Long After The Thrill Of Living Is Gone

As a child of thee 80's, one of my all time was John Mellencamp's "Jack and Diane".    We were getting haircuts the other day and that song came on in the salon.  For some reason the line "O yeah, life goes on, long after the thrill of living is gone.", really hit me and I began to think about it in a way I never have before.

     When the song first starts out, it about 2 teenagers who are madly in love with each and their life is peachy king.  By the time, the quoted line above takes place;  they are most likely are in their mid-to-late thirties.  They probably have a  couple of kids and their  life is probably CRAZY!   Between raising kids, working, marriage and everything else that goes along with this phase of life, it does sometime seems like the thrill of living is gone.  You don't always get to do you please.  You have to choose the well fare of others over what you want.  Not that it's a regrettable chore, but it can become a long haul road.   When you are in the midst of  the business of life it can seem that you will never again enjoy life as you did in your youth.  And you right, you won't.  Not because you'll never enjoy your life again; you probably will.  But as you age, your values and your interest change.  You will probably find that what thrilled you as a youth has faded and that new desires have taken their place.  I think many people will find that once that get through this hectic part of their will once again enjoy live, to some extent, to the way they had before.  

Happy New School Year

Today is the first full day of school.  Summer flew by.  I think every year it goes faster and faster.  Dalton is a freshman and Bobbye Sue is in middle school - 6th grade this year.  I don't know where my babies went.
For many years, I  have celebrated two New Years a year.  This may sound insane to some people,   but Mamas everywhere know what I'm talking  about.  It's a big change to go from the lazy summer mode to that full force school mode.  Not only do your kiddos  have to get back into habit of going to school; many times you have to reestablish bed times, you may have to look at their chore list and see if they need to be revamped, and perhaps most important you have to reign in supper time.  It's been a fun summer; eating whatever you want whenever you want and often time wherever you want  (ex. in front of the TV).   But it is time to star planning supper and eating together as a family at a more set time.    It's an exciting time of the year for me.  Because it's a kick start thee motherhood in where it may have became stale and repetitive.  I want my kids to know I'm 100% for them.  My job as a mama is to love them, encourage them and make sure that they know how precious they are not only to me, but that they are even more precious to God.

So with that, I wish you all  a Happy New School Year!

LIKE A COLD CUP OF COFFEE - I AM A BIT UNIQUE

I like cold coffee; and I'm not just talking iced mocha-although those are a fave - but coffee, cream and sugar.  I love coffee.  I'd love to drink it hot, but because of the CP & muscle spasm, drinking hot beverages doesn't lead to a pleasent sight!  So,it's much easier for me to drink it cooler or even stone cold.  Barrett will fix me a cup  before he goes to work & I'll drink later in the day.

Now, I'm not writing about this just to tell you I like cold coffee.  As I mentioned earlier, I am participating in the Titus 2 University.  Today I was listening to the first audio teaching and it got me thinking of how different I am from the "normal" mom.  Misty Krasawski, owner of the Encouraging Hearts at Home blog,  is a home schooling mom of eight.    She seams the "perfect"  woman.   As I started to listen, at first I felt really intimadated, but as I listened to   what she said about to letting go and letting God have the glory.  This snapped me back into reality.  While I may not be  the typical, "normal" mom, God has made me a mom. and a friend told me years ago that God gave mine children to me and no one else, He's a specific reason for me to be their mother and for them to be my children.  Psalm 139:14 says "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made..."  I am a different kind of mother, but I have faith that I'm  exactly the mother He wants me to be.  So I can keep trudging along, doing the best I can to praise and glorify God.  It's OK to be a different type of mom.

Just like it's OK to drink a cold cup of coffee

New Year - New Me

Can you believe it's 2012???  January, February and March are usually the hardest months of the year for me.  The excitement of Christmas is over, the kids are back in school and Barrett will do a gazillion ballgames in the next 3 month.  It's cold and I usually only get out of the house a few times a week.  Plus the cold weather makes my body stiff and my muscles ache.  My depression tends to worsen in these wintry months.  This is the time when I must rely on my heavenly Father MOST!!!    Satan knows my weaknesses and uses them against me. I must stay diligent in prayer and spending time with God.  I've done a really poor job with my blogging the past few months.  I want to get back on track with that.  I just signed up today for The Titus 2 University;  9 months of classes dealing with becoming a better wife and mother.  I've got some books up to read.  Back in November, I hired a lady who comes every 2 weeks and cleans my house; allowing me to keep it cleaner on a daily basis.  So, all-in-all, I'm excited about the new year.  I know if I keep my head focused on God, Barrett and the kids and my home then I can get through the deepest valley Satan tries to push me in to.

Thankful Thursday - It's been a while!

