Home is where the mess is!

We are home!

The Space Shuttle is an amazing wonderment. I’d recommend going to anyone who is interested in space exploration. My son was so delighted by this event.




Cocoa beach didn’t seem to have a Jennie in a bottle for us to find but it did have a tremendous amount of family fun. My children could spend days playing on the beach. I’m still finding sand in things.

Mickey Mouse Land was wonderful and exhausting. I loved looking around the worlds in Epcot. Although I did speak to a lady working there about the trolls. She told me that they aren’t the things that they have everywhere in her country, they only have them in the story books. Gee do you think that we Americanized the countries? ;-}

France is a great place to have a treat. Yummy!

We had breakfast with Mickey, Pluto, Lilo and Stitch. Stitch sat in my chair and drank my juice. The kids were tickled.

Miss Littles and I had dinner one evening in Cinderella’s castle. It was quite an affair. The Fairy Godmother put her hands on my shoulders and spoke to me during the performance. I was thrilled! I played her in a high school production.

The coolest characters for me to see were Eeyore and Snow White. I gave Eeyore a big hug. Snow was so pretty. She’s the prettiest of them all.

I’m up to my eyes in laundry, need to make something for dinner, and I feel as if I’m about to drop. I’ll be talking with you all later.

Vacation update

I’m using the condo computer so not much information today.

My little beach bums were happy to be back in the water. We didn’t find a Jennie on Cocoa Beach

The space shuttle launch was amazing!

I can’t wait to share photos with you folks.

I'm getting ready for Mickey World.

Almost Time!

10

9

8

7

6

5

4

3

2

1 Then. . .

Have you ever felt that God was yelling at you?

I was late last Sunday for church. I had a good reason I worked all day and night Saturday then came home to put slides together, they were sent late so I had little time to pull it together. I had to sleep because I had to be at work again Sunday afternoon. With the kids with my dad I could hit the snooze and snooze.

I checked on some of my friends to make sure they were doing well and then found my sister and son. I have to admit I came in rather late for the sermon but boy was he speaking to me. I have to tell the elders and it seems that I have to do it rather soon. I think sooner than rumors is a good idea still it will be difficult to tell those around me how crushed things are. I might have taken the whole thing out of context. I might be looking for a way to turn away from what He wants for me to do.

I was sitting today at my desk I decided to listen to a sermon from a minister of one of one of my fellow bloggers. I’ve been freaked about several things money being a big one. I need to be able to take care of my children. Guess what the sermon was about? You got it. . . Money

I’ve been blessed to have a home for two years in a neighborhood that a lot of people I know couldn’t afford. Sure it’s stressed our budget but God has been good to us.

Our lives are about to change still I have God.

In my times of freaking out He stands solid and waits for me to listen. Some times He has to take my hand and yell in my ear. I'm such a child at times. I turn my head. I wander off. I try to control it all.

Once He told me and I took control then He yelled so loud that it took me to my knees.

He yells at me in different ways.

It reads from the heart of a distant friend. . .it sounds like the voice of a minister. . .it whispers in the wind. . .it’s the touch of a caring heart. . . It’s the faint sound of butterfly wings and the loudness of thunder rolling in my heart.. . It’s God

Boy have I neglected life in blogville lately!

Here’s what’s happening in our part of the world.

Mother’s Day brought me breakfast in bed along with a bog old head banger. I went to church to find my sidekick also had one and we were a man down, it was time to see what Milly is made of. Thankfully it wasn’t my breakfast. I had to pitch in and help with worship. At one point I said "I don’t know how to do this because I stupid." That brought a smile to sidekick’s face and he showed me how. Miss Littles did a great job with the Mother’s day song and telling the church how she feels about her mom. She loves to sing in front of everyone.

I was taken out for lunch by my children and sister then rushed off for work. Thank you crazy man for yelling at me. I loved the way you fabricated the truth. I love working in the area that I’m in now except for those who yell, threaten, and break stuff when we say no. I do in fact make up the rules. Yes that’s right they let little old me make up the rules for this huge company.
We are buzzing about trying to get ready for our vacation. The kids and I are so excited. I’m so not ready and in need of several items before we go.

