Reflection

It's time to reflect on the year and set new goals. Did you meet any of your 2011 resolutions? I can't even recall what I had for dinner on Tuesday much less recall a goal I set last January. Another wonderful year is coming to a close. As I reflect on all the good, the bad and the ugly that has taken place this past year, I am still in awe of how faithful our God is. While people have let me down in 2011 ( wasn't you) God has been faithful...always. I am so thankful that God allowed me to meet every challenge while learning to trust him more fully. I truly believe that is one of my biggest challenges...letting go and letting God.

I pray that this new year brings you much happiness and a closer walk with God. Thanks for following me on my journey and for all your words of encouragement. Happy New Year!

Silent Night

The minute I turned on my computer I knew that Christmas was here.. There was not one email from any stores promising me last minute sales or super shipping deals. At long last the silent night had arrived and not a moment too soon. Doesn't it seem like a whole lot of cooking,, baking,wrapping and preparing each year ? I will admit that as my son gets older, Christmas gets more meaningful and fun. He had a great day followed by what he claimed to be the best birthday yet. It's hard to believe he turned eight yesterday. To mark the special occasion we stopped at the Disney store for him to pick up a few things...while he was there I used a gift card at the Coach store..hey shouldn't the parents be rewarded too?

I must have been a very good girl this year because Santa gave me an Ipad2. What that means for you is more blog postings...hold the applause.. I know I have to make up for lost time. Hoping each of you had a great Christmas and that you are enjoying the last few days of 2011.

Christmas Eve

Welcome to the day that I always remembered as a child to be the LONGEST day of the year. It’s our first Christmas Eve by ourselves…ever. I’m not sure even where to start. We are so used to being at someone else’s home, that we don’t have any “traditions” of our own. I want it to be memorable, and I can’t help but think of the special traditions that my own family held on to year after year. We always had a chocolate advent calendar, a wonderful tradition that my Aunt Lou continues with my son. Each year she lovingly sends us one of these beloved calendars that the whole family enjoys as we anticipate Christmas! I am so excited to see what traditions that we start this year that Christopher will incorporate into his future celebrations.

My husband has already volunteered to make a Turkey, so I’m thrilled that he’ll be handling that. Chris is such a picky eater that up until Thanksgiving he wouldn’t touch Turkey. Thank God he tried it and decided he liked it. Turkey it is. Don’t tell my husband, but I am sooooooooo using the fine china on Christmas Eve. If you follow my blog, you know up until recently it’s been sitting in boxes for 3 YEARS! Yes, those babies are making an appearance and I’ll wash them myself thank you. Good thing there are only 3 of us! LOL

We’ve invited a couple of our neighbors to attend the candlelight service at our church tonight and I’m so looking forward to having them join us for that, followed by dessert at my house.
Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas as we celebrate the birth of our Saviour!

Goodbye November

What happened to November? For that matter, what happened to this year? Can it really be that tomorrow is December 1st? By looking around my house, I can tell that it is. Christmas tree, check; house decorated, check; gifts purchased, working on it!

Today I had my pre-December panic. Around the last few days of November I start to panic about my son's birthday. You see, his birthday is the day after Christmas and every year I go into full panic mode that I will somehow in the hustle and bustle of Christmas forget to buy him a card or (gasp!) even a gift!! So, today during my lunch break I ran to Duane Reade (thank God there is one on each NYC street it would seem) and purchased his card. Since we've already purchased his birthday gift, the only task left to panic about is making sure I wrap it in Happy Birthday paper as opposed to Christmas paper, and to bake him a cake before his special day.

I hope each of you can take a few moments over the next few weeks and enjoy this wonderful time of year.

Holiday Spirit - NOW

I know for the majority of you, you are going to say it is WAY to early to be thinking about Christmas. Not only am I thinking about it, I am buying gifts, wrapping paper, decorations for my home, etc. Trust me when I say, that Christmas kicks into high gear around here the day after Thanksgiving. I love EVERYTHING about the Christmas season... especially the REASON behind all of it.... Jesus himself.

There is one family tradition that Steve & I just started last year with Christopher which we absolutely fell in love with. Operation Christmas Child through Samaritan's Purse. It's a way of bringing joy and the Good News of Jesus Christ to children all over the world who need hope.

It's so easy to do:
1) Get a Shoe Box.. find one at home (standard size) or pick one up at your Christian Bookstore. You can wrap the box and lid with wrapping paper if you wish. Most importantly, pray as a family over the child who is going to receive this box.

2) Boy or Girl... have your child/children decide should the box be sent to a boy or girl and pick the age category. Last year Chris decided to send it to a boy his own age. The age categories are 2-4; 5-9; or 10-14.

3) Fill the box with gifts! You don't have to break the bank... a simple trip to the dollar store will do. School Supplies, small cars, balls, dolls, hygiene items, socks, ball caps, etc. We also had Chris put a picture of himself in there along with a note from our family letting the child know that we are praying for him/her.

4) Include a $7 donation (to cover shipping)

5) Drop off the box - our church collects them or you can call 800-353-5949 to find a drop off center near you. National Collection Week is Nov 14-21!

For those of you who just can't wrap your head around doing this now with everything else on your plate, you know you think you'll get to this "later". Trust me when I say, this is so worth your time and your child will LOVE being a part of this process. If you truly don't have the time, you can even do this ONLINE! Go to www.samaritanspurse.org/occ. All the steps I mentioned above can be done online -- you can fill a box for a boy/girl and they have items you can "buy" to fill your box. All online. So simple and you control how much money you want to spend on the box. You can upload a photo of your child and can even follow your box around the world! You can find out exactly where your box winds up, whether you fill a box online or the old fashioned way.

I hope many of you will take the time to do this with your family, or perhaps you have another organization that you work with and that's great.

The long awaited update

Hi everyone. So many of you have texted me, emailed me and called me to see how my health is doing and what's going on in general. This is literally the first moment I have had to sit at the computer to try to compose somewhat of a response.

Most of you know that my infamous gall bladder surgery did not take place as scheduled on Oct 21st. At the very last minute, seriously, the doctor cancelled the surgery. He did a last minute blood test, and because of a prior blood disorder I have in my body, he decided that we need to take some other precautions and cancelled the whole thing. I honestly was VERY relieved. I was never concerned about the actual gall stones, it was always about my blood disorder that had me very concerned.

So, next step is for me to see a Hematologist this Friday in NYC. I am so blessed because my former boss is very well connected in the NYC medical field and was able to refer me to one of the best hematologists in NYC. God is so good.

Continue to pray for me-and also for my father-in-law, Domingo who is in the critical care unit of a south NJ hospital. He needs a touch in his body and we are so thankful for those of you who are already praying for him.

Love you all!

Smile!

