Angry and disgusted

I do not watch Dateline very often. However, Brad and I watched the first time they aired the show on sexual preditors. They aired the 4th addition to that show tonight. It makes me so mad and so sad. These nasty men are after under-aged girls and sometimes boys for sexual favors. Of course it is all set up. They are now arresting the men on the spot. Here is my deal, it is obvious they are just after these young people and they are totally unable to make the correct decisions for themselves. You know there are women that would be willing to do the same things in every part of the country. It is just sick!!! I cannot stomach the thought of how often men do this and get away with it and FOREVER alter a child's life.

I have seen so many bad things on the news come from myspace recently. I decided to log on and see what it is like. No wonder kids are getting in trouble. There are young children doing poses to impress others. Many of these kids claim to be bisexual or homosexual. Brad and I have said that in the very near future, our computer will be moved to the living room where we are able to see what is going on at all times. It is amazing how young kids are getting exposed to inappropriate things on the internet. I pray that the police are able to arrest more and more of these men to save our children.

Characteristics

There are many traits in Todd that I love. He is affectionate, passionate , laughs a lot, eager to help (unless he is tired), and really funny. He is also very stubborn. Yes, that is challenging at times, but in his teen years I will be glad he is so strong-willed! But if I had to choose my favorite trait, it would be his tender heart. Since he was young, he has loved babies because they are "sweet and cute". He also hates for other children to cry or be upset. He wants us to be happy with him. Numerous mornings if I have not been smiling, he wants to know why I am not smiling. He also loves to help. I am so blessed to have a child that has such a tender heart!! I hope that he continues to have that kind of heart as he grows older. What is your favorite traits in your child/children? I would love to hear your thoughts on how special your children are!!!

My Brother

O.K., it is out to my brother that I have a blog. He is not into this sort of thing so he has been teasing me since he discovered it. I decided I would make him known to everyone. Here is a picture of him from college, I believe. He is trying on an Alabama shirt that he wore when he was younger. Attractive!!

Putting all of that aside, I really do have the best brother ever. I have always idolized him. No one could get me to laugh like him. I cherish the memories of our childhood together. Sure we had our fair share of fights, but we couldn't stay mad at each other long. I am very blessed to have had such a geat brother. (Maybe the kind words will make up for the picture!!!!)

Bumble Bee

I just love this time of year!! I enjoy being able to be outside. I also enjoy it not being 100 degrees. Most of all, I enjoy flowers and bumble bees. I know most people do not like bees. I do not enjoy them stinging, but I can't help but look at them and marvel at them. It is so amazing that a creature like that can fly. Scientists have been confused about the bee. They claim a bumble bee should not be able to fly. He is too large for the proportion of his body and wing size. I think that is a neat thought. When I first went into teaching, I wore a bumble bee necklace. I did that to remind me that many kids I would encounter would have been told by many people they would never be successful or make anything of themselves. I would often reach for that necklace and say a silent prayer for my students. I still think of them regularly and wonder if they were able to fly like that bumble bee or did too many people convince them otherwise. I hope they are flying high and proving those people wrong!!

Where does the time go?

I have begun keeping a 5 month old baby girl one day a week. As many of you know, we have tried to have another child for over a year. I know that God is in control of this scenario, but it still makes it hard. As I was holding this little girl, it brought back so many wonderful memories of Todd at that age. I miss the days that he would fall asleep in my lap. I often think I would have done things differently had I know that was going to be my only child to hold and cuddle. Do you regret not cherishing those moments?

I do love the age Todd is at now. He has such a great sense of humor and is very loving. There is nothing sweeter than the words "I love you, Mommy".

A day to reflect

I strive to think about Christ on a regular basis, but it is days like today that I seem to really reflect on His sacrifice and the meaning and emotion behind it. I was thinking today how Mary must have felt during this time. I have a son and I cannot fathom the pain she must have endured. I wonder if she was like "Why me", "Why my son", "Take care of this some other way", or "I don't care about everyone else". I cannot imagine! I also can't imagine what that was like for God to endure. Christ having to look down on His mother in such pain would have been so hard to do. Christ's death, burial, and resurection is something that sometimes becomes so mundane. It pains me to even admit that. It is not that I forget how that forever altered my life or how precious that event was, I guess I forget how painful that must have been for those He was closest to. Yes, for me it meant eternal life, but for them, at that moment, it was total pain, heartache, and confusion. I want to try to rememeber that event as a whole, not just part of it. It truly was the ULTIMATE SACRAFICE for me!!

