day, the Mom works all day but the house and the children are still considered to be the Mom's responsibility even to this day. The Bible has not changed and the Lord is pretty clear on what a mother's responsibility is. Are there enough hours in the day for a working mother to truly fulfill her obligations to her husband, her children, her church, her job, her house, her community, her friends, herself, her Lord!!!??? I think we all know the answer, No. There is not enough time, so what gives?
I would love to have an hour of quiet time every day to think and talk to God, I would love to have an hour every day to hang out with my husband, cook a wonderful dinner, play with my daughter without thinking of the 100+ other things that need to be done. I am just not sure how women got to this place but then again the Lord doesn't give us more than we can't handle so just maybe those of us in the category of the working mother can handle it but at who's expense? Our husband's, our children, our Lord?? Everyone fights their own battles maybe this is just one of mine.
Please let me stress here I know that stay at home moms work, raising babies all day and all night is one of the hardest jobs out there. I realize there were plenty of women who had no help. I also realize that "back in the day" women did not have a voice, they were told who they were and what to think...which is probably why I was not born back then, God knew I would end up in jail.:)
The phrase "Life is Short" is becoming more and more real. The older you get the shorter life seems.....because you don't have as much time as you once thought you did. There are so many things to do in life but when are we suppose to find the time??
Get an education, get married, balance the career, clean the house, make babies, have babies, nurse babies, drinks with friends, more drinks with friends, swimming lessons, paint the house, read a book, pray, cook, pay the bills, go to the store, travel the world, volunteer, follow your dreams, read to your children, homework, go to Disneyworld, work on the flowerbeds, get your teeth cleaned, show and tell day, bake a cake, just smile, just breathe,....this is life, this is world we live in....I am just grateful to have a family to share it with, it may be a few minutes here and a few minutes there but I try and stay focused even when the clock is going "tick tock, tick tock." The balance will eventually find me...and all in perfect time!
Honestly, I write about issues and different things because I want my daughter to know who I am and my prospective on life. I think it is important for children to know their parents and not just as "Mom and Dad" but really know them. Given that we don't live in a world of certainty and the good Lord can call me home at any second, I want my daughter to know me even if heaven forbid I am not here with her every day. I never want her to wonder who her mother was? What I would say or how I would feel? I have thought many times about writing a book to her on every topic I could think of and just run with it...I might just do it, when I get the time.
I recently read the book "The Help" and I highly recommend it if you are looking for a good read. It made me think even more about a topic I have pondered on many times. Time,Women, and the our role today. Quiet time. Me time. Quality Time. Girl Time. I know I am not alone in the sea of water I thread. As most of you know I am a working mother and I often struggle with balancing my time.
Back in the day a mother, a wife had a different role than she does today. The Bible talks about the woman's role of being a wife and a mother and up until World War II this was pretty much how women functioned in the world. They were married, and known as Mrs...... or ...so and so's mother. The men provided for the household, the men worked outside of the home during the day and the women tended to house and the children. Most white women even had "help" keeping house and raising the children. Here is the touchy part: Up until about 50+ years ago most white women had a husband that worked all day, help that came to the house everyday to cook, clean and nanny to the children. What did they do what there time?!!! Organize fundraisers, go to league meetings, volunteer for this, that and the other. Then came along the War and the Civil Rights movement...women went to work in the factories and the "help" eventually found better opportunities. The men came home from war but the women continued to work. The children now went to childcare centers or stayed home alone. The Dad works all day, the Mom works all day but the house and the children are still considered to be the Mom's responsibility even to this day. The Bible has not changed and the Lord is pretty clear on what a mother's responsibility is. Are there enough hours in the day for a working mother to truly fulfill her obligations to her husband, her children, her church, her job, her house, her community, her friends, herself, her Lord!!!??? I think we all know the answer, No. There is not enough time, so what gives?
I would love to have an hour of quiet time every day to think and talk to God, I would love to have an hour every day to hang out with my husband, cook a wonderful dinner, play with my daughter without thinking of the 100+ other things that need to be done. I am just not sure how women got to this place but then again the Lord doesn't give us more than we can't handle so just maybe those of us in the category of the working mother can handle it but at who's expense? Our husband's, our children, our Lord?? Everyone fights their own battles maybe this is just one of mine.
Please let me stress here I know that stay at home moms work, raising babies all day and all night is one of the hardest jobs out there. I realize there were plenty of women who had no help. I also realize that "back in the day" women did not have a voice, they were told who they were and what to think...which is probably why I was not born back then, God knew I would end up in jail.:)
The phrase "Life is Short" is becoming more and more real. The older you get the shorter life seems.....because you don't have as much time as you once thought you did. There are so many things to do in life but when are we suppose to find the time??
Get an education, get married, balance the career, clean the house, make babies, have babies, nurse babies, drinks with friends, more drinks with friends, swimming lessons, paint the house, read a book, pray, cook, pay the bills, go to the store, travel the world, volunteer, follow your dreams, read to your children, homework, go to Disneyworld, work on the flowerbeds, get your teeth cleaned, show and tell day, bake a cake, just smile, just breathe,....this is life, this is world we live in....I am just grateful to have a family to share it with, it may be a few minutes here and a few minutes there but I try and stay focused even when the clock is going "tick tock, tick tock." The balance will eventually find me...and all in perfect time!
"Honest scales and balances are from the LORD; all the weights in the bag are of his making"
Proverbs 16:11
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