The Power of a Stamp

Emma's first grade class at school has been collecting postcards via snail-mail, the idea was that postcards from all over the world would help the children learn geography and map skills. I (b/c, hello how is a 6-year-old going to contract all her distant friends and relatives, I mean really) was very late getting started on this project due to recent illness and was terribly afraid that Emma would be the lonely child with no postcards to place on the map. So, I got this smart idea....I emailed all my relatives and I also have profiles on an open forums, in which I keep in touch with lots of people. I sent them all messages asking them to forward the message to their most trusted friends and family--it became a chain and Emma has gotten so many postcards for MY, I mean her, project that I no longer worry about her crushed spirit, she beams every time I pick her up. We have only run into one problem, we're (I'm) not quite sure about the identity of all the postcard senders.

I was just amazed at how all kinds of people, strangers (to us) mostly, have taken the time on their vacations, gone out of the way to hit up there city/state/country information centers, and put effort into passing the word when I was in a pinch and trying to create lost time. My family, friends and their peeps amaze me!
Then, I started thinking about how humanity as a whole has insurmountable ability to pull together when someone states a need. This was such a tiny thing, but it really makes my little girl feel like she has a connection to every person who spent their time to send her, a little girl in Augusta, Georgia, United States of America, a 4x6 picture with their name and current location.
At that moment, 3:01 PM eastern time, when she hops in the van and her eyes are extra sparkly, I know that in her soul she gets it- she understands that the world has 'got her back'! That people are created to co-exist and to help each other out.
She's my baby girl and once again, I have been reminded of how precious life is and that it is much more exciting to add your thread to the grand tapestry (even with its flaws and irregularities) than it is to hold back, sit on the side, wound on a spool and never be used.
I can't wait for my other children to get that gleam in their bright, blue eyes and know that their little souls have understood something great!

Who Am I?

I have been in the most disturbing disposition lately. Maybe it was that we have only had 3 fever-free days in about 5 weeks, or that we had a few cold, yucky, wet, YOU-CAN'T-MAKE-ME-LEAVE-MY-P.J.'S, or the giant mess that came with being so sick. Who knows, I am still trying to figure it out. Whichever excuse I pick, while the children are bickering and tired of the walls around them, as they struggle to shake the stomach bug, the flu, nasty Augusta allergies, ear-infections, sinus infections, bronchial virus--yesterday after church, I just could not take one more moment.

I had been hearing and contributing to the whining, crying, screaming and chaos in our home.

I tried HARD!!! to have a thankful heart about modern commodities such as running water--to wash all the throw-up pillows, comforters, nightgowns, stuffed animals, shoes, walls, cracks in the hardwood floors; the medicine to treat the coughs, fevers, aches, infections of various origins; the doctors who were treating all five of us at differing times; my neighbors who so very willingly served me while I was AFRAID TO CLOSE MY EYES, they just stepped right in and took me to my Dr., watched my girls, fed, clothed and snuggled them for the 8 or so days when I just couldn't; my husband who even while sick still worked both of his jobs to provide for us and spent his free time watching me breath....still with all these things to be so very grateful
for. (And, my socks were blessed right off).

Something in my heart was just dying a huge piece was missing. (No, it wasn't the Jesus shaped piece.) I forgot the biggest blessing in my life, just shy of my salvation, God then gently showed me.

It happened last night, I drank a diet coke after 1PM and couldn't sleep, I was blog hopping and found a very beautiful spot and spent half-an-hour reading. The spot I found was created by a lady who has spent many years of her life (with her husband, of course) pleading and begging the Father for a child. She and her husband have grown a Snugglebug in their hearts because her womb just couldn't and are soon going to begin tilling the soil of their hearts to seek another 'wanted' child.
And, this my friend was my problem...I have three precious souls in my tender care and I have been treating them like the couch or the dusty coffee table, maybe even the puked on toilet or snotted up pillowcase. The Lord gave me three miracles-Emmabug, Julianna (Nanna Kat), and Molly-moo and I have spent the last 5 weeks of my life being selfish, childish and altogether rotten in my words, thoughts and deeds.

I had lost all gratefulness for my children! How did this happen I don't know but I was literally heartbroken when I figured it out.

I am eternally grateful for the attitude adjustment and the redemption I sought while reading your page, Overwhelmed with Joy. I admire your desire for children and ask forgiveness for taking for granted what you are begging for-- LIFE, whether grown in your womb or in your heart, God gifts us the miracle, however, He sees fit. It has just taken you and your open heart for me to get back in shape.

And as all three of my chickadee's would say:

THANK YOU FROM THE HEARTS OF OUR BOTTOMS
( ; ) yes, it's supposed to be backwards)

The Princess and the Kiss

Several years ago, my sister-in-law, Mary told me about a book that tells the story of a princess who saves her kiss for her prince. It is an incredible story that speaks of the precious gift that is given to all princesses upon their birth--their first kiss. The king and queen teach their daughter patience, reverence and truth. They encourage her to pursue godly and righteous love. It is beautifully illustrated and written, a must have for every little princess on the face of the earth.

