A God Rush

Ok. So I see God's purpose for me. I LOVE TO HELP OTHERS!!! It sounds like an ordinary thing, but I love helping others with their projects or running around for them when they can't do what needs to be done. I think God has given me all this time so that I can tell someone else "Don't worry, I can do that for you." I get a big rush from that. There are so many full-time working people out there that have other things that need to get done that they don't have time. What better person to do it than me! So if anyone needs anything done within a 30 mile radius of Willow Spring, NC, just send me an e-mail. LOL

Strength, Faith and Integrity

These are some of the qualities we were raised to have. I have heard of some things lately that people I know are doing that are just wrong and shocking. Then again, I see people like my sister and brother-in-law go through some very trying times lately and think "My Gracious! That is Strength, Faith and Integrity. They have had a few things happen but the only one I will talk about is a life-threatening issue with their middle child. She started complaining about her heart beating out of her chest. After a few complaints my sister took her to the doctor. They monitored her for a while and couldn't catch these episodes until one day an episode lasted 30 minutes, long enough to get her to the hospital. She has an irregularity in her heart that is misfiring causing tachycardia. She had to have a heart procedure as a 6 year old that most 50 year olds have to have with heart disease. Anyways, my sister drew strength from God during this whole thing keeping everyone else calm. I would have been a basket case. She was the strong mother. I have seen uncontrollable circumstances thrown their way and their Faith in God and the Integrity that they have when dealing with these trails is honorable to God, and although it is tough now, God is going bless them beyond measure because of the way they handle themselves, whether it's here on earth or in heaven after they are gone. And that is all for now. :)

My dad has many layers.

 My dad is very big on respecting the elders. I look at the way my kids react to us even as tough as I am on them and think, "I would have never said that or done that to my parents". There was one memory that I laugh at hysterically. My parents owned a full-service beauty salon and my mom worked most Saturdays so my dad had us for the day. He took us flying in airplanes (he has a pilot's license), out on the boat, McDonald's for pony rides, and then any sports we were in to. Our family was blessed. I won't say we were rich, but we were blessed. One Saturday, before debit cards, all my dad had was a $100 bill and it was lunch time. We went in to 3 different fast food restaurants and no one would take it. We finally went to Burger King and they said no too. Well my dad, instead of weaving all the way back through the line maze, he was going to unclip the chain to get out. A little boy stepped in front of him, grabbed the clip and told him "You can't go through here". Dad said "Excuse me" and tried to go through. He told my dad again, "You can't go through here". Dad tried to be nice and said it again. The Boy said it a 3rd time. Me and my sister cringed because we knew you just don't do that. In a loud thunder voice and Big bulging eyes he saids "MOVE!" That little boy ran back to his table. So funny! We ended up going to the grocery store and loaded up on junk. You would have to know my dad to understand how funny that story is.

My dad was a very hard worker. Now he works hard at retirement. lol. He likes to play pranks on his siblings. The older he gets, the mushier he gets. Bob always calls me in the other room and says "He hugged me again." It's a funny site because Bob is 6'2" and my dad is 5'9". I am blessed to have such a great father. Not many can say they have that.

My Prov 31 Friend

On the Big Horse

One of my greatest blessings since moving to North Carolina was meeting an amazing friend with an amazing family. We met at a woman's Bible study 5 years ago and have been best friends since. We both know how blessed we are to be a part of each other's lives. Our children are like siblings to each other. She is pretty quiet but when she has something to say, people listen. Her family would give you the shirt off their back without you even asking. She challenges me to be a greater mother and wife. This woman has taught me so much just by example. She has a heart for others. She is a great horsemen. That is the best part of our friendship. We both have a passion for horses. Every horse show and road trip is a great adventure. Always a laugh and making memories. Super smart in every way. She is my opposite as far as personality. We have a good balance. When my dad got me my first Bible, the first thing he had me read was Proverbs 31. This is what I strive for and when I read it, she comes to mind.
Proverbs 31-
^[b]A wife of noble character who can find?
   She is worth far more than rubies.
¹¹ Her husband has full confidence in her
   and lacks nothing of value.
¹² She brings him good, not harm,
   all the days of her life.
¹³ She selects wool and flax
   and works with eager hands.
¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships,
   bringing her food from afar.
¹⁵ She gets up while it is still night;
   she provides food for her family
   and portions for her female servants.
¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it;
   out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
¹⁷ She sets about her work vigorously;
   her arms are strong for her tasks.
¹⁸ She sees that her trading is profitable,
   and her lamp does not go out at night.
¹⁹ In her hand she holds the distaff
   and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
²⁰ She opens her arms to the poor
   and extends her hands to the needy.
²¹ When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
   for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
²² She makes coverings for her bed;
   she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
²³ Her husband is respected at the city gate,
   where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them,
   and supplies the merchants with sashes.
²⁵ She is clothed with strength and dignity;
   she can laugh at the days to come.
²⁶ She speaks with wisdom,
   and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
²⁷ She watches over the affairs of her household
   and does not eat the bread of idleness.
²⁸ Her children arise and call her blessed;
   her husband also, and he praises her:
²⁹ “Many women do noble things,
   but you surpass them all.”
³⁰ Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
   but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
³¹ Honor her for all that her hands have done,
   and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

