"My teacher's name is Mom!"

Regal's Free Family Film Festival

2008-05-29T15:38:00.003-05:00

This is a great Freebie Find.

Regal Entertainment Group is sponsoring their Free Family Film Festival again this summer. That's right, free. G and PG rated family films will be available to view each Tuesday and Wednesday at 10:00a. Visit their website to find theaters in your neighborhood that participate.

With Hope

2008-05-22T00:08:00.005-05:00

Steven Curtis Chapman's daughter was killed on Wednesday due to a tragic family accident. My prayers are that God will bring them comfort and healing, as only He can.

With Hope
by Steven Curtis Chapman

1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 and Hebrews 6:9, 10:23

This is not at all how
We thought it was supposed to be
We had so many plans for you
We had so many dreams
And now you've gone away
And left us with the memories of your smile
And nothing we can say
And nothing we can do
Can take away the pain
The pain of losing you, but ...

We can cry with hope
We can say goodbye with hope
'Cause we know our goodbye is not the end, oh no
And we can grieve with hope
'Cause we believe with hope
(There's a place by God's grace)
There's a place where we'll see your face again
We'll see your face again

And never have I known
Anything so hard to understand
And never have I questioned more
The wisdom of God's plan
But through the cloud of tears
I see the Father's smile and say well done
And I imagine you
Where you wanted most to be
Seeing all your dreams come true
'Cause now you're home
And now you're free, and ...

We have this hope as an anchor
'Cause we believe that everything
God promised us is true, so ...

So we can cry with hope
And say goodbye with hope
We wait with hope
And we ache with hope
We hold on with hope
We let go with hope

Cinderella
by Steven Curtis Chapman

She spins and she sways to whatever song plays,
Without a care in the world.
And I'm sittin' here wearin' the weight of the world on my shoulders.
It's been a long day and there's still work to do,
She's pulling at me saying "Dad I need you!
There's a ball at the castle and I've been invited and I need to practice my dancin'"
"Oh please, daddy, please!"

So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh I will dance with Cinderella
I don't wanna miss even one song,
Cuz all to soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone

She says he's a nice guy and I'd be impressed
She wants to know if I'd approve of a dress
She says "Dad, the prom is just one week away,
And I need to practice my dancin'"
"Oh please, daddy, please!"

So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Ohh-oh ohh-oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don't wanna miss even one song,
Cuz all to soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone
She will be gone.

Well, she came home today
With a ring on her hand
Just glowin' and tellin' us all they had planned
She says "Dad, the wedding's due six months away
And I need to practice my dancin'"
"Oh please, daddy please!"

So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Ohh-oh ohh-oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don't wanna miss even one song,
(even one song)
Cuz all to soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone

Wordless Wednesday - Windmill

2008-04-02T10:09:00.002-05:00

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

Taken at the Fort Worth Zoo

Wordless Wednesday - "Here kitty kitty..."

2008-03-27T01:21:00.005-05:00

Wordless Wednesday

Either my boys looked like something fun to play with or tasty little snacks...

His Bell

2008-03-17T23:40:00.003-05:00

I KNOW WHO I AM
I am God's child (John 1:12)
I am Christ's friend (John 15:15)
I am united with the Lord(1 Cor. 6:17)
I am bought with a price(1 Cor. 6:19-20)
I am a saint (set apart for God). (Eph. 1:1)
I am a personal witness of Christ. (Acts 1:8)
I am the salt & light of the earth ( Matt.5:13-14)
I am a member of the body of Christ(1 Cor 12:27)
I am free forever from condemnation (Rom. 8: 1-2)
I am a citizen of Heaven. I am significant (Phil.3:20)
I am free from any charge against me (Rom. 8:31-34)
I am a minister of reconciliation for God(2 Cor.5:17-21)
I have access to God through the Holy Spirit (Eph. 2:18)
I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Eph. 2:6)
I cannot be separated from the love of God( Rom.8:35-39)
I am established, anointed, sealed by God (2 Cor.1:21-22)
I am assured all things work together for good (Rom. 8: 28)
I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit (John 15:16)
I may approach God with freedom and confidence (Eph. 3: 12)
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13)
I am the branch of the true vine, a channel of His life (John 15: 1-5)
I am God's temple (1 Cor. 3: 16). I am complete in Christ (Col. 2: 10)
I am hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3). I have been justified (Romans5:1)
I am God's co-worker (1 Cor. 3:9; 2 Cor 6:1). I am God's workmanship(Eph.2:10)
I am confident that the good works God has begun in me will be perfected.(Phil 1: 5)
I have been redeemed and forgiven (Col. 1:14). I have been adopted as God's child(Eph 1:5)
I belong to God
Do you know
who you are?

