A Survivor!

February 12, 2002. The day my son, Tyler, was diagnosed with Leukemia. A day that will forever live in infamy for me. 

Today marks the 12 year anniversary of Tyler's diagnosis and while memories of helplessness, fear, pain and suffering are always conjured up on this day, I am also reminded of a most precious gift. The gift of my son's life! I'm also reminded of just how strong and truly amazing my son is! 

Most people that know Tyler have no clue what he went through back then. But I know. I know about the 21 spinal taps and 5 bone marrow aspirations. I know about the hundreds upon hundreds of port accesses and blood draws. I know about the 11 hospitalizations in 2 years and about the 2 surgeries. I know about the days, weeks, and years he was pumped full of toxic chemotherapy drugs like Vincristine, Methotraxate, Daunorubicin, Cyclophosphamide, Ara-C, L-Aspariginase, Peg-Aspariginase, Dexamethasone, Prednisone, Leucovorin and 6-Mecaptopurine. I know about the over 3 years of his childhood that was robbed from him because of a severely compromised immune system and repeated hospitalizations. He could not go out in public. He could not play with other kids. He could not just be a kid. 

Yes, I know and I remember. Yet, through it all, I also remember a little boy who ALWAYS had a smile on his face. I remember a little boy who showed more faith and more strength than I EVER could. I remember a fighter! I remember a hero! Now today, on the 12 year anniversary of his diagnosis, I have the immeasurable gift of knowing an amazing young man who is a survivor. Not a victim. Not a statistic. A SURVIVOR! 

Today, at the age of 15, Tyler is still the strongest, most faithful, and most joy sharing person I know. He is a champion! He is a hero! Today and everyday, I am eternally grateful that my precious son survived. I cannot imagine my life without him in it. 

I love you Tyler King and I will ALWAYS be proud of you!

The Human Heart: A Conundrum Indeed!

Today, Memorial Day 2012, is a day of mixed emotions for me. On the one hand, I have blessings all around me. On the other, I have deep sorrows in my heart.

Memorial Day is always tough for me. I'm sure it is for many others as well. It's a day to honor and remember the lives of those whom we've loved and lost. Yet, with that, often comes sorrow. It's a double edged sword really. We want to remember, yet, our remembrance causes pain. By remembering who we've lost, we're made aware of just how much we miss them.

Such is the case for me today. My husband and I lost our first son Tanner in 1997. Every Memorial Day, we visit his grave site in order to place flowers there in remembrance of him. As I stand in front of his grave, my mind wanders to places where experiences were denied and memories were lost. I wonder how tall Tanner would be today had he lived. What would he sound like? What would he look like? I think about how wonderful it would have been for my son Tyler to have his big brother with him today. What things would they be sharing? Would Tanner be a protective big brother to his little sister, Serenity? I find myself remembering that he would be getting ready to drive within the next year. What would his favorite color be? What kind of music would he like?

As all of these thoughts flood into my mind, sorrow floods into my heart. I miss my son. I feel as if there is a void in my heart that can never be filled because it will always belong to Tanner. There are so many things I wanted to share with him, yet, I never got the chance.

Today, as I struggle through my remembrance of Tanner, I am also reminded of the blessings I have in my life. I think about my handsome son, Tyler, who is himself, a miracle. He is a survivor of an aggressive blood cancer called Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. He battled the disease for over 3 years and survived! I think about how there was a time when I didn't know if I'd lose him too. I look at Tyler today and my heart swells up to the size of a watermelon with happiness and thanks for his life. Then I look at my beautiful daughter, Serenity, and my heart swells even more. Then, just as I think my heart couldn't get any bigger, I look at my husband, Terry, and my heart swells to the point I'm sure it will burst.

Talk about "Orderly Chaos!" How is it possible that the human heart can be breaking and rejoicing at the same time? It does though. Believe me, I'm living proof of it. While I'm reminded of all that I've lost, I'm also reminded of all that I've got. I will forever miss Tanner, but I thank God for the blessings I still have with me.

On this Memorial Day, I pray for everyone who has lost a loved one. It is such a devastating thing to endure. I pray that as we filter through the pain and sorrow of those losses, we will recognize the gifts we still have. May we become efficient at balancing what we still have against that which we have lost. And may we never forget either.

I love you Tanner. You will always be with us!

Help Me! Make It Stop! I'm Being Subjected to...

A B Grade Form of Torture!


As I write this post, I am sitting here with my daughter watching the cartoon "My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic." It is certainly not a 5 star production. Heck, I don't think I'd even give it two stars. Yet, for some reason, Serenity enjoys it and has been watching it a LOT lately. By default, that means that I've been watching it a lot lately. Yeah for me! NOT! I keep thinking that the time I'm sitting here watching this show will be time in my life that I'll never be able to get back.


Have you ever noticed how as parents, we are often subjected to things that would certainly not be on the top of our lists? Yet, we take part in them because they're important to our kids. Such is the case with this show. I don't have any love loss for this cartoon but I readily watch it with my daughter because it is important to her. As much as I dislike this show, I love my daughter much more. So, I willing share it with her.


Is that not the story of a parent's love for their children? As parents, we often give up of ourselves for our children. As I believe we should. If our primary concerns are for our wants and needs then we probably shouldn't be in the parenting business. Our instincts should be to put our kids first. That doesn't necessarily mean that we should always do what they want at the expense of what we want. It does mean however, that our actions towards our kids should be directed by our love for them and our desire to put them above ourselves.