The fruit of this story is evident in the lives of my nieces. I am so glad that my girls have such bold role-models! I wanted to share how this impacted my oldest niece. I am going to share a blog from her myspace page. She posted this about a year ago and I was reminded of it during my prayer time this morning (remember that this is posted on myspace and keep in the back of your mind all that you have heard about myspace and what it stands for--well to the majority of those that use it). I am so proud of her, anyone who stumbles on her page will know what she stands for. She sticks out like a sore thumb. I have printed this particular blog and keep it in all three copies of "The Princess and the Kiss" (Aunt Murry and Uncle Sam gave all of our girls their very own copy as birthday gifts), so my girls will know as they grow what God expects and what His grace will provide. And the book is very innocent, so you don't have to worry about 'the birds and the bees' coming out of the story. (My own girls think that God delivers babies to moms when daddy's kiss them alot)

So, grab a Kleenex and feed your heart...Read on...

I have a confession to make... I am an 18 year old female who will be 19 in July, and I have never been kissed. Some of you may be shocked that a girl can last this long without even getting pecked! (I'm a little baffled at my situation too). I wasn't allowed to date in high school and I graduated with 24 other people. So... there weren't a whole lot of guys to choose from to begin
with, and most of the other girls were alot prettier than I was. This is probably the biggest factor to my never being kissed dilemma. I have come close to kissing a few guys, but
I don't want to be the one to initiate it. I don't have a
lot of confidence in myself, and I want the guy to step up and take action (not me). Also, the past relationships that I've been in have been wishy-washy and true intentions haven't been clear. I really try to communicate with the other person what I want, but it always seems I am doing all the work in the relationship. I am not a lesbian, dork, or prude. I am just patiently waiting for the right guy at the right moment in the right
circumstances. This brings me to my second confession... I'm sick of waiting. I just want to feel what it is like to be loved unconditionally, and I want to know who I'll end up with the rest of my life.... I don't think that I have met my prince charming yet, and I'm starting to worry if he is even out there. I really hope he is willing to wait for me too!!! Here are some other little reasons why I'm still holding onto my kiss: When I turned 13 my parents gave me a book called "The
Princess and the Kiss". It is about this princess whose parents give her a gift when she is born. The gift of course is her
kiss. When the princess turns 16 her parents let her decide who she is going to give her kiss to, but they tell her that it is a special
gift not to be given away frivolously. Many suitors come to call on her, but they all are undeserving of her kiss. Finally, a poor
farmer boy comes to the castle and brings with him a kiss of his
own. The princess knows he is the one because he saved his
kiss just like she did, and they live happily ever after!
My Jr. year of high school during morning prayers
one of the girls prayed for "The purity of our future husbands". This of course made a lasting impression on me because I
want to marry someone who has the same values about purity that I do!Here is a little quote that sums up my never been kissed situation:"Women are like apples on trees The best ones are at the top of the tree.The men don't want to reach for the good ones because they are afraid of falling and getting hurt. Instead they just get the rotten apples from the ground, that aren't as
good,but easy. So the apples at the top think something is wrong with them, when in reality, They are AMAZING! They just have to wait for the right man to come along, the one who is brave enough to climb all the way to the top of the tree" Are you that man? Are you going to be brave enough to climb to the very top? ... If you are please let me know!!! I won't lower my standards just to feel that I am loved by someone because I'm holding out for the real thing!!!

There is such wisdom in her blog! I am so blessed that my own children look up to her, she sets the stakes high for the 11 cousins that come behind her.

BE BLESSED!

How Come?

A conversation between Molly Grace and Julianna...

Molly Grace: Julianna, Minnie Mouse is old as Nana and Papa, how come she doesn't have any babies?

Julianna:(sighs) Because she is just colored with markers in the movie and if you see her 'for real'--Well, You know! She is just a big stuffed rat!

Molly Grace: Oh, yes!

All But One of our Troops are Up and Running

Thursday, Emma came home from school, rosy cheeked, glassy eyed and not quite looking like herself. My immediate response was to ask her how she was and to put my hand on her forehead. She felt HOT!

She answered in a confident voice that she had a bad headache, but she knew the cause.

I just had to know....

Okay, mommy, it was third recess and it was raining, so we had to stay inside
and we decided to have a domino contest. Well, it wasn't the dots one, it
was matching opposites...and that is when I got a tiny headache. Mommy, I
was just concentrating so hard on the dominoes that it made my brain get a tiny
ache. It just got worser and worser and worser still! Then my whole
entire head was really hot, but it was time to get my book bag and I didn't think
i really needed to tell Mrs. Jackson, since I was coming straight to the
car. And now, I am telling you! Since I am not feeling so good, do
you think I could lay down and watch TV in your room?

Okay, Emmabug!

The thermometer read 102.1.

Well, just when I thought we were totally clear, the pediatrician confirmed it with a flu culture-- with 7-10 days of rest, Motrin and Tylenol piggy-backed she will be good as new.

Poor baby. That was 5 days ago, she is still running a fever with the meds and feeling quite puny.

So much for those two bottles of Lysol I used last Wednesday. My house has never been so clean, yet I refuse, I mean, I refuse to do it again! Well, until she is fever free for 24 hours. I think the next time the flu comes sailing through, I won't clean anything until after we have all endured it!

I have one little girl who has yet to get it, in any form! Please pray for Julianna, she is tired of sitting out on life while the rest of the family has been sick. She has been on lock down since Valentine's Day, and is bored, bored, bored!

Gosh, I hope that through our diligence that no one will be sick on our account! It is a nasty bug this year!