Queenies Little Kingdom

For Rachel Barkey it’s not being a wife…or a mom….or even having cancer. It’s her relationship with Jesus Christ. Her personal journey through breast cancer and it’s revenge on her young body are so overwhelming yet inspiring. I happened upon her blog today and haven’t quite felt the same since. Why? I don’t know. She lives in Canada…it’s not like someone introduced us and we’re new friends. Her tender story of facing death moved me and opened up some great questions I have for my own life.

What is it that REALLY defines me?

What is it that gives me value? Is it being a wife? No. I’m way more complex than just that. My husband would agree. I’m honored that God allowed me the privilege of belonging to such a great man. Is it being a mom? I really love being a mom….but no it’s not that either. I do take it very seriously. I’ve invested all of me into the children that God trusted into my care. But I know that they are ultimately their own people….so I trust God with them. I’m simply a tool in their lives.

What defines me….is my own personal walk with Christ. He has authority over me. He has my heart. I don’t always follow along with that management like I should. But I really love belonging to God and knowing that I can rest assure He is at work in my life. I am amazed that no matter what I can count on Him loving me….flaws and all! My relationship with Him is mine! It’s between Him and Me! I don’t spend enough time nurturing what I have in Christ. I guess I’m like many…..I’m busy living life…until something stops me in my tracks to bring me back to reality. Today….I caught a glimpse into a reality that none of us want to face.

Life is short. Live it to the fullest……focus on what’s important!

Jesus,
I love you. I’m thankful that you were thinking of me when you went to that cross. I’m not worthy but you thought so. Thank you for Rachel. Bless her and her family as they transition to a new way of living in the next few weeks. What a sweet picture of grace!
Amen.

I live in the great state of Indiana (home to University of Notre Dame) and the controversy over President Obama’s visit has been intense. Those who disagree are speaking out regarding “his” view on abortion versus what the Catholic church stands for. They’re not happy (nor should they be)! The protests have been the big news. I’m sure you’ve caught a glimpse or seven.

I can’t help but think about the students graduating. All the money spent on their education at this university (which ain’t cheap, ya’ll) and the time invested to get to this point. What a shame to be caught up in such a media hoopla as this. This graduating class has had to take a backseat to the frenzy of garbage. If I were a parent……oh how aggravated I would be. Afterall, doesn’t this man get enough attention as it is? Come on!

That’s just my opinion! But after seeing a little more coverage of the actual event it appears he was not lovingly embraced by everybody. He did receive a standing ovation (duh, he is the President ya know). Still. Why make the greatest milestone of these students life a mockery?

I’m just sayin!

I like what Dr. Al Mohler says here regarding the President’s visit to ND.

We departed at 4:30am on Friday morning….arrived in Chicago at around 9:00am. Shopped until 12:00pm on Michigan Avenue…..headed to the Cubs game (then the rain came tumbling down). I sat on the bus because I know these things….it was raining way too hard for a ballgame. Everybody came filing back, soaked! No game! Bummer!

We spent the next sweet forever stuck in traffic trying to make it to our ROCKIN hotel! Key Lime Cove. It was incredible! The hotel was so clean and beautiful. Everyone loved it. I wished my other kid’s were there to enjoy it with us. I tried to capture some of the fun with my camera….but one, I’m not the best photog and two, it had weird lighting that kept interfering with each picture. I posted what I did take on Facebook. Curfew was at 11:30pm which wasn’t hard to keep….everyone was so tired!

The next morning was beautiful. Sunny, clear and a bit windy. Our big plans for the day included Six Flags. It was perfect weather for running around and riding rollercoasters. We had so much fun. I even rode this! It was amazing! I loved it….after I got over the fear. 🙂 I was putting on my game face….but inside…..I was freaking out! But I’m glad I did it.

Being on the trip was bittersweet. I had such a great time but realized this was the end of school trips for my sweetboy. It’s been fun tagging along on his many adventures. We’ve been many places in the last 13 years…..farms, caves, statehouses, zoo’s, parks, museums….movies! All sorts of fun spots. I’ve enjoyed them all (hubby too).

Here’s the whole gang as we were leaving Six Flags. Good times!

