The boys had their Fine Arts competition this past Friday and of course I am once again a very proud Mom.  As a Mom, we are always wanting to share the achievements of our children.  Bryce, my 7th grader is in Advanced Band and was also part of  a Brass Quartet.  For my 4th grader, this was his first year being able to participate.  He is in Beginner Band, he did a Brass Duet , was part of the Honors Choir and also did a Duet Acting with one of his friends.  Each category is ranked accordingly with the lowest being good, then excellent, and the best Superior.  Once those rankings have been chosen they will chose one from each school and each category to be chosen as Most Outstanding, which is the best ranking you can receive.   Sometimes, as parents, its a struggle to purchase instruments, pay for private lessons , and just the on going struggle to make sure they are practicing.   It is sometimes stressful and challenging but I tell you it is so worth it to see them get up in front of all those people and perform and use the talents God gave them.  I am so proud of them and honored to call them my children.  These are the things that make everything in life , all the problems , all the pain, all the stress and struggles of life just disappear for a moment and just watch God take over and allow them to shine.  


I wanted to share my boys shining moments with you because that's what us Mom's do.   I realize that most of you will not watch them and some of you will only watch a few minutes and get bored but that's ok.  The Uncles, the Aunts, the Grandma's and Grandpa's and the close friends will enjoy it and they will feel that same excitement and pride that I feel every time I listen to them.  
So here they are for whoever chooses to listen.  I am proud of them and I thank God for their willingness to show their talents to the world.   God Bless.

Brandt's Brass Duet, Ranked Superior and Chosen for Most Outstanding out of all the schools

Brandt's Beginner Band, Ranked Superior

Brandt's Duet Acting, Ranked Excellent

Brandt's Honors Choir , Ranked Superior and Chosen Most Outstanding

Bryce's Brass Quartet, Ranked Superior and chosen for Most Outstounding

Bryce's Advanced Band , Ranked Superior

GO BIG BLUE

For those of you who live in Kentucky understands how important our basketball season is in our state.  We live and breath basketball. Its our favorite time of the year.  There were several teams from KY that were in the tournament this year.  Those being Murray State, Western Kentucky, Louisville and of course University of Kentucky.  That is pretty impressive for one state to have that many basketball teams to make the NCAA Tournament.  It is safe to say we are a basketball state.  

I, myself, bleed blue!!  I am a true die hard UK fan!  I grew up in a Big Blue house.  My Dad was a true Kentucky fan and never missed a game.  Growing up, we knew if there was a KY game on that my Dad would be glued to the TV and we were to either watch it or don't be a distraction in any way during the game.  However, there better be a good reason why you are not watching our Ky Wildcats play and cheering them on.  Those were some great memories I have with my Dad, watching the KY games.  I also remember going to a few of the games with him in Lexington, KY.  Rupp Arena is an amazing place to see and watch a game.  It is so exciting and has so many people in one large place loving the KY Wildcats.  

The Louisville Cardinals and the KY Wildcats are huge rivals and are only about an hour and 15 minutes from each other.  However, you are either a Cardinals fan or Wildcats fan , period!!  You either bleed blue or red.  It's kind of odd because I grew up living closer to Louisville than Lexington yet not a Cardinals fan.  Friday night the Wildcats played the Cardinals in the final four NCAA tournament.  This doesn't happen very often but when it does there are alot of emotions involved.  For myself, losing to Louisville is the worst thing that could happen during tournament time.  I honestly believe I would rather beat Louisville than win the entire tournament, I know crazy huh? The game this past Friday for the state of KY was HUGE, from 6pm to about 9pm I am guaranteeing that there wasn't one KY fan or Louisville fan that was not glued to the TV.  There were alot of emotions happening during that whole week leading up to the BIG game, anticipation, stress, nerves, alot of trash talk and all and all hatred for the opposing team. These are two teams who have always despised each other.  Another reason for the rivalry also is the coach of the Cardinals , Rick Pitino,  was also the coach of the KY Wildcats before he left and went to Louisville , so now us KY fans really do not like him and want to see him fail.   Now let me say this, there are some horrible fans out there that just do not know how to act and take all of this way to serious!  They are cruel and mean and just down right stupid.  At the end of the day , it is still just a game of basketball and after it is all said and done we all still have to wake up the next morning and go to work and continue on with our normal day to day lives.  Yes whoever wins can have bragging rights but in a friendly way.  



