Mother Teresa - The Final Analysis Prayer

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere, people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.

A Generous Brother

Recently, W found something he thought MK would just love to have. For a mere 79.99 plus tax he wanted her to have a Tink Cafe'.

I explained it was not her birthday, Christmas or just give MK-a-gift day. It was a big gift and we could put it on a list to think about for another time. He may have felt where that was going so he immediately said he would pay for it and wanted to buy it for her. So very sweet. While the girls have banks for coins, he has has an old coffee can that he likes. Now that he is aware he can spend his own money he saves but it has been a while since he has had a large amount. Still, he wanted to count it out. He had over ten dollars and wanted to give all he had but we were not going to spend another $70 plus for the cafe'.

While he was disappointed about not having enough money right now to get it for MK he said he will just keep saving. Why would he want to give it all for his sister when he could save for something for himself, I asked. "Because I love her", he said... and he really does and that goes for A too.

First Day Being Twelve!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

It Won't Be Like This For Long

I wanted to share a song that I heard for the first time several weeks ago. Of course while I am all nostalgic about A's 11th year and really how quickly time is flying by for all three of our children it just makes me cry.



*Edited to Add: Guys, I just added a video to this blog! Seriously, it is easy and if you have time, (not like my fine example here), I imagine those close to you (especially ME) would love to see your pictures, videos and read your thoughts and it is EASIER than you think.

A Special Name

Today, my father-in-law, who I affectionately named "Pop", has a birthday to celebrate! After D and I were married I wanted to call his mom and dad something other than by their first or last names. I grew up where people called adult friends and neighbors by their last names like Mr. or Mrs. Smith (for example).

After we were married, I found that in D's community they called friends and neighbors Mr. or Mrs. and their first name. While I could pull that off for people that D had already named from his growing up years, for his parents it was a clean slate. I thought about it. A LOT.

Once we moved to D's home state, I remember calling his dad from work because I had just discovered what I wanted to call him and I wanted to ask him if it was okay. He liked it and I was thrilled.

Putting his name into use was harder because I had yet found something to call his mom. I did ask her and she said I could call her Mrs. and her first name like everyone else. That was really hard for me since she wasn't a neighbor or friend like everyone else. I was always on a quest to find something she would like though. I thought I would find a name for her but I didn't get to before she went to be with Jesus. I do still think about it though.

It had been a while since I had talked to D's dad about his name so he asked me if I was going to use it and I told him I wanted to so I put aside my plan of having names at the same time for his mom and dad and was able to call him Pop. Up until then, I really avoided calling them anything because I wanted it to be right the first time and not have to be undone. Tricky, I know. All those years. How did we even communicate? I would call, they would answer and I would just start talking. :) If we were in the same room, I just looked at them when I talked to them or needed to get their attention. It worked somehow.

Now, I have been calling him Pop for eight years and I am the only one who does. It is special and he is special to me.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, POP! I love you ~ Sondra

Plugged or Unplugged?

I have wanted to update this little blog for months. I know of other people who have blogs and update them faithfully but "unplug" for a break. I guess I could say I was unplugged but that just screams LAZY to me and I have been anything but lazy recently. It also seems rude to just drop off the cyber face of the earth without saying goodbye for a while. I have worked more at home in the last few months, besides my usual schedule, and it really has just seemed busier with all the kids.

If you know me well you know it is all about order. There was a 11-year-old girl's interview, a slideshow for that sweet girl's 12th birthday, spring activities, programs, awards and all kinds of things you may or may not have wanted to know all about for the last few months. On this day, the 31st of May, I could not bear to not have an entry for this month.

I cannot recapture all those moments that I did not get to mention here but I will try to highlight some of those events because it is about ORDER. I have not even downloaded pictures from my camera since I posted on this blog last!

There is not really an end in sight on the busy schedules but I want to officially say I am definitely not unplugged and will be back SOON!

