The Mommy Poll

I shot to the top of the Mommy Poll today. The Poll was started by my oldest son many years ago. He would announce, at various times, "You're dropping in the polls." or "You're rising in the Polls, today, Mom!"

Often, a meal was the proverbial 'Deal Maker'. A favorite was good for you and vegetables could make your popularity plummet. So this morning, I skyrocketed thanks to biscuits and gravy!! Yeah! No one cared that it was ready to cook biscuits or packaged gravy mix....I am high in the polls.....but not too haughty. I am fully aware that I'm one 'sandwich with the crust left on it' away from the bottom of the chart.

I'm on the top in the Mommy Poll!!!

Mom

I haven't blogged in forever, so I decided today is the day! My mind has been lately on the subject of "Mom".

I love being a Mom. I'm thankful I'm a Mom. I became a Mom when I had no idea what I was doing. (I think most of us do.) I became a Mom to a beautiful 5 year old boy who was asking for a Mom. He thought I was an answer to his prayers. (hee hee) The next year a little black haired boy came to us on Christmas Eve. 5 Years later, another black headed little boy was laid in my arms on a Thursday in February. Every time, I wondered if I could love this one, like I do the rest. Every time, I found a little more love in my heart. Because I'm a Mom.

I get tired, I get sick, I get frustrated and I get worried.
I get hugs, I get kisses, I get High Fives and I get text messages.
I get happy.

I recently lost a friend who was a Mom.

She left 4 gorgeous kids who need a Mother. I get worried about them. Because I'm a Mom. But I found that just like when every child is born, your love just grows to meet the new arrival. I found a little extra 'Mom' to pass around. When they visit, I fix their favorite meal. I happen to have an extra hug when I run into them in town. Somehow, I can fit their names right into my prayer time along with my three children.

It's amazing.... because I'm a Mom.

And I don't think a Mom ever has too many children.......do you?

Hijacked!

Have you ever been "Hijacked"?

Has someone ever hijacked your blog, conversation, uh birthday card?
You know what I'm talking about.
You begin by talking about say...azaleas, and the next thing you know- someone is going on and on about how the current .....Oh, you get it.

Well, it happened to me today and I've just got to share it with someone. Since I have been on a blog hiatus- now is the time to break my silence. I'll probably delete it in a day or so but I've JUST GOT TO VENT. I'm feeling better already.

Today, I went to the Post Office to retrieve my much anticipated birthday card from people I am related to but share no blood. (are you following me here?)
Birthdays and Christmas are the only two times a year we (my lil ole fam) get any special attention (i.e. $$$) from these relatives- SO it is always appreciated. Larry & I went through a spell in our lives when we didn't even want anything from them but now we are older, cynical and say, "Hey, take what you can get." So, we take.

Twice a year.

So as I was taking, I noticed a handwritten note in the card and begin reading it. I was told Happy Birthday. I was told I was loved. I was told I was prayed for and that my nephew got a blah blah blah blah. MY BIRTHDAY CARD WAS HIJACKED!!!!

So, allow me to turn this into a teaching experience, since I am now older and it is my duty to teach the younger.
If you are having a conversation. Posting on Facebook. Sending texts. Sending Birthday cards, etc. Don't veer from the topic.

And, if you are in a situation where you know you (or your hubby or your kids) aren't "the favorites"- hold your head up. Make it your special mission to let them know they are YOUR favorite. I do.

And boy, is it fun!

What TODAY means.

The 22 day of February.

02-22-00 Tuesday was a horrible, horrible day. Though most of the day is a blur, I do remember the hopeless realization that we would never know our precious baby on this Earth. The pain was unbearable. But the heartbreak has never completely gone away. I can't even begin to describe it so I won't try.

02-22-01 Thursday was a wonderful, beautiful day. Though most of the day is a blur, I do remember the glorious realization that we were given a precious, tiny soul to love!
Peyton Charles West @ 7lbs 15 oz was a perfect black headed bundle of joy! His eyes were so dark they were hardly blue like a newborns. They are still the darkest eyes I've ever seen! I saw him for a second and the nurse took him to the other side of the room to weigh him. I asked Larry, "Who does he look like?" He replied, "Papa Charles." and he still does. He was rightly named. I whispered into his ear, "Jesus loves you. There is but one true God. Mommy & Daddy will always love you but Jesus will always love you more." Everyone who saw him that day fell in love with him but not like his brothers. He grew to be so funny, so stubborn and so very smart. He gave his heart to Jesus this June and has a true desire for God. The things he talks about and the questions he asks are unreal. He is such a blessing to our family and I can't imagine life without him.

