When my oldest son Jack was 2, he would often fall asleep in hard to find places, the dog bed, a dresser drawer, in the closet, you name it – In an effort to find him, I was always saying with a LOUD Voice, Jack Pletka . . . COME HERE!

One day when we were out shopping, a lady knelt down and asked him his name, and with a resounding confidence he said:  “My name is Jack Pletka Come Here! ” I about died with laughter.  He thought that was his name.

While that’s a cute story, often times we think we may have the answer to something we feel strongly about.  An idea that needs no counsel, because it seems like a no brainer.  But you may be wrong.  Just like Jack, confidently telling the lady his name was “Come Here”  often times we may have a plan in our head – that seems to fit like a circle in a round hole;  just because it fits, doesn’t mean it’s the correct answer for you.

Step back, talk it out, pray it out!  Talk to friends who may have well thought-out advice on the subject.  Your kids may be dating a GOOD guy, but maybe not the RIGHT guy.  You may be placing your life savings into a GOOD idea, but not a GOD idea. This will make a huge impact on the story board of your life.  Pause, seek good counsel and like Phil. 4:6-7 says:   Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses ALL understanding, will guard your hearts and minds.

When I was 14, my parent’s started a business, in hopes of one day, providing a better future for the 4 of us. Times were tough and tight, but we stuck together; nothing was going to bring us down. With all the trucks, inventory, employees and building expenses, we went from eating bologna sandwiches to fried potatoes.  Which, to this day I am still fond of.

Life, by all accounts had little margin, money was tight and time was even tighter.  As the years went by, the business grew, but so did the bills.  It typically takes 5 years to get a business off the grown and soaring; In 3 years, we were hovering.  When it was time for me to go college, I know my dad was sweating.  There was no money for school.  We thought of all the ways we could make the money.  We thought of every thing known to man, seriously.  But each idea fell short . . . it felt hopeless.

That’s when my mom began to pray.  She prayed Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Isaiah 55:9  As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts greater than yours.  I’m glad HIS ways and ideas are greater.  God has to really be on his game . . .  if he’s gonna think of something greater than my ideas, because my imagination is pretty “up there.”

So guess what happened?  You’re not gonna believe this.  5 years earlier, the Judge in our town, a friend of my dad’s, had asked him to handle the finances of a Vietnam Veteran who had medical problems and needed help paying his bills.  My dad went above those obligations and began taking him to buy groceries, helping him shop for clothes, took him to doctors appointments and just helped the guy out, as life became more of a struggle.

Three months before college enrollment, the Judge called my dad into his chambers and said:  “We have a problem.”  The estate had not paid my dad for the last 5 years, for taking the Veteran from here to there and there to here.  Dad had no idea he was suppose to be paid for mileage, which added up to over $18,000 dollars.  Bam, my first year of college was paid in full. See, you can think of all the different ideas and ways of how something is gonna play out, but if you just pray about everything, presenting your requests to God, you’ll find peace that passes all understanding; his ways will be greater than yours, and he may send you someone named:  Jack Pletka Come Here -  to tell you that everything is gonna be alright!

Here’s to giving God the chance to write the Story Board of Your Life!

Technology is fabulous, until it replaces the “Personal Side of Life.”

Webster’s dictionary defines “Fellowship” as:  a mutual sharing of an experience, activity or interest, companionship, a brotherhood / sisterhood.

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I’m not talking about chit chat . . .  “How have you been, how are the kids?  blah blah blah? I mean good old fashion deep conversations, pee in your pants laughter . . . accountability, parents sharing with other parents, grandparents spending quality time with their grand kids. We all need human contact, eye ball to eye ball . . . to have those (I know what you mean, kind of conversations) where the longer you talk, the more you can relate, bond and get that A HA Moment.  We all need that sense of belonging to something greater than ourselves.

The other day my friend Shelly wrote me a handwritten letter, something I honestly had not received in years.  I’m used to seeing bills and junk mail, not a hand written letter penned personally to me.  She put stickers on it, recalling funny moments and conversations we’ve had.  It meant a lot. I sat on the couch reading and laughing as my kids kept asking . . . why are you laughing mom?  Who is it?  What is it?