Experience has taught me that it's not necessarily "what" things I'm sharing with my kids that's important. It's "who" I'm sharing them with that really matters. Recognizing this has made parenting a lot more enjoyable for me. Even in what would otherwise be dull moments, I am able to find joy because I am sharing those moments with my kids. For example, hearing my daughter giggle after a silly line or watching her recreate something she's seen in this show, have all of a sudden made me LOVE this show! If I sit back and really observe her, I can see the show through her eyes instead of my old, cranky, and boring, adult eyes. Through her, I am able to capture the magic. I have come to realize that the magic isn't in the show. The magic is in her! She is the magic!


Have you captured magic with your kids lately? Have you slowed down long enough to see the world through their eyes? If you haven't, I highly recommend it! It not only gives them the incredible gift of sharing things with you, it also gives you the incredible gift of being a kid again through them.


As adults, we're often times too serious. Sometimes, we just need to let our hair down, stop over analyzing things, and look at the world through the eyes of our kids. I believe we'd all be more happy if we did. Most times, our kids are able to capture magic because the magic lives within them. If we come to realize that, the things we do with our kids will come to gain a great deal of appreciation from us. After all, who says that through our kids, we can't capture some magic too?

Traditions

I love the little things in life. If you're a parent, you know the ones I'm talking about. Things like the cute way your son or daughter says "basgetti" instead of spaghetti when they're little. Or the excitement they exude when the Tooth Fairy comes to visit.

Last night, my daughter lost a tooth and like many kids, she was excited about the Tooth Fairy stopping by. She has come to associate loosing a tooth with the receipt of money from the Tooth Fairy because traditionally, she has received money for each tooth. Sure enough, just as in the past, this morning, she assured me that the Tooth Fairy had come.

Life is rich in traditions. Some that we create and others that are passed down from generation to generation. Traditions like Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy. As I sat awake last night waiting on the "Tooth Fairy" to come by, I began to think about how our traditions are an important part of who we are.

Traditions allow us to share experiences and memories with each other. That's why they're important. It's not the tradition itself that really matters, it's the people and the relationships behind them that define their value. Traditions provide us with opportunities to share life and laughter with each other, all while building priceless memories together.

I hope that everyone is seeking out opportunities to build traditions in their families. I believe they play a vital part in the memories we carry with us from our childhoods and into our eventual roles as parents. Many of the traditions our parents share with us we pass down and share with our kids. Then, our kids pass them down to their kids. And on and on the tradition goes.

Take the time to share traditions with your kids. By sharing positive traditions with your kids, you share relationships and by sharing relationships you share laughter and love. Who in this world doesn't agree that we could all use some more laughter and love?

Mother's Day 2012

Thirteen years! That's how many years I have been a Mom. I can't believe it has been that long. It seems like only yesterday when I was holding my babies in my arms. Now, my baby boy is almost 14 years old and taller than me, and my baby girl is a beautiful young lady. Where did the time go?

Yesterday, May 13, was Mother's Day 2012. Like many others, my family came together to celebrate the occasion.

Here's a picture of the four woman in our family who lovingly fill the role of "Mom."

 From left to right are... my sister-in-law, Andrea, her mom, Pat, Me, and my mom, Charlotte

I would be remiss not to mention the special men in our lives. They came together and made the day very special for us. My husband, Terry, worked with our kids to make me a beautiful collage of our family, and my brother Jesse led the charge in preparing us a wonderful dinner that he cooked outside on the grill.

Here is the cook in action. Accompanying him in his work is my son Tyler.

Here are some more shots of our special day together.

Here's my brother, Jesse, with his wife, Andrea, and their wonderful boys, Aiden and Conner. Aiden is in front of Andrea and Conner is in front of Jess. 

This is my family. My husband, Terry, my daughter, Serenity, Me, and my son, Tyler. Man, I love these three people! They are my greatest treasures!

Here I am with my two kids. My handsome son, Tyler and my beautiful daughter, Serenity. They are the brightest parts of my life and I am extremely honored to be their mom.

Here's a picture of me with my son, Tyler. I love this picture! It does make me realize though just how fast time goes by. When did my little boy grow up into a young man? Where did the time go?

Here's my mom, Charlotte, with me and my brother, Jesse. I think Jess would agree that our mom is the most amazing woman in the world! She is an angel that has always willingly sacrificed herself for others. She is an inspiration to me and I am honored to be her daughter. I love you Mom!!!! Happy Mother's Day!

The original family, "The Adams Family." It is here that it all began. My dad, Steve, Me, my mom, Charlotte, and my brother, Jesse. I thank God for these three people.

And, last but not least, my parents. Were it not for these two people in my life I would not be the woman I am today. They are the best parents a girl could ever hope for and I am honored to be their daughter. I love you Mom and Dad!

As I reflect back on this years Mother's Day, my mind keeps coming back to time. There's not enough time and the time we do have goes by way too quickly. I remember my parents and my grandma telling me to never take a day with my kids for granted because before I'd know it, they would be grown. I've never felt that more keenly than I feel that this year. As I look at the pictures of my children, I realize that I don't have that much time left with them before they're grown.

I wish I had been more aware of the shortage of time back when my kids were younger. I realize now that so much of it was wasted. What I would give to have a rewind button on my children's childhoods. 

My advice to every mom out there would be to never take a day for granted. The lives we live together on this Earth are so short and for one reason or another, they will be over before we know it. Cherish your children and the time you have with them. Value every moment and guard every day. Make the effort to build memories together and take LOTS and LOTS of pictures!

