Spring Break

Wow, Spring Break is here!!  While most people are planning quick trips to the mountains or the beach I am planning on spending it with 4 crazy kids and one handsome husband.  Even this morning the kids and I were talking about what we are going to do.  Of course I offered the typical suggestions:  go to the park, visit the library, go bike riding, etc…and then Kennedy states she wanted to go to Junction.  Ahh, Junction aka “The River”.  The city of Junction (rather the outskirts) holds fond memories for me.  Over 35 years ago, my grandparents bought 7 acres of riverfront property on the Llano River covered in rocks, cactus and oak trees.  I’m not for sure how many years it took but they eventually cleared away the unwanted rocks and trees and built a house that would last through their great grandchildren and beyond.  You see there is nothing grand or elegant about those 7 little acres but it does give me a sense of refreshment and peace every time I go there.  As a kid, I remember the two hour drive (when the speed limit was 55) from San Angelo and the excitement that I would feel when we left the pavement and drove onto the dirt road.  It felt like we entered into a new dimension of time.  Of course from the moment we saw the gate to the property we would jump out of the car and run to the house in time to see Ma-Maw and Paw-Paw waiting on the porch.  I could probably write several hundred pages on the memories that The River holds for me.  From the smell of the fire burning with cedar, putting out corn for the deer, tubing down the Llano river, the countless number of rocks skipped across the water, eating beanie-weenies to burgers, watching my grandmother “put on her face”, having your shoes filled with sand from the river, the list could go on and on. 

As the years have gone by, Ma-Maw and Paw-Paw have gone on to heaven but they have left a lasting legacy for me to pass on to my kids.  I think my favorite part of the whole place is the way the sun shines through the massive amount of oak trees in the late afternoon portraying beautiful sun rays that radiate throughout the trees.  I like to think of it as God’s love shining down on his creation. 

So we may just take Kennedy’s suggestion and go to Junction for Spring Break and just add more memories to our lives!

Waiting on God

Second only to suffering, waiting may be the greatest teacher and trainer in godliness, maturity, and genuine spirituality most of us ever encounter.—Richard Hendrix

As I started a new devotional this week, The Power of a Positive Wife, the second day focuses on waiting on God! Oh I could talk about this for hours.  Waiting on God can be such a blessing and a curse.  As the key scripture in the devotional focuses on the children of Israel and their journey from Egyptian slavery to the Promised Land, they had to wait on God and take the long route home.  But what a miracle they were able to be a part of.  Witnessing the parting of the Red Sea!  Holy smokes!!

I often find that if an idea or thought comes to mind I want it fixed/done/accomplished right then and there.  For example, when I have the idea to paint a room in my house, I just think get a bucket of paint and a roller and get started.  Besides who needs to tape off the windows and base boards or fill in holes with putty.  Just get the paint on the wall and move on.  My husband can attest to the fact that when I don’t do those things, he is the first to ask why!  Because then I have to go back and fix those things that should have been done right the first time.  The fact is the shortest route isn’t always the best route.

As I personally face valleys and deserts, I can see that God is shaping my life for a much greater, more powerful plan than I could ever imagine.  Even though I want the results STAT, he continues to reveal his plan ever so slowly.  Mark and I have often talked about how God has developed our character and grown our faith through the circumstances of life. It’s easier to reminisce about those though times when you have made it to the other side but like the Israelites, we too sometimes have to go the long route to stay in God’s perfect timing but the rewards far out-weigh the struggles. 

The same God who parted the Red Sea for the Israelites is at work in our lives.  We may not understand why he is taking us along a certain route—but we can always trust his love for us.

Bloggers Block

I haven’t posted a blog in a few days and honestly, I am experiencing bloggers block!  I know there are a lot of things I could just blab on about but I would like to think my life is a little more interesting than a blab. Here goes nothing!

I finished reading the book The Power of a Positive Mom and there are so many tab marks sticking out of the pages it looks blue!  I was so impressed by the simple things I can do as a mom and wife to help me stay positive for my husband and kids, I just started tabbing everything I wanted to try and do!  Even while reading the book I was able to feel more of a positive vibe.  The author, Karol Ladd, has inspired me to become a more positive person.  I have also ordered the next book written by her called The Power of a Positive Wife!  Can’t wait to start that one!!  I was so impressed with her writings I even went as far as emailing her to tell her that.  This is what she sent as a response: 

                Ginger,

Thank you for your kind words.  May God give you all strength, joy and direction as you serve Him at your church. I'm thankful for what you are doing.  Keep shining His light.  I'm glad to know about you.

In His Service,

Karol

That was pretty cool!!  Here’s a woman who lives in Dallas, writes books full time, and has more of a positive outlook on life than anyone I have ever been around, and took the time to encourage me.

So I guess that is worth blogging about!

A Mothers’ Thankful Heart

I come before You, Father

To thank You for this life

The blessings You have given me

As a mother and a wife

I’m thankful for my children

As I watch them grow and play

Knowing that each moment

Will live for just today

I’m thankful for the laundry

For the dust to wipe away

I’m thankful for the problems

That make me stop and pray

I’m thankful for my husband’s job

The roof above our heads

I’m thankful for our daily food

For the comfort of our beds

I’m thankful for the errands

The phone that always rings

I’m thankful for the tears we cry

For the joy that laughter brings

I’m thankful for our family’s love

The way we sit and talk

The simple games we often play

The picnics and the walks

I’m thankful for the little things

That make up every day

For therein lies Your love, Lord

And the wonder of Your ways

I’m thankful for the memories

That life has brought my way

I count it as Your blessing

To be a mother every day.