I was on hold with our local bank,  a while back and couldn’t get to a real person to save my life.  Press 1 for this . .  press 2 for that . . press 15 for customer service . . . but 15 wouldn’t work, so I pressed 0 and it would only repeat the recording.  So I waited . . . and waited.  27 minutes into the annoying office music, I had to pee so bad I couldn’t wait.  So I ran to the bathroom, and as I flushed, the recording said:  I’m sorry – I do not understand this message.  Goodbye!

Let me tell you, I saw STARS.  Lord knows, at that point, if a human had answered, I would have burned their ears off.  All this would have been resolved if a real person had answered the phone in the first place.  We will always have the need for human contact, a real voice on the other line, telling us it’s gonna be ok, a pat on the back that we’re doing a good job, a hug, a smile, validation that all is well. My sister and I do this for each other all the time.  I need her, she needs me and after a good conversation, the one who was “off track” is back on board again, whistling a toon.

With Facebook, twitter, email and all the technology we have today, I see less of my friends.  And I take total responsibility.  Before Facebook, I had an Annual Fall Party to catch up and see everyone.  I have a core group of friends that met monthly for GRITS Night (Girl’s Raised in the South) that lasted hours.  Now that I sort of know what is going on in their lives, I somehow felt released from making the effort to get together.  And it has made me miss the girls in my life, the closeness, the laughter, the sharing, the . . .  ”everybody talks at once and we still heard what everyone said” kind of fellowship.

My father-in-law (Grandpa Jeff) is a happy guy.  He’s loyal, friendly and laughs a lot.  Now this didn’t come by happenstance.  He’s surrounded himself with good friends that meet weekly.  He has hunting buddies, fishing buddies and because of this, for him – life is happier and fuller.

When we don’t connect, we feel as if we’re alone.  You’re not the only one with a teething baby who cries all day, but you may feel like it.  You’re not the only one with a rebellious teenager going thru a crazy streak, a business situation that looks bleak, a sibling who never reaches out or a child with a medical diagnosis that looks grim.  You’re not the only one dealing with job changes, divorce, piling bills, spouses going back to school or “Doing Life” on your own.  But without fellowship, we isolate ourselves, and often times we feel as though we’re the only one.

Ecclesiastes 1:9 says There is nothing new under the sun.  What has been, will be again, what has been done will be done again.

So pick up the phone, write a letter, email your core group of friends and plan a “girl’s / guy’s Night Out.  Join a tennis team, a book club, a bible study, go fishing or golfing with a buddy.  And to technology that keeps us away from “Doing Life with others” just say: Sorry, I don’t understand this message:  Goodbye! Here’s to great relationships, life and laughter.

Proverbs 17:22 A merry heart is good like a medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones.

Has your life’s Exclamation Point . . . become an Exasperation Point?  The highlights of life can be sabotaged by discontentment, discouragement and frustration.  Sometimes we have to re-arrange the way we do things, in order to boost the energy we need to catapult us to greatness.

When I worked in PR, everyday was crazy, exciting, unpredictable and full of “pats” on the back or “kicks” in the butt; one way or the other, you knew where you stood.  Raising children is a little different.  Often times, nothing too exciting happens during the day – from teaching them Math and having late night talks, to throwing in some “moral character” with a splash of discipline and fun activities.  I’ve worn the heels, gone from suits to sweats and am now somewhere in the middle.

On any given day, I find myself researching a new business venture, catching up on 6 loads of laundry, emailing friends to plan girl’s night out, having a conference call with other moms to discuss a class party, while thinking about how I’m gonna cook chicken for the 3rd time this week, when it occurred to me:  Is this my life?  Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy, the deep kind of happy that a few bad days or set of circumstances can’t steal.

But my life needed a tune up, like a musical instrument or attitude adjustment.  I love my husband; he’s very supportive, loving and fun to be around, and as a bonus, he’s good looking.  I have a small core of really good friends.  I have 4 kids that are loud, fun and interesting.  My life is full, but I knew with the tools and resources I had, things could be better.  I laid on the bed one day and just explained to John how I felt.

WITHOUT fear or threat that perhaps he had not provided a good life for us, he did a little research (another great quality of his – thoughtfulness) and by morning handed me a book, that has taken me on quiet an interesting journey, to fine-tune my happiness from mediocre to deep contentment, where people want to know why you’re smiling.   My quest began with:  The Happiness Project, a book by Gretchen Rubin.

I’ve heard it said:  When a student is ready to learn, the teacher will appear.  Happiness is a state of mind.  Per Webster’s dictionary, happiness is a state of well being, a feeling of contentment, joy, satisfaction or pleasure.

