Laboring through Labor Day Weekend

This weekend we took a trip to the in-laws.  The in-laws live in the middle of no-wheresville and have lots of land.  My father-in-law loves to grow stuff on this land and we are recruited to come and visit  provide manual labor when it is time to harvest.  Friday night we drove the 4 hours up to no-wheresville and didn't get in until 11:00.  Saturday morning we were up and working by 8:00.  This weekend's task: picking off peanuts, boiling the peanuts and bagging the peanuts to be frozen.

If you've never seen how peanuts grow, they grow under the ground.  Here is a pile of peanut plants that my darling Hubby pulled up and stacked for me to pick off.

Here are Prince and his cousin, picking off peanuts.

Princess is proud of the peanuts she picked off the vines.

After we picked the peanuts off, they were rinsed in buckets and then put in big pots to be boiled. 

I had a very important job in between picking the peanuts.  My father-in-law assigned me the duty of tasting the peanuts to see if they were done.  So every so often I had to pull myself away from my pile of peanut plants and do the quality taste testing.  This was really a tough job, but somebody had to do it.  After the peanuts were done to my satisfaction, we drained them and I put them in ziploc bags to put up in the freezer.  At the end of the day we had picked, boiled and bagged 71 gallons of boiled peanuts.  We were so exhausted, but the peanuts are so delicious!  In fact, when we got home last night I wanted boiled peanuts for dinner last night. 

This morning Hubby took me to the beach.  We sat out on the beach and relaxed while we watched the kids play in the sand.  I didn't let them in the water for all of the jellyfish that were stinging people left and right.  It was a mostly peaceful time at the beach.

There's nothing like the feeling of sand between my toes.  Ahhhh!

For our family, Labor Day weekend is usually when we celebrate the fact that my mom quite literally was in labor...with me.  36 years ago tomorrow, I made my entrance into this world. 

This afternoon my mom and dad made steak fajitas (my request) for my birthday dinner.  My mom made a delicious homemade carrot cake and we taught my sister and brother-in-law how to play our new favorite game, The Settlers of Catan.  We are addicted and my mom asks probably once a week when we can come over to their house to play Catan.  If you've never played it and you like strategy games, you'll love this one!  Hubby bought me the American History Trails to Rails game but we haven't had a chance to play that one yet.

So it's been a busy, but fun weekend and I am feeling incredibly blessed.  Given all I've been through with my health, I count each candle on my cake as a gift from God.  I serve a great God and I am so thankful for what He has done in my life.  When I was in ICU after the babies were born, my dear friend and prayer partner said that when she was praying for me God gave her a verse for me.  It is from Psalm 91 and while she gave me the whole chapter, she said the part that really struck her was verses 14-16:

"'Because he loves me,' says the Lord, 'I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.  He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.  With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.'"

I'm counting on that long life that God has promised me.  I know that God keeps His promises and I hope that when I do go to heaven and bow before Him, God will say, "Well done, my good and faithful servant." 

Secure Daughters, Confident Sons ~ A Book Review

"So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." ~ Genesis 1:27
Secure Daughters Confident Sons by Glenn T. Stanton provides a framework for thinking about the masculine and feminine traits in your own children and how we as parents nurture those qualities affects the men and women our children become.  This book was divided into two parts. 

Part 1: A Clear Vision for Authentic Manhood and Womanhood - How to Help Your Kids Get There, discusses qualities of what makes a good man or a good woman.  Stanton notes that while we don't all exhibit male and female qualities in the same ways, there are distinct male qualities and distinct female qualities.  It is helpful to know what these qualities are which define us as male and female.  In Chapter 1, What Makes a Good Man, Stanton says, "As parents, we need to realize that our boys need help, encouragement, and guidance to the inevitable road to male adulthood so they become authentic, healthy, vibrant, virtuous, and wise males in their

• exploration
• deliver the goods
• moving to the next thing
• opportunism
• chance taking
• initiative
• activity
• competition and dominance    (these were all the qualities he discussed in the chapter.)

Your job as a parent is to raise your boy to be the man he was created to be."
In Chapter 2, What Makes a Good Woman, Stanton says, "our girls, and the women they become, are more likely to:

• be confidently enticing
• value intimacy over action
• be receptive
• seek security
• be modest
• be caring
• relate with words
• seek equity and submission
• wield soft power that shapes humanity
• connect to others

As the parent of a daughter, your job is to pay close attention to the kind of girl God has given you and raise her toward womanhood with the qualities we've discussed.  Of course, you'll need to consider which of these qualities you need to nurture or temper, realizing these either are or are not a strong part of your own daughter's makeup."

Stanton follows these chapters with What Boys and Girls Need Most and The Journey to Manhood and Metamorphosis to Womanhood. 

