Queenies Little Kingdom

I love you! The three words that have changed lives all over the world. Words that you can’t just throw around all willy nilly. It can be sorta dangerous. We’ve all known someone that made bad life decisions just because they told someone they loved them too soon. I can’t help but think of that teenage love thing. It’s way to easy to blurt it out and end up way more invested in a relationship than the maturity level allows. I know. I’ve done it myself. Dang those 80’s!

At school this week I was surrounded by girls wanting to see a picture of my daughter’s boyfriend (he attends another school). 🙂 As I sat with them they began talking about their own boyfriends and how serious their relationships were. Scary. Two of the girls had “promise” rings. Promise rings? Huh? Why? It’s just too soon! At least it is for me…..

Grown up love can be as immature as teenage love. Time after time I’ve sat with couples in trouble (in counseling with hubby) that cannot see the forest for the trees in their relationship. Loving someone can be pretty difficult, especially when we tend to love ourselves so much more. It’s just the way our flesh is. We think we deserve to be happy (at all costs). Many times, that means getting out of a marriage that isn’t ideal. Which never solves the real issue.

I don’t mean to sound harsh regarding love. It’s just that I wish more people took it seriously. Because love is serious business. John 13:34-35 says, “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.” I want people to know that my love for God is real and one way I can do that is by the way I love other’s. Not always easy to do, huh? As I type, I can think of some difficult folks to love. With God’s help….I know I can do it. Even if my flesh doesn’t have any desire at all to.

Later today my daughter will go to a late lunch with her boyfriend to celebrate Valentine’s day….she was very concerned that anything she did would seem “mushy lovey”. She put together a very sweet picture collage as her gift to him with “You make me smile” across the photo. It’s not mushy or lovey but it is very cute. We helped sneak it into his car last night (by the way…we are nervous sneaky snake people) I thought for sure he was going to catch us. Yikes! He wasn’t supposed to find it until today as he came out of basketball practice. Note to self or Ally: Don’t leave your fast-food garbage in Tyler’s car…he cleans it out and will find your surprise! He sent her a text message….he loved it!

Everywhere you turn today you are going to see references to love. It’s my prayer that you are in step with love the way God intends you to be. That you are loving as He commands you to and that other’s would know who you belong to just by watching you love other people. If you’re married…I pray that you are nurturing that relationship in a way that most honors Christ. Selflessly! It’s worth it, I promise!

Deut. 6:5 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”

The electricity goes out! At least that’s what happens in my neck of the woods. I’m not whining…just sharing how it rolls with me. 🙂 I’m thankful that when it went off tonight (during dinner and great conversation with our teenagers!) that it didn’t stay off all night. We were only out for about an hour or so. Nothing like the week back in September! Aaaaaaah! Glory be….that was rough! So…thank you Jesus for lights! I really like having them. L U X U R Y!!!

While the lights were out…we hung out and talked. Which is quite fun by the way. It reminded me that we don’t do it enough. I love hanging out with my kids. They have grown up so quickly and have been more than I could have ever dreamed of. They are precious people. I cherish them and pray that someday they have a family that they love and enjoy this much. I’ve been so blessed to be their mom. Thank you God for allowing me that pleasure!

I’m really proud of my kids. They are not into conforming to the world and it’s standards. In this day that’s saying something. Each of them have walked difficult roads with friendships and ministry life. All three of them are strong and confident in who they are and to whom they belong to. Another thing that’s not so easy to do these days. God has big plans for each of them and it excites me. Thank you God for blessing my life with Don, Gavin, Ally, & Gates. What a gift!

Deuteronomy 11:18 “Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.”

Parents: God wants us to be responsible for our children’s spirituality! He doesn’t say….take them to church and hand them over to SS teacher’s or to pastor’s. He wants us to take the initiative and teach them about Him and His word. He wants us to live out our faith OUTLOUD! So….feeling challenged yet? I hope so. I’m inspired to kick things up a notch! 🙂

If you’re perfect…..go ahead and move on from this post. It’s all about someone who’s not! ME! I’m flawed, ya’ll! Some might even say…..a wreck of a person! I do stupid things and I say even stupider things. I just mess up! When it’s most inconvenient too. What is my deal? I might as well confess….right? Here goes!

