Fresh Faith

This past weekend was our middle school youth kids spring camp and I went along. I will be honest with you I did not want to go at all.. I wanted a weekend without 2 kids in the house fighting over whose been on the Playstation longer (by the way I am about to sell that demon thing) I wanted a weekend with no smart mouth, I just wanted a weekend with Eric and Tyler the one that has not turn into a teenager yet. You know a peaceful restful weekend. Even up to the time we got there I was not wanting to go, getting on the bus I still didn't want too. I was struggling with it but I didn't want any of the kids see me feel that way cause these are a group of 30 great middle school kids. So, I took a deep breath and said a prayer. I didn't feel peace until we actually step in the church and our youth band Ready To Rise started playing at that moment I knew I was were God wanted me to be...

I was reminded what the theme was Fresh Faith, boy just seeing those words was something I knew right then I needed to be here cause I have been in a slump... We had a great speaker Chad and I think his last name was Irland but it might not have been.. anyway..He spoke from Hebrews 3:7 and basically told us that if we are 1 degree off with God our faith is going sour. If we are not engaging on a personal level with God and we are not encouraging each other then we will not be able to endure to the end... I could tell just from this night it was going to be a good weekend.

Saturday morning Stephen taught out of Psalm 42:1-5 and the basic of it was God tells us every day where to meet him but we ignore it and then our faith goes sour cause we are not spending time w/ God. We need to spend time w/ Him daily but doing devotions, journal, praying, and reading His word. We need to engage Him each day. He claims us as His friend and we say He is ours but when was the last night you spent time with Him like you would your best friend... ouch, toes are being stepped on...

Saturday night Chad came back and spoke to us again out of James 1:21-25 and this was on true reflections, God's truth is like a mirror and it reflects into our life. We need to examine our self and let God exam our heart, not to be just a hearer where we hear all of his truth but we don't do His work. We need to go out and explore ways to imply truth into our life. God puts you in places and puts people in front of you for a reason to be able to explore the truths. We are also to escape the things that keeps up putting off our faith and get rid of those things, tv shows, music, friends, places we go, on and on...

Then on Sunday Bucky closed it for us out and on this day boy tears c0me back.. He had us spread out for about 5 mins and for that time we were to sit there and sing whatever praise song we wanted to. Within a minute I could hear all these different songs being sung and I was just in ah with it hearing these 12-14 yr old kids singing praises out loud. It as truly a wonderful experience. Our goal should be to build our relationship with God. It needs to come from the inside out. We need to start with God, love Him, let Him come first, worship Him, be with people that share the same goal, encourage each other and strengthen each other. Our relationship with God should come above all else... Thank you Jesus, I pray to put you first and spend time with You each and every day...

You want to know what goes on these trips beside the spiritual which let me tell ya watching a group of teenagers sing,hugging each other, crying with each other, encourageing one another, praying, listen and watch God move in them you can't get no better than that. I am honor to be there. I learn so much from them each time I am around them. But here is all the other stuff.. We got on a bus and headed to Fayetville GA the girls were staying w/ Laura parents (have to be the nicest people ever, and just wonderful host) and the boys were staying w/ Stephen aunt and uncle and we were meeting up at Laura parents church that was in the middle.. So, after our worship session we get to the house and get our rooms and our kids in our room and no we didn't look first but me and Shannan got a room w/ a big comfy king size bed and a bathroom so we slept good. We had some great 8th grade ladies in our room and I swear being in a room w/ this group we felt like we were at a spend the night party w/ all the stories and laughter. After getting some rest on Friday night we got up Saturday went to the church for our morning session and then off to Stone Mountain we went. Now, we were told that we were hiking up the rock which I was not going to say a word but the girls in our room didn't bring hiking shoes w/ them they brought flip flops so I volunteer to take that group and we rode the tram up to the top.. WOW, glad I made it to the top it was beautiful looking at all God's creation. We did decided that we would hike down shouldn't take that long... WRONG!!!!!!!!!! We are not talking about walking down a path we are talking jumping from rock to rock, going down this big ole rock. Nor, did we know about the path that took you into Stone Mountain so we go all the way to the end then come out miles from where we are suppose to be meeting our group.. It took us another 50 mins to walk to where we were to meet. So, needless to say I got my walking in for a week in 1 day.. But boy, it was great to spend time w/ our group, spend time with one of my closet friends and God's glory.. We did meet up with the groups hiking up and I have to give them all hand. I honestly proud of my oldest cause he did it and I didn't think he could..Stephen my middle child hike up and down and winded up getting dehydrate and got sick several times on the way down.. Saturday night after dinner and worship the kids played some great games I got to be a 7th grade girl and help out some just didn't do the crawling. Sunday we got up loaded up and went to the boys place and had our last time together before heading off.. Did, I want to go? No.. Am I glad I went? I am truly blessed to be serving alongside great youth leaders and under Bucky and Stephen spending time with great group of kids... I was truly blessed, I love those kids!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't wait until the fall trip.