I felt this, but not to its full capacity.  My mom is always reminding me that my calling here on this earth (no matter what position I hold in or outside the home) is to invest in the hearts of my children.  It’s not about recognition, fighting for a position on the corporate ladder, the need to feel appreciated by the outside world or add another gold star to my collection, but it’s about devoting your time and energy into raising healthy, Godly, well adjusted children that will go into the world with confidence, knowledge, and a sense of community.

But in order to do this, Mama needs to be happy!  And if Mama ain’t happy, well . . . you get the gist.  The first category in the Happiness Project is:  To Boost Your Energy.  To be honest, I’ve never been so tired in my entire life.  Before kids, I trained for a marathon, raced in triathlons and had endless energy.  Now, it’s a different story.

“The Happiness Project” lists 4 things that are needed to “Boost Your Energy:

1) Go to Sleep Earlier

2) Exercise Better

3) Toss, Restore and Organize

4) Tackle a Nagging Task Early

I don’t know about you, but all my life, I’ve gone to bed late, put exercise on my “To Do” List (and rarely crossed it off).  I allow that pesky task to haunt me all day (hoping it will just go away – of course it gets bigger and steals my joy).

It’s like a perfect storm – just as the kids are saying “Mom I’m Hungry (after they just ate) you open the closet – and out springs jackets, scarves and a skate board into the floor, about the time the door bell rings and unexpected company has arrived.  Yikes.  You feel conquered, overwhelmed and under pressure.  Then comes the guilt . . . I’m a terrible mom, how will my kids turn out . . . whaaa whaaaa whaaaa!

1st Month’s Challenge

Challenge 1) Sleep Earlier:

I began going to bed earlier.  Can you say:  Hard.  I starred at the ceiling and noticed all the blinking lights in the room, from the phone to the clock to my lap top, it was like the “Vegas Strip.”  Some people count sheep:  I was counting loads of laundry.  Your body has to be reprogrammed.  But with my next challenge, sleep came earlier and sleep came easier.

Challenge 2) Exercise Better:

I’ve never liked waking up early.  My dad always said “the Sunrise is so Beautiful.” I figure the Sunset looks much like the Sunrise, so I’m ok with that.  But, in order to exercise better, I began taking the kids to school, so I could just keep going – head downstairs and begin working out.  The first week, I didn’t like it.  I felt angry, tired.  The “Work Out” guy’s voice on the DVD annoyed me. But then I created my favorite playlist on my ipod, for better motivation.  Now that I’ve created this routine, I enjoy the time for me.  Plus, when 6:30am rolls around, my eyes just pop open.  Your body gets use to what it knows, getting up and working out.

Challenge 3) Toss, Restore and Organize:

My bedroom closet had become  “Central Station” for things that didn’t have a name, a home or description.  Honestly, I found things I should have taken a picture of and tried to figure out its name on Google.

I had a hard time letting go of comfortable underwear – the kind your mom says you NEVER want to be wearing if you end up in the Emergency Room.  It was hard giving away those red shoes you’ve never worn, but are waiting to find that fantastic dress to match it.

I found parts to toys I didn’t know we had, books I’ve never read,  snack wrappers, gifts that had never been given. . . . and the list goes on.  It took 3 days to cleanse my closet, but in the process , it cleansed my mind.  I found 10 incredible outfits to choose from vs. dredging through piles and baskets of wrinkled things, to discover one sock, jeans I couldn’t wear or a bad concert t-shirt.  Difficulties like this, make your head hurt, especially when you’re in a hurry and need to be somewhere 10 minutes ago.

Challenge 4) Tackle a Nagging Task Early:

Between emails I needed to write, bills that needed to be paid, a conversation that needed to be had or a mess that needed to be cleaned, it haunted my thoughts all day.  It drove me crazy.  Now, I wake up, conquer the the task and feel good about the VICTORY, early on.

Motherhood is NOT easy.  Have you ever spun so many plates or juggled so many schedules?

Probably not, but it’s also Fulfilling and Fun.  Your cup is not full, it’s Overflowing. And if someone came in right now and said:  “I’ll take your place if you’re not happy”  We would karate chop them into a million pieces.  It’s ok to complain, but it’s most important to jump back on the saddle.  Lord willing, this position is for many years to come, thus we need to find that Deep Happiness and Contentment, so when we’re teaching our kids “Life’s Lessons” we’ll find ourselves – Whistling While We Work.

