What makes you smile, really smile, maybe even giggle out loud?

Even when life is hard and things seem not so right, there is usually something to smile at, something to make you think, it's not that bad.

Here's a few of mine from the last couple days, enjoy.

Tommy had a cut on top of his head so I asked him what happened. He put his hand up there and felt and looked at me and said ‘Mom, I’m not a super hero, I can’t see on top of my head, see (he then goes to demonstrate the fact that his head moves everytime he tries to look). 'I just can’t know everything that happens to me', he said with quite the exasperation in his voice.


I wonder if he thinks I really do have eyes in the back of my head, or that mommy's do know everything

Owen was snuggling on my lap this morning with his warmness still on him from just having woke up. As if that isn’t good enough; we then have the following conversation:

Me: Owen, are you happy?

Owen: Yes(th)

Me: What makes you happy?

Owen: ummm, Grandma

Me: awww, Grandma makes you happy?

Owen: no, YOU make me happy, as he is throwing his arms around my neck and giving a big, squishy hug

Now, don't tell Grandma she just got ousted, but it sure did make me smile

Mommy Brag:

Serena brought home a paper from school and she will be taking a pre-test before each Math unit in school and she does well enough, she will be excused from the classroom to go to an accelerated math class. WOW… she did not get that from my side of the family. Yeah, I know it’s only 2nd grade math, but still WOW!!!

Abby: She is the typical first-born. Over-achiever, and leader. I am very proud of her and she is also very compassionate. I love that about her.

Watching the boys up on Daddy’s lap while he is reading them a book…

So, what makes you smile even when all is not right?
 
In God's Love, sheila

DO YOU KNOW WHO YOUR ENEMY IS?

Ephesians 6:12 says:

'For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rules, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places'

This is God's word, so I know it to be true.

But sometimes, it feels so personal that it's hard to remember. 
Sometimes, you can see the work of Satan and wonder why others can't. 
Sometimes, you wonder who your enemy is?

So everyday, I will choose to put on the full armor of protection.


Lord, I choose to put on the helmet of salvation today in order to protect my mind.  I want to think only Your thoughts, Lord.  I want to thank you that when Satan sends one of his thoughts my way, this helmet of salvation will protect my thinking.

Lord, I choose to put on the breastplate of righteousness to guard my emotions.  I was to feel only what you feel.  Don't let me react out of my emotions.  Rather, let me respond based on the truth I know in my mind.

Lord, I choose to fasten on truth so I can stay centered on your Word.  I want to live in the truth, walk in the truth, and testify to the truth.

Lord, I choose to put on the sandals of peace.  Wherever I go today, I want to be  a peacemaker.  I want my footprints to be evidence of the tranquility I carry in the Holy Spirit.

Lord, I choose to take up the shield of faith.  I want to thank You that, no matter how many fiery arrows the Enemy hurls at me today,  no matter how many trials or temptations may come, I can stand safely behind the massive protection of faith.

Lord, I choose to lift high the sword of the Spirit, Your hold Word.  Father, thank you for this spiritual weapon that cuts so deeply to bring about conviction and repentance.

In God's love, sheila

Amusement Parks

I have always loved amusement parks. Not that I have always had great experiences with them. They say things that happen in our life happen for a reason whether it is to teach us something, or for someone else’s benefit; whatever the reason I have adopted two rules for amusement parks.

1. Never go on any rides that spin

2. Always bring your own vehicle

Remember these lesson’s are personal and we all have our own. Which is why a child usually cannot learn from a parent’s mistake, wouldn’t life be wonderful, but then we would be perfect right, I mean we would have ‘evolved’ into perfect beings because somewhere, someone has made the same mistakes I have. And I’m sure I have made the same mistakes my mother has once or twice.

I’m trying to decide whether or not to tell you how I came up with these two rules. It doesn’t show my good decision making ability.

Rule number one: First tell me, does a girl’s equilibrium change after a certain age, kinda like being tolerant of dairy products after a certain age? Because if it does, this rule wouldn’t apply to you and is specifically for me as I mentioned earlier. I was 14/15 yrs old and we were down in Jamestown for the Field Days, my aunt was a part of the local fire company so they had a great big food stand that we were going to be working at. A dream come true, we were going to be there the entire day, from 8:00-10:00, all day. We got there so early the rides had not even started and certainly people were not standing in line for sausage & peppers & onions. When they did get the rides started, I took my sister and our ‘free’ tickets to go on some rides before the lines started.

Here’s the deal, the operator at the rides have nothing to do all day but start and stop the ride. That’s it, that’s their job and if they don’t have a line of kids standing behind them, makes no difference to them.

And so we got on this ride that went up and spun around and around, the first 5 minutes was great, but 15 minutes into this ride and I’m turning green and my sister is yelling out the car ‘STOP, MY SISTER’S GETTING SICK’, around and around. Finally he stopped and he realized he had a little bit more to do that day than stop and start the ride. Serves him right. Now, many, many years later I have to becareful how I watch the kids going on the Merry-Go-Round.

Rule No. 2: Always bring my own vehicle. Going to an amusement park is fun, but it’s even better when there is a group of friends. And there was a group of us, 6 or 7, one person had a license, we were probably 15/16. Tammy (my bff) and I decided to distance ourselves from the group. I could stand on principle and say they were drinking, which they were, but it wasn’t really that we were scared to ride with them but that we didn’t want to get kicked out of the park with them. Now how’s that for smart. So their we were at the end of the evening, hadn’t seen anyone we know for the last 2-3 hrs, security is telling us we have to go and we can’t find anyone. They must already be at the car, nope the car is gone. My bff and I got left at Darien Lake. What would have been smart then was to call someone, but then they would have gotten in trouble. DUH, you think. Not us, we clearly were not thinking.