Daddy & Tyler time

I finally remember what else we did Easter weekend that I couldn't remember to post about... That is ok, cause I think this deserve its own post...

Home Depot and Lowes's have kids workshop on Saturday mornings and it is free. You just show up and they give you the supplies and if you don't have an apron they give them one and after they have built bird houses, picture frames, jewelry box, cars and all other kinds of thing you get a badge and a certificate. Every time they have one Eric always makes it a priority to take Tyler it has always been something they enjoy doing together. I need to get some paint and let Tyler paint all that he has built and get a shelve put up to display them. He loves to go and build things like his daddy. The weekend of Easter I tagged along since we had to go to the egg hunt afterward, it was so sweet seeing them working together and what Tyler knows how to do and even the smallest project Eric takes so much time and care about. I did notice that the kids that come all the time had badges on their apron I need to get Tylers on his..

Easter

I think I am behind again and skipping over one that needs go before this one but if so they will just have to be out of order cause I am lost right now... Anyway, here finally is my Easter post...

We started out with our Easter like alot of the rest of you we went to the wonderful egg hunt at church. I was really glad that we had one this year cause one I didn't want to take Tyler to Upstate for theirs I know that is bad but I have heard it is pack so coming to one that was smaller and his friends was so much better. Thank you for all that help out in this and made it such a wonderful day.

After the egg hunt I went shopping all over town for Easter basket stuff. I decided this year that I was not going to put alot in their baskets cause I wanted to really focus on what Easter meant and not just another day of getting a bunch of stuff. So they all got a little something and some candy. I was even good this year and got candy I didn't like since I am trying to stay out of it. The funniest thing of all of this is when we had gone to the circus Tyler wanted a lighted sword but they were all sold out and he has talked about that ever since. Well, I set out to find him one now mind you he already has a Light Sable so getting that was out of the question. After hitting everywhere I winded up at Toy R Us and found this cool Power Ranger gun that turn into a sword and it lite up, cool all the things he liked. So, I get it rush home and got refreshness up to go to a bridal shower and about that time my loving husband comes in the bedroom with this cool Power Ranger gun and I am like yeah it is something like that but it turns into a sword too well guess what, so did this one.. Santa brought him this for Christmas THIS year.. so after the shower we had to go back out to find something else. Now today my child keeps on taking about those Bakua (however you say and spell it) things and I had heard other kids talking about them and I even thought about getting him that and was like nah, he won't like that.. Guess I was wrong cause tonight that is all he has says that he wants. Should got it. But they all seem happy with their baskets that morning and they all know and understand what Easter is really about.

On Easter Sunday we got up and went to church and was able to sing Praise and worship our Lord, it was a beautiful service, the preschool choir was awesome, everybody was all dressed up. Which is another thing that I didn't do this year I didn't buy any of us anything new to wear. When you live w/ all boys they do not care to dress up and I buy these clothes and they never wear them again so we all just pulled out something from the closet. I will say that I did go and try and get a pair of new shoes so I could wear my skirt and a shirt I had bought a couple of weeks before but no luck on the shoes, still haven't..