Reaching Out

I have been thinking a lot about those that are lost in this world. I recently bought Casting Crown's Life Songs C.D. It has really made me think!! I love the messages to all of them and I enjoy the upbeat music, though this one is mellow. I have copied the words to one of their songs that I love. Sometimes I feel I have to know all of the Bible to convert someone to Christ. I forget that the same God is by my side that helped so many people in the past convert others. This song is such a great reminder to show Christ's love and all of the rest will fall into place in His time! My challenge to you is to show someone that love!!! Let me know if you have a chance to show that love this weekend!

Love Them Like Jesus
Written by Mark Hall / Music by Mark Hall and Bernie Herms

This song is a sequel - an answer to the questions posed in "Here I Go Again". When I fear what to say, I've taken my eyes off Jesus. He will restore. He will rebuild. He will answer the questions. My place is just being there, loving them, and pointing them to the Father.

Matthew 11:28-29 / I Corinthians 3:7 Isaiah 55:10-11 / 2 Corinthians 4:7-18 2 Corinthians 12:9 / 1 Thessalonians 4:13, 16-18 Hebrews 4:14-16 / Matthew 11:28

The love of her life is drifting away
Their losing the fight for another day
The life that she's known is falling apart
A fatherless home, a child's broken heart
You're holding her hand,
your straining for words
You trying to make - sense of it all
She's desperate for hope,
darkness clouding her view
She's looking to you

Just love her like Jesus, carry her to Him
His yoke is easy, His burden is light
You don't need the answers to all of life's questions
Just know that He loves her and stay by her side
Love her like Jesus
Love her like Jesus

The gifts lie in wait,
in a room painted blue
Little blessing from heaven be there soon
Hope fades in the night,
blue skies turn to gray
As a little one slips away

You're holding their hand,
your straining for words
You trying to make - sense of it all
Their desperate for hope,
darkness clouding their view
Their looking to you

Just love them like Jesus, carry them to Him
His yoke is easy, His burden is light
You don't need the answers to all of life's questions
Just know that He loves them and stay by their side
Love them like Jesus

Lord of all creation holds
our lives in His hands
The God of all the nations
holds our lives in His hands
The rock of our salvation
holds our lives in His hands
He cares for them just as He cares for you

So love them like Jesus,
Love them like Jesus
You don't need the answers to all of life's questions
Just know that He loves them and stay by their side
Love them like Jesus
Love them like Jesus

The Mess

Have you ever wondered what is going through children's minds? I often wonder what my 3 year old is thinking. He can explain a lot of things but when he is quiet and it is obvious he is pondering something, I wonder what it is. He has started doing something the last few days that I just do not get. He loves The Lion King. We happened to purchase the sound track years ago. He loves it! That is all he wants to listen to and he has many songs memorized. There is one song that has very dramatic music and he has begun to dump things out onto the floor during this song. I mean EVERYTHING... trains, crayons, puzzles, ect. I have been helping him pick these up and that hasn't made him think twice before dumping them out. So, today, he had dumped out trains, crayons, and plastic Easter eggs. I turned off his music and made him pick all of it up! It took him forever, but he managed to get it done. When he was done he said, "Mommy, that took forever. I'm not going to do it again." I explained that was why I wanted him to pick it up so he would realize how long that mess takes to clean up. I just wonder what he is thinking as he dumps all of that out!

A Fun Trip

Brad had to make a trip to Cincinnati, Ohio. He has been working an unreal amount of hours and I hated for him to travel by himself. I searched on the internet and found they had a great zoo and aquarium. So, we all headed off. We went to the zoo today and it was GREAT! We were there from 9:30- 3:00. Unfortunatly, Brad had to work and couldn't enjoy it with us. Todd really loved the train and the monkeys. I am so thankful that God has blessed us with such a sweet, energetic, little boy! He and I laughed so much today my side was hurting! This is a picture of him riding the train. He was playing Diesel-10 from Thomas. Long story. Just look at his sweet expression!