Lavender Essential Oil.

If you are staying in a bed that isn’t yours on a regular basis, pack some lavender oil in your bag. When you get to your “room”, sprinkle a little oil on the mattress (under the sheets) and in just a matter of an hour, your bed should be bug free.

If your bag is being stowed on the floor in your room, be sure to put a couple of drops of oil in your bag to ward off any hitchhikers when you get ready to leave.

An older, tired-looking dog wandered into my yard.
I could tell from his collar and well-fed belly that he had a home and was well taken care of.

He calmly came over to me, I gave him a few pats on his head;
he then followed me into my house, slowly walked down the
hall, curled up in the corner and fell asleep.

An hour later, he went to the door, and I let him out.

The next day he was back, greeted me in my yard, walked inside and resumed his spot in the hall and again slept for about an hour.
This continued off and on for several weeks.

Curious, I pinned a note to his collar: ‘I would like to find out who the owner of this wonderful sweet dog is
and ask if you are aware that almost every afternoon your dog comes to my house for a nap.’

The next day he arrived for his nap, with a different note pinned to his collar:
‘He lives in a home with 6 children, 2 under the age of 3 – he’s trying to catch up on his sleep.
Can I come with him tomorrow?

Women have strengths that amaze men…..

They bear hardships and they carry burdens,

but they hold happiness, love and joy.

They smile when they want to scream.

They sing when they want to cry.

They cry when they are happy

and laugh when they are nervous.

They fight for what they believe in..

They stand up to injustice.

They don’t take “no” for an answer

when they believe there is a better solution.

They go without so their family can have.

They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.

They love unconditionally.

They cry when their children excel

and cheer when their friends get awards.

They are happy when they hear about

a birth or a wedding.

Their hearts break when a friend dies.

They grieve at the loss of a family member,

yet they are strong when they

think there is no strength left.

They know that a hug and a kiss

can heal a broken heart.

Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors.

They’ll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you

to show how much they care about you.

The heart of a woman is what

makes the world keep turning.

They bring joy, hope and love.

They have compassion and ideas.

They give moral support to their

family and friends.

Women have vital things to say

and everything to give..

HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE FLAW IN WOMEN,

IT IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH.
Please pass this along to all your women friends and relatives to remind them just how amazing they are.

I’m trying not to freak out, but this is kinda scaring me because she wants to move away from me. She wants to see the world on her own.

She has already started looking at apartments around the college so she won’t be that far away and can possibly walk to class. WHAT IS SHE THINKING!?!?! She’s just a sophmore in highschool and she is already planning to move away as soon as she graduates high school. That is just 3 short years from now.

I guess I should have seen it coming. Afterall, she was always the one that was independent and didn’t care if we were home or not. She never really needed me after she learned how to cook and clean up her room. Even when she was first diagnosed with diabetes, she gave herself her shots of insulin until they moved her to pills. I won’t say she doesn’t forget things from time to time, or be ultra lazy, but for the most part she can cook, clean, and take care of herself. She has been dj’ing for the last two years and can run Microsoft programs like nobody’s business. I know, sounds like a resume. Guess I’m trying to convince myself she will be ok. I know I taught her everything she needs in life to be a great person. So, I guess now I need to teach her how to apply for jobs and get something great before she moves away from me.

For all those parents out there who are going through the same thing, leave a comment and let me know how you are coping.

A little girl had been shopping with her Mom in WalMart. She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful red haired, freckle faced image of innocence.

It was pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the earth it has no time to flow down the spout.. We all stood there, under the awning, just inside the door of the WalMart.
We waited, some patiently, others irritated because nature messed up their hurried day.

I am always mesmerized by rainfall. I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world. Memories of running, splashing so carefree as a child came pouring in as a welcome reprieve from the worries of my day.

Her little voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we were all caught in, ‘Mom let’s run through the rain,’
she said.
‘What?’ Mom asked.

‘Let’s run through the rain!’ She repeated.

‘No, honey. We’ll wait until it slows down a bit,’ Mom replied.

This young child waited a minute and repeated: ‘Mom, let’s run through the rain..’

‘We’ll get soaked if we do,’ Mom said.

‘No, we won’t, Mom. That’s not what you said this morning,’ the young girl said as she tugged at her Mom’s arm.