After church we went to Eric's mom and ate lunch with his parents and sister in law and her kids. Of course there is always tons of food left over. After lunch and kitchen was clean we went outside and hunted eggs. Now, the first time Eric hid for the kids and then the boys Tyler and Preston wanted to hide the eggs first time was great we found all of them BUT the second time well it took alot longer cause they couldn't remember where the last 2 were thank goodness Eric found them one he stepped on as he reaching down to get the other they were side by side under the leaves. The kids loved hiding and having the adults hunt. It was a great spending time with the family..

Oh, we did dye eggs Saturday night and the one thing we missed out was getting a picture of Ryan with his basket. He left for church at 6:45 or ealier and then he came home and got into while we were still at Gigi & Papa and when we got home he was walkig out for band practice. I guess that what happens when you have teenagers. I did miss it though...

Tag Your It

I saw this on Stacy's blog and decided to play along.



8 Things I am looking forward to:


1. Women's retreat in Charleston in May
2. Savannah in July
3. West VA mission trip in June (crossing my fingers)
4. Beach in October
5. Summer get together
6. spending time with friends
7. This weekend trip to Atlanta w/ the middle school youth kids
8. Ginger's b'day celebrations


8 things I did yesterday
1. Cleaned most of the front of the house
2. Went to church for a meeting.
3. WEnt to DJ Sunday night class
4. Took a nap
5. Watch TV
6. Posted pic on Facebook
7. Ate
8. Talked on the phone to Kim



8 things I wish I could do
1. Loose Weight
2. Go on a cruise
3. Take a month off of work and get my house in order
4. Decorate and Organize my House
5. Take the summer off and travel to places we have not been and camp there and site see
6. Pray out loud in front of my peers
7. Take up a hobby
8. Learn how to make my blog all pretty



8 shows that I watch
1. Survivor
2. Real Housewives of....
3. One Tree Hill
4. Harpers Island/Southland (I flip back and forth)
5. American Idol
5. The Bachelor/Bachelorette when they are on
6. Reba
7. Jon and Kate plus 8
8. Still Standing

Tag 8 friends
I am tagging anyone that wants to do this. So have fun!

Have a New Kid By Friday

I know a couple of weeks ago I said that I was reading this book called Excellent Wife and I would post about each chapter. Well, I got stuck on chapter 2 and got kinda lost in it. My friend Tammy said that I just to move on to chapter 3 cause it starts getting good.. Well, before I do that I picked up that book called How To Have New Kid By Friday, cause with 2 teenage boys and a 6 yrs old that is sweet most of the time but can develop an attitude I wanted to see if I could REALLY have a new kid by Friday...

I am only on Wednesday and I have really learn alot in this book. First his method is you tell your child 1 time to do something and if the don't do it you don't say anything else then when they come and want something a snack, go somewhere, you to buy them something whatever it may be you simply so NO, I ask you to pick up your socks and they are still there. Then you turn your back and walk away. Ok, the kid goes and pick up the sock and they want whatever it is you still say NO... Oh my my first mistake I would have said ok lets go. He basically says if you do this consistent enough (still learning that one too) then it will get to the point to where you say clean your room and they will do it after being told one time..

