Here is the link to my interview on Live at 5 at 4.

http://www.wbir.com/video/default.aspx?maven_playerId=sect_laf&maven_referralObject=1122874605

I am thrilled, grateful and honored to have my first book “Finding the Me in MomMe” selected as May’s book selection for Chick Chat. If you are not familiar with LOVE 89.1, they are a local Christian radio station that is completely listener funded. They play awesome, inspiring Christian music.

Their morning co-host Marisa has a segment called Chick Chat on Thursday mornings at 8:10 am. Her book selection for the month of May is my book for busy moms and another book for those who aren’t moms, but have one.

God is so great and I am thankful for His goodness.

Here is a link to my interview with the Knoxville News Sentinel.

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2009/apr/01/real-life-reads/

April 8th 2010 - East Maryville Baptist Church MOPS

April 8th 2010 - Grace Baptist Church MOPS

May 19th 2010 - 1st Presbyterian Church, Chattanooga, TN MOPS

How many of you have made New Years’ Resolutions? I have made a few. Some are the same ones that I make every year - this will be the year that I will finally look like Cindy Crawford, drink half my body weight in ounces of water everyday, excercise, eat more tofu and less chocolate. Well, we will see how that goes.

If you notice, most of these resolutions have to do with beauty and trying to look a certain way. I believe that we put such a high value on outward beauty that we forget to look at a person’s inward beauty. We use the old addage and “judge books by their covers” and we never get to know what is on the inside pages of a person’s heart. I have been guilty of this more times than I care to mention.

As I look forward to 2009, I want to focus on so many things, especially the ones that don’t include tofu and exercise. I want my heart to be healthy - having a love for others. I want to have a healthy smile - encouraging the ones that God places in my path with my words and my smile. I want to have healthy eyes - focusing on other’s inward beauty and trying to see people in the way that God sees them. I want to be the person that God has planned for me to be and fulfill the purposes that He has laid in my heart - whatever that looks like.

I would love to know some of your resolutions and maybe we can learn some things from each other!

This time of year can bring out the best and the worst in people, myself included. We get warm, fuzzy feelings when we see Hallmark commercials or hear songs like “Christmas Shoes” and then when someone wants to get in line in front of us, we almost run them over with our cart, or even worse our car.  I know we all have heard the need for us to remember the true meaning of Christmas, but that can be easier said than done. When we are running from one Christmas party to the next, shuffling our kids from one recital or game to another or searching relentlessly for that perfect gift for someone who really won’t even appreciate it - those are the times that we must make a conscious effort to remember that we can’t spell Christmas without Christ. He is the reason for this wonderful time of year. He is the reason that our lives have any meaning at all.

So as we go along the next week or so eating too much chocolate, falling in bed at night from sheer exhaustion and getting up in the morning even more tired than when we went to bed, please take a few minutes to thank God for the best gift of all - His son Jesus and the perfect gift of our salvation! That’s the true meaning of Christmas!

As I review my calendar for this upcoming week and see all the plans that my family is scheduled to do, I can’t help but think about how crazy our schedule can get - if it is not kept under control. The girls are getting their hair cut on Tuesday and donating it to Locks of Love (their idea and their way of being thankful, for hair.) We are going to the Fantasy of Trees and also to Dixie Stampede. My entire family is coming over on Thursday as we celebrate being thankful for each other. We have friends coming in town this weekend for the football game.

But during all of these “plans”, I want to make a conscious effort to be grateful for my amazing girls, my fantastic husband, my awesome family, our great health, our finances, my great friends and most importantly God’s gift of His son Jesus and my relationship with Him. I don’t want this week to rush by without hugging my girls, telling my family that I love them and telling my husband how grateful I am that I am his wife and my friends how thankful I am for them putting up with me

When we worry about getting the turkey just right, who is going to sit by who at dinner on Thursday, will everyone get along? and will I eat too many carbs (as usual) I want to remember the important things and that is God is in control (so its His fault if the rolls are burned.) I want to take the time to remember to thank Him for His gift of His son Jesus. Everything is from Him and I am grateful for His many blessings in my life.  Please take the time this week to thank Him for your blessings and please pray for those that may not be having as great of Thanksgiving as us.

I would also love to know what you are thankful for. Please respond back and share what you are grateful for this year!

Have a blessed Turkey Day!

The girls have been back in school for a couple of weeks now and the routine is already being re-established. My baby started Kindergarten and is beginning to adjust to her little world being rocked. As I was praying for my girls this morning, it hit me that for the first time in 10 years, I am not raising a pre-schooler. I am now a free woman from 7:45 - 2:45 everyday. This has not been the case in over a decade. As I pondered what I would do with all this “extra” time, the dryer buzzed, the dishwasher ended, and the washing machine finished it’s cycle. I realized that life is still the same - a little quieter - but who I am and what I do everyday does not change. I am grateful to be God’s child, knowing my life is in His hands and He is in control of my time. God also reminded me of the scripture that says “whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Cor. 10:31 I am serving Him as I wash dishes and do the laundry because I am serving my family! What an awesome opportunity and blessing to know that I am where He wants me doing what He has called me to do.

I just wanted to encourage some moms who may think that your work at home is meaningless. God says that He knows those who trust in Him and is close to all who call on Him. I pray that today you will call on Him and know that whatever you are doing, do it for the glory of God!

Well, my girls started back to school yesterday - complete with hair anxiety, heavy backpacks and a new sister along for the ride! Reagan started Kindergarten and had a blast. I just hope her teacher enjoyed her 1st day back too.

I guess school starting back marks the end of Summer. I for one LOVE Summer. I love the pool, going to the beach and having relaxing mornings with my girls. But during my prayer time this morning, I reflected on this Summer and the great times that we had. God showed me that just as in life, it’s just a season. We can have our favorites, but they still only last for a season. We must accept the change (whether it’s in the weather or in our circumstances) and embrace the new things that God has in store for us. Some seasons are more fun than others, but without the different ones in our lives, we wouldn’t be able to see God’s glory as vivid. He brings us sunny days in the Summer, the changing of the leaves in the Fall, snow in the Winter and new flowers and buds in the Spring. All the seasons are necessary (just as in life) for God to work His wonders in our lives.

This doesn’t mean that I am counting the days til the first frost, but I am hopeful of the things to come and grateful for His work in my life.

Well, we are home from our annual trek to Myrtle Beach. We had an absolute blast! We stayed at a new place this year and it was fantastic! I wish I could say that it was relaxing, but we played too much to relax.

Our 13th anniversary was the 22nd, so we went to dinner as usual to celebrate. Only this time we had all 3 girls with us - but it was still very nice.

I am so thankful to God for the time to get away with my husband and girls and have fun! Now it is back to reality and I am jumping back in with both feet - now if I could only find my feet under the mountains of laundry.