A NEW DISCOVERY

In today’s world of computers, twitter and facebook can both be a bad thing as well as good. What I do love is when I find a new artist I wouldn’t have otherwise. Today’s twittering brought me to Sean Patrick McGraw.

DO YOU HEAR VOICES?

We’ve been told that hearing voices in our head isn’t a good thing. A new Chris Young song has a thing or two to say about that. If everyone was raised with these kinds of values/moral, and listened to those voices in their head head as an adult, the world would be a better place.

We need to go back in time to a simpler life where more people demonstrated respect, kindness, and were less about themselves and more about helping their neighbors. One of the best things we can do for our kids, aside from teaching them about Jesus, is instilling good advice and morals.

When it comes down to it, it’s all about choices. If we don’t know the good ones, how can we make the right ones?

VOICES by Chris Young

You could say I'm a little bit crazy
You could call me insane
Walkin' 'round with all these whispers
Runnin' 'round here in my brain
I just can't help but hear 'em
Man, I can't avoid it

I hear voices
I hear voices like
My dad sayin' work that job
But don't work your life away
Mama tellin' me to drop some cash
In the offering plate on Sunday
And granddad sayin' you can have a few
But don't ever cross that line
Yeah I hear voices all the time

Turns out I'm pretty dang lucky
For all that good advice
Those hard to find words of wisdom
Holed up here in my mind
And just when I've lost my way
Or I got to many choices

I hear voices
I hear voices like
My dad sayin' quit the team
And you'll be a quitter for the rest of your life
Mama tellin' me to say a prayer
Every time I lay down at night
And grandma sayin' if you find the one
You'd better treat her right
Yeah, I hear voices all the time

Sometimes I try to ignore 'em
But I thank God for 'em
'Cause they made me who I am

My dad sayin' work that job
But don't work your life away
Mama tellin' me to drop some cash
In the offering plate on Sunday
And granddad sayin' you can have a few
But don't ever cross that line
Yeah I hear voices all the time
Yeah I hear voices all the time
All the time

MEETING BIG TIME RUSH - MY GIRLS

For the rest of the story, see my previous post.
http://kymmcnabney.blogspot.com/2010/11/meeting-big-time-rush-was-big-time.html

BEING A MOM

Being a mom entail many things. Things you never would have imagined before you started the journey we call, being a parent. There are ups and there are down. There are good times and there are bad times. There are times when things bother us and feel like we’re going to pull our hair out, having little patience and times when we have a blast, and are enjoying our children to the fullest.

This car ride home from my girl’s new favorite place, YUMZ, had me laughing so hard the tears pooling in my eyes had me wondering if I should pull off to the side of the road.

Children are truly a gift from above.

SOME SECRETS SHOULD NOT BE KEPT

Secrets Under the Midnight Sun is a wonderful story for young readers, ages eight to twelve. Freddie gives you a subtle glimpse into one’s life of abuse and the devastating effects. Elisa touches on how secrets can destroy families and those that are keeping them. An elementary or middle school student could read this story without feeling they were reading something beyond them, yet comprehend on a safe level what Freddie is going through.

For those that have not experienced what Freddie has, they can get the idea in a nonthreatening way. For those that know of someone going through what Freddie went through, they can gain some understanding and compassion. Maybe even talk them into revealing their secret to a trusted adult. For those that are going through what Freddie went through, it can be the light at the end of the tunnel, letting them know they are not alone. That in spite of the consequences, some secrets should never be kept.

I felt for Freddie and what she was going through and I loved her spirit and courage. I loved how she looked to God, though I was saddened by her mother’s denial and how she handled the situation to a degree. I felt for her sisters and brother, and yes, even for her father who will have to answer to God one day, and for all he missed out on and lost. Those that abuse, often have been abused themselves.

Elise took a sad situation and could have made Freddie angry, turn from God and head down a path of destruction. Instead, she had her turn to God and trust Him enough that she finally saw things as they really were. In spite of it all, I saw an amazing future for Freddie, and that’s the message of hope I believe Elise will conveyed to her young readers.

I’d love to see a book like this as required reading for younger students. To think of the lives that could be changed in hearing Freddie’s story. This is what we need that reveal the things no one ever dares talk about so people can find help and heal and possibly put an end to the horrible cycles of abuse.

NEW YEARS TRADITION

We have a couple of traditions for Christmas as I’ve mentioned in previous blog post. New Years is no different. Something we started several years ago is spending the night at a good friend’s house our children refer to as their Uncle, Aunt and cousins. We have three girls, and they have five and one boy. All are older than my youngest, and my two youngest ones just eat up all the attention they give them. My husband has been friends with their father since his teens, so when we started having kids, it was only natural to start calling them Aunt and Uncle.

I’ll never forget at one of our family parties my sister made a comment to her oldest son that one of our friend’s daughters was cute. He looked at her and said, “Ewe, their our cousins.” You see, since our kids have always called them Aunt and Uncle, all the kids just assumed they were related. Another incident that took me by surprise was the time my oldest daughter looked at me and said, “Exactly how are they related to us?”

So our New Year Tradition has been on the years my husband isn’t working (he’s a fireman and paramedic) that we spend New Year’s Eve at their house. We have dinner together, usually ordering pizza, play games, watch TV, and talk. One traditional game we play has been passing the presents. You know, Mr. Righty (give your present to the person on the right) went down the street and turned to the left (give your gift to the person on the left), and so on. By the end of the story, several presents have passed through your hands and the one you have when the story ends, is the one you keep.

When midnight hits, whoever is a wake wishes all a Happy New Year as we drink sparkling grape juice. Not long after the adults hit the sack, my husband and I taking one of the children’s rooms while most of the kids snuggle up in the living room to watch a DVD, each year staying up later then the last.

The following morning our friends make breakfast for all. When one has six kids, feeding a few extra mouths is no problem. They’ve got that down to a science. Organized, efficient, working together as a team is something I’ve come to notice takes place with larger families. Just as counting your kids before leaving wherever you’re at to ensure you haven’t forgotten anyone. Funny how having five dogs in the house this Holiday season had me doing the same thing when letting them in. Didn’t want anyone left out in the cold.

I’m truly thankful for the friends God has placed in our lives.

What New Years Tradition do you have?