Proving I Am Right To My Kid...

I miss the days when my kids believed that I had all the answers..... My wisdom was never questioned... I was Mom and Mom knew it all and if she did not - Dad did... Sometimes - my answers could be so vague and that was okay - Mom spoke and there you have it...

Today - Mom and Dad know NOTHING.. We are not even remotely close to knowing anything.. We are prehistoric creatures that have no concept of today's music.... today's movies.... today's anything.... We are ancient relics to be humored.... to have eyes rolled at...

Today we were driving home from church and my eldest started talking about the different things her friends say at school... Everything that is uttered by her 13 and 14 year old friends is always true and because I have no concept of the "real world" her friends are right and I am wrong.... I often hear things like -well so and so said it and I have no reason not to believe that her parents let her stay out till the wee hours of the morning... Well - I know for a fact that so and so did it (something so bizarre and impossible- I can't remember what it was) - I ask her how she knows for a fact - well my kid answer by saying .. so and so told me.. and I have no reason not to believe her.. Are you seeing a pattern here?

In the car I asked my kid point blank - "Do I have to prove to you that I am right for you to believe me? Or will you take my word for it because I have been around for some time? She told me that she believed I was wrong and in order for her to believe me I had to prove it...... Yes, I know I was playing into the game and it should have ended there... but oh no... I had to prove that Mom still has it.... Thank God for Google...

Following The Leader

I remember when I was a child - one of the most fun games to play was follow the leader.... One child would run, hop, skip... clapping their hands - flapping their arms.... or some other silly motion... and several children would follow and imitate... We were encouraged to play this game.... at school... at Sunday school... in our own backyards.. at friends' homes It was a game that we all took turns being the leader and everyone had a good time...

As the years go by and the teenage years approach - there is a new follow the leader game... it's not much fun - there is usually a couple of leaders... and not everyone takes a turn.... Instead of running around with your hands in the air and with joyous smiles.... you will see teens doing things that are not encouraged by the schools... Sunday school....any backyard... but may be encouraged at a "friend's" home...

I thought in my naivety that sending my children to a Christian school would shelter them from the world.... Shelter them from a world where young girls get drunk.... have sex... do drugs.... I thought in my naivety that families who have their children go to a Christian school would live their lives as (in my mind) Christians do.... Have higher morals geared towards raising our children in way that is respectful.... in a way that is honest... in a way that wants to do right.....

It is very discouraging to me when my kid thinks the sneaky kids are cool... They are the leaders... and what also is sad to me is that these kids are the popular ones.... They are the ones whose parents allow them to hang out in front of 7-11 asking strangers for money... they are the ones whose parent drops them off at a youth group event to only sneak across the street to make out.... get high.... get drunk.... I'm wondering why....how these parents don't realize that their 13 year old child sitting next to them is stoned.... reeking of smoke... reeking of booze..

I am thankful that both of my girls want to do the right thing... I know that the other kids look glamorous to them... but I also know that God is working in my girls.... I am hoping that my kids will be the example the "popular" girls need to see... A kid who is comfortable in her own skin.... who has a love for life without artificial enhancers.. I am blessed to be the mother to two incredible young ladies. Two young ladies that every so often give me a glimpse of the encouraging and beautiful women they will be..... The leaders that will be a blessing to others.

Disneyland Update

Well as many of you know - last Saturday we took my niece to Disneyland.... I was so excited to introduce her to the magical world of Disney..... It turned out to be a great day! We left the house around 8 AM - we were able to go on every ride that we wanted with a very little wait... She was acting like such a princess that I just had to buy her the Cinderella dress from Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique... We had a great time - she was happy - not one over stimulated break down - there were kids all around us having those but not my niece she was all smiles and ready for the next adventure.. This was a trip for all of us to remember.... beautiful weather, not crowded - the perfect day.

Meeting Minnie



Meeting an Incredible



Getting Ready To See The Muppets In 3D



My Favorite - She Is Waving To The Characters In It's A Small World - Love the innocence.

I Choose To Love

Have you ever heard people say that the way to love someone is show them the love they give to you.... In other words, loved ones give love the way they want it received.. Several years ago I read the book the Languages of Love and it opened my eyes to the fact that how I respond to love is much different than the way Dusty (my husband) does... The book tells us in order to show love better is to discover our spouse's "love language" and love them they way they see love... Well, if any of you read my blogs in the beginning of the year - you would know that Dusty and I are polar opposites.... but someway in the middle of our differences we found love.....

In the beginning of this year - I embarked on a journey to fall in love with my husband again.... After 20 years of marriage - I truly believed that I hated him.... I believed that there was no way that we could stay together.... I had had it.... But divorcing and breaking up my family did not feel right to me.... I had already hired the attorney... I had already had Dusty served with papers.... I had thought I had given up... but God would not let me... I felt compelled to read The Love Dare - the book from the movie Fireproof.... I gave myself forty (40) days to love.... I think it only took me half the time... it took Dusty a longer time....

It is easy to fall back into bad habits when it comes to loving someone... Stress can bring out the worst in me... Stress comes in so many forms lately...Running a business, being a mom, and wife can be stressful... Worry is a big stress factor right now... There are things going on with my body that give me pause - knowing a surgery is something that will no longer be an option but a necessity and I hate that.... I hate not being able to do all the things I need to... I hate having to depend on someone.... and because of the this stress I have lashed out at the most important person in my life.... my husband, Dusty.... There are so many times I want to apologize and say - I am sorry.... I was wrong... But my ugly stupid pride prevents me from uttering the words that he longs to hear...

Today, I just needed to step back and realize that I am messing up.... again. I am not giving Dusty the love and attention he rightfully deserves... he's a very good man and I have been treating him so bad lately... He has been a great help around the home - especially with my back causing so much pain - he has really stepped up to the plate... And all Dusty wants is for me to see what he does and say, "Thank you".... How hard is that? Sometimes in the midst of things - I make it difficult - isn't that crazy?

Today, I have gone back to The Love Dare and my Bible... Reminding myself - how God wants me to love my husband.... I learned in the beginning of the year that when you show love... and act in love.. You are in love... So, today - I am loving Dusty... I am not going to mess it up.... not today....

"The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield." James 3:17

Bye Bye Jay Leno Show

When Jay Leno "retired" from the 'Tonight Show' and took a new gig at 10Pm - I told my husband there is no way that this is going to work.... it just did not make sense.... I had no desire to watch Jay at 10 - I would watch him after the news if I was still up but not at 10 when there so many other interesting things on.... The few times I flipped through the channels and saw The Jay Leno Show - I had to laugh - it was the Tonight Show..... funny - can the guy find something more original to do?

I guess the story is that NBC told Jay they would pay him "x" amount to stay on the Tonight Show until 2009 and then he had to "retire". NBC execs were afraid to lose Conan to another network - so the story goes.... give Conan the Tonight Show in 2009 and give Jay Leno is own show a little later...

Today, NBC officials have confirmed that The Jay Leno show has been canceled - the rumor is that they may want Jay to go back into the 11:35 slot due to Conan not delivering as promised... time will only tell.... Personally, I think we all need another Law and Order Show....

To be perfectly honest - since Johnny Carson left the show - I really have not been a fan of the big chin man - he can be funny but he is NO Johnny.... sad to think that John and Ed are no longer here on Earth....