Get out of the boat.

I love to be around friends and I love to laugh and joke around and I genuinely love to go where people know who I am and say my name happily. It is brings me great joy to be recognized in a happy positive glad you are here way.

However, when I go somewhere I am just as happy to go into it not knowing anyone because of the fun fabulous people you meet. If you go to everything in your life only if you know someone then when are you going to meet anyone new. New people are fun! New people have funny stories you have never heard before. New people need love.

I feel like sometimes Christians are afraid of non-Christians. Which in turn makes Christians seem hateful or rude, which in turn turns people against the church all together and it is all this big vicious cycle that needs to be stopped. There are some pretty fabulous non-Christians out there who have very valid points and interesting views. You might even find that you have similarities. Keep in mind that Jesus would hang out with prostitutes and tax collectors.

All we are called to do is love one another. You might only be planting a seed that will be harvested later, but if you never speak to anyone that doesn't go to your church or believe what you believe what are you accomplishing?

Look at it like this. Christ is the lifeboat, we are in the lifeboat, there are still others drowning around us. Do you get out of the lifeboat and save others or do you sit where it is warm and safe and hope God moves the lifeboat close enough to those people so that they can climb in?

Jump in! Love one another! I'm not asking you to convert everyone I'm just asking you to branch out! Show someone new kindness today, especially if they don't want it. It's more fun that way!! :)

Love to all!

Money does not define you.

I want to talk about how things or stuff doesn't define any ounce of who you are as a person. Strip away all the junk and then what are you like? Because let me open your eyes a little bit. You can be the richest of the rich and be extremely poor and you can be the poorest of the poor and be extremely rich!

Before you can hear me you have to understand that money plays absolutely no role in the definition of your happiness. Now you might think it does but you would be very very wrong. Money is a tool. Money is not a character trait. If you allow money to become who you are well then you are strutting down the wrong road and you need to turn around!!

Money pays bills. PERIOD!!!

Let me explain what is sending me on this tirade.

My children go to a private school. It is not because we are wealthy it is because we wanted to give them the strongest education that we possibly could. We wanted to do everything in our power to make sure that our children had a firm foundation to begin their lives. We chose a Christian school because of our faith and we believe that any foundation is strong only if it begins with God. You can achieve this same goal in public school or home schooling but for us this is the decision we made. Stay with me I have a point.

During our first year at this school we found that not everyone who had placed their children at this school were there for the Christian portion of the education. They might act like they are but it became crystal clear pretty early on that the excellent education portion was all that some of the people were there for and they could care less about the Christian portion. I won't lie to you I was worried.

There were excellent people that you had no idea if they were rich or poor they were just excellent. There were ones that were excellent that were working in the clinic, the office, the classroom, the library. There were ones that were excellent that weren't able to work in the school but they were kind in their manner and words whenever you had dealings with them. You had no clue their gross income until one day you get an invitation to a play date and in the instructions to their house you realize you are going to have to be announced.

It is not a bad thing to have money. God needs people in every corner of the world to show love to all of his people. It is however a bad thing to put that money before God and in turn use it to define you.

You might also find out that the person is financially struggling but you had no clue because they do not complain or dwell in it they are just trying to live as positively as they possibly can. It is proof that you can remain positive and be a blessing through any circumstance.

One of my mother's life lessons for me has always been if you are feeling depressed go out and do something nice for someone else and see how it makes you feel.

In the story of the prodigal son do you remember how the son is extremely popular as long as he has money and is spending it on his "friends"? However, as soon as the money runs out there is no one there for him to rely on?

Always live your life to be a blessing to others and in return blessings will be heaped upon your head. Listen to my words here. BE a blessing. You are the blessing not things that you give the person YOU. Your time, your listening, your kindness.

This does not take any amount of money.

Have a great week friends!

My perspective.

I think we will all agree that I am not what one would call normal or run of the mill. I definitely have a different take on the world than your average John or Jane Doe walking around. I'm okay with it.

This morning I was reminded of a couple of my "things"

I love wind. The windier the better. Big puffy clouds and crazy looking skies? Bring it on. Want to know why? Because while I know that God is always present in our world and day to day lives on those days I pretend like I can see him. Literally. Like the clouds are a part of his robe be it the hem or train. Like the wind is him walking past me. You know how maybe a big truck going by you fast will startle you a bit? Well, just think of that huge burst of wind being God walking past. I don't know why it just comforts me.

