Love ya!

What is love? It is such an easy word to say. Attach “ya” behind it and you have no commitment. Love ya! Just casual. But now, saying “I love you” is a little harder. Or putting a persons name behind it is even harder such as “I love you, Don” (Sometimes that ones REALLY hard) Just kidding, Don. But still it’s easy to say. We throw the phrase around all the time even to people we do love. As the kids are leaving for school I say “I love you, BB” or “I love you, Michael” As we leave family events “Love y’all, see ya next year!” Thank goodness once a year is enough! Again only kidding. I have a wonderful family! Or to old friends you haven’t seen since high school. “OH MY WORD! I have not seen you in three hundred and fifty-five years! How are you? Well I gotta run, Love ya! I got your number now. I can call you and we’ll have lunch!” Yeah right. You know you’re never gonna call. It’s just another number to store in your endless sea of cell phone contacts!
Love is so easy to say, but so hard to show. But tonight I saw love. I felt love. Not the casual kind of love. Not the “Love ya” kind of love. But honest to goodness true love. My pastor has been in the hospital this week and he is VERY sick. He could possibly be in the hospital several weeks. Pancreatitis. Very painful they say. (Ever wonder who “they” are?) Sorry random thought. I get those alot! There is also a little boy at my church who fell at school and was hurt pretty bad. (He’s going to be OK) Tonight some people at church put together a prayer meeting for them. I saw people there that I haven’t seen in a while. I saw people who I know were totally worn out from work. People who were sick. People who had to get up early for work. But still they came, because they wanted to show their love. They stood in line for a long time to write in the journals so Scott (the pastor) and Cole (the boy) could read these and know how much they are loved. People talked with each other, prayed together, hugged each other, some just stood or sat together. But they came to SHOW their love for these two. I saw and I felt the love in that room! And I felt very honored to be a part of that. I hear Don say that God never wastes a hurt, and I know he doesn’t. I don’t know what Gods plan is. I can’t see the big picture. But I know he has a plan and I know he’s in control. And I guess thats all I need to know!

Love ya:)

Whats cooking?

Ok so my culinary skills leave much to be desired. I wouldn’t call myself a bad cook, but not a great one either. But I’m not afraid to experiment. Don and the kids have gotten used to this over the years. Michael never wants to be the first to try something new I make. Bryanna’s usually first cause she doesn’t want to hurt my feelings. Don, well he don’t count he’ll eat anything. (Just kidding Don)
I was reminded tonight of my cooking escapades over the years. Some good. Some, well, lets just say different. The other night I made broccoli and cheese soup, cheddar and garlic biscuits, and twice baked potatoes. I went by the recipe so it all turned out pretty good. But usually that is where I go wrong. I am not much of a planner, so I do not plan out my menus. This has caused many a meal in the Boyles house to go awry! I will start making a dish not realizing I don’t have all the ingredients. So I substitute.
One of Don’s favorite stories to tell is about the “green” velvet cake. I was out of red food coloring so I just put a little of all the colorings in. Seemed like a good idea at the time. Now I know better. Oh and I now, know that peach cobbler is not good without sugar, no matter how sweet the peaches are. I could go on and on.
Cooking is kind of like life. We don’t always get it right. I know I don’t anyway. But we are supposed to learn from our mistakes. Right? But do we ever really learn? I would hope I do. I know I don’t always respond to what I have learned. I seem to make the same mistakes over and over again. Mistakes as a wife, as a parent, as a child of God. I make mistakes and I try to learn from them and make changes. Some of the changes I make are not any better than what I was trying to change. Like the time I was making meatloaf and I didn’t have any oatmeal, crackers, or bread. So I used potato chips. That was definitely a change. It change my meatloaf into a big greasy mass. Yuck! Even Don wouldn’t eat it. Ketchup couldn’t even fix it. But luckily Gods not like that. He see’s the mistakes I make and he forgives me. He see the changes I make good and bad and he loves still. Luckily mercy and grace are better than ketchup. Thankfully when I make a mess of things He still loves me. He see’s me for me. Not for who others think I should be but for what He knows I am. You all see me as a green velvet cake. (Which I do NOT recommend baking) but he see’s me for what I really am. His!

Who am I to Judge?