Sometimes I feel like  I'm running around in circles. There are so many things I want to do and many time -especially during certain times of the months I'm just exhausted and it seams to take all my energy to do the basics things.  This is when I realize how thankful I am for God's pure, free and simple grace!  I don't have to have a spotless house or blog everyday  to ensure the God love me.  I don't have to be a replica of Carol Brady to prove that I'm a good wife and mother.  All I have to do is love and care  for Barrett and the kids the way God directs me top.  Do I succeed at this everyday???  NO!  However, He still loves me.  He convicts me when I do wrong and He also acknowledges and confirms me when I'm doing the best I can.  I think this is why I can lay down in a house that's not spotless and with chaos all around me and I can rest in PEACE

VBS - Searching for Jesus in Honderus

This week is Vacation Bible School.  We are looking for Jesus in Honderus.  One of the teanagers and her mom went on a mission trip there last Thanksgiving.   She helping me teach (well, she teaching and I'm her"helper") the mission class.  Tonight, she showed pictures of her  trip.  We are collecting Crocks to send to Honderus.  We're using the poem "Footprints in the Sand as a "theme".  So tomorrow night we are tracing our "foot prints" on poster boards and sign them.  We'll  send these to   Honderus too.  I'm really learning how very blessed I am.   On  Wedenesd day we have another guess speaker ~ a woman who lived in Honderus for a year.  They live closed to the dump and have planted a huge garden that can feed 1000 + people per  month...GOOD STUFF!!!

Simple Sunday & a Trip to a Pet Resor

It has been a Simple Sunday. We had aa greeat day at church. We ar in the process of going through the book of Jude; learning about how everyone's salvation is the same and different. Then we came home and just hung out. We leave 2 weeks from tomorrow for our summer vacation. in the Smokies. I'm very excited but there's a LOT to do. We are going to kennel our Westie (Maggie Sue) this time. Big Fat Cat can fend for himself! So, I'd call about this one place and we went to check it out. We took the kids. BIG MITAKE!!! We get there and to the place. So, Barrett and I are looking for the basic feed & board deal. The lady starts talking about the different packages they have; spa treatments, boot camp, TVs tuned to Disney in their cages; thee whole 9 yards. So Bobbye Sue hears all this and she's so excited. It broke her heart to learn that we weren't doing any special. We're leaving on a Monday and we'll be back on Friday - I think the dog will survive. It is a nice kennel. Needless to say, I will have to call tomorrow and make arangements where little ears can't hear and influence thee choice of the package I choose.

A to Z Blog Challenge - C is for Confession

is for CONFESSION. Confession is 1) An open profession of faith (Luke 12:8). (2.) An acknowledment of sins to God (Lev. 16:21; Ezra 9:5-15; Dan. 9:3-12), and to a neighbour whom we have wronged (James 5:16; Matt. 18:15).  Confession is a very important aspect of our relationship with God.  It's the first step we take after God calls us to follow Him.  And its an act they we  will have  to  take this step many times throughout our lives.  Confession   does not alway easy or natural, in fact  it usually doesn't.  Confession isn't for God's benefit, but ours.  God is omniscient. He knows all of our sin before we even think about committing them.  Some people may even use this as a reason not to confess; saying if God already knows what I've  done  then why should I confess?  We confess to show our repentance and seek forgiveness.  We know that as followers of Christ, ALL of sins were forgiven when Jesus shed His blood for our salvation.  However there is something in our soul that yearns to get out when we have sinned; and the only way for it to get out it through confession to God. 

      O Father God.  Thank you so much that you sent Your only Son to die for our sins.  We know that once we place our faith in You, that we are forgiven before we even think about sinning.  Lord, help my kids to understand the importance and even to true gift of confession.  I just pray lord that there hearts may not feel at rest until they confess to You.   In Your Holy Name I pray...AMEN

A to Z Blog Challenge - B is for Bravery

  is for Bravery!  According to dictionary.com, the definition or bravery is; "1. brave  spirit or conduct; courage; valor. 2. showiness; splendor; magnificence."  I almost think that bravery now days is a lost art.  I grew up with 5 brothers so being brave came natural to me.  (HAHAHA!)   Bravery isn't going up and picking a fight just to prove something; bravery is standing up for something that right, even when you may not want to.  Bravery may even mean being still and quiet at times.  You don't have to go out to look for chances to be brave; plenty of these chances will find you.  Bravery comes in many forms.  Some people think if you "break down" that  you're not brave.  I must say that I've seen many people reveal their true strengths through "moments of weaknesses".  I think we are bravest when we can totally rely on God and trust Him  to supply our bravery.
     Father God, please teach my kids what it truly means to brave.  Help them to be able to discern when they need to "put on a brave front" and when it's OK to "let their guard down".  Help Barrett and I not only be examples of bravery to them, but help us to also be hear to  listen, talk and most of all pray about their bravery.  In Your holy name I pray, Amen

