Smiles through my awe...

You know, I really had a great time... all my life.

I have had some great peeps to share adventures with. A group of 3 girls made up my society. A great group of women now days, great kids back then. Playing in a tree house, pretending to be He-Man and She-ra. They were the best brother and sister team around those days. He-man, my first hero that I can remember. Great guy. Lol. My husband reminds me of him, maybe that's what keeps us together.
Next phase in my life were 4 extremely different types of people. Between the age of 10-13, these 4 girls impacted my life with a whole new set of rules. We had the talks, we had fights, we had popcorn machines blowing up in my bedroom, and swimming all day in the pool, and great games of ball.
There were 10-12 people that impacted my world so much, I never wanted to let them go. As the faces come to my mind, I list no one in ranking #1, #2... Each one that I have not mentioned, know that I appreciate the impact you had on me too, i just wish i could type forever, but your Mark is there.
S...
Great times, Bad times, Worse times... I loved every minute of it. A lot of miles we rode together. A lot of fish we have caught. Sometimes, I so wish we could share another day in a blue car, heading to the river. I think you are a magnificent woman that has the ability to do anything. Your skills with managing are supernatural. Don't forget that you are SPECIAL, WONDERFULLY MADE, and YOU ARE A GENIUS.
N...
My secretive friend who loves a mystery. A knight in shining armor awaits you. He may not be quite what you expect, but he is there. Loved the concoctions that we made on an old stump, and the bike rides with our bmx's. basketball games on Sat. Morning. Wow, I still remember the smells from the gym.
Super fun... Loved it all.
T...
You were always so spunky yet beautiful. Full of Ga spice and Southern tea. Always tough as a nail... Loved that about you. I am so proud of you. You have accomplished so much and have such great tastes. GOOD LUCK, may all your dreams come true.

Each one of us has a pretty decent life today. Although, I am not as close to them as we have grow up and went our separate ways.

All these memories came back to me as I watched my little girl sleep tonight. The peaceful rest, She is awesome, I love her with everything I am... I want the best for that beautiful face on my couch, breathing loudly. I hope I can give my daughter a little bit of each of the people that have made their mark on me. I Love you baby girl. Thanks for the "remember when moment"

Lots of Good times in Feb, now on to March!

I have met lots of people this past month, and gained insight and a bit more knowledge on how the world turns. I am almost convinced that there are not good people out there. Either people want to lie, steal, and cheat, or they have their own motives for being friends, and being associated with one another. Then, we have fakes who like to be really kind to your face, and slice your throat as you walk away. Next, we have the people who like to cause mischief and varies troubles from time to time. They have the best intentions, but it seems they are always looking for a reason to cause chaos. With all these different people, almost nothing shined through, but then I go back to James... Oh for joy comes from trials, and I will learn through my own mistakes. I fail daily dealing with people like God wants me too.

I will learn patience and have joy beyond belief because of these trials and heartaches. WOO HOO! cant ask for more, cause more isn't what i need, Less of me More of HIM!

We ventured to the Gulf of Mexico, through the clay hills of Alabama, and next we are hitting the road for the big state of North Carolina. I cant wait to see what is in store for us all there. Maybe just Maybe, I will gain the knowledge and patience I need.
What breaks my heart the most is some that I know have rejected the Truth. They are cold hearted, prideful, and in much pain. I see their eyes and they are very far away. I am praying that they will turn around and not reject the Truth...

I am still starving for Biblical conversations. A time in my life when God is my only source. I do have one new friendship, but it seems that we have a few different ideas on the interpretation of the Bible. Not all that different, but I am having to question and search for truth, and my Faithful God is here to guide me. Now to be bold and to stand up to the truth he shows me.

Enough with the rambling on and on about this and that, must go to bed, tomorrow is going to be a long one. Much to do, many places to go, and more people to meet. LOL!

Birthday FUN!

The parties went smoothly, and now, they are over. But the remnants of popped balloons are EVERYWHERE! lol, yes yes, had to rent me a bottle of helium. Great fun. The kids all enjoyed it too. I think the build your own Sunday was a great success! The young cousins were very excited to be able to freely dip all they pleased. God was honored and love was given. Great day for sure.

Now the kids start a new semester in school, and we will be hitting the road again shortly. God is good to us and we will give Him the glory and credit for everything we do... whether its school, work, or play!

The top two pics are our science play with the helium! we had so much fun guessing what would float with how many balloons! well worth the time and effort! LOVED IT! of course!

Feb 4th !!! It's MANDY'S BIRTHDAY!!!!

Oh my precious little girl, what a great gift you are to me. What an adventure we have had thus far, and by the way, I HAVE LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT TOO!