I bet you didn't know that I'm a model... I must admit, it can be pretty annoying to have cameras going off in your face at any given moment... I didn't set out to become a model, but people just want me in their photos.. You see, every day at 5:00 pm I have to walk through Grand Central Station in NYC. If you have never had the thrill of walking through this super busy train station, let me tell you.. it is a full blown contact sport. Thousands of people dodging one another trying to get to their train on time! Not only do you have to contend with the commuting crowd, but the tourists as well! I don't know who told the hundreds of tourists to come to Grand Central at 5pm, but they are there... every day.. and they take my picture.. every day.

You see.. whether I want to be or not, I am photographed every day.... I must be in THOUSANDS of photos.. it could be just my arm, my leg, my hair, the back of my head.. but I can guarantee you I'm in those photos. In fact, a photo of me could be lurking in your best friend's mother's cousin's husband's nephew's facebook page... or a photo of me could be on their cell phone! If they have been to Grand Central Station.. I promise you I am in there. So, if your friend says they've been to NY.. ask to see their pictures and look for me!

It Has Been A While!

I hope you are still there.. I wouldn't blame you if you gave up on me. Life has just been busy so you'll have to excuse me if I haven't been blogging lately. I'd say "it's been the best of times, and the worst of times", but that line has already been used. Some wonderful things have happened in the last month... Chris started 2nd grade and playing soccer, Steve has started his own business and I now have a permanent full time job with benefits in NYC. And while it's been great to dance on the mountain top and celebrate God's goodness, we've also been down in the valley as our family mourned the passing of a beautiful 14 year old girl... my cousin John's daughter, Brenda, who unexpectedly passed away earlier this month.

It's funny because I am constantly thinking about blogging.. little tidbits that you will find funny, but somehow getting to the computer and putting my thoughts together takes a little bit more energy then I same to have these days. Hoping that will change soon!

You can do one thing for me.. say a prayer for me this Friday. I am having surgery to have my gallbladder removed. Should be a routine procedure, but the "s" word frightens me. So, if you could pray for peace and for a speedy recovery, I would certainly appreciate it!

Thought For The Day

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen, or even touched, they must be felt with the heart."

Helen Keller

Bus Stop

It was an ordinary day at the bus stop. The usual suspects were lining up, checking emails, listening to music or sipping on their first cup of coffee. For the most part, the people keep to themselves. Being a morning person myself, I typically have to resist my desire to chat out of respect for those who do not share that personality trait.

Unexpectedly, the gentleman in front of me turned to me and struck up a conversation about the weather and, in particular, about the mosquitoes. The bugs were literally attacking him. I had a few by me, but they were seriously swarming him. He was wearing shorts, a t-shirt and flip flops and they were having a field day with him. It was my good fortune that today I opted for pants and a long sleeve sweater that had me covered from head to toe so those pesky mosquitoes could gain no entrance to my skin. Trust me.. I have my fair share of bites already.

Despite the raid on his body, this poor man kept up his cheery disposition for a full 20 minutes. He seriously was being targeted by these bugs and I’m not sure why. I felt so bad for him and surely thought if that was me, I would have hid in my car until the bus came. But, because the line can be so long and once it’s filled you could be bumped from it, he stood there and “took it like a man.”

Finally the bus pulled up and we all prepared to get on board. Only, the man in front of me did the most shocking thing… I watched as a woman got out of her car, walked up to him, kissed him and thanked him and she took his spot on line and boarded the bus. He walked away got into the car she emerged from and drove away. I was amazed at this act of love that I witnessed. This man, who was not even getting on the bus to begin with, endured a very painful wait (I can only imagine how many bites he received during those 20 minutes) all in the name of love for his girlfriend/wife. I thought that was such a selfless act.. so kind, so thoughtful and I wondered to myself how many other people would be willing to do something like that. Would you endure pain or even inconvenience for someone you love? Would you think more of their comfort then of your own?

It left me thinking about those I love and how I am serving them…how I am loving them. I have a new determination to think less of me and more of them.. not because I have too, but because I want to.

It's Over!

I woke up today thinking “I’m glad that’s over!” First the earthquake, then the hurricane which coincided with our move across the street. It was a stressful weekend, but it is done. We moved, we hunkered down, and now let the unpacking commence.

Just to give you a quick recap, it took me about 3 hours to get home on Friday night because everyone was evacuating the greater NY/NJ area. Saturday morning, we started moving. (I would like to offer a huge thank you to my brother-in-law, Ruben, and my nephew, Jonathan, without whom we would still be carrying boxes.) We worked until the first raindrops started to fall before calling it quits and hunkering down for the storm. Everyone slept great that night except for me who was clued to the live news streaming tracking Irene. Many of you were on facebook with me commiserating and that helped me so much! Thankfully we had no flooding in our new home although many of the surrounding areas weren’t as lucky.

On Monday, we hired a few guys to come and move the heavy furniture. Worth every penny! Today I am back at work -- it took over 2 hours to get here! Just grateful that we are all safe.

Here’s hoping that his week is not nearly as exciting as last week!!

Hurricane!

First an earthquake and now a hurricane. The entire East Coast is watching Hurricane Irene as it is creeping towards the northeast. I am hoping that all the models are wrong and that it won’t be anything major… especially since we are MOVING this weekend! Can you imagine carrying boxes and furniture in the rain? Either way, I know God has his hands on us.

For those of you with kids, how have you eased concerns or worries about storms and earthquakes. This week has opened up a whole new field of questions from Christopher. I think he was nervous about me when he heard the word earthquake, and I know he is less than thrilled that this upcoming hurricane has ruined our planned trip to Hershey Park. He was too little to remember the four hurricanes we rode out while living in Florida. I answered his questions as best I could and realized what he really wanted,was a task or job to do. Something to be responsible for so last night I assigned him his “hurricane tasks”.

1. Gather the emergency snacks and water
2. Gather pillows and blankets
3. Gather batteries and flashlights
4. Gather games for the family to play during the storm
5. Keep your favorite stuffed animals near your sleeping area.

It seems to have helped him cope a little better about what to expect. Most importantly, we just remind him that God is with us even through the storms of life… both real storms and other trials that come our way.

Shake, Rattle and Roll

All I can say is what a week! I didn’t think that at my age, I would still be experiencing many “firsts”. At this point, I pretty much have had the mantra of “been there, done that, bought the t-shirt.”

Growing up in the Northeast, I am used to enjoying the beauty that the four seasons brings us each year. With each season comes potential weather issues such as blizzards, occasional tornado warnings, heat waves, etc. Well, this past Tuesday I was able to add tremor from earthquake to that list. I honestly never thought I’d feel an earthquake as long as I kept my feet on northeastern soil. I figured that was a “west coast” issue and one that I wouldn’t have to experience as long as I kept this body on this coast.

