We Are The Bomb!

George and I hosted Kolby's 13th Birthday Party at our house recently and it was "da bomb"! Of all four of my daughters, I must admit that this was probably the best birthday bash I've ever thrown for one of my girls. George and I were determined to make it memorable for Kolby. Turning 13, is, after all, one of the "big ones"! So, we spent, ok, too much to mention, on cake, ice cream, decorations, etc., but it was worth every penny.

George donned his bodybuilder apron and grilled hamburgers and hot dogs for over 30 teenagers! As Kolby was opening presents, with all her friends sitting around our living room watching her, George and I decided it was time for one of our surprises. We started spraying the kids with our water guns purchased earlier in the day, just for this special occasion. It was so cool! I think we had as much fun as they did.

After everyone ran outside for the limbo and hula hoop contest, our next surprise was on its way. We filled up water balloons (George bought 200!), with help from Kendra and Gabriel, surprised our party guests by getting them soaked. They were shocked and surprised, but laughing their heads off!

Yes, this one will go down in the record books. And although, we were quite a hit with the kids (they said and I quote, "Kolby, you have the coolest Mom and Step-Dad!"), we were most proud of the fact that we made Kolby very happy.

And that's really what we were going for.

You're Fired!

I found out today that I've been given my pink slip. Today, President Obama's budget cuts were approved. Part of those cuts affect abstinence until marriage education because our President, Mr. Obama, doesn't believe in it. Being that he's so liberal and surrounded himself with such company (look at his cabinet), this doesn't come as a surprise to me, nor did it to my staff. We knew that when this man was put in office, the clock was ticking, not only for the unborn, but for abstinence education. We knew this from the company that he keeps. Mr. Obama plays in the sandbox with some nasty people, including those of Planned Parenthood, who despise abstinence education. If we teach teenagers the importance of abstaining from sex outside marriage, it would hurt their $billion dollar a year business called abortion. So, as of September, 2010, myself and my staff will have to find new jobs. That gives us approximately 15 months to keep making a difference.

I have been involved in abstinence education for over 10 years and I can tell you that our President and all his liberal friends are wrong.

I'd like to see Mr. Obama tell the student at a high school where I presented the abstinence until marriage message that it's a waste of our tax dollars and time. This particular student came to me after an assembly and said, "I want you to know that you came here my freshman year. It was a Wednesday. My boyfriend and I had plans to have sex for the first time the following Saturday. Because of what you taught me that day, I cancelled those plans. I'm a senior now and I'm graduating next month as a virgin. Thank you. You saved me from making a huge mistake." Go ahead, Mr. Obama, explain to her that abstinence education doesn't work. I would bet this young woman would call you a liar.

Or tell it to the young man who was relieved in learning that just because he wanted to wait to have sex until marriage, didn't mean he was gay. Or how about the countless young girls who cried as I told them it was never too late to change their behavior and they weren't washed up goods because they'd already engaged in pre-marital sex.

So, what is it you want us to do, Mr. Obama? Teach these kids how to wear condoms, put them on birth control or the patch?

The abstinence until marriage message is not just about pregnancies and STD's, Mr. Obama. It's about morals and values. It's about self esteem and self value. It's about protecting teenagers from getting their hearts broken, ruining their reputations, feeling no sense of worth, feeling used, washed up, guilty or ashamed. What are you and your liberal friends so afraid of? You don't give these kids enough credit. We don't have a generation of kids who don't want the best for themselves? When have you been out there talking to them, face to face, like I and so many like me have been? They want to hear the truth! They want people to care enough about them to tell it to them! Do you have any idea how high the statistics are of teenagers who've engaged in pre-marital sex trying to commit suicide?!

You're missing it, Mr. Obama. And a generation of our kids are going to pay for your ignorance.

Field Trip, Field Trip, We're goin on a Field Trip!

I just returned from a field trip with my youngest daughter, Kolby. She's in 7th grade. I used to do this all the time. I've always been the Mom who wanted to go on every trip I could with all my girls because my own mother never could. I'm the Mom who ate lunch with them once a week, went on field trips, brought cup cakes on their birthdays, etc. etc.

But something tragic happened every time each of my girl's started middle school. I WAS BANNED FROM EVER SHOWING UP TO THEIR SCHOOL FOR ANY REASON!

The first time it happened, the news came from Teryn and I cried for days. She never knew. Then it was Tawni's turn. She actually wasn't as bad about it as the rest. She's always had a sensitive heart, but still never insisted that I visit. Kendra forbid me to show up at her school when she was still in elementary school, never mind middle! Kolby, being a lot like Tawni gave me hope that since she was the youngest that she'd have mercy on me and allow me to continue my weekly visits with her into 6th grade. She didn't.

