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! :)