A re-post from the past

Mylifestartsatfourtytwo tagged me to re-post a post from the past. It’s simple enough to decide which one to post, as this subject came up on the phone tonight with a friend, who lives in Kansas. She and I were discussing how much we were blessed. We couldn’t believe how much goes on in people’s lives that go unnoticed, because they’re just unaware of God’s gifts. We concluded how easy it was for most to turn their eyes away from their blessings and attribute anything good in life to ‘luck’.

Here is my re-post:

One thing that always gets me is when people call me ‘lucky’ or when something good happens in their own life-they wonder at their own good luck. I think too often in our society we overlook our blessings! I know firsthand how many miracles have been preformed in my life, and luck had nothing to do with them. I know non-believers can’t give credit where credit is due because they don’t believe God is at work in their own lives….especially when it comes to the small stuff.

Trust me people–God’s miracles aren’t just in the Bible! From the moment we’re born we’re blessed with relationships, jobs, safe travels, a comforting shoulder when we’re upset, a smile from a stranger. We never know what God is delivering right in our own lap if we don’t pay attention. Someone asked me lately how I stay in tune with God even when life gets so bad. That’s when I try to stay more in tune than ever by counting my blessings.

I have made subtle little comments in previous blogs on difficult times in my life, but have never given any insight to my friends, who have asked, what those are. My real friends know these things, but you—reading this— probably don’t. I won’t bog you down with life’s trauma, but I will try to uplift you by telling you about God’s inspiration in my life.

My husband a few years back had a severe case of adult on set allergies that we were unaware of. He was allergic to many foods that he unknowingly kept eating until one night it was too late. We were heading home after a night of food and beverage, and my better half started acting irate and irritable due to the supply of oxygen slowly being cut off. Being a newly wed, I just thought I was seeing a new side to my husband and was clueless. We started home and was about a mile from our house when he pulled over claiming he was not feeling well enough to make it that last mile.

By the time it took for he and I to switch places and fasten our seatbelts…he was passed out with his neck swollen past his chin and clavicle. His face was so swollen that his eyes were sunk in and he wasn’t breathing. Thank the Lord for LARGE miracles, we had pulled over in a parking lot across from a hospital. So I took off running red lights, stop signs and driving into oncoming traffic….all the while beating his chest with one fist and trying to steer with the other.

Our life flashed before my eyes…the years we would never have, the children we’d never conceive….and all I could yell was, “God No, Please NO! Help me!” I pulled into the ER after driving around it twice trying to find the ER entrance….it wasn’t clearly marked back then like it is now. I rolled down my window and started screaming to get a doctor. It felt like an episode of ER. The doctor’s would not let me back to see him once I parked and came inside. From what I learned later … if I had gotten him there 20 seconds later, he wouldn’t have made it. His air way was so constricted that they couldn’t even bag him to get a tube down his throat. Afterwards, a nurse told me they weren’t having any success tubing him and didn’t think he would make it. She told me I was lucky. It wasn’t luck that my husband made it, & with 20 seconds to spare!

That night, God provided 1 of countless miracles in my life and I’ll never forget the panic and fear I felt. He kept me sane enough to drive with out crashing into oncoming traffic and around cars at stop signs. He got me to the hospital in the nick of time, and he saved the love of my life.

I just wanted to share with you that He loves all of you.

You all have miracles in your life as well. You just have to stop and pay attention.

——-

I am tagging 3 others to repost something that means a lot to them as well, and I look forward to reading it. Link to my page so I will know when it’s ready to read!!

Reposters please:
280 days later
Coffe Time with Ang4Him
Gurushabad

Fighting back against trashy TV

I don’t know about you, but I am extremely concerned with the lack of sensitivity that the networks show in their programming. Every year it gets worse and worse…a little more skin here….another offensive word there. What impressions must this make on our kids?!

Now granted, as a mom, it’s my job not to expose my child to any programming that’s not suitable. And even the kid’s programming now a days is questionable. Some of the commercials on station breaks are unsettling! And I promise you, there will be a day when my son gets old enough to stay at friend’s houses, where the parent or parents may not be as discriminating with their children when it comes to television. I will do my best to screen where my son hangs out, but I can’t be everywhere all the time. He won’t live in a bubble, and will one day see and hear things I can’t control.

So now I just have to figure out what I can control in a world where television is desensitizing us to things that should NOT BE OKAY! Things that would have been unheard of even 5 years ago, are blatantly splashed all over the screen. Is there anything any of us concerned parents can do? Well if you are the type to get involved, YES there is!

