A Better Me

The end of 2008 is drawing near and I have been contemplating all the changes I intend to make within my life this coming year. In the past I've never liked New Year Resolutions because frankly I've never been able to keep them. New Year Resolutions mean committing to something. Here are some of the top Resolutions I found online that people tend to "commit" to year after year.

Losing Weight, Gaining Weight, Getting out of debt, Saving money, Getting a better job, Getting fit, Eating right, Getting a better Education, Drinking less Alcohol, Quiting Smoking, Reducing Stress, Taking a Trip, Volunteering more, Being less Grumpy and becoming more independent.

I guess it shouldn't amaze me that no where in this list does it mention Religion....Spirituality.

This is where my commitment comes into play this year.

I accepted Jesus as my Savior when I was 9 years old. I remember the day clearly but yet I can't remember things I did yesterday. I was raised in a Christian home and my father was a Minister. I was at church every time the doors were open. Through the years I've fallen short and attended church but yet not really felt a part of anything. I find myself not talking to God as much as I should but only calling to him when I am in need. This year I want to rededicate my life to Christ and gain a more personal relationship with him. I want to praise him in good times, which comes so easy but also rejoice with him when times are bad and yes the really bad. I want to become a part of something and become involved in my church and serve. I don't know how or where but through prayer I'm sure he will lead me where he wants me to be. I want my family and friends to see Christ in me and I am asking God to help me become the servant he wants me to be and the wife that Mike needs. On one of the blogs I read it was asked "Could we have endured life like Mary, the mother of Jesus had to do? How blessed Mary was to have raised Jesus for 33 years but she endured such hardships along the way. Here is a quote from Lynette Krafts blog. "Mary…the mother of Jesus was blessed among women. She was a mere, sinful human being – not perfect – just human like you and me. Yet, God chose her to fulfill a special purpose.Luke 1:38 “And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.” When Mary said “behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word”, I think she was saying, Lord, I’m submissive to your will. I’m willing to do your work. I’m blessed to be chosen. Do you feel that way with what God has called you to in your life? Are you the Lord’s willing handmaid?Mary was chosen to carry a child before marriage. Mary was chosen to travel during the last days of her pregnancy, (and every woman who’s been pregnant knows it’s not the most comfortable time to journey anywhere) - and she didn’t fly United, she rode on a donkey! Mary was chosen to give birth in a stable. Mary was chosen to endure the heartache of watching her son be beaten and tortured. Mary was chosen to grieve the loss of her 33 year old son. Mary was chosen to endure hard things… yet… Mary was “blessed among women.”?Mary said, “My soul doth magnify the Lord and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed…” Do you consider Mary blessed? Would you have wanted to endure the life she was called to live.Mary suffered, but Mary was indeed blessed".

In the days after reading Lynettes post, I was still pondering this question. I have felt at times God has given me too much to bear but I know the Bible says he doesn't give us more than we can handle. I know God will be with us this year and will help me accomplish all the things he wants me to accomplish to give him Glory. What more could anyone ask for?

This year I will be 48 years young. Wow is that really real? I guess this is one of those life changes I hear people talking about. It didn't happen at 30 or 40 or 45 but now at 48 I'm determined to make some changes. This is nothing new nor nothing I haven't known all along. However, I am a sinner and a lazy Christian. God knows my heart and knows what I'm asking now can I give him what he ask of me? Jeremiah 29:11 says "For I know the plans I have for you' declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". I am willing to become the person God intended me to be. Are you? Let us all work together to help each other and give support and encouragement for all the new things to come this year. Let us pray for one another and become Christ like in 2009.

Jesus is ALIVE today and he performs miracles daily. We should be shouting it from the rooftop!