I was at work on the 32nd floor of a high-rise in Midtown Manhattan when all of a sudden I felt my chair and my feet moving up and down. For a moment I thought it was just me and I jumped up. I felt dizzy and thought I was sick or something. I sat down again and still felt it and very quickly sought out some other people who said they felt it too. At first, no one knew what to do. I grabbed my sneakers, my purse and cell phone and headed to the reception area. The Fire Marshall for the building made an announcement that they were “investigating the cause”. In the meantime, our cell phones were erupting with texts and social media sites were already telling us about the earthquake. We evacuated our office and were then sent home for the day which was another challenge in itself because my bus broke down on the way. At last, I made it home and just hugged my family for a while, just being grateful that it wasn’t something m ore serious.

I must say I was really annoyed by a few “friends” on facebook who were really putting us down over the quake. I know many people have made a big joke over this (and find it ironic that the majority of them were no where near NYC on 9/11), but to those of us who live and work in the NY area, especially with the 9/11 anniversary just weeks away, any hint of an emergency just fuels us to GET OUT! So, I make no apologies for evacuating at the first hint of a tremor and, if that’s amusing to you, well let’s see how well you fare if you were literally sitting in a high rise with the floor moving underneath YOU! Thanks to the many of you who sent me sincere texts and facebook comments concerned about my safety…I truly love you and value you!

Moving By The Numbers

I know I haven't widely broadcast this.. but we are MOVING.... yes, again! Thankfully, this move is not cross country, up north, down south or even out of state. In fact, this move is not even 30 miles from our home... our move is so close that we don't even need a moving truck! That's right, people.. we are moving onto the street! (Just kidding) We are literally moving ACROSS THE STREET to another town home on our block. Long story short, the owner of our current town home is selling our unit (and asking way too much money!) and our neighbors across the street just bought a home elsewhere but don't want to sell their unit because of the down economy. The win, win for us is that their unit is move in ready and has just been totally remodeled (and did I mention CHEAPER?! ) I chalk it up to another blessing from God. Sooo... because August has not been stressful enough with doctor appointments for pesky kidney and gall stones, we are moving on Saturday to round out our crazy August.

Here's where my head is out today....

8 - Number of years married

7 - Age of our son

6 - Number of days left until we move

5 - Number of times we've moved since we are married (see # 8)

4 - Number of people willing to help us move (I hope they show up! lol)

3 - Number of years we have been living back in NJ

2 - Number of parking spaces we'll have in our new driveway (compared to only having 1 now)

1 - Number of minutes before I am discovered typing and not packing. Bye, bye....

"The Help"

I just finished reading this book ("The Help"' by Kathryn Stockett) and thought her experience on just getting the book published was very interesting considering it's a bestseller and was made into a movie that is playing nationwide now.

Kathryn Stockett's 'The Help' Turned Down 60 Times Before Becoming a Best Seller


If you ask my husband my best trait, he’ll smile and say, “She never gives up.” But if you ask him my worst trait, he’ll get a funny tic in his cheek, narrow his eyes and hiss, “She. Never. Gives. Up.”
It took me a year and a half to write my earliest version of The Help. I’d told most of my friends and family what I was working on. Why not? We are compelled to talk about our passions. When I’d polished my story, I announced it was done and mailed it to a literary agent.
Six weeks later, I received a rejection letter from the agent, stating, “Story did not sustain my interest.” I was thrilled! I called my friends and told them I’d gotten my first rejection! Right away, I went back to editing. I was sure I could make the story tenser, more riveting, better.

A few months later, I sent it to a few more agents. And received a few more rejections. Well, more like 15. I was a little less giddy this time, but I kept my chin up. “Maybe the next book will be the one,” a friend said. Next book? I wasn’t about to move on to the next one just because of a few stupid letters. I wanted to write this book.

A year and a half later, I opened my 40th rejection: “There is no market for this kind of tiring writing.” That one finally made me cry. “You have so much resolve, Kathryn,” a friend said to me. “How do you keep yourself from feeling like this has been just a huge waste of your time?”
That was a hard weekend. I spent it in pajamas, slothing around that racetrack of self-pity—you know the one, from sofa to chair to bed to refrigerator, starting over again on the sofa. But I couldn’t let go of The Help. Call it tenacity, call it resolve or call it what my husband calls it: stubbornness.

After rejection number 40, I started lying to my friends about what I did on the weekends. They were amazed by how many times a person could repaint her apartment. The truth was, I was embarrassed for my friends and family to know I was still working on the same story, the one nobody apparently wanted to read.

Sometimes I’d go to literary conferences, just to be around other writers trying to get published. I’d inevitably meet some successful writer who’d tell me, “Just keep at it. I received 14 rejections before I finally got an agent. Fourteen. How many have you gotten?”
By rejection number 45, I was truly neurotic. It was all I could think about—revising the book, making it better, getting an agent, getting it published. I insisted on rewriting the last chapter an hour before I was due at the hospital to give birth to my daughter. I would not go to the hospital until I’d typed The End. I was still poring over my research in my hospital room when the nurse looked at me like I wasn’t human and said in a New Jersey accent, “Put the book down, you nut
job—you’re crowning.”

It got worse. I started lying to my husband. It was as if I were having an affair—with 10 black maids and a skinny white girl. After my daughter was born, I began sneaking off to hotels on the weekends to get in a few hours of writing. I’m off to the Poconos! Off on a girls’ weekend! I’d say. Meanwhile, I’d be at the Comfort Inn around the corner. It was an awful way to act, but—for God’s sake—I could not make myself give up.

In the end, I received 60 rejections for The Help. But letter number 61 was the one that accepted me. After my five years of writing and three and a half years of rejection, an agent named Susan Ramer took pity on me. What if I had given up at 15? Or 40? Or even 60? Three weeks later, Susan sold The Help to Amy Einhorn Books.

The point is, I can’t tell you how to succeed. But I can tell you how not to: Give in to the shame of being rejected and put your manuscript—or painting, song, voice, dance moves, [insert passion here]—in the coffin that is your bedside drawer and close it for good. I guarantee you that it won’t take you anywhere. Or you could do what this writer did: Give in to your obsession instead.

The article was written by Kathryn Stockett

What Is Up With August

It has been a very busy month for me and my health. For those of you who follow me on facebook, you may have seen my posting about going to the doctor. About a month or so ago I started having severe pain in between meals… I mean SEVERE pains. I was nauseous and knew that I needed to get to a doctor. So, I set up an appointment with my primary doctor and, after discussing my symptoms, she sent me off for an ultrasound.

They discovered 3 kidney stones (one in my left kidney and 2 in my right). The urologist said that they will either pass or get bigger. Either way, I am sure in for a lot more pain before it gets better. So, I am drinking a ton of water and I’m on a low fat diet..just waiting until I pass these stones or for 6 months to pass.. whichever should happen first. If nothing happens in 6 months then I am back to the doctor for another ultrasound to see if they have gotten bigger and then he will likely blast them so I can pass them.

The other issue I am having is that the real cause of my abdominal pain was not the kidney stones, but rather the gallstones they found in my gall bladder! So, another visit with another physician.. this time a surgeon and low and behold my gallbladder has to come out on October 7th. So, if you could add me to your prayer list, I would greatly appreciate it.