Okay, here comes another one. I'm telling you eye rolling not allowed. You know how when glitter catches the light and it shines like crazy. It catches your eye and you are drawn to it? Okay, so when I see a random piece of glitter, not a big obnoxious group of the stuff placed somewhere, but one piece that has been left behind for some unknown reason. When I see that I imagine that it is a teeny tiny hole into heaven letting the tiniest bit of God's glory to shine through. It is rather distracting sometimes because then my thought process goes through the logistics of it...especially when it is on someone's face! Does that mean they aren't a real human they are an angel? I have to reel it back in.

These are the thoughts that go through my head. This is why I talk to myself and crack myself up. Most people don't understand me and if I were to tell them my little glitter or wind theory they would either ignore me or scoff. I'm okay with it. I was not put on this planet to impress them or for them to understand me. I am an individual with a specific purpose and I am proud of it. So my imagination can go a little whackdoodleish. So what!

You might have things that are different about you. From it being something different that you like to eat to the way you like to dress or the stuff you laugh at. It does not make you bad or weird it makes you different. Every look at a tool box? How many tools are in it? One? A few? Well, if you are talking about a serious tool box we are talking hundreds with all sorts of different bits and attachments. You are a tool of God's you have a specific purpose! Do not change yourself to be like someone else because then when God reaches for you he isn't going to be able to find the tool he needs.

I love you my friends! Bring on the wind!!!!

Autographs.

What is the deal with autographs? This little hobby in no way interests me. I don't understand the concept of having some "celebrity" sign a piece of paper and cherishing it. First off, you can't even tell what the name says and most times you have to tell people...that straight line with a squirly at the end? That's Tom Cruise. I ran into him in the restroom at the airport and he signed this toilet paper for me. Okay so your little hobby has just moved from hobby to stalking and that is a felon so back off creep.

I like the idea of letters where you write to a celebrity and then they write back, of course, then you can't really be sure that it was actually them rather than their assistant so that's out.

Okay, what about photographs? Yeah, same thing that it might not actually be them.

You know what I really don't get? Pseudo celebrities. We have a family here in town that has just been awarded an Extreme Home Makeover house. The morning they flew out of town for their get away guess what problem they had at the airport. People wanting their autograph. Really? For what reason? Do you remember any of the families names from that show? These are excellent people that have sacrificed their lives for others, but autographs?

I guess it is just not a me thing. I am not into celebrities. I watched some of the People's choice awards the other night because I thought Hey, I'm a people. You know what I figured out? I'm apparently not a People. "Stars" walked out to present awards and I had no clue who they were. The awards were then given to people I had no clue who they were. Am I really that out of touch? I must say it happened pretty fast. I am apparently no longer hip and happenin'. To be quite honest I'm pretty sure I never was but a girl can dream.

I'm okay with it you know, no being hip. I am not of this world. This is not my home. My home is way more Extreme than anything this place can dream up, and I am very much looking forward to going home again.

And no, you may not have my autograph!!

Stuff.

My day's experiences have thrown me into the big blue chair. I will not vomit all of the frustrating situations that I have been a party too but let us just suffice it to say that I am prepared to completely rid our world of "stuff".

Why is it that some people are prone to thinking that more is better? We need clothes. There are 7 days in a week so therefore we should have 7 outfits right? Okay, I'll give you 14. Nope? That isn't going to work for you? You need choices? Okay. I won't go there. I understand.

Let's go to another room. Why in our kitchens do we have so many dishes? Do you have winter dishes and summer dishes? Do you have tons of pots and pans? Do you use them?

How about towels? Toys? Garden tools? Now please understand, clutter is the bane of my existence and I in no way am saying that to have these things means you are going directly to hell. I'm just saying WHY??? Why do we feel it necessary to have so many different options and variations especially when we haven't touched them in like 10 years? I seriously have things that were given to me for my wedding 13 years ago that I have never used. What am I holding on to them for?

My theory is that I might need it some day and then instead of having to go out and pay for something I will have it here and can use it for free. The problem with this theory is that the time when I need to use it never comes around, or if it does I can't find said item and I make do with something else that works just as well.

I think my goal for 2012 is to relieve this house of the what ifs and the maybe somedays. What if I lose 50 pounds? Okay, I've been singing that song for so long that some of the clothes I've been holding on to aren't even in style any more. So, I say send those on to someone who can use them today and if I ever do lose the 50 pounds celebrate with a big old shopping spree.