Water Moccasin

2008-03-13T17:59:00.004-05:00

That was my baby brother. He noticed a water moccasin sun bathing at one of his favorite fishing spots and decided he'd go touch it. Why? I'll never know...

Thursday Thirteen - Sounds That Bring Me Joy

2008-03-13T01:18:00.001-05:00

Thursday 13

Thirteen Sounds That Bring Me Joy

rain
wind chimes
my boys in idle conversation
loved ones laughing
my lab's hefty grunt as he flops down at my feet
the garage door alerting me that my husband is home
my Nannie whistling her favorite tunes to the radio
fire log crackling
my oldest vacuuming
music from an ice cream truck
my husband sighing as he sleeps
children at the playground
my youngest reading aloud

Wordless Wednesday - Putty Face

2008-03-12T12:16:00.007-05:00

Wordless Wednesday

My oldest's photo art. He did this using Putty Face.

before

after

It's snowing in Texas!

2008-03-06T16:39:00.001-06:00

Taken from my front porch about and hour ago. We've got about 4 inches now. Woo Hoo!

Thursday Thirteen - Lullaby Land

2008-03-06T13:34:00.005-06:00

13 Pics of My Boys Sleeping

Wordless Wednesday - Swimming Elephant

2008-03-05T10:34:00.005-06:00

"...with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26

Thursday Thirteen - Favorite Quotes

2008-02-27T15:33:00.006-06:00

13 Favorite Quotes

1. "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but my Me." - Jesus Christ (John 14:6 KJV)

2. "Mothers of little boys work from son up to son down." - unknown

3. "The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain." - Dolly Parton

4. "Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm." - Abraham Lincoln

5. "If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under." - Ronald Reagan

6. "Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless." - Mother Teresa

7. "You have to accept whatever comes and the only important thing is that you meet it with courage, and with the best you have to give." - Eleanor Roosevelt

8. "When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left and could say, I used everything you gave me." - Erma Bombeck

9. "Take my heart and make it your dwelling place so that everyone I touch will be touched by You!" - Alice Joyce Davidson

10. "Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence." - Helen Keller

11. "A child who is allowed to be disrespectful to his parents will not have true respect for anyone." - Billy Graham

12. "Courage is being scared to death... and saddling up anyway." - John Wayne

13. "Laugh it up, Fuzzball" - Harrison Ford as Han Solo

Thursday 13 - Church Signs

2008-02-20T14:45:00.001-06:00

Words of inspiration from church signs

If someone is without a smile, give them yours.
It wasn't the apple. It was the pair.
Since Christ died for us, can we do less than to live for Him.
Is the Son in your eye?
Judging others leaves no time to love them.
1 cross + 3 nails = 4 given
O Lord, our hearts are restless until they rest in You.
Jesus is the Rock that doesn't roll.
Be ye fishers of men. You catch them. God will clean them.
Wal*Mart isn't the only saving place in town.
Have the last words ... "I'm sorry"
Be the change you want to see in people.
Free trip to heaven. Details inside.

Wordless Wednesday - Tuckered Out

2008-02-20T14:06:00.004-06:00

I found this treasure after developing an old roll of 35mm film that I've had stashed away in a drawer. This is my youngest at age 2. He's almost 10 now.

Kill 'em with kindness

2007-11-30T00:07:00.001-06:00

Yesterday, my youngest was having a difficult day with is older brother. He came to me in private and asked what he could do to help things get better. I gave him the old "kill 'em with kindness" speech. In the end he replied, "So, if he punches me, I'm supposed to give him a cupcake?"

Thursday Thirteen - Oldest's Journal Entries

2007-11-14T15:05:00.001-06:00

Thirteen of my oldest son's journal entries from days gone by.

While pulling a box down from the top shelf of a closet, two spiral bound notebooks fell at my feet. They were my oldest son's creative writing journals from 1st grade. We spent the morning piled on his bed and enjoyed reading his past thoughts. I have quoted his words, spelling and punctuation exactly. I've deciphered some words for you.

1. "When I grow up I want to be a soger" (soldier)

2. "If I could fly I would fly to Pitzze (pizza) hutt"

3. "I like Thaksgiving because you get ham"

4. "If I could have any pet it would be a sqerpeon (scorpion) that would eat othr bugs"

5. "In the fall...livs (leaves) fall."

6. "on Halloween I go to church wich has a pumpkin pach evre year with games. 20030 games in ther. And cande."

7. "If I was a gingerbread boy I wold have a brocan (broken) leg. I wold not taste good. I wold be old and stinck"

8. "If my family got to fly to the White House I cut it in haf candes would come out."
Did he think it was a pinata?

9. "Its inportant to keep my room clean because my mom told me to. she will kill me."

10. "If I could do anything it would be traceform (transform) my house into a arcade I would have games all over the place."