It seems like more and more people are dying young. I never lost a “close” relative until I was 21 years old. After that it seemed like it didn’t stop. I really have a hard time dealing with death.
My dads friend found his adult son dead last week. How horrible to find your child dead! I could not even (nor do I want to) imagine. I haven’t seen him since I was about 10 years old. So I was not directly affected by his passing, but being a parent, I am just sick for his parents. All I know for sure is that children are supposed to outlive their parents no matter what. But thats not the way life works.
His son lived a “fast” life. Drugs! They over took him. This man finally succumbed to his addictions. He had so many opportunities in life. Opportunities the average person wouldn’t have. And he blew it. I wish I could ask him why? Why when you KNOW the drugs will eventually kill you did you try them anyway. I just want to shake him. Why did you put your parents through the ringer? Why did you choose to give up everything? I know his death was inevitable. The rate he was going it wasn’t a matter of “if” it was a matter of “when”. With all the information there is about what drugs can do to your body why would you even give them a passing thought. All the young celebrities we have seen die because of addictions. He should have know better. In my mind I rant and rave at him. He has left grieving parents and a sibling. I just get so mad how dare he screw up the life God created for him! Then I start to think rationally.
Here I sit, overweight! Sedentary! Knowing that I am at risk for a stroke or heart attack. I have diabetes and I eat sweets ALL the time. I have a food addiction! Even after all the information I have been given. If I do not make some changes it will become a matter of “when” for me as well. How dare I screw up this life God has created for me! Who am I to judge this man? An addiction is an addiction. Whether its food, drugs, or whatever. I need to see this as a wake up call for myself. I need to take the opportunity God has given me to live! So I’m gonna try to learn a lesson from him and make the changes I need to make. I never have liked change, so I’m sure it will be baby steps.

Like Sands Through The Hourglass!

As many of you know with my job I travel to different places testing their water. Well today was no different. One of the places I go to is a daycare. I rarely see the children though. Today, however, I had to go through the playground. That playground had all sorts of toys. Swings, slides, balls, high top cars, (By the way I got stuck in one of those when I was about 14) and a sandbox. Anyway as I was walking through the playground I heard a little girl about three years old yelling at me “Hey, tug! Tug!” Tug!” I said “Hello there”. She just kept yelling “Tug!” I got closer to the sandbox, thats when I noticed “it”. A walker. A tiny little walker. The little girl, playing in the sand started bouncing up and down up and down waving at me and yelling “Tug, tug, tug!” It was then I saw that the tiny little walker belonged to her. She had only one leg. The other leg ended at the upper part of her thigh. My heart was instantly broken for her. Well I finished with the water and was coming back through the playground gate, when she started yelling again. “Tug me!” Thats when I realized she was saying “Hug me” I looked at her teacher and she said “Thats fine you can hug her”. The little girl rolled out of that sandbox and hopped on one leg all the way over to where I was, which was about 15-20 feet away. And she was very fast I might add! But she didn’t come alone, she was followed by a three year old cowgirl, and a three year old freckle faced boy. All of whom required a hug.
They all hugged me but the little girl held on. She threw her little arms around my neck and wrapped her little leg around my waist. Then she got down and hopped back over to the sandbox and started playing with the other kids. And I realized just how blessed I am. This little girl was so happy and she was spreading her joy. I wonder how long its been since I have spread any joy. How long its been since I showed anyone how happy I was with what God had blessed me with? I realized in that one little hug I had felt Gods presence. I also realized something else. That little girl was covered in sand and so was I!!!
I got in the car and was leaving and as I brushed the sand off my neck I thought about how blessed I was. A little further down the road I brushed away more sand. This happened all day. And all day I was reminded of Gods love for me.
Its funny how God uses little things to teach us lessons. Who would have thought that a little girl, a hug, and a sandbox would have shown me how blessed I am. The bible teaches about being careful of how we treat strangers they might be angels.(Hebrews 13.2) And I thought this might be the case with me, except as I was leaving I turned around and saw her pick up a hand full of sand and throw it in the little freckled faced boys’ eyes. I don’t think an angel would do that! Its funny how God works!

The things I have learned!

Well today I turned 36 years old! 36! I really never thought I would live to be this old. In middle school my science teacher (Mr. Kallam anyone remember him) told me I would die in a plane crash or with cancer by the time I was 25. But I have survived. (But I have never been on a plane either). Anyway I though I would share with you guys some things I have learned in my 36 years. Well actually when your my age it's called wisdom. Wow I'm wise! I know some of you are laughing at that! Ok ALL of you are laughing at that! But anyway, here are some things I have learned.

I have learned that acne never goes away. I got up with a BIG birthday zit this morning! Who knew? I have learned that Don can make me laugh till a beverage comes out of my nose. I have learned that life doesn't always turn out the way you think it will. I have learned that my parents (most of the time)REALLY did know best. I have learned that childhood dreams don't always come true. (I'm still waiting for the call to go to Egypt on an archeological dig.) I have learned that my kids are the heart of our home. I have learned that best friends are not always forever. I have learned to like my sister! Just kidding! I love my sister very much she IS one of my BFF's. I have learned to turn lights off when I leave a room, and not to swing on the refrigerator door! But I'm still undecided as to if the light really goes off when you close the door.

