Here Coyote, Coyote, Coyote...

Have you ever seen a real coyote? Do you ever hear them howling off in the distance? They love to gather in the country and call at night so that you can hear them for miles. I don't know much about coyotes, but they have been quite the talk at our little farm lately. And I'm not talking about the coyotes that you hear howling at night, I am talking about the coyotes that like to visit out house and say hello. The kind of coyotes that drive in a truck and follow you around no matter where you go ~ restaurants, Wal-Mart, for a drive, where ever. The kind of coyotes that my youngest daughter never, ever wants to meet!

This all started a few months ago, and I cannot even tell you how it got started, but it did. I was talking to someone about coyotes one day and my little one started screaming in the backseat "NO I don't want the coyotes to come to my house! NO! NO! NO!" So after assuring her that there were no coyotes that would visit our house, she calmed down. I didn't think much about it until the coyotes were brought up in conversation again and she literally flipped out about it! Hmm... I thought to myself.... this could work to my benefit. The child that is always into everything, the child that is constantly getting in trouble, the child that is the strongest minded little thing I have ever seen, the child that had NO fear was actually afraid of something.... coyotes!

Let me state I would never intentionally scare my daughter to be mean. I am not the type of parent who wants to terrify my child so much that they have nightmares, or that frightens them for life over a fear they have. I think that is mean for parents to do such a thing. But, I realized that I could work up this coyote theory to my benefit just an eensy weensy tad bit (really, just a little bit).

I cannot recall if it was me or big sister who proposed the idea one day. My little one was on her non-wanting-to-see-the-coyotes kick and it was suggested they could visit out house and pay her a visit if she didn't do what she was told. Then came a sight for sore eyes ~ the little one who is so stubborn did exactly what she was told without even a hint or argument. I, for one, was in shock and not sure what to think. So then a few days later, she was in trouble for something else and the coyote theory was mentioned again. She would get the privilege of meeting Mr. & Mrs. Coyote if she did not behave. Little Miss Independent straightened right up and did exactly as she should have when the coyotes were mentioned! So by this time, I have it all figured out. Let's use the theory if and ONLY IF we really need her to behave or to get her to instantly snap out of her terrible moments. But I made a very firm point to my oldest daughter and to myself, we are not to overuse this theory because that would be diving into territory that I do not want to enter. The territory that would give my little girl fears, nightmares, and terrors for life. I refuse to scare her to death so that she is scarred for life. But as time went on, I found myself using the coyote theory just a little bit more, but only when I really needed it...

I am grateful to have the job that I do and then come home every night to my lovely children. But by the time bedtime rolls around, I'm usually ready for them to go to sleep and give me a few moments of quiet time. So just a few weeks ago I took a vacation week from work for our fair. I had the kids with me 24/7 that week with no break. So when I go from being with them at night to all the time with no breaks, my mind might be a little boggled. Don't get me wrong; I love my girls dearly, but after 8 days straight with my little angels, I was ready to get back into a routine! So back to the vacation week, most days I was there anywhere from 10 - 14 hours per day. And that is hard on little kids, heck it was hard on me! But it's like that every year and I know what to expect each year. I will admit my littlest one was a trooper this year and I was really proud of how she behaved all week. She could have been alot worse than she was! I don't know who was more tired at the end of the week ~ me or the kids! Now my little one did have her moments from time to time so that's when the coyote theory came into play...

Not only did the coyotes know where we live, but I also had a direct phone number for the coyotes that I could call anytime that I needed them to come and say hi to my Little Miss. Oh, and get this - the coyotes even have texting too! They have moved up in the world of technology, let me tell you. So once my little one figured out I had the coyote's phone number, I had the key then! All I would have to do is flip open my phone and "call" the coyotes and she would start on her "NO NO NO I don't want the coyotes to come" kick. So then she would be told to be a good girl and she would normally do just that. Later in the week, the coyote theory started to weaken since I called the coyotes a thousand times dialed up the coyotes phone number a time or two! Funny how the coyotes would be eating at the next food stand, or at the end of the barn where we were, or just a few feet away each time I needed them. They were always right there and ready to meet my youngest anytime!

Then one day my reverse psychology theory took a turn. She actually told me she wanted to meet the coyotes. Hmmm.... fast thinking! Ok, so I spotted a blue Ford truck that is always at the fair and told her that they were sitting in their truck and waiting to see her. So we started to take a walk and a few steps later, she planted her feet on the ground like concrete permanently stuck. She decided she no longer wanted to meet them, especially when she saw the cage in the back of the truck that they hauled humans in. Nope, she didn't want to test out that cage at all!

I hope you have a sense of humor if you are reading this. It's really not as bad as it sounds. It started out as an innocent theory, but the more people that knew about it, the more it grew. And the more big sis felt like she had the right to call the coyotes too because she was privileged enough to get the number too! Yep, direct from the coyotes themselves. She would even text them on occasion to find out their location. Ha ha! So anyway, we made it through the long week and never did have to encounter the coyotes. And I knew by the end of the long hellacious drawn out week, the coyote theory needed to be nipped in the bud and quickly.