There are a couple of websites that you can research:

http://www.onemillionmoms.com/

http://www.onemilliondads.com

This organization targets advertisers and large corporations and have been very successful in getting major companies, like General Mills, Arby’s, and T-mobile, to pull their ads during the shows that are most offensive. They’ve also been able to get certain scenes edited out.

If you’re able to, please check those two different sites out: Onemillionmoms or Onemilliondads.

What legacy will you leave for your kids? Please fight back against trashy TV!

My dad sent me an email….

This weekend is so special to me and a lot of other Americans.  A weekend to reflect on those that have fought for our rights, and those who have died doing so.

My dad always finds the most touching emails to forward my way…emails that are close to the heart.  Usually they’re directed at the servicemen/women in uniform, but this time he sent me a sweet one about brats vs. civvie kids.   I thought I’d pass it along to all of you to remember not only those serving our country during this time in our military, but also those children that are keeping the home fires burning!

*******

Civilian Child vs. Military Child

1. A civilian child usually dances around or talks during the
National Anthem. A military child stands quietly with his hand over his heart.

2. A civilian child sees race. A military child sees diversity.

3. A civilian child has a best friend in his hometown. A military
child has a best friend on almost every continent.

4. A civilian child sees only the plane flying over. A military
child not only can identify the type of plane flying but knows someone who
works on them.

5. A civilian child smells something nasty and yells; “Eeewwww,
what’s that smell?”. A military child smells something nasty and yells;
“M.O.P.P. 4! M.O.P.P. 4!!”

6. A civilian child sees a person in uniform. A military child can
tell you what branch he’s in and what his rank is.

7. A civilian child thinks home is where the heart is. A military
child knows home is where the military sends you.

8. A civilian child lives for tomorrow and what it might bring. A
military child lives for today because tomorrow, Daddy might get called
away again.

9. A civilian child gets to kiss mommy and daddy goodnight each
night. A military child sometimes has to kiss a picture of daddy or mommy
goodnight.

10. A civilian child talks on the phone for fun. A military child
lives for the 15 minute phone calls once a week.

11. A civilian child can read and write in English. A military
child can read and write in acronym.

12. A civilian child says “good-bye”. A military child says “see you later”.

13. A civilian child gets to see things other kids would love to see.
A military child gets to see things world leaders would love to see.

14. A civilian child will probably go to the same school his entire
life. A military child will probably change schools every 2 years.

15. A civilian child might rarely leave his hometown for anything
other than vacation. A military child will rarely see his “hometown” for
anything other than vacation.

And finally…a civilian child supports our soldiers. A military
child IS a soldier.

The next time you say a prayer for our troops, please say a prayer for their families, especially their children back ome that are trying to be strong.

Starting up my photography biz

So after weeks of being asked ‘how much I charge’, I’ve decided that I just need to bite the bullet and start charging. I’ve always been the one giving away free photos from whatever sporting event I’ve attended. Not a day hasn’t gone by in the last week without someone asking me if I’m a professional. It seems that God has been laying this on my heart.

This week 3 people asked me to come shoot their kids….and you know what? I said YES!

I’m so excited and can’t wait to tackle my first professional shoot. I’ve always been the one who took the photo’s for others, where ever we were or for whatever we were doing. Now I may be able to make a little extra income to help with our financial strain.

Thank you Lord! Now I hope I just don’t screw it up! 🙂

You can check out a few of my shots on my flicker widget.

Faithful Fridays

This month has ended up really well in how God met our financial needs…and now next month is going to start it all over again.  This job I have, if anything, has strengthened my relationship with Christ.  I have to rely on his direction and support daily, whereas before with a salaried position I did my job without thinking of him as much throughout the day.

Now not only do I need Him more, but I get to thank Him a whole lot more.  The last year in this position has been very tight, but God has provided for our every need.

I just wanted to take today to encourage all of you to put your faith in Him first when it comes to your doubts, worries, and troubles.  Last night I was reading my devotional book and it hit me!  I need to continually let every word and every meditation I have reflect Him through and through.  Am I always going to be perfect….heck, no!  Far from it…I’m human.

BUT…if I continue to strive in every action and thought I have to serve Him daily than I’m headed in the right direction.  I will have days where I have a heavy heart, like yesterday, but thats when it’s more important to focus on my faith in the Lord.  Letting my stresses overcome me, means I don’t have complete 100% faith….and I owe that to my creator!

I’m quite random to be sure….

