Queenies Little Kingdom

Last night was my high school class reunion. In Florida. Over 1000 miles away. Yea, I couldn’t make it! It was a bit far and a lot expensive to travel there again (after just being there 2 weeks ago).

I was anticipating the event for months. A friend bought my ticket to attend (cause he’s nice like that). But it went unused. Twenty six years is a long time to be out of school. From the pictures…..everyone looks the same, like someone’s parents! 🙂

I’m at the top, left photo!

Over the last few months, I’ve spoken with several classmates who shared pretty sad stuff about their lives in high school. Some experienced terrible bullying while other’s were living in horrible abuse at home. It reminded me just how little we know each other in school. I thought I knew my friends well. Obviously, I didn’t.

Very sad……and terribly heartbreaking!

My own experiences were fairly positive. I didn’t have a problem with bullying. I loved school and getting to see friends. My social butterfly gene runs deep! I was always looking for fun (not the party girl kind)! Most of the fun was geared around my BFF’s Joy and Sonja. We could make any event a blast!

I can’t help but smile thinking back on those days. I guess that’s why I’m so sad I wasn’t there to share in reminiscing with the people who knew me while I was “growing” up. You know that “if you could see me now” thinking? I’m not who I was in HS. I’m much better, I’m improved and refined in many ways.

I’m grown up and mature. I’ve learned so much about life and I hope they have too. The things we thought were important back then….really weren’t so important afterall. I wanted to see who, what, when, where and how in each of their lives. I was hoping to see lives that were changed because of what Christ had done. But, I missed it!

I’ve looked at some of the pictures this morning. Many friends look just the same…..other’s, I don’t even recognize. That’s how it is with life. We change. Sometimes for the good and sometimes for the bad. I couldn’t help but wonder what they would have said about me. {Had I changed, That I looked the same (not), She’s fat/ugly/old lady/didn’t age well?). I think that’s normal. Right?

I’m on top row, 3rd photo.

I may never see any of them again. So many of my classmates have passed on. That happens when you’ve been out of school for 26 years. We get old! We face adversity, illness, car accidents and for some, suicide. Time is a racer! It gets away from us before we know it. And then we wake up one day…..to realize we’ve been out of school for______?!

Of all the things I feel this morning……the one that keeps coming back to me is, am I living my life in a way that honors God? Does my life count for more than just being someone’s wife and mom? If I were to answer those questions, I’d have to say…..sometimes.

I’m happy that the reunion was fun! From the pictures it looked like many were able to pick right back up where they left off. That’s great! I know that things happen for a reason and there’s always another chance……maybe I can attend the event for next year. The entire 1980’s graduation era will be hosting a reunion downtown in my hometown of Wauchula. Hardee High School 80’s Decade Reunion!

Maybe?

Note: To see the entire picture, you’ll have to click to enlarge.

–to think your kids are the coolest?
–to love being a parent of teenagers?
–to see people with unruly kids in the store and think….glad they’re theirs!?
–to wish for snow days….just to be stuck home with your family?
–to enjoy preparing good foods & even cleaning up the mess?
–to like sharing your “stuff” with your daughters? (clothes, shoes & makeup)
–to see your kids at school and get excited that they belong to you?
–to stay up late talking about “life” with your teenagers?
–to love texting with your kids when they’re out & about?
–to celebrate with one of your kids when something they’ve been wanting arrives by UPS?
–to pray for your kids to turn out better than you?
–to see your kids as if they were still little (even though they aren’t)?
–to claim good things over your family’s lives when bad things are happening?
–to wish you could freeze time?
–to think of letting go?

If so, then I’m a total weirdo!  I feel those things about my family. I love them and enjoy being around them. I pray God uses each of them to make this world a better place. And that I realize, He used me in some small way to assist.

Psalm 127:3-5a
Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.

I could spend hours in that place! Oh yea, I did! Today, the girls and I had a fun opportunity to hit Cinci with Mrs. Betsy and Isaac for a day of IKEA shopping. It was so much fun! Even though it was rainy and gloomy out. We wandered all over the store picking out pretty things to enhance our homes.

I mean, come on……it’s IKEA! Who doesn’t like that place? It’s a bit addicting. Not everything in the store is my style. But there are plenty of awesome things to mix in with what I have to make my house look amazing! So much of it is priced fantastic too. I love that!

This time we ate lunch while we were there. The swedish meatball meal is delicious and so was the yummy dessert. Ally found a duvet for her down comforter to match her room (score….$14) and a lampshade to go with it. Both look great! I could go on and on.

My heart feels warm and fuzzy for you IKEA! Thanks for a great day!

