Mom & Son Road Trip

It's not often that I have the opportunity to get away with just one child at a time, but this past weekend, when Jacob tagged along with me for a speaking engagement (see previous post), it gave us the opportunity to do just that.  I am GRATEFUL for last weekend's Mom and Son Road Trip!

Since we were so close to Meade, Kansas, where my husband and I lived for our first year and a half of marriage, I decided we'd head to Kansas after the Ladies' Day.

We left Hooker, OK, about 2:30 p.m. and headed first to Liberal, Kansas.  We stopped in to see Dorothy's House and Land of Oz.

We didn't tour all of it, because we were hurrying to get to Meade, but it was still fun!

Jacob with the Tin Man.

The Yellow Brick Road.....

And, on to Meade.....and a photo of our first house.  I still think it's cute!  It was yellow in 1988, too. The stroller wasn't there then, though :).  The house looked to be deserted. We lived there one year exactly.

This was our second house.  We lived here six months. It was kind of a neat house with a full basement.  It wasn't light blue then (thankfully!!).  It's for sale.  Maybe it would sell better if it wasn't blue??? But, maybe that's just my opinion since I'm not a "blue" person.

Jacob was really excited about visiting the Dalton Gang Hideout in Meade.  I was, too!

He really thought the tunnel was cool!  The Dalton Gang used the tunnel to get from their sister's house to the horse barn.

This is what I remembered from 20-plus years ago:  The two headed calf!  I thought that was so neat then.  It is definitely something you don't see every day.

....And neither is an albino raccoon!

(Sorry...Blogger messes up cropped pictures and turns them sideways for some reason.)

I told Jacob to go stand in this wooden box.  Then I told him it was an old timey coffin!  He said it seemed strange to stand in it!

We thought this sign was funny!

The rest of the photos are just things we liked along the road.....between Liberal and Meade....

....in the Panhandle of Texas.....

......a beautiful scene somewhere in Texas......

Yes, very grateful for special one on one times with my children.

Join us for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers!

Ladies' Day at Hooker, Oklahoma

What a great weekend!  My son, Jacob, and I left Friday afternoon and headed to the Oklahoma panhandle.  We enjoyed our drive looking at the beautiful countryside and taking pictures of what we saw along the way.  We spent the night in Guymon, Oklahoma.  (Please pray for the people of Guymon as they have had to evacuate their homes this evening due to wild fires!).

When we arrived at the hotel to check in, the man at the front desk said there was a gift waiting for us - compliments of the Hooker church of Christ.  I was going to be speaking at a Ladies' Day there the next day. Jacob came along for the ride just to spend time with me and to keep me company.  He helped babysit the younger children during the ladies' event the next day.

What a sweet and thoughtful surprise! They were sneaky and called my husband to ask him what Jacob and I liked.  Jacob was proud of his new Hot Wheels and his Snickers! And, of course I liked everything, too :). 

I think the man at the front desk even thought the gift was neat!

The next morning Jacob and I drove to the building in Hooker.  We were greated with friendly faces, a lovely decorated foyer, and great food!

The theme for the day was:  "it's YOUR time to BLOOM!"  Both of my lessons went along with the theme.

During the afternoon session, we moved over to the fellowship building.  It was so cute!

I thought these plates were beautiful!  The church has had them for years, the ladies told me, but they definitely fit perfectly with the theme.

The food was really not upside down :), but after I cropped the picture a bit, it wouldn't load up the correct way.  Whether side ways, upside down, or right-side up, it doesn't matter - it was delicious!!

Here's my plate filled.  So pretty and look at the way they did the napkin, silverware, and seed packet!  Notice there is no flour or sugar on my plate.  I resisted, though it was very tempting.  Ooops!  Just realized there is one sausage ball!  Okay a little bit of flour.....but still good for me :).

Each place setting had Dirt and Worms Dessert.  So cute with the little scripture plant stake sticking out.  I think they left the worms out, since we were grown ups!  Good thing because we might have gotten gummy worms stuck in our teeth (and you know ladies, that you would have had to tell each other that, right????! You had to be there.)

More of the cute decor.....They gave me one of the painted pot centerpieces.  Aren't they cute??

Sharing God's Word with a group of Christian sisters is one of my very favorite things to do.  Events such as this are great times to get together and to get to know one another even more.

I mentioned to the ladies about how special the friendships are between sisters in Christ.  These relationships are especially wonderful because, even though I didn't know very many people there, I still felt at home.  I felt like I had know them forever.  That's the wonderful blessing of being bound together in Christ.

TO THE LADIES FROM HOOKER AND THE SURROUNDING AREA:

Thank you, ladies for a wonderful day!  Terri and Rhonda, it was great to meet you two face to face! Thank you Stacy F. and Fonda H. for traveling to the event.  It was great seeing you both there!  And, thank you to everyone else who took the time to attend, to bring food, and to prepare in other ways for the event.  I pray that you were blessed and uplifted by the day as much as I was. 

P.S.  I forgot to request recipes for my other blog, so pass them along if you would please :).