I have recently become a mad woman with a camera but I wasn't always that way. When my kids were younger, like many young parents, I didn't take a lot of pictures. I regret that now. So many memories have been lost. Trust me, you won't remember some of the sweetest moments without a picture. You think you will but you won't. The years pass by so quickly and it all becomes a blur. Pictures are the only defense we have against the passing of time. They allow us to go back to the moments that have passed and relive them over and over again. So, don't let your time with your kids go by without capturing it. Take it from a mom who wishes I had captured more moments. Pick up those cameras and start shooting!

The Facebook Holdout

Okay, I admit it, I'm weak. I'm really, really, weak! I finally caved in and crossed over to the Facebook dark side. BWAAHH!!

For years, I have been an adamant holdout of the global Facebook frenzy. It seems like every person I know is on Facebook. Most of my family and friends are on it and have been asking me to get on it for years. Well, this past weekend, I finally caved in and signed up. Better late than never I guess. (or maybe not!) Time will tell.

I'm not sure why I have held out so long. Part of me REALLY values my privacy and the idea of putting yourself out there for others to see goes against my better judgement. I have heard so many stories about friendships destroyed, jobs lost, families broken up, etc. because of something that had been said or done on Facebook. The general idea of it makes me very wary.

On the other hand though, I can certainly recognize it's immense advantages. For example, since joining, I found an old friend of mine that I had not spoken to in 16 years. He had joined the military shortly after we graduated high school and we ended up loosing touch with each other. For many years, I have wondered about him and hoped he was okay but I had no way of knowing if this were the case. Well, thanks to Facebook, we reconnected and I learned that he is alive and well. We were able to visit for a bit and I discovered that he has a beautiful wife and two precious children. This was great to discover! He's a husband and dad now and seems to be enjoying life. I'm so happy for him!

While reconnecting with family and friends is a perk, the biggest reason I finally caved in and joined Facebook was because of my desire to reach out to others. You see, over the years, I have developed a passion for helping others. I suppose this passion stemmed from various hardships I have had in my life that have subsequently caused me to view life differently. They have made me value and cherish my life and the lives of others in ways I could have only imagined.

Here is a snapshot into the hardships my husband and I have endured.

In 1997, Terry and I lost our first son Tanner. Then in 1999, we were in the May 3rd tornado that tore through Oklahoma, resulting in our being homeless and living out of a motel room for awhile. Next, in 2002, our second son, Tyler was diagnosed with an aggressive form of Cancer called Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. After that, in 2008, my dad was diagnosed with a Cancer called Acinic Cell Carcinoma, and just this past year, Terry's dad, my father-in-law, was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer. Then, as if these things weren't enough, about a year ago, Terry and I discovered that our daughter, Serenity, has a pretty severe form of Dyslexia. This has made basic things like reading and math very hard for her. Every day is a struggle for her. I am currently homeschooling her in order to ensure that she receives the specialized one on one help and attention she needs. Despite these challenges though, she is extremely bright. In many ways, her gifts and talents far exceed my own. Every day she inspires me. We are very proud of her!

I'm not sure why Terry and I have had to face so many challenges in our lives together but I do know that they have changed us. They have played a major part in molding us into the people we are today.

It's because of these things that I have come to understand just how hard life can be and how desolate it can seem. This discovery has ignited a passion in me that makes me want to help alleviate pain in others. I want to help the sick, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, offer love and compassion to the broken and offer kindness and acceptance to the outcast. My prayer is that God will somehow use me to make a difference in the lives of others.

One way that I hope to do that is through my new blog, "The Orderly Chaos." It is in its very early stages but I hope that someday it will be a place others can come to in order to get support and inspiration during their times of need. I hope that in some way, I can use my hardships and my survival through those hardships to be a witness to others. I pray that I can provide compassion and hope to those that are facing their own hardships. Whatever the case my be, may I always be willing to answer the call.

I am a Christian and I believe that as Christians, we are supposed to be living our lives in such a way that enables others to see and feel Christ's love. How can people really "know and feel" what God's love looks like and feels like without tangible evidence? How can they learn to trust in that love if they see no reason to believe in it? That's where we Christians come in. We are supposed to be Christ's hands and feet in this world. We are supposed to love others as Christ loves them so that they can see and feel His love for them through us.

This is what I want to be in this world. I want to love others in such a way that enables them to see and feel Christ's love through me. It is because of this that I finally joined Facebook. While I'm still wary of it, I do recognize it can be an amazing tool that can enable me to reach more people. I cannot hope to help people if I don't put myself out there. So, with trepidation, I am putting myself out there.

As I embark on this new journey, I pray that through me, Facebook will be used for good. I pray that it will open doors that might not otherwise be opened and as a result, I can reach people out there that might need help in the midst of their hardships. Whatever those hardships may be.

And so the journey begins....

Olympic Day!

Every year, homeschooling students across the state of Oklahoma compete in an annual Homeschool Olympic Day. My daughter, Serenity was signed up to participate so I spent the day cheering her on.

She participated in five events. She did very well. Below are the events she placed in.

1. 50 Yard Dash - 2nd place

2. 100 Yard Hurdles - 5th place

3. Kangaroo Race - 3rd place

Much to my surprise, she did the best in the dash. The reason I'm surprised is because most girls her age are a lot taller than her. Despite that though, she ran like a rabbit. The judge at the finish line said that she was in 1st place during the entire run but right at the end she slowed down a little right before she got to the finish line. I had forgotten to tell her to run all the way through the line, not to stop at the line. This caused her to place second instead of first. I'm certain she would have gotten first if she had pushed on through the finish line.

