HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOMA!

Today is my Moma's birthday. I won't put her age... :-) I'm very lucky to have her in my life. She has always been such a wonderful Mother. Now, she is not only my mother but my friend. I don't know what I would do without her. She's very loving and kind. I think the neatest thing now is watching her with my boys. It's fun to see her as a grandmother. She's taught me so much in my life. How to be faithful and trust in the Lord most importantly and how to love with your whole heart.

Thanks for everything Moma! You're the best!!

Happy Birthday Nanny!

Today is my Grandmother's 86th birthday! Nanny Jessie has always been such a blessing in my life. I can remember doing such fun things with her when I was a little girl. From playing in the back yard at her house, to shopping with her, eating breakfast at Hardee's, going to the jockey lot, and watching TV. The memories go on and on. She taught me how to make cobblers(all varieties) for which my family will be eternally grateful. She is really something. Very strong, stubborn woman. She recently won queen at the assisted living facility on Valentine's Day where she has been living now for a little over a year. That was pretty exciting for her. I think the most important thing I've learned from Nanny is to love your family by showing them. She's not the type to tell you over and over again that she loves you but yet there is NO denying - it you just know. I hope that my family, especially my children and grandchildren will one day be able to say that about me.

I love you, Nanny!!

Happiness

"The time to be happy is now; the place to be happy is here."

Robert G. Ingersoll

Happy Birthday to ME

31 years today. WOW! Where does the time go?! What have I learned? HMM...I think I have learned the simplest things. Put God first always, love your family and enjoy life to the fullest. How simple is that?

Thanks Shon for the Happy Birthday...you get lots of points for that.

Thanks to Candice, too for wishing me a Happy Birthday. I'm sure it will be great day!

What a day!

Man has it been a busy day!! It's so dreary out there, too!!

Well, seeing that it is already 3:30 and I'm just now posting you can tell that I have not had any free time. I have a story for you and then a comment on the race.

I was humbled on Saturday by my 5 year old. I was busy cleaning the house getting ready for Alex's birthday party. Alex was taking a nap and I was getting the vacuum cleaner out doing different things and John was playing outside. He rang the doorbell repeatedly. Of course my immediate reaction was to become annoyed, I was thinking you are going to wake up Alex. I ran to the door saying stop that... what was he doing? Standing there holding a flower for me. He had gone out in the rain to pick me a flower. I was brought to tears. And I felt like dirt. So, I guess the moral is not to fly off the handle too quickly and to be thankful for those time when the doorbell rings even when it isn't convenient for us - it might just be a beautiful flower from someone who loves us. What a gift!

Now, about the race. Jimmie Johnson won. Unfortunately his reputation is tainted. I saw one article today on MSN where the lead in was "Cheater wins Daytona 500" I really think that's too bad - he's going to have to live that stigma down forever.......at any rate it's on to California next week so we will see how it plays out. There was no lack of drama in Daytona that is for sure. Looks like we're in for another great season.

Till tomorrow -

Gentlemen Start Your Engines...

Well, today is the Daytona 500. It might surprise some of you, not those of you who know me that I am a big NASCAR fan. I guess my Dad first exposed me to racing. He loved Dale Earnhardt and then my husband loves racing. Some might say why would you ever watch a sport where cars just go around in circles (someone actually asked me that last week). Well, there is much more to it than that. First of all these are the 40 best drivers in the world, who've qualified to be in the race. They have to set up the car and no, I don't know what all goes in to the car set up - it depends on the track, the weather, etc. Then the tires come in to the play, pit strategy and then driving and staying out of accidents. It's very interesting. But, you really have to see a race live to fully appreciate it - nothing like hearting the engines start up or the smell of rubber...(Shon should really appreciate that comment).

This year was especially good because BON JOVI opened with a special concert for the 500 and what could be better than BON JOVI (with special guest Jennifer Nettles whose also AWESOME, right Candice?!)? As you can tell I'm a HUGE BON JOVI fan as well. He sang 'It's My Life', 'Have a Nice Day' and 'You Can't Go Home'- duet with Jennifer Nettles. It was awesome.

Jeff Burton is on the pole but Jeff Gordon is on the outside (2nd). So, we'll see how it plays out. Stay tuned I'll update you later with my thoughts on the race...

Taking Advantage

Have you ever been taken advantage of? Well, my student's are taking advantage of me...or should I say they are taking advantage of a policy that I have to enforce. And I'm taking it personally. I don't exactly know why it upsets me so much. I guess because I try so hard to be good to them and when you get taken advantage of it makes you feel hurt and betrayed. It occurred to me on the way to work today that the Lord must feel that way about us as his children. He is so good to us - beyond words good to us and how do we repay him? We don't thank him enough for our blessings and we certainty don't spend enough time with him in his word seeking his guidance for our lives. I think I see the lesson he is teaching me here.

Have a great day!!

Valentine's Day is my first post that's cool! I think I'm going to enjoy the opportunity to express my thoughts here. I've caught the blogging bug from reading Candice and Sara's blog.

Have you seen the Publix commercial where the little boy tells his mom he wants to make a cake? She assumes he wants to make the cake for a girl that he likes. They have a great time together making the cake. Then the next day when she takes him to school he leaves the cake with her all along having made it for her. The commercial brings tears to my eyes every time. It's so sweet. Especially since I have 2 little boys of my own now. I feel so blessed to have them and right now I have them all to myself. Their eyes light up when they see me, me, just me. It's the greatest feeling in the whole world - to be loved that much. At the same time it does make me sad to know that the time is so short that this love will last....I know they will always love me but this all consuming love that they have for me will not last forever. Now, don't get me wrong I really wouldn't want it to, I want them to grow up and fall in love, get married and move on. I just feel so blessed right now to have those special little guys in my life. God has blessed me in so many ways -- given me so much love. I mean I have a wonderful family 2 very loving parents, a wonderful sister and brother in law with a beautiful new nephew. Very special friends! And I married the only man I've ever loved and that love has grown beyond anything I could have ever imagined and now our love has created these 2 beautiful little guys. What an incredible journey to be on!!

Happy Valentine's Day!!