Gifts from Above

No...not the gifts that land on your car when you park under a tree!!! I mean true gifts from God. Things you don't ask for, the surprises that come without desire, without need, without anything. They are just there. Here are a few of my gifts:

1) After 19 years of marriage and 15 years of being a mom, Lonnie finally cooked breakfast on Sunday morning!!! Didn't have to ask, didn't even care if breakfast got cooked that morning. He just did it. Awesome!

2) Found $5 dollars in a pocket of my purse this morning. Meant I didn't have to use the debit card to get a drink at Sonic!

3) Garrett so unexpectedly opened the car door to find a grouchy Guthri. He immediately started teasing her to make her laugh. We all laughed and are still grinning. Got her in a great mood and said, "I love it when she laughs!" Awwww......go ahead you know it made you grin too!

4) Got to have my ENTIRE conference this morning to myself! It was amazing....you would not believe how much I got done. Great!

The one gift that slaps me in the face when I allow it to is my children. Parenting can be so frustrating and make you question EVERY decision you have ever made in your life. I am so bad about seeing all the negative and focusing on the constant responsibility or the never ending laundry. Every once in a while (when I allow it) my kids just look at me and my heart melts.

Today, Guthri was in such a bad mood after school and was upset with her brother. He truly had done nothing wrong and was wanting to help her but for whatever reason she was just not going to let him be nice to her. She climbed into the back seat of the car and sat there pouting. I honestly thought she would fall asleep on the way home. Garrett opened the door and she literally tried to bite his hand. He just tapped her on the head and said, "It's time to go Mrs. McGregor." It was the funniest thing I have ever heard! He kept at her until she was laughing. He did it to not be annoying but because he loves her and wanted her to be happy. And when she did start laughing it was not just a giggle but a belly roll laugh. It was so refreshing and fun to just laugh with my kids. We laughed for over 20 minutes. Guthri came up and gave me a huge hug and told me "Even if I had a sister, I would still want Garrett for a brother." I know that sounds silly but most parents with more than one child can completely understand!!

Today, my gifts consisted of nothing that money could buy, nothing anyone could have planned for, nothing I even expected. Just my family, happy and loving. Best gift I have ever received!

Some People....

Have you ever dealt with someone and then walked away and thought "some people"? I do it all the time. I have to stop and make myself see the inner being of some people. God has placed a person in my life that I am constantly having to FORCE myself to see the inner being and the reason he/she is in my life. I had dodged this person at various events because I knew the personality and knew I could not handle it. I literally would hide or turn my back to keep from making eye contact. I just could not handle the belligerent talk, the sob stories, (to put it bluntly) the stupidity. This person drove me insane!

Well, low and behold, God planted this person right on my door step!!!!!! It was not funny, it was not something I thought I could handle. I struggle every day to deal with the attitude and force this person comes at me with. I look at what I can do for this person and think "That is why God put him/her in my life." Then, boom, he/she does something so ridiculous that I think I can't handle it. I take a deep breath and remember I am the Christian, the one that needs to give. Then, wham! Here it comes again.

A few nights ago as this person was basically assaulting me, I realized God put him/her in my life to teach me something. To teach me that I am to have more tolerance, I am to have patience, compassion, love even when it is sooooo hard for me. It is easy to talk a good game and to always say the right things but to actually live it is a total commitment to living like Jesus. I have to give myself to His will even when it is not comfortable or convenient. Hmmmm..."some people!" (Talking about myself here!)

What I Wish Parents Understood:

1) Your kids do not have to be #1 to be successful.
2) Losing is OK as long as you did your best.
3) EVERY child is beautiful!
4) Grades only tell what your kid can do when told what to do.
5) Yes, your kids should be friends with everyone!
6) Doing it FOR your kids does not make them the best.
7) FORCING your kids to do something does not make them the winner.
8) Money will not buy your child's position in life.
9) Yes...every child should be given an invitation to the party.
10) Ummmm...your kids are not perfect.
11) Your kid's success does not make you somebody.
12) Be proud of your kids and brag on them without putting down another kid.
13) Those other kids have feelings and want your approval too!!!!!!!!!

Just some personal feelings along with some professional feelings.

God is Good!!

This is an update of my friend Kelijon.....The cancer has not spread! Praise the Lord. Without going into details, she had waited a long time before seeking medical help. Because of the time frame the doctors were afraid it would have spread, so prayer warriors went straight to work and God answered!

