Respect- No time like "Now"

I persued the stores yesterday I was captivated by all the lovely Valentines day items being sold, some romantic---some humorous---some just in bad taste. Nevertheless, I know that this special day is right around the corner I want to make sure I spend some time evaluating what is more important---and that is how I am loving my husband.

See, loving our husbands is not how we need to be loved as women. We like to be listened to and wined and dined---we like romantic, and a handful of beautiful roses (well, I do, anyways!) I am a romantic at heart--even though I don't always show it on the outside--and one day I'd like to fulfill my dream to visit Italy and take a ride on a gondolas in Venice. And not just any ride, mind you, but the ride where the gondolier serenades the couple riding and plays beautiful music. The ride where they serve you strawberries, chocolate and drinks and when it turns to dusk they have candles to light your way through the city---------now THAT is romantic! Top it off with my husband next to me, singing and probably proposing to me again, well, that would be the epitome for me for a Valentine's day. But this post is not about me, it is about our husbands so let's get back to the subject...



Our husband's are loved through the way we RESPECT them. Like Mark Driscoll likes to put it---when a woman gets a card she wants it to say 'I love you' but when a man gets the same card--he is not affected the same way a woman is. Now if the same card stated "I respect you." Now that would be the same as the 'I love you' card written for the woman. Scriptures tells us to respect our husbands because this is their love language---He made them to desire to be respected at the very core of their masculine nature. God also desires for us to have marriages that are overflowing in sacrificial love towards one another. The kind of love that banishes the 'me-first' mentality and puts themselves willingly last.

But I do respect him, you protest, as you unwittingly forget about last week when you lashed out at him, when you forgot what he asked you to do, when you answered sarcastically in front of the children, when you mocked him in front of family/friends, or when you ridiculed his great new idea...

We might think we are righteous when we withhold our respect because of various reasons but the Bible does not state to give respect only if it is due. Let me speak frankly ladies, that when we disrespect our husbands we only point out our immaturity.......not his.

I challenge you this Valentine's day to begin giving the gift of respect that will leave behind an eternal example for your sons, daughters and grandchildren and the lost world. Our respectful influence over our husbands is powerful. Let us use it wisely in building strong marriages here on earth so they will exalt our King in Heaven and as a result, draw the lost closer to Him. And may it exalt Jesus from the rooftops for the great and mighty work He has begun in our lives

10 Things I am Grateful 4

1. Casey finally got a job!!

2. Jeffrey spent the weekend with us, and he is doing good.

3. Erica let Lindsey and her friends hang out at her house Saturday night...

4. Mama is still doing good.

5. Jane came home to take care of mama for a couple of weeks. She is leaving Thursday:(

6. Daryl had a succesful fund raiser with his Valentines banquet!! Which was awesome....

7. I got to eat supper with some of my most cherished people Sunday night after church.

8. For the series of sermoms Pastor Hall is doing on "Raising a G-rated family in a Un-Rated world.

9. We had beautiful weather this past weekend

10. I am getting to walk my calories off each day with Lisa, Candy, & Jane. We have a great time.

Coming Home

I know, I know- I have said it 10 times. But she really is this time. Mom will be staying in the comfort of her bed tonight. Yippeeee!! I will be so glad to get her home. I moved a few of her things last night. Therefore, I know it for sure now. She is excited about it...

It has been a healing process for us all. Including Mama. I know mama is exactly where God needed her to be. We (siblings) needed our time to greive and mama needed her time. I know it all was in God's plan. Mama has been such a blessing to the care-takers at Valley Falls. I know they are really going to miss her. When she first went to the home she was so upset because she was there. During her 100 day stay she grew to love the home, the other patients and the care-takers. The caretakers were a blessing to mama, but before it was over with, God used mama to be a blessing to them.

They felt sorry for mama because of all she has been through. Losing her baby has not been easy for her. In fact, she tells me it is hard to believe he is not coming home. She has so many things to tell him.... I'm sure she will always miss him. Just as we do... It has forever changed our lives. I don't know if I will ever be the same. It has been such a difficult thing to deal with. We have all had to find out own way to deal with the pain, the loss, and the truth.

As I was packing mama's things last night, I knew my un eventful weekends would be over with. The truth of the matter is, I have missed taking care of mama. My life has been so out of wack. No normality. No routine. Although I knew mama was being fed, taken care of, being loved. I wanted to be the one doing those things. Starting today I will.

Maybe now I can balance my check book, deep clean my house, get things accomplished at work. Maybe now, I will have my mind back where I can actually focus on something. It has all been like a dream to me. I have not balanced my check book in 4 months. I have not paid my bills on time, I have not really enjoyed doing anything. I have not even kept in touch with my friends.

The thing about it is everyones lives around me have all went back to normal, Mine never will.

I know people don't understand... and that's okay. I know the world don't stop for me.. Because I know one day there world will be rocked too and everything will change unexpectantly. The thing about it is, everyone expects you to be the same and you want to be but it is just not in you...

But the most important thing is MAMA IS COMING HOME!!!!

Root-Root

This is Rooter!! My BFF- My sister in crime- My advisor- My sister in Christ- My bestie, My babysitter, My confidant- and she is going to kill me!!!!

