Wednesday's Wish...

Hello Friends!

Today, I wanted to touch on Motherhood

and

how to let your children know in their heads and their hearts that 

they are loved.

I wrote about my son Luke, in the past.

Our relationship has become so much better and stronger

as I take intentional steps to understand him.

It hasn't been easy, and he has challenged me to become someone better than I was before.

In the past he has questioned me, pushed me away, ignored me and has disrespected me.

I didn't know that this was all a test.

He has stretched me to delve deep inside my heart to draw out the 

deepest and widest love 

that I didn't even know I had,  

so that I could show him- wholeheartedly, 

that I love him.

I love him regardless of his grades.

I love him even when he disobeys me.

I love him regardless of what he does,

and

how he acts.

He needs to know that he is important

every. single. day.

Because you know what?

He is.

We had another date night last month.

I found these pics and remembered what he told my husband the next day.

He said, "Dad, I had the best time with Mom last night".

I know he felt loved.

How do I know?

He told me!

:-)

By the way, this will work on any of your children

and/or your spouse!

We didn't plan this, but I know God did.

We ate what he wanted.

Now, I've stopped eating my MOST favorite thing in the whole world-

Hot Tamales,

but my girlfriend dropped off a box when she came to pick up her son from a little 

playdate, and I was saving them for an "emergency".

This wasn't an emergency,however, it did call for doing whatever I could to provide some sugar, er....candy for him.

He gladly accepted.

 We also watched whatever HE wanted to on T.V.  

I rarely watch any T.V. anymore, mostly because I don't want to waste my time,
but I was determined to do what HE wanted and he wanted to watch ......
"The Annoying Orange".

 I know what you're thinking, 

"Mother of the Year".

NOT the most entertaining, 

educational 

or 

inspiring show I've ever seen...

but I watched.

 Oh, that was the apple, and below is the orange, 

in case you forgot the names of fruit.

Nice lips, huh.

They talk and it's actually soooo silly that I had to laugh with him.

Oh, what we will do for our children...

The next show was "The World Largest Waterparks".

Here is a girl riding down a large slide-the longest in the nation...

riveting, I know!

Well, the night was a HUGE success and we both enjoyed the quality time.

My son is completely opposite from my daughter-

she bonds through conversation, shopping, and her basically telling me about school, church, life.

Luke's Love Language is quality time- 

time spent doing what he wants to do.
The key word is "he".

In what ways have you had to stretch yourself as a mom to show your child/ren

that they are loved?

Have a terrific Wednesday!!

Homey or Homie?

You can take the girl out of the "hood" but you can never take the "hood" out of the girl.

Hello Friends!
Happy Friday!

I subscribe to a number of blogs and one of them is a teaching blog.

Here is what I read :

MAKE IT HOMEY WITH FLOWERS {Whatever Wednesday}

I saw it and it didn't make sense to me, as my mind read it, "Make it HOMIE with Flowers".

The post is below...

I do not have a green thumb.

In fact, I don't "do nature" as a general rule.

But, I love the splash of color and touch of home that plants and flowers provide. This is a great time of year to add them to your classroom because its "mums season" and they are cheap, colorful and hardy.

I had a good little laugh at myself.

When I read "Homey", I thought it really said, 

"HOMIE",

which in Montebello (where I grew up)

it meant "friend",

"confidant",

"sidekick",

or

"buddy".

My "filter" sometimes gets in the way of how I see things.

I grew up in what I lovingly call, "The Hood".

It wasn't a bad neighborhood at all, and

I did learn a lot about the Mexican culture,

and even had a pinata for a few of my birthdays.
I loved my childhood.


Where does YOUR filter get in the way?

How does your filter affect the way you see things?

For example,
many of us look at God in similar ways we saw our own father.

My dad was a big man,
SUPER loving,
SUPER supportive,
SUPER forgiving,
but when you got him mad,
he was
SUPER ANGRY!