So we didn't hear much from the coyotes until the next week. All of a sudden, my little one decided she would put herself in contact with the coyotes all on her very own! She informed her uncle that if he didn't do as she said, she would call the coyotes and have them come visit him! I wasn't there when she said it, but I rolled on the floor in laughter when I heard about it. Just think... the very thing she has been terrified of for months is now the exact thing she is going to call and scare someone else with. Kids are sometimes smarter than we realize, and we don't give them enough credit at times.

We are now back to rarely using this coyote theory. But if I need to get my daughter's attention immediately, it works! The coyotes are just a phonecall away and have informed me that if I ever need them to visit my daughter, just to let them know. They are always close to the vicinity where we are, whether that be home, school, Wally World, in the car, Grandma's house, where ever. They like to keep a watch on my daughter and make sure she is walking the straight and narrow! And if she steps off the path, they would love to greet her sometime.

Someone reading this by now probably thinks I am terrible, and that isn't the case, I promise! My little one does know that coyotes will not hurt her, they just want to say hello and tell her to be a good little girl. That's all. I have reassured her the coyotes that follow us around are not mean. So will this coyote theory last forever? No. Will it come back to bite me in the butt someday down the road? Probably. Will we always remember how the coyotes would visit follow us around and talk to us on the phone? Yes. Will my daughter hold this over my head someday? I'm sure she will. Does it give us something to laugh about in current day? Yes. Will it be something we remember for years and look back and laugh on it? Always. Even though it's not the nicest theory in the world, it makes for great conversation and funny memories that the kids will someday look back and laugh about. Surely my little one will realize before too long that I can always talk to the coyotes on the phone, or find out they are close by, but we have never actually met them. The only thing that worries me is someday when we go to the zoo, and there are real coyotes there. My daughter will probably beat me to the exit gate running 190 MPH to get out of there!

We all have something that we do or say that helps to make our kids mind just a little better. All parents have used reverse psychology at one time or another. And if you haven't, how boring! You have to mix life up a little, and add a little fun from time to time. Otherwise your kids will grow up and be like bumps on a log. Kids are only little once, have fun with them while you can. Teach them to the best of your ability and don't feel bad if you have ever used a "coyote theory" on your kids. We are all humans and it happens! Now hopefully no coyotes will be paying a visit to our house tonight... HOWLLLLLLLL!!!!

Close Your Eyes and Let Your Heart Lead the Way

As I climbed into my SUV today at lunchtime, I turned the ignition and heard those exact words from the end of a Reba McEntire song. "Close your eyes and let your heart lead the way." I often read into music alot and look to songs for signs from Above. I have a feeling this was speaking pretty loud and clear to me. When we venture from our comfort zone and drift into unknown territory, it can be scary. This is when we must let go of what we know and trust in the Lord to direct our way.

Closing our eyes means that we cannot see. But if you think about it, people that are blind deal with this everyday. They must rely on their other senses to guide them, and often with the help of others. They cannot see, they can only mentally visualize images in their head. Being blind would be incredibly difficult, but there are people that live with this disability everyday. And there are those who have become huge successes. I think of Ronnie Milsap, the country music singer who is blind and has played music for many years now. I saw him in concert 2 years ago and was quite inspired by him. So just think, if you are fortunate enough to be reading this, then God has blessed you with the visual ability to see. Thank Him for that!

When we go to bed each night, we close our eyes and hope to get a good night's sleep. So in essence, we cannot see when we are asleep. Sometimes we dream at night so we have visual images in our mind. That is the time to rest our minds and our bodies so that we have energy the next day to go about our daily lives. And if we are fortunate enough to get a good night's sleep, then we usually wake up happy and ready to get the next day started! So closing your eyes is often times a good thing.

Closing your eyes is like walking into the unknown. Have you ever tried closing your eyes and walk around your house and do normal daily routines? I have before just for kicks, and it was much harder than I thought. Even walking with my eyes closed was a trick! I actually had to keep my eyes closed for a whole day (or most of it anyways) when I had my Lasik surgery a few months ago. Let me tell you that was tough! Just try walking to the bathroom without tripping over the cat who is out of food and starving to death LOL. Let's just say it was not a fun evening! Even though I knew my way around my house very well, I still felt a little lost at times.

When we are going through troublesome times, that is normally how we feel ~ Lost. Lost without direction to go. Lost in the world wondering what is to come next in our lives. Now when we feel lost, remember what we are supposed to do and what we should be doing everyday. Turn to the Lord and pray for guidance! Ask Him to guide your way and where He wants you to be. Sometimes you will not get an immediate answer. And that is the hardest part of all ~ I know! Just be still and listen and He will guide you when it is your turn to receive a blessing. Close your eyes and let your heart lead the way.

When we put our heart into something, that means it is something very important and very special to us. Hearts are very tough because they get broken everyday. Unfortunately that is the cold hard truth. Nobody wants their heart broke, but it sometimes takes a heartbreak to get to the next step in your life's plan. Have you ever heard the expression "follow your heart?" That is what God wants us to do. If we believe in something so much with our heart and soul, then follow that. Simple as that. Don't give up on it if it's in your heart, but do be aware that sometimes what is on your heart will change over time. It will change with the tides of life that roll in and out.