In Part 2: Why Boys and Girls Need Mothers and Fathers, Stanton discusses the obvious differences in how mothers and fathers parent and why these differences are important in nurturing our children and encouraging growth in other areas as well.  Moms and dads play differently with their children and they connect differently because of the the qualities that make them who they are.  Both roles are integral in raising children to be the people God designed them to be.

Throughout the book there are question and answer sections that describe real discussions parents may have about how to best parent their children.  I really took some time with this book and enjoyed reading it.  There were many things that I already knew or had heard elsewhere, but to have it all put together in this way was helpful.  It is a good resource for parents in helping them understand gender differences and to help put into focus that our ultimate goal is to grow well-adjusted men and women who fulfill the roles God has planned for each of them.  Stanton is quick to point out that this isn't about stereotyping one role or another, or conforming to arbitrary cultural rules, but in nurturing those gender qualities that God has given girls and boys so that they may be secure in their masculinity and femininity  so that they may make a difference in the world. 


I received this book free from Waterbrook Multnomah. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255

It's Hodgepodge time Again

It's Wednesday Hodgepodge time and I'm back in the game.  Go see Joyce HERE and link up ~ you know you want to!  BUT FIRST: read my answers.



1. Do you think the world became a more dangerous place on September 11, 2001 or did we just become more aware of the danger? How has your own life changed as a result of that day?

I think there has always been danger in the world but we are more aware of danger when it hits so close to home.  Other countries have faced this kind of terrorism in the past, it just hadn't hit our soil until then.  Right after Sept. 11th I was afraid to go places where there would be large crowds of people, just not knowing if there would be another attack.  God has not given us a spirit of fear and I try not to live in fear. 

2. Did you think your parents were too strict when you were growing up? How about in hindsight?
Yes, growing up I thought my parents were pretty strict.  The one area they were not strict about was curfew, as long they knew where I was and when I'd be home they were good with that.  In hindsight I think they were probably just about right.  I was pretty responsible, the most trouble I got into was toilet papering houses.
3. Share one random but candid fact about yourself.
I wish I were as organized in real life as I am in my mind.  In my mind I know where everything in my house is and it all is in its neat little place.  In reality, I know which stack to find things, but they aren't put away and I almost always have a basket a mountain of laundry to fold and put away. 

4. Would your nearest and dearest describe you as simple or far too complicated?
Far too complicated I think.  I want to be simple, I think I'm simple...I simply want things to go the way they are supposed to.  Is that so hard?

5. What is your favorite stadium or carnival food?
Funnel cakes!  I don't get them often but they are oh so good!  My other favorite is a dipdog (corndog for those that don't speak southern).


6. Tornado, hurricane, earthquake...how many of these natural disasters have you experienced? Which event do you think would be the scariest?
Growing up in Florida, I have lived through my fair share of hurricanes.  The first day of my senior year of high school was a hurricane day and if I remember correctly, it ended up being nice weather that day.  We pray for hurricane days like kids up north pray for snow days.  When the twins were toddlers and we lived in Georgia we had a terrible tornado that destroyed the hospital where they were born.  There was a lot of destruction and by God's grace our townhouse wasn't hit, but the tornado track skipped around the street we lived on.  We were pretty scared.  It was night, the power was out and we had the kids in the downstairs bathroom in the tub with pillows on top of them. 

This was our Winn Dixie

A giant tree that was ripped up by the roots

Our hospital that was also hit by the tornado. 

Amazingly enough, there were only 2 fatalities with all of this damage.  It was a tough time for this small community, but everyone pulled together and helped where they could.  I still love that town and the cherish the friendships we made while we were there.  There are some precious people in that town.

Back to the question at hand, I've never experienced an earthquake so I wouldn't really know how to compare it with the others.  I'd say I'm most afraid of a tornado.

7. Labor Day weekend is approaching so a work related question seems appropriate. Growing up, did your parents assign you regular chores? Were you paid for doing those chores? If you're a parent do you assign chores to your own children? Why or why not?
My sister and I didn't have a lot of chores, but we did have to take turns loading and unloading the dishwasher and cleaning our rooms.  In the summer we had to do laundry and we all know how much I love to do laundry ~ NOT!  My mom always insisted that we use this thing called a clothes line.  I loathe that thing in the Florida summer heat where we were subject to thunderstorms every afternoon.  We had to hang the clothes out to dry and then watch the weather because if it looked like rain we had to run out and bring the clothes in to finish in the dryer.  If it rained on the clothes we had to start all over again.  I vowed that I would not use a clothes line when I was old enough to pay my own electric bill, which has held true.  I don't even have a clothes line.  I was paid for some chores, but my parents gave us money whenever we needed to go somewhere so it all evened out. 
My children are assigned chores.  They are responsible for taking the recyclables out, helping set and clear the table, cleaning their rooms, taking their dirty clothes down the hall to be washed and other things as assigned.  We took a note from Dave Ramsey and our children earn "commission" rather than allowance.  Allowance sounds like they are entitled to it whether or not they do the work.  Commission is earned based on the work they do.  They have commission charts that hang on the fridge to keep track of what's been done.  Payday is once a week and they have three jars to place their money : Spend, Save, and Give.  They can spend their spend money on whatever they like.  The save jar money has to be approved by us before they spend it, and the Give jar is for giving at Sunday School or some other place they may choose to put their money to help others.