I can't believe you are 7 years old today!

I am going to be very truthful tonight, I planned to have you. I wanted you for almost 2 years before I was able to carry you. During those 9 months, I was more fiery than I ever have been in my entire life. I was determined. I was honest. I didn't have time for silly games from anyone. Most important, I knew that I could achieve anything I wanted. I know now that those qualities were from you. I see your loving face and I know that you will be, i pray, exactly what God wants you to be.

Psalm 139:14
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

I praise Him for letting me have the great honor of being your mom.

Now a little bit for the readers...

My Ms. Mandy is very, very artistic. She loves to sculpt with modeling clay and spends hours drawing. I love to listen to her play with her toys. With boys, you hear the crashes and motors and bang em ups, but with my wonderful little lady, I hear her impressions of life and how it is suppose to be. Mandy is also very passionate. If she loves, then you are loved. She has always been very mothering... which is something she has taught me a lot about. She is a hugger, but not to hard! Her love of any animals and insects are amazing. Oh boy, and SHE CAN RIDE THAT DIRT BIKE WITH THE BEST OF THEM BOYS!!!!!She is my heart.

I never did teach Mandy to count. One day, Dylan and I was riding around, and Mandy counted to 20... He looks at me and asks, "did you teach her that?" Of course I had to respond, "NO!!!" Mandy is a self taught person. If she wants it, its hers! lol!

I love you baby girl, you seek God, and everything else will follow. Dream big! Expect the best! Do NOT BE SO DANG HARD OF YOURSELF! Mistakes are a great thing, they help us know what not to do next time. and PS, everyone makes mistakes.

Love much, Laugh, and DANCE LIKE NO ONES LOOKING!

You and God CAN DO ANYTHING!

James

James has been a book in the Bible that I have been fascinated with for the last few months. I have read it over and over and over. For the the most part, I feel there are many life lessons that are stated in these passages. Hard times, how to treat people, and how to gain knowledge are the three that have been important to me.

HARD TIMES:

V2-3, My brothers and sisters, when you have many kinds of troubles you should be full of joy, because you know that these troubles test your faith, and this will give you patience.

We should be full of joy when bad times come, WHATEVER... LOL, I know some of you reading this are really going to call me crazy now. When I first read this verse, I can't imagine this being possible. Smile when your heart is breaking... Be happy, even if you have no idea what tomorrow is going to hold... Laugh when you feel like slowly disappearing without a trace... Yeah right, WHY@! I want to scream, I want to tell everyone how bad it is, I want to hang a sign and pic of myself and say poor me... but what good does it really do..

When my heart is lonely and my bank is empty, and when my family seems to be falling to pieces, What should i do...

the next verse explains it all

James v4-5 Let your patience show itself perfectly in what you do. Then you will be perfect and complete and will have everything you need. But if you need wisdom (on how to make it through this trial) you should ask God for it. He is generous and ENJOYS giving to all people, so he will give you wisdom.

WOW! SO God is letting you and I go through these things for A REASON... He is giving us a chance to grow, to teach others, and hey we cant forget, to seek HIM! Finally, I get it. If I am lonely in a crowd, I better get on my face and talk to My God. Grab us a cup of java and get busy with our chat. When my bank is empty, I need to be patient and show my actions not by whining and crying and pouting, but show my face before God and behave. When my family seems to be falling apart, I need to be patient so He that is just and faithful and will give me everything I need. If its hard, I really need to get over myself and find the patience for my babies sake. for my moms sake, for my sisters sake, and for my husband sake... Never know what God is up to... He has great plans that would blow my mind!

Next James speaks about how we need to treat the poor. This is a peeve of mine, and something I am trying to learn to control. But I notice this a lot when i am with my co-workers. For example, we all just get off work. We are starving, dirty, and a bit loud. (ear plugs will cause you speak louder once you take em out and most of these guys cant hear because they HAVEN'T worn the proper ppe ;) The other customers watch us like they are disgusting. They eye us like we have been at the homeless shelter and they just gave us the boot. The waitress, God bless her, avoids us cause she isn't sure she will get a tip... hmm, someone has figured out that we are all broke! and we cant afford soap!!! LOL!!!

Never ever ever judge a person by their looks, clothes, or what they drive.

But James even way back then knew that people would lay the red carpet down for the rich, give them the best seats, and treat them like a ... GOD!??? yes, that's exactly what was going on. But the poor were shoved to the back, made to stand instead of sit. For God's sake, they smell funny! They look dirty! They have no PLACE in this Church...

James 2 v 1 As believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, never think some people are more important than others...

