The worst job I have ever had was/is flagging traffic. Whenever my Dad calls and says "wear your orange" I feel like I am going to puke!
To explain for any one who doesn't know and wants some insight into my life.
My Dad and brother started a road construction company a few years ago. Usually it is the 3 of us putting in box culverts or other misc. work for the State of Indiana. It works out great because I can be a full-time Mom for about 10 months and work a couple of months during the summer, make decent money to pay off bills and by the time the job is over I am ready to stay at home again. I am more appreciated at home and I appreciate being at home. A win, win situation. ......... Until I had to flag traffic.
The first couple of times weren't too bad. Then I had a bad experience a couple of years ago. A man was driving and dropped his cigerette(sp?) in his lap. By the time he looked up it was almost too late. He slammed on his brakes and swerved around me. I KNOW for a fact that God spared me because there was no way I should have not been hit. The skid marks alone showed I should have been hit, but God saved me.
I said for get it, I will NOT do that again. My family doesn't listen very well. Last summer they made me flag again. This time a semi apparently thought that I was just kidding with the big red stop sign and decided that he didn't have to stop. This time I dove into the ditch to keep from getting hit!
Then I said to my Dad "I mean business! I will NOT flag again!!!!'
Guess what I did today? I wore my orange and held that stupid sign. They thought it was funny, but I thought i was going to have a panic attack. I only had to do it for a short period of time, but I said "This is my LAST TIME!"
They never listen to me anyway, I wonder why I bother?
They should let me drive the back hoe...... I've gotten better with practice!
Thursday, August 18, 2005
Monday, August 15, 2005
A Home Schooling Success
yeah! It is time for school again.
We are home-schooling for the second year and we are slowly trying to get motivated for the year to start.
i just had one of those great moments where I thought "maybe they are ACTUALLY learning something!!!!"
Ethan was asking Elijah questions about the freezing and boiling points of water. Elijah remembered what he had learned from last year and was telling Ethan all about it. It was an exciting moment to realize my kids have retained something from last year.
I have had so many positives from being with my kids. Teaching Ethan to read, Helping Elijah recapture his love of reading, boosting Elijah's self-esteem, discovering Ethan's love of cooking, the list goes on and on. I'm thankful God helped me to go against the grain and not conform just because it was what was best for everyone else. I'm glad God gave me the courage to see what wasn't working for my kids and stand up for them and try a new thing to find out what worked.
I pray I can equip them enough to be a positive influence in society and not be afraid to go against the grain and always be quick to do what is right and obedient to God.
I just pray I can lead them by example and not just by words.
We are home-schooling for the second year and we are slowly trying to get motivated for the year to start.
i just had one of those great moments where I thought "maybe they are ACTUALLY learning something!!!!"
Ethan was asking Elijah questions about the freezing and boiling points of water. Elijah remembered what he had learned from last year and was telling Ethan all about it. It was an exciting moment to realize my kids have retained something from last year.
I have had so many positives from being with my kids. Teaching Ethan to read, Helping Elijah recapture his love of reading, boosting Elijah's self-esteem, discovering Ethan's love of cooking, the list goes on and on. I'm thankful God helped me to go against the grain and not conform just because it was what was best for everyone else. I'm glad God gave me the courage to see what wasn't working for my kids and stand up for them and try a new thing to find out what worked.
I pray I can equip them enough to be a positive influence in society and not be afraid to go against the grain and always be quick to do what is right and obedient to God.
I just pray I can lead them by example and not just by words.
A Minor Irritation
It's always the little things. I am currently trying to prove to a lab that did lab work for Randy that I paid them.
They have my money and now I have to spend my time proving to them that they have my money.
I had to do it last year with the hospital, too.
It's irritating, but I guess it is better than paying them all over again.
Have companies gotten so big and out of touch with their customers/patients that they can't even keep track of who has paid their account and who hasn't?
They have my money and now I have to spend my time proving to them that they have my money.
I had to do it last year with the hospital, too.
It's irritating, but I guess it is better than paying them all over again.
Have companies gotten so big and out of touch with their customers/patients that they can't even keep track of who has paid their account and who hasn't?
Sunday, August 07, 2005
The Big 3-0
I just turned 30. I thought I would be indifferent about it. No big deal. I have been very surprised about the amount of thought I have put into where my life is and where my life was as an 17 year old and where my life is headed.
I realized a few things about getting older. I have actually learned from my mistakes. My attitudes have changed. I am a stronger person.
When I was 17, just graduated from high school. my life was planned. i would go to college and become some type of professional. I would make a life for myself and in no way would any man tell me what to do. I was my own person I was going to do what I wanted to do.
Then I met Randy and EVERYTHING changed! I fell in love and married way sooner than I had planned. We had a baby and we decided that I would stay home. no career for me. Now the 17 year old me would think I was the stupidest person ever. I thank God He softened my heart because staying home with my boys is one of the most important decisions God helped me make in my life. It is one of the hardest ones to stick with for financial reasons and it is the one decision that has already had the most tangible benefits. Never, ever, ever would I have envisioned myself as a stay-at-home mom and loving it so much!
I have seen how my walk with God has changed so much. I think it is for the better. As a new Christian I was intimidated by authority, mature Christians, anyone with power or more knowledge than me. Now I don't have as much knowledge as I should for as long as I have been a christian, but I know God loves me now! That is a revelation that took 12 years of battling with myself on why God shouldn't love me. It has been a long time coming to say God loves me and really know it. i want to walk my own walk now. I am willing to take responsibilty for my own mistakes. I want a one-on-one intimacy with God that is not influenced by the opinions of friends or family or the church. I am realizing how fallible people are. We are full of opinion, but lacking letting God have the full control and admitting we don't know it all. I believe God for all things, but I am ready to stand up for myself and tell people that I am just not interested about opinions anymore. When I stand before God I can't blame my church or friends for my mistakes. I must start taking FULL accountabilty for my actions now. I don't want to play the blame game anymore. I want to live my own life (making decisions with Randy of course) without the commentary of everyone who thinks they know how to live my life better than me.
