Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas Y’all!  Oh how I love the Christmas holiday!  I over decorate my entire house and love a good Christmas shirt!  Christmas is magical for me and I can’t wait to celebrate each year!  With the hustle and bustle of life and celebration, it’s important to remember the reason for the season…the birth of our Savior, Jesus.

I want to quickly share a tradition we started with Kaleb many years ago.  Each year on Christmas Eve or the day before (depending on family schedules, this is something I like to do with just our little family) we throw a birthday party for Jesus.  We read a condensed version of the Christmas Story and then sing Happy Birthday.  I buy a decorated cake that says Happy Birthday Jesus and cute napkins and plates to match.    I always want Kaleb to remember the reason we celebrate Christmas.  As he gets older the excitement fades slightly and it will soon become something we may not do until we have grand kids BUT I know for certain that through this little birthday celebration, I have taught him what should be most celebrated and that is the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

I would love to hear what traditions you have with your family during the holiday season!  I pray that you and your family have a wonderful Christmas holiday.  Merry Christmas!

 

 

I Can’t Take it Anymore

Do you ever feel that way, like really I just can’t take it anymore, I won’t take it anymore, I am not taking it anymore?  I know I do.  Unfortunately, there is a big difference between all three of those.  Sometimes based on the situation you may be able to tolerate more than what you should or really can.  I am going through some unfortunate life events right now and on most days I can take it.  Other days I can’t.  Some days I think I won’t.  What will be the final straw in which my reaction will be I AM NOT TAKING IT ANYMORE?

I can’t take it anymore.  This is often a place of deep pain…hurt, anger, bitterness, strife.  You will say you can’t take it anymore but you do.  You’re friends and family might even advise against your tolerating.  They don’t really know all the details and how things really are, so you thank them for their support and make your own decisions.  You think about how different life would be if you eliminated the problem but it’s hard so you TOLERATE it a little more.  Everything inside you screams for relief but you are strong and you will get through it. There is hope…you can fix it.  It will change.  It’s just a bad few months….years.  So you take it….until next time.

I won’t take it anymore.  This is the closest you have ever been to not taking it anymore.  Here you can actually see that despite the initial pain “life change” will bring, you know it will be worth it.  You’re friends and family are still advising against your toleration and now you hear them.  You see that they have your best interest at heart and know what they are talking about!  Here you ask for their support as you prepare for the end…in your time.  You begin to prepare.  You actually make real plans and want to abandon ship but it hurts so bad you wait just a tad longer.  You want to make sure SURE sure it’s the right move.  Kids, friendships, family members…they will be affected too.  You’re kind of stuck.  It will hurt others so bad too.  Unfortunately your heart still has hope here…maybe just maybe something can be different to make it all work BUT, you know deep down it isn’t going to get better.  So many thoughts inside your head scream you shouldn’t take this, you are stronger, you are better, but wait……you are stronger, there is something you can do to fix it…it’s really not that bad, so you wait.

I am not taking it anymore.  Often the most painful decision you will ever make.  Even though you prepared for this, your emotions are nuts!  At this place, it hurts to even breath.  Scared, hurt, angry, confused, free, excited, anxious…all things you feel in the same hour!  You wanted it so bad but it wasn’t meant to be.  The days are long and the nights are scary.  You don’t want to get out of bed and face reality….the reality that you ended what couldn’t be fixed.  You know that days will get easier but here it hurts.  You have to be strong for yourself and others too.  Here is where you show yourself what you are made of….STRENGTH!

We all have different levels of toleration.  Some can take a lot while others can take much of anything.  I often think I take to much.  I am too strong.  I allow my strength to buffer my true happiness.  I have an uncanny ability to say it is what it is and really just forget about it.  But do I or does the scar on my heart remain until there’s no place left to scar?  I am not really sure the answer to that.  I often wonder what is to much? When will I not be strong enough anymore?  When will I not forget?  When will it be WHAT IT REALLY IS?