And, a special thank you to my son, Jacob.  I loved spending one on one time with you.  I'm glad you enjoyed it, too!  I appreciate you tagging along and I love you very much!

Top 5 Ways to Stop School Drama

*Note from Lori:  This post was written last March, but I thought it might be good to post it again.  Unfortunately, many people (young people, old people, and in-between) seem to thrive on drama.  This post is directed towards the younger population, but it also is for people my age because WE are the PARENTS.  We're the ones responsible for the youngsters.  We're the ones who are supposed to be teaching them right from wrong.  We're the ones who are supposed to be the examples.  So, parents....be INVOLVED in your child's life - every aspect of it.  They NEED you and they NEED you to be the adult and example in their lives!

***

Drama is most likely in every school - with some schools worse than others, with some classes worse than others, and yes, with some students worse than others.  With raging hormones, life changes, and peer pressure, (and, okay teens, I'll throw in the overwhelming-at-times-homework for you! :)  the drama often escalates to record highs in no time.

So, how is it possible for someone to rid their lives of the drama?  Well, here is my top five list to do just that:

1.  Don't Gossip
All drama - no matter what and without exception - would be completely done away with if everyone would watch the words they say.  Sounds simple, doesn't it?  But, we all know that it's not.  The tongue is one of the hardest things to control.  The Bible says so!  In fact, the Bible says we can't control it on our own.  That's where God's Spirit comes in.  We have to have His help to stop the tongue.

Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind,  but no human being can tame the tongue.

James 3:5-8

2.  Limit Texting/Facebook/etc.
Now, before you scream out at me, "YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING!!! I COULD NEVER DO THAT!", please hear me out (and remember, if you scream, I can't hear you, anyway :).  I'm not saying to never text...never be on Facebook.  If I did, I would be a hypocrite.  What I'm saying is this:  Make up your mind that you will NEVER, EVER, EVER text or talk about someone else via any form of social media, or phone, or computer. Decide that you will never use those devices to talk about anyone else again.

Think of all of the conversations you've had with others, just today.  What were they about?  What did you think about?  What was in your heart?  Now, would you want your parents to read your texts? (some parents do keep tabs in that way and good for them!)  Would you want your grandparents to see your chats on Facebook?  Well, someone more important than any of those people sees and knows everything you send, take pictures of, look at pictures of....everything you think.  That person is God.  He knows all and sees all.

Remember the old saying, "If you can't say something nice, don't say it at all"? Keep that saying in your mind, along with the scriptures below.

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Hebrews 4:12-13

3.  Pray

Every day, take the time to pray.  Actually, many times during the day, take the time to pray.  But, at least once a day, pray for those who you don't really like.  The Bible tells us to love one another.  That means everyone - as hard as that may seem.  But, sometimes we don't like other people.  Maybe we secretly want them to fail.  Maybe we want them to suffer.  Well, think about it this way.  What if someone wants you to fail?  What if someone wants you to suffer?  How would that make you feel?  I wouldn't like it, would you!?  So, make up your mind, first of all, to pray for that one person - or maybe there is a whole group of people - you need to pray for.  Pray for them.  Pray specifically.  It's even okay to pray like this:  "God, please help me to like so and so."  God will listen!  He's ready to listen!

Secondly, pray for yourself.  Pray that God will soften your heart, and that He will help you will find something good in that person.  Pray that you will be kinder to them or that you will not be mean to them. 

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:43-44

4. Obey Your Parents

Okay.  I know what you're thinking.  "How does obeying my parents stop school drama?"  I'm so glad you asked!  By obeying your parents, you are submitting to them.  Submission is yielding your will to the will of someone else.  In other words, instead of you getting your way and you getting to do what you want to do, you will be doing exactly what your parents want you to do - without complaining (yep, there's the catch.). 

So, how does this obeying help drama?  By learning submission to your parents - in the home - you are actually learning an even bigger lesson.  You are learning to obey those in authority - such as teachers, principles, other adults, but you are also learning to submit to others your own age...such as classmates and siblings.

Maybe you do obey your parents.  Maybe you just need to work on obeying the other adult authorities in your life.  Then start there.  When an adult - such as a teacher, principal, maybe a guardian - tells you something.  Make it a point to be quite.  Just listen to them.  Don't talk back.  Don't argue.  Don't complain.  That's what's going to (or should) get you in trouble and add to the drama in your life.  Learn to zip your lips! :)  Trust me.  It will make your life a lot less drama-full!

Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

Colossians 3:20

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Ephesians 5:21 (this is talking about in the home)

Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account.

Hebrews 13:7 (this was written to the early church and speaking of their leaders)

5.  Serve Others

Find a way, each and every day, to do something good for someone else. (I don't mean do someone elses homework or let them copy it off of you, okay??!)  Do something nice.  Be polite.  Be friendly.  Show each other that you care.   If someone drops something - any of them, not just certain ones - help them pick it up.

