There is a season...

So I think "The Byrds" said it best....

"To everything - turn, turn, turn

There is a season - turn, turn, turn

And a time for every purpose under heaven"

"A time to build up, a time to break down

A time to dance, a time to mourn

A time to cast away stones

A time to gather stones together"

There are so many "seasons" or changes of life. I think as we are in it whichever one it may be we don't always realize the important of that season of our life. Cause sadly one day that season will change....we won't get it back...and we need to cherish every moment of that season...and carries those memories with us to our next season. After having a conversation today with a great lady I soon realized that change is around us....at all times. However there are soo many changes that seem scary...that seem to big...to overwhelming to we think we can't handle them. We make changes probably everyday...if not everyday on a very frequent basis. Some are so small and unimportant we don't take the time to fret over them. Then we have BIG change and it shakes our world as we know it. One thing I am learning...is no matter what ...we need to turn to God for comfort in our changes...whether they are good or bad. Our life it heading in this direction for a reason and we need to embrace each and every season that He still allows us to be here on earth for. Think of how many changes you go through just in the time you are born until you graduate from high school...and that is only 18 years. Oh my!! Then you go through college...get married....have kids....probably around the time frame of the next 10-15 years...all while changing...and big changes...big seasons. It seems that all those changes are life altering...good...happy changes. However sometimes in the midst of our normal seasons we are thrown for a loop and the season changes before we are ready for it too. It's like the leaves are changing before September or snow falling in June...just doesn't seem right. I know that God gives us these changes in season...sometimes drastically to keep us awake...to make us realize that our current season may soon be over and we need to cherish it. Every day something new happens...you wake up and live a brand new day. I say let's LOVE the season we are in...and cherish the past season ....and look with joy to the future seasons. We are not always going to like change....but just know that it's okay. God is still there....for every season and he wants those seasons and those changes to make our life amazing!

"To everything - turn, turn, turn

There is a season - turn, turn, turn

And a time for every purpose under heaven"

Enjoy your coffee!

Oh the game of football...

Okay so we have arrived into football season. Let me just start by saying that it doesn't really please me....my husband on the other hand is thrilled...he gets his kicks from yelling at the tv (although not quite sure he knows that they can't hear him). When I was growing up my father must have not thought it valuable to teach me the importance of understanding the game of football. Then I met and fell in love with Mr. Jo...who is a sports fanatic. Especially I think of the game of football. This has a caused a problem for me....because I am so football stupid...and I am not kidding...I know what a touchdown is ....and that I am pretty sure is the extent of my knowledge. I even tried a few years ago to have him try and sit with me and watch games so i could try and understand (not sure why I would want to)....but let's just say it was unsuccessful and not only at that point was he yelling at the tv but at me! I thought I would look up the definition of this "football"....and see if it helped at all....so here it is....

foot·ball (fo̵ot′bôl′)

noun

1. 1. BRIT. soccer
   2. BRIT. Rugby (sense )
   3. in the U.S., a game played on a field that is 100 yards long, with 2 teams of 11 players and a goal at each end: the players may attempt to score a touchdown by running or passing the ball, kick a field goal, etc.
   4. Canadian football
2. the oval, inflated, leather or rubber ball used in playing football in the U.S. or Canada
3. any issue, problem, etc. that is passed about or shunted from one group to another a political football

Alright first off....1a and 1b ...whatever different country...don't care. Now onto 1c...that is what I am looking for. Now they make it sound sooo easy....you have a bunch of burly men running in tight uniforms on a long field...."attempting" to make scores ...by doing things with the ball. Well now that sounds pretty easy doesn't it. I have realized that however you start throwing words like "1st and 10", "sacks", "downs", "fumbles", "half backs", "defensive end"....and I am pretty much lost. Not to mention when I think I have an idea of what is going on ...the rules somehow get so much more complicated. Ugh and boy is that annoying! So now I just watch and sit quite...not really paying any attention but looking like I really know what is going on. If someone on my team...drops the ball...I say "oh man" at the tv every once and a while so it seems like I have a clue! I even sometimes will catch a few sports news on ESPN and pay attention. I will ride the coattails of one little piece of news for weeks if it makes me look like I know anything about the sport. Until Mr. Jo finally catches on and outs me! Guess I am just not one of those woman that loves to sit down with the boys and watch a good football game and don't think I am going to be anytime soon! I guess for my marriages sake I will no longer ask football questions...and leave all the game watching in this house to my husband! For future thought however...I am thinking it's going to have to be a necessity for my daughters to be taught by there daddy how this game works....so one day maybe just maybe they can teach their mommy!

Happy Football Season :)

Enjoy your coffee!

Honoring 9/11

UNITED WE'LL STAND

We arose from the ashes of the towers in the sky,
We're a proud, mighty nation and we hold our heads high!

Back from Ground Zero where we all shed a tear,
We'll show to the world that we won't live in fear.

They tried to destroy us on that fateful day,
September eleventh in our memory will stay.

With flags full unfurled, we'll fight night and day,
To protect and defend our American way!