If you are walking through this life with a “tolerated” issue, whether it be a broken marriage, family relationship, bad working environment or even addiction, I encourage you to really self reflect and say is this worth the pain?  I might even take my own advice and do the same! I have been tolerant for years.  I won’t take it anymore…that’s where I am.   Life is short.  Just last month I was 16 and dragging Main street in my red Mustang convertible… now I am in my old lady Caddy cussing people for driving like 16 year olds.  Felt like just yesterday I had Kaleb….he will soon be 14!  I am telling you it goes so fast.  Make it the best.  Don’t live with regrets and hurt and pain.  It’s just not worth it.  The pain of change is temporary.  Now temporary meaning like 5 days or 5 years it just all depends!  BUT one day it won’t hurt anymore.

I ask that you pray for me during this transition and I will pray for you too.  No matter where you are on the journey of freedom…YOU CAN DO IT…I CAN DO IT…WE CAN DO IT!

 

 

Thankful Turkey

Are you a Thankful Turkey, I am.  I have so much to be thankful for today and everyday.  I wanted to share a tradition I started with Kaleb many years ago.  Just before Thanksgiving we would sit down at the kitchen table and trace our hands on construction paper.  We would cut out our hand shape and in each finger we wrote what we were most thankful for.  Kaleb always loved this project and through the years he was thankful for everything from candy, pets, to the sun, ocean and family!  I have saved all of the turkeys and have them sealed in my Hope Chest.  I know that someday I will share them with my grand kids.  Here is a picture I found on the internet of something similar to how we did ours.

Kaleb will be 14 soon and while Thankful Turkey’s are no longer a craft he finds fun to do, I am diligent always, to point out all that we have to be thankful for.  In a here and now, get what you want, everyone owes somebody something world, it is VERY important to understand contentment and being thankful for what you do have.  Tommy and I work very hard and we are very blessed to have this life.  As a parent, I want Kaleb to always understand the value of hard work and a bit of humility.  I feel that those two character traits will breed a thankful heart.  My motto is, “THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING TO BE THANKFUL FOR”…and really there is.

Life is a gift.  Life is also hard.  Often times we are so burdened by the lows of life that we can’t see our blessings BUT, it could be so much worse.  Start by seeing the little things.  A thankful heart is like medicine for your soul.  Everyday is a blessing and something to be thankful for.  Make it the best you can!  So here it goes, my Thankful Turkey would read this by finger;

THUMB- Most importantly Tommy and Kaleb.   They bring so much joy into my life.  Tommy keeps me balanced and encourages me to stay strong and stick to what I believe in.  He is my favorite travel partner.   I look forward to many more years of traveling the world with him.  Kaleb keeps me laughing and inspires me to be a better ME.  I love watching him grow and play sports.  I wish he were a Red Raider but I can’t wait to cheer him on as  Horned Frog.

POINTER- Salvation and the hope for my future.  I am thankful for the gift of eternity through Christ Jesus.  It is amazing to know who hold my future.  There is peace in knowing no matter what life my throw at me HE will see me through it.  If you don’t know Jesus, ask me about him!

MIDDLE- Friends and Family.  Though not always drama free, they are the best!

RING- My job.  After many years in non-profit marketing and special events, I found a career doing something totally different.  I love my job and the people I work with.  It gives me purpose and I am so thankful I made the change!

PINKY- Hair Spray and Laughter because all know I like a good laugh when my hair is fixed!!!

As we enter this holiday season, be reminded of what you have to be thankful for and remember those less fortunate.  It has been a tradition in my family since I was a kid to adopt a family or charity each holiday season and bless them as we can.  This year we will be partnering with the Lubbock Children’s Home and have adopted a few kiddos there.  My work place is also hosting a toy drive and all toys will be donated to the Lubbock Children’s Home.  If you are interested in donating, please call or email me.   I am so thankful you have taken the time to read my blog.  I pray that you and your family have a blessed and wonderful Thanksgiving.  I AM THANKFUL FOR YOU!