So, when she called me on Monday to say, "Mommy, my teacher needs one more chaperone for our field trip. So, do you want to come?" I had to play it cool. My heart was racing. I couldn't stop smiling. "Why, sure, Kolby, anything I can do to help out." When I hung up the phone, I was jumping for joy in my office. My staff probably thought I was crazy. They're kinda used to that.

So, this morning, I packed our sack lunches, put on my shorts and got ready for my big day. I knew this could be it for me. I wanted to make it count. I received a text from Kolby before I left the house. It said, "Please look pretty." Now, the pressure was on. I checked myself out, changed clothes three times, put on more blush and lipstick and hoped for the best!

I got to the school and she seemed pleased. She introduced me to her friends so I figured I'd passed. It was off to the Desert Museum. Yes, that's what I said. The Desert Museum. Where would you find one of these? Well, you guessed it. Right smack in the middle of the hot Arizona desert. For 3 1/2 hours, we walked around, in 98 degree weather looking at spiders, snakes, bees, havelinas, coyotes, lizards of every size, beetles, etc. etc.! But, I must say, it was worth it to me.

If I'm ever priviledged again to be invited on another field trip, I'll be honored to go. But, I sure hope it's to a movie.

Listen Before You Speak!

The other day as George, Kolby and I were hanging out, our home phone rang. I answered. It was a man asking for a Mr. Robinson. The only Mr. Robinson I've ever known was my dad and he resides in Heaven now.

Now, you have to understand something. Ever since our phone was hooked up, at least three times a week, we get a call for this guy. Apparently, this Mr. Robinson skipped town without paying his debts. Morning, afternoon and even late in the evening, a bill collector calls for this guy and on this day, darnit, I was determined to put a stop to it.

So, this guy says in a very nice manner, "Hello, can I speak with Mr. Thomas Robinson?" Well, that was it for me. I've had it! I went off on him. I said, "Look, I'm getting really tired of these calls every week. I tell you people the same thing every time you call! I've told you over and over again that no Mr. Robinson lives here, I've never met him, never talked to him, seen him or had one conversation with him! Do you think I'm lying?! You people have harassed me for the last time! Stop calling here! Do you understand what I'm saying?! Stop calling my house! Now, take this number off your call list because HE DOESN"T LIVE HERE ANYMORE!" I felt really proud of myself. This was it. I was going to save our family from one less interuption in our lives!
Kolby and George stared at me in disbelief. They couldn't believe their ears. I just smiled at them and thought they'd give me a high five. They didn't. I thought they'd be so proud of me. They weren't. Then, the unthinkable happened.

The sweet old guy on the other end says, "I am so sorry, mam. I'm not calling about any unpaid bills. I'm with the police benevolence fundraising team and we were just calling to see if Mr. Robinson would like to donate again this year to our cause. I didn't mean to bother you. Please pardon me. But, can I ask, if maybe your family would like to donate?" I took a deep breath, felt my cheeks turn red and managed to say, "Well, no, but thanks for calling."

George and Kolby just shook their heads. That was after they got off the floor from laughing.

Patience

As you know, I've moved to another state. Far, far away from family, friends, my granddaughter (she arrives in early June!) and my Granny. I'm trying to stay positive and keeping my eyes focused on the good things about being here, like: I have a wonderful husband, Kendra and Kolby love it here, Kendra is cheering on Varsity, has her first boyfriend and refuses to leave until she graduates (next May!). Kolby is popular with everyone, playing basketball, cheerleading and now managing track. She's simply amazing. George has a great job that most of the time, he enjoys.

Me? Well, my new job is awesome. I love being a part of something that is actually making a difference in the lives of others. I have a great staff and I enjoy coming to work everyday. We have a beautiful home, great neighbors and our marriage is better than I could have ever imagined marriage to be, based on my past experiences.

But, I do miss "home". It's not that I don't understand that home is where your heart is, it's just that I miss so many things that I took for granted. I miss driving to Granny's house anytime I wanted to visit and just hang out with her. I miss getting in my car and going to the beach, the mountains or to see the girl's in Nashville. Or taking a 9 hour trip to Orlando to see Mom and Brenda for a long weekend. I felt closer to everyone when I was on the East Coast. Now, I sometimes feel like I'm on another continent.

But, I will say this. Living here these past 9 months has been great for George, Kendra, Kolby and I to establish our new family. We have not only grown closer, but have gotten to really know and enjoy eachother's company. We seem to have true balance in our lives.