Wanna Boost Your Energy?  Start with you!  You are the family’s “Hub of Communication” the CEO of your household.  Take charge . . . GIRLS!  In cleaning those closets and exercising for you, you’ll feel Accomplished, Organized and Victorious.  Rid your life of Exasperation Points and Make them Exclamation Points to your Happiness! You are More than Conquerors.

Scripture:  Phil 4: 11-13

I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength.

Dr. Suess wrote: Oh the Places You Go . . One of those stops, is the Waiting Place!

Waiting is typically associated with boredom, nothing to do, sort of a wasted space in time.  It can be lonely.  Waiting is definitely not the “Life of the Party.”  No one is jumping up and down, saying, Me Me, can I Wait? It just doesn’t happen.

Don’t you hate to wait?   Waiting for a date to come,

the leaves to turn, the wind to blow, your brain to learn, waiting for a cup of joe, waiting for the grass to grow.

The dictionary defines Waiting as:  to remain stationary, in readiness or expectation, to rest in patience.  I went away on a girl’s 3 day weekend, no ipod, no gadet distractions, but part of the trip was to go out into nature, clear your mind, think, pray and just Be.  It was quiet hard to do NOTHING.  Us women are multitaskers; it’s in our blood to keep the balls juggling’ and the plates spinning’.

After 10 minutes, my mind was empty, except for a long list of to do’s:  buy groceries, fix the car, take Molly to soccer practice, write a story, pay the bills and, well, you get the gist.  I had nothing in my brain to think about, but logistics.  But as I sat there, the clutter and busy-ness began to fade, my brain began to clear and like the sun peeking through the clouds, I began to see things differently. . .

Be still and know that I am God.  Psalms 46:10

We hurry through life and forget to WAIT . .  be still, listen to the birds, smell the roses, get in the floor with the kids, erase the schedule and just be.  You’ll be amazed out how your priorities, your outlook on life will change.

Suddenly, the birds you never heard before, get louder.  The smell of roses get stronger and your life perspective begins to line up.  Those high priorities of work, women’s meetings, charity events and all-day house cleaning marathons don’t have the same importance as they did before.

Like death, taxes and the poor . . . laundry and dirty dishes will be with you ALWAYS.  Our children won’t be young forever, they won’t always be willing to hang with us.  Jump on the tire swing, listen to what they have to say, take a nice walk and wait in readiness and expectation for what is to come.

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Embrace the quietness, for in it, your thoughts, dreams and goals will begin to re-arrange themselves and all the important things will rise to the top and those that aren’t, well . . . they’ll begin to fade.  Take the time to wait, for in doing so . . . Oh, the places you will go!

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The dictionary defines Fearless as: Brave, courageous, unflinching, free, bold, adventurous, triumphant! The opposite of Fearless is Fear, which brings worry, doubt, anxiety and apprehension.

When I was 8 years old, I spent the night at my grandma’s farm house.  She lived in the middle of a 100 acre hay field, with creaky doors and tall 10 foot windows that started at the floor and went to the ceiling.  The light switch was a dangling light bulb that hung over the bed, you know the kind you have to stand up in the center of the mattress and search for in mid-air and then pull a string.  During lightening storms, the house shook, lighting up the entire room and darkness was Pitch Black!

One night, during a storm, I was notified it was bed time.  I tried to walk bravely to bed, but lightening struck and so did my FEAR, right into my throat.  I leaped from the door to the bed in about 2 jumps.  As I laid there, I noticed across the room, what appeared to be a large monster standing over my bed.  I starred it down, and without moving, it just kept looking at me.  It didn’t move; I didn’t move.  I flew under the covers to hide and remained there for about 30 minutes, sweating and wondering if this THING standing over my bed had left.  I peeked over the blanket and to my dismay, it was STILL there.  I couldn’t scream, I couldn’t move.  I was being held prisoner in a dark room by something looking at me!

Finally, when I couldn’t take the FEAR (or the hot blanket any longer) courage rose and I jumped straight into the air, grabbing for the dangling light bulb overhead, ready to fight this thing for my life.  The bulb swung this way and that, before I finally wrestled it down and pulled the string.  To my amazement, someone had hung a trench coat and hat on my bed post! I was being held captive by a trench coat. I was terrified . . . sweating, hyperventilating, and ALL for NOTHING!