I drive my family crazy! I admit it! They think I’m wacky! Maybe I am….who knows? But there a few things that I just don’t “really” like. I try to be positive about most things. Really, I do. Still, there are some things that I just can’t get a grip on. Wanna know? Ok, here goes…

—Bad drivers! Yep, my family thinks I have road rage! I feel so frustrated by those who cannot make simple decisions when behind the wheel of a car. Mean, I know….but I can’t help it!

—Terrible service in restaurants or stores! Oh man, this drives me bonkers! I like to be friendly! I enjoy it when someone talks to me and acts polite, don’t you? Why is this so difficult in our society? Think, SERVING OTHER’S!

—Mean people! This one…oooooo it gets me, ya’ll! Why do people have to be so mean-spirited and unkind? It causes so much heartache. Jesus was never mean…..I want to be more like Him everyday. Before you say something that will hurt another person…think! Will this help them in anyway? If not….don’t say it! Be nice! 🙂

—Messy cars, houses, bedrooms! Aaaahhh they stress me out! I want to run away. I am not nearly as anal as my mother about this…but I really don’t like living messy! It makes me feel overwhelmed and anxious!

—Unruly kids! What is the deal? The longer I’m in education…the more I want out! I LOVE my job! But the bad behavior is becoming unbearable! Kids….pick an age group (I work with high school teens) have NO RULES or BOUNDARIES holding them back. They are rebellious and the parents are contributors of it. Very sad! I still cling to ….there is hope!

—Ham! See, I told you I was wacky. I just don’t really like ham! It’s ok..it’s just not my favorite thing to eat. I mean, I will eat it. But I don’t ever crave ham. Ever!

—Spiders, bugs, snakes! Nope! Do NOT LIKE THEM! They are horrible creatures and they are on a mission to GET ME! I just know it! Frogs…..I love them. I will catch them. But bugs…..ummm, NO WAY!

Check him out! He assaulted me in my laundry room this weekend. Yea, he jumped on my hand and ran up my arm. What did I do? I SCREAMED!!! I jumped around and went pretty much crazy. My family thinks I’m wacky…..but this is where I draw the line!

Can you see the gargantuousness of him? It was awful!

Oh and everybody knows flushing spider’s down the toilet is surely the death of them, right? Uhh…not to me, people! Remember that song The Itsy Bitsy Spider…..he didn’t die! He just got washed away…

See why I’m so crazy?

Girls tend to fantasize about dressing up. It’s just how we are. We imagine ourselves being the most beautiful girl there (no matter where it is). That’s why finding the right dress is so important. We want it to be perfect! Because we want to look amazing! Especially at the prom.

Saturday night, our girl looked just that. Amazing! She had anticipated this night ever since he first asked her…through a series of letters in the mail (aaah, you’re so clever TM). She had pictured herself looking just right and making him proud to be her date. I think it worked…

She looked stunning…..and he didn’t look so bad either. 🙂

Worth it all….

She said the big night was a 10!! Congratulations on a fantastic prom night…Ally & Tyler!
Two weeks til graduation…

Not only is time ticking for my sweetboy….but my baby is growing up too. Last night was her very special 8th grade dance! This is the equivalent of the high school prom (without the long gowns & tuxedo’s…oh and limo’s). Anywho. You get the picture….it’s a big deal! She is the last of my brood to attend the blessed event and knew a little about the whole process. She watched her sister/bff do it just two years earlier. So she knew what she did and did not want to do.

Her dress had to be “one of a kind”. Cause everybody knows it ain’t cool be replicated at your big deal dance! Think, Katelyn ______ last year! She was so wearing the same dress as _______!!! DISASTER!!! Then, she did not want her hair to look like everybody else’s. Umm, have you seen Gates hair? It’s beautiful! Nobody else has hair like that…..except her sister and she wasn’t going to be there for sure! So, we went to see Sheila and she tamed down the curls and made her look glam! I’ve already told you about finding the shoes….that was last weekend and they were HOTT! Girlfriend was lookin so fine!

The rain tried to put a damper on the night. It stopped just in time for drop off. All the punks kids looked great! Parents and teens were all over snapping pictures. Our girl? Wouldn’t stop and pose….so we snapped shots of her from the view she left us with. Her backside! 🙂 We walked away….realizing that our baby may be growing up but she’ll always be our baby.

She looked beatiful! And NO ONE ELSE HAD HER DRESS ON!! 🙂

Gates Morgan Galloway (foxiest chick at the dance)