The Pledge...

So I talked with my best friend the other day and she mentioned the issue of talking and texting while driving.  We talked a little about it and of course Oprah was mentioned.  I tivo Oprah everyday but usually just delete the show because I don't have a lot of time to watch tv and when I do I don't usually indulge in Oprah unless it is an interesting topic.  Thanks to Jenn, I chose to watch this specific episode about texting & talking while driving.  It changed my total outlook on distracted driving.  I felt like this show was talking to me.  I mean I wasn't as bad as some of the people on the show but I am definitely guilty of texting occasionally and definitely talking while driving.  It is a horrible habit of mine to make my daily phone calls while I am driving.  And I have to say I do not pay as much attention.  I will get in the car, start a conversation and talk during my entire trip to where I am going and sometimes I realize once there and off the phone that I don't remember a thing about my drive.  I don't remember changing lanes or looking around me.  It is so horrible!! What kind of example am I setting for my kids?!  When they see me on my phone while driving they are going to grow up thinking its ok and do it too.   I mean really...my life, my kids lives, my husband's life and the lives of the others around me are not worth that conversation.  I have decided NO MORE talking or doing anything on my phone while I am driving  My car is officially a NO PHONE ZONE!!  I am taking the pledge (go to Oprah.com), making the commitment, taking a stand & making a change!  "Don't tempt fate, that text can wait"  Oprah and Jennifer inspired me and I hope to inspire you to do the same!!!!!!!!!

http://www.oprah.com/questionaire/ipledge.html?id=4

The boys and their horses...

So as some of you may know Dylan has a love for horses!! He has shown this passion since he was two, maybe even sooner. We have pursued this passion a couple times-first a ride around a ring at a friend's stable, 2nd a beautiful trail ride in Colorado and third an individual private lesson last July. This last one in July was his first real time riding by himself. He was taught several things about horses and caring for them. How to balance and ride properly. Since he enjoyed the lesson so much and being the age of only 3 we decided since that maybe he could continue maybe like 2-3 times a year. Well, its been six months and that passion, interest and love for horses is still strong. Today we are going for his second lesson and for Jacob's first. Jacob likes horses as well but does not have as much interest in it as Dyl-bug so this lesson is for Jake to try it out. If today goes as well as we are hoping and if it is in God's will then we may pursue this even further for Dylan. We may consider giving him private lessons once a week or every other week. You never know... he may show horses in a year :) Either way, please pray for them today as they ride and learn about one of God's beautiful creatures. Thanks!!!

Goals...

So I have been thinking lately about some goals I want to set for me personally and for our family for this coming year. Most people have resolutions and I know goals are the same thing but I am going to treat them as goals and not resolutions. Our family life can get sorta chaotic at times and I would have to say it is not good for us. We need and enjoy our time at home together and sometimes I feel like we could use more of it. The boys are home-boddies and would probably be happy to stay home all the time. Everyday, several times a day sometimes, Jacob asks me... "Where are we going today?" and then gets happy when I say nowhere! One of my goals is to have more at home quiet family time. ANd when I say quiet, I want more time without NOISE...meaning TV, computer, video games, phones and other distracting things! The boys are already limited on video game time but I feel like we need to turn the TV off more. We started a family game night a while back but we don't always stick to it...and Jacob loves movie nights where we all get in our jammies, pop some popcorn, turn the lights out and just watch a movie. We always have dinner at the dinner table together and that is something I cherish. Something I plan to continue until the boys are grown and gone! It is important to Jeremy and I that we take that time to talk and share stories about our days! I am not going to lie, sometimes with three boys even that time can get chaotic & loud especially when everyone is really hungry which is why we are early eaters!! HAHA!! Another goal of mine is to have some more family devotion time together! We always pray at night together and talk about some things they learned in Bible Study on Sundays but I want God as a priority in our house. I want us to listen and learn what God has planned for our family this coming year. I want the boys to learn all they can and who better to teach them then us.