We imagine the worst in life:  turn on the news and the economy is taking a nose dive, TERRORism is in our backyard and jobs are being lost at a phenomenal rate.  Will our kids go to college, how will we pay the bills, should I take another job, downsize my home?  We form ideas and imaginations in our head, self fulfilling prophecies that life is not gonna be what we thought it would.  Maybe it’s not.

We cling to Fear like a nice warm coat and those invisible walls hold us, our thoughts and the opportunity our lives hold, Captive!  What if we lived life FREE from FEAR?  Jump out of bed and dive for that light switch, expose it, the lie for which it is and grab FEARLESS by the horns.

How awesome it would be, living life outside the box. Think how different your life could be, if instead of being scared and all tangled up inside (living life in the same old rut), you just started your own business, took another job, downsized your home (this could be an adventure), wrote down that bucket list and began conquering it, took a missions trip and discovered how you can help change the world!  Walk away from the lies of what man says you can and can’t do.

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Grab on to what God says:  All Things Are Possible to Him Who Believes.  Mark 9:23  Jump Fearlessly into the unknown, with no inhibitions!  Be FEARLESS! Life is what you make it.

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Scripture to Ponder:

Let us not become weary in well doing, for in due season (at the proper time), you will reap a harvest of blessings; just don’t give up.  Galatians 6:9

I can do ALL Things Through Christ, who gives me strength.  Phil 4:13

Suggested Reading:  Max Lucado’s Book – FEARLESS

Run the Race Set Before You

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Do you ever wake up and just feel out of whack?  Webster’s dictionary defines “out of whack” as,  well – it wasn’t in there, but the word “unbalanced” was:  and . . . well, you get the gist.We go to work, to school, do laundry, pay the bills, pay the piper and our list never quiet gets done.  It’s a cycle of sorts, and for the person who likes to see the list complete, done, never to return again, it’s a barrel of disappointment.

Life is a cycle. It ebbs and flows.  There’s highs and lows, kids with good and bad phases, jobs that “Rock” today and “Stink” tomorrow.  Football teams that win big and lose big and this . . . Well, this is Life!

But if we understand this process in life, we’ll understand that when we’re in the Valley, the pain and character we gain from this experience will allow the next train stop to be on the Mountain.  And when we’re on the Mountain, enjoy its beauty.  There is much to learn from all areas of life.  Life is a journey.  The end of the journey is just that, the end.  Usually the planning (all the stuff in the middle – much like a jelly filled donut) is the most exciting part.  Life is not a straight a line with easy answers, but more like a curve chart of “the answer could be this, but it may be that.”

Of course, no one said you have to enjoy the low points: the boss that’s a jerk, crazy employees, sick kids, unanswered prayers and lack of appreciation for those who make sure you have clean underwear, but know that it will get better.  It’s the cycle of life.

Hebrews 12:1 says:  Since we are surrounded by witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders or entangles, and run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

(Translation:  Start running and never quit)!

Webster’s dictionary defines boundaries as:  Something that indicates a LIMIT; a property line. Remember the adage, “Give them an inch and they’ll take a mile.?”  It’s true.  From kids to co-workers, family members and friends alike, if you don’t set a firm boundary and learn to say “NO”, you’ll find yourself frazzled.

Ever notice how sweet a person can be when you say the word “yes” to their request or project.  It’s like seeing a little girl skipping through the meadow.  Cue the music,  The person you said “yes” to is so happy, but the minute you say  “no” it’s like a scratch on a record, a slow motion deep voice sound in their ears, nnNNNOOOO! – it’s not going to be pretty. If they’re a true friend, when they hear the word “no” they should respect it and move on.  If they’re not, they will not respect it and you’ll see a facial expression to match it.  It’s as if you’ve snatched a lollipop from a 2 year old . . . it may not be pretty.

‘NO” is one of the smallest words on earth, but one that can wreak the most havoc. Tell a baby NO, and watch them scream, roll on the floor and pitch a fit. Tell an adult “NO” and they may have a similar reaction, just a little more subtle.

People want to get rid of their responsibilities, so they try to throw them on you.  The whole world is like a game of “Hot Potato.”  If you catch it, there’s a good possibility that you’re gonna keep it and believe me, you’re not going hear from the “potato thrower” again.  They’re long gone.