God knew that George was on his way into my life. He also knew that George would be getting transferred and there's no doubt in my mind that the Lord knew exactly what He was doing when He sent us here. We needed this time away from everyone, even if it hasn't been easy for me. Although there are so many things I miss, I know this is just for a time.

The Lord knows the desires of my heart. He's never let me down before. So, I'm counting the blessings that I have here, and trying not to just focus on the ones that I feel I'm missing.

So, until the day comes when we are headed back East (and in the name of Jesus, that day will come!), I'm going to do my part to trust Him with all my heart and rest in the fact that this is only temporary.

My marriage, my family, my friends, my relationship with my Savior? Now, those are permanent.

Sibling Rivalry

What an amazing weekend! The girls and I, just spent 3 fantastic days together in the mountains. We laughed, cried and shared some very intimate conversations together. We truly bonded as a new family. When we returned home Sunday evening, we decided to burn the rest of our Christmas tree in the fire pit. As we sat around the fire, roasting marshmellows and making Smores and shared some deep conservation. We asked eachother questions and noone was allowed to talk except for the one answering (this was incredibly hard for all us girls)!

"If God was sitting here in the flesh and told you that you could ask Him one question, what would it be?" Kendra said, "I would ask Him why I keep people at arm's length." Kolby, God love her, said, "I would ask Him, why does my sister, Kendra, hate me so much?"

Each of us turned and stared at her. I mean, it's no secret that Kendra and Kolby definitely have sibling rivalry, but it broke my heart to hear her say this out loud. I think it shocked Kendra too. She said, "I don't hate you, I just don't like you sometimes."

I was reminded of a story someone told me long ago. I was struggling with my own issues with people and their dislike towards me for no reason. I just couldn't understand how people can just hate you for nothing.

I decided to tell the girl's. I said, "Girls, there were two sisters. One was on her death bed. Her younger sister came to the hospital to see her. She pleaded with her older sister, "Please, I beg you, you must tell me why you hate me. I have tried all of our lives to make you love me, I've changed my style, agreed with you even when I didn't, anything I could think of, I did it. And you still hated me all of our lives. Please, tell me. Why have you hated me so much? Why?!"

The sister looked at her and matter-of-factly and said, "You were born."

I looked at my two beautiful daughters and reminded them that friends will come and go, but family is forever. I also told them they needed to learn to appreciate each other's differences and that my prayer was that this would never happen to them. I think they got it.

That was until Kolby decided to sneak into Kendra's room, pick up Kendra's "fake" glasses and wear them to school! Well, it was nice while it lasted!

Letting Go

I'm the mother of four daughters. Most, if not all of you, know this. You know that my oldest daughters are married and my two youngest still live at home with me and my husband, George. You should know that I'm also going to be a grandmother for the first time in June to a baby girl that Teryn is carrying. As a mother, life can be very difficult. As mother's, we make choices we don't want to sometimes, sacrifices that cost us and decisions that are too painful to speak of. For the past few years, I've been fighting for the rights of two of my daughters, Kendra and Kolby. This week was a milestone in that fight.

I had to appear in court this week to face a man who just can't let go. And although he continues to make decisions that he believes hurt me, he's hurting his daughters most of all. My heart broke when Kendra told me she wants nothing to do with the Jesus her father serves. She said if that's who God is, you can have Him. I told her never to look at man as a representation of Christ because man will always disappoint you. I reminded her that many times it is "Christians" themselves who keep others from wanting anything to do with God because of their poor representation of who He is. I pleaded with her to never let go of her faith. I told her this is why she must know Him in a personal way so she can recognize who He is by who He is and not by what someone tells or shows Him to be.

Being a little older, Kendra is handling this situation much better than Kolby. At almost 17 years old, she knows the time's coming soon when noone can try and control her or neglect her feelings. But, at almost 13, my Kolby is struggling. She's confused. She's angry. She doesn't understand why her voice, feelings and opinion do not matter to her own father. Neither do I.

After our "trial", the Judge said it best when he addressed my ex-husband and told him, "I am going to give you some advice. I hope you choose to take it. I see what you're doing. I have seen this many times and it's never played out well. If you continue to treat your daughters in this way and choose to follow the path you're on, you will lose in the long run. There's coming a day very soon when no Judge or law will be able to force your daughter's to do what they don't want to. I hope you will start to listen to your own children, hear them and respect their wishes or I believe you will be a man with no visitors coming to your door. That's a sad, lonely place to be, but it will be of your choosing, not anyone else's and you will have noone to blame but yourself."

I couldn't have said it better myself.