SO hard....but the reward is greater!

I realize that a lot of times I only blog about my children and things that are going good in my life.  I rarely "vent" on my blog and prefer to try not be negative.  However, there's something that has been heavy on my shoulders for awhile now, so here it goes....

"Never retaliate when people say unkind things about you.  Pay them back with a blessing and God will Bless You." 1Peter 3:9

I found this scripture last week and it is working on me.  I have a  friend (and I use that term loosely) that has caused me MUCH heartache, much sadness, and has caused me to worry and fret for unknown reasons.  I'm not going to write about the hurt she's caused me, not going to tell the whole story...I want to let it go, move on, because I have some amazing friends.  Why do I let this ONE person have this affect one me?  I have prayed about this SO much, I have cried about this SO much, and I decided that I'm moving on. I have to or it's going to kill me.
I hope that whoever reads this realizes that if you have a problem with someone resolve it - if for whatever reason you are jealous of someone;  walk a day in their shoes  - know that for those hurtful things you are doing you are causing someone heartache and pain - if someone has wronged you forgive them. 
We wonder why there is such a 'bullying' problem in the world today. Look at how adults treat each other.  It's sad really. I think about how God must feel when we don't treat each other right.  Afterall we are ALL his children; nothing pains me more than to see my children mistreated.  Nothing would hurt me more than to hear someone saying something bad about one of my kids.  I would be crushed to know that somebody doesn't like one of my kids... How do you think God feels??

With all that said, this scripture is telling me that I still need to repay with blessings. So now I'm left trying to do the right thing. I realize that if I keep doing my best to rise above then I will be pleasing to God.  I realize that this is NOT going to be easy. I also realize that I cry about it, I pray about it, and I worry about it because I truely LOVE this person, and would do anything for her. 
The hurt she's caused me is possibly unknown to her or maybe she really doesn't care for me or that she hurts me.  Regardless my ultimate goal is to meet my Savior and because of that I will "Do unto others as I would have them do unto me" and I will "Pay them back with a blessing..."

The Birthday Girls!

I try to make a big deal of out Birthdays and make each of my kids' Birthday a very special day just for them.  Typically on their "Day" they get to go out to eat wherever they chose (within reasonable driving distance from our home).  For years the hotspot has been McDonald's, and I remember thinking "HALLELUJAH" the day that one of chose differently!

Birthdays signify the day you were born, a day that God blessed us with a child, a day that is all about You!  

This year Kate's 'day' fell on the actual party day so she got the main celebration all on her day.  She also got to have a little party at her babysitters house the day before, she picked out special plates, etc for that party.

Tomorrow will be Madi's day and she will pick where we go eat tomorrow night.  She has also picked out snacks to take to school, and she wants to get her nails and toes painted after school :)

I hope that one day my kids will remember that atleast once a year it was all about them.  It was their day and we tried to make it as special as they wanted it.

I am so very blessed and so very thankful for 3 happy and healthy children, I truly can't imagine life any other way!  God is so Good!

The Cat in the Hat BIRTHDAY!!!!

We celebrated Kate's 3rd Birthday and Madi's soon to be 6th Birthday this weekend with a Cat in the Hat Party.  We had SO much fun! Kate actually requested a Cat in the Hat Party so we went with it. I went with various things that go along with Dr Suess books - including the GREEN EGGS AND HAM!

                        Madi - 6th Birthday !                               The Birthday Girls!!!

The Food:

               We had Oodles of  Noodles               Yertles Caramel Turtles  
                            

ONE Fish TWO Fish RED Fish BLUE Fish

Cake...

The punch was Pink Ink Yink Drink....

 THE GIRLS!!!

 Blowing out the candles together!!

 Kate wasn't too happy with how that went down...

 Opening presents

 Bo and Kate -- Cousins!

 GG, Baby Will, and Kate

 Pinata!!!  The kids were excited :)

 My sweet Mimi

Madi and Baylie -- best of friends

 

 Opening presents!

 The Papa's always putting the toys together (or fixing them)

 Playing with Mema

Playing with the new tent!

THANK YOU to those that took the time out of your busy Saturday 
to come celebrate with us!!!!

Happy Birthday Madi and Kate!!!

Homecoming!

....Here she is!  What a fun day for us.  Madi got her hair done and got to wear her "fancy dress" for the Homecoming Coordination.  She did get a little nervous out on the court but she said she really loved getting to do this.

 All dressed up in their PINK -- looking adorable!

 Gage, Ali, Madilyn, and Warren

Having a blast! 

You looked beautiful Madi and did a GREAT job!  Congrats on being chosen, we are so proud of you!

Homecoming - Pep Assembly

Madi was chosen to be in Basketball Homecoming this year.  I was out of town for work, and she called me and told me over the phone. I could hear her excitement in her voice and she said "Mom, what am I going to wear?"  It was so cute, she got to pick out her dress and a new outfit for the pep-assembly.  

Madi's best friend Ali was the other attendant in homecoming, they had SO much fun together!

King and Queen candidates before the Pep Assembly

:)  This is how Madi sat thru the entire assembly!  I told her to smile and keep her legs crossed...guess she forgot! haha

Just the girls!

The pep assembly was on Friday afternoon and Homecoming wasn't until Saturday afternoon.

...Madi and Ali were having the time of their life!  So cute!!

Baller

Jaxen has been playing basketball at the YMCA again this year and he loves it!  He's definitely improved each game...tends to be a "ball hog" but has his whole heart in it all the time!  He had a few kids from Thomas on his team and a couple from Weatherford.  These boys did great together and had a fun season.

 

 When it comes to sports, it's all Jaxen thinks about.  

He loved every minute of this season!

 Here he is in action!!

The boys were coached by James Rainwater and John Jones.  They did a great job, very positive to the boys, and most impressive prayed after each game!  What a great example these two men were!

...Looking forward to doing it again next year!