So the game happened on Friday and what a game it was.  Both teams played a great game.  I didn't feel that KY played as well as they could have, but I can only imagine the pressure and nervousness those players were facing.  It was close throughout the entire game , both teams played hard and with alot of heart. Both teams wanted to win for their fans, their coaches, and for their state of KY.  However most of all for the chance to play in the championship game on Monday night.  Whoever won would advance and be able to play at a chance to be the #1 team in the Nation.  That's what it's all about!!   Oh how my Dad would love to be alive today to have watched this game and to see who would end up the #1 team in the Nation and how I would have loved to have watched it with him!!  So tonight at 9pm we will see who the champions are as the two best teams face off.  Oh , I guess you are wondering who won the game between the two KY teams, well that would be the BIG BLUE,  The KY Wildcats!!  So all of the Big Blue Nation will be in front of their televisions tonight at 9pm hoping and cheering on their team, in hopes of another championship trophy, of course the Cardinal fans will be rooting against us and probably alot of others too. This could be our year, I know I am excited and anxious to see what the out come will be.  However , when its all said and done, the State of Kentucky represents basketball very well, regardless of what team I root for, I am proud to be from Kentucky and proud of all the teams for representing us so well in the sport of basketball!!  Enjoy the game everyone.

What has happened?

I am so very thankful for my childhood!  I lived in a small town in KY, my school was within walking distance as well as everything else really.  The school had approximately 500 kids in the entire school K-12 grade and I had about 26 kids in my graduating class.  We would walk to and from school everyday without any worries.  The town is so small, everyone knew you and your family and genuinely cared about you. We would ride our bikes all over town and my parents never worried, that's how different the world was then compared to now.  I never heard about drugs or even seen it for that matter, now a days that's all you hear about.  All of my friends would hang out at each others homes and play outside all day until it got dark.  My parents would always tell us that we have to be in the house when the street light came on. So when that light came on we would run as fast as we could to the house.  Today it seems as if the kids are inside way too much and have to have invites to hang out with their friends.  Many times some parents do not even know where their kids are until they show up late at night.  This, to me, is just crazy.


 During my childhood, the most exciting thing for us was hanging out at our local pool, which we walked to and did not have to bring our parents along because they felt safe sending us.  This day and time , I would never send my child anywhere without supervision because there is just way to much evil in the world today.  I never heard from my friends the language that you hear today from kids, I mean seriously is there a class in the public schools today that teach kids curse words??  Sadly, this day and time some parents are using those words in everyday conversation and some kids learn it from them. 


 I hear and see a lot of evil these days and I ask myself, what has happened?  How did the world become what it is today?  Maybe it has always been this way and I was just truly blessed.  Maybe it was because I did live in a small rural town, had the best parents and the greatest friends, and never realized that outside of my little world was all this evil.  I do find it hard to believe that I would have been so oblivious that I didn't recognize all of this growing up.  I do know I had the best friends and best community around.  Growing up there was awesome, it was like having a town full of family.  If some of you are reading this today, I want to say thank you and I want you to know how thankful I am for growing up with you and sharing a part of your life with me.  I am also thankful that I still feel this close to you now and that I know that each and everyone of you has my back!!  Although we may not have seen each other in years , I still know that if I needed you you would be there for me and vice versa .  I am so glad that you and I did not face the evil that is in the world today.  My prayer for each of you is that this evil that we did not face back then has not caught up with you now and that there is only joy in your lives. 


What has happened?  Why is this world so full of evil?  I do not know how it became this way.  I don't have the answers but I do know that I am trying everything in my power to keep all the evil away from me and my family and one way to do this is by keeping God first.  I pray that all of you are doing the same and that only joy will come your way.  


