I reember the days when we stayed up till 3 or 4 in the morning and slept and got up and kept goin...well those days are definitely a thing of the past...
Friday night my 13 yr olds scout troop had our annual sleepover at a church, i was doing fine till the other leader and I sat down, and i felt my eyes getting heavy, we were talking and next thing i knew it was morning....how embarassing, but to make it worse, when the girls woke up, they informed me i was "really" snoring...oh well...what do you do...
I was told I slept through a couple games of dance dance revolution and a new game called "snort" ...sucks to get old! But it was 10:30 and past my bedtime!
Monday, April 21, 2008
Thursday, April 17, 2008
I've come to my senses...
ok, so I've been pretty negative lately, and all without remembering who is in charge...So, again as only He can do...he reached me through email...I get daily devotions from Proverbs 31 ministries...it said:
April 15, 2008
Reckless Words
Susanne Scheppmann
“A soothing tongue is a tree of life, But perversion in it crushes the spirit.” Proverbs 15:4 (NASB)
Devotion:
“My daughter-in-law is a heathen dog!” stated the woman. She went on for fifteen minutes, berating her son’s wife.
I was standing in the church foyer with a group of women listening to her tirade. This woman had been a Christian for decades. We had all been in Bible study with her over the years. We had watched her sing in the choir. Now we watched in shock as harsh condemnation spilled from her lips against her own family.
She seethed with anger and accusations. Her tongue slashed the reputation of her daughter-in-law. The group stood in silence—we didn’t know the girl. The girl had never come to our church. Perhaps, if this woman had allowed her tongue to follow the advice of Proverbs 12:18, “Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing,” this girl might be attending church with her. Instead, she came by herself each week.
With sadness, I stepped away from the circle of women. This brief encounter affected me for the rest of the day. I hurt for the unknown daughter-in-law. I ached for the woman so full of venom that it spewed out uncontrolled.
However, it reminded me to keep watch on my own attitudes and words. I desire for my tongue to be a soothing tree of life. I am going to challenge myself to keep a tight rein on my wayward words. Would you like to join the challenge with me?
Dear Lord, forgive the reckless, hurting words I speak. Teach me the words to encourage others. Allow my speech, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to be a healing balm to those who have been hurt. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Related Resources:
Visit Susanne Schepmann’s blog
Perplexing Proverbs for Women Bible study by Susanne Scheppman
30 Days to Taming Your Tongue by Deborah Smith Pegues
Application Steps:
In today’s conversations, make it a point to speak kindly about people. In addition, determine to compliment three people whose paths you cross.
Reflections:
Do I think before I speak?
When do I usually speak in a negative manner? How can my words bring healing to others?
Power Verses:
Proverbs 15:2, “The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.” (NIV)
Proverbs 17:28, “Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.” (NIV)
James 1:26, “If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.” (NIV)
Pretty Powerful huh? So, I reread the emails I had sent, and they were hurtful. I swallowed my pride and wrote an email apologizing for my hurtful words (including the above devotion) and explained how I felt. I dont know if it did any good, but at least I feel a little better. I wish I could take back the hurtful words, but I know I can't. I said a prayer for forgiveness and strength.
April 15, 2008
Reckless Words
Susanne Scheppmann
“A soothing tongue is a tree of life, But perversion in it crushes the spirit.” Proverbs 15:4 (NASB)
Devotion:
“My daughter-in-law is a heathen dog!” stated the woman. She went on for fifteen minutes, berating her son’s wife.
I was standing in the church foyer with a group of women listening to her tirade. This woman had been a Christian for decades. We had all been in Bible study with her over the years. We had watched her sing in the choir. Now we watched in shock as harsh condemnation spilled from her lips against her own family.
She seethed with anger and accusations. Her tongue slashed the reputation of her daughter-in-law. The group stood in silence—we didn’t know the girl. The girl had never come to our church. Perhaps, if this woman had allowed her tongue to follow the advice of Proverbs 12:18, “Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing,” this girl might be attending church with her. Instead, she came by herself each week.
With sadness, I stepped away from the circle of women. This brief encounter affected me for the rest of the day. I hurt for the unknown daughter-in-law. I ached for the woman so full of venom that it spewed out uncontrolled.
However, it reminded me to keep watch on my own attitudes and words. I desire for my tongue to be a soothing tree of life. I am going to challenge myself to keep a tight rein on my wayward words. Would you like to join the challenge with me?