When I was little, if I disobeyed Dad, I would be spanked.
He was firm, yet loving.

We had alot of respect for my dad and really,
what I think he wanted most was
love,
respect
and
a relationship with him.

God wants that from us, too.
Love, honor and most of all
a relationship.

Luckily, my filter had one image of "my father" that positively affected my relationship with my
Heavenly Father.

Don't let your filter get in the way of your relationship with our
creator, God.

No matter what kind of relationship you had with your father,
Jesus Christ
loves you and more than you'll ever know!

New Living Translation (©2007) And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.   Ephesians 3:18

How does your FILTER affect the way you see God?
Positively, negatively?


Have a wonderful weekend!

You're Beautiful....

Hey there!

Know what?

YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!

I just got off of the phone with a friend going through some really rough stuff in her life.

She goes to church, believes in God and is really down.

She's down on herself, down on her relationship, and she confessed that she is down on God.

Let's face it.

Sometimes, life can really stink! I mean really stink! 

She doesn't need to hear that God is working in her life right now 

and 

that's He will bring something good out of all this. 

She doesn't need someone to tell her everything is going to be alright, or someone to fix anything, 

she just needed to vent some frustration. 

YES, there is and will be a lot of frustration in this life, because it is NOT where we belong and people make mistakes, are selfish and are well, people.

(I know, I add to all this, too)  

The Devil loves to use people to drive us away from God....

but I want her to be driven closer to the Lord.  

So, she's really is a tough spot relationally and financially.

Most of all, she's feeling defeated and beaten down.

Raise your hand if you've ever felt like that? 

(mine is raised- actually both hands and both feet, nice visual, I know)

Sometimes we need reminders-  here are a few of my favorites...

First.....I know this stinks, but "This is a test...."

I am a teacher and even I hate tests....

He will heal this wound, it's a promise,

 Oh, and by the way, He has healed ALL of mine, 
and I had A LOT!

Simply said,

and

ALWAYS...

YOU are meant to be..

your kids wouldn't be YOUR kids,

my kids wouldn't be my kids,

YOU are here for a reason.

Oh, and listen to the words of this song, 

as if Jesus were singing them to YOU.

P.S.

Dear Lord,

Bless my friend "V" and ALL the friends out there that are struggling with feeling loved, lovable, valued and valuable.  I pray that your love and peace would surround each reader right now with an unmistakable feeling that YOU are with each one of them. I pray that no matter how they "feel" about their situation, they would "KNOW" beyond a shadow of a doubt that YOU are with them, that YOU will never leave or forsake them, and that they would come out of this struggle stronger, and more faithful in YOU.

I love you and I'm so grateful that I can lay all my requests before you knowing that you care about each person and what they are going through. 

Thank you, Father- In Jesus' name I pray these things- Amen.

September 11th...

I remember that day, still.

My girlfriend Gina called at 6ish a.m. and said, "Turn on the T.V.!"

This is what I saw.

One of the Twin Towers was hit

and

the next one was about to be hit by the airplane in the background.

I couldn't believe what I was seeing.

It was as if I was watching a movie,

this was NOT real,

oh,

but it was.

I just remember tears streaming down my face.

I felt so helpless,

watching as people began jumping from the first tower that was hit.

As I remember it now, my stomach actually turns.

My eyes are watering, 

taking me back to that moment.

Pure EVIL in human form,

taking innocent people to their death on the airplane,

 death in the Towers,

death on the ground.

War,

on our ground.

And even though it was on the other side of the nation,

I felt as if I was there,

as many bystanders were watching,

horrified,

helpless,

hopeless.

Then, the 2nd plane hit.

Speechless.

More tears, 

weeping.

News of the 3rd plane,

heading towards the Pentagon.

Wait,

something happened.

EVIL was overtaken by GOOD.

The plan turned,

what happened?

Someone had the courage to step in and face that Evil.

Others joined

and although they all fell to their death,

many others were saved.