I’m thrilled to be able to see a shuttle launch. Anyone want me to call them so that they can hear it live? I promise to have pictures to post.

Oklahoma is trying to recover from the storms. Please pray for those devastated by them.
One small town called Pitcher is almost completely gone now. 295 homes that were destroyed by Saturday's tornado and th e death count is 7.

Keep'n them safe

My son and I worked late into the night and me into the morning on a DFY project. (Drug Free Youth.) OOPS government class project. It’s an important project so I was glad to lend a hand. This one isn’t just a cool thing for him to do this is life and it’s for you and essential your children. Staying up late to put words with his video was necessity.

I pray that it saves lives.

I’d love to put the video on this site but I don’t have permission to do so.

Cody’s Law

On September 19, 2004 a 16 year old Cody Greenhaw died from a methadone overdose. He was given the drugs from the parents of his friend. They willingly gave him drugs and alcohol. He was encouraged to score for them. Did his parents see it? Yes they found the marijuana in his truck and did what most of us would do. They took away privileges and made him take regular drug tests. He passed over and over again so when he asked to spend time with his friend they gave in, after all he was doing well. He asked again, it was a birthday party so they gave in.

I can’t imagine what it was like to have police officers show up in church to tell you that your son is dead. The parents never called to tell them that they found him dead in their home.
Yes Cody had chosen to do drugs but they were given to him while the parents watched.

My son’s class decided to raise awareness and work towards strengthening the bill. They took first in the region for some of the work that they’ve done but that isn’t the true goal. They want the bill to make parents responsible for their children and your children when they are in our homes.

This one hit my heart. These kids are just like your kids. Some of the quotes are things that I’d say about my son. He was a good boy who made a bad friend. But here’s where it really hits us as parents WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT HAPPENS IN OUR HOMES! I have pain killers in my house. My husband has alcohol on occasion. Right now I wouldn’t be responsible if a kid overdosed without my knowledge. Look folks all that we would need to is put those items where they can’t get to them before we go for the pizza for our video playing kids. Before we leave the house with someone else’s child in it, a child that you don’t really know, put it away. Be the cool parent and keep them safe. You wouldn't put a loaded gun on your bathroom counter. Or do you?

Another thing check out who they are hanging out with. Don’t be afraid to drop by to meet the parents and don’t be afraid to see the house where they live. If it feels off it most likely is.

I kept looking at my son and saying this could be any of you.

This could be you.

He was a kind, sensitive and caring kid.

Cody’s mom Sareva Greenhaw about her son

It was not uncommon to hear from other parents that he was their favorite among their kids' friends.

He was the boy next door.

He was a good student and he was involved in athletics and church,

He was also involved in drugs,

Cody’s mom

The hardest thing you'll ever have to do is close the lid on your child's casket, and we don't want to see another family endure thistragedy.

Mark Greenhaw Cody’s dad.

PRAYING FOR DRUG FREE KIDS

DFY

Tooth fairy where are you?

Cheetah by Miss Littles

Today I got the pleasure of spending two hours in the dentist chair. Yea! I took two breaks for air and to move around. Am I finished with this adventure? No I’m not. This was the third appointment and I have one more to go on this side then when I can spend more cash I get to start on the other side. I can’t wait!

I’m having two baby teeth taken care of. Yes I still have some in the back. Kids take care of those choppers you may need them at the age of forty-six.

Brush and floss folks your dentist will thank you.

On whose clock shall our time on this realm end?

If it shall end sooner than later what shall you be doing to pass your short life away?

Will you worry about what they believe?

Will you try to persuade them?

How wrong they are, you know you are ever so right.

Aren’t you?

So when the trumpets blast will you be the one on bended knees or will you be the one waving your arms about in pride to show how right you are?

Who shall hear the words from you today?

Where is Christ in you?

Your heart or your prideful self?

Where is Christ in you?

Miss Littles has questions for you folks out in the blog world.

What is our Lord's favorite food?

Why did an angel tell Mary she was going to have a baby?


Why did the angel tell her that she would have to name Him Jesus?


Please answer on her site

http://littlesworld-milly.blogspot.com/

How's it going?