So united we'll stand for the whole world to see
We're the home of the brave and we all will agree,
United we'll stand in the land of the free!

They burned down a landmark but our hearts did not sway,
And we're makin' our come-back the American way!

We're children of freedom, and that's how we'll stay,
No terrorist cowards can take that away!

So united we'll stand for the whole world to see
We're the home of the brave and we all will agree,
United we'll stand in the land of the free!

A new brand of hero emerged from the crowd,
Brave Firemen, Policemen, you sure made us proud!

No terror can daunt us, we'll fight to the end,
Unwavering, unfaltering that's the message we send.

We're children of freedom, and that's how we'll stay,
No terrorist cowards can take that away!

America, you're beautiful, honest and true,
America we love you, Our Red, White and Blue!

So united we'll stand for the whole world to see
We're the home of the brave and we all will agree,
United we'll stand in the land of the free!

Home

© A. P. DuBarry, Jr. 2001

Closing a chapter

I never thought that I would get so emotional when I realized I am no longer going to have anymore kids. My husband and I have three beautiful children now....and will forever. Tomorrow my husband goes in for "the big procedure." I am sitting here thinking....how strange to finally know that this is it. For as many things that suck about being pregnant...I think that the many great things out weigh the bad. I love getting those butterflies in my stomach when I thought that I might be pregnant...and then your brain goes into warp speed trying to imagine the next nine months...I would sit and just be amazed every single time when thinking about what is actually going on inside my body. I am creating life (with the help of Mr. Jo and God of course)...but this is all taking place inside my body. Just sit and think about that for a minute......what a miracle creating human life truly is. I remember the first time I heard my first daughters heart beat...I started crying....knowing that this small blessing was taking place....how Awesome! Everytime I heard the heart beat with all my pregnancies it was so breathtaking...and you just can't help but smile. :) I loved when I could finally feel the baby start to move inside of me....that feeling....is something sent straight from God. It is so sensational...magical...just amazing! I would be pregnant over and over again...just to get to experience that! There is soo much planning and dreaming...and preparing for these new little ones. It's very mind consuming. I had been pregnant some part of every year from 2003 to 2007...I know..crazy...but true. It was so much part of my life for almost four years. On certain days if you had asked I probably would have said I hated being pregnant...but on a general basis I loved it and wouldn't change doing it for one second! I got three beautiful little miracles out of it...and that makes everything worth it. Seeing those babies faces for the very first time....ahhh...true love. I did sure wonder after the first one how I could love another one as much as I loved her....but then number two came along...and he was loved just as much...and so was number three....all in their own ways :) I think every woman should be able to get to enjoy the wonderous adventure of being pregnant...it is for sure in my eyes on of God's greatest gifts. I thought for a long time maybe I would have one more....but am seeing that it just isn't in the plan. With Mr. Jo going tomorrow to sort of put an end to this chapter of our lives...it makes me sad a little bit. Knowing that I will never get to experience any of those things again....however I did get to experience it three times....which is more than I could ask for. I am looking forward to the future...seeing my three children grow into amazing people. So for now I might be a little sad...but sad with a smile...being able to close this chapter....and move onto a new one :)

Enjoy your coffee!!

Blessings

Everyday on this earth is such a blessing. Somedays I think that thought nearly slips from my mind as I get caught up in this "world." God has granted me a wonderful ...blessing filled life and somedays I think I really take it for granted. I could never wake up tomorrow...or the next day..or next. So why is it that people seem to live each day without the thought that there could never be a tomorrow. We need to love the ones around us...make the most of the days we have been given...and Praise the Lord for all the goodness we have! I love seeing God work in my life everyday and renewing my spirit with wonderfully magical things :) Recently in a bible study that Mr. Jo and I are part of we talked about how we can let the thumps (crappy things) in everyday life get us down...and boy in a days hours there sure are alot of thumps! Instead of letting the "thumps" get the best of us...we need to sing God's praises. Praise Him for all the good. Those little thumps...can change our mood...and our spirit ever so quickly...and frankly life is just to short for that! I want to get up each and every morning...knowning that God has granted me a new day...another breath...and smile! Smiling...loving...living....doing God's work. Even when this world wants to get me down I can turn to Him....and He will show me that this is only the world we are living in....there is something so much better that we are looking towards. I should be and want to be singing God's praises everyday! What a awesome thing that He would give his own son's life for ME....I mean really come on people....should we take advantage of

that?! If I gave my own son's life for the good of others I sure hope that it would not be taken lightly. Let's live each day with our whole selves....loving...smiling...and praising GOD! :)

Enjoy your coffee! :)