I have learned that my children did not have to be biologically mine to belong to me. I have learned my daughter has my dancing ability. And that makes us laugh. I have learned my son is a nut and he makes me laugh! I have learned Don makes everybody laugh! I have learned some people no matter what are just going to be mean. Some people are just not going to like me no matter how great I am.

I have learned black dogs tear up your garden for absolutely no reason. I have learned my children love that black dog unconditionally and any mention of the dog pound will bring instant tears.

I have learned that God forgives. That no matter what I do He loves me. And that must be hard to do. I have learned that unfortunately sometimes parents outlive their children, and thats not fair. I have learned that some people I grew up with didn't have the things I had! I learned that sometimes children in the USA go to bed hungry. And thats not fair. I have learned that life isn't fair.

I have learned that good friends are hard to come by. I have learned that bad friends are a dime a dozen. I have learned that no one wants to be in trouble alone. I always wanted company when I did something wrong. I have learned that chickens and beagles ought not be in a cage together. I have learned that a snake bite DOES hurt! I have learned a three legged mouse can still run. I have learned that happiness is a choice and I choose to be happy. I have learned that weeds can take over your garden overnight. I have also learned that you can't teach a black dog to pull weeds, they only bust your watermelons.

I found a book from 7th grade with a list of questions. One of the questions was where do you hope to be at 50. My answer was "DEAD". ( the things we think at 12 years old) I have learned I don't want to be dead at 50. I have learned that I should have ask my grandpa more questions.

The hardest thing I have learned is that it's not about me. No matter how much I want it to be. I have learned that people die. I have learned that sometimes people destroy themselves no matter what you do. I have learned that tomato juice is good with crackers. I have learned spoiled tomato juice is not good with anything. I have learned that I suffer from road rage. I have learned I'm a better driver than those around me! hehe I have learned that some people will drive slow in the fast lane no matter how much you shake your fist at them. I have learned not to shake my fist at people bigger than me. I have learned it kinda hurts to be dragged across the counter at Hardee's by an angry woman.

I have learned to adjust. Adjust to the bad times and the good. To be happy with what I have and who I am. I have learned to accept others for who they are and not try and change them. I have learned I am not in control God is, and thats for the best. (Would you people want me in control of your lives? Scary thought ain't it).

I have learned I love my life and I don't think 36 is gonna be so bad.

DVD Read and Share Bible

I was recently given the opportunity to review a children's DVD. The DVD was called DVD Bible Read and Share The Jesus Series from Tommy Nelson. It is an animated series that chronicles Jesus’ life and miracles. The show started out with Mary, Joseph, and Jesus as an older child. His parents took him to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. Then the show switched to Jesus as an adult and it told of the many miracles he preformed. I watched the DVD with my two children. It was a simple animation, not the computer animation that they normally watch. So I wondered if they would even be interested in it. Turns out they were! They really liked it. After it was over my son told me that the wine represented His blood and the bread represented his body.

I was really impressed with this DVD. My children truly enjoyed it and actually learned something from it. It is very nice to be able to let your children watch something on DVD that you know you can trust. To know that the language will be good is such a relief. I would highly recommend this DVD to anyone with young children.

Friendship For Grownups Review

I was recently given the opportunity to read and review a book from BookSneeze. I can honestly say that I was less than thrilled to learn the book would be non fiction because I am more of a fan of fiction. I really like suspense. When I saw the list I could choose from I chose the book Friendships for Grown-Ups by Lisa Whelchel. I remembered her as Blair on the television show The Facts of Life. After seeing someone on a show for that many years you feel like you truly know them. But that is certainly not the case. I was expecting her to be self absorbed Blair, not insecure Lisa.

Lisa writes in her book about how hard it was for her to open up and show her true self to her close friends. I’m sure that being in show business makes its hard to tell who is your friend and who is just trying to “friend” you because your a celebrity. Lisa writes about her struggles with relationships. She gives tips (from her relational experiences) on how to choose your friends. She gives her insight on how to decipher between “safe” and “unsafe” friends.

I never thought about an actress actually having trouble “making” friends. But she explained how hard it was for her to let people know the real Lisa. I was very surprised that I could relate to her and her experiences. I realized that she has many of the same struggles and insecurities in her Christian walk that I have. I throughly enjoyed reading the book (which is saying a lot for me). Since finishing the book I have recommended it to a few of my friends. And who knows, maybe since reading this I may be open to reading more non-fiction.