NEW BLOG SITE

For anyone interested, I have set up a writing blog that will display my creative writing.  It is located at http://aninspiredlife3.wordpress.com/.  I would like to inite you to come over and visit and critique my mindless ramblings.

NEW BLOG SITE

For anyone interested, I have set up a writing blog that will display my creative writing.  It is located at http://aninspiredlife3.wordpress.com/.  I would like to inite you to come over and visit and critique my mindless ramblings.

Leading by Example

I think that as moms (grandmothers) we must let our children see us live our life to glorify God. We must live that life in private at home as well as in the public sector. I once heard a wise man say "live your life in such a way that you would sell your parrot to the town gossip."




Saying one thing to our children and living the opposite is only confusing to our children. If we tell them it is wrong to lie or steal and "bring home office supplies" or have the children tell the telephone caller "I'm not home" is only broadening the gap between a good example and actual living.



Our children have enough pressures and problems to deal with at school today without wondering why Mommy tells them to live one way while she is doing what she is telling them to never do.



Our children need us to show them how to live--not just tell them.

This is something I pray about every day and trust God to give the strength and wisdom to help my grandchildren see me "walking the walk and not just talking the talk."

What a Life!!

I guess I had better explain the previous post (by the same name as this one).  It has been one of those crazy weeks.  Whatever could go wrong did. But, you know what?  I found that there are blessings in crazy weeks just like there are blessings in good weeks.  Sometimes I find more blessings in the crazy weeks.  In fact, the crazier the week, the more of God's blessing can be found.  I had trouble keeping up with housework this week because of the kids, and I was sick for a couple of days.  Then I thought of the blessings the kids brought to me.  The housework reminded me that I do have a house to make into a home for my family.  I was sick with a simple "bug"  which reminded me that most of the time I do feel well and am thankful for my health.

This week taught me that although troubles do come along, God is always there for me.  I'm sure you can find the blessings hidden in the trials that might come your way.

Think about it!

What a Life!!

Another Day in the Life

Well, I've been too busy to write much. I have foothall games and practices for my 7 year old. T-ball is still going on for my 4 and 5 year old. My 14 year old is such a social creature she is never at home.   Now it is Sunday afternoon and things still have not slowed down much.  Guy-Guy is busy planning his professional ball career.  Tater is busy whining about what she wants to eat.  Have you ever tried to cook with 3 little ones and a dog under your feet in a kitchen that like a large closet?  Fun, isn't it?  Not to mention the whining, 3 kids all want 3 different things to eat.  One wants wafffles, one want pancakes, and one wants a cheese mushroom omelet.  Such decisions.  Soon, I will begin gathering things needed for school tomorrow and sign the forms needing to returned--permission forms, behavior forms, send money by Wednesday.  The most forms I do sign are requests for money.  Even the schools have hands out for my hard earned money.  Oh, well, why should they be left out of the cycle.

I'm sorry I seem to be rambling but that is how my mind works today.  That is why I called this blog Life on the Edge.  I feel like I'm on the edge of sanity just about to take the plunge into ............  But the problem is I can't afford even the luxury of insanity.  Who else would take my place and run life at my pace?  I don't mean to sound cynical or bitter but I have had only 1 cup of coffee this morning and had to lock myself in my room for that.  My life is really wonderful.  I have 4 precious (usually) children to care for.  I consider this responsibility a God-given task that I am counting on Him to hold me up. I dearly love this kids and am thankful that I have them.  I just need to vent every now and then.  I know there is someone out there in cyberspace that understands and has probably felt the same way.  All I can say is "Thank you God for being in control of my life."  If I were in control, I would be even worse off.

Until next time, this is my life on the edge. 

When Innocence Died

I was working as a social worker and had just gone to conduct a home visit. As soon as I arrived, the manager of the facility met me at the door and told me about the first plane that had hit the twin towers. I was speechless and after watching the news on the TV we realized how serious this tragedy was. Needless to say, I did not conduct the home visit I had gone to do. Instead I went to my car and cried. I cried for the victims that had lost their lives and for the families that loved them. I cried for the children that would never see their mother or father again. Most of all I guess I must admit I cried for my grandchildren who would never know the safety net that had held me in my childhood. Never again could we enjoy life as carefree and innocently as we had before.

After my tears had all fallen, I prayed that God would continue to hold us in His hand. He is the only one who can fully understand the reasons behind such a vicious act. This country has enjoyed prosperity and blessings without giving much thought to the source. Never again will I take the freedom I enjoy for granted. I know ,although I was an adult when this happened, I matured that day. I thanked God for the freedom we have because of the many sacrifices that have been made. I hope that we, as a country, never take God's love and blessings for granted again.

Letter to My Children

I want to write a note to you that says, "I love you and thank you for allowing me to be your mother." I realize there were times that you probably wished you could trade me in for one of your friends' mother but you were "stuck" with me. To be honest there were times when I wished you behaved as well as another mother's child. But that wish was only for a fleeting moment in a lifetime of joy and pain, laughter and tears. That mother with the "well-behaved" children would confide in me that she wished her children were as well-behaved as mine.I would sneak in and look at you when you were asleep at night and just stare at you. You were such beautiful children and my heart would literally ache with all the love I felt for you. This is the only time I could lovingly look at you because during the day you were never silent or still long enough. I was kept busy with girl scouts, boy scouts, soccer, baseball and softball, not to mention the numerous school plays and classroom parties. But you know I would not trade all the practices and games for a trip to a spa where I would be pampered and treated like a queen.

