Broken Hearts Need Healing

Sometimes we just can not find the words to tell someone how we care.  Or to give them solace from the harm that is there.  A child's mind can understand but still questions what he hears.  So with this we can try and help begin the repair.

Daddy's Not Coming Home by Jeremy LeBon and Illustrated by Morgan Griffin is a book that we wish was not needed.  Sadly it is.  With kindness, gentle words and soft paintings a story unfolds to explain what has been told.  Though this is not a story for many, it is a story that many need to hear.  And with great forethought it may be just what starts the conversation that helps.

This is published by Diamond DMT Publishing.  They are an independently owned, Christian-based Publishing Company whose main purpose is to seek out exceptional talent in the Arts, especially in writing, music, art and photography. And their goal is to assist worthy individuals with a chance to be published, when they may not otherwise have the opportunity to share their works with the world.   I wish to thank them for this book to review.  Now that I am done with it I want to send it to TAPS so that it may be able to help families there.

I felt that this video was a great attribution to this book.  May you be blessed today and remember to always reach out and try to help those around you every day.  You may never know that your the kindness they just needed in that moment.

 

Deep End of the Pool

Did you ever think that raising children is like swimming in the deep end of the pool?  Well it is a way I sorta look at things.  I am talking about boundaries here.  Kids will say they do not want rules but they do.  Honestly!  For without them they are swimming in the deep end of the pool.  And they did not even know how they made it that far out. 

Image via WikipediaLet me explain.  When a child is learning to swim they step out a lil at a time testing the depth with their toes.  Bouncing up and down in the water to see if they can still touch bottom.   Eventually it gets just a lil too deep and under they go.  Spitting, sputtering and all wet now, the child will turn around and get back to where they are safe.  They just found their boundary.  Now as they learn to dog paddle and get around better they can venture out a lil more each time.  But they learn that going past that rope floating in the middle of the pool is where the deep end.  No matter what they do out there they will not have the safety of touching bottom.  We have all see the kids float up to that rope and look longing over it, knowing one day they will be able to venture out that far. 

Well if we do not show them their boundaries with rules in life.  Then I feel we are just throwing them in the deep end of the pool.  That sink or swim mentality.  And that is not the way to raise a child who will feel safe and secure.  Of course they eventually learn how to swim.  Go past the rope and even start jumping off the high dive as they become more and more accomplished.  Just like life.  The rules we give our kids are the testing grounds.  You can go here but farther out is not safe at this time.  And they test that limit.  Many times as a matter of fact.  Til they learn that is where it really is safe to be.  In that safe area, kids can enjoy life.  Play, learn and soak up all around them.  This is where children are happiest at.  Knowing they are loved, cared for and protected. 

An example of that feeling in life is the basis of Hollywood Nobody by Lisa Samson.  Here Scotty, a 15 year old girl, writes in her blog, Hollywood Nobody about the lack of limits in her life.  And how it is illogical of her mother to let her do as she pleases while living an uncommon lifestyle.  Traveling from movie site to movie site with her mother's job, Scotty has not been given boundaries.  Her mother expects her to wing it and make it safely.  Well of course it does not go that way.  I have to say that it was enjoyable to real this novel this last week.  But I cringed at how Scotty had to fend for herself so often.  She had to figure out what and who was safe.  What a responsibility to put on a teens head.  I loved the blogger format that was throughout the story too.  (Of course!)  A good Young Adult read.  This is the first book of four where you can follow Scotty through her travels and as she grows up.

Now, what do you think.  Do you agree that they rope is in the pool for a good reason?  Is there a way you help your kids know the rules and still feel safe.  Are you one of the free thinkers that feels kids will make their way?  How do you approach teaching your kids? 

I received this book free from NavPress Publishers as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Life is. . . ?

Please take the time to visit
my 50 toy give away and
my mothers etsy shop.

Life is what you make it. And I want to make mine...........


Hummm, Rich? So I can pay the bills?


Pretty so I have a nice house to look at?


Organized so I can find anything at anytime?


Loved so I am always safe in my DH's arms?


Hummmmm? You know I really don't know what I want in my life right now.


Oh no, is this the mid-life crisis? CG is away from home, I have tons of free time, DH always working----oh and let's not start on the hot flashes and confusion.

Fine Dining

50 Toy Give Away Blog
Enter Here
Drawing on 2-25-09

Well I have just had a lovely lunch with my DH and Mom.
We dined in a well lit room surrounded by beautiful green plants with lots of natural light streaming in. We were seated at an antique table with plenty of attentive service. And the meal could not have been nicer. An appetizer of pate', swiss cheese and french bread started us off. Then we had a lovely wild green salad served with crisp green apples and grilled steak sauteed in a cream sauce. Lovely steamed new and purple potatoes were served alongside with fresh butter and parsley. It was all topped off delicious hot coffee and cream.