This world is full of Yes-es.  Your boss gives you a project last minute, the class mom says you need to handle the Christmas Play. I’ve seen it time and time again.  We want to please people, to the detriment of our own lives.  You water and fertilize all those around you, except yourself.  But we can’t please everyone.  Heck, if we can please a third of the folks, we’re onto something.  There’s only 24 hours in a day, and we’ve got to sleep, work, eat, do homework, bathe kids, get lunches ready, go grocery shopping, COOK and the list goes on.

That’s not to say we shouldn’t be involved in a charity or out reach and help others when need be, that’s another article in itself, but when it causes you frustration, stress, anger and takes away from the time you should spend with your family, that’s a red flag to step back, pause and learn that 2 letter word, NO!

Did you know that the word “NO” is a complete sentence.  A friend taught me this once.  When you say “NO”, you don’t have to follow it up with other excuses:   Just say . . . No.  And with a smile, leave it at that. You owe no one a long reason behind your answer.  Besides, those really good manipulators will take the reason you give and move heaven and earth so YOU can STILL do it.  Don’t walk into that one.

Let peace be your guide.  I’ve found that when I don’t want to do something and say “yes” anyway, I try to justify that it is for a good cause and not that I caved in, was suckered in, because I was too scared of their reaction.  Your priority is to your family and those around you, come 2nd.

My choice to please, overwrote my chose to enjoy time with my family.  Do you NOT have enough on your “to do list”? I’ve never met a mom who’s “to do list” wasn’t a scroll.  Please, we’re not lacking for things to do in this world.  When you say “Yes” to something you should have said “NO” to, it’s like someone throwing you a bad cough and you’re catching it.  You have to take ownership of something that wasn’t your responsibility and it’s going to sideline you.

Jordan Sparks sings:  Love is a Battlefield, you better go and get your Armor, but you could also add that Protecting your Boundaries is a battlefield.  People are coming on all sides to get you to say “Yes.  “If you begin to say yes to things you should say no to, it becomes a weak link, on the wall of your castle, and before long, everyone will be scaling up the wall.

The world loves it when you say “Yes” because their list just got SHORTER!  If the person you say “NO” to, truly respects you, they’ll understand and move on.  The manipulators aren’t gonna like it; they’ll try to make you feel bad.  DON”T let them.

Time is something you will NEVER get back.  Water your garden, don’t feel obligated to water everyone else’s, out of guilt.  That would be for the wrong reason.  I’ve heard it said: You can never get back a word, after it’s said or time, after it’s spent.  Use your time wisely.

You have to protect your boundaries.  Protect the Fort.  Train others to respect them, but this also means we have to be consistent.  If one wall is weak, that is the door they will always try to enter.

Hold your ground, protect the FORT and learn how to say “NO.”  It’s a complete sentence that will give you your life back.

Recommended Reading:  by: Henry Cloud

Boundaries

Boundaries with Kids

Webster’s dictionary defines an advocate as:  a stand in, defender, promoter of another. Have you ever watched parents of a sick child or one with a disability, whether physical or mental?  They’ll do whatever it takes to make sure that child has all the resources they need to enter mainstream society, integrating their children into conventional classes and giving them every opportunity available.

They attend meetings, do research, create fundraisers, write letters and work tirelessly, along side the teachers and medical advisers as an advocate for their child.  There is no greater call or mission in life than to stand up for your children and give them the best opportunities available.  These moms are quiet impressive.

We need to be an advocate for our Children’s Spiritual well being.

If you’re not there for them, who will be?  No one will love or care for your children, like You will.  Nobody!

We have to stand in the gap for them and pray for their teachers, their friendships, their salvation, their protection, their character and integrity . . . who they will marry, and the list goes on. Once they board the school bus, they are physically out of your hands.

When you’re in the “carpool line” at school, Pray!  When you’re loading groceries in the “check out line” Pray!  You are their advocate, the one who has their best interest at heart.

Don’t be shy or passive when it comes to representing your children in any capacity.  They need you to be praying for them.  They need a defender who will pray for their present, their future, for the Lord to guard their hearts, so they will not bow to the wrong peer pressure, but to be confident individuals with all the resources they need to be the people God has called them to be.

Be their little voice, their defender.  If you don’t stand up for them, who will?

