I didn’t vote for Barack Obama but I can tell you that today I am celebrating a great historical moment in our nation. I have laughed, cried, and been in total awe watching the inaugural ceremony today. What a country we live in that on this day we watch an African American become president when it wasn’t too long ago that they could not be served in restaurants, sit in the front of the buses, or share the same water fountain as whites. I have thanked God so many times today for the progress this country has made. Are we there yet? Absolutely not, but thank God we’re not where we used to be!

I have been blessed to witness this historical event. I pray that he will lead this country in a new direction for the better. Today I celebrate President Barack Obama, I celebrate a great nation that has allowed an African American to be our president, and I celebrate our God for He is good and mighty!

On a side note, I thank God for former President George Bush. I believe he led us to the best of his ability. We all make mistakes, hind sight is 20/20, but that shouldn’t make him the scapegoat for the problems our country has been in. Responsibility falls on every one of us from the former president, to congress, both Republicans and Democrats alike, all the way down to each one of us personally. That’s my opinion anyway. Thank you former President Bush for protecting & defending  our country and for your dedication to our country over the last eight years. God Bless you.

God Bless President Barack Obama and

God Bless America!

JENNA & THOMAS!!

Last Sunday, January 4th, my girl turned 12 years old. She’s almost a teenager….omg! Jenna is such a sweet girl, has a heart of gold and wears that heart on her sleeve a lot of times. She’s a big help and gives great hand rubs! I love her dearly and am so very proud of her!

Then on Monday, January 5th, Thomas turned 9 years old. I know, it’s weird their birthdays are a day apart. I remember when I was pregnant with Thomas and  the doctor wanted me to come in on January 4th to be induced and I was like I can’t come on the 4th I have a birthday party that day. I’m glad it worked out so they could have their own special day. Thomas is a great kid. He’s quiet, loves video games, & has a great laugh. I love his laugh and I love him.

One more birthday this month and we’ll be done with birthdays until May.

Oh Lordy, guess who’s gonna be 4o??

I came across this “Kid’s” version by Vanessa Van Petten and thought she did a great job in bringing this perspective along. You can check her blog out here.

I’ve posted the lyrics below. Enjoy!

Lyrics to the Kid’s Version of the Mom Song

I am up, I am up, I’m up and dressed

Can I wear this, am I cute, are the boys impressed

Where’s my clothes and my shoes and my backpack at

And, Yes I’m wearing that

No mom, no OJ, where’s the pop tarts at

Where’s my lunch, eww gross, do I look fat?

After school bring me a snack when I get back

And then its homework until I collapse

Watch some TV shows, to us teens it’s the most important thing of all

Get my TIVO for set up for gossip girls—the coolest show of all

Please remember not to come downstairs when my friends are over here

Just stay upstairs all the time so when we gossip you will not hear

TTYL, Not now, Im coming, can you drive me there

Close my door, Get out! Please don’t touch mess up my hair

I said thank you, I don’t want to, please don’t bother me

There’s my cell phone, it’s a text, Ill have to BRB

LOL, cu later,  take me to the mall

Wait one second I have to take this call.

That’s so chill, so cool, oh mom please chillax

ROTFL, oh please dad just relax

I hear breathing mom,  is that you on my call

While you’re here though can I have money for the mall

Hi mom, its me, Im over at sandy’s

and I’m wondering if I can spend the night? We’re watching movies And yes, Sandy’s mom is also here right now,

talk to her, oh maybe she’s in the shower so im not sure how.

Oh man what If my parents catch me

there are some things that we do that all parents cant see

I forgot my homework, what I’m grounded, oh you are so unfair

Were you never young, you’re the worst, and you are always late to day care

Do I have to, I don’t want to, can I have some money

Not a boyfriend, we’re just friends, just an FWB

You don’t get me, your so lame, can you drop me off here

I don’t want my friends to see you near

My day was fine, and my test was just ok

ill never be like you, my kids will be great

don’t read my diary, just give me my privacy

Can I go to the dance, I wont get an STD

Oh and about parents who patrol

about Parental controls

they don’t really work

We know when you lurk

And often cover up

With fake homework

Or IM our friends red parents alert

So I want to tell you that when we say that we hate you

We know

you really want to keep us safe

But can I just make our case

Sometimes we just want a little freedom from your rules

And when you nag us, and tell us to

Take out the trash and clean dog poo

Our only course of action is to roll our eyes at you

Mom!