It was a really fun day. My son Tyler was supposed to compete too but he got sick today so he couldn't participate. That was unfortunate but in a way it was good for Serenity. It's not often she gets the opportunity for an entire day to be about her and she got that today. Today was her day! I'm very proud of her. She's a champion in my book!

Here are few pictures of her enjoying her day.

 This is Serenity at the starting line getting ready to run the 50 yard dash. Just look at her expression. She takes her running very seriously!

 Here she is getting ready for the Kangaroo Race. This is a race where the kids have to hop with a ball between their knees and whoever reaches the end first without loosing the ball wins.

 I love this picture! It beautifully captures the Serenity we all know and love!

 Here's Serenity with her good friend Angel. Remember my mentioning how petite Serenity is? Both of these girls are 10 but look how much taller Angel is than Serenity. That's okay though. Serenity makes up for it with an abundance of spunk! Just look at the next picture for validation of that.

This is a great picture too! Serenity and Angel really enjoy spending time together. Can't you tell? Just look at those smiles! They're both wonderful girls!

I'm so happy that Serenity got the chance to have a day that was all about her and I'm very grateful that I got to share it with her. It really was a wonderful day!

Relay For Life

Every year, the American Cancer Society sponsors an event known as the Relay For Life. It is an all night walk around a track for the purpose of raising both funds and awareness for Cancer. For the past two years, my family has participated in this event. Tonight is our local Relay For Life and as in years past, my family will be attending. To us, it is an incredibly important cause because several of our family members have been stricken with this horrible disease.

My son, Tyler, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in 2002, my father was diagnosed with Acinic Cell Carcinoma in 2008, this past year, my father-in-law was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer and my husband's uncle was diagnosed with Stage 4 Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. Four lives that are very dear to us have been threatened by the disease. I'm sure you can imagine why it's so important to us to fight in the battle against Cancer.

I would like to encourage everyone to join us is this fight. It is vitally important that we all join together to raise awareness for, and fight against, Cancer. It is such a horrible disease that afflicts so many. If possible, please take part in a local event such as the Relay For Life in an effort to help us fight, and someday conquer, this terrible disease.

Wednesdays Are For Others

Every Wednesday, my church, Snow Hill Baptist Church, provides a ministry that we call "Wednesday's Are For Others." We are partnered with the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, as well as two area Wal-Marts, in an effort to supply several thousand pounds of food a week to needy families within our community. We provide this ministry so that we can share the love of Christ with others. Supplied food includes breads, meats, milk, juice, eggs, fruits, vegetables, etc...

Here are some pictures of my family working up at the church. We volunteer on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in order to help get all of the food sorted, boxed and distributed each week. This week we handed out 120 boxes.

 This picture gives you an idea of how the boxes are prepared each week. The foyer acts as a staging area for all of the boxes.

 Here's a picture of my daughter Serenity helping get the boxes ready.

 This is my husband Terry working on the boxes.

Here I am adding items to the boxes.

Here's a picture of me and several of the men from the church getting things set up outside. We have a pretty efficient system. Two conveyors are used to move the boxes from the staging area in the foyer outside to the parking lot. As each family's name is called, they pull around to the front of the church where we load their food into their cars for them.

Twenty-Four Seven

As Christians, I'm sure many of us have asked ourselves, "how can we be good witnesses for Christ?" One group of men I know have decided to answer this question by combining their talents and using them for the glory of God.

They call themselves "Twenty-Four Seven" They are a group of five men who have created a band that's built on the foundation of sharing God's love with others. They perform in various churches across the state of Oklahoma in order to spread God's love through music. They open each gig by explaining why they call themselves Twenty-Four Seven. They do this by asking the audience one question. "How often do you think we should be worshiping God and sharing his love with others?" The answer is... Twenty-Four Seven. They tell the audience that they believe they should be witnesses for God "Twenty-Four Seven" so that's why they chose that name for their band.

A few of these men have compelling stories. As part of their ministry, they humbly share their personal stories with others in hopes they will help others see the love of God and encourage them to have faith in Him no matter what the circumstance.

One man's daughter was born with a severe heart condition that has resulted in numerous surgeries. By the time this girl was one she had already endured multiple surgeries. She has overcome it all and is now 26 years old and doing well.

Another man was diagnosed with stage 4 Colon Cancer. He has undergone multiple surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation, etc... Unfortunately, the cancer has continued to spread. It now invades his liver, his ribs, and other areas. Despite all this though, he has remained ever vigilant in believing in God's love and continues to put his faith in him.

One of the men is my father. He too has quite a story to tell. In 2008 he was diagnosed with a cancer called Acinic Cell Carcinoma. His treatment consisted of surgery and radiation. As of today, he remains in remission. In addition to this, he lost his first grandson (my son Tanner) in 1997, and in 2002, his second grandson (my son Tyler) was diagnosed with Leukemia. In spite of all this though, he too has stayed faithful to God and continues to share His love with others.

These men really are wonderful men and the ministry they are sharing through their music and their personal testimonies is making a difference and reaching others for God.

I attended their last gig and was able to take some pictures. Here are some of the ones I took.

This is a picture of the whole band. The man with the red Fender Strat is my dad. He is the lead guitar player for the band.

This is a picture of the band in action.

This man is an amazing drummer! You should hear him in action.

This is my dad and my son Tyler. Tyler is the Leukemia survivor. He's is an honorary member of the band because he is their video man. He records each gig for them.

Here's my son. As mentioned, he is a Leukemia survivor. He has endured and overcome so much. His life is a testimony to others. In spite of all he's been through, he radiates joy, compassion and love. Just look at that smile! He cares deeply for others and desires to help those in need. He is a continuous light in this world. I'm so proud of him and honored to be his mom.