That last question was inspired by a post Mindee wrote on Monday. Everyone go say hi to Mindee-she blogs at Our Front Door and she's funny.

8. Insert your own random thought here.
It's great to get back into blogging after a month off.  I needed some time to establish a new routine with school starting.  Also, God has been working with me and dealing with me about some things and I needed time to process for myself before sharing with others. 

Healing Hurting Hearts

It's been weeks a month since my last post and I can hardly believe all that's been going on.  It's been such a busy time of finishing up summer and starting school and finally I feel like I am in some sort of routine.  In all of this, God has been faithful in providing what we've needed.  Prince and Princess have started first grade and they are in different classes this year.  Mommy has been more nervous about this than they seem to be.  All is going well and they have adjusted.  Mostly.  There have been a few hiccups, but they are happy and except for all of the homework and getting up and going in the morning they are glad to be back in school.  I began praying back in April that God would give each of my children the right teacher they needed for this school year and He is faithful.  I truly believe He did that, thus they are blooming where they're planted. 

One of the things I've been aware of lately is the needs of others and how so many are hurting around me.  Just last week I prayed with a mother in my office who was at the end of her rope with many circumstances out of her control.  There is a child from the same school as my own kiddos who has leukemia and is undergoing treatments.  We have had several deaths in our church family.  Lay-offs from the Space Center are leaving families in a tough situation and as prepared as they thought they were, there are no jobs to be found.  My sweet cousin had bleeding on her brain and had to leave college to have surgery to stop the bleeding.  Thank you Jesus she is on the road to recovery.  Another sweet girl I know had her baby at 31 weeks due to complications with her blood pressure and her sweet baby boy is in the NICU.  There are so many needs around me and at times I just feel overwhelmed.  I have been praying day and night and I know that God hears those prayers and that His love never fails.  As it is right now my prayer list is a mile long and I begin as soon as I wake up in the morning and pray throughout the day for all of those needs.  My heart aches for all of those that are hurting and I have known what that hurt feels like when loved ones are sick or die or to have your sweet baby in the NICU and be so out of control or to have illness come on yourself.  I have lived through all of that and I think that I big part of that is that I can now empathize with others in the same situation and see them through a different lens.  I also know that God always keeps His promises and that He never leaves us.  As all of this has come into my life, I have also discovered a new favorite song, which has come to mean a great deal to me. 


We never know exactly what God has planned for our lives.  We don't know what those trials will mean for us, but what if His healing comes through tears and we discover that the failures of this world serve to remind us that this isn't our home?  I am so thankful for all God has done in my life.  There is a reason he spared my life not once, but twice and I know that I still have work to do for Him.  No matter the circumstance, God has a plan and I have learned that it is much better than anything I could ever dream up. 

The Living Word

Isn't it amazing how you can read the same Bible verses throughout the years but they mean different things to you in different seasons in your life?  This morning as I opened my Bible God gave me the words I needed to hear.  This morning I turned to Galatians 6:
"1 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. 4 Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, 5 for each one should carry their own load. 6 Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.

7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

It isn't that I hadn't read these verses before, but they took on new meaning as I read them this morning.  Do you ever find that you compare yourself with other people?  Me neither.  Just checking to see if you do.  Do you ever get tired of trying to do the right thing and feel like you don't see the results you'd hoped for?  Me neither.  Not that I needed these words or anything. 
OK, so maybe I have been feeling a little weary lately and wondering if I make any difference with some of the things I'm involved in.  But here's the thing: it doesn't really matter if I see the results because I don't really know what God is doing behind the scenes.  God has a plan for everyone and there are things at work that I can't see or know about.  Do you ever wish you could look into other people's hearts and see what they really think and feel?  It might be more gratifying for us, but we might also get puffed up with pride and think that we ourselves are the ones doing the work and not God doing a good work through His people. 
And perhaps I just might look at other people and compare myself with them...good, bad or indifferent.  I just might wish that I could be more like them, abandoning the call God has placed on my own life because at times it seems difficult or perhaps I don't see the point in what I'm doing.
I may not always know the how or why of God's plan, but I do know something.  God is faithful and He gives us what we need, when we need it.  His love and mercy extend farther than we can imagine, much more than we could ever deserve and He keeps His promises.  I am so blessed to serve such a good God.