Love to all :)

CONTROLLING OUR TONGUES

There are so many people in the world today that can be so evil and hurtful and I am almost certain that at some point in our lives we have been one of those people.  I was talking to one of my authorities at work the other morning and she mentioned to me of her need to control her tongue and be careful what she says.  That has stayed on my mind all week.  


The Bible has so much to say about the control of our tongues and taming of speech.  The book of James speaks a lot about this, James 1:19 says "let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak,slow to wrath".  In other words, be a good listener and don't speak before you have heard everything you need to hear and even then sometimes words are not needed just a good listening ear.  Be careful what you say but I have found that a lot of times it's not what you say it's how you say it that hurts the most.  Some people will never understand this and they use excuse after excuse for their tongues.  I cannot not even begin to count how many times in my life I have heard the excuse "this is who I am, I say what I think or feel , everyone knows that's how I am".  Well yes that may be "how you are", but that does not make it right and what they do not realize is usually a lot of those things that are spoken from your tongue are hurtful to people and they really don't want to hear it. Every time you open your mouth your are letting someone look into your mind. Conversation is a very important element in a man's personality.  Silence is one of the greatest arts of conversations, some of us need to learn this!!!    


When we go to the doctor he will often say to us, "Let me see your tongue."  He can tell a lot about our health just by looking at it.  In the same way, a lot can be told about the health of our thoughts by our tongue because the tongue speaks the thoughts of our hearts.  Matthew 12:34 says," O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things?  for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh."  What our tongue says lets people know what we really are.  Sometimes, sadly, as soon as someone opens their mouth you will know whether or not that is someone you will enjoy being around.  Some people in my life, as I have spoken about early, do not care what people think and just keep using their tongue as they choose, but sadly this will always hurt them at some point in their lives and they will eventually become very lonely!!


In the Bible the tongue is described with several words, razor, fire, sword, and poison.  The tongue is the hardest thing for us to control and honestly if we could control it we could probably control everything else in our lives.  But the Bible says that the tongue can never be controlled by man but with Gods help can certainly control it a little better and yes even those people who say " they are who they are and they can't change that", can control their tongue with Gods help and everything else for that matter.  Psalm 39:1 says, "I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me." and Psalm 141:3 says, "Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips." In others words, help me keep my mouth shut  and oh how so many people need to learn how to do this!  

Let me just say, think before you speak or simply just shut up and listen.  I have always been a very sensitive person, as most of you who know me know this.  When you hurt me with your words, you will see tears.  I'm not really proud of that but for some reason my feelings get hurt very very easy!  There are a lot of cruel people in this world and sadly some of the people we are closest too are the worst.  Always remember, when you are standing in front of someone, you have no idea what life has brought their way or what trials they have been through.  You will meet people throughout life that you may never meet again and at their very moment your tongue can do a lot of damage.  Most of us when we go to our jobs have to put away everything else going on in our lives and put a smile on our face and be someone we really are not , in other words fake it.  Remember, what you see on the outside of a person is not always what is felt on the inside.  The above says a lot, "the prettiest smiles hide the deepest scars, the prettiest eyes have cried the most tears, and the kindest heart has felt the most pain."  Trust me when I say this, one word can do so much damage.  Please think before you speak, and for those of you who believe that it's okay to speak your mind or say whatever you want, it's NOT.  Yes, it could be true, that is who you are but that is NOT how God would have you to be.  Colossians 4:6 says, "Let your speech be always with grace,  seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man."  In other words, everything you say should be kind and well thought out so that you know how to answer everyone in the appropriate way.  Just like most of our parents have always said, "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all."  All of you that believe , that it's "who your are" to speak your mind , remember this,  people see you as hurtful, cruel, heartless and most of all they will not want to be anywhere near you, so you are going to live a very lonely life and honestly I bet you already are!!  


Please just remember, you have no idea what is going on in peoples lives, be careful , not hurtful with your tongue.  Proverbs 25:11 says, "a word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver".  The people you run into everyday, whether it be the clerk at the store, the teller at the bank, or even your co-workers, friends and family members can be affected so much by that one little word that came out of your mouth at that very moment, be careful because that could make a big difference in someones life that day.  


Control your tongues, I know I am trying everyday.  How about you?