Tonight was Gates choir concert (I didn’t realize we had to be there until about 5pm). I thought this was an event she was doing for something besides the world to see. I know she said “singing at a basketball game”…but the other part…like a BIG VALENTINE’S CONCERT for our viewing pleasure….um no! Didn’t get that. No biggie, we hopped in the car and raced to the event. It was great! Worth the $8 to see our girl sing five kickin songs.

Hubby makes a comment on the way home that I took as a stab (he wanted to go to the Library and Walmart…I didn’t) and the rest is history! What is it about communication within the marriage relationship? We can be absolutely crazy when it comes to understanding each other. He says, she says…and boom it’s a yelling match. Well, maybe not at your house….but we ended up yelling. I’m sorry for it. Because it got us nowhere….real fast! Just stupid!

He dropped me off and headed for the places he wanted to go…and I caught myself mumbling angrily about the whole situation. Oh the flesh is weak people! That satan…..he wants so badly to crash in on a happy home. I almost let him tonight! But…..I’m onto him. No way, dude! Step off! I love my husband (even if I don’t always agree with him or understand him)! So I’m here to tell ya….don’t get all up in a tizzy when you’re in a misunderstanding with your fella. It won’t end pretty unless you just end it before it starts. Take it from me….I’m learning, ya’ll!

Galatians 5:22 “But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”

Here’s a little song….I can relate to. I love Coldplay….his voice is beautiful in this song!

I have been dying to go to this conference! It is the JACKPOT of conferences! BlogHer 09 is going to be held in Chicago this summer (July 24-25). Anybody who is anybody……is going to be there! I need to meet these people! So, here’s my flippin sweet entry to win a trip there! Wish me luck, ya’ll!

What have been the rewards and benefits of participating in the blogging community?

Great question, Mabel’s Labels! I have been a closet writer for years. In my heart, I have a dream to write a good book! Maybe someday, I will! My husband introduced me to the idea of blogging more than a year ago. At the time…I was clueless. I would shoot him down and change the subject. By April of 08, I was on my way into the blogosphere! Baby, I’ve never looked back!

Blogging has helped me “find my voice”. Which isn’t easy to do. I like writing about my family and about my faith. Blogging has allowed me to do both and invite reader’s into my world because of it. Now that’s a pretty sweet perk.

Blogging has helped me “find new and exciting friends”. Wow, what a great connection maker. There are so many wonderful people out there, blogging! I have grown as a person, mom, wife and blogger because of the great and brilliant bloggers out there.

Blogging has helped me “find the confidence to shoot for my dream”. That book idea? Doesn’t scare me as much anymore thanks to blogging. I can write daily and the feedback I receive blows my mind! And it encourages me to go farther. I heart you blogging!

Blogging has helped me “get stuff”. I have received so many things through blogging. Prizes, books to review, ideas for home, marriage helps, clothing, and so much more. Who wouldn’t find that beneficial?

I’ve influenced other friend’s to start blogs. All because of my love affair with blogging. It’s one of the best mom networks out there. I hope to keep on blogging for a long time. 🙂

For more information about this rockin contest….please go here to Mabel’s Labels and find out.

I am in love with giveaway’s….of course! Who isn’t, right? I have won some great things lately. Yesterday I won a book from Tim Challies blog. This morning I was notified that I won $25 to spend at Homestead Originals (yay, candles…yum!!). Thank you, Momma and More! So, it’s the least I can do to share some hot happening giveaway’s going on out there. Enjoy my sweet bloggy friends! I hope you win something wonderful!