August is just full of surprises!

Hey.. I've Been Here Before!

Have you ever wandered down a street only to have that weird sensation that you’ve been there before? Maybe you can instantly recall the first time you were there… who you were with… why you were there... what you were doing or where you were going. It’s funny how that happens in life. Maybe you visited your old hometown or a place where you used to live. It can conjure up all kinds of feelings-immense joy or intense sorrow depending on the situation.

I had such a sensation back in May when I found myself walking through the streets of NYC on my way to a job interview with a company I had worked for many, many years ago. The sights of NYC had certainly not changed all too much….tall buildings, check; lots of people, check; wearing sneakers so I don’t break my neck walking, check; musicians in the subway, check; mysterious smells, check. So much the same yet there was one very obvious change. One thing that was totally not the same as the last time I walked through here… it was ME…

You see, the last time I had worked for this company (one of the world’s largest executive search firms), I was a single gal searching for who I was. Just fresh out of college, looking to find my way. Still wondering what God’s plan for my life was. I worked here for about four years and trust me when I say that I was shy, insecure and searching for what would make me happy. I laugh because I honestly felt like the prodigal child who had come home my first few days here. To say I was welcomed with open arms is an understatement.. in fact, I don’t even think they called any of my references!

In many ways it feels like I’ve come full circle.. but yet I haven’t. Same company yes, but totally different person walking in my shoes. I thank God for that and for this amazing opportunity that he has provided for me and my family. I don’t know how long I will be here in this season of my life, but I just give each and every day over to the Lord to use me and know that he has his hand on me and my family.

Oh, and a side note for my Mary Kay customers, fear not.. I am still doing Mary Kay and plan to still be a Director. God will work it all out in his time.

Monday or Tuesday

Today must be a Monday…only it’s not. It’s Tuesday but I was so tired when I got into work today, I was convinced that it HAD to be Monday. I honestly didn’t know how I was going to get through today and was seriously contemplating a cup of coffee – which means I was REALLY tired.

So, I did my Mister Roger’s routine of taking off my walking sneakers, putting on my sweater and turning on my computer and prepared myself for what was going to be a very long day. Just as I let out a big sigh, my eye caught a glimpse of my Barbara Johnson daily calendar “Splashes of Joy”. God knows I needed a splash today. So, I flipped the page to today’s date to be greeted with: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest;” Matthew 11:28. I instantly smiled and bowed my head and gave thanks for a loving God who gives rest to the weary. I gave all my concerns, worries and fatigue to the Lord and knew that the day was only going to get better. It definitely feels like Tuesday now.

Slim to None

The chances of me marrying someone that my mom knew was slim to none. That was how I felt nine years ago. She had passed away two years prior and I had accepted the fact that, if should marry, my future husband would never have met my mom. In fact, I was so bold to even put that request on my "wish list" to God. Basically praying, "God, if you can do anything, I would like my future husband to have known or met my mom."

Looking back, I often picture God taking my mom and Steve's mom aside in heaven on that day nine years ago and introducing them like this. "Liz and Lola, I want you to meet because today I am answering a prayer that had long been in your hearts. Watch as I bring your two children back together. Liz, you'll remember Steve because he came to your house one time. He knew your daughter Ruth at NYU. Beth prayed that she'd marry someone that you knew, Liz. On her wish list she thought that this was an impossibility and that I couldn't possibly do something this big or special for her. Today we prove to her just how much I care about the small things on her heart and that, with me, nothing is impossible. " Maybe he even clued them that their mutual good friend, Monica McKenzie, would marry us just nine months later.

I am very thankful for that special day nine years ago and if you didn't read the full story you can click here to get the details. To this day I am still in awe of how much God cares about me and provides for me and how there's nothing that is impossible for Him.

Thank you Lord for bringing Steve and I together in your perfect timing.

Flip Flop City

It's official! I've recently discovered that people in the Big Apple have the filthiest feet in America. Recently I started working in NYC (that's a whole separate blog). It's amazing how some things have changed and how many things have not. The official wardrobe of New Yorkers remains black. Everyone is still in a hurry to get somewhere. But the one surprise was that everyone is wearing flip-flops to get around the city! Really? Flip Flops? The thought of wearing a totally open shoe which is so flat and thin on the dirty city streets just didn't make sense to me at all. Do they realize what kind of grime they are "flopping" up onto their feet and legs? There are times you have to walk around mysterious globs of who knows what... trust me I am quite happy to lace up my sneakers or to wear a flat shoe. I love flip-flops at the beach and especially when wearing them on my way to get a pedicure. Because of some problems with my own foot, I don't find them comfortable for long walks. But maybe that's just me... maybe the more I work in NYC I'll understand the rationale behind the Flip Flop Movement.

One of the things I love about NYC is the people watching. Trust me.. there's a lot of things to see. So far I've enjoyed watching an Elvis impersonator buy a bus ticket (in full Elvis costume!) and I saw a women lunge after a quarter while on an escalator only to wipe out at the bottom of the escalator and wind up without the quarter lying on her back. My all time favorite was the lady in her business suit, with 5 inch high heels riding a bicycle with her Louis Vuitton handbag nestled into the basket on the front of her bike.

Yes, I believe I will have plenty of blog material for the next few months.

Happy Fourth of July!!

Stuck in the box

Isn't it funny how our plans are often derailed? ... What may have made good sense at one time led you to do something that, looking back, you would do completely different now? I found myself lamenting over china. Yes, china... Not China.. but my fine china. Silly... isn't it? Three years ago we had our beautiful china plates, saucers, serving bowls, beautiful picture frames, and other delicate trinkets boxed up in preparation of our move from Florida to New Jersey. I remember when I was packing my kitchen thinking to myself, make sure you only leave out what you are going to need for the next year... everything else that you can "do without" until we move into a more permanent home, can go in the two china boxes. So, in went my "good" glasses, pitchers, and silverware, some wedding gifts, photos, etc. Basically, I figured one year of entertaining without the "good" stuff would be fine.

Every time I open the closet in our basement, I see the china boxes. I remember thinking how sad that it's now been THREE years that they have remained unopened. What turned into a temporary move (we planned to rent our current townhouse for only 1 year and then move again), has turned into three years. Yes, I have survived without those material things ( and I guess I could write a blog about that alone), but what it really did was serve as a reminder to me that God's plans are not always our plans.

I know one day I will be able to open those two boxes and, trust me, I'm going to be like a kid in a candy store. I'll be pulling out precious treasures that have been undisturbed for years. I think I learned that whenever I have to move again, even though it would seem like a good idea to leave some things packed, that I want to take it all out to enjoy.

I'm so thankful for a God who directs our paths each and every day... and how awesome it is to serve a God who can see the bends in our road before we do.