2 v 5 Listen! God choose the poor in the world to be RICH WITH FAITH AND TO RECEIVE THE KINGDOM OF GOD PROMISED TO THOSE WHO LOVE HIM!!!!

I have had to reevaluated my mind set too. I have been on the look out for those that God leads me too. What an honor it is TO HELP THOSE THAT ARE RICH IN FAITH!!!!

This whole book has increased my knowledge. Not only for the simple fact of information, but now before i begin reading, I ask God for the supernatural wisdom and knowledge that comes From God. And he is ready to give it too

I encourage you to read the bible for this simple reason

James 1 v 25

But the truly happy people are those who carefully study God's perfect law that makes people FREE, and they continue to study it. They do not forget what they heard but they obey what Gods teaching says. Those who do this will be made HAPPY!

There you go, that's my secret... and ya'll said i was crazy! :)

The BIBLE

I believe that one day we will die, and when we do we are going to meet Jesus. The Great I AM! Who will ask us WHY... WHAT...WHEN...WHERE...HOW! He will not accept any excuse or reason for any action or thought that we have done. BECAUSE HE KNOWS OUR INTENTIONS! He is the only person in this great big world that knows us deep down inside. Not our mothers, fathers, sisters, or brothers know us truly. They only know WHAT WE LET THEM... We can never ever let anyone know us to the fullest because its sad but true we don't know ourselves completely.. I have to remember that smart king David said Let my evil sins that unknowing to me. WOW! So what that tells me is that inside each of us has JUNK that is unknown, and guess what, its holding us back.

We have baggage... oh yeah, major baggage that determines how we react and how we treat certain people and situations that we face daily. If you and I don't take the chance to purge yourself of these habits and thoughts, then we can not have a fruitful, productive life. You can gain everything this world offers.... WEALTH...STATUS...LOVE...ITEMS....

All these things will PASS away. They DO NOT matter! It is NOT IMPORTANT! IT WILL RUST AWAY! So we strive for what... house, car, love, money, our place in this world... ?

Well, those things will pass away, but GOD WILL NOT !!! His ways and plans are the only thing that we are CONSTRUCTED to do... We are created by no mistake. We are formed in the womb and we have a specific plan for our lives. As megar as you think your life is, my friend it is not! You HAVE A REASON for being placed RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE!!!!

Do not think you are out of God's grasp. He is right there with you. Guiding you, if you listen... But YOU HAVE TO READ THE BIBLE>>> This is not a leisure thing... IT IS HIS WRITTEN WORD . THAT WILL REVEAL WHERE YOU NEED TO BE... ITS NOT A CHOICE NOR HABIT ITS A MUST...

I am afraid, that many will meet Jesus and he will say I never knew you... You really didn't know me... YOU CAN KNOW HIM BY PICKING UP THAT BIBLE AND READING IT... IT WILL TURN YOUR LIFE DNUORA... hehe AROUND!!!!

PEACE OUT FRIENDS, just a little something that was on my heart in these late hours of the night.

My worries are for you, who ever reads this by chance,

YOU ARE GREAT!

DO GREAT THINGS... LOVE PEOPLE, and READ A BIBLE...

I DOUBLE DOG DARE YOU!

My Son is 10 years old today...

Now this thought really knocks me silly... Oh my Gosh, my tiny baby boy! The turning point of my entire life. the person who made me reconsider happiness. Ten years! I have thoroughly enjoyed each moment...

I am reminded of the day John and I brought him home. We had an old F100, in line 6. I loved that truck. I was in shock the hospital let me have the baby. No competence test, no vow that we will take care of this new person, nothing! I had my mom, bless her soul, on stand by to take custody of Dylan. Because there was no way the hospital *with any sense* would give us a child to raise.

But 23 hours exactly, we were in the truck with a boy who kept looking at us...

WE HAD NOT A CLUE WHERE TO GO!

So, at the time, we went to the 2nd best place i knew my sister's house. She is 10 years my senior and had 2 boys of her own. She would know what to do!!!

LOL, That was an amazing day.

Two weeks later, I had no idea why you cried all the time. UGH! Aunt Chell was the hero that day. Feed him Belinda... ummm, I tried to breast feed without success. So Chell fed him and John and I load baby boy up and took him for a ride. Five minutes into the journey, we turned the interior lights on to see if he was OK. He wasn't crying anymore. And there he was eyes wide open, looking around, checking everything out. Sweet face, sweet soul, and so much more than I deserve to be a part of.

Dylan Garrett Herrin

You are going to do great things, I already know,

God has his hands on you,

Don't live life in Fear,

Forgive and Forget, but don't forget why you are here.

Take your time and PRAY!

I love you boy!