Strength

It's amazing how I find strength when I don't think I have anything left!  God is so good to me.  I really don't understand why He gives of Himself so much when I don't even deserve it!

It's funny (in a weird way, not haha! funny) how it's easier to see a husband in a hospital bed than it is to see your own child.  Having experienced both in these past 5 weeks, I didn't realize how helpless I felt until I saw Ryan lying in his bed with his hospital gown on awaiting surgery.  I didn't cry though.  How could I?  He kept cracking joke after joke.  I'm glad he was so calm, it kept me calm.  As I was sitting in the waiting room, I was pondering many things.  Like, why was I there by myself?  Why wasn't Rich there waiting with me?  We have been blessed beyond what we could ever dream to have so many friends and family offering to help in every way throughout our hospital ordeals.  Why had I not thought about getting the kids taken care of that morning so he could have been there with us?  At that very minute that I was thinking on these things-- it's like God was listening to me and sent a friend, Anthony, to sit with me.  Thank you God for those little things that are a big deal to me!  Well, I survived the surgery.  I guess I should say "we" survived.  Ryan was a trooper.  Except for the times he was asking for pain medication, he was still cracking us up.  We made it home and I slept for 4 hours!  Guess I was a little tired.  =]

I'm grateful for my relationship with my loving Father that allows me to get through anything that He places before me!

My sister Pam

Even though my sister Pam is 14 years older than me, we share such a special connection that I don't have with my other siblings.  I don't remember her being around the house when I was growing up, but they tell me she used to babysit me while our mom worked.  Maybe that's why we get along so well.  I love all the time that I get to spend with her.  We both share a love of our Lord, our husbands, our families, our friends and all the simple pleasures in our lives that make us smile.

She is my all-time favorite garage sale-ing, flea marketing and antiquing person!  We both love the hunt and we both get so excited when we find that little something special that warms our heart!  When others are with us, they just stare at us as we bubble over with excitement.  It's so funny because I can walk around the corner, see what she has and automatically be jealous that I didn't find it first and happy for her to find something that she delights in.  She is the same way with me.  When others are with us, they don't understand.. they just know that's the way Pam and I are.  They poke fun of us; it is nice to give them enjoyment.  Sometimes when she is not with me, I am saddened that she is not there to share my joy.  But that's okay, as soon as I get home-- I call her so she can share my excitement over the phone.  We don't let miles come between us!  =]

Pam is a wealth of knowledge.  Since my Grandma Goins has passed away and I can't call her with all my questions, my sister Pam is the next best thing.  I love how she knows all about my flowers, plants, trees and what I need to do.  She gives wonderful advice and even tells me what I am doing wrong.

I admire Pam so very much.  She has faced much hardship in her married life, especially in the later years.  When most women would have bailed out and left their man, she stood by hers.  She believed when no one around her would believe.  She trusted God and held onto the belief that He was in control and would bring her safely through her storms.  So much faith, so much faith.  In my life, she is the best model of a Proverbs 31 woman that I have.

I am grateful for a loving sister who has also been a positive and wonderful role model for me.  We share a special sisterhood bond and I wouldn't have it any other way!  I love you, Pam!

What a week I have ahead of me

I'm normally not one to complain about a busy week, but starting it out being sick is surely not helping it any!  Today started out early with waking at 6:20 AM.  Ryan to school at 7:15 AM.  Back home to get Amariah and get her to school at 8:00 AM.  Worked 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM.  Pick kids up from school, home at 3:30 PM.  Thank you Lord for no homework today!  Amariah to cheer practice at 6:00 PM.  Tracy Morgan's jewelry party at 6:30 PM.  Back to pick up Amariah from practice at 7:30 PM.  Home!  Dinner, baths, bed.

Wednesday starts out the same.  Ryan 7:15 AM.  Amariah 8:00 AM.  Work 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM.  What is normally my day off, I will be working.  Make that working all week because we have 3 people on vacation and my boss asked if I could work more days this week.  Now I'm wondering why I am so nice. ;)  Get home at 3:30 PM.  Hopefully no homework again.  Avon is in-- sort, sack up and get ready to deliver.  Dinner.  Church.  Yah!  I love the re-charge in the middle of the week.  Home!  Baths, bed.

Thursday starts out the same again.  Ryan 7:15 AM.  Amariah 8:00 AM.  Work 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM.  Get home at 3:30 PM.  Amariah to cheer practice at 6:00 PM.  Ryan football game in Catoosa at 6:00 PM.  Yah!  Thank you Lord for a home game this week!  Home! Dinner, baths, bed.

Friday, here we go again.  Ryan 7:15 AM.  Amariah 8:00 AM.  Work 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM.  Get home at 3:30 PM.  My oldest sister, Pam, from Missouri will be here!  Ahh, I get to relax and enjoy her company!

Saturday.  Pam and I to Black Buggy Days in Chouteau.  We so admire the Amish.  I really want to relax and enjoy that day... but somewhere in there I have to fit Amariah's cheerleading at the football game in Jenks at 4:30 PM and Rich's band playing a show in Tulsa that evening.

Whew!!  I'm already wore out and the week is just beginning.  Can't I just skip it all and let it be Friday afternoon already??  I know... I know... slow down and enjoy these years.  I hear that on a constant basis.  I'm trying!