A to Z Blog Challenge - Praying the ABC's FOR MY LITTLE PEOPLE

My friend  Ella introduced me to the A to Z blog challenge at Tossing It Out.  I think I'll try it.  I may not post every day, but will try to post a couple of post a week.    But I'm going to add my only little "twist" to it.  I've been really impress to pray more fervently for my kids.   There is no major problem.  I've been  listening "The Power of a Praying Parent." by Stormie Ormartian.    It really had just reinforce the importance of praying   for my kids


...is for ATTITUDE...I think it's so ultimately important to pray for kids attitudes.  I especially feel this way as my kids are entering their teen and preteen years.  I know that as they grow they have to test the waters for themselves and choose for themselves how the want to react to a certain issue.  I can  give them my opinion, but they ultimate have to make the decision.  My kids are 11 and 8 -  so they are best friends and worst enemies  at the same time.      A couple of weeks age Dalton was so angry he said;   "I hate Bobbye.  I wish she was never born."  I quickly told him that he was not to say this again.  He said: "Mama, you can control what I say, but how I feel."...He is right I can't control or change how he feel.   He loves his sister VERY much; I know this.  I have 5 brothers and two  sisters - we didn't always get along.  Mama used to tell us we needed to be best friends; because friends will come and go but siblings will always have you back.  I must say, I love watching Mama and her brother interact...they've come a long way from when she used to leave him on top of buildings to go play with her friends.
         Father God, please help my kids to have good, positive attitude.  It isn't about them always being happy - but please help them to be able to take whatever life throws at them with stride.  Help them to trust you and all time and to pray before they go off and react in haste.  Please give them a heart of mercy towards others.  Help them, Lord to understand that their ways may not always be Your will; but help them to understand that Your will is always right.   In Your holy, heavenly name. I pray.  Amen
     

Simple Sunday - Spending Time with The Fam

 Today was another great Simply Sunday at the Barretts!  It started out hectic.  Everyone was grumpy and tired from losing an hour of sleep.  Sunday School was awesome; we're studying  Phillip-ans.  I love our class and I love sitting under the teaching of my husband.  In Church we learned about working out our own salvation. After church, Barrett stopped by Publix and got stuff to make subs for lunch.  The afternoon, we rode with Barreett over to look at a trailer with some other people from church.  Dalton didn't want to go; said he didn't want to "waste" his only day.  He threw a fit, so we went more or less to prove a point.  I wanted to go  and be all together.  Because I can't drive, I sometime go Sunday to Sunday without living my house, so if  I get the chance to "go" I usually take it!  But we also went because Dalton sometimes has an issue with obeying Mama.  So we went and he played til he got bored.   Well, then he said he didn't feel good.  So, we  come home and and he said he threw up- I think he spilt shampoo- wouldn't be the first time.  So, I feel bad when I don't believe - but also trust my    instincts.  He's already missed 6 days of school since January.   I do, and want to trust my  kids and I do feel deeply for them in times of need, however they do take advantage of this...Especially Dalton.  i feel like a bad Mama, but 9 time out of 10 I can tell when he's trying to  play me.  I did learn a few things from having 5 brothers!  Of course I want him to feel loved, safe and cherished; but I also want him to  be accountable and all.  Dalton is the  type of kid my mom WISHED that I would have -JUST LIKE ME!!!  So to stay that we butt heads is an understatement.  I think that may be why I'm so hard on him  -   because he is so like me!   HEHEHEHA!  How do you find the balance of how to be a good mother;   both loving   and structured...Ahhh, yes.  Just another Simple Sunday at the Barrett's!!!!!!

Thoughtful Thursday - Staying Home in Sickness & Health

IT'S THOUGHTFUL Thursday 

       As I count my blessings today, the one that is foremost on my mind is that I'm able to stay home with my children when they are sick.  Dalton has had the stomach virus for 3 days now.    Today I realized had glad I am that I don't have to find a sitter or leave them home alone so that I can go to work.  I got to thinking about when I was in the hospital for almost 2 months when I was expecting Bobbye Sue.    Dalton had just turned 3 and had to go stay with my Mama during the week; (Barrett would go get home Friday and Mama would usually come visit me on Sunday and take him home with her.)  I would talk to Dalton every night before bed.  On more than one occasion he said; "Please Mama, let me come home.  I will be a good boy."  It broke my heart.  He was too young to understand understand what was going home; he just knew he wasn't at his home with his Mama and  Daddy.    Now I'm so thankful I get the chance to stay home and take care of the kids and Barrett.  Thank you God!

Shout Out To My Tech Guy

Just want to say Thank You to my son Dalton Barrett who does my blog designing.  He's a 11 and so creative.  Yes, he gets his technical abilities from Barrett not me!  I pray that God keeps enhancing this talent and that Dalton always uses it to glorify Him.