11. "Reading is fun because you read to learn"
YES!

12. "If I lived in a bubble I would bounce all over the place evry day I would blow to make it biger."

13. My favorite plant is a venus fly trap
it is cool!
bad trap
kill trap
so so bad
so good at traping

Wordless Wednesday - Six Flags 2007

2007-11-14T10:30:00.000-06:00

A follow up to Wordless Wednesday - 9

With my youngest on our way up to the first drop on the Titan.

"Hurry up, Mom! We're almost there!"

With my oldest while briefly stopped atop the Texas Giant

Bring It All Together

2007-11-13T02:53:00.001-06:00

God sends me peace when I listen to this ... and hope. I love you, Sis!

Bring It All Together

I hear you say
That you can't go on
Cause you had it all and watched it fall away
You feel betrayed
Cause everything's gone wrong
Can't find the strength to hope for a better day
We may not understand the reasons
But I know His promise will never change

(Chorus)
He's gonna take your pain
He's gonna take your doubt
He's gonna bring it all together, bring it all together
Gonna make you happy
He's gonna make you laugh out loud
He's gonna bring it all together
Bring it all together for good

You say you're livin your life
Doing the best you can
Wondering if the struggle means anything
If you realized that it's in His hands
You'll find the peace that sweet surrender brings
Well, we may not understand the reasons
But I know His promise will never change

He's gonna take your pain
He's gonna take your doubt
He's gonna bring it all together,
Bring it all together
Gonna make you happy
He's gonna make you laugh out loud
He's gonna bring it all together
Bring it all together for good

I know there will come a day of healing
Then We will see the master plan
We will celebrate His faithfulness
And we'll sing (sing) and we'll shout (shout)
Praise His name

- Natalie Grant

Happy Veteran's Day!

2007-11-11T14:30:00.000-06:00

Today's post is dedicated to my grandfather.

The following is an excerpt from his memoirs that he left behind. I wanted to share a few moments from his time in France during World War II.

"I got into two arguments with tanks while we were in Paroy and, sad to say, I lost both.

The first experience was with an American tank destroyer (TD). There was a German tank behind a small building in front of our company line. Two of our tanks were swapping shells with it but nobody seemed to be doing any damage. Two TD’s moved into the area and started firing AP (armor piercing) rounds through the building. Their visibility was not good but they forced to German tank to move back. Unfortunately, our tanks moved in and the fire from the TD’s was now hitting around them.

I tried to get the TD commander on the radio but couldn't so I ran back to make visual contact and stop his firing. About the time I was even with the muzzle of his 3 incher, he fired. My forward progress stopped and I went sideways. This got his attention, we swapped information and he ceased fire. It seemed like days before my ears quit ringing and I lost a least part my hearing from that muzzle blast.

My second experience was with a German tank. One of my duties during firefights was to patrol areas behind the rifle platoons to keep anyone from taking a vacation while the fighting was going on. I had just met such a want-to-be vacationer and was taking him back to his platoon when we walked straight into the muzzle of a German 88.

I hit the ground and my companion ran. The German fired and I was lifted off the ground by the concussion and slammed back down by the shrapnel hitting the radio on my back. My companion took 43 pieces of shrapnel (according to a letter someone got from him while he was in an English hospital). I don’t think he ever came back to the outfit.

My radio (an SCR 300 portable FM) was shredded. One hole was big enough to put half of your hand in it. Fortunately it was the radio that absorbed the shrapnel, not my back.
The rest of our visit to Paroy was routine. We shot at them. They shot at us. We were in the forest about two weeks. We paid for that mile of ground several times over.

After we got through Paroy it was raining and miserable cold. I woke up one night feeling seasick from the motion of my bedding. I raised up on one elbow and found out what caused the motion. I was floating. I had put my shelter-half (the canvas from a pup-tent) underneath my blankets as a shield from the cold ground and the water running into my foxhole lifted me off the ground. When I raised up, my elbow pushed the bedding under the water and soaked part of my clothing.

I was now wet and cold, but I was better off than others. I got out of the foxhole and its watery bottom to go look for something better. Nearby I saw the first sergeant sitting in a shell hole with water up over his ankles. No cover from the rain at all. He looked so miserable that I quit my gripping and turned away so I wouldn’t see him and be reminded that it could get worse.

We were pulled off the line after Paroy for replacements and retraining, then on to Embermenil.

Somewhere we got caught with our pants down. We were crossing a corn field between two wooded areas and the Germans waited until most of the Company was in the open area before they opened up. They pinned down the whole Company. I had been back at battalion getting some replacement hand-held radios (SCR 536’s) and was at a higher elevation in the rear.

