Category Archives: kids

Safety First!

Posted by Jo on January 31, 2012 None comments

I have to say, although I am getting better at it, I am one of those nervous mothers.  I used to be really bad.  Gasping any time the little ones looked like they were going to dart for the road.  Or flipping out when they fell and bumped their head, even though they didn’t cry (until I made a fuss about it).

As my kidlets have gotten older, I have gotten better.  After the first one, it actually got better anyway.  I think that’s pretty normal.  With the first one, you lecture everyone about how they need to baby proof everything before you can visit.  You make sure they have everything taken care of from the knob locks to the pool safety covers.  It’s quite ridiculous the measures you go to to ensure the safety of the first child. By the time the second and  third come along, it’s old hat and you have chilled out quite a bit.

Your friends and family don’t dread having you come over for fear that you are going to sanitize everything your child will come in contact with including their dog.  And they don’t have to worry that you are going to ask them to ‘please put away your figurines so I don’t have to tell my child no’.  For the record, I do not do this but I have had people come to my home and ask me to do this and no, I’m not kidding.

Anywho, now that one is in heaven and is quite safe and the other is 15, I don’t worry nearly as much about them getting hurt while playing.  At least not like that.  Now I worry about ‘The Girl’ getting a Volleyball or Track injury.  Or heaven forbid when she does end up taking drivers ed and getting her license, her getting in a fender bender….

Crap!

The Light At The End Of The Tunnel…

Posted by Jo on December 22, 2011 None comments

I hope I am seeing it.  The light at the end of the tunnel.  Not the one you see when you are dying. No, I’m not suicidal, calm down! The one you see at the end of a long journey or trial.

‘The Girl’ has been having some issues at school.  Some bullying issues.  Harassment by some kids.  Some rumors have been started.  Some slander of her good name has ensued.  I have been quite distressed over this and so has she.

We had a talk with the correct authorities and we are hoping that things will calm down now.  As of the last couple days of school, things were still happening that were bothersome, but the principle at the school was taking care of it.

I am glad that he seems to be on top of things. When I told him ‘The Girl’ was so upset about recent things that she didn’t even want to go to school there anymore, he was surprised and seemed genuinely concerned.  He also wanted to quickly resolve the problem so that ‘The Girl’ felt safe and happy at school.  And since she spends the majority of her day there 5 days a week about 8 1/2 – 9 months out of the year, that sounded like a good plan to me!

With my daughter’s bubbly, friendly spirit, bullying is something I never thought I would have to deal with.  But here I am smack dab in the middle of it.

It is not okay to bully someone just because you feel threatened by them in some way, people.  If they have a stronger friendship with someone than you, SO WHAT! You can have more than one friend at a time.  And it’s okay that they spend more time with someone else sometimes! You wanna know why their bond is stronger?? Because one lost their father and the other lost her brother.  That’s why their friendship is so strong.  They have a special bond that most people can’t understand because they haven’t had the kind of loss and pain these girls  have been through.  And hopefully they never will!

But instead of trying to understand them, let’s start rumors about them and cause problems! Yeah that is always a good idea.  I just don’t understand high school drama.

If it doesn’t end, I will take it to the police and I will pull her from the school.  A little over a year ago we had a scare with ‘The Girl’ with some depression and some scary stuff and I’m not about to sit and watch her spiral out of control again.  I won’t do it.

So to all those out there who think it’s fun to start rumors and call names and just be punks in general.  It’s not OK.  How would you like it if someone did it to you?  And you can puff out your chest and say it wouldn’t bother you at all ALL.YOU.WANT. But it would.  It would bother you if you had to dread going to school every day because you never knew what new thing was going to be said about you.  Or what new person was going to threaten to beat the crap out of you.  It’s not fun! It needs to stop! It will stop! One way or the other, IT.WILL.STOP.

We can end this with police involvement or without, it’s your choice.  I am a very reasonable person.  But I am done being the nice, happy go lucky person who is everyone’s friend.  Not that we can’t be friend’s, but this is my child you are messing with, so if you are gonna mess with my kid, we can’t be friends!   You have brought out the Mama Bear in me.

You think I’m bluffing? Try me!