Woman of Prayer (The Power of a Positive Mom)

Can you relate to this mother’s Prayer?

Dear Lord, so far today I am doing pretty well.  I haven’t screamed at the kids or thrown anything in a burst of anger.  I have not grumbled or gossiped or whined.  I haven’t been greedy or self-centered.  I have not yet charged anything to the credit card, and I haven’t pigged out on the chocolate cake in the refrigerator.  However, in a few minutes I will be getting out of bed, and I am going to need your help to make it through the rest of the day.  Amen!

What does it mean to pray?  I have been asked that by my kids on several occasions and usually I give the same response:  it’s talking to God about whatever you want to.  Jeanne Guyon puts it this way:  Prayer is nothing more than turning our hearts toward God and receiving in turn His love.

 I have often wondered how you become a woman of prayer.  Karol Ladd, the author of the book I am reading, says the best way to learn is to simply begin.  It’s like wanting to become a runner.  Start slow and steady, dedicating just a few minutes each day and then grow from there.  By being consistent in meeting with God each day, you will develop a habit of daily prayer in your life that will not easily be broken. 

I have been challenged by what I have read about spending time in prayer.  I know that I need all the prayers I can muster up to be able to raise 4 great kids that will pass on to their kids the wisdom they will hopefully learn from me.  There is no parenting book I can read or seminar to go to that will give the answers to every problem or situation that arises in life.  That why James 1:5 is so important for me to remember.  “If any of you lack wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him”. So as I find the opportunities to turn my thoughts upward during the day I will remember,  A Positive Mom is a Praying Mom!

Fun Times

A good ole’ bump on the head

This week I had to go to Austin for a nurses’ conference so Mark and I decided to take the whole family and make it a fun trip!  We left early on Wednesday and got to Austin before the sun went down.  We had researched some places to go and eat and the first place was Maria’s Taco Xpress.  This place was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.  We thought it has to be good.  We pulled up and the first impression was, “Oh-no, do we really want to eat here?”  There were only a few cars in the small parking lot but we decided to try it anyway.  Well it turns out that this place is good!!!  I think they have the best fish tacos I have ever tasted along with great fajita nachos and breakfast plates.  They kids really enjoyed it because we got to eat outside on a huge upstairs patio while watching the traffic go by.  So that was a great start to the trip.

Well the “hotel” we stayed at was basically an apartment complex turned hotel suites.  It was old but worked for our size family!  The girls slept on the couch bed while Madison and Lincoln slept on the floor with their own mattresses and Mark and I had a king size bed in the next room.  Well having this many people and one bathroom posses a couple of problems.  First, it was so dark in the rooms that if you needed to get up during the night you had to feel your way along the walls to try and not run into the wall.  Second, the kids have no idea how to get to the bathroom by themselves.  Well Kennedy somehow managed to get off the couch bed and make it past Lincoln and Madison to my side of the bed.  She needed to go potty so I told her to make sure she turned on the light, which was on the outside wall of the bathroom.  Unfortunately, a few seconds after she left my side, I hear a very loud “bang”.  My sweet girl had run smack into the wall.  Of course I fly out of bed and help her to the bathroom and get her to quiet down before everyone else woke up.  It didn’t end there!!  As I am trying to feel my way back to the living area I end up banging my head into the corner of the doorway and I just start laughing.  I told Kennedy this “hotel” is a death trap!  Even as I am typing this I am getting tickled.  So I finally get Kennedy to the couch and make my way back to the bed and “bamm” I hit the back of my head on the headboard.  Of course by now I can hardly contain myself from just letting loose laughing! 

All in all we had a great time!  Mark got to spend all day yesterday with the kids and we capped off the trip by eating at Freddies before heading home! 

I did have to think just for a minute why the left side of my forehead was sore this morning!  Aww, memories!!

The Power of a Positive Mom!!

I was at the bookstore yesterday and wanted to get a book that would inspire me to be a better person.  So as I was browsing through the shelves, I quickly was drawn to this brightly colored, daisy covered book entitled, “The Power of a Positive Mom” by Karol Ladd.  Instantly, I was captivated by the introduction and thought this is going to be good!

Here’s a little snip-it of the introduction:

          As moms, we have the opportunity every day to boost our children onward and upward.  Ours is a highly influential job.  Through our affirmative support and loving care, we are in a unique position to help our children reach for their dreams and achieve their God-given potential.

          Unfortunately, in the day-to-day struggles of motherhood, our good intentions toward our kids can seem to fly out the window.  We may start off the day with a fresh outlook and high expectations, but midway through the second temper tantrum of the morning (theirs, not ours), we somehow lose our handle on the uplifting encouragement we intended to share.  How can we be positive when we often feel like the greatest portion of our day is spent correcting, scolding, and trying to avert minor disasters?  It doesn’t help that we’re distracted from our efforts to be affirming by the daily chores of running errands, doing laundry, and putting dinner on the table.

I am so excited to read this book to help me discover how to be a positive mom!!