Dear Lord, forgive the reckless, hurting words I speak. Teach me the words to encourage others. Allow my speech, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to be a healing balm to those who have been hurt. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Related Resources:
Visit Susanne Schepmann’s blog
Perplexing Proverbs for Women Bible study by Susanne Scheppman
30 Days to Taming Your Tongue by Deborah Smith Pegues
Application Steps:
In today’s conversations, make it a point to speak kindly about people. In addition, determine to compliment three people whose paths you cross.
Reflections:
Do I think before I speak?
When do I usually speak in a negative manner? How can my words bring healing to others?
Power Verses:
Proverbs 15:2, “The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.” (NIV)
Proverbs 17:28, “Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.” (NIV)
James 1:26, “If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.” (NIV)
Pretty Powerful huh? So, I reread the emails I had sent, and they were hurtful. I swallowed my pride and wrote an email apologizing for my hurtful words (including the above devotion) and explained how I felt. I dont know if it did any good, but at least I feel a little better. I wish I could take back the hurtful words, but I know I can't. I said a prayer for forgiveness and strength.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
frustrated....
I havent blogged in a few days, i'm still getting back into the routine of working...
I am just so frustrated with events going on within a "supposed" group of parents, One mom is taking over, and when someone volunteers for a position you would think you'd be appreciated for your efforts, to say the least. But, in this case, this one woman is making it so unbearable, I am tendering my resignation. I am trying to be a christian woman and hold my tounge, but for Pete's sake, helping our kids, shouldn't be so difficult.
emails are flying back and forth and it is gettting to the point of being ridiculous. I'm just so tired of trying to have my efforts thwarted by those who have to be in "control" all the time. It sounds silly, but so true..."cant we all just get along?"
I'm going to take a long hot bath and go to sleep, maybe things will look better in the morning...
I am just so frustrated with events going on within a "supposed" group of parents, One mom is taking over, and when someone volunteers for a position you would think you'd be appreciated for your efforts, to say the least. But, in this case, this one woman is making it so unbearable, I am tendering my resignation. I am trying to be a christian woman and hold my tounge, but for Pete's sake, helping our kids, shouldn't be so difficult.
emails are flying back and forth and it is gettting to the point of being ridiculous. I'm just so tired of trying to have my efforts thwarted by those who have to be in "control" all the time. It sounds silly, but so true..."cant we all just get along?"
I'm going to take a long hot bath and go to sleep, maybe things will look better in the morning...
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
scootie says the cutest things....
we are on the way home...and we approach a train, a coal train...and it was long, like 150+ cars long, and we are quietly waiting for it to pass and from the far back of the van, we hear..."Wow!!! There must have been a lot of bad kids this year already...for Santa to be getting so much coal!!!"
Oh my precious girl...how sweet!
Oh my precious girl...how sweet!
mice...
ok, i despise the little creatures, i do...sorry mouse lovers out there...
but they are little and have beady eyes and unfortuntately they like my house becasue i live on a farm...and for you city people, this doesnt mean my house is dirty, it means i live on a farm thus we have mice...
something like this...surrounded by fields...ok, so this winter has been the coldest, nastiest, and weirdest (ok, i dont know if that is a word or not...but whatever) on record or at least for as long as i can remember...
anyway, so it's cold right, so we have a mouse every once in a while...they come in to keep warm...sooooo
That day, i had on my mommy hat and wanted to teach the children that we needed to be kind to God's creatures, even though they freak me out...so i first bought the live traps...and caught the little bugger on the first or second try right...so i make DH take it outside and let it go...BUT...I swear, he came right back like a little scary vacation for the little bugger...
so i explain to the kids that this didnt work and i was getting another kind of trap, aka: the glue trap.
The little buggers get stuck and that's that...except when i caught him...he was making all these horrible noises and DH said "ok smarty...you realize what i have to do now..." and no, i didnt realize this...he had to take it outside and SMACK IT on the pavement to kill it, then dispose of it...YUK! I was not witnessing this...
So, at least i got him right????? Oh no.......he has friends.....
...so i go to the store and buy at least 100 glue traps (ok, so maybe it was 10, but still) we set them out and in the morning...we were awoken by "MOMMMMMMMMMM....." OK, assumming we had caught one and Scootie saw it or something along those lines...but no, she stepped on a glue trap...and was TRAPPED!!!! or at least her sock was...so throw out the sock and wash her foot and begin plotting on how to do away with these little vermin.....
