A Picture is Worth Five Thousand Dollars

I’ve never won anything. I’ve had friends that have won trips, cruises, and cash. I’ve never even won a raffle drawing.

Several months ago, I received a link from a friend of mine. It was a contest. The idea was to buy a “Your Way Spinbrush” and decorate with your child and upload a picture. It seemed pretty easy. Oh, and the grandprize was $5000.00. So I loaded the kids up in the car headed to the store and with my coupon and savings card spent $1.08 on this $6.00 toothbrush. Reeciebun decorated the Spinbrush-with my help of course and I started laying out what I would use for my background.

After several different placements and lots of input from two dear friends, I submitted my picture. A few weeks later we found out we had won. What an amazing feeling! The kids were more excited then I was. I wish I could say we were able to buy this or makeover that but we just lived. The very first thing we did was put new tires on the van-that was extremely necessary. We saved for the days when Jason’s work was slow.

I’m beyond thankful for the selflessness of two friends that entered this contest with me. Who helped me tweak my picture and celebrated with us. I continue to stand amazed that God continues to meet our family’s needs in ways we would NOT expect. That’s just how incredible He is.

February’s Family Fun magazine has a picture of our entry and I’ve attached it below.

Here's a better copy. Maybe I'll just frame it and hang it in the girls room as a reminder!

Go ahead-throw your name in that raffle, you never know you just might win something!

Facing a Fear

Anyone who has known me very long learns that I have a great fear. Now, it may seem laughable, but I’m truly, completely, horrifyingly, afraid of bugs. Yep, bugs. Big ones, little ones, doesn’t matter I just can’t do it. Well, yesterday I conquered a fear.

My father is The Critter Keeper. He holds educational and birthday party shows for children. He has a Critter Cabin full of, well just that, Critters. I have no problem holding the snakes and iguanas, but when he brings out the Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches, Scorpions, or Vinegaroons, my stomach turns and I’m outta there!

My nephews are here and my dad did a mini Critter Keeper show for his grandchildren. Each child held the scorpion and then my sweet son looks at me and says, “Mom, will you hold it?” I responded with a hearty “Um. No!” He looks at me and says, “You should do it. You need to face your fear.” Well look who’s all grown up telling his Mom what to do. He was so right. I encourage my children to always face their fears. We tell them that fear is crippling, and here I was fearful of this “big” scorpion. So after several deep breaths and a few “wait, I’m not ready!” I did it. I held a big, creepy scorpion. Now, I wish I could say that I’m no longer afraid of these things, but that’s not really true. However, I now have an awesome example of a day that Mom faced a fear that I can remind my children. On the days, that they’re afraid to stand up for truth-Mom held a scorpion. On the day, that they’re afraid to talk to the new kid in class-Mom held a scorpion. On the day, that they are being pushed out of their comfort zone-Mom held a scorpion. Now, if I could just bring myself to kill a spider………I held a scorpion, I held a scorpion, I held a scorpion.

It's A New Year!

Happy New Year! I love when a New Year starts, I’m glad to say goodbye to the past and hello to the future. Of course, like everyone else I’m all motivated to start new things, but this year I’ve given up on those resolutions before they were ever made. Who keeps those things anyway? I made 3 goals…yes only 3. My goals for 2012 are to love my God more, love my husband more, and love my children more. Seems easy right? Well if you could only see the little bullets of the “how” I had made under those 3 goals. I’ve set up 3 major goals and then have little goals under those to get me through to my big goal.

I don’t know about you but 2011 flew by. I was thinking back and it’s not as if I had a lot going on that it flew by it just did! With each passing year they seem to go faster, I get older, and my kids get older-I’m a fan of neither. So one of my little bullets under the goal of Love My Children More I wrote “SLOW DOWN”. It’s a well known fact, that I enjoy being on the go, staying busy, and jam packing my day full. God has shown me that I need to SLOW DOWN. I want to make more memories with my kiddies, make more conversation with them, and teach them more of the God we love and serve!

More than anything I want to remember their sounds. The sound of babygirl’s bare feet running across the floor, Reeciebun’s sweet voice, Turk’s singing in the back of the car at the top of her lungs, and my big guy’s voice, that will soon be changing . I don’t want to wish away the moments of changing babygirl’s diaper, brushing Reeciebun’s hair, or helping the big kids with school, because I know if I blink long enough it will just be Jason and I at this house.

I feel so blessed that I’m able to stay home with my children. I feel so blessed that I’m able to home school my children (on the tough days I have to remind myself that this IS a blessing), I feel so blessed at how God has put our little family together. On that note, I have a sweet 4 year old tugging on me to do a puzzle with her and my Turk needs help with her English so I don’t have a cute fancy ending-except that I hope you enjoy the little moments with your children, husband, family. Cherish them.

One of those busy days, I just didn't get around to changing her diaper. She didn't seem to care.

"Cherish the moment, soon you'll be a part. Cling to the memory, clasp it to your heart. Soon comes the day when you'll have no child to hold. So, cherish, cherish the moment."

-Ron Hamilton