Another thing is the ABC which is Attitude, Behavior and Character. Guess what I learn here... IT ALL HAS TO DO WITH ME!!!!! My kids are not going to change unless I change my attitude, if I am fussing at them or telling them to do something over and over and they see the frustration they are NOT going to say, wow I really upset mom let me go and do this for her, instead they are going to do it unhappy and it will be another struggle next time. I am all the the time telling my kids that I want them to be somebody and I don't want them to have the hardships I had and I want people to respect them and say good things to them but that is just words cause they have tune me out already.I have to teach them now for who they will be when they are adults. If I do everything for them including that homework project (which I have to say I have never done, I am done w/ school it is there time now), if I let them rule the house and tell me what to do, if I am constantly yelling at them and not letting them make decisions then I am not doing them in favors. The book said you have to find a common ground between those 2 different parenting skills. Who we teach our kids to be today is who they will be when they are 30 years old... We are to let them learn from life reality. If they don't do that term paper then they let them face the teacher with it. I have t say Tuesday step ALL over my toes, cause I learn that I need to change my attitude for them to. I need to be more consistent with them, say it in a loving way instead of aaaahhhhh I am going crazy here way. I need to talk to them even about the smallest thing like their music (that is a hard one on Ryan cause I can't understand his) but basically if I talk about the small amount of things with them they will know I am there for the big things too.. I have been trying to put these things he said in our life and I see a little change but it won't happen overnight. Oh yeah, and with telling your kid something once is all cause if you say it over and over and over (yes, guilty) then you are implying that they are dumb and don't understand.

I can read any book out there but the main thing I know that I have to do everyday is to pray for my kids and release them to God cause they are really His. I pray for them to be surrounded w/ good Christine friends, to be respectful and obedient to not just us but to anybody in leadership of them and their classmates and friends, to want to share who Jesus is with other if not speaking but just the way they carry themselves that day, I pray that people will see Jesus in them and want to know Him better or at all. To give them the eyes, ears and heart of Jesus all through the day so they will see others around them and their needs, to speak kindly to everyone and for them to be protected and to protect the people that Ryan will be driving around today.Yes, I also pray for their future wife too and for their purity and staying strong in that commitment. If it means that God has to make them hit rock bottom before they feel any convictions that He will do it and give me the strength, guidance and comfort to continue to pray for them and love them along the way. I use to pray something like this every day and in the busy of life I just said a prayer to keep them safe and watch over them and I can tell it now, the difference have felt this week I believe is cause I have been on my knees praying specific things for each one of them cause there is a different prayer cause they are all different and have different things they need praying for.. Even though God knows our prayers before we ask or say them He still wants us to speak them. So, when there is a moment I want to pop their little heads off I just simply say Jesus, this is your child give me yours attitude and your words... I am not going to say we will be perfect cause you never know when God is breaking one down to bring him back up but I know through my faith and prayers we will be ok and they will become Godly husband, friend, men, fathers, sons, co-worker, coaches or wherever life may lead them. God put them in my hands for a reason and He will direct they way...

I will get back to Excellent Wife as soon as I am done with this book...

Phillip Briggs

This is an email I got this morning from Ginger Darwin and I wanted to share w/ all you...If you want to keep up with Phillip and Amy story her blog is http://ourdailyblessinglife-amyb.blogspot.com/. She is also a McKMama follower of The Not Me Monday and little precious Stellan....

Good morning ladies. The email below is regarding Tim’s cousin in Florida that has a son, Philip, who suffers from a brain cyst. He has had many operations and had a stroke when he was 6 months old. He is now 19 and is getting ready to have a very serious operation. His mother, Amy, has cancer and is undergoing chemo right now. This family really needs our prayers. Also, they are having an online benefit party to help with some of the expenses of this operation. If you like candles, you may be interested in purchasing some.

Love you,

Ginger



Subject: A benefit party for Philip's operation...





I wish there was a way to have a real sit down party and spend some together. But since everyone is spread across the USA..I hope you still will take a minute to look...

As always prayers are what Philip and our family needs most.