A Special Birthday

This weekend we celebrated D's birthday... kind of. He likes things a bit low-key so we obliged this time. The rest of us love a celebration and we are hoping we can have a few highlights during his birthday week. WEEK?!, you ask? Well yes, we cannot just stop at a day. One day just didn't seem like enough. A birthday week was designed to let the celebrated one make lots of choices during their birthday week. Since A has a birthday week coming up next week she wants to make sure he enjoys his.

On his birthday, I overheard D telling someone on the phone that he was going backward one year now instead of up so he is going with 39. Genius! Why didn't I think of that two months ago? It is never too late so I will join him and we can both be 39.

Last summer we celebrated 15 years of marriage and through these years he remains the same. Steady and solid is a great way to describe him. He is generous and loving. He loves us and takes care of us well. He would rather spend his free time with his family than doing something on his own without us. He doesn't have to... he wants to. He inspires me to be a better person and I only hope I can give back as much to him as he does for me every. single. day.

Happy Birthday, D!

Recent Highlights....

We have so much catching up to do! First, I thought I would combine a couple of posts and then it started looking like it needed to be a week in review and then two weeks and now highlights of the month seems more appropriate.

Let's go back just over a couple of weeks and pick up there. W found his John Deere overalls that Granny made him nearly two years ago and he put them on with his John Deere boots and added the John Deere pen in his front pocket to complete his ensemble. He played outside with MK and smiled at the thought of how good he looked.

A joined us outside with her guitar on her back and waited for Papaw to pick her up to spend some time together. There was her pinewood derby race car that needed finishing touches and guitars to play. MK was just happy. It was a great day for everyone.

Back to the timeline recap... there was the Pinewood Derby race. A's car turned out to be such a family affair. First there was the design, Papaw cut it out and sanded it, D put on the wheels and took A shopping for the paint colors, she painted it, I drew on some lines for her to fill in and the number she picked out. It needed a little more weight after the first weigh-in so Papaw drilled holes for some weights and they took it to the post office to make sure it weighed enough without going over. It was ready to race! Her car made it to the third round and it was a lot of fun watching the races. She said it was special getting it ready and spending the time with family.

Then we sailed into the week to get ready for Valentine's Day. MK and W had valentines to put together for AWANAs and there were class parties. W had soccer practice following a class party and could not wait to get home and go through his valentines.

Even though A's class no longer exchanges valentines, they made it up to them with a formal Valentine's banquet. She was beside herself with excitement and even said "Just think of how much fun we will have finding my dress!". I was just imagining it right then. I braced myself for the shopping experience but it went well. Luckily, the dresses we found for her size were modest and age appropriate.

W stayed with Papaw that evening and we drove A to the banquet. After taking some pictures, we headed to Luby's with MK. She was so thrilled... they have blue Jell-O. After a trip through Target, it was time to go pick up A. She was just elated and announced this was the best time she has had since camp last summer. Really? I am recalling other special moments since then but she is right it will be something she will always remember. I just hope she has fond memories of our time together finding her fancy dress.

Happy Valentine's Day!

This is one of my most favorite days of the year! I love LOVE. I love a day that celebrates LOVE. It has been busy around here since my last post.

This week has been great fun with all the Valentine's parties, Valentine card exchanges, candy, roses and a Valentine Banquet for A.

It has gotten late and I will post pictures soon!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!!!

Rock Star Night

A week ago, after W learned there would be a Rock Star Night at AWANAs he was so excited. The very next day he had a plan and drew it all out. First, there was the picture he drew of the guitar he needed, and then another drawing of the spiked hair he had to have to pull the look off and of course he had to have a rock star shirt.

He talked about it every day for the week and it could not be far from our minds that it was coming up and there were preparations to make. There was the guitar we needed to make to his specs, hair gel to purchase and the rock star shirt.