Forgiven

Forgiven doesn’t mean forgotten…or does it?  I get inspiration for my blogs from many different sources…today it came from a friends post on Facebook.  A sorrow filled post of apology for actions that hurt others during a dark time in their life.  As I read the post, I began to relate to the emotions contained in such simple words…EMBARRASSED, MISTAKE, SHAME, I’M SORRY.

I don’t share my story often but today, I think I will.  Rewind 18 years ago.  Off to college, first time without strict supervision and I was free!  After to many years of hurt and judgment in the church I was ready to be WILD, “of the world” and free!  Bad choice after bad choice, I spiraled out of control.  Just over 14 years ago, on a Sunday evening I sat in my apartment filled with tears, shame and embarrassment and I called my grandmother.  I told her I needed to tell her something I was too embarrassed to tell my parents.  I was pregnant, not married and not even sure the dad would be a part of the process.  I grew up in a super religious/preachers home…you don’t have sex before marriage and you certainly didn’t live the lifestyle I was living.   I don’t know that I had ever been more scared and embarrassed in all my life.  My family was devastated.

January 2004, almost two months early, Kaleb was born.  He was the most perfect little human I had ever laid eyes on.  Still, in the back of my mind was all the pain associated with having a child out of wedlock.  Sure enough, I was a single mom.  For a short time, I carried the weight of that guilt…it was heavy and painful.  Nine months after I had Kaleb, I met Tommy.  As time passed he recognized the shame I carried.  I remember he told me something I had heard before but never really seen put into action, “It doesn’t matter what other people say or think”.  Those words were profound for me.  A routine statement he lived by.   He too had a past, I was amazed at how carefree he was about his past.  The key to his freedom was SELF FORGIVENESS.

I know some of you are saying really all that because you got pregnant out of wedlock???  Yes, to my family, who lived in a glass house, it was a HUGE deal.  A huge deal that could have been handled much different than it was, but it happened….and I let the reaction define me for way to long.  I remember the day I decided I would no longer live in fear of what others perceived myself or my son to be…LET FREEDOM RING! I realized that self forgiveness is the starting place for anyone who wants to lead a good life as free from hypocrisy as is humanly possible.  Freedom, I like to call it!  Freedom that helps me be the best me I can be.   Without this true freedom, I would have drowned in my own self doubt, condemnation and pain.  I wasn’t a single mom, he wasn’t a bastard child rather we are Children of the King.  My sin was no different than anyone else.  I put my pants on just the same as you, one leg at a time!  I had forgiven me!

I look back now and realize Kaleb saved my life.  I am not sure where I would be if I hadn’t gotten pregnant.    I also firmly believe Tommy was brought into my life if for nothing more than to show me how to walk in complete freedom from other’s judgment and love me through it.  There are moments when I look back and wish it could have happened different but that’s not my story…it wasn’t meant to be and that’s ok.  My life is so full now.  Our little family is full of love and no one judges the other.  We are diligent in teaching Kaleb to show grace to himself and others too.   We daily encourage him to realize that life is hard but it really only matters what you do when you get back up.  Most importantly, don’t judge another’s journey, we all get there just in different ways.  I remind him often that “you are who you answer to” and I live by that motto now.  Call me what you wish BUT, I know who I am and what I will answer to.

I encourage you today to let go of that thing or things that might be holding you back from walking in freedom, walking in self forgiveness.  Life is short and certainly to short to be burdened with things that ultimately don’t matter.  I love Madea movies and Madea said it best, “People are gonna talk, let them talk.  What they say about you is none of your business.”  We are forgiven if we ask BUT,  as humans, our flesh struggles to forget.  There are moments when something is said or done that my flesh wants to stand in judgment but I know that Jesus says, “I have cast your sins as far as the East is from the West.  YOU ARE FORGIVEN.”.  If he doesn’t remember them, why should we.  Forgive yourself and walk in the freedom that is yours!