Be careful to not confuse your heart with your head. So many times we think of something in our heads, or we think the Lord has led us a direction because of what we believe in our minds. Or we put a visual image in our head and we are going to pursue it no matter the cost because that is what we want. It goes along with the theory we always want what we can't have. We are all guilty of it at some point in time or another, more often times than not! But if we truly believe something in our heart, than we know it must be real. So we should ALWAYS listen to our heart along with guidance from the Lord. And if we can do both of those things, we will lead the happiest and most fulfilled life possible on this earth! He will never steer us wrong; we just have to listen to Him and be willing to accept what life throws at us along the way.

When we have something on our heart, it becomes a passion so big that we cannot control it. It is absorbed into our mind, soul, body and spirit whether we like it or not! When we believe something with our heart and soul, we can't help but be led by whatever it is that is in our hearts. Now the trick to all of this is how do we differentiate if something is in our head or our heart?

That is one question I would love to ask God above. I have no clue to the answer, but if you do, leave me a comment with your insight! I do know that following my head will normally lead me somewhere I do not want to go or somewhere I will regret in the long run. But when I follow my heart, it will lead me true and put me where I am supposed to be in this world. If you do not know if something is in your head or your heart, my only advice to you is to pray about it. Ask God to speak to you in a way so that you understand whatever it is you are dealing with. Ask Him to help you know what is right and what is wrong at that moment in time. Sometimes things in our hearts can change over time, but once someone or something is in your heart, it does make a permanent indention in your heart that will be there for eternity.

Remember when closing your eyes, let God lead your way to following your heart in this world. Be open minded and ready for change because that sometimes happens when we least expect it! I have had so much thrown at me in the last few days; things I never dreamed of. It's a time for me to sit back and stay still. Time for me to reflect on where I am in life, where I am going, and what I want out of life. All this is completely possible with God by my side who will not steer me wrong. I have to be patient and willing to listen to get where I need to be. So remember this theory is a good one ~ walk blindly and listen to your heart and you cannot go wrong. If you can see exactly where you are going, that isn't always a good thing. If you cannot see where you are going, enjoy the ride along the way and learn to listen to the Lord. For when the time is right, your eyes will be opened and listening to your heart will get you where you need to go. So try it today, close your eyes, drift off to dream world, and let your heart guide you. Just don't be fooled by your head because you don't want to end up in a snow drift when you could be in tropical paradise!

Can People Change?

Can people change? That is a good question. I believe the answer to that is yes, but the person has to want to change in order for that to happen. Some people change for the better, and others change for the worse over time. Normally a person changes when something drastic happens in their life. There are numerous reasons a person can change but some of the obvious would be the death of a loved one, marriage, divorce, having children, loss of a job, the opportunity to work in their dream job, and the list goes on and on. Notice some of the changes were positive and others were not so good.

There is that word again that not many of us like to hear ~ CHANGE. Yes, I said it, change. Change is that thing that comes into our life and makes what we know as familiar and things we consider comfortable in our life different. Many of us like to keep the same routine, the same daily grind, and the same people around us each and everyday. If we are happy and content with our everyday scenarios, that is great. But if we are not 100% happy with the way things are going or the way our life is headed, then it's time to think about making a change so that we can improve our current situation.

I believe the first step in making a change is to figure out what you want in life. Yes, YOU as an individual. You have to be totally content and happy with yourself before you can move on in life. And if you are not completely happy with yourself, take the necessary steps to make it happen. Whether that is to explore new territory, push things out of your life that aren't what you need right then, stop a bad habit, whatever it is - do what it takes to find yourself and make peace within yourself. For when you are happy with yourself, you will gain so much more out of life and live life to its fullest extent without even trying. It will just come natural to you if you are happy within yourself. And don't forget prayer ~ pray, pray, and pray some more. With the Lord's guidance and doing what you feel is right, you will find yourself soon enough. And there is no better feeling in the world than knowing you are doing the right thing, living as you should be, and being happy with yourself.

So once you figure out who you really are, you are then ready to move forward and let go of the past, let go of the questions in your mind, and look ahead to the future. The key to remember in finding yourself is that there is no time limit set in stone. But the longer it takes to find yourself, the more fun and adventures you might incur, but the more you might also be missing out on life. We are only given so much time here which is 24 hours a day for an uncertain number of days on earth, so do what you need to do. Remember it's not about the destination, it's about the journey along the way where we will learn who we truly are as an individual. So once you are ready to move on, do it! Don't let anything hold you back. Go achieve your goals, chase your dreams, go live life! If that means letting go of the familiar and doing something you have never done, then go for it. If that means chasing something you have always wanted or know is right for you, then reach out and don't stop until you grab on to it. Whatever it is you feel you are supposed to do on this earth and whatever you feel is in God's plan for your life, go for it. What are you waiting for?

When we reach the point of being happy with our self and who we are, we figure out what we want out of life, and then we reach for our dreams and goals, then what? It's sometimes an answer we have waited a long time to receive and it's sometimes walking into unknown territory. No matter what the situation, remember we must continue to seek the Lord's guidance day in and day out. And never forget that! He is the key element for us to live life to the fullest and carry out His plan for our life.

