Tag Archives: God

Children ARE our refining fire…

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After a particularly stressful beginning to our Mass this morning, it occurred to me during Mass (as I prayed diligently for my head to NOT spin off) that it’s quite possible that children are our refining fire.  They are our opportunity to test our faith as we question “Why in the WORLD,Lord, did you ever think I was capable of dealing with all of this drama?”  And He answers:  “Because I made you and you are capable of far more than YOU realize.”

As I mull this over,  my 8 year old kisses my cheek, my 9 year old hugs my waist and my 12 and 14 year old have miraculously turned their hearts back toward us and are no longer complaining about RETURNING to church (yes, twice in one day, IMAGINE that!!!) later in the day.  The ups, the downs, the loopedy loos….ain’t parenting grand?!?

1 Peter 1:6-7 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith–more precious than gold that perishes through it is tested by fire–may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

It’s the end of the week as we know it….

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  • I’ve finally made some headway into writing the story of our family’s Faith walk through our years of incarceration.  For some reason, (I’m going with the Holy Spirit’s leading on this one), I haven’t been able to write.  Perhaps it’s nerves.  Either way it’s begun and to say it’s mind-blowing to look back on how firmly we were under the protection of the Lord, and still are, is truly amazing.  God IS good.  In the midst of it all, He is good, He is present and He loves.
  • We are going to attempt a photo shoot (complete with tripod) for our Christmas card this weekend.  I have a mental block on ANY Christmas shopping until our card is done, ordered and MAILED–shortly after Thanksgiving (I like to be one of the first–I’m weird like that!!).   I’d love to do a post on the pics that don’t make the cut.  You know the ones….”he’s touching me, I’m TIRED of smiling….this is boring….WHY do we do this EVERY year”…and so on and so on….at least they are a little older and tend to sit longer for pictures these days…mostly…
  • I have pinpointed my errors in lack of pre-planning for our week with the dueling football and softball schedules.  I now have a plan going forth.  Not surprisingly, it usually takes me a couple of weeks to “work out the kinks” when change is upon us!  There will be freezer meals a-cookin’ in the casa this weekend!!
  • The weather is changing, the air is fabulous and crisp.  Now to decide if we will be brave enough to go through with our scheduled stand up paddleboard trip on Saturday morning.  It’s supposed to be in the low 70’s and sunny….and I suppose if I stay OUT of the water it will be OK…
  • Had a great two days of exercise in early this week.  Mid-week…ummmm, let’s call that “recovery” and here’s to hoping the week finishes BIG with a fun and physical weekend–which of course, means I have to get off the laptop and walk this morning before work…
  • Successful purging of summer clothes into fall/winter clothes is complete with a VERY small list of “needs” for the girls (even smaller for the boys) AND I managed to make it to the Post office to send off some winter shoes I purged to a dear friend’s daughter.
  • I can’t believe it’s been 10 years since 9-11.  Wow.  There are no words.  Prayers for all the souls of the lost.  Prayers for the families who annually relive that day.  Prayers for peace in this world.
  • It’s the end of the week…the kids sweetly asked if I would have today off also for Veteran’s day, but alas….not so much.  Daddy is working from home to oversee activities and such, so for THAT I am heartily grateful!  And on that note, I think I will grab some sweatpants and go for a brisk walk and get this day started!!  Happy Weekend, y’all!!

Bringing in the weekend with Pumpkin Chocolate chip cookies among other things!

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— 1 —

And the weekend is once again upon us….Finally Friday, free again…..Everybody’s working for the weekend….Friday, Friday, gotta get down on Friday.…and our neighborhood is having its 2nd annual block party (barring rain, then it moves to Saturday night)…my girlfriend reminded me about some cookies I made last year.  Sooooooooo, my pumpkin-chocolate-chip cookies are baked and ready to go ( you KNOW that sounds good, and this time of year, I am ALL about anything pumpkin!).  if the party is postponed I’m not sure how long I can hold my gang off the cookies though…

— 2 —

Almost a whole week down of “Clean Eating” and I must say that so far so good.  Planning ahead with the meals worked FABULOUS and I felt satisfied and my only cheat was testing out the cookies mentioned in #1….but actually I only had about three and I’m good….didn’t even eat the dough….HUGE accomplishment on that!!!  HUGE!!!  Who doesn’t eat the cookie dough!??!?!?!?!

— 3 —

In my usual procrastination fashion, with Halloween a mere 3 days away, it appears we will be getting into high gear of the whole putting-the-costumes-together-last-minute-and-all.  In all actuality, we have the costumes in our possession but certain little girls can’t seem to make up their minds, certain boys suddenly want to trick or treat ONE LAST TIME….but fear not, it ALWAYS comes together somehow!

— 4 —

I have an opportunity to share how God has worked in our lives over these past 8 years:  before, during and after incarceration.  An actual writing project—fo’ REALZ.  I’m a little queasy at the prospect. That’s coming WAY out of my wheelhouse!!   However, prison ministry is an area that is hugely important to our society.  It shows the unloved that they ARE loved, if not by their own family and friends, Christ is ALWAYS present.  I haven’t done the research (yet) but I’m quite sure it’s safe to say that the majority of society have blinders on when it comes to prison and probation.  “Don’t ask, don’t tell” and “as long as I don’t have to deal with it, I’ll just mind my business”.  The problem is, it’s ALL of our business when prisoners are released and return to society.  The more positive reinforcements they receive and support groups on the outside, the more likely they will be to be productive in society.  And I can assure you, the prisons are overcrowded and understaffed and rehabilitation comes to very few.

— 5 —

I started to grumble about my Monday afternoon “Taxi duty” of the drop off, pick up, drop off, pick up and repeat and repeat and THEN it occurred to me.  At this time, we only have ONE day during the week where it’s that bad, I have other friends who do it multiple times a week.  Who am I to complain?  I am glad that our kids are involved in extracurriculars.  It gives them a great outlet physically, they meet friends and they open up their interests.    Sure, some seasons it’s more intense than others, but each year goes by more quickly, the kids keep getting taller and one day I am going to miss all this chaos.  And only because I can look back on their toddler and baby years and ACHE for that time again do I know it’s true.

— 6 —

Our youngest diva daughter and I had an appointment with the Deacon at our church this week to address her bedtime-anger issues.  It was time to pull in a third-party because it’s a little BEYOND ridiculous.  I have learned that sometimes, when you parent, you have to realize you need someone else to tell your kids the same things you’ve told them a million times, because their voice is different and for some reason they actually HEAR them.  whatever.  I’m good with it.  She appears to have taken the conversation to heart…..so far.  Her attitude is much better and PRAISE BE TO GOD, we haven’t had to go back in a second time ALL week-long!!!  Glory, that’s a huge celebration!!!!

— 7 —

Last week I cut my hair.  It’s been long for quite a while this time.  I only went to my shoulders, long layered.  It’s so FUN!  My head feels so light and when I drive with the windows down I can still see what’s in front of me.  I love a good haircut.

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