We were told to lay low until the tanks arrived and then we could move against the Germans. I found a wide spread of cornstalks and thought that would be good cover
(concealment yes, cover no). I put my radios down, stretched out on my back, lit a cigarette, and enjoyed the view of the sky, blue with a few clouds moving lazily away from us.
I didn’t notice the lack of a breeze until the bullet hit near my face. My cigarette smoke had been going straight up and some German used the smoke to sight in on me.

I knew that smoking was bad for your health and now I had absolute proof. Luckily for me, he missed. The dirt that the bullet threw up left red marks on my face but no broken skin.
Eventually the tanks arrived and threw enough fire into the woods that the German troop abandoned their positions and we moved forward." - B.J. Larson

Orphaned, my grandfather enlisted in the Army at age 16.
Being awarded the Bronze Star
My beloved grandfather, AKA Pop
Forever In Our Hearts

Good to the last drop!

2007-11-10T01:00:00.000-06:00

For my boys, soda is a once a week treat. They're allowed one 12 oz. can of soda on Friday's ... only!

My husband wouldn't get home from work until after 10:00p last night and the boys waited for him to come home with Arby's for a late night snack. *mmm* He instructed them to get themselves something to drink.

Well, my oldest came from the kitchen with a glass of ice water *good choice* but, my youngest came out with a big cheesy grin on his face (and he has a huge grin) and an ice cold can of Caffeine Free Diet Coke.

Thinking that it was too late at night to be drinking soda, the first thing I said was, "I don't think so!"

"But Mom ... it's Friday! It's diet. It's caffeine free."

How could I argue that?

He wasn't able to finish it all during his snack and I caught him trying to put it next to his bed where he usually keeps a glass of water during the night. He had even transferred it from the can to a less conspicuous glass. I drew the line there.

The last time I made notice of the issue, he was in the kitchen trying to finish it all before heading off to bed.

After he'd already been around the block or two in Dream Land, I opened the fridge and found this ...

Yep, that's right! He stuck a Post-It note on it with his name clearly written on it!

Here's what he'll find when he goes looking for it in the morning.

By the way, the light bulb in my fridge went out today. I had to use his new flashlight that's mounted on the end of his airsoft gun to get these shots. He'll get a kick out of that!

I'm out numbered...and love it!

2007-11-09T23:45:00.000-06:00

We're having quite a warm fall this year. The high temps for this week are expected to reach near 90. Ick!

However, this makes for more opportunities for my boys to have some Daddy time outdoors before it gets too cold. Their new hobby is airsoft guns. My husband was off yesterday and planned to take the boys out into the woods to shoot it up. My youngest was very excited. His Daddy had just purchased a new airsoft gun, which meant that he would be handed down Daddy's not so old one.

Perfect plan for me! I was not going to turn down a few hours of Mommy time indoors w/ no boys. Not long after sending off my heavily armed and well padded mini squadron, I quickly found myself, not doing laundry or dishes, but in the middle of my bed, with all the covers and all the pillows ready to enjoy a nap.

I woke up around 7:15p to an empty and very dark house. I knew that the boys would be home soon. After all, it was after sunset and thought surely they can't enjoy airsoft wars in the dark.
I rolled out of bed and stumbled down the hall as I wiped sleep from my eyes. There wasn't a light to be seen or a sound to be heard until...

I turned the corner at the end of the hall and found myself ambushed! There were my boys (all three of them) waiting patiently and quietly for Mom to walk into their trap. The only thing I could see was the three very bright red laser lights aimed at my legs and feet.

No wonder they weren't home before sunset! Those boogers trotted themselves on over to Cheaper Than Dirt and bought laser sights and flashlight mounts for their airsoft guns.

All I could say was, "No shooting in the house."

I love my boys!

Previous Airsoft Posts:
Youngest's Writing Assignment
Oldest's Writing Assignment

Show and Tell Friday - New Willow Tree Figures

2007-11-09T15:32:00.001-06:00

I'm completely in love with the Demdaco Willow Tree figurine collection! I'm in awe at how well the artist, Susan Lordi, has captured emotion from figures that have no faces. The little brown haired boys resemble my two boys so much! I've been collecting them for a couple of years.

My husband recently bought me two that were on my wish list while at Lifeway last week. They're my 1st Show & Tell Friday, enjoy!

Mother and Son

Father and Son

Mom Blogger Quiz

2007-11-07T09:45:00.000-06:00

Take the Mom Blogger quiz!

Wordless Wednesday - a quiet place to read

2007-11-07T09:17:00.001-06:00

Tackle It Tuesday

2007-11-06T09:58:00.000-06:00

This week's tackle was to clean out and organize my medicine cabinet,

Before, everything had to be taken outjust to find what was needed.

After, meds are placed in labled tubs
and easy to access.
My First Aid Kit,

Before After

and my paper towel holder.

Before

After