Party to help Philip...
Most of you know that Philip is having a major operating in a few weeks. I posted the details HERE. Please take a minute to read the details of his surgery so you will know just how important prayers are right now for Philip.
A few weeks ago I met Brandy online and found out what a wonderful lady she is. She sent me a product that she sells to try out and I am hooked. It is my favorite thing in my house right now. It could become my new addiction.
Our family has been offered a very special opportunity by Brandy. Please read her message below for the details.
If any of my followers are lead to post this or link this on their blog I would appreciate it. As always thank you for praying for Philip and our family.
_______________________________________________________
In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:18" I have been so blessed to have come across Amy in my blog readings. We have never met personally however, given that we are all children of a mighty God, I feel some closeness to her and her family. I pray daily for each and every one of them and their daily struggles. Amy and I have gotten together and are very excited about doing this SCENTSY benefit party for Phillip. Some of you may ask "What is Scentsy?"Well here is your answer - Scentsy Wickless Candles are highly scented bars of wax that melt at a very low temperature over a 25 watt light bulb in exclusive electric warmers. Because they use no open flame like a standard scented candle, they pose no danger to children, pets, or property when used properly. Scentsy candles are leadless, wickless, flameless, and smokeless, and are available in over 80 exclusive scents. Please see my website(www.scentsy.com/bpainter) for more details and to place an order. You can also find my email and cell phone number in case you have ANY questions at all. If you are interested in hosting a party yourself or becoming a consultant, I would love to talk to you!To place an order that will benefit the Briggs Family, visit my website (www.scentsy.com/bpainter) and click MY EVENT. You will then see Philip Briggs Benefit. Click on Philip's Name and your order will go toward this benefit. Once you have placed your order, you can pay with a credit card and have it shipped directly to you. Amy and I discussed setting this party up to end so the products should be delivered in time for Mother's day. I will be donating back all of my commissions on each and every sale for the run of this party.Please feel free to contact me for any questions/concerns!!! Thanks so much to you all and May God Bless You!!!Brandy Painter_________________________________________________________________________________________________

I am so excited to invite all of you to Philip's online Medical Fundraising Party. I wish we could all get together and hang out for a "real" party. Maybe one day.
I hope you will take a minute to go over and look at Brandy's site. I promise you not be disappointed.

And most important..what we need most is prayers.

Sorry, I don't know how to do the links that well so you will have to copy and paste.

Keep praying for Philip and Stellan and their families...

Judging People

My cousin Andy share this on FB and blog today and I wanted to share for all of you. Click on his link and read his posting for today and watch the video, you will be truly bless and also make you stop before you judge somebody again.

http://andyfbcdenmark.blogspot.com/2009/04/we-are-in-no-shape-to-judge-people.html

Good Friday

On Friday night we went to Popular Spring Baptist church to see there Easter play and I have to say on a day that we all know what Good Friday is but when you get to work you get busy and you might not remember or not know the whole story of Good Friday that church on a stormy Friday night brought it to life. I heard they had the sanctuary closed for 2 weeks getting ready for the play on Thursday, Friday and Saturday night. It was really great with all the acting, songs,sounds and lighting effects it was so real. When they were beating Jesus and nailing his hands to the cross I don't think the there was a dry eye in the place. They ended with the perfect song Amazing Grace, My Chains Are Gone... Isn't that so true, Jesus died for us to save us all from our sins and because of him we can live to face each and every day. I have been in a slump for a while lately but this past weekend it has really hit me and I pray to live out everyday God's love and His glory and grace. Cause my God is here and now and always forever will be... I am Daddy's baby girl and I thank Him for loving me so much.

This is a video a friend sent to me...

A Day at the Circus

Last Sunday a co-worker of Eric's had 3 extra tickets to the Shrine circus at Timmons Arena at Furman and invited us to go. So, we took off to church just for Sunday school and then left so we could be in Greenville and have eaten by 1:30 to meet them to go in. This circus is great just cause what they are raising money for and right now with them talking about closing the Shrine Hospital for the children I am really glad we got to go and give a little money. I hope to never have to go there with one of my children but if something every did come up it would be nice to have somewhere like that close to home.. There is not alot of animals at this one just tigers, elephants, dogs and a snake but they have some talented people putting on shows.
It was nice to meet Eric's co-worker Mitch and his family and also to finally meet Carson (his son). They had came over one day to get fire wood and they played and I was not here and then Eric took him to his b'day party the day of the Grand Prix race and Day6 auction night while I stay to help set up the auction so since then I have heard Carson constantly. Tyler is a year older but they seem to get along great, hopefully we will be getting together some for them to play... The first half of the show they didn't really talk to each other but the second half they were having a ball together. Here is a slide show of the circus.. Now there is a couple of pics in here that it is a good thing that we went w/ Mitch cause Tyler has wimps for parents, when you see the pic you will know which one I am talking about.

