My son is teaching me to be more like him

I had to write and share about how amazing God is. We were driving around in search of a house which thanks to Gods graces we have been blessed with a home, but as we were driving for 2 days our local KLOVE Christian station was down. The girls then put it on a country station, and JD kept saying can we please put it on KLOVE. I explained that KLOVE was off air and I wasn't sure if it had anything to do with with the end of the year drive and maybe Corpus didn't make it, however, he persisted in knowing why it was off. He wanted KLOVE back. Well, yesterday as we were in the car, he says to me, "Mom, can't you pay it, so we can get KLOVE back?" Wow, what a gift JD is to us. I explained that it wasn't just my monthly contribution that they needed, but possibly many people who need to contribute in order to keep our local Christian station on air. This reminded me of every time I get my KLOVE bill and how I saw it as a bill along with all the other bills I receive. I realize that it is not or never will and shall never be considered a bill ever again. for it is our monthly contribution that is an investment in my sons walk with Christ. It mattered to him, so much so that he wanted me to fix it by just"paying it." What a gift in the heart of an 8 year old little boy who has a light for Christ and a love for God so great that he teaches and inspires me to be just like him. God is enormous and he is such a blessing to our family. God bless!!! Thank you KLOVE for touching my sons heart, my heart and my family's life.

My date with the kids

What fun! The kids and I decided to go out and celebrate my last day of the semester. We went to La Playa for queso and chips and some quesadillas. Everyone in there was quite loud and highly spirited with all sorts of colorful drinks. There was plenty of laughter in the restaurant. There was but only three tables with people and we were the only ones without a fruity drink. We get our laughter from Krissy. Anyhow, Krissy was talking about her dinner date with a family friend and then Michelle shared her phone calls from the day. JD talked about his research and the crafts he was doing. People often think I speak Spanish because I'm Hispanic, but actually truth be told, I don't speak it at all, but I can understand very very little. He spoke to me in Spanish and I really don't know what he asked me. I speak French though. Parles' vouz' francais? So I asked for water and I think he said no. He never came back. Then when it's time to pay, he gives Krissy the bill. Ha, that was funny. The girls noticed something, and that was that the other table had 2 very beautiful girls with three waiters waiting on them and our waiter never came back. HMMM? Michelle says, Krissy do something with your eyes and maybe we will at least get one waiter. LOL. These girls, my girls, our baby girls crack me up! Krissy is hilarious. Then she says "I can imply them mom." Michelle is laughing because what was she trying to say by "imply them" then Krissy says oh I mean "rely them" LOL!!!!! She was trying to say "I can read them mom." Teenagers????? Anyway, we finally got water and straws when our meal was over. Then Krissy is handed the bill. Even more funny. She's 16. She says " mom give me your credit card" She writes the amount but writes 23:48. I think she meant to write $23.48. She signs the receipt and hands the waiter the receipt trying to be cool and gives him back my credit card. uh HELLO????? She just handed him the card again. I finally get my credit card, load up all three kids, all filled with laughter and persist to drive them home when Krissy the 16 year old is fighting in the back seat with JD the 8 year old. Michelle says, "if that is what kids sounds like in the back seat, then I ain't having any." We finally get home, JD falls outside, the girls are still cracking up and I am home and quite entertained from my date with my kids. Thank you God for blessing me with three very genuine kids.

The Love Dare

Day One. The reading was amazing. Dave and I took turns reading the first two days. We had agreed that the first dare we had done quite well that day and in previous days so we moved on to the reading of day 2. Again we took turns reading the day and today we must complete our dares. My dare to day is to do an act of unexpected kindness for him. I didn't make him breakfast because that would be expected, but I have an idea and I am planning it this morning. He works so I may have to drive it out there. Hmmm? I can't wait till we read day 3 tonight to find out what our day 3 dare is.

What was really awesome, is that Dave and I have never laid in bed together with our old people glasses and read together. Now that is romance! He especially liked the football note in there. I had no idea. ??? I learned something new last night.

Already, we are spending uninterrupted time together, reading together, studying scripture, and the dares are fun. So far so awesome!!!

When the kids walked in our room, we just ignored them and explained we were on a date.