I also have some things I personally want to change and grow in. I want to try and keep my head clear and focused. I want to be stronger-inside and out. I want to become a Christian leader not a follower. I find it easy to speak about God and express my feelings on here but not always verbally. I personally want to speak to God in ways I never have before and learn what he has planned for me. I want to stand straighter, in two ways, in a literal sense I want to have better posture and in another I want to stand straight in the path of the Lord! I want to eat to live longer and live to eat better! I want to devote more time to just my husband. Our love & marriage is the foundation for our family and home and the stronger it is the better our home with be centered! I want to have more patience and better listening ears! I have been blessed with an amazing life And I want to make the best of it! Thank you Lord for all you have given me and for the plans you have for me and my family!

Thoughts....

What a great God we have... He has His ways of making any and every situation better. Wether it is just better in ways no one else will understand, wether it is just by drying tears through listening, by giving the strength and guidance I need in certain situations or even by me just knowing that He leads my life and He will lead it in His direction whether its the way I want or not. He has his ways of eliminating situations and certain people He knows are not right for me. I trust my every being in Him. I feel closer to God more today than ever in my life! I have recently come to realize who God wants in my life and who He doesn't and I thank Him for leading me in the right direction, for taking the hurt and frustrations away! I know who I love and who loves me! Just a thought before bed! AMEN!

House changes!!

So we are currently getting our house painted!! I feel so thankful and blessed to be able to hire someone else to do the dirty work for me! I hate painting and feel as if my husband, the handy man, has enough on his "fixer upper" plate to have to even bother with it! We got the wallpaper in our bathroom stripped (which apparently was quite an event since the old owners wallpapered under ours directly to the sheetrock) and then the room painted. We are also getting all the trim in the main part of the house painted and the kitchen done! We are hoping to not only paint the kitchen but to totally remodel it! If God answers my prayers we will be getting new cabinets and countertops soon!! I am SO excited!!!! Our kitchen is so outdated and in much need of a new dew!! I will post pics afterwards!!

On another note...we are expecting SNOW today!!! If the predictions are correct, which when are the ever??, then we may have 1-2 inches through out the day! The schools are already closing and letting out early. Crazy Ga folks don't know what real snow is. The boys are very excited and are hoping to at least build a snowman even if it is out of half snow half mudd :) Well, duties are calling me! I will post pics soon!!

What's to come...

So it's officially two thousand and ten!! So crazy! This new year will bring so many exciting things for our family!! I cannot wait to take the adventure! I look forward to what God has in store for us! Some great things that will happen this year... Jeremy and I will have been together for TEN years in March, we have a GREAT family trip planned with my parents and brother to Disney World in April, the boys will turn 7, 5 and ONE and I will celebrate my 10 year reunion from high school!! I can't believe the first and the last of those things!! The last 10 years with Jeremy have been amazing!! We are great together and I could not have asked God to bless me with a better man. He is strong, encouraging, funny, entertaining and loving! He has blessed me with three beautiful children and (don't freak out) maybe one more in the future!! I LOVE him more than words can express and cannot wait to spend many many many more years with him!! And 10 years since high school.... ahhhhh... I mean am I getting old or what?!! I can't wait to see everyone at the reunion, although we keep up a lot on facebook!

In this coming year I have a lot planned for myself! Things I plan to continue, to change, to grow in, to grow with, to avoid, to endure, to sacrifice and to love with all that my heart and my God will allow!!!! I plan to show those I love how much they mean to me. I plan to grow in my faith... to follow, to worship, to praise and to love Christ! I plan to make Him a priority and to let Him lead my life; to follow His lead because we all know it is all in His will and in His time. I plan to seek guidance and learn more. I plan to have more patience, to enjoy the small moments and not to sweat the small stuff. I plan to keep a journal... a way to write my thoughts, my words to Christ and my prayers. I plan to live my life overjoyed, NOT overwhelmed(~J)!

I pray that you all find faith this coming year and that you all have a blessed and happy 2010!!!!

With Love~R