Sydney

Sorry but I am having too much fun making these Magazine Covers. :)

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Layne, Christina and Payton

We spent a fun day with Layne and Christina yesterday. Layne is my oldest and he and Christina will bet getting married next October. I'm so happy for Layne and so proud of him and for what he has been able to accomplish. Christina is a beautiful girl and I am praying for their happiness and for God to be the center of their marriage and their lives. I'm very excited to be getting a daughter and pray that I will be a good mother in law and hope we can become good friends. Payton was really excited to see his older brother and could not stop talking. He doesn't see Layne that often and is just dieing to spend the night with him for some reason. I think Payton thinks he and Layne can play video games all night which would be just fine with him.
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Falcon Frenzy Wrestling Invitational

Today Syd was wrestling in the Falcon Frenzy Invitational Tournament at West Henderson High School. There were 27 High Schools at this Tournament and this was Syd's first of this year at Erwin High School. Last year Syd wrestled in the weight class of 135 and he was always trying to lose weight to make the weigh ins. This year he's bigger and he got to wrestle in the weight class of 152 today. Syd did great his first match and pinned his opponent in 11 seconds. He was so proud and we were so excited for him. His next match was forfeited by his opponent not long after the match started. The ref learned the guy didn't have a mouth piece. Whatever the reason....Syd would take the win. YEAH!!! This means his last and final match would be for 1st place. Syd seemed relatively calm but I was really nervous. I tried not to show it and while we waited for ever for the match, I was constantly trying to see if I could guess who his opponent would be. You know...just to see if my son could take him...:) Well I couldn't figure out who it would be until right at the time for Syd to go to the mat. My heart was beating so hard in my chest. This was ridiculous...Why was "I" so nervous? Well if you've ever been to a wrestling meet you would know why. It is hard to see another person throw your child around and squeeze him in places and against the mat when I know they are hurting him. BUT....my son did the throwing around. Syd pinned him in the 2nd round and that's all that matters. He was soooo happy, I was sooo happy, Mike was sooo happy and Payton was just proud to call him his brother. He took first place at this tournament in his weight class. This was a tremendous accomplishment for Syd. He wrestled last year and he won some matches but didn't come close to winning the tournament. I've posted some pictures. Some are not that great because this is a new camera and I don't know how to work it yet. The last picture is with Syd and his medal but he is so exhausted that's why he isn't smiling but rest assured he's smiling on the inside.

Blessings

I love to read blogs and today as I was reading and lurking I found the most awesome blog and I wanted to share. You may have heard of this lady, Lynnette Kraft, then again, maybe you haven't but her story is amazing. She has suffered great losses but her unwaivering faith in God has led her to where she is today. She has so much understanding as to why her life has turned out the way it has and I just had to pass this along. Her teenage daughter also writes a blog and she is a pretty amazing teen. Her name is Abigail, you might want to check her out too. I will be following these ladies for sure. Hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Happy Thanksgiving

I got out of bed this morning and had a few minutes with my coffee and thoughts before Payton got up. He's my early riser. I was able to reflect on how much I have to be thankful for. I'm so thankful for my husband. That he is a Christian and he loves me. I'm thankful for my children, my family and friends. I'm thankful for my job. I'm thankful that I was able to get up this morning and start planning for my family to come. This has been a tough year financially for alot of people, myself included, and when I start having my pity party I can always find someone having a harder time than myself. This Thanksgiving, I pray that everyone stops and give thanks for all that you have and for all the things to come that God will Bless you for today and in the coming year.

Syd played tonight in Charlotte and boy oh boy was it ever cold. Mike and I enjoyed our trip together. There just doesn't seem to be any time to ourselves anymore and it was soooo nice to just spend time together. This was the 2nd game in the playoffs and Syd's team lost 34-13. It really wasn't that bad of a game. At half time the score was 14-13 but in the 3rd quarter the defense ended up being on the field for so long that they just got wore out and couldn't hold on. The boys played really good football and should be proud of their season.

I'm really looking forward to tomorrow. Layne and Syd are coming in the morning and will be spending the weekend here. I miss them alot. Its sad for your children to grow up so remember that while they are young. I so hate for Payton to get older. He's my baby but he too will be grown before a know it.

We are planning on going to Hollywild tomorrow night. Its the first night being open for the Christmas season. We go there every year but this year will be even more fun with Layne with us. Then on Sunday we are going to Waynesville to have Thanksgiving Dinner with my family and to spend some time with my mother at the Nursing Home. We have a really full weekend planned but it should be fun.