I was thinking about you and wondering how you were doing.

The right to be angry

We agree that anger is ok. I believe that all of us have been angry at some time in our lives. Some of us more times than others.

So let me tell a few little stories.

Sarah called her husband Dan as she loaded the children into the car. He gave her several things to purchase at the store and a warning that the money in the check book was low. She managed to buckle her daughter into the car seat. Something Houdini couldn’t have done while on the cell phone. She hung up and convinced her eight year old son it get in the car with a promise that it would be a short trip to the store. As she drove she told herself both kids will be in school next fall and she will be able to shop alone. She smile at the thought of not listening to her son tell her how board he was over and over again. She won’t have to worry that when she turns her head her escape artist child will be climbing out of the cart. She almost giggled at the thought of having lunch with her girl friends in a restaurant with that doesn’t have Mc something or a toy and play area. She was suddenly snapped into the real world when she heard the screeching sound. The nest call that her husband received wasn’t that from her bride to tell him how things went at the store and how she spent too much money it was from the police.

Everything in his life has now been changed.


The noise woke Molly from her sleep. She sat up quickly confused as to why she had a horrible feeling in the depths of her heart. BANG! A second gun shot. Confusion and panic overcame her as she rushed outside. Dear God why!!!! she screamed as she fell to the ground next to her son. He is just a boy my little boy.


The police seemed not to care about her feelings as they questioned her. Father, no, no father he split after my son was born. I’ve raised Jordan and his brother by myself. Drugs? No. She shook her head as she tried to comprehend what was happening. She watched while they took photographs of her son, his life blood on the street.

A case of mistaken identity. The shooter was wrong he chose the wrong young man and her life forever changed.

Will joined the military although it must have been a hard thing for a young gay man to do. He found solacement in the arms of strangers. When the doctor told him that the lingering virus wasn’t going to ever go away because he’s HIV positive his life forever changed.

Bobby’s great with children. He loves them. When his sister called with the news that his niece wasn’t breathing he rushed to the hospital. Blunt force trauma. She died from blunt force trauma. How does a two year old. . .the boy friend? His sister? The baby sitter? Their lives forever changed.

She tries to pretend she asleep so that he won’t come into the room. She tries her best to please him but always falls short. He works hard to make a living for them, it’s not enough.


Car wrecks. . .gun shots. . .diseases. . .murder. . .hurt. . .pain. . . death. . .anguish. . . .and . . . .and . . and. . .

I know some of the people who have stories like these. Some will find God. Some found forgiveness giving us an example of how loving our Lord is. Some don’t know God and if that’s what you people think He is then no thank you.


I’m blessed because I have never been angry with God. I’ve never lost a child. I’ve never been told that the illness is going to kill me. I’ve been in a bubble of a life and I’m blessed.
Others have fallen to there knees and asked God why. They have felt the burning anger and they have a right to be angry.


She was told that he wouldn’t live but a few short days after birth and at twenty two God called him home in a car wreck. His mother smiles as she tells of her loving son. He touched others lives and led them to God. She doesn’t question Him she thanks Him.


Not easy when you hold them so close. She’d have a right to be angry, she isn’t.


Is anger productive?


Yes it is!


When you hear that a man in your neighborhood grabbed a little girl. You begin to look for her, any car a bush you look at ever stranger. It could be him. When the little one is found naked and dripping with blood you get angry. You drop to your knees and pray. You drop some cash in a bucket to help the little one who will no longer be able to have children. Your anger stays because she is forever changed.


John Walsh was angry. MADD is angry. DVIS is angry.


A woman was constantly being abused by her husband, after the divorce he kept at her. The police did nothing to help her. When the cop received the call he stopped to go to the bathroom and then drove over to find her exhusband stabbing her. He took the knife away and walked to his car, unlocked the trunk and put the knife away while the exhusband stomped on her. She got angry. . .laws get changed from anger.


If we are to get angry with God then we must get up and be productive.

I pray for those of you who are hurting. I don’t know how it feels to be like you but God does and He is waiting for you to grab onto Him.

Peace Be With You.