If you need someone to talk to, someone to just listen, contact me.   It is my prayer that you too find your way to LET IT GO!

 

 

 

I am Cooking…WHAT?

Yes, you read right…I AM COOKING!  We eat out most every meal and need to STOP!!!  In efforts to help keep myself accountable and share ideas, I thought I would add a recipe tab and try to add my weekly menu intentions…yes I said intentions…I need intentions to cook…gotta start somewhere!!!

Eating out every meal is not helping our lovely model like figures 🙂 haha!!!  We get sick of finding a restaurant to go to and I am certain our pocket book would like us better eating at home too!  I intend to cook at least 3-4 nights a week and prepare ahead lunch at least 3 days too. I will not be cooking on the weekends except for Sunday meal prep to help me feel like I have a break!   Over the last month, I have meal prepped simple things on Sunday afternoons to help get myself ready.  I will also have you know I have cooked at least 1-2 times a week as well!  If you have known me for any amount of time, you know this is an accomplishment!

I find with Kaleb’s busy sports schedules there are not many evenings at home.  I have a full time career and so does Tommy so the convenience of eating out seems logical!  I must change my mind set.  This is where meal prep is coming in.  I have found I need a weekly menu and the flexibility of not being in the kitchen for hours at a time.  So many times we would get home and I would look into a full pantry with what seemed to be no matching ingredients or anything I wanted to spend the time to cook.  As a result, I have started taking a few minutes on Sunday mornings to make a menu.  I use my day planner so that I can plan according to our schedules and how much time I will really have in the kitchen.  For example, this week Monday is open, Kaleb has baseball on Tuesday, a football game on Wednesday and Thursday is open.  I will cook a more time consuming meal on Monday and Thursday only since I will be coming straight home from work.  On Tuesday I will do any easy meal since we won’t likely be home before 7pm.  This helps me feel like I have got to enjoy my evening and not have spent all night in the kitchen.   On Sunday’s I also shop.  I write down all ingredients I will need for each dish, check the pantry and fridge first, then make a store list for all remaining ingredients.  This ensures I have everything needed and there is no excuse not to cook!

While there are some of you laughing by now…this is seriously the only way I can get my kitchen/cooking life together!  EXTREME ORGANIZATION!  I will share the victories as well as the ridiculous mishaps that seem to always be in my kitchen!  Feel free to share tips, recipes and anything else you might feel would help too!  Who knows…I may just be a Chef in no time!!!!  Bahahahaha!  Have a great week and happy cooking!!!!

 

Not “Momming” Today

“Momming”, I may have just made that word up but for real, I’m not into it today! It was a rough morning in our house.  Kaleb was asked to take the trash out before school and he apparently took great offense to my request so early in the morning and proceeded to react in a way that was not acceptable and scored him a few not fun consequences!  When I became a mom to a school age child, I decided that I would do my best to ensure his school day started off the best way possible, full of love, reassurance and most of all no yelling.  Any negative issues that occur in the rush of school mornings I would wait to address until after school.  I would say on the whole I abide by this most everyday BUT today… not so much.

Do you ever feel responsible for ruining your kids life because they misbehaved and you handled it wrong???  I felt this way today.  When I asked Kaleb to take the trash out his immediate response was unacceptable equally my response to his reaction was not acceptable.  When we got in the car I let him know exactly how I felt about his behavior and what ALL of the consequences would be starting the moment he got out of school.  His response….SILENCE….I hate silence!  When we got to school he got out of the car and nothing was said…we always say have a good day and I love you.  Not today…he shut the door quickly and no one said anything.  My heart hurt while pulling away.