 

Bad Blogger

Posted by Jo on November 21, 2011 None comments

I know I haven’t been blogging much lately…

I have been super busy…

Wanna know what I was doing???

This is what I was doing…

Photo’s are Property of Jo-Lyn’s Cutie (Cup) Cakes

And we had a wedding to go to and the girl was sick and I was sick (and I’m still sick) and so on and so forth…

So I have been a lil’ busy.  Happy and Busy! :)

See ya soon,

Seven Years Ago Today…

Posted by Jo on November 5, 2011 None comments

Seven years ago today my life turned upside down.

Seven years ago today my life turned inside out.

Seven years ago today my worst nightmare came true.

Seven years ago today I had to say good bye to my ten year old son forever (worldly speaking, that is).

Seven years ago today God took that precious boy home to live with Him and forever changed me.  I wish I could say it was for the better, but I just don’t know that I can.  Maybe some day…

I know God has a reason for everything he does.  Things don’t just randomly happen, I know that deep down, I do!! But I just feel so broken sometimes.  Sometimes I just feel like there is nothing that can fix this, ya know?

But God can…

He won’t bring Eli back, it’s not that He can’t, but He won’t.  There is a reason.  We don’t know why, but it’s for our own good that we suffer.  I know it sounds strange, but there MUST be something good that comes from this or it wouldn’t be happening.

I know that’s how God works.  I feel God working in my life.  Most times I feel the energy He puts off like I can reach out and touch it! It’s awesome and I love it.  I love to tell others about Jesus and what He’s done for them!!

Other times I feel like it’s this crazy roller coaster and I just wanna get off for a while cause it’s making me dizzy and sick! Like it’s all just too much.  I think that is the devil just wanting me to give up!

Well, I just want to tell the devil, you can’t have me…I am on the winning side!  I have Jesus and so did my son!

So for all those out there who have lost those you love or who are suffering in some way, please, don’t suffer alone.  God loves you and He sent His son to show you that!  Please see My Romans Road page for more information!!

YeeHaw!!

Posted by Jo on October 21, 2011 None comments

We live kinda out in the middle of no-where.  Our road is one of the last to get plowed in he winter.   It get’s pretty tricky trying to get in and out of camp in the dead of winter!

This is why the hubster takes the girl to school all winter long.  He’s such a good hubby! This is one of the many reasons I love him so!

I’m still waiting for him to put some tire chains on the car and let me have at it!! :) Oh, the fun I could have! Of course, I’d probably spend more time in the ditch than on the road, but hey, I would have a lot of fun!! :)

Carry on, and remember,

Gifts…

Posted by Jo on October 5, 2011 None comments

I love personalized gifts.  Simply love them.  Because they are personal.  :)

They say, “I thought about YOU when I bought this gift.”   It’s all fine and good to buy someone a random gift and I’m all for the gift card.  There is a  time and a place for every gift.  but a personalized gift is just…..special.

I like to peruse this one site where you find different kinds of gifts.  Everything from personal retirement gift ideas to baby gifts.  They have shirts, mugs, golf balls, a little of this and a  little of that, it’s great.

Hey! Maybe I’ll find something for the boy for his birthday there!!   :)

This Post Is A Must Read…

Posted by Jo on October 1, 2011 None comments

If you only read one post I ever post, please let it be this one.  I beg of you. This might just be the single most important post I will ever post.  Okay, maybe the second most important.  Because the posts I post about salvation are probably the most important…

But this one is very important!

I want you to realize that we are in a fight! A fight against the devil and evil! Yes,  the devil! He is waging a war against us and if we are not careful and vigilant, he is going to win!

You think I’ve lost my mind don’t you? Look around you, friends…

Look at all the pastor’s wives fighting cancer or some other life-threatening or life-altering illness right now, do you think that is a coincidence?

Look at all the “men of God” being accused of “sexual deviance”, do you think that is coincidence?

Look at all the marriages in ruins, do you think that is coincidence?

We are in the fight of our lives, people, do we not realize this? The devil is after us and our families and I don’t think we even realize it!

Hold your dear ones close friends.  Yes, even when they hurt you.  Even when you think they have done the unforgivable.  Jesus forgave you!

Husbands, pray for your wives.

Wives, pray for your husbands.