Family Fun

This past weekend was pretty amazing! I enjoyed the whole weekend with my family....doing things that really didn't cost anything...plus they were enjoyable...which is great! It's been a while since we were able to be out and about having some fun. Mr. Jo is laid off right now so it usually puts a restaint on the things that we are able to do with the kids. This Friday we took the kids to storytime at Barnes and Noble. It's was a pajama storytime with Winnie the Pooh for valentines day. The kids were pretty excited to go. I was surprised at how big of a turn out there really was. The kid book area was packed in with little ones (which is not always my idea of a good time), but the kids did have fun. They got to meet Winnie the Pooh! How exciting. Well...it was exciting for the girls...but Robert was another story. We realized that at Christmas time this year he did not like Santa Claus....we thought it was the whole coming in your house at night thing...wierd...and big beard with a red and white outfit...but we may have been wrong. On Friday when he saw Winnie the Pooh (a character he enjoys watching on tv) he FREAKED out....it's was actually kind of amusing. He started to whine....and panic a little walked really fast to get far away and hide behind daddy. I was trying to calm him down...but laughing at the same time. Crazy! What in the world is this character going to do to him. Robert wanted no part of partcipating in picture taking with him. Rose and AnnMarie walked right up and got a snap shot...they loved it...but not Robert. We are coming to the conclusion that he  just does not like people in costumes. We would really love to take him to Disney world...but if this is going to be his reaction everytime he sees a character we might want to rethink that! 

On Saturday...we went to the zoo! It was great. It was the first time in months that it has been nice out..I think that it was almost 50 degrees! Yippee! To top it off..the zoo was completely free that day. We got to do so much stuff...and the kids loved seeing all the animals. On the way there Robert was very curious of what he was going to see at the zoo. He says "I don't want to see the lions and the monkeys..mommy. I only want to see the elephants and the girafes." I asked why he didn't want to see the lions or the monkeys? His response should have been obvious to me. "Well mommy...I don' want them to eat me." Duh..why didn't I think of that..of course he wouldn't want to be eaten by them! lol! Well..I did inform him that they would be in cages and not able to get him. Good thing...he was reassured that all would be well and he agreed to see the lions and the monkeys. When we got to that part in the zoo...he was excited! It was awesome to see the kids so happy. Everytime AnnMarie would finally focus in on a animal she would wave..it was pretty much adorable! What a blessed weekend! I am so happy to have such wonderful weather..and a wonderful family! 

Enjoy your coffee (or hot chocolate!) :)

Is there such a thing as talking too much?!

So I am getting the feeling that I talk alot. I don't just mean alot ...I mean ALOT....maybe a little too much! I love talking with people...my kids..my husband..my family and friends. Sometimes I wonder if they think that I am crazy because I never shut up. No wonder people get worried when I am quiet. It makes complete sense now. Obviously when I get out of the house and am able to talk with friends there is alot to say. We don't see each other all the time ...there is lots of catching up to do. BUT I do think that maybe I have a case of "word vomit." It seems to just keep coming and coming and coming..... I hope that those that are affected by this "word vomit" are not offended in any way. Just take it as I am friendly and have alot to say. Talking is one of God's gifts to me! I am just putting it to the best use that I possibly know how ;). I would hope that I am not however one of those crazy talkers...you know the kinds..the ones that won't shut up ever...the ones that share WAY to much information...the ones that have the crazy eyes....let's hope I don't fall into this category. It seems that most of my friends or family members fall into the "like to chat" category as well...so maybe that is a good thing...maybe they are never really bothered by my excessive liking to talk. When I am making a new relationship with someone I guess I just feel the need to fill them in on all they have missed (i.e. not being friends with awesome "me"). Sometimes I do wonder if that scares people away. The talking actually just relaxs me and makes me have a better time. I can feel in control of myself and partly of the situation if I am talking. Crazy I know...but I never said that I was sane. Do you ever have times when you talk too much?! Think about it the next time you are with your friends or family...see if you are the crazy lady that never shuts up! I know that many times I am...but I think that I am going to embrace my talkativeness (is that even a word?!)....it's just a great part of my personality..it's makes me...well..me! :)
Enjoy your coffee!

Blogging...sounds like a good thing to do?!

Okay well I have been not doing this "blogging" thing for quite a while now..but however I have convinced myself that it will be a good thing. I have so much to say sometimes and not always a person to listen to me so here I am. Things in my life have been kind of crazy lately so maybe this is just the outlet that I need!

Most recently I have lost one of my best friends..she was killed by a drunken driver along with her two children in November. Then my husband got laid off. Ugh...could it seriously get any worse. Some day I really don't think so ...BUT then I realize. I have a amazing husband and three wonderful children...they are my life my everything. We are all healthy..and happy for the most part. I have made the decision that I need to be happy! :) Happy is good..right?!?! So many bad things can happen..but that doesn't take away who I am ...or what I want my life to be. I am alive ..really what more could I ask for.

So from here going forward I have made a pledge to myself to be happy....so try and live life and enjoy it! Things are going to make me sad..or angry...or upset..and that's okay...but all I can do is deal with it and move on...right? I wish I could hear someone say right...so I feel like I am making sense..lol! From here going forward I am going to live life and try and not let my emotions get in the way ( well too much I am a girl after all).

Like Forrest Gump says: "Life is like a box of chocolates...you never know what your going to get!"

So whatever you do get...love it...live it...the best you know how :)
Enjoy your coffee!