So back to my original question, can people change? I believe with all that said and done, it's hugely possible. I have asked myself that question about certain people my entire life or as long as I've known the person. Then there are others who I look at and say "they will never change." You all know someone like this. They are stubborn, set in their ways, and tend to always think they are right about everything. And even worse, they can never admit when they are wrong. Or if they do make a mistake, they rarely admit when they are at fault. Maybe you are even that very person I just described. I have met a few along the way, and if a person is that stubborn, I will either fade them out of my life or push them away eventually. We are all wrong sometimes, we all make mistakes, we all have faults and the sooner you accept that, the better. I will be the first to admit I am not perfect; nor will I ever be. None of us will ever be perfect in this world today. But we have to take the bad with the good and try to make the most of every situation in life.

I have had to deal with some pretty stubborn people in my lifetime. Sometimes it's easier to give in instead of argue. But the person I have evolved into since my divorce would have to argue with that point. I will cave on some issues if they aren't of monumental value. But if it's something I strongly believe in, I will stand my ground on my opinion and won't back down. I believe everyone is entitled to their opinion and I will respect theirs, as long as they will respect my views. I have learned a little secret to stubborn people that I will let you in on ~~ ready?? Ok, here goes....
"Nobody can be the biggest stubborn a** 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Everyone has a soft point somewhere. It's just a matter of finding that weakness or soft side, and using the components needed to bring that side out. " (My words of advice)

So did you just read that statement? Most of you will agree with me after reading that sentence. However, if you look at that statement and tell yourself that is isn't true, then YOU, my friend, are one of those stubborn people that needs to rethink how you treat people and have more respect for today's society!! Even Good Old Mr. Scrooge had a heart in the long run!

Here is another important point to remember. All of life's events, people that have come into our lives, people that have exited our lives, everything that has happened to us at this point in time right now that you are reading this has made you into the person you are today. Now the million dollar question is - do you like the person you are right now in time? Are you happy with yourself as a person in the current life scenario at this exact moment in time? If yes, again, congratulations! You are at a point most people in their life are not. Your job is to stay happy with who are you and help others come to that point in their lives. Or be an influence to others and make them realize they need to become content with themselves first. (Thank you JMS ~ I love you darling!)

We must all endure life's changes which in turn means we must change ourselves and adjust our life to the current situation. Sometimes we do not always like what life throws at us, but we must roll with it. I hear all the time about bad things that have happened to people, and they blame what has happened in their life for the person they have become today. I know firsthand that life isn't fair. I watched my 9 day old daughter die in the arms of her daddy 6 years ago. That is an image that will be forever engraved in my mind. But I have also had the wonderful blessing of watching my two other daughters grow up into the sweet sassy little darlings they are today. I have endured the breaking up of a 10 year marriage into divorce. That was not in my original plan when I got married years ago, but God had a different direction for my life then I originally thought. Since then I have been blessed abundantly in life! But it's also at that point in time of my life I really turned to God and gave it all over to him, and faithfully started following the Lord. I am not one to preach on a street corner, but I do give Him credit for all things in my life. For without His guidance and blessings, I would not be where I am today nor would I be the person I have become today.

I believe we can all change if we want to change. I believe life is what we make of it; and we choose how we live. I believe if something is meant to happen or meant to be, it will be when the time is right. I do not have all the answers in this world; nor do I want all the answers. I have caught myself saying in the past that I would love to have a crystal ball to know my future, but what fun would that be? It would spoil the surprises of life, good and bad. I have also learned I have to develop patience in a situation when I want something to happen. I have learned things will happen how they should and when the time is right, if we accept that fact of life. We must always be prepared for changes in life, big or small, good or bad. We never know what life holds one day to the next. All I can say is I am learning to be happy with life, learning to be happy with my current scenario, learning to be open minded about changes in the future, and learning who I really am as a person everyday. I am sure not the same person I was two years ago, or even a year ago. I have come so far in life and grown in myself and in the Lord. It's amazing how great life can be when you relinquish all your troubles to Him and leave it ALL in His hands. In time, He will show you the way, even if it's a road you never expected your life to lead!

My advice for the day is to remember life is what you make it. If you are not happy with something in life, do what it takes to change that and make yourself happy. If you haven't found yourself, pray that God will help you do that in the near future. If you are walking in this world and feel alone or lost, you don't have to be. Ask the Lord to come into your heart and show you the way; show you His plan for your life. You would be amazed what a little prayer would do. It can truly change your life! If you need to make changes in your life, don't sit back and think about it; take action. Nobody other than yourself can choose what you do with your life, so take initiative and make things happen for yourself. Nobody is going to lead you by the hand and say "do this" or "do that"; all the choices you make in your life are ultimately up to you. And with prayer and the Lord's guidance, you will eventually come to where He wants you to be. It might take awhile to get where you are going, but if the treasure at the end of the rainbow is truly worth it, then so will the journey along the way. God Bless!

From Light to Darkness, and Darkness to Light...

Each morning begins a new day with the sun rising. And each day ends with darkness taking over the light of day. When the sun rises with each day, we are given a new beginning each and every day. Some days will be better than others. On our good days, we appreciate life and all that we have been given. On our not so good days, we are down and ready for a new day dawning to erase all the bad stuff that happened that day. On our bad days, the next day will be better, and the next day, and the next, until we can have a good day again.