Church members, pray for your pastors.

Pastors, pray for your church members.

Parents, pray for your children.

Children, pray for your parents.

EVERYONE, pray for EVERYONE!!!

One down…

Posted by Jo on June 30, 2011 None comments

I survived my first week cooking at camp…. :)   It was a great week.

I always have so much fun.  Some times I get a little stressed and it’s hard to handle, but for the most part it’s great. Gotta learn to be flexible in the camp kitchen.  Activities have to be planned around the weather and meals around activities and….see a pattern??  I am learning to be flexible!  :)

Found out we had two kids come to Christ this week and one got assurance of his salvation.  That is what it’s all about folks.  That is why we we do what we do, because young people have tender hearts want to learn about God.

Let us pray that these great kids will seek God’s will for their lives and that they will grow in the Lord and serve Him in every way possible.

She’s not my “little” girl anymore….

Posted by Jo on June 15, 2011 None comments

Well, we recently went through a rough spot, you might call it, with our daughter, but she seems to be coming around now.   She’s 14…need I say more??  Probably not…

She has always been a good child and always wanted to please her dad and I, but lately, she has wanted to do her own thing and didn’t really care what we had to say about it.  It was really kind of exasperating.  She felt like we were being unfair and refused to see our point of view about a situation.

My husband prayed with her and had her do some praying and extra bible reading and I really think she is coming around now.  I am thankful that she does have a tender heart and that she has a heart for God and want to do right.

Although My husband and I are far from perfect parents, we have raised our daughter right and she knows what she is supposed to be doing and not supposed to be doing and I just have to trust that if we lovingly but firmly guide her back when she begins to stray that God will keep her where she needs to be.  So far so good, I will continue to pray for her and guide her the best I can and leave the rest up to God…

Question for you…

Posted by Jo on June 7, 2011 1 comments

Question:

A friend of your child’s  is encouraging him/her to do things he/she AND this friend know are against the rules you have set for your child (and are also against the rules his/her parents have set, by the way).

Do you let them continue to be friends?

How long do you allow them to be friends?

What I mean is how long do you allow your child to be friends with someone who continually does and says things to encourage your child to disobey and disrespect you and your rules?

This child is, by the way, the ONLY child that your child has these kinds of behavior issues with.  All his/her other friendships are healthy, normal relationships that do not push or break  any boundaries or rules set by parents…

Thanks for your insight…

Home…

Posted by Jo on May 18, 2011 None comments

For those of you who haven’t figured it out yet, it takes a lot more than having the biggest, bestest, most high tech house on the block to make a house a home.  It takes a lot more than  fancy shower curtains and pretty nick knacks too!!

Some people just don’t get it.  It doesn’t matter if you have all the latest home furnishings and high tech gadgets like the ones you see on Home Makeover and other shows on TV, but if you don’t have love and security, you’ve got nothing!!!

You can have the biggest house on the block with the fanciest things in it and if you don’t have love and commitment and trust, you may as well have a cardboard box.  When will people learn this important fact?

“Things” are not evil or bad in and of themselves, but when we place the importance on these that we should have on our relationships with our families and with God, we are setting ourselves up for major disappointment!!

Just had to get that off my chest…

Genesis 4

Posted by Jo on April 29, 2011 None comments

Genesis 4:1 “….I have gotten a man from the Lord.”  What a thought.

Do we realize that our children truly are a gift from God??  I don’t think we appreciate that fact enough!!

Through all the pains of labor, the early morning feedings, the “terrible twos”, those trying times of  preadolescence , all the way through those awkward teenage years.  We should keep in mind that our children are in fact A GIFT from God!!

I think I will remind myself of that the next time I want to throttle “the girl” for being sassy or not cleaning her room!! Because she truly is a gift from God, truly!!

Please remember to be thankful for every second you have with your children. I have always been thankful for the time I have had with mine.  My son was taken to heaven at the age of 10, and though I have never been a perfect parent (never will be), I have never had to think to myself , “I wish I would have said I love you more”, or  “I hope he knew I loved him”.  Praise the Lord for that!!

Today, take a moment to let your children know that you love them and what a blessing they really are, even when they are driving you to drink and/or go bald or gray or both!!!   :)