The Biggest Mistake Of My Life

Yesterday I picked Christopher up from school as I do most days. After his name was called to meet me in the lobby, he walked quickly down the hall with his Spiderman book bag on his back, and what appeared to be a library book and a piece of paper in his hand.

When he reached me in the lobby, he said to me,
"Mom.. we have a big problem. You did something wrong today."

"What? How could I have done something wrong.. I wasn't even here in school today."

"Well... you put my library books in my book bag, but you put in the WRONG BOOK! You put in a book from the County Library.. it is not a book from the school library, so you get this note from the library teacher. It has the name of the right book on it that we need to bring back tomorrow."

"Oh.. well that's not that big of a deal, we'll just bring in the right book tomorrow."

"Oh no, Mom.. that was the BIGGEST mistake of YOUR LIFE!" I started chuckling at that point and told him, "I WISH that was the biggest mistake I ever made."

"Mom - I'm serious... we can not let that happen again." to which I said..

"You are right.. the biggest mistake I made in this little scenario is that I was the one who put the books in your book bag.. I was trying to be helpful, but I guess from now on YOU will be the one responsible for that task to make sure the right books find their way back to the school library."

He had to think about that for a minute... I think he is contemplating whether or not I can be trusted with the books or whether I'll make another life-altering mistake LOL.

Only in NYC

I love going into NYC because you get to see so many interesting things... and I'm not talking about the landmarks. When I was there in December, the greatest thing I saw was a guy in a taxi cab with a Christmas tree sticking out of the window of the cab. Today's visit to NYC did not disappoint...

1) Lou Dobbs walking out of the Fox News building.. in full make-up!
2) two guys dressed up like Buzz and Woody from The Toy Story movies -- happily taking your money to pose in a picture with you on random street corners in midtown

and last, but certainly not least.. today's favorite moment was....

a professional women dressed in a beautiful skirt and blazer, wearing 4 inch heels... riding a BICYCLE with her LOUIS VUITTON handbag in the little basket attached to the front of the bicycle... only wish I had a camera.. it was priceless.

Happy Mother's Day!!

Happy Easter - He Is Risen!!

Good Friday

Poem by Coren Burch

What makes Good Friday good?” you ask.
A challenge! A rather daunting task.
Some may dismiss it with a shrug and a smirk,
And consider it another day off work.
Others, religious, pious as such,
Take a few minutes for a mournful watch;
Merchants unlock their doors with glee,
Anticipating the pre-Easter shopping spree.
A bunny here, a chocolate egg there,
Symbols of a society that doesn’t care.
“Care?” you say, “Do you mean me?”
“What’s there to care; how can this be?”
It’s the cross, you forget, that rugged wood,
That makes Good Friday eternally good.
What’s so good about the death of an ancient man,
Who died long before my life began?
This man, who on this earth once trod,
Was not only man, but the Son of God.
That wood, that tree, that old rugged cross,
Was the symbol of gain and the symbol of loss.
To those who believe, it is the promise of gain;
The hope that, like Jesus, we’ll rise again!
For the skeptic, the doubter, the meaning is loss;
An eternal gulf, which no one can cross.
Good Friday is good, because of the death
Of Jesus the Savior, who gave His last breath
So you, friend, and I, could be cleared of our guilt,
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb that was spilt.
Mourn not, my dear soul, for the death of the Lamb,
For that cross made the bridge to the Great I AM.
Christ paid the price, rose again to God’s side,
And brought us next Sunday: the Resurrection-tide!

Birthday, Anniversary and so much more

April, April, April.... such a busy month... Birthday, Anniversary, Easter, Field Trips, Egg Hunts, Spring Parties, Bridal Showers, etc. I'm exhausted just typing that.

Had a great time in Lancaster for my birthaversary (birthday/anniversary for you newbies). Saw the "Joseph" production at Sight and Sound which was wonderful, ate at my favorite "Pennslyvania Dutch" breakfast place (Family Cupboard for you locals) and did something I have never done before.... took a buggy ride through the Amish Farms. Having lived in Lancaster for 7 years, you would have thought I would have taken a tour or two, but it's sort of like when I lived in NY and went to a Broadway show for the first time when I was 30. When you live locally, you don't necessarily indulge in the local culture.

Anyway, what a fabulous tour! We took the "cookie" tour.. it just sounded good LOL. The driver was 100% Amish, straight off the farm. Very friendly and told us we could ask ANYTHING! I was so excited! I can not tell you how many Beverly Lewis and Amy Clipson books I have read about the Amish. So, ask questions I did - how often does that opportunity come along? Not many times my friend.

The best part was when Steve, our Amish driver, took us onto his family farm.. I kid you not. No paved road just a dirt and grass trail. When we pulled up to the barn, his little brother came running out of the house barefoot with a little basket of goodies for sale. One look at those homemade chocolate chip cookies did it for me -- I can honestly tell you it was the best cookie I have ever had... and by the looks of me you can tell I've hand more than one in my lifetime.

We quickly decided after that tour, we would definitely do a much longer one next time. So, if you are in Lancaster and are looking for a new family adventure, grab the buggy rides next to Plain & Fancy on Route 340... well worth your time.

So grateful to Becky and Natalie and their families who came out to visit me while in Lancaster. It's always so nice to catch up with friends that I don't get to see very often. Love you guys!

Code Red!

This morning I was going to change a light bulb in our dining room. As I stood on a chair to approach the light fixture I noticed a big spider. Of course I gave out a little yelp, because I hate bugs, spiders, crawly things, etc. Chris, who was standing close by, of course wanted to make sure it was indeed a spider, so he came over to my side, took one look at it and yelled "CODE RED!" and took off running and screaming upstairs to his bedroom and closed the door.

Now, a code red at his school is where the school goes on lock-down... (usually if there is some kind of police activity that is taking place in close proximity to the building). I just chuckled that he felt that this spider deserved a code red.

Well, now that I took a little break to blog about the spider.. it's time for this scaredy cat to take care of it.

Scary, but True

Please watch this and share with your family and friends that might need to hear this.

April Fool's On-Air Prank

Happy Day!

We are out of town today celebrating my "Birthaversary" ... for those of you new to my blog it's my birthday and anniversary today. Yes, two cards, two gifts.. that was the deal. We've been married 8 years today and today I turn ______ years old. Be kind and insert a number that starts with a 2 or 3 in that blank and you will be a friend for life. LOL

Happy Anniversary to my amazing husband who keeps me laughing and is truly my best friend.

Dilly-Dally

Do you have a "dilly-dally" at home? You know.. the child you send up to his/her room to get dressed and gets side tracked into doing something completely unrelated to the task at hand? For the longest time I had a dilly-dally. He would get so easily unfocused because of the things around him that looked more enjoyable to do than the thing that he was supposed to be doing. I figured that there had to be an easier way to get him to complete the simplest of tasks without standing there and walking through every movement with him or removing every object from his bedroom other than his bed and clothes.