THE cutest chicBuds ever! Over at Seeryus Mama’s blog. Ends 2/11

You’re gonna love this one! A flip camera!!!! Yes, IT’S AWESOME!! Over at Craftymama of 4! Ends 2/15

Who doesn’t need a beauty fix? Here’s your chance to win one! Go to Bionic Beauty and enter now! Ends 2/20

If you are a lady with a purse…then you must enter this contest! It’s a FUMI! It’s over at A Little Bliss! Ends 2/13

Who wants to look skinny??? Go here….and enter to win the Slim-perfect giveaway. Wow! Frugal Mommy of 2 Girls has more stuff to look at too. Ends 2/14

I love pHisoderm….like mad. This giveaway is for Baby pHisoderm. Woohoo! Love it! Her blog is so cute too. Ends 2/14 NOTE: this is two contests…two prizes. Click both to enter.

Oh to live in luxury! This giveaway….Bedroom Bliss is definitely luxurious! Hurry over to SITS and enter. Ends ?? Not sure!

Win a trip to Blogher 09 in Chicago this summer! Yes, you heard me. Go see Mabel’s Labels and she’ll tell you how to enter. Goodluck! I hope to go myself! Winning would surely be the cat’s meow! Ends 2/9 HURRY!
I’ll be posting a bit about this conference tomorrow. I really need a ticket….so I have to enter ya’ll!

That’s plenty to keep you busy. I wish you some serious good luck! If you win…let me know. I love to see good things happen to people. God bless you this week. I pray it’s a great one! Our snow is finally melting! Yeehaw!

I’ve always been the skinny girl….till lately. This last few years have weighed on me in more ways than one. The stress of ministry life, being a busy mom and wife and that perimenopausal monster stage that I’ve been stuck in for almost 2 years have nearly done me in. It’s been a wingdinger, ya’ll! There have been times….that I’ve thought surely I’m losing my mind! Hormones are the devil! And I’ve had them so strong I’m convinced the dudes are wearing capes! It’s bothered me to watch my body change, it’s just not the same. I’ve been on a quest to make it as healthy as I possibly can without killing myself. Let me tell you about today.

My good pal Valerie (first off…this chick is the original “brick house”….oh and she’s a PE teacher at my school) blessed me with a VIP pass to a local gym here in town for this month. We’ve planned and cancelled several work-out sessions over the last few weeks. The snow is a big hinderance on getting to go and DO THINGS!! Anyway, yesterday I was hoping to just go up to the gym by myself and do a little treadmill work…you know….get some blood flowing in these here limbs. I put on an exercise top and pants then a t-shirt over it. By 10pm last night…I still hadn’t gone to the gym. So I confess to hubby that I am doing this in bite-size steps. I wore the work-out clothes today…tomorrow….I might actually go do the work-out. 🙂 Oh why get crazy huh?

Today, Valerie and I head to the gym. I should have known there was a problem when she says…I’ll be back, I need to go change. Remember, she’s a PE teacher…SHE’S WEARING GYM CLOTHES!?!! She comes out ready to hop in the fight ring. She’s decked out in her butt-kicking gear…..me, in the fatso warm-up pants and Panama City Beach t-shirt from summer 2006. I remain cool…until she whips out this multiple paged work-out regimen. I’m not calling her Valerie ANYMORE….from here on out….it’s KILLAH! Have you ever heard of a “jump squat”? Yea, me either. This must be what those hot-bodied celebs are doing….cause I can’t hardly feel anything from the waist down. I’m a hurtin, ya’ll! I’m not even going into detail on her push-up system. I’ll just say, did you know you can walk on all fours side to side all while doing a push-up? I was waiting on her to ask me to hop on her back for a little challenge! The girl is amazing! Or a psycho!

If I wake up tomorrow and can actually walk, I’ll be happy. At this moment, my feet feel just like they have bricks tied to the bottoms and my legs are wobbly like jello. Will this ever pass? I’m afraid I might need some medical attention. I can’t quit …..I want to fit into my clothes again. Besides I want to look good and feel good too. I have to climb stairs at school tomorrow and I’m a little worried how I’m going to do it. I might just take the elevator. I’m determined to get fit. If it kills me! So if you read my name in the obit’s in the next few weeks…..it was Valerie, aka KILLAH! Turn her in! And don’t take any VIP cards from her…she’s crazy!

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (New International Version)
“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”