My Inner Redneck

Growing up I was always a bit ashamed of my country up-bringing. I felt I was a lower class.
As an adult I am so glad for it. I am proud to be a red-neck, hilly-billy, or country bumpkin.
here is my list of proof I am a red-neck:

1. It is impossible for me to say "hill". It comes out"heel"
2. I learned to drive on my Dad's Allis Chalmers tractor. After mastering that I got up- graded to the old truck to pick-up rocks in the field.
3. I know what a ravelin is and use it frequenty in conversation.
4. I once tried to ride a cow. My Dad refused to buy me a horse-something about them not being practical. I decided to ride our beef cow. I got bucked off and landed in a huge pile of manure. My Mom was NOT happy.
5. I Hate wearing shoes.
6. In school I always had to explain what a "Mamaw and Papaw" were. No one called their Grandparents that.
7.I love Blue Collar T.V.
8. My favorite song growing up was "Elvira" by The Oak Ridge Boys. Elvira, Elvira, My Hearts on Fire, Elivra. What a great memory.
9. My family sits together and enjoys the Dukes of Hazzard on a regular basis.
10. Some of the "You might be a redneck...." jokes are a very true thing in my family.
11. My brother and my cousin could pass for Larry the Cable Guy's twin. No joke. Sleeveless Shirts and all.
12. We have been known to sit in our lawn chairs around our guinea's cage and just watch them. Country livin' at its best!
13. Duct tape will truely fix almost anything.
14. At family get togethers, never ask what the meat is, it could be bear, squirrel, rabbit, caribou, deer, the possibilities are endless.

All joking aside, I am proud of my family and the up-bringing I had. I am also proud of how Randy and I are trying to raise our kids. I enjoy country life and I am glad I finally quit being ashamed of it!

Prayers for the children

I have been thinking alot about prayers, especially concerning my children. I pray daily, sometimes hourly, sometimes by the minute (depending on the day!) for them. I don't want them to have the same struggles I have had finding God and realizing His Love. So I pray a lot for the kind of men they will grow up to be and mostly that they will have such a personal relationship with Jesus that they will cling to Him through all things, at all times, and that they will listen to the voice of God and be quick to repent, quick to forgive, and quick to obey.
I believe with all of my heart that God hears and is now honoring my prayers, but lately I have been crying out for all of the children who have no one to pray for them. What happens to them?
I think about the children in foster care. When they turn 18, are they are automatically suppposed to know how to be a viable part of society? I am not putting down our system at all, I'm just thinking out loud I guess on how people turn out the way they do.
I guess I need to quit watching the news because I am overwhelmed with how evil humans are.
The horrible things we can do to each other. The things that are done to children and we wonder why they can't adjust and be a part of society.
I know God has laid a specific burden on my heart for children who have no one to love them, but sometimes it is so big I can't stand the weight of it. I can't sleep at night for all of the thoughts in my head. The enormity of it boggles my mind. There are a few things I have been pondering and seeking God to put some action behind my prayers.
I know God is a big God and He loves His children. There are so many things I won't ever understand and I pray that I will be willing to put my hand to the task God has set before me.
I know I am incapable of doing anything on my own, so I pray that God will strengthen me and help me to rely completly on Him!

It only takes one

It only takes one negative word to over-ride dozens of positive. I have negatives that I was told in elementary school that over-ride the hundreds of positives that I have heard since. I don't want it to be that way, but for me it is. I just decided today that I don't want to be that ONE anymore. I have said my fair share of negatives throughout my life and I am sure some of my words are still stumbling blocks for people. So with God's help I want to quit being the one or two or three or more negatives that are heard and start being a positive.

Can I be too organized?

After Randy and I moved into our new house I turned into a neat freak. I am completely addicted to plastic totes. I have everything organized and labeled in a tote, on a shelf. I didn't see it as a problem until today. Yesterday we had family over for Elijah's birthday party. he received a slide making kit to go with his microscope. As I sat at the computor today I saw the kit nice and neat on a shelf with his microscope. How is he to play and experiment with it if I have it tucked away on a shelf?
I think I have cleaned and organized my way right out of living. I want everything in a nice neat labeled box and if it is not I freak out, every part of my life is that way, even my brain. I compartmentalize everything. I am sure there is some sort of phsychological disorder I can claim to have. I guess the first step to getting help is admitting you have a problem, right!
Randy and I were at Fazoli's the other day and they have glass bottles lined up in the windows. They weren't lined up according to color and it was driving me nuts, I just wanted to rearrange them. The boys have art supplies and play-do in nice neat totes that they hardly ever get to play with because it is just too messy. Enough examples of my craziness, I'm sure someone thinks I need to be committed at this point.
I guess more than anything it was just a moment of clarity when God really spoke to my heart this morning to say"Lighten up!" I need to just have some fun, quit worrying about the messes because they will always be there. I will never be able to have all the messes in my life cleaned up, whether in my house, on my kids, in my relationships or in my heart. I can waste my whole life sitting with everything clean and orderly and be miserable everytime another mess comes or I can have a little fun making some messes of my own.
This makes me think of Ms.Frizzle on Magic School Bus"It is time to get messy, make mistakes and something else, I forgot the rest. Sorry I have resorted to quoting cartoons, but that is my life! So I am off to enjoy the day and forget the messes, they will always be there and from my experience I am really good at making some myself!

I am waaaaaay toooooo Young!

Elijah is now nine. I am way too young for this.
He told me yesterday that he is so excited because he has always wanted to be nine and now his dream has come true. I thought that was so sweet and just so much like him to say it.
I don't know if God could have created a more tender- hearted kid. Some days I sit in wonder how God could have blessed me with such wonderful kids. I have a good life and I really don't deserve it!