You brought your friends over and the house was constantly in disarray from toys and sporting equipment but I always found time to dust and straighten the house after you went to bed. The dust would always be there but you grew so fast I did not want to miss a day of your life. As you grew your toys became more expensive and complicated. Baseball bats gave way to stereos and bikes and scooters were replaced by cars. During all this time I enjoyed being your mother.

There were times when I Waited up nights for you to return home from dates and paced the floor until I heard the car pull into the driveway. I would then hurry to bed so you wouldn't know that I was waiting for you. There was the time I received the news no parent wants to hear. You had an accident in the car but thankfully, you were not hurt. I always told you that you have a guardian angel and you were being protected by your angel.

Yes, I am your mother and did my best to instill values in you that would make you a person you could be proud to be. I loved you enough to risk your anger when I asked where you were going, with whom, and instructed to be home by your curfew. Yes, you thought the curfew was ridiculous and unfair but you knew why it was necessary. I loved you enough to let you learn that the friend you thought so much of was nothing more than a manipulator who only wanted to use you. I wanted you to see that moms are humans and make mistakes too. I want you to understand that "I'm sorry" is not admitting weakness but rather showing great courage. I wanted to show you that we all must face the consequences and assume responsibility for our actions no matter how old we are.


I watched you stumble and fall many times, but was always there to help you get back up. I hurt when you hurt but did not want to diminish the life lessons by stepping in and taking away all your pain, rather, I shared the pain with you. I hope the hard times we experienced helped to shape you into a person that is able to empathize with someone else's pain and will offer to help those people who need help without thinking about the glory and rewards you might receive.

I want you to know that I have loved you unconditionally even when you hated me for saying NO when you thought I was only being mean to you. I want you to know that was the hardest part of being your mom. I want to remember that I will always be with you. The most important lesson I want you to learn from me is that God is there for you and will pick you up when you fall. He will be with you even when your mother can't.Love,Your Mom.

Today's Whisper:
Just as we love our children God has given to us for a short time, God loves us, His children. He wants what is best for us even though at times we think He has forgotten about us. He is always there waiting for us to ask Him for help when we need it. He does not rescue us from every situation because He knows our struggles will bring us closer to Him. Just like the mother who will sacrifice anything for her children, He has made the ultimate sacrifice for us. He gave His only son to die for us so might live. Just as earthly parents need to chastise their children our Father in heave chastises His children because He loves us so much. Take a few minutes today to focus on how loving God is to you and how He shows that love to you.

Prayer:
Father God, thank you so much for your son who died for us so we might live. May we never forget the importance of that love. Keep us in your sheltering arms and pick us up when we fall. Help us to remember that you are there for us when we need you and all we need to do is ask for your help.

This is a sample of the book I am currently working on. I hope you enjoy.

Frantic Friday

Ever have days when you just know you should stay in bed? I should have listened to my little voice this morning. To start things off rolling downhill, my oldest granddaughter missed her bus to school. Now this shouldn't be a problem except that I have 3 others to get up and get ready before I could take her to school. Not to mention, two of them have to catch a bus in less than an hour for their school. Believe me, it is hard enough to get these kids up when they are supposed to get up but this was about 1 hour earlier. After getting them up and in the van, the youngest decided she needed to use the bathroom and could not wait until we returned. So we listened to her whining all the way home. Then a mad dash into the house to get her to the bathroom in time and to get the two boys bathed and dressed for school. Once they were gone it was time to get her bathed and dressed for preschool. Whew! What a morning. When I returned home after dropping her off my DH naturally had a few errands for me to run. Finally a few hours later, I made it home in time to go to preschool and pick up "Tater" from preschool. Home to fix her some lunch and attempt to settle her down for a nap. By then it was time to finish my housework and fix a snack for the boys for afterschool. After listening to them tell about their day and eat their snack, it was time for cooking supper. Then as you probably already know, after supper comes the cleanup, bathing, and getting ready for bed. Can you guess what DH is doing during all this? If you said sitting on the couch watching T.V you would be right. Oh, well tomorrow is Saturday and the only thing different is the kids will be home all day. Gee, I wonder if..................

Dear God

This actually happened. Usually I would go ballistic when something like this happens. I think God was guiding me and guarding the children that day. lol.



Dear God,

Do you have a minute or two?
I've had a rally bad day
And need to talk to you.
After searching in five different stores
For a left handed t-ball glove
(What a grandparent won't do for love?)
I brought it home so the kids could play.
But I should have known from the start of my day
An accident was bound to happen
When two of the kids grabbed a bat and ran to play.

With the sound of breaking glass and a cry of surprise
I ran to the kitchen and couldn't believe my eyes--
My oven door was in a million pieces,
My face, I could feel, began to make creases.
I asked who had done such a dreadful thing.
Words of accusation the kids then began to fling.
"I didn't do it," the kids all cried and
I knew it would be a problem to hear the true side.
Then fingers began to point to each other in turn,
It became ever more difficult for me the truth to learn.
I calmly and quietly asked again
"Who swung the bat and caved the oven door in?"
From eyes tears then began to fall and
I finally began to learn it all.
"I didn't do it" had done such a deed.
But guilt on three faces gave me what I did need.
So with broom and dustpan I cleaned the mess
Then went to my room for a much needed rest.

Well, I guess this "small" inconvenience was worth it because the little "red head" plays t-ball now on a team. He is really enjoying the game and learning so much about teamwork and skills necessary to help him grow up and know what teamwork is all about.