So, sticking to my two rules, off I took the kids to Darine Lake and we had a great time.

Water rides and roller coasters are my thing.  That is Tommy, Abby & Serena on this big water slide.  It's not a close up on purpose, lol.  Wow, you should have seen Tommy's eyes at the beginning of it.

Grandma, was the cool one of the day who went on all those rides I couldn't.

Of course I could do the ferris wheel, it's goes three cars up at a time then stops.

Did I mention, I always get my money's worth.  We didn't leave until 10:00 PM, I took the girls on the Viper at 9:45.  That was great, no lines.  Serena actually giggled loudly on the ride and Abby screamed.  But said they loved it, they're hooked.

We had a good day.

In God's Love, sheila

First Day Of School

The first official week of school is over. When I got my new job, I realized I wouldn’t be home to get them on the bus or off, not the first day, not ever. Lots of moms & dads have to work and can’t be a part of this, it’s life. Also, without the boys here and everyone excited together, there was some sadness hanging around. So, maybe it was better I can’t be home, I thought. I can rationalize almost anything.

I was able to make sure the girls had everything and were ready, took some pictures and prayed with them and kissed them goodbye. The boys were still sleeping and Tommy doesn’t go until the afternoon. I thought that was going to make it easier on my ‘Mommy Guilt’ to not have to see him with his backpack and eagerness written all over his face.

Serena was so cute with her sparkly shirt and pink sparkly sneakers to match, only you can't see them in this picture.
Abby looks so old, but it's only the picture, she's still only 9.

All the kids will be riding home on the same bus and I had asked the girls to make sure they smiled at Tommy and said 'Hi' to him. Please, at least acknowledge you know him. It’s a big bus and intimidating for a four year old. I think because of Tommy’s personality the girls don’t see him as being nervous or afraid because they looked at me like I was crazy and said he would be fine. Just do it, be nice to your brother, I asked.

I was doing pretty good, but then I have a long ride to work and guess what I saw? Moms & Dads outside with their children, grandparents, a few even had Aunts or neighbors wishing them well and snapping pictures. I do hope they enjoyed the moment. It’s a very special one. And then I cried a few tears.

I got a chance to call Tommy before he went off for his first day, he was so excited and I was very happy for him. The pictures Pat took doesn’t show a nervous little boy but one confident and ready. When I got home and had a chance to ask everyone about their day, all seemed well. Then Tommy told me that Abby said Hi to him and Serena sat next to him on the way home. They do love each other.

Let's remember I was not home, so I didn't even question what this picture was about.

Yeah, he loved it.

In God's Love, sheila

My Sub-Conscience

Ever wonder about your sub-conscience, I never did. Really, of course I knew I had one, they say everyone does, but it’s like the black hole, you know it’s there somewhere but not too sure you really want to know.

I had been having trouble sleeping. Trouble falling asleep, waking up in the middle of the night and not being able to go back to sleep. I have four children and I am use to getting woke up, so I can usually fall back to sleep rather quickly, after nine years you just get use to it. But not this past week. And as I laying there willing myself back to sleep, and thinking this cannot be good for the new job, I get more and more stressed. What is going on?

Glad you asked, or didn’t, really doesn’t matter at this point, but as I was getting dressed for work on Friday, I put it together, it was the fourth. It’s been 10 months since the boys have went home to be with Jesus. You would think I would not need this great light-bulb moment. But I did and I seem to have to have it every month. I was talking with Sondra, on Friday, telling her this very same thing, and she looks at me and says DUH….. She had still not put it together even though she had just told her friend she couldn’t sleep. We blame it on something we ate, drank coffee too late, anything than what it really is. My sub-conscience is not my friend!!!

It’s not that I can ever forget what happened and now I’m really thinking that I can’t just pretend the date does not mean something significant for me. I think I have to purposefully do something, whether it is spending some quiet time remembering the boys or going to the cemetery or at the house. I really don’t like going to the cemetery.

By the way, my mom has been working very hard on her own making a memorial garden and we were talking about the one-year coming up. Again, to purposefully do something will help, so we will be planting flower bulbs and I thought it would be nice if anyone wanted to give ‘donate’ bulbs, she would get a great surprise out of that. Just leave them under the bench that is there (3100 Bishop Rd.) or give them to me and I’ll deliver them.

In God’s Love, sheila

Corrie ten Boom poem

I found this poem about two weeks ago and it has just stuck with me. I love it.

This is it.


I talk about my (our) life being like a jigsaw puzzle, probably because I don't weave or loom, but it's still the same principle. Every piece fits and it's God's master plan, some jigsaw puzzles have more pieces than others, sad but true. But they all fit and all have purpose.


My life is but a weaving between my God and me,
I do not choose the colors, He works so steadily.
Oft'times He weaves in sorrow, and I in foolish pride,
Forget He sees the upper, and I the underside.
Not til the loom is silent, and the shuttles cease to fly
Will God unroll the canvas, and explain the reason why.
The dark threads are as needful in the Weaver's skillful hand,
as the threads of gold and silver in the pattern He has planned.


And someday we will see how we fit and how all the pieces of our life worked together just perfectly the way God planned.

In God's Love, sheila