Please and thank you

Barney taught us a long time ago that please and thank you are the magic words, so why have they been deleted from so many people's vocabulary?! I try to be as respectful as possible to everyone else, because that's how I want to be treated. It is so easy to say. And it means so much to the person you are saying it to. I give a "thank you wave" to anyone who lets me in front of them in traffic. I say thank you at least twice anytime someone helps me in any way. And while I'm at it, I will throw in "excuse me" too! If I squeeze my basket by you in the grocery store, I will throw in an "excuse me" with a smile. Why am I the only one doing this? I don't understand when everyone got so rude.

With that being said, I have to remind myself to always thank God for what he has blessed me with. It is so easy to just want to ask him to better our lives or perform a miracle, that we forget to thank Him just for letting us awaken today, or let us see His wonderful creations. Our pastor touched on this subject this Sunday, so that's where this started. But the fact that I work with the public, and I actually venture out into public every so often, just gives me more ammunition.

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.    Colossians 3:15-17

Remember to always thank God that you woke up today. We might all want to ask Him to heal someone sick, or lead us to a better job, or some other request, but we must tell Him "thank you" just for being Him!

Lead Me

On my way home after dropping the kids off at school this morning, I turn up the radio so I can actually hear the music. The Sanctus Real song "Lead Me" was playing. If you have ever listened to this song, it is pretty moving. But this morning, it hit me hard. Obviously, God was using this to speak to my heart. I broke down crying when I got home. I can't get it out of my head. When I read my daily devotional today, it went right along with the song. It says to not only talk to the Lord in the morning or your prayer time, but to remember to speak to Him all day.

Lately, we have been talking a lot about the way we have been raising the kids. We have always been pretty leaniant with them and never really paid attention to how we act in front of them. And its starting to backfire. Taytum has developed an attitude. She stomps off when she doesn't get her way and slams her bedroom door. I know I did the same thing, but I can't stand her acting like that. Then, I caught Brayden lying to me about how many fruit snacks he had. Punishing him doesn't bother him at all. So I made him write out 25 times "The Lord detests lying lips, but delights in men who are truthful. Proverbs 12:22". You would have thought I crushed all his hopes and dreams. But, hopefully, he will remember that next time he thinks about lying.

Steven and I have also decided that we need to work on our attitudes and how we act around the children. We need to lead them. I will get upset when someone skips me in the checkout line or doesn't give me the "thank you" wave when I let them in front of me in traffic. Steven has always been the softy. I can get on to the kids for something, but they know that when I got ot work, they can get their way with daddy. He has learned that he needs to lead the children, well us all really, the way the Lord expects him to.

Check out Sanctus Real's "Lead Me" here

A weekend away

Steven and I got to go out of town this past weekend, WITH NO KIDS!! It was so nice to not have to constantly do a head count to make sure everyone is there! We went to Magic Springs in Hot Springs, AR with another couple. We went to see the Newsboys, which was amazing by the way!

If you ever get a chance to see them, DO IT!!! They put on an awesome show. I already want to go to another one! Steven plays the drums at our church, so he really enjoys the craziness of their drummer. I just enjoy their style of music. The way their spread the word and God's love is awesome! I felt a little guilty not taking the kids, but mommy and daddy need alone time too. The couple that went with us had never been away without their 5 kids. And it was their anniversary. So, it was a much needed weekend for everyone!

Back to School

Well, the kids went back to school this week. It is nice to be back in a routine, but I have to say I do miss the kids not being here all day. I have been really nervous about Taytum going to the intermediate school for the past 2 years. Now she is there and I am probably more nervous than she is! I know how mean kids can be and how they thrive on hurting others and crushing their thoughts of the tooth fairy and Santa. I just pray every day that no one is hurtful to my baby! I pray that the Lord keeps his hand on her shoulder and keeps her strong.

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.       Deuteronomy 31:6

I have to just remember this! It is so hard! I want to protect my children with all my might, but also they need to know how the world is. We all have people around us that are mean and want to crush our spirits. We have to learn how to deal with others like that without letting them get in our heads. It's just so hard...

Let's all keep the students and teachers in our prayers for a safe and wonderful school year.