‘This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?’

‘Don’t you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, ‘ If God can get us through this, He can get us through anything! ‘ ‘

The entire crowd stopped dead silent.. I swear you couldn’t hear anything but the rain.. We all stood silently. No one left. Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say.

Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly. Some might even ignore what was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child’s life. A time when innocent trust can be nurtured so that it will bloom into faith.

‘Honey, you are absolutely right. Let’s run through the rain. If GOD let’s us get wet, well maybe we just need washing,’ Mom said.

Then off they ran. We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they darted past the cars and yes, through the puddles. They got soaked..

They were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars. And yes, I did.

I ran.. I got wet. I needed washing.

Circumstances or people can take away your material possessions, they can take away your money, and they can take away your health. But no one can ever take away your precious memories…So, don’t forget to make time and take the opportunities to make memories everyday.

To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven.
I HOPE YOU STILL TAKE THE TIME TO RUN THROUGH THE RAIN.

They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but then an entire life to forget them.

Send this to the people you’ll never forget. It’s a short message to let them know that you’ll never forget them.

If you don’t send it to anyone, it means you’re in a hurry.

Take the time to live!!!

Keep in touch with your friends, you never know when you’ll need each other —

and don’t forget to run in the rain!

This morning I searched my wallet.
It was empty.
Then, I checked my pockets.
I found a few coins.
I then searched my heart and found you.
Then, I realized how rich I really am…

Thanks for being my friend
May you be as rich as I am
Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass,
It’s about learning to dance in the rain.

The Soldier stood and faced God,

Which must always come to pass.

He hoped his shoes were shining,

Just as brightly as his brass..

‘Step forward now,Soldier ,

How shall I deal with you?

Have you always turned the other cheek?

To My Church have you been true?’

The soldier squared his shoulders and said,

‘No, Lord, I guess I ain’t.

Because those of us who carry guns,

Can’t always be a saint.

I’ve had to work most Sundays,

And at times my talk was tough.

And sometimes I’ve been violent,

Because the world is awfully rough.

But, I never took a penny,

That wasn’t mine to keep…

Though I worked a lot of overtime,

When the bills got just too steep.

And I never passed a cry for help,

Though at times I shook with fear..

And sometimes, God, forgive me,

I’ve wept unmanly tears.

I know I don’t deserve a place,

Among the people here.

They never wanted me around,

Except to calm their fears

If you’ve a place for me here, Lord,

It needn’t be so grand.

I never expected or had too much,

But if you don’t, I’ll understand.

There was a silence all around the throne,

Where the saints had often trod.

As the Soldier waited quietly,

For the judgment of his God.

‘Step forward now, you Soldier,

You’ve borne your burdens well.

Walk peacefully on Heaven’s streets,

You’ve done your time in Hell.’

Author Unknown~

It’s the Soldier, not the reporter
Who has given us the freedom of the press.

It’s the Soldier, not the poet,
Who has given us the freedom of speech.

It’s the Soldier, not the politicians
That ensures our right to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness..

It’s the Soldier who salutes the flag,
Who serves beneath the flag,
And whose coffin is draped by the flag.

If you care to offer the smallest token of recognition and appreciation for the Military,
Please pass this on and pray for our men and women
Who have served and are currently serving our country
And pray for those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for freedom….

THESE COLORS DON’T RUN (red, white & blue)

In Jesus Name,
AMEN!

We the people are the rightful masters of both the Congress and the Courts – not to overthrow the Constitution but to overthrow men who pervert the Constitution.

Abraham Lincoln

Happy Mother’s Day!

“No gift to your mother can ever equal her gift to you – life”

A friend wrote recently on a social network site that Mother’s Day should be at least a week long celebration. It struck a chord. Motherhood is really the heart of a family. Everybody has a mother, maybe even a step mother or another important motherly figure. Not everyone has the traditional family life in today’s society, but everybody had a mother.

So this newsletter honors mothers today and every day, all the hard work and sacrifice and love that mothers give on a daily basis to bring up functional, contributing members of the next generation. It is a gift to us all. Being a mother is a beautiful job and often a very intimate yet thankless one. The beauty of motherhood is that it is a lifelong journey marked along the way by the ups and downs and rhythms of every day life.