Maybe we will get more formal about our dates like dinner, the readings, but that wouldn't work if we read in public.??? Hmm? I digress

The running fast shoes

This morning Dave was leaving for work and I saw how he was having to adjust his feet in his tennis shoes. Mind you he bought these 2 weeks ago on a father son outing that just him and JD enjoyed. We decided to split up and have me take the girls for dinner and shopping and he and JD did the hair cut, shopping, dinner thing on their own. It was a nice date for all of us. I normally for the past 19 years buy Dave's clothes, shoes, etc... but while he was out with JD, he found some tennis shoes on clearance and thought wow what a great deal. "I must have them" "Mom would be proud at the price and how much money I saved." Ha. The sneakers I come to find out are size 10. I always buy him size 11 shoes so he can have some wiggle room for the big toe. He is complaining of his toe hurting him and this morning I evaluate the situation and realize his shoes don't fit. This is my 41 year old husband we are speaking of. Soooo, I ask him. didn't you try them on? He says, yeah but they were on sale and I can run fast in them "see". Here comes my Spanish. Ay Ay Ay. Are you kidding me? I will venture out today to buy a new pair of sneakers for him because his very gray sneakers do not fit and he is going to end up with very squashed and sore toes.

I have a date!

Today we begin our "Love dare" Journey. For 40 days Dave and I have committed to the 40 day journey through the book based on the movie Fireproof. Even if you have a healthy marriage, it is a great gift to your spouse and to each other. Why not join the journey. Pick up your copy today at family Christian Stores. I am excited about our date tonight. Dave & I begin day 1 of 40. We will keep you updated.

I also want to try it out before I suggest it to clients along my Counseling path.

OH, This is not just for couples in trouble, it is, I STRESS; It is great for couples who have great marriages, but can you imagine what it would do for those who are at a great level. Hubba hubba, hubba....

I have a date with my husband tonight! yay!

http://thelovedarebook.com/

just writing

revising my paper hoping to send it for publishing. Kids went to Youth service and dave went to serve. I am stuck at home writing

The myspace top friends: Whats your number?

Have we succumbed to nothing but a space on someone’s page? Have we really become numbers in someone’s life---- and is our personal worth nothing but a rating in someone else eyes?

My daughter said to me that she was no longer a ‘top friend’ on one of her friends MySpace pages. This made me think not just for a moment, but for a few days.

Upon reflecting on the notion that she was obviously affected by losing that spot on her friend’s MySpace, it dawned on me that she too, just as so many others had placed ratings amongst each other.

MySpace continues to add to their Psychological well being yet once again.

I suddenly feel inclined to write about this friendship scale. I am appalled that this 'top friends' notion is adding to the esteem of our children.

Because she is home-schooled, we already implement too many structures, and shelter her as much as we can-- but I believe I must also allow her to be a teenager as much as possible. I don't like that my daughter has a MySpace but I allow her to have one under several conditions. That I have the password, that I can see it at anytime and that she use it just for communication with friends far away, and those friends who she hardly gets to see or talk to, and while I am in the room. Had I known it would become another method of yet another way to demean our kids then I would say "absolutely not remove your MySpace account", however I am a firm believer that I must raise her to acknowledge her friends as more than a place on a page, but to respect them for the person they are. My challenge to her is that she removes the ‘top friends’ application because I feel it sends a message that we have joined this method of judging each other.

Have we really become so judgmental of each other that we have started doing God's job? Not even God judges us that way. To God we are always number one!!!!

A few days later, as I found I became more disturbed about the ‘top friend’ application ...that I asked her how she felt about it. She said, “Mom, please........Like really I shouldn't be rated as a friend just by someone's top friends list. Like seriously. That's immature.” Ha! I said to her, but sweetheart........Do you realize you are doing exactly the same thing because you have only 5 friends on your top and one is higher than the other, and you had 72 total on your page to choose from. So my suggestion to her was to remove the rating. I challenged her to think about how God would feel about this. What would God think about rating each other…………

My concern is that kids already have enough pressures just trying to be who they are, and trying to find out where they fit, and where they don't, but to mechanically add to their personal growth just frightens me.

My prayer is that we stop and think about our actions and those actions that we didn’t even know were harmful. These ratings are not Christ like. They are worldly mannerisms of telling each other that 'one' of you is better than the 'other'. Another sad revelation in the lives of teens......

I digress……..

-marie

Home schooling at the homefront

Need some ideas if anyone has any. I found a really great study I could use as we study Mary. The Bible study takes a look at the Gospels according to Mathew, mark, Luke & Acts but I also found some great activities to concentrate on. The kids are excited about the lesson but I am now in search of a great movie that we can show to go with our Unit study. Any ideas??? Has anyone seen Mary of Nazareth? What do you think about it?

Home schooling this month has so much going on at our home. With Bible studies, lessons, and a shorter month, we are trying to get it all in ---but not sure how we will manage. God first though!!!

We ordered the Menorah for our Hanukkah celebration. Theresa Haigler, Michelle's Life Group leader was very generous and shared it with us. We will use the unit lesson for all 3 of our kids. JD is also looking at the Advent wreath and its meanings.