Brush my teeth, wash my face, fight with mom

Text my friends, ask for money, put my retainer on

I guess its true, I love you

And tomorrow we will do this all again because a mom’s nags never end

Can I have a later curfew

I need it, just trust me, everyone else does it too

Hey mom hey mom hey mom hey mom, hey mom

I love you, I do, Even though I never tell you!

1. The world is a very scary place!

2. Goodbye was the last thing I said.

3. I wonder why I wonder why all the time?

4. I hope I’ve accomplished all God wanted me to at the end of all things.

5. There’s something to be said for being free emotionally!

6. A warm sunny beach is where I want to be.

7. As for the weekend, tonight I am looking forward to chillin to some SCIFI , tomorrow my plans include taking down the Christmas tree and Sunday, I want to rock out at ROCK Church!

This is my first Friday Fill-In. You can check out Friday Fill-Ins here.

I have been reflecting on this past year this whole month. I think just about everyday I have had to stop and thank God for this past year. I have seen amazing growth and progress in me over the past 12 months. It was a slow progress but progress none the less. Things have happened in me and changed me in ways I could never even begin to describe.

I know at the beginning of this year I was crying out to God for freedom, healing, and to know Him in a deeper way. I remember dreaming of being free from emotional chains that had me bound. I am amazed how He has answered those prayers and dreams. It has deepened my faith, my trust, and given me confidence I have not known in many years. I can truly say that I have FREEDOM in many areas of my life. Self made chains and shackles have been broken link by link. It’s awesome! It’s an awesome feeling to feel free.  I believe this growth was preparation for the coming year that’s why I am excited about 2009.

Goodbye 2008, hello 2009. I can’t wait to see what lies ahead.

Happy New Year everyone!

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! We had a great Christmas this year. God blessed us tremendously in many ways. He’s an on time God and knows what you need and provides. He’s amazing!

This was a very light Christmas due to our financial situation but the old saying that less is more held so very true for us. The kids each got the one big thing they really wanted…I thank God that he helped us find each of these items at a deep discount, I mean deeeppp discount. It really is amazing how He provided for us. And to think all these years we went overboard with too many things and at times went into debt to have such an elaborate Christmas. At the end of the day Thomas said to us…”this is the best Christmas ever” and Jenna & Matthew agreed.

Who would have thought that less really is more? Our Pastor said a few weeks ago that no matter what you get your kids it will be more than enough, amen to that. I will remember that and this Christmas for a long time.

Now I’m getting excited about the New Year ahead!

Matthew turned 7 years old on Sunday.

Things are really tight this year so there was no big “party”. We had a small gathering of neighborhood kids and kept it very low key. I had felt so guilty all week knowing that we weren’t going to be able to have a big to do somewhere. (It didn’t help matters when I ended up getting sick with some stomach bug on Saturday night.) But as the day progressed my feelings of guilt became obsolete. Matthew had a ball and enjoyed his small party at home. He’s a real trooper! We had talked to him about not having a big party this year weeks ago and he took it very well. He said no big deal. We usually spend so much on birthday parties it isn’t funny. By the time you get the entertaining place, cake, decorations (some places don’t provide them with their party packages), and of course goody bags it can run pretty high. The only thing I bought this year was the cake. Everything else I already had from previous parties. It’s funny how you can improvise when you have to. I saved a lot of money this year. We have two more birthdays in the coming weeks (Jan 4th Jenna, Jan 5th Thomas) and both of them know that there will be no big parties, I just hope they have as much fun with their small celebration as Matthew did. It really was a joyful day.

My baby is 7 years old! Oh my gosh! He’s growing up so quick. I am so proud of him and love him dearly!

I am learning to:

• become more patient
• be more compassionate
• forgive quicker
• be more understanding
• lean on God more
• pray more about situations instead of griping about them
• roll with the punches so to speak
• see the positive first in everything
• love the unlovely
• not look at others through a magnifying glass
• not see myself through rose colored glasses

I am realizing that I too can be difficult at times. This makes me more aware of how that makes those around me feel when I am difficult. I can sit here and justify my issues but being difficult weather big or small is still not good. It doesn’t honor God when I am being difficult.

I want my life to honor my Father. If that means changing my ways then so be it. God is so good.