"Some day my prince will come...."

http://www.free-hdwallpapers.com/wallpapers/entertainment/533053.jpg

"Some day my prince will come

Some day we'll meet again

And away to his castle we'll go

To be happy forever I know 

Some day when spring is here

We'll find our love anew

And the birds will sing

And wedding bells will ring

Some day when my dreams come true"

Awww, Snow White, what a lovely song you sing. A song of knowing assurance that you will soon be with the ONE that you never knew existed.

We have a love-hate relationship with good romantic stories don't we? 
"What a good movie/book. Why isn't my life like that? How come that hasn't happened to me? My day will never come!"
Is that you?
Do you shower in the romantic imagination of a Disney movie? 
Confession, I have. I occasionally still do. However, I never believed it truly existed. I really thought that real-life couples that posed a fairy-tale happiness were sickening, "That won't  last long. Lets see them in a year when they let their true colors show!"
I thought of myself as a realist of modern day romance. There are no more prince charmings. What the heck is courting? Chivalry holds nothing to the "do it myself" lady of today- the "anything you can do, I can do better" type of attitude. 
It doesn't help when you are single (you can be single and still be married by the way, if you get me) and you have trained yourself for complete independence. 
Okay, surely I'm not the only one with those thoughts.... but here's my point.
It does exist. 
I may not have birds, rabbits and deer come to my door when I sing. I don't bake jolly goodies for consumption five times a day. But I believe God designed romance. 
This is new to me. To believe that God's joy can come from a relationship built on him, and it's also romantic? Kissy kissy lovey dovey? Hmmmm
So as we skim across the thought that God loves His children so much, that he designed relational love, romantic love, a desire for emotional and physical intimacy, we must ponder "when, where, how, and who?"
Holidays are a tough time to spend alone. 
It's not necessarily harder as a single parent however, the emotional challenges are definitely different.
This morning I read in the well known book Jesus Calling  by Sarah Young. Turn to December 17th, then go ahead and read December 18th as well.

17th- "Come to me with your gaping emptiness, knowing that in Me you are complete...."
18th- "When you are plagued by a persistent problem-one that goes on and on-view it as a rich opportunity...Once you have become grateful for a problem, it loses its power to drag you down..."

Now, I leave you with this. 
The Lord knows, the Lord provides. Rest, relax, and look at your children with pride. God has so much for them as well as you. You are set apart child. You have a purpose that must be fulfilled in the season you are in. 

James 1 2-5
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces patience(KJV). 4 Let patience(KJV) finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." NIV

Happy Birthday Kaela

It was five something Sunday morning when I finally decided to go to the hospital on August 26th 2007. 

40 weeks to the day, I was about to have my second daughter who yet had a name. 

Accompanied by my best friend, my mother and our handy film maker (your dad), We triumphed a successful delivery.

When Dr. Kyle held you up to show me what a great job I did, I cried. I cried as I cry now, remembering the thick black hair that stood on your head and hearing your bellowing scream of new breath.

You were real!

After the initial shock, I cradled you, stared into your innocent eyes, and fell in love. Yet, you still didn't have name.

In my hospital bag I brought with me the same book I used to pick out your sister’s name. I had to get to work! It could never be something that wasn’t strong, meaningful, and designed for the person that it was given to. This was serious business for me and yet, it took about five minutes.

Kaela- Hebrew/Arabic “Beloved Sweetheart” 

Elizabeth- Hebrew “Consecrated to God”

My beautiful daughter, you have been designed for a special purpose that only you can fulfill, only you can embrace, and only you can walk. I will vow to lead you into the hands that formed you from my womb.

I am reminded of my position, as I am reminded of the meanings of your name. You are blessed dear Kaela Elizabeth and I am blessed that I was chosen to guide you.

"Don't Grin and Bear It"

"Don't Grin and Bear It"



Caleb, after the experimental Mohawk. He went completely buzzed shortly after.