Michelle will plan the menu for the Hanukkah meals, and Krissy will be in charge of the readings. JD will teach us what he learned about the Advent wreath.

We decided to add some celebrations to our home school curriculum this month as it is a blessing to learn as a family but also to bond and make wonderful memories as we begin the season.

We are running a little late on the advent but JD will catch us up tonight. I am excited to be their teacher and their mother.

Thank You God for blessing me.

The joys of parenting

so you know that thing where the mom feels what the daughter feels, well it's pretty much true. When the kids hurt, the parents hurt. I used to think it was just me but recently I see that daddy's get all mushy too. I think its genuine when daddy's get all worked up about their kids.

It should be that we care enough to cry with them.

Sure life stinks sometimes but it is never the end of the world and there is always something better up ahead.

As long as you have faith and believe in forgiveness, there is hope, but when you are so closed to being anything but loving and forgiving then it is a very sad day indeed.

I pray that all those we know find it in their hearts this Christmas to look at their lives and realize how much of it---- is their mess ----and how much of it is yours.

If you truly believe you are perfect and thus have no compassion to remove the walls, then it will be very difficult to move forward in love--- and to love anyone.

You have to see that we are not perfect and that we have flaws and God loves you no matter what. But when there is pride and only pride, then how can you love???

So let go of that pride. It only makes it worse.

As days go by, It is final

so this thing that my family has gone through is finally getting past the hard feelings and the hurt. As the days go by, feelings lessen and acceptance prevails. To make a long story short, I think Dave & I finally decided together that moving on and moving forward is best for our kids. Especially for Krissy. So we do what we can, we move on, and we encourage our children to not be sad about what has happened but rather to rejoice because God is always in control. The grand opening is this Sunday at our church and we will be there.

Soooo I woke up happier than I have ever been. Semester is coming to a close, my article is being published. received my envelope today. JD got a new wardrobe. Me and the kids went shopping. Christmas is almost here and we are looking for a car for Krissy.

I can't believe she will be driving soon, so we are in search of an SUV (small SUV) for her.

Filled out the stuff as we are looking at buying a new house. Who buys a house in December? I know. I may put it off till mid year though. BUT we are definitely buying a bigger home.

This part of our life is done. This has been a wonderful year but we are definitely spending more time on us as a family. We will continue to minister as God calls us and we will help on Sunday mornings in the youth area, Dave possibly may continue Wed. nights with Youth. My schedule is changing and so I will not be available on Wed.s any longer. I also need to balance my load. I will start helping at a shelter. I cannot share where I am working but I am ready to expand my ministry.

I am looking forward to seeing the kids at RLF on Sunday mornings. As the need arises, I will help where they need me. My daughter Michelle said to me: " Mom, who cares" (this is my back bone child)" I want you with me at youth" Thinking about that and not giving her an answer, I say now " I care" and God cares. So that is all that matters.


God has been great-- and as we have learned lessons----- we will grow through them.

It is final that we are moving forward as a family!!

-marie

tiny little tasks

I have but one day left to finish the 10 page content paper, fine tune my project, study for the 100 question final tomorrow, make cookies for the presentation, prepare to speak and teach, kids going for a visit to Grandma's, soooo much to do, so little time.

The Christmas Star

Finally got the star on the tree. Dave almost dropped JD. He's not little bitty anymore.

Kids leave tomorrow to Grandmas for a few days while I finish up the semester. They will be back home on Friday so we can actually begin the holiday as a family.

I have a paper to finish writing. project is complete. Making cookies for m colleagues for Thursday. Final exam on Thursday. presentation. No clue how I am getting it all done but I have no choice but to get it all done!!!!!

Christmas decorating

Kids are decorating for Christmas today as they are on a break from home school. Not so much a break but a time for unity and bonding. I am stuck in the middle of finals and papers, projects. I would give anything for a nap. But, got my Christian music going, words will come eventually and the paper will write itself. I can't take pictures cuz kids say they are not descent but I managed to get at least two. Have I mentioned how much I love my kids? I do!!!!!! They are pretty amazing! Even when they do things that we know are wrong, we still love them and brag about how amazing they are. God is good!!! God is great!!! All the time God is good!

Home school resumes this Friday!!!

My desk is intimidating me. I want my life back. I love being a counselor but I really would like a nap.

Reassured

of Gods love for us. I can't explain but I do know that forgiveness is big enough. Sometimes I just don't understand how big God is. Today even though we are angry, I must find a way to bring my family together to come to terms with what Christ has laid before us. What is certain is that we will not run away. I will teach my children as a very awesome Pastor said to me, and to take this as a teaching lesson to move forward in his glory. We will however take a few weeks to focus on just being a family and less of the drama.

Still in prayer