I love the sun rising every morning. It indicates a fresh start to another day; another blessing from the Lord that we are still here on God's green earth. We should always attempt to get up and start our day with a smile. No matter how hard it is, we should look at the positive aspect of life and realize we are blessed with another day here. Another day to do what we need to do, go where we need to go, and take care of the things that we need to take care of. As the sun rises and shines down on the world, things come alive. People wake up, flowers sprout, everyone is usually happy and ready to get the day started with the sunlight's arrival.

As the day progresses, the sun becomes brighter and brighter. So as the rises in the east, moves around to the other side, and sets in the west, it lights the world for all to see as they go about their daily routines. Then in late afternoon or early evening, the sun's job is done for the day and it must go get some rest for its hard work of lighting the world the next day. So that's when the sun takes a break and allows the moon to rise so that night can fall. With the rising of the moon, daylight fades and the world becomes dark.

Life can also be this way. We have our bright and happy moments, and then something happens and darkness enters our world. I heard a quote a couple weeks ago that said "If not for the darkness, we could not truly see the light." We must all have dark times in our life so that we can see the light. Sometimes God tests us and sends struggles our way to see how we will handle those difficulties. We can either crawl under a rock and pretend they do not exist or we can face them head on and deal with the hard times. In order to get some thing or some place we are supposed to be, we sometimes have to do some things we have never did before. Many times we tread into unknown territory but that is when we need to pray for guidance and for the Lord to shine the light on our path. That unknown territory can be extremely frightening. Often times we are comfortable with our life the way it is, or we deal with issues because we do not think we have a choice. We always have a choice, and we should always do what we think is the right thing. Sometimes the right thing isn't what we want to do, but we must do that in order to move forward in life.

If your life is rolling along smoothly right now, that is wonderful! But if you are struggling with something or a situation, remember it is only temporary. Remember we must all have darkness in order to see the light about things in life. And there is no time limit on how quick we will see the light about whatever it is we are dealing with. It's all in God's time, and we should not go against that. We are all tested at some point in our lives. But those tests only make us stronger in the end. Remember this - Everything is ok in the end. And if it's not ok, then it's not the end. So always remember with light comes the darkness. Keep your head held high and move through the shadows of darkness and eventually you will come to your light on the path of life when the time is right.

Life is a Puzzle

"Our life is like a huge puzzle. Every day, we are handed a new puzzle piece and at the end of that day, that piece fits into our life somehow, someway."

I received an email today about a 14 month old child who had accidentally been backed over with a car by her parent. She is fine and is on the road to recovery quickly. While I don't know the family, this quote was included in the letter describing what happened. The letter also went on to say how we are where we are by the choices we make in life. And the person had accepted Jesus Christ into her heart and that had forever changed her life. Her daughter's life was in God's hands, so she had to put her faith in Him.

I love the quote about our life being like a huge puzzle. Our life is made up of so many components and pieces in this world. We have our families, friends, children, jobs, hobbies, homes, cars, material possessions, and the list goes on and on. Every person in our life or that has influenced our life has molded us into the person we are today. Every place we have been, or place that we go to on a regular basis, or place that we call home has influenced the person we are today. Life is one huge puzzle; we do not know where the pieces will land, but with faith in the Lord, they will land where they are meant to be. With guidance from Him, we can put together the puzzle of our life and live it how we should!

Puzzle pieces come in all different types of shapes and sizes. I like to think of the center pieces of points in our life. The puzzle all has to fit together eventually and when those pieces are broken apart as individual pieces, they have holes or extra limbs that will connect to other pieces. So standing alone, they are individual little souls. But when you connect the surrounding pieces around them, they become joined together and make a straight and narrow path. The center puzzle pieces consist of holes and I believe those represent the hard times in our lives. Then you have the branches of the puzzle pieces and I believe those are our peaks and high points in life. But when you put the branches and the holes together, they fill up the gap. So without the hard times, we cannot come to the good times in life.

There are also 4 corner pieces on every puzzle. I think of the corner pieces as turning a corner or making a change in life. They are the changes in the path of life. The surrounding pieces to the corner piece signifies the circumstances around us that lead us to that change. Sometimes they are good, sometimes they aren't good, and sometimes they are unknown. But ultimately we have to go with what path we think the Lord wants us to go down. Sometimes it's not always the easiest thing to do, but it's what we have to follow.

The other part of the quote says we are handed a new puzzle piece everyday and it fits into our life somehow someway. Each day is a new beginning. We learn something new everyday; at least I do. Sometimes we meet a new person, get some news about something, try something new, go somewhere new, or just have a normal day. But we can always learn something from each day. Each day given to us is a blessing from the Lord and does add to our puzzle of life. That is a good way to describe life - a big puzzle. The mystery of life is sometimes exciting, sometimes haunting, and sometimes not what we expected it to be! But that's when we roll with it and continue to put our pieces of life together. No matter where the pieces of the puzzle fall, live each moment to the fullest extent and continue to pray for your guidance each and everyday!

