Friday, May 30, 2014

Beep Beep

Really where does time go....it is hard to believe that in almost 31 days there will be only a half the year left of 2014. As a true optimist seeing the glass half full, I find it interesting driving to the store yesterday where I turned at the light only to see the other drivers stopped, looking down at their phones not paying any attention to the light turning or the other cars surrounding them. Are we in such a hurry with texting, checking the Internet, to notice what we have? What is so important that waiting may not be an option?

Today while waiting at the stop light, my children and I were greeted by the sound of car horns. The two cars behind me both honked because I did not make the right hand turn not because I did not want to but because I could not. Both drivers had no patience to wait for the pedestrian crossing in the cross walk. If either one of the drivers bothered to pay attention to their surroundings maybe they would have thought twice before honking. After I did turn, the driver right behind me tried to pass several times as it appeared we were going to the same place, going around the gas station parking lot, only to be cut off by construction in place, at last we ended up in the McDonald's drive-thru together. Again, his car right behind mine. So in a nice gesture, I purchased his food and asked the McDonald's cashier to please let him know along with the message of “have a nice day." As we drove off watching, the driver got a huge smile on his face saying it all....really take a moment it is okay and yes, his smile made it all worth it. 

Every day we are given a do over from the day before to wake up, smile and make a positive impact in life. A choice to make a difference whether it is small or big, no one knows but the choices are endless on today and right now. Without knowing what tomorrow may bring, we can only imagine or hope that the plan the God has set-forth is working in our favor. Each day I become more humbled as I have always stood my ground on the principal of right and wrong, I have slowly learned over the years it is not always so cut and dry as I would like. Working with the Department of Social Services over the last 5 years, having several gifts (babies) come in and out of our home and our own babies (teenagers) life is a daily blessing along with a work in progress with no parent handbook. Learning by the choices that are made. Good or Bad!

My calling to be a parent, to foster children, to be a sister, to be a friend is to love unconditionally, to advocate when needed, to make choices and to make a difference as the impact will be weighed one way or the other. Helping someone without the expectation to be rewarded is the best gift of all. “A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.”  Proverbs 11:25 

I am blessed, my family is blessed in more ways than I can imagine. I am so thankful for the life that I live each day. Yes, my life is a roller coaster but it is my roller coaster along with my family. God does have a plan for ALL of us, the path that HE has chosen for you has been set in motion; it is up to you to define it. Life may be a roller coaster ride or it may be quiet ride but do not forget that things can change in a moment’s notice, it does not take much to smile to make someone’s day, read a book with your child, eat dinner at the table as a family. Remember the little things matter as without them the big things do not exist. God Bless.

Until next time....Make it a Great Day!




Thursday, April 10, 2014

Time has flown by

Back in May of 2011 I originally decided to write this post but did not finish it and ironically I titled it "Time has flown by". Since the beginning of this year I keep telling myself to start blogging again for many reasons but time seems to just get away. Funny how that works. I am good about getting everyone else things done but sometimes my own things or time for me gets put on the back burner until things get really burning (haha). Well since 2011 a lot has changed in our life! These three years have been a roller coaster. A ride that we took as a family and a ride that has definetly made us a stronger and closer family. We have been blessed with wonderful gifts and given the opportunity to give back by continuing to foster, we were given a blessing to adopt one of our foster children. Our family became six in December of 2011, a blessing to cherish forever.

Keeping in full mommy force with teenagers, toddlers and foster babies, life appeared to keep moving then as I have posted in the past about my own ten second life change, interesting enough our eldest son had his own ten second change on life in front of our eyes and several hundred of his friends, team mates and spectators in the fall of 2012. He tore his ACL and MCL from a late hit in a football game. A change that would affect him and our family to this day but the only sad part is that he chose not to move forward in his dreams to play ball. He chose to not continue therapy and listen to extended family and close friends. It comes also on him leaving home on his 18th birthday without warning or notice. Yes, it HURT! Missing the high school senior stuff and other things...but taking the emotion out....Really this is what us as parents groom our children for. To spread their wings and fly, right? All you can do is love them and know you taught them the best and make right decisions.. Remembering there is no parent handbook and everyday we can learn.

I can say since him leaving about one year ago, our family less the one, growing a little bit bigger by 3, we have grown to know what is really important. It is not the four walls we live in, it is not the food on our table, it is not the clothes on our back, it is not the cars we drive or where we go on the weekends. The importance of our family comes within. We have one another and that we spend time together, at family dinner table, prayers said by the kids, sitting on the stairs, playing football in the hallway, laughing about just nothing or sitting on the porch talking for a moment. It is the little things that make it work. Making a trip to the amusement park just because babies and all. Keeping drama free friends or remembering to breath. Time does fly by fast, these past three years where did the time go really and life does change in a moments notice. We have seven children ranging from 19 years to 2 months and not a minute goes by where I am not thinking about something that I have to do but at the same moment I would not change it for anything. I am one BLESSED women, mother, wife and friend! God Bless You ALL!

 Until next time….Make it a Great Day!