Queenies Little Kingdom

Guess what?  You have the power to make someone's day!  Trust me, it doesn't have to cost you a dime or a ton of time.  Just doing something simple can make a drastic change in how someone else's day is going.

But, there's a catch.

Don't brag about it.  Doing good should be a way of life for ALL OF US.  Not just the Christian or the "nice" person.  Everyone of us should be thoughtful and helpful to others.  Life is hectic and sometimes overwhelming!  It's hard to cope with the troubles somedays.  That is reason enough for us to spread goodness and NOT ASK FOR GLORY in return.

What can you do for someone today?  With no strings attached?

Be good to people.  Smile at everyone.  Lend a helping hand.  Say hello, even if it feels weird.  And if you want to bless someone from your pocketbook, pay for their Starbucks or McD's!!  It is easy to love others!

When you’re a mother of girls……

You get photos like these —-?

Fancy feet!

With funny poses in the garden.

Who love taking tours of all their dad’s garden areas.

He is my farmer!

Showing off his new gate.
Girls love to ooh & ahh. God just made us this way!

Then there’s life with B O Y S …..

Silly & sly.

Playful when situations call for it.

Crazy guy!

It’s fun being a mom!

No, really it is.

I love that I’m THEIR mom!

I see her when I look in the mirror….even though she’s no longer here.

I never really realized the resemblance until she was gone.

When I was growing up, I believed all moms were beautiful like mine.  She was pretty in a natural kind of way.  Most of the time, she was “house” mom.  She didn’t spend her day all dressed up.  But when she did….I was in awe at her beauty.

Its been 10 months since I spoke to my mother…..since I held her hand. She was still beautiful to me, even her broken and decrepit earthly body. I could still see her, my mother.

I don’t know how to feel. I’m now a member of a very large club, one of the dead and gone mother’s club. I don’t want to be sad but days like Mothers Day…..are a jolt to the human heart. The kind that whispers of memories gone by and erases unkindness from the files. I choose to be a mother that leaves a legacy, but no one can hide mistakes made or words spoken…only God can do that.

I am so grateful He gave me that at the end with my mother.

I can’t wait to do something in her honor this weekend. She and I talked often about foods we both loved. Pea salad was a delicacy to us both, hers….was THE BEST ever. I plan to make a dish of it just because it will be something I know she would ooh & ahh over. It’s my way of having her here, in my heart!

Happy heavenly mothers day, Mom!

I answered the phone with a smile.  I was out busy shopping for groceries (sans the makeup & wearing some crazy jogging shorts)….I was trying to get as much accomplished as I could with my "day off".  The voice on the other end was the sub coordinator at the schools.  She asked if I had a minute to go over some "issues".  Huh?  What?  Issues?  Immediately, my heart sank with worry.  I pulled the car over in a parking lot and told her to go on.  Inside my head, I scanned every memory of all the classes I'd subbed in and searched for something…anything out of the ordinary.  She wasn't aggessive or confrontational, it was just the words…."we need to go over a couple issues".

EEEK!!  Why is it so easy to fall into defense mode when put in a situation such as this? 

I listened to her as she brought up an incident where I reported to work for a teacher who needed to leave at a certain time.  That particular day the school schedule was changed and when I arrived at her door, the teacher was up instructing the class.  I waited a minute or two and then looked at my paperwork to find that the class time was a few minutes longer.  So, I walked down the hall and waited in the Library.  Once I arrived in the room (10 min later), an aide was there instead of the teacher.  I thought it was odd but she didn't mention it.  Later in the day as I was signing out, the secretary asked me where I was earlier?  I told her about going to the door and then realizing the school schedule was changed and not interrupting as she was instructing.  She assured me all was okay but that the teacher had called in a panic because I didn't show up and she had to leave at 11am.