Time Has a Way or Working Things Out

Time has a way of working things out. I heard this quote from a friend recently and it stuck with me. We always want things to happen in our time, but that's normally not the way things work out. We must learn to acquire patience and then be patient, continue to be patient, and then still continue to have patience often times. We only make life and situations as difficult as we choose. We have the choice to lose patience or get angry because something isn't going our way, but in the long run, what does it solve? We can control alot about our lives, but there are some things that are out of our control. And for those things we must rely on the Lord to work things out how He has planned for them to be. During the waiting process, that is where patience comes into the big picture.

Time can sometimes be our best friend or our worst enemy. If we are working against time, then we wish for more of it. If we are under a deadline or feel like we do not have enough hours in the day (which is the majority of the population), then time isn't always our friend. However, on the flip side, time can also be our friend. Think about a good time or a fun time you have had in your life. It seems like the good times and the fun times fly by. There are always going to be those times we enjoy so much in our life and can't get enough time doing whatever it is we enjoy. Such as a vacation ~ for one, vacation doesn't come around everyday. It's something we look forward to and then when it finally arrives, it seems like it's over quicker then it was even here!

So looking back over your life, there have been situations or things you were so caught up in or needed to change at that moment in time. And with time, those became solved when the time was right. Sometimes we do not even remember all the details of a situation because when are problems are solved, we move on and usually let them go. So just remember when you are going through something in life, things will fall into place when the time is right. In time all things work out how they should. In the meanwhile, we must learn to be patient and when God's timing tells you to do something, do it! Don't let life pass you by. Take every moment you are given and appreciate it for what it's worth. And never take anything for granted because life is too short here on earth. Time does fly, so go out today and make whatever it is you need to make happen!

Inspirational Reminders

Some of these quotes have been posted on my blog before but I came across this list and felt it was an important to post these. We all need a little daily reminder about these things in life.



No man or woman is worth your tears, and the one who is, won't make you cry. ~ I have learned this very quote is so true! The person who is right for you will not make you cry. Some tears may be shed during hard times, but if someone hurts you to the point of making you cry over reasons beyond your control, that is not the right person for you!



Just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to, doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have. ~ There are all types of love in this world. We all love people differently. There is our family that we love, there are our friends that we love, there are our animals that we love, and there is our significant other that we love. Each person that we love in this world means something different to us. We love our children with all of our hearts, but it's not the same kind of love we have for our best friend. So someone can truly love you with all they have, but it does not necessarily mean they will love you the way you wish you could make them love you. You can never make someone one love you; it has to be completely voluntary to be true love.



A true friend is someone who reaches for your hand and touches your heart. ~ Most of us are fortunate to have one or more true friends that fall into this category. We all need a best friend that we can confide in. We all need at least one friend that knows us better than we know ourselves, and will be there for us no matter what. And if we are fortunate enough to have at least one friend like this, we have been given a huge blessing from the Lord. If we have more than one friend we can confide in and will be there for us no matter what, we have been abundantly blessed and should appreciate and be grateful for those friends in our life.



The worst way to miss someone is to be sitting right beside them knowing you can't have them. ~Have you ever been in this situation? It's not one we want to find ourselves in. Sometimes we don't always feel the same about people who have feelings for us and vice versa. And if the balance of feelings isn't equal between the persons, it usually always eventually leads to hurt or hard feelings towards one another. It is hard to want something or someone so bad and knowing we cannot have it. But as I always say, if something is meant to be, it will always work out in the end.



Never frown, even when you are sad, because you never know who is falling in love with your smile. ~ When we are down, we tend to frown. Though often times when we are down, we learn more about ourselves then when life is happy and rolling along in our favor. Just know that if you are down about something, it will not last forever. There will always be ups and downs in life; otherwise life would be boring! We would not appreciate the good times in life if we weren't given bad times to go along with those. I try to keep a smile no matter what life throws at me. You truly never know who is watching you or your smile so always stay positive and smile no matter what life throws at you!



To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world. ~ We are all only one person in the world. That is all we can ever be, ONE person. You are one person, I am one person; and we must remember, one person can only do so much. And most of us have someone that we mean the world to. My daughters mean the world to me, and I would be lost without them. My kids have also told me I mean the world to them and they would be lost without Mommy. Especially my 4 year old who is permanently attached to my hip! I can barely go to the bathroom without her tagging along, and even then she will stand at the door and beat on the door "Mama! Mama!" as if she is never going to see me again. I feel so loved and needed in this world!



Don't waste your time on someone, who isn't willing to waste their time on you. ~ This statement is so true and just plain common sense if you ask me. If someone isn't willing to put forth the effort and give you some of their precious time, then they aren't worth giving your precious time to. So many relationships these days are not balanced and one person is putting forth all the effort and the other is not. That cannot work if both parties aren't willing to create the needed balance a relationship takes.



Maybe God wants us to meet a few wrong people before meeting the right one, so that when we finally meet the person, we will know how to be grateful. ~ AMEN! How many times have we met someone or somebody that has come into our life made such a huge impact, and then was gone one day? Most everyone has at least one person in their life that has came and went. We do not always understand why things happen the way they do, but God brings all people into our life for a reason. Again, we may not always know the reason. But sometimes it can be the fact that that person had such an impact on our life, that we changed how were living or our thoughts about a certain situation. And then another person comes along and we can then be grateful for him or her. Life takes enduring pain to get to where we need to be. People enter and exit our lives, but if that person is truly meant to stay in our life, the Lord will show us that in time. I believe this wholeheartedly!