Teenagers

I have been reading everybody Lesson's From Mommyhood" and they are all sweet and I really wish I had done something like that when mine were little. But I have always said joking I need to do one a teenagers view... Don't get me wrong I do have some great boys and I am really bless they are healthy and they are not into drugs, drinking, I know where they are for the most part. They go to church without me pushing them to go and they love to go. They have given their life over to our Lord and Savior and can tell me about the bible. Yes, they are really good boys especially for other people but...................

With one you get laziness, yes all 16 yr old can be lazy but this is beyond laziness. When he is at home he rather play on the playstation or lay in his bed and watch tv. When you do get him to do some kind of activity you hear the complaining constantly that he is tired and his legs hurts. We ask him to do chores, yeah is that not just terrible I make my kids do chores how hateful can I be... but anyway when we ask him to do something he huffs, stomps and makes those sigh comments under his breath (yes, I use to do this too but not about chores that was a must in my house).. Now, you could call him up to do something and we would be right there to help you. He is a very smart, very talented and he learns things quick but our battle is to get him to apply himself and put an effort towards things. He could be an all A's & B's student but he rather not do homework and just pass w/ the test grades and some classwork to makes B or a C which is still good but if you can make an A it is really not that good. He is very self center just like most kids but his goes to the point that he doesn't put an effort toward reaching out to other people he just waits for you to come to him and he once you do he is the friend that always waits for you to come around... Now, I have been told I am to hard on him and yes I do agree with that at times but like this battle we are doing now...We bought him a car last year for his 16th b'day. He had always said he wanted a Mustang or a Honda Civic well I wast not getting Mustang for his first car and I really wanted him to have a truck or suv but at the last minute on the day we were out looking we found him a 96 Honda Civic that seem to be in good condition and we were for sure he would love it beside it was a stick shift so we took the money Eric and been saving up for a truck and we bought it straight out so I wouldn't have to make a car payment. Oh course when he got it there were things wrong w/ it that he pointed out.. color, wheels don't match, radio doesn't work, has a dent on the hood and he wanted some kind of light kit for it.. oh well at least it is not a 68 bug all orange inside and out w/ no place for a radio, runs only have the time and has a piece of plywood in the back floor board covering up the big hole.. yep my first car but it was a fun and memorable car..lol.. anyway, month after school started and he has had his restricted license he got pulled over going to FCA (oh all things) on morning for speeding and that ticket was $185 which he paid and took 4 points. Yes we continue to let him drive, I do pray everyday that he learn his lesson... Anyway, about a month ago the car broke down and we placed the transmissions, the clutch and rear oil seal so the money Eric had saved up again went back into Ryan's car to fix so he is still driving the brown truck that really needs to retire.. I know as parents these are our responsibility but I am also trying to teach him the value of the dollar and some responsibility. He had a job up until last Friday and he got fired for having his phone out again 4th time so the spending and gas money is not there anymore. We have told him ALL week he needed to put an effort into getting a job. 1st day excuse all the places were close and no gas but still had gas to drive to a friends house, bk back to the friends out and to another one and home by the way we live in the center of everything in westside, 2nd day everybody but 1 was on-line, 3rd I do remember I think he said he didn't have time and he forgot (spring break only 1-3 is he doing something) he did go finally after having to be force to went to 2 places, 4th day I have totally forgot what the excuse was and then finally on the last day he went to 3 places got applications, forgot to get one at another and another was online.. Now today he still has those apps here they are filled out but not turn in. My child is the one that wants the fun job and is to good for the first job for teenagers. Heck, I want a fun job too where I start at the top but I haven't found it yet. He wanted to go to Denny's to meet some friends and had no money and ask me for nope, is my answer gave him $20 Sunday and he spent it on 1 meal not getting anymore and he also got his last check and it is gone He does have an interview Monday so hopefully he will get his spending and gas money back... We pay his phone, his insurance so he can at least handle those too and we do help him w/ gas since he hauls the other around and Eric drives his car. Like I said he is a good kid and I love it when he people complaint me about him and my heart is bless and tears to come to my eyes when I see him up there on Wednesday with the youth and Sunday with the adults playing his heart out and singing for the Lord. By the way, the guitar was one of the things he picked up quickly and he does put the effort into it.