The rock star shirt is where I encounted my biggest dilemma. We do not need rock star attire very often but I was quite sure he would not be wearing the likes of skulls with guitars or winged-guitars and frankly very frightening backgrounds. I could have ripped up a shirt I suppose but that would have just been tacky... and wasteful. I found the answer he and I both could live with in a tasteful shirt with rock star guitars fashioned in blue plaid on a brown background. I know the plaid and rockin' theme we had going on may have been at odds but for this sweet boy and me we were satisfied.

Below is his guitar design.

Here is our little rock star.

During the process of putting his guitar together and while we all enjoyed making his dream come true, he was beside himself with excitement. He could hardly contain himself. It is such a joy to watch him grow.

Christmas 2008 ~ Part Three

I finally have been able to put together my last installment for Christmas 2008. We went to the cabin and stayed for few days to celebrate the holiday with family.

Here is W with his Star Trek PEZ collection. He was pretty excited here. He doesn't just throw those smiles around. They truly have to be earned.

MK loved her bathrobe and it had her name monogrammed on it.

A received a pink guitar from Grandfather and she absolutely loved it.

Grandfather had no problem playing the pink guitar.

Here is someone else not afraid to play the pink guitar.

A loves the guitar and has wanted one for a long time. She is still practicing every day.

In the next picture, I did not exactly have a captive audience. Only one child was looking my direction but I thought the moment was sweet with him and W standing together.

After my sister distributed jelly beans they all thought she was fabulous... and they wanted to let her know how much they appreciated her.

Here is my happy little family.

The next picture was taken just before dark but there were ten young cousins scattering outside for a walk by the water.

There was a gingerbread house to build and there was definitely tasting while decorating.

Later, I happened to find MK just watching over the gingerbread house... all by herself.

Granny supervised two granddaughters making pumpkin bread.

W and Aunt R singing into colored pencils is a moment that is just a treasure.

We decided to take family pictures so we obviously collected ourselves for a great pose.

Here we are inside under the stockings my mom has made for each one of us.

There were pictures outside of my sisters and I with my Mom and Dad.

And lastly, a picture taken of my sisters and I.

That is a wrap-up of Christmas 2008 and it was all good.

The Computer Crash of 2009

My computer crashed Sunday night... a fate I have always feared. The thought of a computer crashing and all being lost has been something I have worried about. I do not even download all the pictures off my camera because of such a possibility. It could have been devastating but thanks to D, he backed up my computer on an external hard drive over the Thanksgiving holiday so only December and part of January was lost... but not completely. The work I did during that time could be retrieved from another source and remember my obsession with leaving the picture images on the camera?

Just hours before The Computer Crash of 2009, I had painstakingly gone through all the pictures and had them sized and ready to put on the blog for my Christmas Part Three post. When I returned following church, ready to load them and mark that off my list of things to do for the week everything changed.

After working on the laptop for a few days, I feel more settled sitting at my desk looking at this screen for some reason.

I have something I wanted to share and was going to right after the third Christmas post but since I am working on that draft and interrupted the order of my posts anyway I wanted to post it today.

I have several devotional books and receive several devotionals by e-mail each day. There are days, especially tough ones, when I read a devotional and it seems like it is written just for me at the very moment I need it.

Last week, I had one of those days and read the devotional below and it was so appropriate for that day and every day since I had to type it out and put it where I could see it at my desk. I do not know who wrote it as it came from The Word For You Today, a quarterly devotional we receive from church, but it speaks loudly to me.

“The wisdom that is from above is … peaceable.” James 3:17 NKJV

Keep Your Peace

Understand this: the Devil knows that God’s Word can only be “sown in peace”, so he will do everything he can to keep you from receiving it and being blessed by it. That’s why you must do whatever it takes to keep your peace. There’s power in peace! If the Devil can’t get you upset he has no power over you. He only gains control when you “lose it”. He plans to get you upset in order to steal your peace, confuse you and make you run in circles. Don’t let him.

James writes, “The wisdom that is from above is … peaceable”. In The Message, Eugene Peterson paraphrases this Scripture: “Real wisdom, God’s wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy robust community that lives right with God and enjoys its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor.” (v. 17-18 TM). Notice getting along with others can be “hard work”.

