Sorry, it's been awhile...

My parents took the three oldest kids for the week and so I have only had 1. What a crazy time that was. What did I ever do with myself when I "only" had one child?? Actually, she didn't have anyone to entertain her so in a way it was more difficult.

So, I have so much to talk about but can't right now. I will though. Soon.

Jen

Tithe challenge

For a while now I have stopped tithing. I looked at my bills and then the cost of tithe and decided I really couldn't afford it. Lately I have been having so much financial hardship that it has really opened my eyes. Maybe I should be faithful. Maybe I should listen to the voice inside me telling me I should do this again. Don't get me wrong- I'm not saying these things have happened because I have not tithed, I just think I may have missed out on many blessings because of my unfaithfulness. From now on, after each and every check, no matter whether I think I can afford it or not, I WILL tithe. I'm not saying this to boast AT ALL. I am doing it as a beginning of a testamony. I know this is the very beginning for me. Even if nothing amazing happens- I know I am being obedient. So, I will update on this matter again. This in no way is to make myself look good, but only to show how our God is faithful. Whether I have a lot of money or close to nothing I know that I am blessed.

:)

Jen

Facing the lies with truth...

Due to recent things going on in my life I have started to have a bad attitude. In this attitude I realize I have been lying to myself. I have been listening and believing these lies. Therefore, I'm going to face them and then replace it with truth....

I am a bad mother.... I am a wonderful mother. I love my kids and would do anything and everything for them. I will raise them in the way they need to be raised. I will be a good example to them. I will pray for them and be there for them. I will forgive them when they do wrong and praise them when they do good. I will lift them up when they are down and I will not overbear them with too many expectations. I will teach them to reach for their goals and always do the best they can do. I will be proud of them whether they become a doctor or a hair stylist.

I am a bad wife... I am a good wife. I love my husband and will do anything and everything for him. I will love him no matter what. I will pray for him and believe in him. I will hold my hand out for him to hold onto and I will not point my finger at him in accusation. I will come to him with problems, I will listen to his counsil. I will believe in him. I will gently speak the truth to him when he's wrong. I will step back and not smother him when I think he should do things my way. I will be proud of him.

I'm a bad housekeeper.... Even though I am almost always behind in laundry, dishes, vacuuming, dusting, decluttering, mopping and sweeping.... hey...I'M A BAD HOUSEKEEPER!! That's okay, I can do better. www.flylady.com I can do it. I CAN do it.

My finances are a wreck and I will get ahold of them. I can work and save and pay off. I can do without things. I don't HAVE to have a starbucks. Folgers will do.

I have been way too negative lately. I have decided to change my mindset. I can do this. I cannot do this alone. I will ask for help when needed.

There. I feel better

Jen

A Typical Jen story

This happened about 9 months ago, but I thought I would share.

I have a problem with returning things like movies from the movie place and books from the library. I am waiting for amnesty day. I missed it the last 2 years, so maybe this year will be my year!! Anyways- I had been getting some phone calls from the library **reminding** me to return my books. I was getting tired of them calling and just wanted them to leave me alone. I have got to return them on amnesty day because that way I won't have to pay a fine. SO, the phone rings one day and on the caller ID it says something about Shelby County. Great, I thought. They are calling me AGAIN. Here is the conversation.

THEM: Hello, is Jennifer A** there?
ME: No, she's not here right now, can I take a message?
THEM: Well, this is the nurse from Jake's school and I needed to talk to her.
ME: (Panicking inside because I can't just turn around and say Hahaha, just kidding- it's me). I'll try to get ahold of her and have her call you back.

So I get off the phone and am wondering what to do. I had to know what she was calling for- what if Jake was sick or something happened? I start calling people here in Alabama seeing if they could call for me- but no one is home. Last resort, I called an Arizona friend and thank goodness she was able to call for me. Here is that phone call.

HER: Yes, this is Jennifer A*, Jakes mom. I'm returning a call from the school nurse.
NURSE: Hello! I just wanted to let you know that Jake has pink eye and you need to come get him from school.
HER: Oh, okay. Is he okay?
NURSE: He's fine. Here, do you want to talk to him?
HER: (Very fast) Oh no, I'm coming right now.

Can you imagine if Jake had got on and realized that it was not me on the phone, just someone pretending to be me? So I go to the school and walk in and Jake's sitting in the office. Here's THAT conversation.

ME: I'm here to get Jake.
SECRETARY: Okay, just sign this..yadda yadda yadda
ME: SO, do I need a doctor's note to get him back into school or what?
SECRETARY: Just do whatever the nurse told you to do.
ME: Oh, I didn't talk to the nurse.....(pause)....(saying kind of fast so I can get out of there) Except for when I just got off the phone with her before I came. Okay, thanks!

Then we high-tailed it out of there.

The moral of the story is to ALWAYS return your library books :)

Jen

He came home with WHAT??

A couple weeks ago Jake came home with something on and I was like what!!??? While to some this may not be a big deal- to us here in Alabama it IS. He came home with an Auburn jersy shirt on.......

We are NOT an Auburn family, we are 100% ALABAMA fans. To those of you who don't know- Alabama and Auburn are both in Alabama and here you are either for one or the other, they are rivals. We have chosen our team and now we have to stick to it. Jake was like "I'm for both teams." I said "nooooooooo" You can't be for both teams. Like the Bible says- kind of- you cannot serve 2 masters. You will love one and hate the other. It just doesn't work. So we had a talk and he will NOT be wearing that shirt again.

Hahahaha, all this in good fun really. If he chose to go for the ...other....team, I would still claim him as my son. He would just have to walk 5 paces behind me. Just kidding. Honestly- It's just something fun to do. My life will go on whether they win or lose, so whatever. ;)

Jen