Hope you find a way today to celebrate your own mother or another mother that has touched your life in some way. Motherhood is something that brings us all together as a community and as a family. We are all blessed to have had a mother. Find a special way to celebrate or commemorate that person today!

Before I Was a Mom

Before I was a Mom,
I never tripped over toys
or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn’t worry whether or not
my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind
and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held down a screaming child
so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night
watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held a sleeping baby just because
I didn’t want to put her down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces
when I couldn’t stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small
could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom,
I didn’t know the feeling of
having my heart outside my body..
I didn’t know how special it could feel
to feed a hungry baby.
I didn’t know that bond
between a mother and her child.
I didn’t know that something so small
could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night
every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth,
the joy,
the love,
the heartache,
the wonderment
or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn’t know I was capable of feeling so much,
before I was a Mom.

(taken from the newsletter sent by Families.com)

When I was a  kid, my mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then.  And I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work. On that evening so long ago, my mom placed a  plate of eggs, sausage and extremely burned biscuits in front of my dad.  I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed! Yet all my dad did was  reach for his biscuit, smile at my mom and ask me how my day was at school. I don’t remember what I told him that night, but I do remember  watching him smear butter and jelly on that biscuit and eat every  bite!

When I got up from the table that evening, I remember  hearing my mom apologize to my dad for burning the biscuits. And I’ll  never forget what he said: “Honey, I love burned biscuits.”
Later  that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his biscuits burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said, “Your  Momma put in a hard day at work today and she’s real tired. And besides  – a little burnt biscuit never hurt anyone!”

You know, life is  full of imperfect things…..and imperfect people. I’m not the best at  hardly anything, and I forget birthdays and anniversaries just like everyone else.  What I’ve learned over the years is that learning to accept each others faults -  and choosing to celebrate each others differences – is one of the most  important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship.
And that’s my prayer for you today. That you will  learn to take the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of your life and lay them at the feet of God.  Because in the end, He’s the only One who will be able to give you a relationship where a burnt biscuit isn’t a deal-breaker!

We could extend this to any relationship. In fact, understanding is
the base of any relationship, be it a husband-wife or parent-child or
friendship!  “Don’t put the key to your happiness  in someone else’s pocket – keep it in your own.”

God Bless  You…..  Now, and Always….So Please pass me  a biscuit, and yes, the burnt one will do just fine.!.!.!.!    PLEASE pass this along to someone who has  enriched
your life…  I just  did!

Boy, did she prove me wrong! We host our karaoke show in a VFW that has allowed my children to be admitted with the understanding that they sit at my table and not be running around. Well, the whole “running around” thing stopped a long time ago and usually they are more than willing to help when it comes to cleaning up and putting things back in an orderly fashion.

Last night was an exception to the norm. My daughter showed her true colors last night when it was time to sing Happy Birthday to her. I had bought a little cake because my daughter is diabetic and didn’t need a bunch of cake and we didn’t want to feed the whole bar, just a few people that sit with us and are friends with our family.

Well, since the cake was so little, my daughter thought she was going to eat the whole thing herself. In fact, she threw a slight tantrum when I told her NO and started cutting the cake in 8 pieces.

After that, she acted very unbecoming for a young lady. In fact, at one point I was ready to stop her night and put her in the truck until we were finished with what we had to do.

I didn’t put her in the truck, however, she got an earful about how disappointed we were in her behavior and her choices on the 45 minute ride home.

We were scheduled to have a family BBQ today for my daughter so everyone could see the children before they head off to their father’s for a couple of weeks. We were going to my husband’s parent’s house to BBQ and the aunts, uncles, and god parents were all coming over.

Well, after calling the parents and explaining our daughter’s behavior, they agreed it would be best to cancel the party and that we needed to nip this in the bud right now. Well, at 14, I can honestly say, my daughter is going to have a rough few weeks ahead of her.

Plus she’s expecting a Quinceanera next year for her 15th birthday. I can’t see that happening unless she wants to pay for it herself. I’m not paying $3000 for a birthday party for a brat.

I would love to hear your comments and suggestions on how to handle this wayward teen and get her back into the “gratitude mode” and not so much into the “ME, ME, ME” mode.