Offer to help the teacher.  Not to become the teacher's pet, but to truly help them.  Write a note, email or text (NO, NOT IN SCHOOL! You're not supposed to have your phone in school, remember????  Yeah, I thought so!) telling someone they did a good job.  Or even better - TELL them FACE to FACE in PERSON that they did a good job!  Bring the school secretary, the principal, the cooks, the cleaning ladies, the teachers a little gift to show that you appreciate them.  Not that they need a gift or even want one, but that just to show that you care enough to show them and to tell them.

Jesus was the greatest person and the only perfect person to live on this earth.  He was the Son of God.  People made fun of him.  People spit on him.  People beat him.  Then people killed him.  I'm fairly certain that nothing you will go through in school will compare to that.  Yes, something could happen that was bad.  Of course, that is possible, but, Jesus humbly obeyed His Father and willingly died on the cross for YOU.  But, even with all of that and actually, even in all that - Jesus was being a servant.  He was doing for others.  Make up your mind to do for others, as well.  Every day of our life.

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” 

Mark 10:45

You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.

Galatians 5:13

So, what do you think?  Do you think these things would work?  What else would you add to the list? 

Why not give it a try?

The Chronicles of Biscuit - Tinkerbell

The Chronicles of Biscuit - Stories about our youngest son, Tyler, whose nickname is Biscuit.

Last fall, my parents had a new idea for our family Christmas which included them, our family of six, and my sister's family of five. We thought about just having the kids draw names, but with us having four children and my sister and her husband having three, one of mine would have had to buy for a sibling.  We decided against that and kept trying to come up with a new plan.

After much discussion, thinking, and rethinking, it was decided that each family group would buy for one adult male, one adult female, one girl, and one boy, with my parents buying one more boy gift to make it equal the correct number of gifts.  We decided to play "Dirty Santa" to make it a little more fun and interesting.

I decided I would purchase my girl gift with the idea that it would be for one of my sisters' little girls.  Having a 16-year-old daughter and all of the rest boys - I don't have the opportunity to buy "little girl things" often, and I enjoy it!  I looked and looked and never found the perfect thing (well, I found several things, actually, but it was only a $10 limit, so I had to keep looking until I found something for the right amount!).  I finally decided on a plush Tinkerbell doll which was attached to fleece Tinkerbell blanket.  It was a big sized gift, so I bought a big sack, thinking one of the girls (ages 8 and 5) would grab that gift first thing.

Well, to make a long, funny story short and funny:  Biscuit ended up with the Tinkerbell!  Those of you who know him can only imagine his response to this fairy gift!  As a mom, though, I was sooooo proud of him for the way he handled it.  He was upset....that was obvious....but he never cried and never complained:  however, he tried and tried to get one of the girl cousins to trade him!  Neither of the girls wanted to trade. Biscuit gave the gift to his youngest girl cousin, even without a present in return.

Finally it worked out that some of the bigger kids and adults did some trading and Biscuit got a more "boyish" gift.  We laughed and laughed about that day....and still do!  Biscuit laughed a little bit that day, but not too much.  He didn't really like it when we would see Tinkerbell at Disney World and refer to his gift, either.  His daddy and brothers (and grandpa) enjoy ribbing him about it, though!  No, really he doesn't get too upset, but he makes it very clear that he never wants to play that game again at Grandma and Grandpa's house again!  I think Grandma and Grandpa have already decided that same thing.

I was just thinking about how so many times in life things don't go the way we want them to or the way we think they should.  At that moment, we have a choice:  We can either accept it or we can throw a fit.  Biscuit didn't like his Tinkerbell gift and I think everyone would agree he had a "right" to be upset and disappointed.  And, although he tried to trade it, in the end he accepted that things just didn't work out in his favor on that particular day.  Even at the young age of eight, Biscuit set an example by making a good choice - at least that day - and in the end, everything worked out fine.

all in a day's work...

For the past week and a half, my husband has had a unique work crew along with him. This group of men is in town working at Tipton Home in their volunteer work as Sojourners.  I mentioned their wives in last week's Ladies' Salad Supper post.

The men range in age from 65 to 75 and come from New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.  Each has a unique personality and a unique past, but are working together, as a group of Christians, at Tipton Home for a common goal:  to help children.

The men have helped clean up the barn and farm area during their time in Tipton.  I think my husband would keep them for as long as they would like to stay!  He said: "If everybody worked as hard as these men do, there wouldn't be enough work to go around." They like to work!  It's their mission!

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Colossians 3:23-24

One man, who never takes the regular breaks, climbed up on top of the pig house being torn apart. He held a sledge hammer in his hands and began "slamming". My husband was a little concerned about him being up there and said, "You think you might ought to get down?"

He said, "No. I'm fine!" and kept on swinging. As my husband told me this story, I thought - and said, "That will be you when you're 75, won't it?" Yes, it will. I know it will! And I'll be the one suggesting for him to get down from there! And he won't listen, either!

(They've seen a few snakes at the barn.  This one was dead (thankfully!)

Thank you, Sojourners, for taking the time to come to Tipton Home and work, but thank you even more for sharing in the lives of the children and for setting them a great example of Christian service.  During their stay they play games and do crafts with the children.  They get involved in their lives.