Exciting News

I'm so excited and pleased to tell you that Layne and Christina are getting married. YEAH!!! He proposed last night and called me around 11:30pm to let us know. The date will be sometime in October which I think is a great month for a wedding. I'm very excited to be gaining a daughter-inlaw and I think Christina will be a beautiful Bride and Layne makes the most handsome Groom. I just had to post a couple of pictures of the happy couple.

Update on Mike

Just to give a update on Mike's MRI and whats going on with his back. Well right now, the back feels better since he's had the meds to shrink the swelling but it is only a matter of time and it will be back to the way it was. His MRI showed a very herniated disc and the surgeon has given him a couple of options which both involve surgery. So we have discussed it and he has decided that he will try to wait until right after Christmas to have the surgery. It will take longer for him to recover from this surgery than the last one and the doctor says he will need to be flat of his back much more this time for him to heal. I really hate for Mike to have to go through this again. Please pray that his back holds out until after Christmas and pray that the surgery goes well and Mike can heal without any complications.

End of Hurricane Season

Payton's team, the Hurricanes, lost Thursday night so our football season is over. At least for Youth League football. Syd's High School team is going to the playoffs and will play in Charlotte next Friday night. Syd is home this weekend and we went to the Greenville High game and he got to see his friends. He seemed really excited to be back to see Sirrine Stadium. I have to admit after visiting other stadiums, there is just something about that place and I can't imagine as a athlete what it would feel like to play there. Mike played there when he played football for J.L Mann and he has said that it was just a awesome feeling playing at Sirrine. Syd has played there as a freshman but I really want him to experience it as a Junior and Senior.

We also took a friend with us to the game. A boy that was in my class the first year I was at Mitchell Road Elementary has kept in touch with me and calls occasionally. His name is Orlandous and he called right before the game and when he found out we were going to the game he wanted to go so I ask his mother and she let him. We really enjoyed having him with us.

Today I'm playing Taxi and errand runner so I guess I better get going. Is there ever time for myself?????

Election Day

Today was Election Day and Mike and I got to our precinct around 10:20. The line was long but we got lucky. After standing there for about 5 minutes, one of the volunteers came and said for everyone with last names starting with L-Z to follow her. We did, and ended up passing up about 100 people. The line from there went by fast and we walked out after about 35 minutes. I hope everyone got out and did your part today and VOTED!

Oh BTW, Payton's team the Hurricanes, won last night. Go figure. So we will play again Thursday night. GO HURRICANES!!!

HALLOWEEN

It's been a few days and I wanted to get these pictures posted before now but I just haven't found the time. We had a great Halloween. Syd had a ballgame Friday night so that cut our Trick or Treating short but Payton still had a good time. We went to a Festival the community was having here in Conestee which had Trunk or Treating and face painting, Food and the Big Jump Houses. Then we went to one of the area churches for some more Trunk or Treat. Payton got a huge bag full of candy. We then left and went to Asheville to watch Erwin High School vs. Roberson High School. Erwin won so now they will continue to the beginning of the playoffs. We brought Syd back home with us and its always so good having him back home. Payton and Syd argue alot but I guess most brothers do. It's just like nothing has changed when Syd is here....the boys continue right where they left off and it is mostly over video games. Life without video games.....Does anyone remember those days? Aaaaahh.....those were some good times.

Payton also has a playoff game Monday night. If the Hurricanes win then we will continue to play but if they lose then our season has come to a end. To be honest, I am ready. Now a little info on Mike's back. He was unable to have his MRI on Thursday because someone made a error in the scheduling. They needed to have scheduled a Contrast MRI which includes having the dye but they didn't so he shows up and they inform him the doctor is not there which he needs to be if they are doing this type of MRI so they reschedule him for Wednesday morning. I really don't know how long it will take before we hear what this shows but he is really having a horrible time with his back. In the past, he could rest and take the meds and he would recover pretty well...at least to the point to be fairly functionable. This time has been different though. He's not recovering and is still struggling daily. I pray that from this week forward things can start moving pretty fast so we can get him well. Whatever we must do whether it's surgery, therapy or something else....we are ready to get this over with.