Now the other one he is just my rollercoaster kid..You are lovin life with him one week and then you hit that big dip and you are ready to loose your insanity... He is a sweet, funny, cute kid but he also likes to be the class clown, wants to see how far he can push you, calls you names but not in a mean cruel way just in a joking way but never knows when to turn it off.. He has always been momma's boy and I have spoiled him for so long cause we was only 2 when me and his daddy split, he has had a busted lip, almost got hit by a car can honestly say that was a day that I knew God was with us it could have been bad, he had a terrible first year of school due to a teacher (no I am not taking up for my kid even his 1st grade teacher told us this and other people, he had a teacher that best friend didn't care for me so she took it out on my son), he has a speak problem so I have always let things go with him when I told I should have been consistent on sticking to my punishments. Our battle with him is getting him out of middle school, I get a call or email weekly from one teacher about his behavior taking out in class, getting up and walking around when he shouldn't, not doing his work. He is making a high C in this class cause he pass the test but doesn't do the work. First she had him a lower math level for next year, I over rode that and wanted him to go up to the next level, then last week she told me he believes he needs to be in a higher level of math. The kid is bored in class and he is disturbing the rest of the class in the process so that is the reason for the emails and phone calls constantly. The other 3 teachers 1 has only email in the past 6 months cause of his grades (he doesn't like science but wants to be a rectional therapist go figure), one I have never heard from and the other was a call to tell me how proud of him she was she gave them so many books to read in a time and he had triple that amount. Yes, he LOVES to read and actually gets books taken away from him class cause he is reading instead of doing the work. This week has been good cause of spring break and I am hoping the rest of the year we will be riding up hill on that rollercoaster cause we had hit the BIG dip that takes your breath away, don't think I can do that again..He too is a great kid beside wearing the same socks almost everyday until I gag and make him wash them, he has to be force to take a shower, change clothes and brush his teeth. Don't laugh or gag cause one day you too will be doing this with your teenage boy almost all my friends with boys the same age are dealing with this problem. At least Ryan does shower daily. Stephen is the kid that tells me I am pretty, he loves me, hugs me, when I am sick he takes care of me, he helps me with Tyler, he doesn't back talk the chores heck he does the trash without you asking him too.. Just got to get him serious about school and also control the mouth..

Now, are you looking forward to teenagers??? All I want for is that boys are look at with respect, kindness, compassion that people see the love of the Lord in them. I want for them happiness, for them to succeed in life more than I ever have. I want the to have the things I didn't have (not material things). I want them when they have a family to be able to support there family and not have the heartaches I have endure. I have seen the life of the given of gifts, the life of where is our next meal coming from to the life of just getting by and I don't want my boys to every have to live like that again. I want them to be what they want to be, I want them to be hard workers and share their talents with others. So, I fuss and I am hard on them cause I want better for them. I do get frustrated cause some things are simple as 1,2,3 if you get in trouble for this you shouldn't do it again, if you are making bad grade just cause you don't do homework or class work then do it, and what you give to others is what you will get in return. They are good boys just typical teenagers and I am trying my best to figure this all out. A friend told me once that you are doing a good job when your child tells you they hate you and they want to move out so I guess I am doing something right, hate me now, love me later..I didn't have a real mom figure to go by so I am relaying on God, prayers and friends to get me through these years... By the time Tyler hits them maybe I will be better prepare..