Overall Kaleb is a great kid, I don’t have to get on him to much so today took me back.  This week has been a bit different than most….he’s been working my nerves y’all!  His lackluster behavior and quick to act out attitude has been a challenge.  I have asked him over and over, “Is something bothering you?  What’s wrong?  Why are you acting this way?”, to only get this little response’ “NOTHING MOM”.  I know it’s something and in time he will tell me but not right now.   I admit I totally handled this morning wrong but in the moment of running late I was shocked and mad and I wanted to quit….DO WHAT YOU WANT, BE A BRAT, I DON’T CARE, are all the things I thought but didn’t really mean.  Silly moments like these make me question the whole MOM thing.  Am I doing it right?  Am I asking to much?  Am I being to hard on him?  Am I building him up or tearing him down?  Am I even qualified to be a mom?

Tommy shared a video with me this morning that was so timely and very profound for this season.   I have attached the link below.  This video is from the man who killed Osama Bin Laden.  He discussed the hours of training, role playing, drills, and discussions they went through to prepare for this mission.  He also discussed the reality of the mission, almost certain death and defeat.

 

This video has nothing to do with being a mom but I feel God used it to speak to me in the middle of my “mom pity party”!  How often do we as mom’s say, “I can’t, there is someone else more qualified for this mom thing. I’m gonna screw it up…broken kid, broken adult”?  We get pregnant, we read books, take classes, listen to mom and grandma’s parenting advice and babysit everyone’s kids to prepare.   Baby comes and we are prepared and ready…then everything falls apart in one second.  On most days I feel I have the hang of this mom gig.  I feel equipped and confident that I am a decent mom.  In one tiny moment the enemy can use something so dumb as trash to try and take that from me!

I text Kaleb after I drove off.  I reminded him that I love him not matter what.  This evening I will not only address his behavior but mine too.  One of the most important things I know I have to remember in these moments was said right in the video, “You are not having a bad life you are having a bad day.” .  I’m not a bad mom, I am just having a bad day.  Kaleb is not a bad kid, he’s just having a bad day.  Kaleb is a gift, a gift Christ entrusted to me almost 14 years ago.  He knew I would be Kaleb’s mom and he knew I was the perfect mom for him.  He knew I wouldn’t handle every situation perfectly but that I was perfectly imperfect for this mom thing.

Being a mom is the hardest most rewarding thing I have ever done.  I know I am not the only one to struggle with “Momming”.  If you too are on the “Momming” struggle bus I hope you find encouragement in this blog.  I hope you see that you are not alone and that we all have moments of mommy failure!  We must stay focused and never quit!  We must try to be the best mom we can be and humble ourselves in the moments we fail to do that.  I challenge you to chose one area you struggle with in parenting and be diligent in trying to do better for yourself and your kiddos.  I know I am going to.  We can do this!

I hope you have an amazing weekend.  If you need a shoulder to cry on, an ear to listen or just a mommy to relate to, I am here!  We are in this together.  Mom tough!  Let’s do this!

It’s What Mom’s Do.

I went last week to my routine nail appointment.  I was busy chatting with my nail lady when half way into my appointment a young mom came in and sat in the chair next to mine.  She had a stroller with the cutest chubby cheeked baby in it.  I overheard her telling her nail tech that her husband had been deployed and was returning home the following day and she was “getting presentable”.  A few minutes into the appointment her baby started to get fussy and discontent with her seat in the stroller.  You could tell mom was starting to get anxious and began to apologize to those of us around her.  We all reassured her it was ok.  As each minute passed, baby screams got louder.

Now we all know I am not usually fond of kids…especially screaming, crying ones! For some reason that day my usual annoyance was replaced with deep empathy.  You could tell this mama was TIRED, OVERWHELMED, and just ready for help. I leaned over for some baby talk and the little girl immediately stopped crying and was entertained for the time being.   As I finished up my nails and got ready to move over for my pedicure the little girl started to get upset again.  The overwhelmed mom said to her nail tech,  “I am so sorry but we may have to stop, I don’t think she’s going to cooperate.  I had asked my mom to keep her but she doesn’t like to help me much and I knew bringing her here was a mistake.”.