I have always considered myself a "strong woman". Hurt me, that's fine, I'll get over it. Circumstances didn't affect me like I saw they did others. I would see the fire, put the smile on and tread forth. But, like it does most, this heroic existence only lasts for a season. We start to "feel the heat" so to speak but "big girls don't cry" right!!?

I was given a devotional book when my first daughter was born (almost nine years ago). I had put it various places throughout the house hoping I would pick it up from time to time. Never really worked. I know you cant relate :-)
"Joy Breaks" is authored by four funny women; Patsy Clairmont, Barbara Johnson, Marylyn Meberg, and Luci Swindoll.

Being the "strong woman" that I am, often I would "Grin and Bear It" during the tough times. But when Barbara Johnson says not to, I felt a little shocked. Isn't that what today's women are supposed to do. WE ARE WOMEN, HEAR US CRY?? It just doesn't have the ring to a rightful passage of respect does it?

Hear's a little funny excerpt from the devotion I read a couple of days ago
"You can tell it's going to be a rotten day when

• You call suicide prevention and they put you on hold
• You put your bikini top on backwards and it fits better
• Your blind date turns out to be your ex-boyfriend

But just remember, every flower that ever bloomed had to go through a lot of dirt to get there! And with the dirt a lot of watering was needed!"

Barbara goes on to tell me that scientific studies have been conducted to show that tears, "real wet tears" may be the body's mechanism for flushing away harmful chemicals produced during stress.
That even Harvard scientist have shown that people crying after a traumatic event will even decrease the chance of a heart attack by 14%!

Okay ladies, did you hear that?
Crying does not show weakness? That's right.
"God does not hand out medals for not crying!"
"Sometimes allowing yourself to cry is the scariest thing you'll ever do. And the bravest. It takes a lot of courage to face the facts, stare loss in the face, bare your heart, and let it bleed."

Okay, got it Barbara.
Psalms 126:5 "They that sow in tears shall reap in joy."

Father's Day

Its so easy to get wrapped up in what we don't have, what our kids don't have, especially when we're a single parent. Jennifer Maggio helps remind us what we DO have.

http://www.ibelieve.com/motherhood/happy-father-s-day-single-mom.html

Encouraging words my friends.
 Beautiful, you are loved with a love that encompasses your entire existence. Relax and let yourself fall into the arms of your Father.

Happy Father's Day

 

Our Lion King Video

So the kids and I entered a contest to win some tickets! Thought it would be fun. :-)
You might want to turn down the volume cause I get pretty loud! Haha
If interested in entering visit www.klty.com and click on the Lion King!

http://youtu.be/pizk17RWfAA

Pool Fun

        It was hot, I needed grown up time and the kids needed outside time so what to do....
An old friend from third grade elementary school just moved closer to home about a couple of weeks ago. We hadn't really spent time together in over 15 years since she moved to Houston Texas after middle school. So I was thinking... how do you restart a friendship when you don't know if you have anything left in common?- when happiness was jumping for hours on the trampoline in her back yard.
       Well, when you bear children, you cross a threshold of community between mothers. An understanding of challenge and joy.
       I went to my friend's house to play today. This time I brought my "full house" with me. We ate lunch and went swimming in the nearby pool with all seven of us... all under the age of 8. For my dear friend and I started to let the inner child out. I scream "Hey what movie is this from?" I dunk under the water, place my feet firm on the bottom and shot up to the surface as fast as I could. Without hesitation she replies with confidence "Free Willy"!!
  I laughed so hard, our neighbor swimmers soon became spectators to our loud game. After I calmed down a bit to tell her "It was supposed to be the Little Mermaid" We laughed hard and all of us kids had a great time. Can't wait to do it again soon.

Day One

                     Welcome me to blog world!! Woo Hoo! I hope to share some great times with you as we grow into a small distant community of friends. I would love to hear about some bloopers you may have experienced being a single parent or just a parent in general. Sometimes we put a little too much pressure on trying and be perfect but uh, well, face it honey non of us are so lets just share a couple of laughs in the process and hope someone else's story was worse! (ok, maybe that was just for me) :-)