Don't cry because it is over, smile because it happened. ~ Another very true statement! If something comes to an end, it was not meant to be. Take what you learned from whatever it was that ended and apply it to your life. And you should always smile about something that happened because at one time, it was exactly what you wanted. We all have moments we have exactly what we want. And then sometimes those moments fade in time and that thing is gone one day. Be grateful for the memories of the good times, but do not hang on to those. Move forward and do not look back. Leave the past in the past and walk on!



There's always going to be people that hurt you so what you have to do is keep on trusting and just be more careful about who you trust next time around... ~ I don't think I've heard this quote before but again, how very true it is. It seems like when we get hurt or burned by someone, we lose trust in everyone. We must remember this - what one person did to us does not mean that another will do the same. Do not carry the burden of past mistakes or judgements to the future. Let those go along with the person if that person is no longer in your life. You cannot move on in the future if you hold onto grudges by others who have wronged you. So keep your head up, give the next person a fair chance, but do be careful in putting too much trust in someone until you really know them. Remember it only takes a moment to destroy trust, and sometimes it takes a lifetime to build up trust.



Make yourself a better person and know who you are before you try and know someone else and expect them to know you. ~ If you are not happy and content with yourself, you cannot live life to its fullest potential. A friend recently told me she was finally at peace with herself for the first time in a long time. I realized that I want that in my life and at times I have been there, but I need to get back there. We all want peace and harmony in our life, but we must be at peace with our self before that can happen. And it's not fair to try and get to know someone else if we don't even know who we are as a person. Because until we are happy and content with ourselves, we cannot truly be the person we should for another person to see. So if you are lost and wondering in this world, my advice is to pray for guidance and for God to show you direction. And then listen to what He says, and apply it to your life!



Don't try so hard, the best things come when you least expect them to. ~ Good things come to those who wait. I am a firm believer in that! If you try to rush something, or make something happen in its own time, it won't work out in the long run. You must trust in the Lord and He will show you when things are supposed to happen and the way they are supposed to happen. As hard as it is, we must place our trust in Him and be patient.



REMEMBER: WHATEVER HAPPENS, HAPPENS FOR A REASON. ~ If you have ever read my blog, this is practically in every post! Everything happens for a reason and there is a reason that everything happens. If we believe this statement, we will be more happy and at peace with life. We do not always understand why things happen, but God knows what He is doing. Sometimes it takes something or someone to show us things about life. God sends messages through our family, friends, strangers, songs, etc. all the time! We just have to be open minded and LISTEN and then we will receive the message from above. We all have situations that we question in life, but if we dwell on those questions all the time, we are losing precious time by worrying. We all worry about things, but if we just trust in Him, there would be no worries. I am sure we all have a list of questions we could ask God if we had the opportunity. I know I do! But I can't stay stuck on those what-ifs of life. I have to move forward and do what I think the Good Lord wants me to do. And even then, sometimes I do not know what He wants me to do. So sit back, be patient, and when the time is right you WILL know what direction to go in this life on earth!

Live and Love Happy because we only have one life to live...

Back to School Again

It's that time of year again... those 3 little words that most children dread hearing...
Back To School!

Now I remember those days way back when I used to be in school. The first day of school was the most exciting day because I got to see all my old friends I hadn't seen in 3 months. But that also meant seeing the kids I didn't like as well so that was the not-so-fun part about going back to school! Oh, and seeing who you had to put up with the remainder of the year in the classroom was in your class for another school year. I can remember there were always a couple kids I didn't want in my class because they were mean. And I knew I was doomed the whole year if I saw their face that first morning I walked in. Then there were my best friends I had in school that I always wanted in my class. Sometimes I would be lucky and be in the same room with them, and other years I wouldn't be so fortunate. Aw yes, the first day of school was always exciting, nerve wracking and scary all in one!

Today was the famous day in our household. It's amazing how both of my kids were up and going before I was even rolled out of bed this morning. Maybe that was just coincidence with the little one though. She laid in her room crying she needed me because she had to potty. I told her to get her butt up and go! So of course she was up and needed entertained while I still had to take a shower, throw on my clothes, make-up and all else that goes along with the morning routine!

Don't get me wrong, I love it when kids get out of school for the summer in May. But by August I'm ready to get back into a routine and a schedule of some kind. It seems like the 9:00 - 9:30 bedtime I mandate during the school year dissolves completely in the summer! My little one is typically in bed before big sis but I'm lucky to get my oldest in bed before midnight these days! So last night I specifically told her she HAD to be in bed by 10:30 at the absolute latest. So after dragging her feet, taking a longggg hot shower, taking 10 minutes to brush her teeth, 15 minutes to comb her hair, another 10 to pet the cat, another 20 to finalize packing her backpack with all the pretty new pencils, crayons, scissors, glue, and folders (you get the idea) for the big first day and laying her clothes out, she finally hit the pillow by 11:40. So my guess is that she will be dragging tired by the weekend...