Every good band needs groupies! This is my mom and I eagerly filling that role.

Last but not least, this is my daughter Serenity. She's the most beautiful groupie of all!

Life's Greatest Gifts

Most days, I don't slow down enough to stop and dwell on my life. I don't think a lot of us do. Today however, is different. I woke up this morning reflecting on my life and just how lucky I really am. Everyday is truly a blessing. I am a very rich woman. I am a recipient of life's greatest gifts.

I have a wonderful husband and two precious children. They each have their health and I have mine. We all woke up this morning and have been blessed with another day on this Earth together. Every breath we take is a reminder of just how rich we really are. We have food to eat and a safe home to live in. We have family that loves us and friends that support us. Most of all, we have a God that loves us more that we'll ever be able to comprehend. What in this life could possibly be more valuable than these? What gifts could possibly be more precious?

I have come to realize that it doesn't matter what kind of car I drive or what kind of clothes I wear. It doesn't matter if I live a life of luxury or if I just get by. The people in my life are what matter. The life I share with them and the love we share with each other are the things that make me rich. They are my treasures.

When we die someday, it won't matter if we had a million dollars or ten dollars. We can't take our material things with us. However, the lives we lived and the love we shared with others will shape the legacies we leave behind.

I don't want to be remembered by what I had in this world. I want to be remembered by who I was in this world. I pray the legacy I leave behind will be defined by the kind of life I lived, and the love I shared with others. Not the material things I possessed or the things I did for myself.

As we wake up each morning, we should all take a moment to reflect on the positive things in our lives. When is the last time you slowed down enough to do that? Perhaps you could start with the fact that you are alive today. The fact that you woke up this morning and were given another day on this Earth is an amazing gift. Our very lives are valuable treasures. Every breath we take is precious.

My hope is that each day we will all be able to slow down enough to reflect on the most valuable things in our lives. Even when life is hard, may we all try to identify the positives in our lives and not only dwell on the negatives. May we all strive to remember life's greatest gifts.

A Language Exchange

Have you ever wanted to learn another language? I sure have. I have always wanted to learn Spanish and I would really like my children to learn it too. I'm excited because I think we might get that chance.

I just got back from a planning meeting for a new English and Spanish language exchange program that is going to be offered at my church. Every Thursday, people within my community are going to begin meeting together in an effort to teach each other their native language. English speakers will be partnered with Spanish speakers and they will work together to learn the language that is foreign to them. Those that speak Spanish will teach Spanish to the English speakers and those that speak English will teach English to the Spanish speakers. It is truly an exchange of languages.

I believe that this is a wonderful thing and I'm very excited about it! It is a great way to bridge the gap between two cultures and bring people together within the community that otherwise would probably never come together. It is a wonderful opportunity for a community to help each other and hopefully build friendships as well.

I can't wait until next week! I'm excited about the opportunity to get to know some people from a different culture and hopefully provide them with a glimpse into ours. My whole family is going to be participating in this and I'm hoping all four of us will be able to learn Spanish as a result. At the very least, I am sure that we will be blessed by the new people we meet and hopefully bless them in return. 

Community of Hope

Last night, I spent the evening serving others in need. I love that experience and always leave feeling recharged.

As a Christian, I believe that I am supposed to live my life in such a way that shows others what the love of God looks like. Without tangible evidence, many people will never come to believe in God's love. How could they if they have no way of measuring what that love might look like or feel like. Love is an action word. It is not something that can only be talked about. It must be seen and felt in order for others to believe it's real.

That is where Christians come in. Jesus has called us to be the salt and the light in this world. We should be living our lives in such a way that people will see his love in us and through us. We are Christ's hands and feet. The lives we live and the love we show to others in the name of Jesus, is the tangible evidence that the world so desperately needs.

My church, Snow Hill Baptist Church in Tuttle, Oklahoma strives to answer Jesus's call. We have decided that we will love and serve others in the name of Jesus so that they will see and feel his love through us.

We call our ministry the "Community of Hope." As members of the Community of Hope, we have declared that "Wednesdays Are For Others." Every Wednesday, we reach out in multiple ways to help those in need within our community.

As part of our ministry, we serve dinner to over 150 needy people within our community. Following dinner, we send them home with an entire weeks worth of food. We have partnered with the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma and two area Wal-Marts in order to supply several thousand pounds of food a week to these people and their families. This food includes various breads, deserts, meats, vegetables, milk, juice, eggs, etc... Tonight we supplied 120 boxes of food to these families. We also have a large clothes closet for these families where they can get any clothing items they might need.

Another service we provide is administered through our youth. Every Wednesday, our youth group delivers meals to the elderly and home bound. They use the opportunity to fellowship with these people. This is an awesome service because many times, our kids are the only visitors some of these people receive. It is such a blessing to both those being served and our kids who are serving.

In addition to these things, we also run and maintain a free medical clinic and pharmacy. We provide much needed medical care and prescriptions to low income and non insured families within the community. Our clinic and pharmacy is called the "Community of Hope Medical Clinic and Pharmacy." It is ran by an all volunteer staff that includes two doctors, a nurse, a pharmacist, 3 pharmacy technicians and administrative staff. I have volunteered as a licensed pharmacy technician since the clinic's inception in June, 2009.

Last but not least, once a month, we feed the homeless in Oklahoma City. We provide them with a hot meal, blankets if needed, and clothing items.

As you can see, service to others is something that is very important to those of us at Snow Hill. I am honored to be part of such a great group of people that cares for others and loves them as Christ loves them. I pray that our actions will display the love of Christ to the world so that others might come to know Him through us.