Kaylea's pumpkin

Kaylea's Pumpkin

My niece Kaylea and her pumpkin

we carved.

Payton and Abby

Miss Abigail

looking

witchy

Payton "Leatherhead"

Scary Payton

Last night was the End of Season Party for Payton's football team, the Mauldin Hurricanes. The season has been a long one and our record was not very good this year but the boys have had a great time. The party was at http://www.climbinhigh.com, which is in Fountain Inn. This was our first time there and Payton had a great time. We all ate Pizza and the team mom had made the Team Cake and had done a fantastic job. Payton got his Trophy and played with his friends which was the perfect ending to an 8 year olds day. Payton had 7 coaches this year which sure seemed like alot but his favorite coach was his dad. Mike loves coaching youth football but a couple of weeks ago he hurt his back and now he is to have a MRI tomorrow. The doctor thinks its a disc and I think Mike really does too but doesn't want to admit it yet. He's had 2 back surgeries already so he's not looking forward to what might lay ahead. I'll write more about what the doctors tell him when we know the results of the MRI. Payton was also lucky enough to have a former NFL player for a coach this year too. Brandon Bennett, played for USC (GO GAMECOCKS) and then played for 8 years in the NFL for the Cincinnati Bengals and the Carolina Panthers. Check out some of the pictures from Payton's Party.

Loves that Pizza!! Mmmm.....Yummy

Checkin out my Trophy.

Payton with Coach Bennett

Here ya go.............

This is a quick post to introduce my handsome son, Layne and his very pretty girlfriend, Christina. I thought this was a very good picture of both of them and wanted to share. I'll also be posting some pictures of our pumpkin carving tonight. Ooooh that's going to keep you on the edge of your seats..right?

Layne and Christina

syd

Erwin entering the stadium at Asheville High.
Syd is #30 (2nd in line) Go Magic Hands!!!!

Erwin High School vs. Asheville High School

Football

Well lastnight we traveled back to Asheville to see Syd. My whole family loves football and we look forward to seeing Syd play on the weekends, Payton's games during the week and of course those Gamecocks. We have plenty of football around our house. Yesterday was a pretty yucky day here with rain off and on but the night in Asheville was beautiful. Just crisp enough for good football. Asheville High School is a really pretty school and their stadium was very nice as well. The leaves in Asheville are gorgeous so if you haven't been that way yet you need to hurry up there and check them out. Syd plays for Erwin High and they lost but the boys played great. I really miss Syd and its sad for me to leave him up there when I go see him but I'm praying he returns to us which is suppose to happen in June. Sometimes I can't talk about that part too much or i'll cry so I'll stop now. Well...I don't have much time right now to continue. I have much to do today. Hopefully, we will finish our bathroom. Lots and lots to do in there so gotta go.......
Good luck to South Carolina tonight.............GO GAMECOCKS!!!!

Payton dressing Abby as a Witch

New to the madness

Well this is my first post on my blog. I have heard alot about blogs and love to read others so I've decided to start my own. Although, I really don't think my life is very exciting. I hope I can find something remotely interesting to write about. You will hear alot about my children and my husband because....well .... they are my life. I am married to Mike, whom I love dearly and he does a wonderful job taking care of me and he keeps me laughing. Mike should be the one blogging because he is a great writer and I think he is extremely funny and everyone would love to hear from him. I also have 3 amazing boys. Layne is the oldest and he is 25. I cannot believe I have a child this old but I do and I am so proud to have him as my son. I am looking forward to him getting married, hopefully, not too far off down the road and I'm sure everyone will hear more about that as he lets me know.

Syd is my 15 year old and he is a sophmore in High School. Syd is a very busy teenager and thinks the world centers around him (but doesn't every teenager?). Syd has gone to live with his father in Asheville, NC this year and is suppose to return to us in June 2009. We miss him more than he could realize and look forward to his weekend visits. My youngest is Payton. He is 8 years old going on 18. He is a very funny boy (just like his father) who loves football and probably knows more about it than alot of men. He says he is so smart because he watches Sports Center.

Well that is a little info on my family. As I have more time I will post more about each one. I hope to learn how to insert some pictures too. Until next time, take care and keep in touch!