Brooke- My Strong-Willed Child

After the morning I had with her, I know exactly how to explain her. She is just like me as a kid. She feels strongly about the way she feels. She is very loving but takes things very hard. Today the seatbelt in the car had it in for her. She insisted it did! It was the worst seatbelt in the world! This little girl was expressing her opinion from the second she entered the world. Things are very black and white with her. There is no grey area. When she does something wrong, I know it eats at her. I can rely on her to make the right decisions most of the time. No one is perfect. I know that when she gets older and finds the path that God wants her on, she will stick to it. She will push herself in everything she puts her mind to. She is a great horse rider, definitely a daddy's girl. My prayer is that she doesn't let the world discourage her and that her father and I help mold that strong personality to be a great leader and world changer for Christ.

My 4 year old

I have the sweetest, happiest little girl. I think she is going to be a doctor or a vet, or something that cares for others. She very rarely complains. She doesn't ask for much. Always praying for someone that she knows is sick or hurting, even after they are done being sick. When we went to Florida this last time, my mother-in-law's dog was on her last leg and she wouldn't leave the room she sleeps in and didn't want to eat much. Riley would sit on the floor with her and break up little pieces of food and feed her by hand. My mother-in-law heard her from around the corner telling Sierra, the dog "I pray that God makes you feel better, girl." My sweet girl. Everything is a joke with her. She marches to the beat of her own drum. She told someone that her birthday was in knocked over instead of October. She is tough. She has fallen off a horse 4 times now. Laughed 3 out of the 4. Can't wait to see what she turns out to be.

My Love

It is only fitting that I talk about my hubby today. I had the luxury of observing my husband, Bob, from a distance before we started dating. We worked together, then became friends and finally dated. We worked in a service department in a big dealership in Florida. One day I was walking through the shop on his lunch break and noticed him reading a book. I have never seen a man reading a book for his own enjoyment before. We became good friends before starting a relationship, and he was just so stinkin easy to talk to. Well one day my car broke down, and I couldn't afford to have one more thing done to it. I didn't know who else to call but him. He moved in for the kill. He made a deal with me and said that if I take Him out to dinner, he would fix my car for me. Smart man!! I agreed and the rest is history.

I have never known another man like him. He is my opposite, and thank God for that. I love watching him with our girls. He has no problem with putting on jewelery and a crown to make them happy. Have you ever met a man that will make breakfast on the weekend? I have that man!!! He has spoiled us in that regard. He lets me run with my crazy ideas and is there when they don't work out the way I thought. I have not found anything that he isn't good at. Integrity. Character. Loyalty. These are just some of his amazing qualities. I am truly blessed to have him to grow old with. 

A little more on mom.

I can't sum up one person in a paragraph, so I am going to continue on this victim and then just jump around to others. 
Some of you have said she has energy. Did you know that she and her twin sister were born with a very rare kidney and liver disease? She is famous in the medical world too. She has not always had this energy. I never noticed because I was always around her, but others said up until she had her transplant that she looked yellow. Usually by 1 p.m. she was in bed taking a nap because there was no energy left. She was in the hospital a lot with kidney infections or kidney stones. Never blamed God or said "why me". She used to have to give herself shots! That is tough in my book. She was on a list for a transplant and received the liver and kidney of a 16 year-old boy. Since then her hair is thicker than it has ever been. Her nails are strong and long, and very pretty. She has tones of energy now. God is good. He can take someone who has been weak and make them strong. It wasn't just the doctors. God put great people in our family to make it possible for her to be taken care of from the best of the best doctors in the world.  

My mom.

This is harder than I thought. Today I am going to talk about my mom. My mother is a funny woman. She lived for my dad, me and my sister, and now also for our children. I get a lot of my isms from her. It's scary sometimes, but I find myself doing a lot of the things she does. My oldest daughter is now picking it up and she too says stuff like "Oy Vay". She is a very talented crafty person. She doesn't just put a picture in a frame and call it a day. She makes the frame and everything in it. I mean really detailed work. If she made the paper she was using to decorate, it wouldn't surprise me.  I have always just thought of her as Mom. She started doing You Tube videos about all of the bargains she finds shopping, (the woman can shop and find a great bargain too!) She also shows the crafty stuff that she is working on and how she made it. She has a whole following. She is famous in the crafty You Tube world. I like watching her on there because I don't see her in that light. I always see the mom side, which is good but it is also nice to see she has so many other people that think she is great too. The joke is that someone one day will see her in Michael's and ask for her autograph. I am going to post her videos because she is so entertaining and talented. I was thinking of even making her a Facebook page too. nanajl54