Is there such a thing as "good stress?"

Many people these days have alot of stress in their lives, including myself.  Now a days the mothers are having to work more to help support their families and less time at home with their kids.   If you are a family that has kids then you understand the meaning of stress.  I believe as a mother of two boys and a job things get a little crazy at times and you feel like you are so stressed out that you can not go on. In my house it seems I stress about alot but of course I am a worrier but what Mom isn't , right?  I work some mornings and way too many evenings so at night when I am working I am missing alot with my boys.   When working mornings, since my boys go to a private school (one of the main reasons I work) I have to figure out a way to get the boys to school and myself to work on time, then its time to make sure I get there in time to pick them up, which is always stressful because speeding is NOT a good thing, ha. 

 Since my boys are involved in several things which I am always encouraging, this adds to more stress. Both my boys are in the band at school playing the trumpet and have private lessons, so its always, "Don't forget your Trumpet". 

They have PE 2 or 3 times a week so it's always "Don't forget your PE clothes".  My oldest son is involved in sports at school so it is always "Don't forget your practice clothes".  Then it's the worry about how will I get him picked up from practice or games. Will I be able to go to the games or will I have to work?  It stresses me out having to miss so many of their activities because of work but I guess that's just part of life right now that I am praying really hard to be able to change.  

Then, of course, there is the everyday stress of making sure the homework is done, or they study for upcoming tests or quizzes and all their school projects get completed on time.

Their school has a Fine Arts competition every year where they can participate and perform in different categories such as speeches, band, choirs, trumpet performances and there are always so many deadlines.  This also includes the stress of making sure all the deadlines are met and the fees are paid.  We have to find the speeches they are going to do and memorize them, which means alot of practice and alot of time needed.  We have to find music pieces for them to preform and find the time to practice.  With me working at night it makes it very difficult and stressful for us to get it all done.


There is always the stress of making sure you are raising them up according to God's word.  Always making sure we are in church when we are suppose to be , that we are praying like we should be and standing up for what we believe in.  It is always very stressful wondering if once your kids leave the house and go out into the world if they are doing as you have taught them and as God would have them do.  The Bible says in Proverbs 22:6 , Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. It is very stressful thinking about their future and if you raised them to grow up and be successful, happy and just good Godly men!! 

Then you have to celebrate their Birthdays, so there are birthday parties to plan.  With this includes, invitations, birthday cakes , decorations, games, junk food and just a whole lot of preparation and STRESS. 

Oh and then of course there is Christmas!!  What a stressful time of year.  We go out and buy things that our kids have asked for and spend money we don't have. We worry about whether or not they will like it ,  should we spend the money.  If we don't buy it for them will they be upset? Will it make their Christmas horrible?  Of course meanwhile during this stressful time of year, the Dads are on the couch doing what they do best and not worry one little bit that Christmas will soon be here and not one gift has been bought.  Now let me say this, not all Dad's are like that so forgive me if some of you Dad's actually help out. 

All of you Mom's out there know how stressful it is to have kids and a job and get everything done and still have time to enjoy them and life.  Your life gets put to the side and if you are married so does your marriage, which marriage itself is stressful but that's a whole other story.

Now to answer the question , Is there such a thing as "good stress?" I say yes!!  All of the things above that I just spoke about is everything that I live for everyday.  Yes it is stressful, but it is a good kind of stress because all of those things in my life bring me so much joy and happiness!  All of those things are what being a Mom is all about and I would not give up any of it.  The stress is good, because the end result is always so amazing. When you hear your kids say , "thanks Mom and Dad for working so hard so we can go to a private school", the stress is so worth it.  They will say,"thanks Mom for coming to my games or helping me with my school projects" , then the stress is so worth it.  My boys will thank me for taking the time to plan their Birthday parties and make Christmas so special and perfect, and that makes the stress so worth it.  Most importantly they will thank us for raising them in a Godly home and teaching them the right things to do to succeed in life.  All of these, thank you's make all of the stress really worth it and really GOOD.  So yes there is such a thing as good stress and I am so glad I have it in my life!!  Happy Stressing my friends.