I wanted to do an end of the year blog before the end of the year, but between my whole household being sick & Christmas, it just didn't happen. 2010 went by QUICK!! It's hard to believe that we have stumbled upon a new year already. I think it was pretty uneventful, I believe.
The oldest child, J, is doing well. He is in Connecticut going to school and I believe he's doing okay. Seems to enjoy school. He's all grown up & stuff, so I don't get much info into his life, but when we do talk, he seems happy & to enjoy school. He wants to be a history teacher one day. It nice to hear a goal, finally. Before, he seemed to be just wondering in the wind, sometimes flying against it, instead of with it, but now he has a goal. My hope for him in the new year is to keep reaching! 
Soon to be 17 year old daughter, H, intelligent, happy, eager to do her best, thinks I am crazy how I parent most days, looking at colleges, daughter. She's achieving things I wish I had in high school. She has the heart of a servant. God will use her for great things. What more could a mom ask for? (except for driving.. please dear child, learn to drive in 2011) Goal... driving, please.Next, 16 year old son, started out rough, school wise, this year, but seems to have learned that if you want to go & do, you have to get your act together at school. Seems friends & socialization took the place of school work, but we are back on the right track & was exempt from exams, so we are moving forward. Hopefully, 2011 will bring even more good things for him and he continues to excel. He has military aspirations & will be 17 at the end of 2011, so I will be a military mother, again. Proud. Hope for 2011..to get some 'get up & go' & to take pride in what he does.
The 13 year old daughter, A, well, life is just so darn hard when you are thirteen. She has taken up softball, which for someone that didn't seem to have an athletic bone in her body, she's doing really great!!! I hope it continues. She has plans to play in the spring, so I am excited about that. She hates to do school work, but she is a wonderful writer and loves music and doodling. Goal for 2011, to have a little more self esteem & kindness.
Next is the 13 year old son, Z, so thinks God broke the mold when he made him. Loves his little brother like no tomorrow. I am hoping that will continue through life. Aspires to do his best in everything. Is really into sports. Loves them all. Has the wonderful quality to just let things roll off his back like water on a duck. That is one of his greatest attributes. Goal for 2011, to continue to be happy & take life with a grain of salt and to listen a little better.
Now that brings us to the soon to be 9 year old, K, he is one of a kind. He has the gift of humor and LOTS of it. He is the cutest 8 year old I know. He wants a dragon like the one on How to Train Your Dragon. (if you haven't seen it, rent it, it's great!) He hates Mondays and is extremely difficult to get to go back to school after the weekend or a long holiday. He the kind of person, that if you don't want the answer to the question, then don't ask him! Goal for him in 2011, to get up a little happier in the a.m. & to keep me laughing & giving me wonderful stories to tell!
Well, that's the review for 2010. I realized something the other day, two of them will be graduated & gone by May 2013. While I will be happy that the grocery bill will go down, the idea of me getting older is not good. So, here's to 2010, you are gone, but thank you for no major illnesses or accidents and to 2011, we ate black eyed peas & collard greens on your first day on the job, so bring on the good luck & money!
Dear Michelle,
You are 16, enjoy every minute of it. Have fun at the Friday night football games, these nights will be gone before you know it.
Pay more attention to math & less attention to boys, they will not be there, but you will need math more than you realize.
Don't drive the car so fast. People die everyday from speeding, so slow down, Atlanta Highway is not a drag strip.
The boss that has been flirting with you at Winn Dixie & that you have developed a crush on is too old for you. He's trouble, leave him alone.
You may have already done this, but whatever you do, don't go out with the blind date that picks you up wearing a dog collar. You will never live this one down.
Don't get in the car with your cousin after work, he will lock you in with other people & smoke pot, so you will get high from the second hand smoke, because you refuse to smoke with them. You did the right thing. Always stick to your guns. They will think it's funny, you will not. You go girl!
You will get your heart broke, you will survive. You won't think you will, but you will, I promise. It will pass & later in life, you will find someone that will make you happy on a daily basis. Someone that you want to be with. No, he's not perfect, but he loves you & the children. Yes, you will have children, all six of them.
Spend more time with your grandparents. One is already gone, the others will be gone when you are in your thirties.
Enjoy this year, everything about it.
Slow down.........
Love, Yourself at 44
When I was very young the music that was played in church was real 'church' music. Church music in my opinion, has changed & thank goodness.I recently started to listen to contemporary Christian music via Pandora Radio. I love Casting Crowns, Third Day, MercyMe, Chris Tomlin, Jeremy Camp, etc. My day seems to be much calmer with this music in the background. Now don't get me wrong, I still enjoy the 80's music that I am so in love with. I would never ditch Bon Jovi. Pandora allows you to type in the genre of music that you like & it plays your music plus other artists that have similar genres. It's awesome!
Enough about the Pandora plug. Listening to this music really creates a peace within that is like no other. Some of the artists I mentioned you wouldn't think that it's a 'christian' song. It's sounds so much like main stream secular music. The Bible says:
21 So the children of Israel who were present at Jerusalem kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with great gladness; and the Levites and the priests praised the Lord day by day, singing to the Lord, accompanied by loud instruments. 2 Chronicles 30:21 (NKJV)1 Praise the Lord!Sing to the Lord a new song, And His praise in the assembly of saints. Psalm 149:1 (NKJV)
There are several references throughout the Bible to music & praise. God knows that music is important in worship of Him. It has a calming effect on me when I listen to it.I want to encourage each of you to just 'try' it. Go to Pandora type in Casting Crowns or Chris Tomlin for the artist & will pull all that type of music. It's great! You can leave it playing in the background & I promise you, it will make your day go better, it will make you calmer & it will make you happier during the busy work day.Check these out!----------------
Now playing:
Mark Schultz - I Amvia FoxyTunes ----------------
Now playing:
Casting Crowns - Everymanvia FoxyTunes ----------------
Now playing:
Todd Agnew - This Fragile Breathvia FoxyTunes
