You know how little boys are. They carry things around in their pockets, like frogs and leaves. They are constantly bringing things in the house to show me, and I always say the same thing “TAKE IT OUTSIDE!!”
Well, one thing must have gotten by me.
My boys have a couple of ‘bug catcher’ type things. A little carry around cage, screened so you can see the critters, and they can breathe. About two weeks ago, my 8 year old had it, and said “Mom, look what I got!”
I looked, and it was full of worms. YUCK!!!
I told him the usual, to take it outside.
Now, I am not a spoil sport, I just don’t want worms in my house.
Well, over the weekend, my 11 year old son came downstairs and said, “You are never going to guess what I found crawling under my bed- A WORM!”
I told him to throw it away.
Then he came back and said he had found two little worms under there too.
Now I was feeling sick.
Worms had reproduced in my house.
I kind of panicked, and told the boys that they had to throw away all the books, and stuffed animals that were stored in boxes under their bed.
Now, the eight year old says it couldn’t have been his worms. After all, they were in the bug catcher. Well, the bug catcher has a gapp between the door and the wall…..so……
Anyhow, the worms are gone (At least they had better be!!), the room is cleaner than ever, and I am paranoid now, about worms.
Kind of reminds me of when my little brothers used to chase me with them. I felt like there was no getting away from them, so I just ran around and screamed.
SO, off I go to inspect their room again, running around in circles…but this time I am only screaming on the inside.

National Gogeous Grandma Day.
My mom fits that description, as does my sister. I on the other hand don’t.
Now don’t get me wrong, it isn’t because I am extremely ugly, or have a self image problem.
It’s because I am not yet a grandma.
The gorgeous grandma status has to be achieved by being a grandma, and being gorgeous.
I miss it by at least the first qualification.
Whenever people who know me meet my mom, I get compliments. First they say “Your mother is beautiful!”
Then they say “You know, you look a lot like your mom.”
I can only say thanks.
I also have a gorgeous grandma of my own.
When my grandpa was alive, he took me in his living room, shoed me some pictures, and said \, “I am one lucky man. Not many men end up with a beauty like I have.”
He was right, my grandma was and is gorgeous.
So, to all you gorgeous grandma’s… Have a gorgeous day.

Today should be named boo-boo day. My 14 year old daughter accidentally sliced her thumb with a knife, and I punctured my middle finger with a piece of glass while washing dishes.
Life is full of such mishaps, but when a few happen in one day, I feel like I should start the day over again.
Today is also my oldest child’s birthday. He is 22, and still my baby.
Having adult children offers a different perspective on parenting. Being involved without being involved. Giving advice without being pushy, and also only when asked.
Being mom, without babying them.
Not always easy, but good none the less.
Parenting will never end, no matter how old they get.
But it does change.
Change is good, when we embrace it in what it is meant to be, finding a new way to coninue that precious relationship, of parent and adult child.
I guess it’s a good thing I have great examples of how to do that.
My mom and dad, and my inlaws…..the best examples possible, and I am thankful.

With summer here, kids will be outside playing, going to the local swimming pools, riding their bikes, and having a great time. Parents will be enjoying (for the most part) having the kids around, more noise than normal, and laughter while listening to the kids play.
With so much fun and games ahead, it seems a shame to have to worry about safety, but as a parent, I do. Not so much worry, as remain constantly aware of where my kids are, what they are doing, and who else may be in the general vicinity.
I check my computer periodically for child predators who are registered in my area, and there are a few. I show my kids what they look like (most often there is a picture), and where they live. I give instructions about what to do if anyone scares them, acts suspicious, and if any people in cars pull over to try and talk to them.
I hate to have to do this, but every year we go through the same things, and every year, my children have been safe.
There have been instances when I have had to call the police, and when my kids have been scared by someone. There have been instances when a suspicious car tried to get my kids to come to the window, and then when my kids ran, the car drove away. In one instance, a car fitting the description my kids gave me, was being looked for later the same day, for picking up a child a few miles away.
Safety is worth the work , and worth the time.
Most people are good, most people are trustworthy. Unfortunately , I have to make my kids beware of anyone they don’t know, and sometimes of people they do know.
Keeping them safe may not always be full of fun, but keeping them safe is my job.