As I gathered my things to move over to the pedi chairs, I felt compelled to offer help.  I looked over to her and said, “Can I hold her while you finish getting your nails done?”, the mom looked up at me and said, “She will likely cry.  She never lets anyone but me hold her but you can certainly try.” , so I picked her up walked over to my pedicure chair and she didn’t cry!!!  We baby chatted, watched a little Barney and all was well.  About 10 minutes in I hear her nail tech asking her what’s wrong as she wiped her tears.  I thought, oh crap I have offended her!!! She looked over at me with tears in her eyes and said,  “THANK YOU”, turned back around and told her nail tech, “I’m just emotional because I am pregnant and used to being alone and not having help but this stranger is holding my baby and she’s not crying and I am able to get my nails done without worrying about her crying and bothering other people.”.  Y’all I almost lost it!  I was just holding a cute baby getting routine services I get every other week.  Honestly my quick thought process was this…I am not trying to hear this kid cry my entire pedicure.  I get shellac so my nails are dry, she’s getting regular polish so there is no way she can hold that baby and dry her nails too, and it’s a pedicure I can hold this kid…she’s lucky she’s cute!  BUT for this TIRED MAMA it meant the world!

As I finished my pedicure, mama was finishing up too, I took the baby over to her and she said “let me pay for your pedicure since you practically babysat my child the entire thing”,  I said no mam’, THIS IS WHAT MOM’S DO, WE HELP EACH OTHER and I gave her her baby and turned around to pay my check and leave.  As I was walking out the door, I turned around to say bye and our eyes met again, I looked at this tired mama and I said, “YOU’VE GOT THIS….EVEN ON THE DAYS YOU THINK YOU DON’T.“.  Y’all she starting crying and I almost did too!

I have thought of this day since it happened.  I have no idea what she was going through but you could see it in her eyes.  It was pain and it was tired.  There are moments when we can sense a strangers pain and how often do we just go on about our business?  How often do we stop and take the time to care???  I know I don’t very often.  Between my inability to be on time to anything, my career, family and son’s crazy sport schedule,  I rarely have a second to spare.

I realized something that day.  I felt a strangers pain and there was a small token of kindness I could offer her.  I was late getting to dinner with Tommy, Kaleb and my brother BUT we got there…we didn’t starve…no one was really affected by my extra time spent at the nail salon.  I can’t do that every time BUT it doesn’t hurt every now and again to just stop and care for a second.   I struggle with empathy, on both sides.  I don’t give it and I don’t receive well.  I feel like it’s no my problem and it’s certainly not yours either.  It’s not that I am this big ole meanie, I am just far less sensitive than others and I struggle to relate to feelings…I am not empathetic.

The old saying rings true “Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.  Be kind”.   Understand not everyone is hurting and going through major life battles but some may be battling a small but annoying battle.  While I feel you should have balance with empathy, there is always some to give.  I still have no idea what that mama was going through but I was kind and I know that it was appreciated.  So I challenge you to take the time this week to engage in random kindness.  Maybe it’s a stranger, maybe it’s someone you know.  I promise it will make you feel GREAT!  Share with me the outcome.   I would love to celebrate with you.   I am making a conscious effort to be kind again too…this is hard for me so I will keep you posted on how it goes!

Lastly, I want you to remember, YOU’VE GOT A FRIEND IN ME!  If you’re tired and just need a break, holler at me.  Well only holler if your kids are cute….HA HA JUST KIDDING…REALLY, I’m kidding on that part!  For really reals….Mama’s gotta stick together, help each other out…IT’S JUST WHAT MAMA’S DO!

Will you leave Earth better than you found it?

Tommy and I spent the last 4 days in Las Vegas.  A trip we take every year, sometimes more.  We love Las Vegas.  For us, a guaranteed few days of careless fun.  I had no idea this trip would be so profoundly different.

