A new phase of life....

It hit me today that my husband, Richard and I are entering into a new phase of life. It's not a bad phase but it's a different phase. My son, Colt, was sitting on the couch after school today eating a snack and watching tv. It hit me, we are dealing with a preteen hormonal child!

It feels like yesterday I was changing his diapers and rocking him to sleep. Today he fixed his own snack and put himself to bed. I will miss the things I use to do for him but I know now that I will be doing new and different things for him. I am enjoying getting to see the young man that he is growing into. I know God has big plans for Colt and I know Colt is allowing God to use him to further His kingdom here on earth.

I am reminded that the Bible tells us that our children are only ours for a little while and that they truly belong to God. I pray over each of my kids daily that God will use them while they are here with me and I pray that I make wise choices that will benefit His kingdom.

Lord, hear my prayers, answer my callings....Thank you for the young man you have blessed me with and thank you Lord for my girls. Please use us all in a way that will glorify you and your kingdom.

I guess I was writing this to remind myself that I am going into a new phase in life and more now than ever do I need the Lords hand on my child. Too many times we look at the headlines and we wonder where were those kids parents or what ever happened to that sweet kid we all knew....well I was fortunate that I had that realization here in my own home and not after my kid got too big to recognize....

Take the time NOW to love on your kids and pray over them. Don't wait till they are gone and you are in the last phase of your life!

Random thoughts.....

Do you ever have those times where random thoughts just enter your head???? I have had an entire day of those....I wish I had a pen and paper handy at times because since having kids my short term and long term memory has gone out of the window!
So here are some of the thoughts I had today:
1. How can someone be so sweet and then hurt you so badly?
2. Why don't people keep their dogs in the fence or house?
3. Why did I just pick that hat up? I thought I just did that.
4. How can someone think they are a good person and then treat children the way they do?
5. Why does your favorite teacher have to go and better themselves and leave the school (or prepare at some point to leave)?
6. Man I feel like crying and I don't know why.
7. I'm so glad that God brings friends back together or rather people that were thought to be friends back together and they end up being friends.
8. Why do I have so many darn animals?
9. Which one would I get rid of if I had to?
10. Why did I pick that same hat up again?
11. I sure do let people take advantage of me....
12. I miss them....
13. Appreciation, How can you truly appreciate someone?
14. What would it look like if my calendar didn't have anything written on it?
15. What would happen if I said no this time?
16. How many loads of clothes do I have left to do?
17. I wonder how much money I would have if I got paid for all that I do.
18. That stinkin hat!
19. I want my mom.....
20. Do people really think they are good parents? If so what makes them think that?
21. Am I a good parent?
22. Am I a good wife?
23. Am I a good friend?


Those are just a few of the thoughts that pass through this crazy mind of mine sometimes. So what do you do with those thoughts? Do you write them down and try to figure it out? I guess it would be a daunting task if you did. Me, I choose to pray about them. Some of them are easy no-brainers to figure out but some only God can tell you or help you through. As tears stroll down my face I pray over many of them because God has given me that type of heart. The heart to be compassionate towards others even when....The heart to want to do good for people....He has blessed me with this heart and all I can do is give it back to Him and ask Him to guide my path and my ways so that I can be of a blessing to Him and His kingdom.

Praising God in time of sorrow.....

I got a call this morning that a long time friend of the family passed away. It hit me hard because I thought of my dad and my mom and how they must be feeling. Then I thought of the man that we lost and how he used to be such a great person to us kids when we needed him.
I haven't seen Jim for a while now but the last time I did he hugged me and kissed me and told me I looked just like my mom and he was certain that I was going to be just as great as she was.
Jim had a stroke a while back and has not been able to care for himself since. He was confined to a wheelchair. I told him a long time ago that he would walk one day. Well I guess that day has come. I dreaded all day how I was going to break it to my son. We went to go to the store earlier and I talked to him because out of the blue Colt said something that Jim always used to say to us.
When he was trying to see if we were telling the truth or not he would make us look him in the eye and he would say "I bet you can't say buttermilk three times without smiling". Well you know us kids, we tried and each time we giggled and giggled. Well Colt said "Mom I did all my work today in class, I'm not lying!" "Buttermilk, buttermilk, buttermmmmiiiilllkkk!"

I busted out in tears so I had to tell him. He took it well but he said something that surprised me, he said Mom out of respect for Jim I want to go to his funeral. All I could say was OK.

My heart is breaking for many reasons but inside I know I am rejoicing. I am rejoicing for the fact that Jim isn't in a wheelchair anymore! PRAISE GOD! I am rejoicing for the fact the Jim doesn't have to wait around to be taken care of, God has taken care of every need! PRAISE GOD! I am rejoicing in the fact that Jim is healed and is waiting for us! PRAISE GOD!

I am reminded of the verse "To live is Christ but to die is gain". Jim has gained full life in heaven. He is living now at the feet of our Lord and Savior! He has heard every angel sing and seen the streets of gold! Instead of being broken hearted for our loss we should be rejoicing for the life that Jim has gained.

Thank you Lord for saving Jim and for bringing him home to you!