So, one day the light bulb came on and I discovered what would motivate my dilly-dally. I wasn't going to bribe him because then I would have a dilly-dally PLUS I would be broke. So, I knew that he loves competition...well.. to be honest, he loves to WIN competitions, so I knew if I could turn simple tasks into a contest, he would be all over it.

Now every morning when I need him to get dressed, I simply say "I bet I can get dressed before you! Or, if I'm already dressed, I'll say, I bet I can put on my socks and shoes before you can get your clothes on!" And he is ALL over it!

Then, when that task is completed, I'll say, "I bet I can make my bed before you make yours!" And again, it's a race... and the task gets done.

I repeat the same for breakfast, putting on shoes, cleaning up a room, putting away toys, etc. Whatever I need him to focus on becomes a game. No more frustration over getting him to focus.

So, if you have a little dilly-dally see if this helps him or her get motivated to move a little faster and stay focused.

Quote of the Day

"Prayer is asking for rain.... Faith is carrying an umbrella"

Barbara Johnson

Move Over Kate!

Kate Middleton better watch her back... there's another princess on the scene. I was greeted yesterday morning with "Good Morning Princess!" I was taken aback because maybe that's a common greeting in your home each morning, but certainly not in mine. When I asked Chris why he wanted to call me princess he replied that it was because he wanted me to call him a prince. But of course... I should just call him Prince Lego since that's his favorite thing... although if I flipped that around I guess I would be called Princess Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and that just doesn't sound very much like a princess.. it just makes me hungry. LOL

Fire Drill

Yesterday we had a family fire drill. I'm proud to say it was mainly at the prompting of Christopher. So, we practiced leaving the house and going to our designated meeting space. It went very smoothly. Then I decided it would be a good idea for Chris to learn how to use my cell phone in case of emergency. I showed him how to call Steve and thought we should role play.

Me: "Call Daddy and tell him that something happened to mommy and you need help. Think of a situation when Mommy might hurt herself"

So, Chris uses my cell phone to call Steve (who is sitting next to us during this activity) and says: "Hi Dad.. it's me,Christoper. Mommy fell down the stairs and got hurt."

For those of you not too familiar with my legacy... I am notorious for falling down stairs.. it hasn't happened in a while, but even my son knows this about me.

I had myself a good laugh and felt confident of two things: 1 - Chris is ready for an emergency and 2: I better keep an eye on my cell phone now that he knows how to use it.

Letter to the Editor

To Whom It May Concern:

Today my son was home from school and I decided to pull out your Grade 1 Curriculum to have him do some relevant classwork. While working in the reading/spelling section he was stumped because he was supposed to match the first letter of the word to the picture that started with the same letter... He was stuck because he said " the letters there were "R" and "T" and it showed a picture of a Rose and a Radio... "

So I meandered over to see what the problem was... and the problem was that your curriculum was written before Flat Screen Televisions invaded America. The picture of the correct answer was a "television" that honestly looked like the floor model my grandfather had in his home in 1975. It had ANTENNAS on top of it as did your picture... my son thought it was a radio.

So, thanks for making me spend 30 minutes trying to convince my 7 year old that the picture was not a radio, but an old fashioned television. Don't you think moms home with sick children have enough to deal with?

Thanks

Friend or Foe

About a week ago, Chris came home from school and announced to me that he was now friends with "Bob". I was a little surprised because Bob has tried my patience, has softened my heart and has opened a door for me to teach my little boy how to act towards others...especially those who are not nice to you. You see, Bob has some learning and behavioral challenges and, as such, is not to blame for some of his actions. So, I've spent the majority of the year trying to explain to Chris that we are to treat others the way we want to be treated, but if you get pushed or something is said or done that doesn't follow the rules, you need to tell the teacher right away. And Chris has been great about doing just that, but always with the mindset that he does NOT like this kid.

So, that was why I was surprised that the boy who will "accidentally" knock into him and give him grief, is now his friend. I didn't get too much into it the day of Chris' announcement because we were with other people. As I was driving Chris to school the next day he said to me, "Mom.. do you know why I am now friends with Bob?"

No, Chris I don't... why did you decide to be his friend?
"Well, Bob does not have even ONE friend in our class and so I decided I was going to be his friend that way he has one. I was thinking how would I feel if I was the one who didn't have a friend and I would be very sad. So, that's why I am now his friend."

As the tears were rolling down my checks I told him how proud I was of him and how he is being so Christ-like in his actions.

Kid Funny

The following conversation took place in church recently:

As the ushers were called to come to the front of the sanctuary...
Chris to me in a whispered tone: "Mom.. are they going to turn the water into wine today?"
Huh?? What was he talking about??.. the ushers were coming to collect the offering.. and then it dawned on me.. he thought they were going to pass out communion!
"No.. there is no communion today, Chris. Usually once a month"

He remembered his recent Sunday school lesson about the miracle of Jesus turning the water into wine. And I guess when explaining communion to him he just put the two stories together.

At least he's not mad anymore thinking that it wasn't fair that the adults got to have the snacks (juice and bread) and the kids got nothing.

Get Rich Quick!

Chris is saving up money to take Tae Kwon Do lessons. We told him that we would pay for the majority of it, but we'd like for him to chip in a little bit to help with the cost. So, each week he is putting part of his allowance aside and I guess he is getting a little impatient...

"Mom.. get the video camera out!"
"Why??"
"I'm going to record something funny so we can win the $100,000 prize on America's Funniest Home Videos. So, get the camera and I'll do something to make people laugh." (I could ONLY IMAGINE what that would be....

Needless to say, I explained that those videos are usually spontaneous and not planned out actions.

"Well... if I win then I can go to Tae Kwon Do AND still have money to buy tons of Legos".

Yes.. .it's all about the Legos once again. I hope his future home has a room big enough for his future collection.

Cross Cultural?

Chris to me yesterday while we were visiting family...

Chris -"Mom... can we go to a foreign country sometime?"

me - "Sure -- where would you like to go? Canada... Mexico?"

Chris - "How about Spain?"

Me - "That would be great! Daddy can give us the grand tour. Why did you pick Spain.. because you are part Spanish?"

Chris "No... remember a few days ago I was looking at a Lego on the computer and it said that it was not available in the U.S.? Well.. I figured we could go to Spain and look at their Lego store to see if they have it there!"

I laughed so hard you have no idea... here I am thinking he was inspired by all the books about Puerto Rico and Spain that are in my sister-in-law's house.. or maybe just some cultural interest since now he is learning Spanish in school. No such luck... it's all about the Legos. Love this boy!

Roof!

I woke up this morning exhausted because I did a late night Mary Kay party at a local college for some of the students. The college scene certainly has changed since I was in school.. but I'll save that for another blog. Anyway, this morning as I was getting ready to give a facial at my house, I ran upstairs from my basement and noticed a little puddle on my kitchen floor. Looked like a spill, but it wasn't a spill.. it was a leak... from the slanted ceiling by our skylight. We officially have yet another leak. (insert huge sigh). So now I'm waiting for my friend to come and praying that she doesn't get dripped on during her facial (just kidding.. we aren't going to be sitting near the leak).