We landed Friday evening, got in our rental car and headed towards Las Vegas Blvd.  At the South end of the strip is the famous Las Vegas sign.  There is always lots of traffic no matter the time, people wanting their picture by the sign.  Friday was different.  No one taking pictures rather a somber quiet crowd, walking through a candle lit memorial of crosses displaying the names and pictures of all of the victims.  As we continued to drive just a bit further, we saw entire block of crime scene tape blocking off the location of the shooting… a senseless crime.

On Saturday night we drove down to the sign/memorial.  As we walked through we paused at each sign to read the notes and learn about the victim.  My heart broke as I read messages of love and sadness from children to their mom or dad and parents to their sons and daughters, husbands and wives, friends and loved ones.   I felt such sadness as I processed the fact that none of these individuals planned to die that night.  Most thought they would hear a good concert and go home or back to their hotel and carry on with life as normal.  But one man, driven by hate, took that from them…each and every one of them.

Fast forward to Monday night.  I get a text message saying there has been a shooting at Texas Tech University.   Turns out a student was being detained for drugs and shot the police officer.   This was an isolated incident and only one life was lost BUT again, a senseless crime.  Now his wife will navigate life with her two daughters  without their daddy.   It’s heartbreaking.

I haven’t blogged since this summer.  As a family, we walked through an odd season the last few months and I just didn’t feel like it, ya know?  Today was different.  As I hurried through the piles of work on my desk from being off, music playing on my phone in the background, the song Better Than I Found It came on.  My eyes immediately filled with tears.  I asked myself, “WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO LEAVE IT BETTER THAN YOU FOUND IT?”.   I knew I couldn’t be silent.

There is so much hate in the world.  As the mother of an interracial child, a best friend to a gay man, and close friends with many different races and people of other religions, I see it first hand daily.  BUT….I will be a light. I will love and not hate.  I will stand up without fear or hesitation to any hate in my world.  I will respectfully disagree while holding tight to my morals and values, without hating or hurting those who don’t see it my way.  I want to be a part of the change this world so desperately needs.

The issues we face aren’t political.  They aren’t religious.  They aren’t issues of gun control.  They aren’t issues of skin color.  They are HEART issues.  People are hurting.  They are searching for a place to belong.  Life is hard.  The world can be a mean and lonely place.   We must find our way back to loving one another.  You don’t have to like and and support everyone in everything BUT we do have to have respect for humanity.

I challenge each of you reading this to be the light.  Be the change the world needs.  Leave race, religion, and politics at the door and go back to the basics of LOVE.  Agree to disagree without violence or hate.   1 Corinthians 13:4-5 says, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. IT DOES NOT DISHONOR OTHERS, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.”.                      LEAVE EARTH BETTER THAN YOU FOUND IT.

If you are struggling down the road of life and need someone to talk to, pray for you or just simply be there, I am here.  Don’t go it alone.  There are also many resources in Lubbock and online to assist you through your journey if you aren’t comfortable reaching out in your own circle.  Life is better with friends.  LOVE! LOVE! LOVE!

 

 

SuMMeR!

I love summer…don’t get me wrong Fall is my favorite but, lazy summer days by the pool are heaven sent!  From summer hangout spots to glowing tan lines, I thought I would blog a few quick tips and treats for summer days!

First on the list is a great product I have discovered….HEEL TASTIC!  “The Heel Tastic Intensive Heel Therapy Balm hydrates and nourishes to repair dry, rough and cracked skin. It contains natural neem and karanja oils for fast results.”  It comes in a roll on bottle and really works!  I apply it at night and then put socks on.  I don’t recommend using it as the instructions say.  It is very greasy and stained my sheets also causing the floor to be slippery!  It takes a few applications depending on the condition of your feet but over the course of a week you should see dramatic results if you faithfully us it every night.  I am down to 1-2 applications per week.  I apply it at night and just leave it on until morning and it washes off in the shower.  I purchased mine at Walmart for around $10 but I know Bed Bath and Beyond and Target have it too.