Terri tagged me to list my random behavior….since I’ve been called random, I don’t think this will be a problem to finish the task.

1. Each player starts with 8 random facts/habits about themselves.
2. People who are tagged write a blog post about their own 8 random things and post these rules.
3. At the end of your blog you need to tag 8 people and post their names. (I only picked 3)
4. Don’t forget to leave them a comment and tell them they’re tagged and to read your blog.

Somewhere, I feel I’ve done this already but I’m going to tackle it again…there’s always something new to learn, right?

1. Sometimes I sleep with my eyelids partially open, so I can actually see my dreams taking place in my room. It used to freak my mom out when I was a kid.
2. I’m very directionally challenged and am famous for needing exact directions. It’s not that I don’t know where I’m going, because once I start driving…I know how to get there once I see it. BUT…it’s the anxiety of getting lost that leaves me in a lurch. People don’t understand the difference and always…I mean always…tease me about being blonde.
3. My first job in high school was as an overseas telephone operator, in Japan. I learned the basic numbers and phone etiquette phrases in Japanese and used the old style pull out — plug in switch board, like you would see in a re-run of Laugh In. yokurimo ichido, kudasai? -> Will you please speak more slowly? Arigato!->Thank you!
4. I ended up being a bouncer at Rick Springfield’s concert, here in OKC, when his own bouncer wouldn’t keep big chested women away from the V.I.P. section. They kept getting in my way of the stage and my view, so I stood up and was like Fort Knox…no way of getting through. Once Rick started singing Jessie’s Girl, it got really heated, but I stood my ground….all 5’7″ and 129 lbs of me!
5. I learned to drive in Japan, and failed my driver’s test once I came back to the states. I pulled out onto the wrong side of the highway, and the official wanted to ban me from driving. I think I scared the daylights out of him when the oncoming cars headed toward us.
6. I was 1 of 3 Americans chosen to walk the runway for a nationally televised bridal fashion show in Japan. Afterwards, I had little Japanese men running after me on the streets saying, “I see you on TV.” For a 17 year old…it was pretty trippy.
7. I broke my arm at 26, when training to compete in Tae Kwon Do. I was only an orange belt but they paired me with a black belt. The reasoning was b/c my legs were too long, so when I’d roundhouse kick…the other orange belts were apprehensive to partner with me. Once with the young black belt and sent him my first kick, the black belt reacted before thinking…he kicked and I blocked. He snapped my arm in two. Needless to say, I haven’t been back.
8. I suffer from PTSD and although am better, still have very hazy memories from parts of my life. Friends from the good ol’ days will only have to mention something to trigger a memory for me. It’s like it’s a new memory all over again….b/c it is new to me, even though I was there back then.

Who to tag? Let’s see if the following bloggers will participate:

A not so desperate housewife
Sky Windows
Mylifestartsatfourtytwo

Second Edition of Faithful Fridays

Last week I posted how financially strained we are as a family. Full commission has some freedoms but it’s also a free fall. In last Friday’s post, I gave God my stress of our finances. I honestly didn’t know how I was going to make it this month.

All I have to say this Friday is Praise God! This week He brought me four unexpected accounts, which brought me enough income to get us almost out of the hole we’re in. He is ever faithful and all He asks in return is that I do the same.

I have faith in His ability to bless my hard work, and I know he’ll bring in the rest of what we need to make ends meet this month. Thank you Jesus for helping me provide for my family and giving me the quality time I need with my son.

A passion for photography

Everywhere I am I see something beautiful or unusual and think to myself, that would make a great picture..I wish I had my camera! In fact the banner on my blog is one such picture that I thankfully had my camera on hand for. Those tulips caught my eye and I thought it was a perfect shot to showcase the beauty of spring.

Photography runs through my blood. My grandfather and great great grandfather were both awesome photographers, and I grew up around great photos. My great great grandfather, whom I never knew but saw his work, had his studio in Pawnee, Oklahoma. He was the first person to shoot the famous Pawnee Bill.

My Papa, my mom’s father, had a dark room down in his basement, and every summer I would descend the narrow cement staircase to the smells of musty darkness and developing chemicals. It was a wonderful place of discovery for a toddler to a teen. My Papa enlarged photos before any one else did. He was also an inventor and made his own technology to blow up photos and play with the art of photography.

My sophomore year in college, my Papa passed away. I held him in my arms as he went to be home with Jesus. I only pray he knew that I was with him in his last few minutes on this earth. It was one of the most traumatic things I had gone through and afterwards, I did anything I could to feel close to him again. I took what ever photography classes were offered at my university. Since I was a Mass Communications major, it was easily applied as credits toward my degree.