I just wanted to remember this day.

It changed our nation,

communities

and 

neighborhoods 

forever.

It changed me.

We are in a battle, friends.

A battle of Good and Evil that is

REAL.

And I'm glad that God is on my side.

God promises to bring something good

out of every heart break,

hurt,

loss.

We have hope in HIM.

I am so grateful to live in this beautiful county,

that was built on GOD.

What about you?

What are you grateful for today?

Be blessed-

Motivational Monday!

What if we did things differently this week, starting with today,
-what would that look like?

In my life, it is doing what I need to do,

EVEN THOUGH,

I would rather do something 

FUN, ENTERTAINING, or SELF SATISFYING.

Who wants to clean?

Not me!

Who wants to wash?

Not me!

Who wants to get 5 schedules in order?

Not me!

When I was in school, if I didn't want to answer the teacher, I would simply avoid eye contact.

But I'm not in school anymore and if I don't answer to my tasks at hand, guess what,

it won't get done.

In life, there are so many things we have to do to keep our home, family and friends in order, and we do by our priorities.

Where is Jesus?

Is HE a priority?

We live most of our days doing what WE need to do, 

for OUR success, 

OUR achievements, 

OUR goals and dreams. 

But, WHAT IF we started living for GOD? 

What if you and I really focused on living FOR HIM?

Living for HIS view of success, living for what is important to HIM, and lived out of obedience for what HE is calling us to do, 

even if it is contrary to what the world says?

Dropping off my daughter this morning to our Car Pool, I heard this song by the Sidewalk Prophets, called "Live Like This".

The lyrics are so real, and really spoke to my heart this morning.

Hopefully it will speak to yours.

Turn it up!

Sometimes I think 
What will people say of me 

When I'm only just a memory 

When I'm home where my soul belongs 

Was I love
When no one else would show up
Was I Jesus to the least of those
Was my worship more than just a song

I want to live like that
And give it all I have
So that everything I say and do
Points to You

If love is who I am
Then this is where I'll stand
Recklessly abandoned
Never holding back

I want to live like that
I want to live like that

Am I proof
That You are who you say You are
That grace can really change a heart
Do I live like Your love is true

People pass
And even if they don't know my name
Is there evidence that I've been changed
When they see me, do they see You

I want to live like that
And give it all I have
So that everything I say and do
Points to You

If love is who I am
Then this is where I'll stand
Recklessly abandoned
Never holding back

I want to live like that
I want to live like that


I want to show the world the love You gave for me
I'm longing for the world to know the glory of the King

I want to live like that
And give it all I have
So that everything I say and do
Points to You

If love is who I am
Then this is where I'll stand
Recklessly abandoned
Never holding back

I want to live like that
I want to live like that


                                                   Recklessly abandoned,

First Day of School

First Day of School!

This picture was taken 4 years ago.

These pics were taken today.

Yup,

first day of school 

for my 3.

I will have one child in 

Elementary School,

one child in 

Middle School,

and one child in

High School.

Crazy, yes?

Yes.

Crazy and blessed,

I am blessed beyond measure.

Thank you, God, for the blessing of children.

Thank you for their laughter and tears,

their mistakes and their successes,

their joy and their sorrows.

Thank you for giving me the 3 children that I needed

in order to grow to be more like YOU.

They teach me lessons everyday about myself,

about what I need to work on,

improve on,

grow in.

Our children are gifts from God,

specifically placed in our lives to teach us how to be more like God.

I've learned how to fully love someone, without expecting anything in return.

I've learned patience,

gentleness,

and

how to communicate in different ways.

I've also learned that I'm not so different than my children.

Like them,

I want to be loved,

appreciated,

and

acknowledged.

I want to have 
fun,

laugh,

tickle,

sing,

and

be a part of something bigger,

like a family,
God's family.

If you have children, 

what have you learned from them?

How are you similar to your child/ren?

Give your kid a BIG HUG today!

Happy Hump Day!