02-22-04 During a routine Sunday Night service, God reached down and simply touched me. He healed me of the horrible Depression that had lingered in my life that began in this day in 2000. I cannot explain it. I just know that God touched me ever so gently and I felt Hope that I hadn't felt in 4 years. I felt Joy and I felt that God REALLY, REALLY loved me. I am amazed every day that a few minutes in the presence of God took away 4 years of pain. I praise Him for this wonderful gift. Why, I will never know.

02-22-09 God allowed our church to feel His awesome Love again tonight when He touched a wonderful Saint of God in our night service. It is wonderful to know that God is ever mindful of us and He always wants to heal our hearts, not just our physical bodies.

If you feel or have ever felt the awful hopelessness of Depression- just remember God has a day for you. I don't know the day-but He does.

Hang on.

It is so worth it.

-Sondra

A Tiny Glimpse of Springtime!

I just LOVE days like today....I've got the radio on while I straighten my kitchen,

The dryer is humming with the last of the hunting clothes to be put away
for another year.

The weather is perfect today, I've got the back door open! Yay! It makes me feel so cheery to have the door open, sun shining in- I hear the birds chirping, the squeak, squeak of Peyton's boundless energy on the trampoline and a dull thud of Gavin's arrows making their way to the bulls' eye.

I just love Spring. We are planning what we want to plant- flowers, tomatos, peppers-can't wait.

Enjoy your springtime- whatever it means to you!

Let's Catch Up!

So, where do I begin? God has been so real to me since the beginning of this year. I know He hasn't changed- I have. I have purposed in my heart to read my Bible more, pray more and just keep my mind on Him more, and it is working. God is so faithful to meet us wherever we are willing to meet Him.

This weekend we had so much fun with Jordan & Heidi. Christiane & I invited some of their friends over and boy, was it wild! But it was worth it because they had such a good time. There were four 7-year olds, a 6-year old, an 11 year old and the 'Old Guy', Gavin who tormented them all! Actually, he is exactly who you want around when you have younger kids. He can entertain them like no other- he has a gift when it comes to kids. When he was younger, everywhere we went, the children we were visiting would cry and cry for us not leave because they wanted to play with Gavin for a few more minutes. We tell him he has a gift for friendship- and he does. He can make a friend wherever he is and it is a gift. We pray he will use it always for God.

We (Larry & I) are leaving in the morning for Pigeon Forge to attend the Minister's Conference. We are so excited, especially since bro. Troy & sis. Robin are going with us. They have never been and it has been so long since we were there that is going to feel 'brand new' to us, too. My Mom & Dad are keeping the boys. They are the best, because I really never ask them- I just call and say, "We are going out of town so I'll bring their clothes!" Isn't that horrible? Yeah, I hope my kids do me the same way. (I think!)

So she gets to put up with Gavin's not wanting to get up. Blow drying his hair forever, insisting on walking home so that he can go to BP and get a cappuchino with the Gang and his doing his homework (if ever) at the last minute. She gets to endure Peyton's OCD ways when he won't let her sign her own initials to his homework sheet because it CLEARLY states "Parent's Initials", his panics over a snack every single day, his now PROMPT (am I kidding, Christiane?) bedtime of 9:30 and asking you at least 4 times "Is my hair sticking up?" before he will walk out the door. Oh, and if you take him to school- he always thinks he is late. I have gotten on to him so much for accusing me of running him late that he won't say that anymore. Now he just asks over and over, "I wonder if they are still in the Lunchroom?"

Oh, have fun, Mom, have fun!!

Let's don't even go to Casey's quirks. I won't embarrass him but he is a load of fun, too. I will ask this question, How in the world can you wake up EVERY SINGLE DAY with only one sock on? Just wondering?

I will miss my boys and my girl, too. I might even (gasp) be ready for a game of Monopoly when I get back. But more than likely, a good Phase Ten run will do me just fine!

I will miss all of that, though and be ready to return, but for today-

I am SO EXCITED!!

Conversations With Peyton

Peyton enters the living room with an apple in one hand and a pop gun in the other.

Peyton: Are you gonna eat this apple?
Me: No
PC: Good (tosses it in the air and catches it) I'm gonna eat it.
Me: Ok
PC: When I was outside playing basketball, I saw the lid to the water meter and I opened it and then I smelled my hand and it smelled just like Possum. DEAD POSSUM! So I washed my hands with soap because soap makes you smell good and there is no telling how many germs were on them leaves and stuff.

He then walks out the door crunching on his apple.

So now I'm wondering how he knows what possum smells like.
And how does this kids' mind work anyway?