Dh and I discuss it at length and he decides (cause i'm not touching anything remotely having anything to do with a mouse) that he will go back to the tried and true SNAP trap...he sets it...and we wait.....
and wait
and wait.....
until, A LOUD SNAP...
Got him!!! and his brother, and his sister and i think his dad....4 in all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Victorious!!!!! Havent seen one since! I'll show those mices....:)
UNTIL.....
the kids come in and want to watch the movie.....You know the one...
AND NOW.....they want to have a funeral and proper burial for the entire "MICE" (mouse?) family!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So i begin to realize the horrible truth...
I am a mouse killer.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Who knows that little cute cuddly little guy ...(or his mom or sister or dad) could have been a great chef....!!!!!
ps. They even named them...ugh!
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Job Description...
I found this in my saved folder and thought i'd share it...
POSITION :
Mom, Mommy, Mama, Ma, Mother
JOB DESCRIPTION:
Long term, team players needed, for challenging permanent work in an, often chaotic environment.
Candidates must possess excellent communication and organizational skills and be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call.
Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in faraway cities! Travel expenses not reimbursed.
Extensive courier duties also required.RESPONSIBILITIES :The rest of your life.
Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily, until someone needs $50.
Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly.
Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat in case, this time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf.
Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges, such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers.
Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and coordinate production of multiple homework projects.
Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings for clients of all ages and mental outlooks.
Must be willing to be indispensable one minute, an embarrassment the next.
Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices.
Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst.
Must assume final, complete accountability for the quality of the end product.
Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and janitorial work throughout the facility. POSSIBILITY FOR
ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION: None.
Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining,constantly retraining and updating your skills, so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE: None required unfortunately.
On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.
WAGES AND COMPENSATION: Get this! You pay them!
Offering frequent raises and bonuses.
A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because of the assumption that college will help them become financially independent.
When you die, you give them whatever is left.
The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.
BENEFITS: While no health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and no stock options are offered; this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth and free hugs and kisses for life if you play your cards right.
POSITION :
Mom, Mommy, Mama, Ma, Mother
JOB DESCRIPTION:
Long term, team players needed, for challenging permanent work in an, often chaotic environment.
Candidates must possess excellent communication and organizational skills and be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call.
Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in faraway cities! Travel expenses not reimbursed.
Extensive courier duties also required.RESPONSIBILITIES :The rest of your life.
Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily, until someone needs $50.
Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly.
Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat in case, this time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf.
Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges, such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers.
Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and coordinate production of multiple homework projects.
Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings for clients of all ages and mental outlooks.
Must be willing to be indispensable one minute, an embarrassment the next.
Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices.
Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst.
Must assume final, complete accountability for the quality of the end product.
Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and janitorial work throughout the facility. POSSIBILITY FOR
ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION: None.
Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining,constantly retraining and updating your skills, so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE: None required unfortunately.
On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.
WAGES AND COMPENSATION: Get this! You pay them!
Offering frequent raises and bonuses.
A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because of the assumption that college will help them become financially independent.
When you die, you give them whatever is left.
The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.
BENEFITS: While no health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and no stock options are offered; this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth and free hugs and kisses for life if you play your cards right.
Oh my sweet Lord....
my mads has a "date" today...ok, she is only 13, and it's not an alone date...i'm not that foolish...they are meeting at a track meet...but "meeting at a track meet" YIKES!!! I dont know if Im ready for this...but here it is!
This is that part of a mom's life when you are desperately hoping that all that you've taught or tried to teach your child, has actually sunk in...
She got up extra early to shower and get "ready", this from my girl who always puts her hair in a pony tail and hustles out the door! I just pray, beg, pray that God will continue his watch on my precious girl...
This is that part of a mom's life when you are desperately hoping that all that you've taught or tried to teach your child, has actually sunk in...
She got up extra early to shower and get "ready", this from my girl who always puts her hair in a pony tail and hustles out the door! I just pray, beg, pray that God will continue his watch on my precious girl...
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
My first born...
It seems like only yesterday that my beautiful bundle of joy was laid in my arms for the first time...very ready to be a mom, we had tried and tried and until we gave it to God, it was then and only then...he showered his blessings on us...with the birth of our beautiful girl...ten fingers and ten toes...and a little bow mouth and nose just like me...
Such an easy kid...loved to do whatever...loved watching educational shows...we were die hard barney fans...saw the big purple dude 3 times in concert...loved sesame street, gulla gulla island, loved to perform and was good at showing off whenever we had to brag on her newest accomplishment...by the age of 18 month she could list the starting lineup for the chicago bulls....with their numbers...she read early...yes, i am bragging by 2 she was reading charlotte's web!