There is freedom and the peace of God where I am at because where I was strangled by what my parents or friends or sometimes strangers thought, now I care what a select few think, but I will not let that keep me from following after God. Even when it seems what He is saying is too crazy to believe i don't want to miss God because someone called me stupid. I have learned the more I hear it the easy it becomes.
I really don't mind getting older, but now i realize I am not as fun loving as I used to be. I was a crazy cut-up. We would practical joke people in the middle of the night. Even when Elijah was a baby we would put him in his baby seat and I would carry him sneaking through the yard trying to scare Randy's cousin. It sounds kind of stupid, but we had so much fun! I feel like I have become to much of a Mom in the sense of I say things like, "you better quit or you will put your eye out" Geez that is what makes me feel old! If there is any one thing thatI feel was better when I was younger it is the fact that I was so much more fun. I would like to just recapture that part of myself because I liked myself so much better.
So much for the walk down memory lane. Getting older is enevitable so I had better make the best of it!
I realized a few things about getting older. I have actually learned from my mistakes. My attitudes have changed. I am a stronger person.
When I was 17, just graduated from high school. my life was planned. i would go to college and become some type of professional. I would make a life for myself and in no way would any man tell me what to do. I was my own person I was going to do what I wanted to do.
Then I met Randy and EVERYTHING changed! I fell in love and married way sooner than I had planned. We had a baby and we decided that I would stay home. no career for me. Now the 17 year old me would think I was the stupidest person ever. I thank God He softened my heart because staying home with my boys is one of the most important decisions God helped me make in my life. It is one of the hardest ones to stick with for financial reasons and it is the one decision that has already had the most tangible benefits. Never, ever, ever would I have envisioned myself as a stay-at-home mom and loving it so much!
I have seen how my walk with God has changed so much. I think it is for the better. As a new Christian I was intimidated by authority, mature Christians, anyone with power or more knowledge than me. Now I don't have as much knowledge as I should for as long as I have been a christian, but I know God loves me now! That is a revelation that took 12 years of battling with myself on why God shouldn't love me. It has been a long time coming to say God loves me and really know it. i want to walk my own walk now. I am willing to take responsibilty for my own mistakes. I want a one-on-one intimacy with God that is not influenced by the opinions of friends or family or the church. I am realizing how fallible people are. We are full of opinion, but lacking letting God have the full control and admitting we don't know it all. I believe God for all things, but I am ready to stand up for myself and tell people that I am just not interested about opinions anymore. When I stand before God I can't blame my church or friends for my mistakes. I must start taking FULL accountabilty for my actions now. I don't want to play the blame game anymore. I want to live my own life (making decisions with Randy of course) without the commentary of everyone who thinks they know how to live my life better than me.
There is freedom and the peace of God where I am at because where I was strangled by what my parents or friends or sometimes strangers thought, now I care what a select few think, but I will not let that keep me from following after God. Even when it seems what He is saying is too crazy to believe i don't want to miss God because someone called me stupid. I have learned the more I hear it the easy it becomes.
I really don't mind getting older, but now i realize I am not as fun loving as I used to be. I was a crazy cut-up. We would practical joke people in the middle of the night. Even when Elijah was a baby we would put him in his baby seat and I would carry him sneaking through the yard trying to scare Randy's cousin. It sounds kind of stupid, but we had so much fun! I feel like I have become to much of a Mom in the sense of I say things like, "you better quit or you will put your eye out" Geez that is what makes me feel old! If there is any one thing thatI feel was better when I was younger it is the fact that I was so much more fun. I would like to just recapture that part of myself because I liked myself so much better.
So much for the walk down memory lane. Getting older is enevitable so I had better make the best of it!
Monday, August 01, 2005
blessings part 2
I am struggling with some things right now, so I thought it was time to visit my list of blessings.
There is a scripture about to whom much is given much is expected and I believe I have been given much so a lot is expected out of me.
I was given a loving home.
I was given health.
I was given a brain to think for myself.
I was given the ability to zip my lips.
I was given the most wonderful children.
I was given the ability to love.
I was given the ability to forgive.
I was given a husband that treats me better than I ever deserve.
I was given a chance to worship God with every breathe I take.
I was given a home that I don't deserve
I was given a peaceful childhood without any abuse.
I was given parents who loved me enough to discipline me and even tell me "NO".
I was given the opportunity to stay at home with my children.
I was given the ability to cherish every moment with my children and delight in being their Mom.
i haven't even scratched the surface of all the things God has given me, but I feel better just thinking on His good things1
There is a scripture about to whom much is given much is expected and I believe I have been given much so a lot is expected out of me.
I was given a loving home.
I was given health.
I was given a brain to think for myself.
I was given the ability to zip my lips.
I was given the most wonderful children.
I was given the ability to love.
I was given the ability to forgive.
I was given a husband that treats me better than I ever deserve.
I was given a chance to worship God with every breathe I take.
I was given a home that I don't deserve
I was given a peaceful childhood without any abuse.
I was given parents who loved me enough to discipline me and even tell me "NO".
I was given the opportunity to stay at home with my children.
I was given the ability to cherish every moment with my children and delight in being their Mom.
i haven't even scratched the surface of all the things God has given me, but I feel better just thinking on His good things1
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