I dropped the hook and now I'm waiting with my mocha cappa something

Ya’ll may remember how I enjoy fishing. I was fishing when I asked and I’m working on a post on this question Is it alright to be angry with God? I know what my answer is and I kind of knew what most of you were going to say.

Today I stared working on the worship slides and found this song.

I think it's fitting to start with.


My eyes are dry

By Keith Green

My eyes are dry
my faith is old
My heart is hard
my prayers are cold

And I know how
I ought to be
Alive to You
and dead to me

What can be done
With an old heart
like mine

Soften it up
with oil and wine
The oil is You
Your Spirit of love

Please wash
me anew

In the wine
of Your blood

My eyes are dry
my faith is old
My heart is hard
my prayers are cold

And I know how
I ought to be
Alive to You
and dead to me

What can be done
With an old heart
like mine

Soften it up
with oil and wine
The oil is You
Your Spirit of love

Please wash
me anew
In the wine
of Your blood

Grab a cup of coffee and share.

I want you to feel free to tell your story.
You can do it anonymously if you’d like.
I’m a firm believer that by sharing your story with others you are helping someone.

So here it is:

Is it alright to be angry with God?

Tagged from Bob and Meg

What was I doing 10 years ago?
1. Trying to live without my mom
2. Preparing my son for kindergarten
3. Attending church without my husband and involved in a great class for women
4. I was self employed
5. Gee wizzzz that was ten years ago I'm not sure what else that ya'll might find interesting.

5 things on my to-do list today:
1. Laundry
2. Go to bed early
3. Spend quiet time with God
4. Tidy up the house
5. Worship slides if needed

Snacks I enjoy
1. Cashews
2. BBQ chips
3. Fresh fruit
4. Chocolate chip cookies
5. Crackers

Things I would do if I were a billionaire
1. Help Hope Harbor children’s home
2. Pave a friend's driveway
3. Help family and friends in need
4. Probably travel more & visit my blog friends (Sounds good to me Bob)
5. College for my children and niece

Five of my bad habits
1. Stress eating
2. Putting stuff that I don’t want to do off
3. Making jokes when things get to intense
4. Talking too much (One of two or ya know that already)
5. I have no other habits that are bad. ;-}

Five places I have lived
1. Tulsa Ok
2. Minnesota
3. Owasso Ok
4. Miami Ok
5. Broken Arrow Ok

I’m a true Okie

Five jobs I've had
1. Truck Stop waitress/ It was about the only place to work at fifteen
2. Puppeteer assistant
3. Meat Cutter in a steak house/ I was a vegetarian at the time.
4. In home therapist for autistic children/self employed with my own house keeping business
5. Home improvement store cashier/ that's right living the dream folks.

Four TV shows that I watch:
1. Men in Trees
2. Grey’s Anatomy
3. Top Chef
4. Project Runway

Four movies I would watch over and over:
1. Imitation of Life
2. Braveheart
3. Finding Nemo (My son's idea for me)
4. I’d like to see Juno again

Four places I would rather be right now:

1. San Francisco
2. Hanging out with blogger friends
3. I’m rather happy hanging out with my son tonight
4. In bed

Four places I have been:

1. Hawaii
2. San Francisco
3. Canada
4. New Mexico
. . . .But I’ve never been to Boston in the fall

Four of my favorite foods:

1. Steak
2. Baked potatoes
3. Pizza-brick oven from Zarino’s
4. Soup


Four people who e-mail me (regularly, and non-work related):
1. Kimbo
2. Shawn
3.My family
4. Several friends

Things that I am looking forward to this year:
1.Life

Have you ever prayed a prayer that you knew wouldn’t get the answer you wanted?

I’m sure you have if you’ve spent any time on your knees.

As I grow older I find myself asking for things that I’m sure I won’t get and yet I think I need. I want things to be different I want the people I love to be closer to me. I want my dad’s lungs to heal. Forget that the man smoked at an early age and it was a bit late when he finally gave it up.

I want

I want

I want

I need at times and I don’t always seem to get that or so I think.

Something is hurting me deep, I ask for a hardened heart. God has done it before so why not for me?