So, next time you get worked up about some issue, ask yourself, “What’s the enemy trying to do here? If I give in to these emotions what will the result be?” When you’re stressed out you lose your joy, and when you lose your joy you lose your strength because “the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Ne 8:10). So today, pray, exercise self-control, and keep your peace.

Christmas 2008 ~ Part Two

At this rate, it will be February 1st before I list all the New Year's resolutions I will not be able to keep. I am all about keeping it in order so I have to go back to Christmas Day!

Here is A with some of her favorites.

MK was so excited Santa brought the things she asked for.

W loved the bicycle he hoped for and why wouldn't he?... it suits him. He will not have the training wheels on this bicycle long.
I have made chocolate-chip pancakes in the past for breakfast but it was a unanimous decision that we have the leftover lemon cake from Christmas Eve. We all had simplicity in mind .... or was it playing with presents. They played with their gifts until lunch and then we went outside for more bike riding.

I noticed the last remaining pecans on the tree. At that point, we had 82.5 POUNDS already but after working so hard to keep the crows and squirrels away I thought we should collect them all and share them with human beings who might enjoy them and not hord them away in a tree or rudely eat them and discard shells all over the driveway and yard. D was willing to reach to the highest branches with a pole and shower the rest of the pecans so we could collect them. There was another five pounds and that should do it.

After we went inside, we all had a much needed Christmas afternoon nap.

Since every store and restaurant were closed for the only day of the year, we decided we needed to go out. Even with groceries at home, the hunt for an open restaurant was pretty exciting. We discovered IHOP was open Christmas Day, along with the other 200 people there. We waited and it went surprisingly quick. We enjoyed a great dinner, which was a bit of a surprise since we marked them off our list several years ago.

After having such a remarkable dinner, and since we were all so rested, we headed off to find the best Christmas lights displays and we had a great time.

To sum it all up, Santa did not disappoint anyone, the pecan harvest of 2008 is over, we rediscovered a pancake place and we were together. We played, laughed and just enjoyed being together for a special Christmas.

Today, Granny and Grandfather (my mom and dad) met us part of the way for lunch and we picked our A up. We are glad she is home and we are all together again! We missed her smiling face.

To Be Continued...

Christmas 2008 ~ Part One

We came back from our holiday at the cabin on Monday and I have been out of sorts ever since. Maybe it is the whole getting ready for the holidays and it being over so fast and onto the 2009 thing or more likely because our A did not come home with us.

She went to spend a grand ole time with family. The three-day church camp thing was her first time away last summer and they asked her to stay a whole week. I miss her terribly but I know she is having a great visit.

Here she is leaving...

I have so much to post and many pics to share I am going to have to have a three-part Christmas walk down memory lane.

I had to include the trip to see Santa picture. Even waiting in line, there were smiles and laughter .... at least that first hour.

We did bring home the "official" over-priced shot the elves took with their camera but I liked this one with ours better.

We spent Christmas Eve with family. We ate, there were presents and it was fun. Christmas Eve excitement is unmatched any other time of the year.

We kept them in present-suspense a little longer for some more photos.

A and cousin E very carefully made a stuffed bear. It obviously took a team effort.

Cousin A is a college student and all but this was extremely cute catching her not skimping one bit from educational opportunities while on Christmas break from school.

W asked Santa for a new bike and getting his safety gear completely gave him hope he would have one Christmas morning. He was so attached to his safety gear he wanted to wear his helmet to bed. When he realized he couldn't lay his head down comfortably he gave in and let us take it off.

Here is a family picture on Christmas Eve 2008. They will totally love the photographic evidence of the moment ... maybe even enough to forgive me for posting it on the blog.

Not to leave MK out of a little feature ... here she is with chocolate on her face. We love her enough to clean her face but it was Christmas Eve and with all the excitement we missed it!

To Be Continued....