The next day, I passed the teacher in the hallway and tried to apologize for the mix-up.  Her face was blank but I rattled on thinking I could convince this lady that I wasn't some sort of goof!  Little did I know, she was taking my conversation as hostile.

I felt crushed!  Embarrassed!  Frustrated!  The situation was a complete misunderstanding and part of the mix-up fell onto the teacher as well.  She never told the front office (in light of the school schedule change) that she needed someone to come relieve her at 11:00!  So, I jumped right into the role of defender and that's never pretty.  I realized after I hung up the phone just how stupid I must've sounded.  I had no reason to defend myself.  It was a simple mistake and I wasn't completely to blame for any of it.

But, that old thin skin.

I've got it and I bet you do too (some time or another).  The poor coordinator was just doing her job and after thinking about it as I wandered down the grocery aisle….it was probably NOT her favorite conversation to have to have.  With me or anyone else. 

I thought about the whole situation all day and I've decided, I NEED TO GET A THICKER SKIN!

That phone call wasn't an indictment into who I am or what I'm capable of.   The unfriendliness of my neighbors isn't worth losing my joy over either.  I can't let little things like these run roughshod over my heart!  They are petty and insignificant in the big picture.

I am in a constant state of refining.  One day it might be my attitude the next it might be my personal holiness.  Either way, God is still working on me and I am ever grateful!

I hate to go here……

But, my neighbors.   I still don’t know any of them.  Every weekend,  we work outside in our yard. We see them come & go, still nothing!

What is new neighbor protocol?

I’ve introduced myself to 3 different people and 2 of those people will at least wave.  The rest (specifically 4 houses of folks) completely act like we are invisible.  I’m trying very hard not to take it personally.

I’ve lived here since December!!  It is now May!

Last weekend my hubby and I were working in our FRONT yard when 3 of the 4 families stood on the sidewalk across from our house and chatted for over an hour.  Not once did they look over (so we could acknowledge them) or did they even attempt a hello neighbor yell.

I felt so sad! And embarrassed!

I cannot imagine being so neglectful or rude.  Our houses are close and these people are all clearly friends.  I need a serious boost of encouragement regarding this.  My life has undergone a huge year of change and adjustment.   I don’t want to miss a chance to love new people or places but what can I do?

I’m a good neighbor, I promise!

Lord,
I’m reminded that it is a blessing to have friends.  Help me be one…..to everyone!
Amen

I read a great post recently over on Edie’s beautiful blog (Life in Grace) about front porch sittin’!  I have been a porch kind of girl my whole life.  Edie pointed out how important it is to sit and ponder all that life is and to slow down in order to hear what God wants to share with us.  Sitting on the porch gives us freedom to reflect, solve problems, think on what is lovely and wave at friends as they go by.

I can’t think of one bad thing when it comes to porch sittin’!

Several weeks ago, Ally and I were out shopping and we came across the most beautiful wrought iron double rocker. It was gorgeous! I’d been searching for just the right thing for my pretty front porch and this was perfect! But it was $179.00 on sale! I couldn’t justify spending that much on a rocking chair.

So, I went home and hit the internet. I searched high and low, every one that I found was over $300. I told myself that if it was still there at Hobby Lobby the next time I went in….I’d buy it! Only when I went in again, I didn’t! I just drooled over it and imagined it on my front porch.

Over the weekend, we added more flowers and rearranged bushes out front. I kept thinking about that rocker. I decided that I’d ask my family to buy it for me for mother’s day (if it was still there). On our way home from church hubby and I stopped to look at flowers at the Marsh store near our house. As we walked by all the flowers I noticed a wrought iron rocker with a big price tag taped to it, $139.99.

Do I have to tell what happened next?

Yes, he thought he could cram it into my car. No worries, we called Gavin to bring the suburban to pick it up!

Look y’all…. Isn’t it awesome?

I have plans to sit here often.

Miss Lizzy and I have already started….

So, if you drive by…..we’ll wave hello!

Happy mother’s day, me!!