I'd like to leave you with this song from Big Daddy Weave. It's called "Love Come to Life." May all of our love come to life for the glory and the work of God, for the benefit of all people.

A Mother's Love and Pride

I just quickly wanted to share that I am so very proud of my son Tyler. Last night, he became the undeserved target of an adults anger. This person was so very angry and decided to direct some of that anger unfairly towards my son by trying to tear down his character. They were deliberately trying to cause harm by placing blame on him where blame was not due. I know, his Dad knows, other parties involved know, Tyler knows, and God knows, that he did not deserve the negative comments that were said about him.

Last night, we had a long talk with Tyler about how we cannot control the actions of others. In hurt and anger, people will sometimes make bad choices that results in others being harmed. It is sad that it happens but it is unfortunately a part of life. I explained to him that the most we can hope to take from it is to use the event as an opportunity to remind us that we can be different. We can make choices that don't deliberately tear people down but that help pick them up.

Tyler could have taken from this his own anger. Instead, after our talk, he decided that he wants to use what happened to him for good. He has decided to use it as a guide to remind him of the kind of person he wants to be. He has also decided to forgive this person and move on.

I have chosen to forgive too. Let me tell you though, that was tough. Any time someone is deliberately trying to hurt your child, you want to lash back with everything you have. It took all I had in me to not allow my anger to get the better of me. If either of my kids were ever in physical harm, I wouldn't hold back because me first priority is to protect my children. This was not the case though. Tyler was not physically threatened in any way. It was more of an emotional threat. It was damage that I was able to combat with love and as such, I have come to a place that I am also able to forgive.

I am very proud of my son Tyler. In the face of a difficult situation, he has chosen to handle himself with kindness and grace. It is unfortunate that he had to go through this but since he did, it is vitally important to me that he know how very proud his Mom and Dad are of him. We know the truth. We know that he is a Godly and loving young man. We are blessed every day by him and others are blessed by him too. That's what matters. He can continue to walk with his head held high because like us, he also knows the truth.

I would really like to stress to any parent out there to always be your child's biggest advocate. We as parents cannot protect our children from all of the bad in the world but we can ensure that they know that their mom and dad are in their corner. We can help them to work through their hardships and help to shape them into Godly men and women. We can help teach them how to combat bad with good, thereby, hopefully molding a new generation that is more loving, kind and compassionate than the last.

I'm so lucky to be Tyler's mom! I love you T-Man!

When the Cats are Away

This past week my husband, Terry, was sent on a business trip to Jackson, Mississippi. That meant the the kids and I were left to fend for ourselves. In some ways, that's a good thing. In others, not so much.

A down side to Terry being gone was of course the fact that we missed him like crazy! More difficult than that though, his absence demanded that I temporarily step into the role of dad, as well as having my everyday duties as mom. His occasional business trips certainly provide me with a glimpse into what life would be like without him. Let me tell you, I don't like that idea one little bit!

On the plus side though, the kids and I used his absence as an excuse to do some things we don't normally do.  "When the cats are away, the mice will play."

I don't think I've mentioned it before, but Terry and I home school both of our kids. A typical school day in our house consists of lessons between 9:00-12:00, an hour for lunch, and then finishing up the day from 1:00-2:00 or 3:00. We usually do lessons here at home. This past week however, I threw routine out the window and we shook things up a bit. That's one of the beauties of home schooling. School works around us instead of us having to work around school.

A few days this past week, we gathered up some of our lessons and headed off to either the park or McDonalds. One day we went to the park and a couple of the days we went to McDonalds. Tyler's curriculum is on-line so he can do his work from anywhere that has internet access. Since McDonalds has free wi-fi, he was able to do his work there. Most of Serenity's work is on the computer as well, so she was able to do most of her's there too. A couple of the days, after completing the kids' lessons, we rented a couple of movies from RedBox. We don't normally rent movies during the week so this was a nice treat for us.

This past week really made for a nice break in routine. I have found that sometimes it's really nice to shake things up a bit. I think we can get so caught up in life's everyday demands that sometimes we forget to stop and smell the roses. I believe it's important that we try to avoid falling into that trap.

As a mom, I'm of the opinion that there is so much more to my relationship with my kids than making sure their physical needs are met. It is vitally important that I meet their emotional needs as well. That's what this week was about. It was about fellowship. It provided me with the opportunity to build some memories with my kids that I otherwise wouldn't have had.

I encourage every parent out there to shake things up now and then. Don't get so caught up in life's everyday demands that you forget to stop and smell the roses. Take some time out of your everyday routines to plan a special family outing. Maybe it could be a trip to the zoo or something as simple as a picnic in the park. Whatever you decide, the important thing is just providing an opportunity to be with your kids in an environment that's different from what you're used to so that many great memories can be made.

Serves Up!

Yesterday, the kids and I had a fun day playing Tennis with my brother and his family. Here's a little sample of our time on the court. We're not the most elegant but we sure had fun!

My son Tyler

My daughter Serenity

My brother Jesse

My nephew Aiden

My sister-in-law, Andrea and my nephew, Conner

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff

Have you ever had one of those days where it seems like everything goes wrong? Where it's like the harder you try, the worse things get? My son, Tyler, had one of those days a couple of days ago. It seemed like the harder he tried to make things work, the worse they got.

It all began with him making himself lunch. Now, you must know, this is something he has done a million times. He's almost fourteen so he's been fixing food for himself for years. Usually, it's an uneventful endeavor. However, on this particular day, it seemed as if nothing could go his way.