Lamentations 2:19

Pour out your heart like water before the face of the Lord.  Lift your hands toward Him . . . for the life of your young children.

Suggested Reading:  Power of a Praying Parent, by Stormie Omartian

My 7 year old son ran into the kitchen and said “Mom, the DisneyWorld commercial just said:  Kids go ask your mom to go on our website and play a game.”  I’m like, WHAT?  He said:  Yes mom, they were talking to ME.  Let’s go.

A few days later, “Mom, the commercial said go to the website and register to win $100,000 dollars.  We need to go now.”

And yet I had asked him to clean his room and put the dirty clothes in the laundry basket and NOTHING.   He immediately had no ears, no recollection, AMAZING, right?

But the minute I sneak a cookie out of a rattling bag and head to the back porch “BAM” . . . What are you eating . . . did I hear something rattle in the pantry?

Have you noticed that their ears quit working when the TV is on.  Instead of talking over it, just turn it off.  It’s amazing how their ears will return and be willing to do any task to get it turned back on.

I saw a woman on TV once that said her son was playing with matches and accidentally lit the broom on fire.  As he was urgently running through the house to tell his mom that the laundry room was on fire, he passed a TV with cartoons on, stopped and began watching them, losing all sense of thought and forgot about the fire.  Unfortunately the house burned to the ground.

So when you’re giving your little one a task or instructions, make sure you turn the TV off, cause Mama is in charge and if your competition is the TV, it will ALWAYS win.  But if you turn it off, it’s amazing how quickly their ears will return.

Does the TV have power over you, or do you have Power over IT?  Who’s  running the show?  Please send us your comments.

Have you ever wished you had a hover craft or felt the need for a helicopter to get where you need to go?  If so, Y-O-U . . .  MIGHT BE Too busy.

Does the inside of you car look like a vending machine blew up?  If so, You . . . MIGHT be Too busy.

Do you throw your kid off at soccer practice, just to screech into the parking lot 5 minutes late to drop off your ballerina?  If so, You . . . Might BE too busy.

If you’ve EVER fed your child a snack that you found underneath the car seat . . . ehhh You . . . Might Be Too Busy!

Slow down and re-access.  Re-schedule AND re-arrange. Like Sands of the Hourglass, these are the Days of Our Lives.  When you’re a kid, it seems like forever till your birthday comes.  As an adult, the hands on the clock are smoking’!!!  It’s March, then November then another birthday.  No matter how hard you slam on the brakes, time is ticking away and you’re another year older.  .  . and so are your kids.

Whether you work in or outside the home or wear polka dots on Tuesday, Time stands still for NO ONE.  My friend sent me this email the other day.  It said, there are some things you can never take back:

The word, after it’s said . . .

The occasion, after it’s missed . . .

Time, after it’s gone . . .

That hit me hard.  A few year’s ago, my husband and I each started new businesses and we were working hard to keep that gerbil wheel spinning, building clientele, increasing market share and establishing a presence in the community.

Then one day, after hearing my 1 1/2 year old say the occasional “Ma Ma and Daddy, he said a word that brought my life to a screeching halt, a word, this little fella had heard me say that cut me to the core.

He uttered the words:  BUSY!  BUSY!  BUSY!

It stopped me in my tracks.  I’ll never forget that moment as long as I live.  It made me cry that day.  Out of the mouth of babes!  I’m all for work and I was making great money, but I was burning the midnight oil at both ends, while trying to raise 3 kids under 1st grade.  We had little Quality time, and virtually no Quantity time.

But time was slipping away and I wasn’t using it wisely.  I sat down with my husband and we re-accessed, made a new plan, re-organized and rescheduled a few things.  It took a weekend of thinking outside the box, several sheets of paper and quite a few compromises, but once it was hashed out, it was like a light shown down from heaven; and we had such Peace on how we strategically planned to move forward in a New Way.

If you have a Dream, you can make it work, but it’s NOT gonna fall into your lap.  It may take blood, sweat and tears, but remember your priorities and fight for them:  God and Family.  There will always be people Johnny on the Spot, ready to fill your list with meaningless things that help themselves.

Learn to say NO.  Fight for your family, tear up that little BLACK BOOK that makes you a slave to too many daily activities and take the BUSY BUSY BUSY out of your life and fill it with things that produce FULFILLMENT, HAPPINESS, JOY AND  PEACE.

Here’s to a Better Life!