So, as I'm stressing out and beginning to figure out just what we are going to do about this latest little problem, my daily calendar has the following inspiration message on it: "Worry doesn't help tomorrow's troubles but it does ruin today's happiness." So, I will not worry about this little challenge today and let God just take control. I'll get the umbrellas out just to be prepared (haha)

If You Had....

Saw an interesting conversation on Facebook a few weeks ago and thought I'd throw it out to you. If you had enough money to hire ONE person to help you out who would you hire? A Nanny... A Personal Chef... or a Housekeeper?

My first reaction was housekeeper.. help me keep a home clean, do laundry, load and unload and reload and unload the dishwasher.. umm YES! Please! But only if that housekeeper learned to clean from someone like my mom.. .who taught us to get on your hands and knees to clean the floors if you know what I mean.

But then I thought, well I think what I would REALLY love is a personal assistant. Someone to fill out forms, go grocery shopping, unload the groceries, make all the doctor appointments, answer phone calls, respond to mail, party invites, etc.

So after feeling that I made the wisest decision, I shrugged my shoulders and realized that all those tasks and responosibilities that often times feel unfulfilling, unrewarding and under appreciated are what make me the Mom.. the wife.. the friend that I am. God has purposes for even these insignificant little things and I don't think I want to let go of them. Well..maybe for a day. How's tomrorrow?

Ready for Battle

Every morning I pray that God gives me strength for the battles that I will inevitably face that day.... Literally... I face battles EVERY DAY. Sometimes once a day.. but more often than not it is THREE times a day. You see, having a seven year old who LOVES Legos, I am invited every day, three times a day, to participate in a LEGO Battle. Sometimes I am faced with an early morning battle (before first cup of coffee). I am usually greeted with another one right after homework is completed in the afternoon. And you can be sure there is a third battle right before bedtime. Let me tell you -- it's exhausting being on the front line! But so worth it. Trust me -- I don't feel like going into battle every day, and sometimes I'm able to push off a battle or delay the start time so I can get a few more minutes of rest or at least a sip of coffee before facing my 7 year old challenger and his fleet of Star Wars Legos.

One of the coolest things I've been able to do is to start teaching him about different Bible battles while we are playing. Fore example -- he thinks that the biggest plane or space ship always wins the battle which opened the door for me to remind him of the story of David and Goliath. So I'm excited to get to reintroduce these Bible stories he knows while he is playing with favorite toys. You never know what will stick with kids as they grow up. So - for those of you "in the battle" with your kids each day, maybe you can turn what seems like mindless play time into some important lessons for everyday life.

And yes -- It's 8:03 on a holiday, President's Day, and I already participated in Battle 1 of the day at 7:30.

Thought For the Day

"Hope is faith holding out its hands in the dark." George Iles

Valentine's Day

I met you as a teen and you became a good friend. Although you drifted out of my life when I went off to college, I thought of you every now and then throughout the years. There were some years of great joy, and of deepest sorrow while we went our separate ways, but all along God knew that those experiences were helping me grow. You see, I had to dance on the mountain top and get lost in the valley in order for God to make me who I am today. I wasn't ready to be your wife back when I first met you, but God new that when we reconnected 15 years after that first encounter, I would be ready. That WE would be ready. It was so easy to fall in love with someone I already considered a good friend.

Happy Valentine's Day to the one who got away... but then walked back into my life... just in time to steal my heart forever. I love you STEVE!

I thank God for the broken road that lead me straight to you!!

The Love Passage for Kids

With Valentine's Day right around the corner, I thought I'd share this kid's version of I Corinthians 13 which was in my son's new "big boy" Bible. (Side note to those of you who are thinking about buying your sons a Bible, I highly recommend the NIV Adventure Bible. Full of fun facts, bible verses to memorize and simple devotionals for their level. A great first full-length Bible).

"If I can speak beautifully and sing like an angel, but don't love others, I sound like a child banging on a piano or a screeching radio. If I'm very smart - almost a genius- but don't love others, I am nothing.

Love will stand in line and wait its turn.

Love looks for the good in others.

Love doesn't always want what others have and it doesn't brag about what it does have.

Love is polite, even when the other person is rude.

Love doesn't have to be first.

Love doesn't get angry over small things and it doesn't remember one reason after another to be hurt.

Love isn't happy when someone else fails but is happy with the truth.

Love will always protect others, especially those who are often picked on or teased.

Love always believes the best about others and is steady and true.

Love never gives up.

The Three most important things to have are faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

Thought for the Day

"In the darkest pit of despair, when God gives us the light to take only one step at a time, His message to us is still simply: TRUST ME! " Barbara Johnson

My father-in-law, Domingo, is in the hospital and we would appreciate your prayers. He's having some tests done later this week. Many thanks!!

Zapped

My son was distraught that none of his friends were able to come over for a last minute play date yesterday. I was his only option and he was not having it. So, his plan was for me to be "zapped" into a little boy that he could play with. So he stuck out his finger and said "Zap"... then waited. When nothing changed, he then said.. "well that didn't work... how about you just have another baby so I have someone to play with." If it was only that easy... sigh...

Give It Away

My jaw almost hit the floor when I heard my 7 year old make this announcement on the way home from school today, "Mom.. I think we can give away all my Thomas the Tank Engine trains at the next garage sale."

"Really!?!"
"Yes.. I don't watch Thomas anymore and don't play with the trains, so we can get rid of them."
"Well... we could try to sell them or is there some other little boy that you think might enjoy them?"

He immediately named his best friend's brother who is almost 3 and an avid Thomas enthusiast. "Next time we go to their house we can bring him some Thomas toys." I also encouraged him to leave a few here just so when his best friend and his brother come over there are some toys for the little one to play with here.

So proud that he's ready and willing to bless others with things that were once "treasures" to him. I'm just beaming today because he also received a great report card and for those of you who know some of the history regarding some of the challenges he had, let me tell you that God is so good and continues to do a great work in our boy.

At Long Last

My son has had a loose tooth for 3 months.... 3 LONG months... he was really NOT looking forward to losing this tooth - for some reason he was afraid it was going to hurt. Now, he's already lost 3 other teeth that caused him no pain, so maybe someone told him that this upper front tooth would hurt when it came out... Anyway... we've been "encouraging" him for weeks.... for MONTHS to just wiggle it, eat an apple, let us "check" it, etc. and he has wanted nothing to do with it... He would have let that thing tangle for the rest of his life if that was possible.

Finally, last night, while we were all snowed in here in NJ, he was enjoying a go-gurt (yogurt in a long tube for those of you without young kids) and as he was squeezing the life out of it... the tooth came out. He was so calm when he discovered it and then exclaimed, "Well that wasn't bad at all!"