After picking out what he wanted to eat, he poured himself a glass of tea and put his food into the microwave to cook. As he was waiting for his food to get done, he came into the living room to set up a TV tray to eat on. He placed his cup of tea on the TV tray and went to move the tray from the side of the chair to the front of the chair. That's when the chaos began. As he lifted the tray up, his cup of tea tipped over and spilled all over the couch. To make matters worse, his sister was sitting in the spot where it spilled so she ended up getting a tea bath.

I guess you can imagine the drama that ensued. As if spilling the tea wasn't bad enough, he just had to dump it on his sister. She, being the drama queen she is, made it abundantly clear just what she thought of her brother and his tea. She was soaked, he was stressed, and the "Little Green" was nowhere to be found. Good times!

My being the awesome mom I am (not), managed to somewhat call things to order. I sent Serenity to change clothes, instructed Tyler to go ahead and finish getting his lunch and managed to find the Little Green.

In case you're wondering what a "Little Green" is, it is a hand held shampooer. It is WONDERFUL and a must have for anyone with pets or kids. Our Little Green is like a cherished member of the family.

Anyway, a few minutes went by and I noticed that Tyler still hadn't gotten his food yet. I saw him just standing behind the couch with this really blank look on his face so I asked him what was wrong. That's when it dawned on me. He didn't even have to tell me what happened. It's like I had some form of Mother's ESP. I knew he had dumped his food too. Can you believe it? Like the tea, he had placed the food on the TV tray, tried to lift the tray around the chair, and dumped the food into the chair.

For Tyler, this seemed to be the proverbial straw that broke the camels back. He was obviously very upset with himself and was saying that he couldn't do anything right. I must admit, he was a sight to see. He had apparently tried to catch the food as it fell so it had gotten all over the front of his chest. I think he was wearing about half of it.

I could tell that he was really taking things pretty hard so I quickly went about trying to ease the tension. I began to make light of the situation and assured him that we all have cruddy days. I told him we all make mistakes and that he would end up looking back on this in a few days and laugh. I was really joking with him and told him that I was going to get the camera, take a picture of the dumped food, and put it here on my blog so he would be sure to look back on it and laugh.

So, that's what I did. I grabbed the camera and snapped a shot of the dumped food. Forever capturing his chaotic moment in time. Here's the evidence of his chaos in action.

Tyler does look back on this now and laughs. Just a little while ago, as he was telling his uncle Jesse about it, he was laughing so hard he could hardly talk.

I think one of the reasons he has such a positive outlook about it now is because of how I made light of it when it happened. I could have gotten angry and snapped at him but I made a conscious effort to assure him that it was okay. I laughed it off and even took pictures for my blog to prove to him that it could be made into a positive memory instead of a negative one.

As parents, I think it's really important to try and not sweat the small stuff. This situation is a perfect example of that. Tyler's sister could be cleaned and the chair could be cleaned, but my sons morale and self esteem could have been damaged forever depending on how I reacted to it. Don't get me wrong, there have been times when I didn't handle things quite so eloquently, but I'm learning. I like to think that I'm getting better with each passing day. I'll probably have this motherhood thing pretty much mastered just about the time my kids are grown. Ha!

Long story short, LOVE YOUR KIDS! Recognize that they are human and will make mistakes. Learn to cherish them, and when possible, laugh with them even during those times. I promise, you'll be really glad you did. You will be creating a valuable memory together that you'll both look back on with laughter.

A St. Louis Excursion

Here's a visual snapshot of a weekend excursion our family took in March to St. Louis, MO. We had a blast! Several of these moments could certainly be classified as orderly chaos! Enjoy!

We went to the City Museum in St. Louis. I must say that this place was AWESOME! We had so much fun there. I would definitely recommend adding it to your must do list if you have kids.

Here's my crew. My oh my! They sure are wacky but I love them like Crazy! The four kids in the front row are (left to right) My son Tyler, My daughter Serenity, and my nephews, Aiden and Conner. On the back row (left to right) My dad Steve, My mom Charlotte, My husband Terry, ME, My brother Jesse, My sister-in-law, Andrea, and Andrea's mom, Pat.

Here's my brother, Jesse, exemplifying chaos at it's finest! He's getting ready to crawl into one of the many tunnels at the museum. I secretly think the dads had as much fun as the kids. 

Remember what I said about the dads having as much fun as the kids? Here's my hubby, Terry, inside of a giant egg. Does this mean that I can call him an "egg head" and get away with it? Ha!

Here's my dad getting his hand "eaten" by a lion statue. His grandkids really got a kick out of it. Can you tell that wacky runs in my family? Yes, unfortunately, I inherited too.

Here's Serenity, following in her Granddad's footsteps. She had to one up him and get her head "eaten" by a lion statue. It seems that wacky was passed down to her too.

Here's my husband, Terry, with our daughter, Serenity. He's such an awesome dad! Can you tell Serenity loves her Daddy? 

Here's my hubby with our son, Tyler. The two of them were getting ready to crawl into another one of the many holes there at the museum.

Here's a picture of all four of the kids. Of all the pictures I took, I think this is the only one I managed to get of all four of them together at the same time. The little rascals were bouncing around like ping pong balls from one place to the next. It was virtually impossible to get them to slow down long enough to get an occasional shot.

These are the lights of my life. My son, Tyler and my daughter, Serenity. Man, I love these kids! This is a picture of them in the very top of the St. Louis Arch.

Last, but certainly not least, MY FAMILY! My son Tyler, my daughter Serenity, and my husband Terry. These three people are the greatest joys in my life. They are my daily reminders that even though there are hardships and darkness in this world, it is also full of beauty and joy. I love you guys!