Today was a day of cleaning out. The girls and I slept in, ate a late breakfast and then got to it. Each of us going into seperate rooms to do some damage. My room of choice was Gavin’s. It was beginning to look like a dump (and nobody’s even living there)! I really want to remodel the whole shebang…..but, seriously….the dude still lives there when he comes home. It’s HIS room! I can’t take it away just because he’s gone to college…..can I?

No! I can’t!

I boxed up stuff and packed it away. I weeded out shoes and clothes for a Goodwill pile. I scrubbed down spider webs in his bathroom and cleaned up the floor. I even washed sheets.

(Rumor has it…..grandparents are coming soon for a visit!) 🙂

The girls made huge piles of items for Goodwill. We seem to accumalate so much stuff and we’re poor! How do we do it? I plan on making some changes. I read a great post today about a lady that went on a spend fast. She didn’t buy ANYTHING that was not on the LIST of needs. Not a Goodwill $2 shirt, not a meal out…..not even extra food items on sale. She was F A S T I N G !!!

So….I’m challenging myself! Soon, I forgot I’m going to IKEA tomorrow. I can’t very well begin this very moment. This day has been planned for weeks. I don’t want to flunk my fast right out of the gate. I plan to start on Monday and end on the following Sunday.

Who knows….maybe I’ll see just how little I really need to be happy! Life isn’t about stuff anyway, right?

Lord,
I’m indulgent! I like things. Stuff sometimes makes me feel safe and comfortable. I don’t want to live like that. I want freedom. Freedom to be financially stable and at peace with how I use my money (that you’ve entrusted to me). Help me……be a better steward of the resources I’ve been given.
Amen

It’s that time again. The time Proverbs 31 Ministries begin promoting their amazing conference, She Speaks! Every single year, I fantasize that I’ll be a participant. I can’t help but click on all the links and read what so many precious women of God have to say about their own dream of attending She Speaks. Then, I can’t help but pray for them to go too. I’m just a big softie!

If I were loaded……girls, we’d all be going to North Carolina in July! Seriously!

I’ve been dreaming of writing a book for as long as I can remember. It’s something I just can’t get out of my brain. Some would say it’s an obsession…..and I’d have to agree. I want to see my words on more than a mama blog! I just can’t escape the desire. It’s real and until Jesus says…”Stop it!” I’m going to keep trying to make it happen.

Speaking to women is a passion that will not leave me alone either. My heart’s desire is to see women walk in victory and to grow even closer to God through His truths. If that means using me and my flawed life to share…..I’m glad to do it. But when you hear the voice of the Creator of all saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” how great is that joy to be able to say, along with the prophet Isaiah, “Here am I! Send me.” (Isaiah 6:8)

My trust is completely in Christ. If God wants me to be at She Speaks…..girlfriend, I’ll be there! He has a perfect plan and I want to be a part of it. So, I’ll get out of the way…..and let Him work!

Thank you Lysa for the scholarship opportunity! Your ministry is such a blessing to me and so many others. God bless you, friend!

Yeehaw…..I’m so excited!

p.s.
I have a teenage daughter that would be a great candidate for Next Generation. We could make it a fun mother/daughter trip!

I’ve been ill today with a killer headache! My sweetboy had to head back to IU for the remainder of the semester and I was trying to help him pack up his things….when the electricity went off! It’s pretty annoying to try to find things when it’s dark and gloomy outside and even darker inside. I felt sure we’d forget some things….I haven’t heard yet if we did.

He’s there….I’m here and stuff can just wait. He’ll be home before ya know it. After the weekend’s healthcare news, I think he’s sorry for dreaming of becoming a doctor. I must admit, it does give one cause to worry. Afterall, that’s a lot of “EDUCATION” to work through only to come out and work at the government’s pleasure. For peanuts!

Two years ago, life as my family knew it….changed! Not only did my pastor hubby walk away from a toxic church situation….we also lost our health insurance. We have been without since then. Scary, huh? Tell me about it. I don’t recommend it…..but what can you do? The company he works for is small and doesn’t provide any benefits other than a weekly salary. The four months without a job…..remind me that what we have is A BLESSING! Insurance or not!

The current situation in my family still doesn’t warrant me to the desperation of what Congress passed Sunday. I will never want government provided healthcare. Not now….not ever! I’d rather work (like I do right now) and pay cash (like I do each time I go to the doctor) than to be told “no” to whatever the government decides they will or will not treat.

I can’t help but think…..we are in trouble as a country! Just wait and see.

God,
I can’t seem to wrap my brain around it. But Lord, nothing escapes your view. Help us, save us from ourselves. Our country is in quite a predicament. Everyday it just seems a bit worse. All I can think is….come quickly Jesus! We need you!
Amen.