I started with beginner photography and dark room techniques…not only did it remind me of my youth in that dark basement discovering the art of pictures but it gave me a peace that my grandfather was watching over me. Now, looking back, another reason I’m glad I took those beginner courses is because of how prehistoric those development techniques are becoming with the ease of digital photography these days.

I’m that girl that has always had some sort of camera…from a simple 35mm point and click to, just recently, aDigital Rebel Xti. I’m the one that is always the one shooting pics at all events with every angle imaginable in my mind, of what would make a great shot. Although writing is my first love, photography is a close second if not a tie for first. As I get older I have more people asking me for copies of my pictures and offering to pay me for them, which is making me seriously consider starting up a second business on the side. I’m thinking of taking my passion for photography and turn it into a little extra revenue. I think it would do my grandfather…Papa….proud.

See one of my other blogs to see a few shots of some recent pictures I’ve taken and tell me what you think!

To All Mothers!

To me, every day is mother’s day! Not that all us mother’s shouldn’t enjoy those around us reflecting on how wonderful we are…we should. But what a lot of people don’t get is how wonderful it is to be a mom! Most people think mother’s day just a day to pay homage to the woman to holds it all together….what they don’t know is that its also a reminder to us moms how good we’ve got it. We’re the lucky ones!

I wish all of you moms out there the best day today. I hope you bask in adoration. I hope you realize how much you’re cherished. For those of you that feel you don’t do enough as a mom, I hope you realize that everything you do is appreciated and recognized. You’re all great mom’s!

I wouldn’t be half the mom I was if I hadn’t had the best example to refer to. My mother is the most giving woman I’ve ever known. If I do half as good as she did, than I will consider myself a success in the mom department.

Here’s a letter I wrote to her in December of 1995. She was going through some rough times emotionally. She felt like a failure as a mom as a result of some things my sister and I were going through. She internalized our problems and it hit her pretty hard. I want to re-post this letter as a tribute to what a great mom I have:

***
Mom,

You’ve brought us into this world, a place of dangerous possibilities, and nurtured and cared for us.

What makes you different is not only what you do but how you carry yourself.

You are a mother with dignity and grace.

Throughout life you may not have been rich, but your kids were your pride and wealth.

We always came first; putting yourself in last place.

When our knees were hurt, you kissed them and proceeded to doctor them with a a magical band-aid.

When our feelings were hurt, during those emotional times, you put your arms around us and told us how wonderful we were.

Later in life, when we really needed a shoulder…you gave both-200%!

During trouble..you gave us stern advice and then tried to mend the situation.

Your heart is bigger than any in existence.

Your arms are more comforting than a warm blanket on a rainy day.

You’re a strong woman to let us grow up and learn our own way in this world.

You’ve loved us, listened to our fears and doubts, protected us from as much as possible, and pushed us to be our own women.

Mom, my sister & I, because of you, are now strong beautiful women. We’re successful, kind hearted, and vivacious human beings, who owe everything we have to God and our parents.

So when you say you’re a failure, because you don’t know how to fix our hurts, you’re wrong…

You’re the most successful mother! We turn to you because we love and trust you with our hearts.

Be content in this…your daughters may have difficulties beyond your motherly realm, but we will always have your arms to fall into.

With all my love,

Kim

First Edition of Faithful Fridays

Each day is a challenge with a full commission job. I took this new position because it was work from home and it would allow me more time with my son…to be a mom. That’s the upside of my career. It served me well when my son was in the hospital last week.

The downside is…when I’m not working-I’m not earning money to support my family. My family needs both my husband’s and my income to survive. Now that I’ve had 2 weeks of downtime, my pipeline at work has dried up. I’m stressed and depressed.

I KNOW God gave me this position for the first reason above. I KNOW this job is a gift from God. He knows I have to make at the least 6K for my company this month, so I am taking a huge leap of faith.

I have faith today that the Lord will provide for me and my family. I pray a prayer of thanks for always being a faithful God in times of bounty and in times of financial strain. He knows I have a house payment and car payment due this month that won’t get paid unless I make my part of our financial need.

Hard work on my part and Faith in God will get me through.

I encourage all of you who are reading to put your burdens on the Lord. Pray a prayer of thanks for something that your struggling for…blog it. Put it out there for people to read and link back to this page. Lets get more people thinking about their faith and how to let God take care of their burdens.

******
Post note:
Here’s a link or two to another Faithful Friday’s participant.