The Resurrection

This past Sunday was Easter Sunday and like many Christians across the globe, I found myself attending an Easter service at my church. As I sat in the audience and listened to my pastor, I began to better understand what the story of the resurrection truly represents.

If you're like me and grew up in a Southern Baptist church, you were taught that the resurrection represents a new life in Christ. Christ died on the cross for our sins so that we can be washed clean and born again. We must invite Christ into our hearts so that we can be saved and live eternal lives with him in Heaven. It is the age old story of "the good news." 

While this part of the story is true, many Christians across the globe end the story there. Many believe that once you've been saved the purpose of Christ's death and resurrection has been fulfilled. What if there's much more to the story? What if we have failed to see a very crucial part? What if part of the story was supposed to be about the lives we are currently living here on Earth, not just our assurance into Heaven?

What does it truly mean to be "born again?" As I pondered this, I realized that it isn't only about my future in Heaven. It is about the here and now. When I accepted Christ into my heart and declared him my Lord and Savior, I was "born again." Not a physical birth but a spiritual one.  A new life, that should manifest itself in an outward change, not just an inward one. Many Christians view this transformation as a private transaction between themselves and God but I believe that God requires much more of us. The transformation is not meant to be for us alone. It is meant to be shared with the world. The Parable of the Good Samaritan makes it quite clear what is required to inherit the kingdom.

The resurrection was not meant to be the end of the story. I believe it was meant to be the beginning. It represents hope in a fallen world. Matthew 6:9-10 says "Our father who is in Heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on EARTH as it is in Heaven."

As born again Christians, we are called to live our lives according to the will of God. As such, we cannot continue to live as we had before. God calls us to bring his kingdom here to Earth. It is meant to happen now! Not just in a far off Heaven or in a distant future. We are to be bringing the kingdom here by living out the will of God now. 

So if the kingdom is meant to come here on Earth, what would that kingdom look like? My guess would be that it should look much like the kingdom in Heaven would. Where we loved our Lord God with all our hearts, and we loved our neighbors as ourselves.

If we were striving for that kind of kingdom we would be driven to action. We would feed the poor and hungry, just as we would feed ourselves. We would heal the sick and wounded, just as we would heal ourselves. We would battle oppression and prejudice. We would care for the orphans and widows. We would love and not hate.

All of these things are part of the "will of God" and therefore should be something we are all striving to do in an effort to bring his kingdom here. If we live our lives in such a way that we show the world what the love of God looks like and we allow them an opportunity to feel his love through us, then we are truly sharing his kingdom with the world! 

Now that is GOOD NEWS!

A Day at the Capital

Last year, I was selected by American Mother's Inc. as the Young Mother of the Year for the state of Oklahoma. It was a great honor and an experience I'll never forget. Part of the experience includes a red carpet day at the state capital recognizing that years honoree. My big day was April 4, 2011. I was introduced to the House of Representatives and the Senate. I got to speak on the floor of the House and was presented with a proclamation from the state. I even met the Governor!

April 2 was the day at the capital for this years honoree. As the reigning Young Mother of the Year, it was my job to introduce the new honoree so I was in attendance. Since I wasn't the central focus this year, I was able to sit back and observe the event. As I sat in the audience, I quickly took note that the majority of those in attendance were what many would consider "upper class society." Many were from prominent families or leaders in their respective fields. In fact, the Young Mother of the Year this year is the daughter of an ex-Oklahoma governor. In the audience were wives of senators, ex-first ladies, Justice League members, presidents of organizations, etc. etc. Oklahoma's own Governor, Mary Fallin, is a supporting member. The American Mother's organization is certainly wrought with women of prestige.

The next thing that came to mind was how in the world had I become part of this group? How in the heck was I ever selected as Young Mother of the Year? I didn't run in these circles. I'm not from a prominent family or a leader in my field. I'm just a small town, middle class girl who's claim to fame is being the mother of two precious kids. Then it dawned on me. I was a leader in my field! Don't you see? My chosen field IS motherhood. My greatest achievement in this life is being a mom. I have dedicated my life to the cause. The very fact that I was selected as the Young Mother of the Year by an organization of such prestige suddenly became a testament to me that perhaps I really was a good mom. I had been judged by my merits alone. It hadn't mattered that I wasn't from money or power!

How often does that happen in life? How many people get the chance to be judged on their merits alone and not on how much they have or who they know? As I sat in that audience, it occurred to me that we all need a chance in our lives to feel as if we matter in this world. More often than not, the two things that separate us from our fellow man are geography and circumstance. Take the average person born in America vs. someone born in Uganda Africa. The geography of their births usually means the difference between living a free and comfortable life vs. living a life in extreme poverty and oppression. What about a child that is born into a loving home vs. a child born into substance abuse and violence? Which one do you think would have the best chance for a bright future?

How can this possibly be right? Is one person more valuable and precious than the other? Should geography and circumstance define the importance of a human life?

I would like to challenge everyone to think about what we can do as members of humanity to even the scales. What if we all joined together to right these wrongs? Can you imagine that kind of world? Where geography and circumstance did not have to mean suffering and dread. Oh what a joyous day that would be!

What can you do to make a difference? Remember, you don't have to change the whole world. The thought of one person doing that alone is quite daunting. Instead, think about how you might help just one person today. Maybe it could be by volunteering at a local food bank or sponsoring an impoverished child through organizations like World Vision or Compassion.

The question is not merely... "How will you make a difference today?"

The question is... "Will you make a difference today?"