On to TANNING!  I got started late this year and I am kicking myself at the thought of our Mexico vacation quickly approaching and I am still white!!!   I am using a product called Solid Black.  It has a 100x bronzer in it and tingles when you tan!  I never spend much on tanning lotions because really, they all work about the same!  I purchased this on Amazon for less than $20 bucks!

Last for beauty then on to hangouts!  LIP SENSE!  It’s all the rage and I must say I love it too! I have been using this product almost two years.  I don’t use it everyday because, well,  I am lazy sometimes! So….if you see me out with no lips, let’s not stare with judgey eyes!   Lip Sense is an all natural product that is said to be the long-lasting lip color.  It is waterproof, does not kiss-off, smear-off, rub-off or budge-off!  I believe this to be true.  I swim with it, work with it, eat with it and kiss with it!   I typically apply this around 8am and by noon I need more gloss but no color.  It usually lasts all day.  I have friends that apply it at 6am and post pics at 9pm and still look fabulous.  I haven’t had flawless success like that but lasting more than 6 hours on my lips is enough for me!  You apply the color and wait a minute or so, not letting your lips touch, giving it time to dry then apply your gloss.  My summer color is Pink Champagne and I am pairing it with Gold Gloss….I love anything with glitter! I have several friends who sell it so if you are interested I can get you in touch!

Summer hangouts!  Now we all know eating out is my specialty BUT finding a place to eat and have great music/atmosphere is a total win for me!  Tommy and I love to sit out on the patio of a restaurant and enjoy good food, cold drinks, and music on the weekends.  We have recently discovered a few repeat spots!  We love to go to Albarran’s on Friday to sit on their patio and listen to the Mariachi band play.  There menu is good not great but there Queso and Margaritas…they are tasty!  We really like their street tacos too!  You can order street tacos al a carte for $2.50 each and we usually escape there under $30 for everything!  Montelongo’s also has Mariachi’s on Thursdays and it’s BYOB…their food is the bomb and very reasonably priced!  Triple J’s downtown has great food and live music on the weekends.  I love the atmosphere there but their adult beverages are lacking unless you are a beer drinker only.  I am in love with their brisket nachos.  They are fried won-ton chips and I can say you will never want nachos any other way after you have these!  Over the weekend we went to Abuelo’s patio.  They have live music Thursday-Saturday on their patio.  There is a limited menu on the patio and the drinks are expensive but tasty food and drinks!   It is an older crowd but over all was a good time!

We travel as much as we can in the summer.  I will blog about each trip individually and pass on the hot spots we discover and repeats we love! If you like my blog, please share or leave a comment!  Feel free to suggest topics too!  We have several upcoming guest bloggers and it’s going to be tons of fun!  Have a great week!

 

 

 

Being a Mom is Easy…insert eye roll here.

Guest blogger time!  Today’s guest blogger is Jacy Kelly, a wife and stay at home mommy. Get ready for a funny and truthful depiction of mom life in this short get to know Jacy blog!

 

I always thought that being a mom would be SO easy.  I mean how hard can taking care of kids be?  If I could go back in time to my 20 year old self, I would punch me in the face for all of the judgmental thoughts I ever had about other moms and how I would do things differently…better, way better!  OH and I would look pretty while I did it. HA!  It’s very rare that I have my hair, makeup and cute clothes on all in the same day! Much less the same week! Kids are HARD!

Goldfish off the floor that the dog may or may not have licked is considered an okay snack around here! My 4 year old wants attention….ALL of it!  My 1 year old just wants someone to make her laugh and I want to lock myself in the bathroom and sit in silence! BUT, at night when they go to sleep part of me wants to wake them up so I can hold them or kiss them or make them laugh, only a small part of me though because I am SO tired!

I redo furniture, I sew and I keep two tiny humans alive…every day.  LOL!  So to all of the moms I may have passed judgement on in my pre-mom, pre-sleepless night life,  I apologize! If your kids are happy at the end of the day then you win!! AND you deserve to have a glass of wine…..or the bottle, whichever!

Jacy Kelly