I am excited about this endeavor. I hope that it is as successful as I want it to be. I will let you know. Thanks for listening my friends.

Well pat me on the back and call me happy!

Ladies and Gentlemen. You might want to sit down for this one. Today. After 13 years, 4 months, and 20 days of marriage I achieved the unthinkable goal. Michael announced to the kids that tonight's meal was the best I had ever created. You heard me. I know. Unthinkable right? He even somewhat said it reminded him of his Mamaw's. Sweet Merry Christmas how excited am I?!

It was quite the comical meal really. I had gotten the recipe from a friend who also apparently has cooking issues and she too had proclaimed that this meal was a miracle in the crock pot. It is by the way. I will tell you the funny parts and then I will give you the recipe because it is delicious well, unless you are a vegetarian and then it really isn't so much for you but the funny parts you can still read.

1. I had decided to add vegetables to my crockpot because I love vegetables but when I checked to see if they were done the potatoes were a little too done so I made them into mashed potatoes. Well, the cooking process had turned them a deep brown and my color blind husband couldn't for the life of him figure out what they were. He kept calling them custard. I guess that one was a "You had to be there" thing.

2. My son is one that doesn't like his food to touch and I explained to him that all of the foods on his plate complimented each other and they would really taste better if he would combine them. I continued on with my meal only to hear him saying Why, Mr. Meat you look lovely tonight, why custard man is that a new shade of brown you are wearing? Why yes, thank you for noticing. I said honey, what are you doing? He said Mommy, you said that my food complimented each other.

3. We had been laughing and enjoying each other's company so much my daughter proclaimed this is my favorite meal lets do more of this where we eat and laugh and talk. Not sure what we normally do but it was quite nice.

The majority of the meal had taken place in the crock pot and cooked while the kids and I were at a museum so that in and of itself is perfection in my book.

Take one 5 to 7 pound roast. Place uncooked in crockpot on low. Take three dry mixes and combine in separate bowl. 1. Ranch dip 2. Brown Gravy Mix 3. Italian dressing mix. Mix together and sprinkle over meat. Take 1/2 cup water and pour over mix which has been poured over meat. (I used beef broth because I just did.) Put lid on crock pot and stay away from it for 7 hours. I put onions, potatoes and carrots in with mine and I'm just going to say it really was out of this world and so easy!!!

I do suggest serving with bread because it would have been nice to have something to wipe the plate clean with. I made green beans to go along with ours and mac and cheese for my picky daughter but turns out I didn't even have to do that.

Let me know how it turns out for you. I suggest that if you use a smaller roast to watch your time a smaller roast will not need the 7 hours. SO YUMMY you will want the leftovers so go for the 7 lb roast!

The Giving Tree

So, this morning whilst waiting for the dental hygienist to be ready for my children I grabbed the only reading material kid appropriate that was available in the waiting room. The Giving Tree. I have heard the story before but it had been awhile and might I just say that there in the dentist waiting room on this the 3rd day of January in the 2012th year of our Lord I bawled my eyes out as I reflected on what the story could mean.

You can pretty much make anything a parable, and I turned this one into the tree was the mother and the child was well...the child. If you haven't read the story the gist is that it starts with the child and tree play together happily but as the child ages the child's needs become more complex and the tree is willing to give completely of itself in order for the child to be happy.

Okay, so, I get it. I understand, but I also want to say. STUPID TREE!

As parents we give 100% of ourselves to our children. Especially in the earlier years as to be expected, but if as the child grows we are not teaching our children to not just take but to also give what are we teaching them?

I watch these horrible reality shows and sadly I witness poor parenting in my everyday comings and goings. It might not be perceived as poor parenting because the parent is doing what they perceive to be "what is best" for the child, but might I say that always giving and helping and planning for your child is not necessarily what is "best" for your child?

Your child needs to learn life skills that are not necessarily taught in the classroom. Your child needs to learn that the world does not revolve around them, your child needs to learn that some people have way less than they do and to be satisfied with what they have been blessed with. Sometimes it is okay to not be 100% prepared. A child needs to learn the ability to improvise and how satisfying that can feel.

You will not always be there for your child. You will eventually not be a part of their life and if you have allowed your child to assume that you are the only source for their needs then what will happen to your child?

It's hard. I love to do do do for my kids, but I am not doing them or their future spouses any favors if I completely control their very existence, and allow them to completely deplete mine. Have a wonderful day my friends!