He just will not do it so I go on hurting. But hurt has it befits. We learn from the mistakes that lead us to pain.

When I was growing up we had a floor furnaces. My siblings and I learned a bit from this furnaces. Ok my brother and I taught mom a thing or two from them. Mark taught her that if you pee on it steam will rise. I showed how hard it is to clean puke out of the thing during a bout with the flue. God bless her. We all most likely learned by touch how hot it would get. I remember on cold mornings trying to hover over the thing to get warm and not get so close to get burned.

Burns hurt and they scar. I know that first hand, rather first leg. When I was young a hot pot of coffee was spilled onto my nylon pant wearing leg. Now those of you who know a bit about things that melt know what happens to nylon. I ended up with third degree burns. I don’t really have a scar on the outside but I did hold on to one for a while on the inside. I thought that the darker line would show and that everyone would see that I was scared. I know now that people have real scars that show and if they have the courage to show them then I shouldn’t worry about mine.

We could go our whole lives without a scar but it’s not the way God made us. I believe he wants us to feel pain. I think He hasn’t hardened my heart because He knows I need my heart. I need to feel the pain as it happens so that I can better deal with all of what life is going to give me. If you stuff it all away then when you find it you’ll most likely try to take it all at once. That’s a breakdown in the making.

Instead of a hardened heart He’s given me people at my church, friends with the wisdom of what I’m dealing with, family to cling to, my loving children, and a steady ground to stand on.

I thank God for unanswered prayers.

I thank God for wisdom beyond me.

Just wonder'n about the bunny

As it is almost Easter I want to know. . . . . .how do you eat your chocolate bunny?

Ears first?

Tail first?

Feet first?

Well how do you do it?

http://www.bewarethecheese.com/chocobunny.htm

Click around on the bunny it's funny.

Thank you!

To those of you who have sent me gifts like a cross for me to carry in my pocket and socks to show off at work and warm my feet and cards and well wishes and prayer and tons of love I just want to say

Y

THANK YOU!

Y

I LOVE YOU!

Y

How Do We Communion?

Is it to be a celebration or a mirthless occasion?

I’ve been told both.I started to think of that "Last Supper"What was the mood like?Could you feel a shift in the air?Did Jesus show any signs as to what was about to come?And as I often do I made it my ownI began to think of what it might be like walking into that home for that meal.Judas like a thief trying to hide what he had done. He stopped to look at his reflection in pool of water, he couldn’t help but see his treachery. Satan had been talking to him all along and now he has won. What was it inside him that made him give Jesus away for only a few pieces of silver? He tries to justify it as he walks in, look at Him always so perfect. He straitened himself and moved to his place.

Jesus washed their feet.

That’s a big thing.

Take the time to really read it, give it time to roll around in your mind.

Have you ever walked into a room to have a meal with your friends and been surprised by having your feet washed?

I haven't

I realize that some of you know how I feel about feet so you might think sure Milly thinks it’s huge she wouldn’t do it. You know I don’t know now. I really gave this some thought. He not only washed their feet he washed the feet of those who would hurt him later and He knew it. He told them.Now here’s the part where we are so set apart from Jesus. If those who were hurting me were about to have a meal I’d most likely not want to touch their dirty feet but if I did and I knew that they were going to betray me I’d have a bit of sarcasm in my tone when I spoke of some still being unclean. I might even smirk and look see if they might confess. I don’t believe that Jesus did such, it wasn’t in His heart. He knew that they were fulfilling the prophecy.When He told them at that meal what they were going to do only one wasn’t surprise, he had already set the wheels in motion.

I wonder if fear or anger gripped Judas?

Hatred?

What ever it was could it have been an emotion that he could hide?

A sociopath could hide it, I don’t think he was one.

The others might have sensed something in Judas except that Jesus was different that night. His words were cause for concern.Did they look at each other thinking "It has to be him not me"

I doubt the mood was the usual one of talk of the day and listening to Jesus teach.

This meal was different.

To celebrate or to mourn?

Still I don’t know.