Last night, this beautiful young woman walked into my office and asked if we could talk...i of course said sure and she hands me a note....FROM A BOY! YIkes!
So i open it and it reads...'rumor has it that you like me'??? is this true?? please text me and let me know...
so she poses the question..."Mom...what do i do???"
see it is no secret that mads likes this boy...but what is the right answer??? I scanned my brain to say the right thing...so of course...i turn it on her and say "well, you like him right?" and she says "duh mom!"
Duh mom is right, she's 13...what in the world??? wasnt she just that little girl who loved to be pushed on the swings while we sang the swinging song??? "swinging on a swing, swining up so high, you can always touch the sky...swinging up so high."
so i go out on a limb and say...well, text him and say maybe, why do you?...this was of course the WRONG answer...!!!
she said she would ask her friends....strike out for mom! so she is on her way home now, so we will see how today went in jr. high.....
Such an easy kid...loved to do whatever...loved watching educational shows...we were die hard barney fans...saw the big purple dude 3 times in concert...loved sesame street, gulla gulla island, loved to perform and was good at showing off whenever we had to brag on her newest accomplishment...by the age of 18 month she could list the starting lineup for the chicago bulls....with their numbers...she read early...yes, i am bragging by 2 she was reading charlotte's web!
Last night, this beautiful young woman walked into my office and asked if we could talk...i of course said sure and she hands me a note....FROM A BOY! YIkes!
So i open it and it reads...'rumor has it that you like me'??? is this true?? please text me and let me know...
so she poses the question..."Mom...what do i do???"
see it is no secret that mads likes this boy...but what is the right answer??? I scanned my brain to say the right thing...so of course...i turn it on her and say "well, you like him right?" and she says "duh mom!"
Duh mom is right, she's 13...what in the world??? wasnt she just that little girl who loved to be pushed on the swings while we sang the swinging song??? "swinging on a swing, swining up so high, you can always touch the sky...swinging up so high."
so i go out on a limb and say...well, text him and say maybe, why do you?...this was of course the WRONG answer...!!!
she said she would ask her friends....strike out for mom! so she is on her way home now, so we will see how today went in jr. high.....
My sweet boy...
My T-man...I think a son has a special place in a mom's heart...he is the most energetic boy...and has such a loving and kind heart...I dont know what I did do deserve such a wonderful boy...but i'm not questioning it...
He just became a "boy" scout...graduated from "cub" scouts...I wasnt ready for that one...Doing everything on his own...hardly needs his mom anymore...but for a 10 yr old, he will still hug me in public and I told him we could come up with a code for "i love you", so he wouldn't be embarrassed in front of his friends...and he said there was no need for a code...he would always love me and isnt embarrassed! What a guy!
I had to blog this so i dont forget it...although it was a few years ago...a little history...tman is a very inquisitive kid and always wants to know how to do things...how things work...how to take them apart, from age 3 they knew him in the ER like they always knew Norm from Cheers...let's see, there was:
the broken foot from pretending to be superman jumping off the back of the couch
the $600 eraser stuck up his nose....
so anyway...
It was a warm sunday afternoon, and dh and i were napping on and off on the couch and the kids were playing, so ds went to his room he said to play with his legos..HOWEVER....what i didnt see was that he had a pipe cleaner in his hand...
A few minutes later we heard a LOUD "POP" and a very scared voice...."Mommmmmmmmmmmm", I jumped up and met him on the stairs seeing to my dismay...a very terrified expression on his face and a smokin pipe cleaner in his hand partially melted to his thumb...there were no tears "yet", and i asked him 1st if he was ok...and he was, sorta, then i asked him what in the world happened...(thank goodness the shock tripped the breaker...or I dont even want to know what would have happened...)
tman says..."you see mom, i was walking with the pipecleaner...and i tripped and it went right in the electrical outlet"...
ok..."yeah right"
tman...i asked in my most patient, terrified mom voice: "so what REALLY HAPPENED????"
His face drops, chin to chest and he said "I stuck it in there and wanted to see what happened..."
so i asked him...what happened? and he said "IT WAS "so cool"...sparks and everything ...
"BUT that was only for a second and then...IT SHOCKED ME....i REALLY HURT!!!!!!!! I didnt like it at all" he said...
Boys...gotta love them...we then had a very long talk about electricity and what it can do...
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