The funniest part is that after his tooth came out, he wanted to know how much money I, the tooth fairy, would bring him. We went through the ritual of putting it under his pillow and as I was tucking him into bed he told me that his eyes would be closed at 9:25 and I can come in then to leave him his reward.

So, at 9:25, I hear "It's time, Mom!" ... so I tip-toed into his room amidst little giggles, slipped the money under his pillow to even more giggles, and then left. Surprisingly, he didn't grab the money and jump out of bed... no, not my boy... he saved that until 6:00 this morning!

So cute... cherishing these precious little boy moments...

I'm SNOW Over it!

Sigh... snow... every day it seems like we get more and more snow... I don't know what color grass is anymore.. I think it might be white. We got slammed with another major snowstorm last night. Which means I was up half the night because of the snow plows clearing our streets. I think I've come to love the sound of those plows because every minute they are out there I am reminding myself that my husband and I don't have to lift a finger to clear our driveway.. or our stairs. It truly is the major benefit of townhouse living and I'm sure one day when we are living elsewhere I will miss that.

Today I gave a piano lesson to my neighbor's son. I haven't taught piano in a few years so I don't know who was more nervous... me or him! He wore cologne (how cute!! he's 8 so relax!) It went well and I'm told that he's eager to continue... at least I didn't scare him off.

Hope everyone is doing well and that most of you didn't have to go to work outside of your home today.

Aww..

Wouldn't you like to receive this from your child? Melted my heart... he printed the paper off the computer all by himself and proudly handed this to me.. I know it's a little light but it say:

"Dear friend. You are nice. I like to play with you. From Christopher. "

Enjoying the moment

The Guy Side

Saw this article in my Thriving Family magazine and had to share it. Although I am thankfully many years away from my son dating, I thought those of you with sons would appreciate this...
written from the Dad's perspective:

Seven Rules For Dating My Son by Phil Callaway

Have you noticed that girls are chasing boys now? Just the other day, one called looking for my son. I asked, "Is this Christy, Britney or Sarah? There are so many of you, I get you all mixes up!" Believe me this works. Go ahead and try it. Since my son is receiving calls from lovely girls who will make fine wives for someone in 20 or 30 years, I have decided to issue a short edict to help them out. Later today I will be posting it on the front door with an electric staple gun.

RULE ONE: If you would like to talk to my son, please do so in the church foyer. Bring your Bible.

RULE TWO: If you call my house to talk with my son, your conversation may be monitored by a customer service representative.

RULE THREE: The following locations and activities are acceptable for your date: (None)

RULE FOUR: My son cannot use my minivan to drive you to a mall. He has a bicycle. You may ride on the handlebars.

RULE FIVE: Please do not touch my son. Do not lean against him unless you are falling over and are in danger of plunging from a cliff. Do not even pull lint from his ear. He can do this himself.

RULE SIX: I am aware that it is considered fashionable for girls your age to wear Fergie-style "shirts" that do not reach their low-slung pants. My wife and I want to be fair and open-minded about this, so you are free to show up in such attire. My wife will affix it properly to your body with a glue gun.

RULE SEVEN: Above all else, remember that we've been praying for this boy since God game him breath, and we will continue to. When he chooses a godly girl, we will be overwhelmed with joy. Until then, we'll pray that you'll chase Jesus first and watch everything else fall into place.

Recipe Helper

Have you ever tried to make dinner but had NO idea what to do with the food you have in your refrigerator? If you're like me.. you have lots of great ideas, but don't have all the ingredients to make one of your "standard" dishes. I've been using this website and love it (www.allrecipes.com) If you click on where it says "ingredients" at the very top of the website, it will take you to a page where you can enter the ingredients you want in a dish and the ingredients that you don't want (great if you have food allergies or just don't have certain ingredients on hand like sour cream, cheese, etc.)

Hope you find it helpful!

Mangia!

Christmas Tree Road Trip

There's nothing more disconcerting to a soon-to-be 7 year old than the thought of missing the class Christmas (oops.. "Holiday") party. Especially, when it's a pajama party featuring a showing of the Polar Express. When Chris realized that our plans to drive to Florida meant him missing this party, he was really upset. I guess I would have been to. After trying to reason with him and explain how much more fun sitting in a car for 2 1/2 days would be (ha ha), we realized that there was only one thing that would cheer him up. A pajama party of his very own. (Thanks to my sister-in-law, Sara, for sharing this idea with me!)

Once he had his PJs on, we whisked him away to one of his favorite places.. McDonald's.. with a playplace of course. He ate, climbed to his hearts content and then it was on to the "real" treat. We got in the car and headed into New York City. It was impossible to get close to the Christmas Tree with our car, so we did a "drive by". We rode up and down some of our favorite city streets taking in all the sights that make New York so wonderful in the winter. We had so much fun and, even though it was cold, we pulled over to get smoothies to enjoy on the ride home.

He had a great time and by the end of the night, he honestly was ready for our road trip to Florida. It's all in the adventure that you make it. The next night we had our own family movie party watching the Polar Express and, not for nothing, I bet he enjoyed that more then he would have with his class.

So, I highly recommend a spontaneous pajama party with your child... I personally did not put my PJs on for this trip into the city, but definitely would for a future one.

God's New Year Resolutions To YOU!

Have you ever wondered where God is in a situation? You've "done all the right things" and you are still waiting on God for Him to show himself? Or give you an answer? Have you ever felt like you needed wisdom?

Here are some of "God's New Year Resolutions to YOU!" to help you remember that he is an all powerful, all knowing, loving and Amazing God! Thanks to my Dad who passed this along to me...

New Year resolutions:

I will bless you (Genesis 12:2)

I will not fail you (Joshua 1:5)

I will heal you (2 Kings 20:5)

I will guide you (Psalm 32:8 )

I will instruct you (Psalm 32:8 )

I will teach you( Psalm 32:8 )

I will deliver you (Psalm 50:15 )

I will help you (Isaiah 41:10 )

I will uphold you (Isaiah 41:10 )

I will hold your hand (Isaiah 42:6)

I will not forget you (Isaiah 49:15)

I will comfort you (Isaiah 66:13)

I will forgive you (Jeremiah 31:34

I will restore you (Jeremiah 30:17)

I will be your God (Ezekiel 36:28)

I will save you (Ezekiel 36:27,29)

I will love you (John 14:21)

I will manifest myself (John 14:3)

I will give you a crown of Life (Rev. 2:10)

Thought For The Day

"The present is what slips by us while we're pondering the past and worrying about the future." Barbara Johnson

I've been thinking a lot about the past (Christmas tends to make me reflect more on my Mom and Christmas of years ago). I've also been a little guilty about stressing about the future. This quote was just what I needed today to remind myself that God has all my days in His hands and that today, I'm just going to live in the present... enjoy each minute and use each day to bring glory to God through all that I do.

Happy New Year to All!