Have you ever looked at your children (and I know you all have) and wondered how they grew up so fast? K is going to be 15 in March and my baby is going to be 6. It is amazing how much can change in just 15 short years. So my new years resolution is not to lose weight (though God knows that would be great), not to eat healthier (pizza and hamburgers are my weakness), and since I don't smoke, drink or do drugs I don't need to quit those. My new years resolution is to spend more time (quality time) with my children.
This past weekend we went to Sn Francisco for the day and then Napa. Most people you know go to Napa for the wine (well the adults do) but we go to Napa to play at the park....Seriously. We found a park, the kids got out and we spent pretty much all our time there. O and I did find my dream house...it's only 795,000...I am thinking my new career path might have to be lawyer for the mob...HAHA.
Here are photos from our trip to Napa.....They all want to go back...for the park....Seriously!
My dream house, trust me it looks better in person and in the pictures from the brochure. I took it fast, was getting funny looks by neighbors...it is empty...:)
The Pictures below are taken from the park we visited. The kids fell in love with Napa and so did I...we all want to move there...
Had to go to Ihop for Pancakes!! Nothing like pancakes to end the day...Although we had to get new shirts (see pics above where they are wearing new clothes...and we went back to the park.
He thinks that he is the king of the playground...
A with his goofy grin...
My Princess S...
Swing time...S loves the swing...had to buy her some pants...
I am also making it a challenge to take more pictures and to take better pictures. I am still learning my phone. Perhaps a new camera is in order......
In today's society it seems like family has taken a backseat to other stuff. Family time is no longer a priority and it is easy to let it slip to the wayside with work, school, bills, activities and what not. I think that we all need to make it a priority to spend time and photograph our family outings while our children are younger and while they will still go hang out with us...
I thought about posting a new photo every day....although not sure how well that will work out. So my challenge is for you...find new ways to spend time with your family. Document it. Photograph it. Enjoy it.
Algebra. Two kids home sick. 1 kid calling home to say he is sick. Laundry piling up. All of that and it is that time of the month...this is what we call a recipe for disaster.
M is bothering his sister, cause while he is sick (runny nose and cough) he wants to be at school, not at home. S is getting annoyed (because that is what she does) and I am trying to solve linear equations. Did I mention I have two terms of Algebra? Laundry gets halted. Bugging, laundry, x=y+3(4z-6) and now I have to stop what I am doing and go pick up A from school (did I mention he told me this morning he was going to call home sick?)
Can you feel the anger and frustration boiling? (intensify it by 100 because it is that time of the month).
That's it. I missed two questions on a 4 question quiz....for stupid things like not putting the negative sign on my answer and forgetting to simplify.
For
My future rolled out in front of me and I was done. There is not point to me going to school. Why? Well let me tell you, I am going to fail the next two terms (my conscience won't let me have some one do the work and the tests for me), therefore my current A GPA is going to go down to at least a C-, and I need at least a B GPA to get into some law schools and an A GPA to get into the law schools I want. So, no law school, no point continuing my education and I should just get my job back at the local convenience store as that is what my future holds.
Whoa.
Well into the car I go with these dark thoughts in my head. Ticked off and ready to explode. The non-christian radio station is on....I am suppose to be taking the 30 day challenge through K-love. www.klove.com (in case you want to take the 30 day challenge) (remind me to go sign up like I keep meaning to do, just never get to it) I think who cares. No one is going to know that I didn't listen to it while I was in the car. I am the only one in the car. Heck, I will know. God will know and on to K-love the radio goes. Be right back...before I forget again to sign up.
Back...
As I turn the channel onto K-love, Matthew West's song Strong Enough is on. "Well, forgive me
Forgive me if I'm wrong
But this looks like more than I can do
On my own"
Amen I thought. This is more than I can do, more than I signed up for. More, more, more and every day it seems like there is more, more and even more. I am done. I am ready to give up. Move on. Move on from what I hear myself asking. Move on from your kids? Your reason for not giving up?
The song continues and I can feel myself calming done. It's just numbers and some letters. Its just kids being kids. Everyone is sick right now.
"Well, maybe
Maybe that's the point
To reach the point of giving up"
Maybe that is the point. I am not strong enough to be everything to everyone, and yet I am doing it. I want more for myself and for my children and Algebra is the way to that. The current situation is not good for us, we need our own space. What I am saying is that we need more than this and Algebra is the way to that. (Feel free to insert whats you need for Algebra). God doesn't give us more than we can handle.
Psalms 18:32
"It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights. He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze."
I am not strong enough...on my own. I need God to give me the strength I need. Like it says in Philippians 4:13 "I can do everything through HIM who gives me strength" Notice that I highlighted and made bold the word Him. Because God (aka him) is the reason and the source of my strength. By the end of the song, I am good. I may not be completely at peace, I still want to cry for the frustrating day I have been having and the last 6 years that on the outside appear to be hell.
The thing is, all this frustration, anger, bitterness and self-doubt does not come from God. It comes from the devil. Whether we want to see it or admit it or not, this is the truth. God does not give self-doubt or feelings of worthlessness. He gives encouragement and strength. He gives love and support. Yes, he challenges us....I have been highly challenged for 6 six years...but he doesn't give us more than we can handle. I am also saying...that this 30 day challenge is working. It is positive.
So the conclusion: God is strong enough for anything we feel we can not handle. We are not alone and he will carry us.
My Princess S...