Rooter and I have been friends for a long time. I don't even know how long, it seems she has been there forever. She is a strong women whom I admire, love & adore. She has found a new life now that she is a Nana. She adores her children and absolutley could eat her grandchildren.
We don't see each other that much anymore, but this is the one and only friend whom I can count on. She knows my deepest secrets, she knows my bad habits, she knows my weaknesses, and she is still my friend.

We have had some killer times together. We have lots & lots of memories. Most of them are good. Gosh , Robert K (we had Jason going with that one), spying, pajama parties, El Mexicano, Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge, The wedding, granny Bishop, at one time everyone at church was some type of animal (thanks to your son) B&C singing at church(show-boats) all the late night talks on the porch, lockins with the youth, all the after church parties you hosted, truth or dare Jenga, man I could go on and on. Thanks for the fun times.

Rooter was a single parent working 2-3 jobs, whatever it took to keep her family going. She has a son (Wardy- whom I absolutely can't imagine life without) and a daughter (Ashley-who is cream of the crop) who never went without. I know it was tough on Rooter rasing two teenagers by herself but she did it and did a fine job I might add...

I love her and she loves me and I can't imagine us not ever being freinds. If I need her I know she will come running and I would do the same for her(even though I have not been myself here lately and run out on her with the Christmas costumes) She is a workhorse, very talented and this is one woman you do not mess with. She will fight you tooth and nail especailly when it comes to her family...

Rooter was diagnoised with MS a few years back and through the years I have seen her health decline. But she is a fighter. I know a lot of days she does not feel good and she pushes herself. Does she take care of herself? I would have to say no, she puts everyones needs in front of her own. That is just Rooter. I wish she would think about herself sometime and take care of her needs. But that is just Rooter.

She currently lives with her daughter and son-in-law and her youngest grandchild (who she absolutely adores). She keeps Tanner while the parents work. Which Rooter would not have any other way. He adores Nana and they have a good time together. Of course if she was in better health she would have JC & Carson over keeping them everyday. I just don't think her health would hold up if she kept 3 rowdy little boys. Of course, If she had to she would just to help her family out. Her grandchildren have brought new meaning to her life. I have saw her mellow out. Things that use to would make her mad she just brushes off now.

I have saw God really work in her life.... I love you Rooter!! Thank you for always being my friend. I'm sorry for the times I have let you down... especially here lately.... Just know I am trying to get back.....

I SAY ROOTER IS A KEEPER AND SHE IS ALSO MY B.F.F.......

10 Things I am Grateful 4

1. That Erica got a lot of nice things at her shower that she really, really needed.

2. That Dorothy hosted Erica's shower and it saved us a lot of money because we didn't have to buy anything to decorate with. What a lovely christian lady. I must remember to send her a special Thank you card!!!

3. That Erica and Adam got over $700.00 at their shower- They should be able to pay off there furniture.(just another thing to help ease their debt)

4. That my ham biscuits were a success,and the punch wasn't so bad.

5. I got to meet Lu-Lu's little boyfriend yesterday and he actually gave me hug and told me it was nice meeting me.

6. That I got to see Josh Watkins Saturday night.

7. That one of my old youth members called me to let me know he had snuck off to Gatlinburg and got hitched and he wanted to tell me personally.

8. Ate supper with Ashley Saturday night at El Mexicano---Good time

9. Jane is coming home on Thursday.

10. That I have the best sisters in the world.

Happy 21st Birthday!!! Ms. Casey

Happy 21st Casey!! I hope with this new age it brings wisdom.

Casey is my friend, my cousin (of course it is so far down the line it does not count) my partner in crime. We have so many good times together. I have seen her grow from a protected 14 year old girl to a confident 21 year old woman. She has the kindest heart. She has been right there with me through everything. I will never forget her spending the night with me when Todd got killed. She sit there and listened to me. She is like a sister to me. She is always doing thoughtful things for me.

I worry about Casey, because she seems to want to be with people that use her. She is nieve to the evil in the world. She thinks everyone is as forgiving as she is. She don't understand that some people are not fogiving. Casey is smart and can do anything she puts her mind to. I hope she will reach down and find the drive to finish school and go on to be a nurse. She has it in her, she just don't reach for it. I pray Casey would find that Christian man or that he find her. Of course this is Gods perfect timing.

Casey, Thank you for the friendship!! Thank you for all the memories!!! We have a lot of them. Thanks for doing the worm when I asked you too. You rock!! Thank you for being by my side no matter what it is I am going through. I love you!!

10 things I am Grateful 4

1. That I got to see it snow this past week, without the ice.

2. That I learned, when I rob from God that I am robbing myself.

3. That Tianna hung out with us all weekend.

4. That Sara & Tara turned 16

5. That when I go to bed at night, I still think about Todd. I can see his face so clearly.

6. That I had a friend that needed me this weekend

7. That I have a higher power who I can call on to help me defer to silence when my tongue would rush to attack or defend

8. That my fellow men are part of my life and journey. God loves them and I should too, even when it is hard too because they have wronged me or hurt me. I must be forgiving!!!

9. Erica finally got her wall red!!

10. Casey turns 21 on the 21st.