Summer is officially here, with all the great busyness it offers.
Some things we are looking forward to are things you may want to do with your own family.
A traditional mini vacation we take every year (Minus one, for the last 20 years), is Kingdom Bound in Western NY.
The Kingdom Bound Festival is a great family time. There is entertainment and worship that will be great for all ages. When you got o Kingdom Bound, you may just come away with a new outlook on not just life in general, but life as a Christian. There is something magnificent about worshippiing with so many people, who have a like faith. When there is corporate worship, as offered at KB every day, there is a special anointing that can spur you on to grow in your own walk with the Lord, as well as help you realize that there are so many other people who Love God too.
When the lazy afternoons hit, it’s nice to take a walk through Darien Lake Amusement park, where the KB festival is held, and go on some of the fun rides.
Campfires at night, or the late night jam session offer some relaxing fun to end the day.

Another great thing we are looking forward to is Camping. We have never gone camping, just to go camping. This is the year to give it a go. The kids are excited, and Dan and I are trying to figure out the most comfortable way to sleep in a tent. (middle age makes comfort a nessesity..lol)
We are also having picnics and a family reunion, weddings and other parties, cookouts at our house, and trips to a local park.
Summer fun can only be done in the summer, so I decided to try to relax and enjoy it all.

I guess that’s where taking one day at a time comes in.

When your kids pass through a mile stone, do you tell yourself things like “One step closer to leaving the nest”, and sigh with sentimentality?
I have a longing inside me to hold onto each moment, and remember each one for each child. Even though I know it will be virtually impossible, I have moments that I try to file away and remember certain looks they have, or things they say, or special conversations betwen just them and me.

We had a couple of mile stones in the last couple of weeks. Andy, age 5, lost his first tooth. He is my baby, and my baby is growing up. Shawn, age 17, graduated from High School. He is my baby, and my baby is growing up. And Danny, turned 11. He is now a preteen, but still, another baby who is growing up. I want to hold the moments with them in my heart forever.

When I look at my older kids, I sometimes feel almost like I am having a flash back. You know how the TV shows do it, show them in the present, and then flash back to a previous episode of when they were younger?
That’s what my mind does at times.

I know that looking back isn’t always good, but remembering the times that were good is good, as long as we don’t try to live in the past, or let the past make the present look dull.

My memories of my kids are good ones. I hope their memories of time with me and Dan will always be good ones too.

Making a difference in the lives of people is a never ending goal. Writing things that will encourage, uplift, make a difference, and lead people to know and love God, that is my goal.
Knowing how to accomplish that goal, well, that is another goal.
I guess that in order to know how to do what the desire of my heart is, I have to keep doing what I know how to do.
That is not always easy, as it involves doing what I have been doing, and adding more to it all.
Oh well, I guess rambling on won’t help reach the goal, but knowing what I know might.
I know I have it in me to write.
I know who my redeemer is, and that He loves me and He loves you.
I know how to express myself, but sometimes find it difficult to be too honest, for fear of being thought too sentimental, too sappy, too much of a girl.
I am a sentimental, sappy, girl.
I am also a woman who has always found it hard to let myself feel, or more acurately, to let my true deepest feelings be known.
I have always struggled with emotions. With being real. With letting people see insideof me.
When I write, I am able to cope with expressing those things a little better,
but I still struggle with them.
Being open and honest isn’t always easy.
But that is part of the goal, of touching people, of encouraging them, and helping them see the truth……that they (you) are not alone, and they (you) need God.
Not just some higher power, but GOD.
GOD, who sent JESUS.
JESUS, who loves you enough to make a way for you to know GOD.
JESUS, who has taken the consequences for your sin.
JESUS, who is there, with you right now, waiting for you to call on His name, and acknowledge Him as your Lord and Savior.
That is truth.
That is my goal, to show you the truth.
You shall know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
I may be a sentimental, sappy girl, but I know who GOD says I am.
I am His.