Back to this morning, I headed to her room to wake her up and I wasn't even to her door yet and she yelled "I'm up Mommy!" So the sleepy child that I can barely get out of bed every morning and has no morning motivation was up at the crack of dawn raring to get the day started. Did I mention how I love the first day of school??? Why isn't it that my kids can get up and get themselves ready everyday of the year without any motivation from me?? Maybe everyday can be the first day back to school. Think the school board would vote for that idea? Yeah, I didn't think so either...

So after getting everyone ready it was time to head to the front yard for the annual first day of school picture. I know I am not the only crazy mother that does this. Just ask any of my scrapbooking friends ~ they will tell you the same. The child cannot leave for school on the first day without their famous picture taken in their new school clothes and their new backpack looking frilly and fancy that first day! After all, there is only ONE first day of school every year. And I have gotten that first day pic every year, so why stop now? I still have another 14 years worth of first day school pictures to take!

Next year I might not be so calm and collected about this whole first day of school matter. Because there will be a huge change this time next year. My "baby" will be in kindergarten and I will be the crying crazy mom on that day. If you know me at all, you know that I will probably take the entire day off work, follow her bus to school, drive by the school a few thousand couple times just to make sure the building is still standing and ensure her safety. I will probably wait at the end of the driveway an hour before her bus comes just to make sure I don't miss the big moment my baby girl gets off the bus for the first time ever. OMG I think I need a kleenex! *Pout* *Sniffle* *Pout*

Oh and the year after that will create an even bigger change then the baby going to kindergarten. The big "baby" girl will be off to middle school and I know without a doubt that I am so NOT ready for that. Maybe I can just keep her 9 years old for a couple more years! I don't think she would agree with me, but I thought it sounded like a good idea. Since she is not a morning person at all, she will have to get used to starting class at the time she is used to getting up and stretching out of bed. But I will deal with that when the times comes...

Good luck to all kids starting back to school today or in the near future! Remember this day only comes around once a year (just like Christmas). So treasure those first day school memories because someday you will look back and miss those days. And for all those parents out there... try not to cheer too much when the kids head back to school. After all school is a prison for children. Oops, did I just type that? Oh, my mistake... school is so important for our children because they receive an education and learn that 2+2=4 and other important things about life. School does shape our children into who they will be as an adult so it is highly important that they make the most of it while they are in school. We as parents sometimes have a hard time letting our children go but we must remember we can't keep them as babies forever. They are supposed to grow and be shaped and molded into their own person. So just hope that you have raised them to the best of your ability and instilled some morals in their brains. Even though our kids are growing, they will still love us as parents and grow up to respect us someday. So cherish the memories and make the most of your time with your kids because they don't stay little forever!

September Blog Preview: My baby enters preschool next month so watch out for that blog! My keyboard will probably be soaked when I write it =-(

Brooks with No Dunn?!?!

Brooks with no Dunn? Can it be? It appears that is the case as of
August 10, 2009!


I have been a lifetime listener and fan of country music. So this morning while driving I heard some news on about 5 different country music stations ~ the splitting of Brooks & Dunn. For anyone that knows a fraction about country music, they have heard of the famous duo Brooks & Dunn. Brooks & Dunn have been together in the music business for 20+ years now.


Now there comes a time when we must all retire or make changes in our life. And as stated by Brooks & Dunn themselves "it's just time." This can be interpreted different ways depending on how you look at it. I look at that statement and view it as Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn are ready for a change; and the time for that change is soon. They still plan on releasing a greatest hits CD this fall and will be on tour in 2010 for the last time.


Many fans will be upset over the news of this "break-up," which is the term many people are using to describe the split of this phenomenal duo. Everyone is entitled to their opinion whether they agree with this decision or not. There will be millions of tears shed over this news. I even heard Hazel Smith from Tennessee tearing up on the radio this morning over it. And I think it takes alot to make that woman cry! Even when the radio station was talking about it, they had the same thoughts. The radio announcer said "they just can't split up; it just can't happen." And I am sure there are thousands of fans that would agree with her. They just can't be apart because then there would be no more Brooks AND Dunn.


They are the pair that you can't have one without the other. Like peanut butter & jelly, or shoes & socks ~ you can split the pair up but the end result is not the same. I'm sure Brooks & Dunn would just love the fact I just compared them to pb & j, but hey, the truth hurts sometimes! And the truth of the matter is they will be a duo for another year and then then will be solo and flying on their own again. It really is sad if you stop to think about it.


They have so many wonderful songs. The one that everyone can sing right along to whether they know it or not has to be "Boot Scootin Boogie." I have danced this line dance for 14 years now! My ultimate favorite song from them is "Believe." This song is highly powerful and I get lost in the lyrics of it every time I hear it. I believe the Lord inspired that song and it has saved many lives on this earth.


I know this is a shock to so many people but it's life and reality. We can accept it or get mad about it. Either way I don't think it matters because it sounds like to me the decision has been made and is final. It's just like anything else in life. Life is full of changes everyday and we can accept those changes or fight against them and make it harder on ourselves in the long run. So I hope that we do get to hear from Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn in the future, maybe as a solo artist or maybe in a different format. Who knows what they have planned ahead? But the best of luck to both of them and to all the fans who have to accept their decision as stated. The famous duo of B & D will be highly missed, but if it's time to move on, then it's time to move on. They have made their mark in country music and will always be a legacy in the eyes of Brooks and Dunn fans all across the world!