I had made several calls to old friends after receiving the news and was in complete hysterics. I could not get my mind or heart settled. I tried to pray but the words just would not come, I could not concentrate long enough to even "think" my prayer to God. It was so frustrating. The next day we were on our way home from Dallas and I was staring out the window with tears in my eyes and God landed in my heart! He was just there and was bringing me the peace I could not find for myself. It was if He was saying "It's ok, I have her." My heart just felt so calm, my mind could think clear, my tears began to fall in peace and not in fear. I was in His arms with Keli. It was the most calming feeling I have had in a long time.

Kelijohn still has a long road in front of her. She will undergo chemo and radiation for about 2 months. BUT, a full recovery is expected! See, God is good. Keli is one of the most faithful people I know and she is at peace with everything but the treatments will challenge her will. Please keep her in your prayers! Love you Keli!

Not Being Trusted

Recently, I had an incident where someone questioned my honesty. At first, I was shocked and then I got mad. Real mad! The more I thought about it and the more I pieced things together, the more I realized this person truly did not trust me. Now, it JUST HURTS! How could he/she think that I would lie about something? Have I ever lead this person to believe that I would lie? Had I ever done something dishonest to make them believe that I could be dishonest?

Wow....it really made me step back and look at the way I present myself in front of others. I am an extremely sarcastic person and use slang idioms on a regular basis. I have had to stop myself on occasion to clarify what I said, usually because it hurt someone's feelings (never on purpose!), not because I came across as lying. Anyway, I am watching everything I say and everything I do because I NEVER want it to come across that I would be anything but trustworthy.

So, to make a long story short, I still hurt over the whole mess and want to confront this person about the accusation but I know it is useless and would just open up more issues that need to be just left alone. It hurt my feelings and I will just have to get over it!

My Dear Friend Kelijon

Yesterday, I received some heart breaking news. A friend text me and asked me to call when I got a chance. I knew something was up because she never calls in the middle of the day. I was not prepared to hear the news she had to share. My dear friend, Kelijon Nance, has been diagnosed with anal cancer! My heart sank. Tears filled my eyes, my mind flew back several years to remember her beautiful smiling face and spirit.

Keli and I have been through a lot together. Lonnie and I were there to support Kelijohn and her husband, Jerry's, persuit of opening their own Chiropractic clinic. They even lived with us for a few weeks while trying to get started. We adored their son, Karson, who was just a little adult in a child's body! He just kept us entertained!

When we adopted Garrett she was there to support us. She and Jerry were the first ones to the house when we brought him home. She had bought a cake to celebrate and when she saw my parents drive up and my mom get out of the car with another cake she ran to hide her cake as to not hurt my parents' feelings. Now, imagine mine and Lonnie's surprise when we found a full cake under the bathroom sink that night! She was there to hold my hand and pray when we lost our unborn son, Grady. She stood by me and prayed, she held me tight to let me know she would be there to the end. When I was drowning in sorrow, her and other friends from Stephenville came to spend time with me, to comfort me. When Guthri was born, I could not wait to take her to see our friends in Stephenville and for Keli and Jerry to meet her.

Kelijohn is the most genuine, free spirited soul I have ever known. There is nothing she would not do to help someone else. She is a wonderful wife, a wonderful mother, a wonderful friend, a wonderful Christian. She has always been an inspiration to me and now she needs me. I will pray fervently to help get her through this. She has a CT scan on Friday to be sure the cancer has not spread and my mind is set on her and our Father. He will see her through. Please help Keli by praying on her behalf. She needs us all. If you do not know her, you are the one suffering!

The first day

Well, like all other schools in Texas, today was the first day of school. Phew....what a day.

When Garrett started Kindergarten I started a tradition of taking his picture in front of the car with his backpack. His K pictures was absolutely adorable! Melted my heart every time I saw them. Anyway, I kept it up and had some sweet pictures of him throughout the years. But, when I started teaching, I seemed to not get it done. I headed out the door in a hurry and Lonnie was left to get him to school. I soon lost the tradition but promised myself I would get it done for Guthri. Well, I don't actually get the picture in front of the car but I do get it at school. This morning she looked absolutely adorable and was actually excited. I wish I could have caught her excitement on camera. She just thought I was annoying and wanted me to leave. Just thought I would post some pictures of this morning and years past.

Guthri remains to be such a bright spot in all out lives. She keeps us grounded and dreaming at the same time. I thank God for her and her beautiful, positive outlook on life!
(Garrett would not pose for a picture this morning!)