Jesus gave His life for us for our sins His beautiful life. Jesus came to this earth knowing He’d go through all of it for us.Humbled for sure.Honored.Unworthy I don’t like thinking that because it almost feels like we don’t get it we don’t deserve Him and yet we don’t.So I have no real words for the feeling that I feel that I should have for this moment. I do know that at times I make that meal of the Lord about me. For me. How can I make it about what it should be when I can’t put a word on it? It’s almost like trying to say YHWH you have to let the air out to say it. You have to let your breath of life out to say YHWH and breathe in new air, new life.

Celebrate?

It’s a moment of giving, Jesus gave to us so we should celebrate His gift of life to us through His death.I asked my son what he thought and being a wise young person who gives most things a bit of thought he said this about communion:

"All of God’s glory doesn't take place on the cross you need to focus on Jesus, on the examples He set for us."

"This Sunday I will focus on what a gift I am receiving from Jesus not just from the cross but in all of God's glory.

. . . .And so I had more thoughts.

I think I have a bit of an obsession with Judas. Actually after I posted on communion and had time to proof it a bit. I know I do that backwards but my time doesn’t always allow that. I sat back and realized that I have a bit of an obsession with Judas.Could it be that I feel sorry for this guy?

It was prophesied that he would do this he anguished over what he had doneJesus said that he would.

Did he do something that the weaker me might have done?

I’d like to think no way no how.

Was he possessed?

I wonder if he felt that he was always on the outside of the group.

Was he that tag along guy?

What makes a man betray his friend for a few pieces of silver?

Faith Incredible Faith

She was exhausted all the time. The pain was unbearable yet the worst was the shunning. Was it her illness that zapped her energy or the painful loneliness?She spent her days trapped in her home, a home that she had loved at one time it now was the prison walls that held her.She longed to be with people. Hugs, smiles, real smiles, not the passer by who fakes it she could see the pity in their eyes as the walked past her door. She longed to be touched by loving hands.Twelve years, twelve long agenizing years. She had seen all the healers and none of them helped her.

She wondered how much longer. . . . how much?

When she heard the talk of a great healer, of this Jesus, she knew that He was the one. He could heal her. She dressed as not to be recognized. Carefully making her way through the crowd her heart raced. Maybe just to see Him. I could possibly ask Him if I could get close enough. He will heal me she thought with all her heart. Her hand trembled as she reached through the crowd for Him. She touched His robe. Just a touch is all I needed she thought as she felt her body grow stronger.

At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who touched my clothes?""You see the people crowding against you," his disciples answered, "and yet you can ask, 'Who touched me?' "But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering."

He knew before He turned who had touched Him, He freed her from the painful bondage of her illness. She was no longer unclean.

I can’t read this without falling in love with her. Her faith amazes me.She had lived in seclusion for twelve years. We all need our quiet moments at times but twelve years of life alone is maddening.

Her only hope must have been that the next painful cure would work until. . .Jesus.

Keep your dukes up.

I had a conversation with a man who told me from the get go that he’s a Christian. That was cool. He and I talked about our moms and how we miss them. At one point he said something about having my mom. . . he trailed off realizing what he had just said then he looked thoughtful and smile “Oh that’s right our moms are together in heaven now. “ He and I then began to talk of human nature to live. We fight to stay alive. Even when we know it’s the end we still fight knowing full well that heaven is grander than here.

God gave that to us.

It’s built into us by his hands.

My brother and I as almost all siblings had a fight or two. I remember the last time I nailed him and hard. It stopped him from trying to keep me from decking him. Mark wasn’t a sister hitter once he got past the young brat stage. So he wasn’t hitting me. I was hitting him. I’m a fighter I always have been and always will be. It seems that when I’m pushed down I fight harder to get up, as Mark knows. I’m thankful that we’ve grown out of those silly fights and now have each other to lean on. Yes he can actually lean on the top of my head. I’m strong because God gave me fight and fight I will when I’m called to do so.



If you’ve every truly choked on anything or almost drowned then you understand the fight.
It’s cool to me that God gave us that. He gave us fight so that when the doctor tells us we have a disease we pull ourselves up and fight.

Fight makes us better warriors. It makes us better parents, and friends. Most of all, It makes us better Christians we want to live and tell those around us how great our God is.

Keep up the good fight!