Oops!! I'm going to be late!  God, help me to keep my focus on You amongst all the activities of this week.  Help me to influence my children to do the same.  I am grateful for my health that I am able to get all this accomplished.  I know I will look back on this week and say "What were you worried about?  That wasn't so bad after all!" =]


Update:  Tuesday, 10:35 PM.  Well, I've already been successful in failing this evening.  I managed to yell at two kids (I didn't scream at them though, does that count?) and the other one went to bed mad at me.  With Amariah's bedtime at 8:30 PM, she finally made it to bed by 9:15 PM, trying to talk to me while I was cooking dinner, doing dishes and trying to keep Robbie quiet.  I wouldn't answer her right away and she got a little perturbed, and marched off to bed with me yelling "I love you" over my shoulder.  Got Ryan sat down for dinner at 9:45 PM, although he has a bedtime of 9:00 PM.  Then it was time to get Robbie settled in his bed.  He was a little wound up so it took a couple of spankings, and yes I'm sorry to say, I did yell at him.  After I regained composure, I took him in my arms and told him how sorry I was, but how important it was for him to obey.  I kissed him goodnight, told him I loved him.  Then it was finally time to tell Ryan how sorry I was for yelling at him.  I had too many things I was trying to take care of myself.  It's a bad excuse, but all I had to offer him.  After accepting his apology, I put him to bed 1 hr. and 5 min. after his bedtime.  Now, here I am.  Sitting here eating my dinner at almost 11:00 PM.  Do you ever have one of these days??  What is wrong with me??  I'm sorry for failing tonight God.  I am so grateful that your tender mercies are new every single day!  The only thing left to do before I go to bed is to go to Amariah's bedside and tell her how I love her and how sorry I am for not having time to listen to her.  No, she won't hear me, but at least I'll be able to sleep.  Then in the morning, I will tell her once again so she will know.

In All I Do...

As the praise and worship song goes... "In all I do, I honor you".  Those words are so easily spoken, but how true can I be when I really mouth those words.  Honestly-- there are some days, I really feel like I can't sing that part of the song.  I want to think that I honor Him in ALL I do, but alas... that would be a lie.  I so wish I could say that without true conviction.  I desire that to be my legacy, especially where my children are concerned.  I pray that I can be the Christian influence to them that they need me to be.  I have great responsibility to teach them on a constant basis.  I don't have to look very hard to see an everyday occurrence where there could be a great learning experience for them.  Sometimes I'm so caught up in what I'm doing or how I'm feeling that I miss out on those opportunities.  I'm sorry God!  Thank you, God, for your mercy that withholds from me what I truly deserve and for your grace that gives to me what I don't deserve!  I am grateful for Your mercy and grace.

I also desire that to be my legacy where my friends are concerned.  On a lighter note, I so enjoyed my girlfriends last night.  It is amazing that you can get a group of women together that all have basically the same beliefs, but many different opinions and views... and still get along! =]  I enjoy them all.  I wish I had the time to sit down with each and every one of them separately and have a good friend heart to heart talk about what is going on in our lives.  We so need each other and we can learn so much from each other!  I am grateful for the women that God has placed in my life that loves the Lord first, their husband second and their family next.  I'm glad that for most of us... friends rank right up there after family.

Labor Day

It is okay to borrow something you really like from someone else's blog, right?  Well, I'm going to do it anyway.  This is a little poem from the Gooseberry Patch blog.  It's cute.  Oh, and I think you should go and join their blog.  They just started it a few weeks ago and they already have one of their yummy recipes on there! =]  They will also be having craft ideas and decorating tips.

Yay for Labor Day!

Top 10 Things We Love about Labor Day

Big pitchers of homemade lemonade

with raspberries and mint

Hometown parades complete

with horses & marching bands

Splashing around at the pool

for the last day of the season

Potato salad, corn on the cob

& fresh-picked tomatoes

Sun-warmed grass and cool shade

before the leaves fall

Messy ice-creamed faces

smiling in the sunshine

Cookout with family & friends

in the backyard

Tall sunflowers & hollyhocks

nodding in the breeze

Toasting marshmallows & squishing

'em into yummy s'mores

Watching fireflies, dreaming of

Fall, right around the corner

I am grateful for a holiday weekend to spend with my family.

A New Beginning

There is a hint of Fall in the air and inside my home, but today we are enjoying one of the last days of Summer 09. Although it was an uneventful summer for us, it was an enjoyable one! Now it's time to look ahead to what the Fall season will be bringing our way... football and cheerleading. Ryan and Amariah are proud to be a part of a team and squad that both work towards unity within the group. An awesome way for me to teach them how important it is to live a Christian life that works toward unity within the church so that collectively, souls can be won for the Kingdom of God!

The Berry family made time for each other and our Lord this summer. Sometimes it seems like a hassle to get us all connected and in one place but when we do, we share a blessing. We are currently in the book of John with our family devotions. It's a good book to be in. I am grateful for the answers my children have when we ask them questions about what we've read. I usually expect the Sunday School answer "Jesus" but they blow me away with their insight and understanding of His Word! I am grateful for the children God has entrusted to me.