Wednesday Hodge Podge ~ Long Hot Summer Edition

It's Hodgepodge Wednesday ~ Go see Joyce and Link Up!  You know you want to...it's fun!

1. July is National Ice Cream month...your favorite flavor? Soft served, hand dipped, or frozen yogurt...which do you prefer? And technically yogurt is not ice cream but its hot outside so I'll let that slide for today.

I have been on an ice-cream kick this summer ~ my waist line does not thank for me this, but it has been so hot!  My classic favorite is mint chocolate chip.  However, I have discovered Ben and Jerry's Late Night Snack....it is so yummy!

2. When you travel do you tend to pack too much or too little?
I tend to pack too much...you know, just in case I need this, that or the other.  I have found though, that the older the kiddos get, the more I think we can live without and I pack a lot lighter than we once did.  When the twins were babies we had to pack 2 of just about everything and we went through double the diapers, double the formula, baby food, clothes, etc. 

3. What's your favorite cleaning product?
Clorox or Lysol wipes.  I love those things for quick wipe-downs of counter tops, the bathrooms, etc. 

4. Which is the greater tragedy-an innocent person imprisoned or a guilty person set free? Explain.

I had to really think about this one but I think the greater tragedy is an innocent person imprisoned.  If a guilty person is set free, God will still deal with that person and their transgressions.  He is the ultimate judge.  I had to be reminded of this a few weeks ago when what I thought was a very unfair verdict was delivered and a young lady was acquitted and walked free.

5. What's the longest trip you've taken by car?

One summer we went to Washington DC in our family van.  It was a 14 hour trip and my dad only wanted to stop for gas with limited potty stops.  My dad put a 5 gallon bucket with lysol in it in the back of the van for emergencies...YUCK!  If I remember correctly, the air condition broke on the way home and we were roasting in the back of that van.  My sister and I still talk about that trip and how we didn't want to use that bucket. 
The good things that happened on that trip:

• We spent Independence Day at our Nation's Capital and were so close to the fireworks that ashes were falling on us.
• We saw President and Mrs. Reagan drive by in a motorcade, waving.
• We visited the Smithsonian, toured the White House, Capitol, and all of the other usual exhibits.
• We visited with friends that lived in Virginia.
• Despite the bucket and lack of AC, we still have great memories of the vacation and can laugh about it now!

6. tennis-golf-canoeing-biking...pick one.

It's been so hot this summer that it's hard for me to think about picking one of these but I'd say biking. 

7. What sound drives you crazy?
Anything high-pitched...fingernails on a chalkboard is probably the biggest.  It sends chills down my spine.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I can't believe that summer is almost over!  School starts back on August 10th and I have so much to do between now and then.  This week has been spent getting everyone in my house nursed back to health.  Hubby has had a sinus infection and the kiddos have had strep and ear infections.  It's been a fun week ~ NOT.  At least everyone is feeling better and will be back up to par before school starts. 

Bittersweet Day

This morning I was awakened quite early by a big "BOOM BOOM!"  It was the sonic boom from Space Shuttle Atlantis returning home.  I turned to Hubby and said in my half asleep state, "Shuttle's home."  He said, "Yep, for the last time." 
We have known for quite some time that the space shuttle program was coming to an end.  Today was officially the last day.  There will be no more shuttle launches and no more booms announcing her safe return.  The end of an era and this booster brat is quite sad.  I barely remember my life before the shuttle program began and having grown up as a part of the Kennedy Space Center family, there is an emptiness thinking that there will be no more.

Here she is after bringing our astronauts safely home today.

Perhaps there will be another vehicle to come along in my lifetime.  I hope that the powers that be will realize sooner rather than later the importance of our space program and place a priority on getting us back up there.  We can't just sit here and wait and watch while other countries pass us by. 



Hubby made this video last year after we went to see Atlantis Roll out from the Vehicle Assembly Building to the launch pad.  In it, you can hear Prince talk to the crew of that mission.

There are many people who have invested their lives in the Space Shuttle Program, for science, for national security, for innovation, for America.  I am blessed to be a part of a space family.  From my Grandaddy to my parents, uncles, aunts, and brother-in-law they have all been a part of a team that has been "Doing What Others Dream."  This afternoon my Dad came by with presents for us.  He brought us t-shirts, but he also brought a medallion commemorating the end of the space shuttle program.  The metal that the coin is made from flew on in space on the shuttle.  It's a nice remembrance of many good years.

It's been a nice ride and I hope I'm alive to see what comes next.