You may wonder where in lil ol nowhere Texas we found such a dining establishment? It was not hard at all. We simply sat down in our dining room and supped on left overs.

You know life is lived in the way you look at things.

Who Am I?

I read a blog the other day that was saying how our surroundings detailed who we were. Well I can't disagree with that.
But
It got me to thinking more about what is around me.
And more important why.
I know I surround myself with those things that I love the most.

I am sure that is true of the majority of people.

So here is who I am but what is around me.

One I am home all the time.
I do not work elsewhere and go out rarely.

So the best thing of each day is this!

My DH coming home from work.
He works two jobs and most of the time 7 days a week.
I get very little time with him.
So the time he is home is precious to me.
He always kisses me good bye and hello.
Never fails to tell me he loves me every time we talk.
Weather it be on the phone or just from running an errand and back.

Next is my greatest joy in my life.

CG is the soul of my soul!
She is what has been my focus for 21 years and will continue for the rest of my life.
I could not ask for a better daughter.
CG is always there for me.
Loving me, laughing me (and at) me and sharing in the good and bad.
She has been my reason for living and my goal for growing.
I adore her and will always be her #1 fan.

Then I have some amazing friends across the street.

The ever active boy who reminds me of Alfred E. Newman of Mad Magazine.
He is about as mischievous.

The cutie pie of the bunch.
She is a fellow bibliophile. (look it up)
And her effervescence lights up a room.

And of course,

NESSA
My good friend, partner in crime and fellow blogger!
I simply adore this woman.

Their home that I see every day from my front porch and windows.
I love all the rock work around it.

And my home sweet home!

This is our lil country abode.
It is almost 100 years old and may be broken down to most.
But I love the large front porch, 9 foot ceilings and the "at home" feeling it has.

This is where we hang out and have coffee, wine and chat about this and that.

Now for the inside.
I wish I could say it was as fancy as my favorite Tea Set.
It was a Christmas gift that I treasure.
It has the grace that I have always felt inside that I believe has never shown on the outside.

On my dresser has some of the couple figures that me and DH collect.
And my favorite book of Cinderella?
My DH is my Prince Charming.
And we collect these couple figures to celebrate that a couple we are now and always.

Here is my view from kitchen window.

I adore seeing the horsey swing that my granddaughter and CG's sissy loves to play on.
And my lil knick knacks that only I could explain why they mean anything.

Coffee Central is my favorite part of my kitchen.
I adore, love and worship my coffee.
Sweet and light with all kinds of flavors.

I also love natural sunlight in my home.

And the beautiful plants my Mom grows ever so well.
I do not have the green thumb.
She tends to them and enjoys seeing them thrive and bloom.
Can you believe these are looking so good in January?

Okay, I collect stuff.
Mostly oldish? (is that a word)
This is my dining room wall.

Knick Knacks all around.
Old bottles, cookie jars and just a general "country at grandma's" feel.

And most of all.
You see this in my home.
Everywhere (if you noticed)

Photos!
Of my family, friends and loved ones.
Old and new.
Young and young at heart.
I surround myself with pictures of those that I adore.
Who adore me.
And who came before.

So who am I?

A family oriented woman.
A wife and mother.
A friend.
A heart that sings inside and is quiet on the outside?
A down to earth person.

What is your opinion?

What is a family?

Ok am I just odd or do others do this?

Adopt families? I don't mean go and get yourself a new child. I mean your friends are great. You love them. Your interested in the same things. You decide to just make them your family too. I have more "friend family" members then I do family family members. And I am one of 5 kids myself.

We have family reunions (and one is coming up this weekend for hubby's family) that are more friends than family. (my side not hubby's) For example my dear neighbor Nessa and her hubby and two kids just celebrated her daughter's birthday. To me it is normal to have them here, combine a dinner and have a party. No it is not their house but I feel like it is also their home? Did you or do you have a friend's that is a home away from home? One that you know you don't have to knock on the door to go inside. One that you can go to anytime ANYTIME and know there is someone there for you? Well this is my home. And I have had many friends who have made it their family home too. Actually I am honored that others can feel that comfortable here.

Well the reason for all of this is due to meals. I proposed that we combine meals for dinner here. Currently my friend is stoveless. So she is doing major MAJOR crockpotting for dinners. Cool yes, but not always easy. We have full larders of food currently. I am a food junkie. And it is cheaper to cook for a larger group than a smaller one. Or so I see it. I know that they will want some meals alone. Time to do their thing. But I think to combine several meals a week would be more economical for both families. What do you think?