Gratefulness

It's been so long since I've posted on here that I forgot my password.  Man.

I need to talk today and I feel like sometimes what I need to talk about, other people might need to hear as well. So I'm back at my blog today.  I stumbled on this website... honestly, I think divine intervention sent me here...http://www.aholyexperience.com/2012/03/how-to-help-raise-grateful-kids/... but don't click there just yet.

We've been in a funk in our family the past few months.  Busy lives...hurried here & there and full schedules demanding more time than we probably have...have all lead to some cranky Hanelines.  Probably more so me than the others, but it's reflecting into our kids & that's not something I like to see.  I listened last night as my husband tried to have a devotion with my kids.  I was working on something at the kitchen table and they were in the living room sitting on the couches.  What he had to say was really good...talked to them about what we think we deserve in this life.  He asked the kids what they really wanted right now that they thought would make them happier in life... two answered a new bike, one answered an air soft gun  & some other material things were mentioned as well.  Fair enough, they are kids after all.  But, all during this conversation he was having to stop to say things like "quit messing with your sister", "turn around & sit up, listen to me", "stop playing with the blinds", yada, yada, yada.  Point being, they were not really listening.  I think he spent just as much time redirecting the kids as he did trying to teach them about being thankful for what we have.  I guess I was expecting them to sit there in awe of all the wonderful things my hubs was trying to teach them and rattle off some divine answers about all they should be grateful for.  Ok, I know... it's a long shot.  Whatever.

My kids are good kids, but they fuss & fight ALL the time. I guess it's normal for brothers & sisters to do this... I don't know, I'm an only child...but it really bothers me how they treat each other.  But really, I'm not much better.  My short temper from being stressed all the time doesn't mean that my reactions to their behavior are any better than their reactions to each other.   I don't handle things the best way all the time.  I'm constantly thinking that I've failed in how I should handle certain situations with my kids.  I'm being very honest here.  I need a lot of help & improvement.... the kind that only comes from the grace of God.

You think that the people you love the most are the ones you should treat the best.  However, it's often the other way around.  I guess it's because we know that we will always be loved by our family & most of the time they forgive us easily.  Still, it's not how we should live our lives.  If our family continues down this path, then I'm afraid I am leading them on one of destruction. But that's where the love of God comes in.  I don't deserve anything that I have... grand or small.  It's not really mine anyway, but the Lord choose to bless us because we are His.  I want my kids to be thankful for more than material things.  I want them to see the bigger picture in life.  But most of all I want my family to love God & desire to serve Him.  At this point in their lives, it's our responsibilities as parents to show them how.  I'm the resource God is using to show them how to love their brother & sister, love their neighbor, their friends, their family.  I want them to be grateful for all the many blessings that they have right in front of them that they don't even realize.  I want to be a reflection of God's love & mercy.

This link is a super-duper, great tool for doing just that.  So NOW you can finally click the link to read all the goodies for yourself.  And I think I'm going to pick up a copy of this book that all this stemmed from as well.

Blogs, Work, Life & Twilight

I have a good excuse... well, not really. Work. If you can call that an excuse. I guess between Facebook & Twitter... I feel like I post plenty of stuff that keeps me up-to-date with the world and everyone can see pictures of my kids and what's going on in our lives. That's kind of scary to think about... but I digress. Anyways, my whole point of having a blog is to keep track of stuff. Like life. Little things, big things, funny things, silly things, interesting things... you get the point. I've not been so good at that lately. {sad face} It's been quite a whirlwind the past year. I started my own business... Kendra's Creations and I must say that it has gone really well. I design stuff. I've always loved to be crafty and this is totally my outlet to do so AND get paid for it. Cha-ching... even better. So, I call it my job now, because I work & get paid for it. But it's fun. So it's a good job. One that I can sit in my PJ's until lunch & work. I can listen to music or have peace & quite, wash clothes, talk on the phone, attempt to keep the house clean... ahem.... and still be at home with my kids when they get home from school. I must say, it's been a challenge to keep up with some of these things while working from home. I would much rather being designing a logo or making a pretty notebook than loading the dishwasher. Sometimes it's very evident from the plethora of dishes that accumulate on the countertop, but it's all still worth it. Dishes will always be there... just as much as the mountain of laundry that grows in my baskets each week. I am truly grateful that God has blessed me with this opportunity this past year and I pray that it continues to grow & thrive.

On to the kids now... let's see... we are halfway through the school year. What?!! Seriously I can't believe it's gone by so fast. I mean, Chandler is going to be driving like next year at the rate that we are going. Kindergarten orientation is coming up in a couple months for Kensley & Carter will be in his last year of elementary school next year. Geez.

Chandler had his first band "concert" last night at the middle school. He is doing great playing the trumpet. He's even made first chair. He loves it & I'm so glad. I hope he's going to be a great musician. Carter loved playing football and I think he's geared up & ready for the next sports season, although we will all admit, it's been nice having a little break. Kensley is still loving dance. She's learning how to do a cartwheel and she think's that's just the greatest thing.

I have to brag on my hubs for a moment too. He saved a life last month. Yep. This makes the #3rd life he's come to the rescue for. I believe that God puts him in the right place at the right time. I'm thankful for that. While working late at the Y one night, he was making rounds checking on things & socializing when a man playing a wallyball game had a heart attack. Corby stepped up & took control of the situation. He & some others were administering CPR & Corby had to use the AED machine on this gentleman and shocked him twice. The doctors said had he not used this device, he would not be alive today. Wow!

I have recently become somewhat obsessed with Twilight. I never really had any interest at all to watch the movies and NEVER would have even thought twice about reading those ridiculously long books. I mean, I don't read and those books are like 500 plus pages each. However, my niece Kaitlyn got me started. She just couldn't believe that I had never seen the movies, so we had a movie weekend when we were in Statesville a few months back and watched the first 3 movies. That's all it took. I knew then where all the hype was coming from because I was hooked. The movies were SOOOO good!

After watching all 4 movies (and going to the theater 3 times to see Breaking Dawn: Part 1... just don't even say anything about that) I would have to say I became a "Twihard". There was no way that I could wait a whole year to know what happens in Part 2 of Breaking Dawn, so I decided I might be interested in reading the books. I mean, everyone that has read them talked about how good they were. So, I borrowed the books from a friend and I read the first book... all 494 pages... in 24 hours. Really, it was quite unbelievable. I couldn't put them down. I finished all 4 books in about 2 & half weeks. It happened to be over Christmas break, so I didn't have to worry about waking up for early mornings. I stayed up til 1 & 2 am most nights reading... not being willing to be satisfied with "just one more chapter". I've never read any books as good as these. The love story is just so incredible and I guess that's what draws me to the movies & the books. Sooooo.....

That about sums it up for an update. I always attempt to make more posts, but fail miserably at it. Follow me on facebook to keep up with my new creations! (link listed above)

A look back at the year 2011

Well, yes... I have been a little... um, a lot... behind on blogging lately. I want to but the time is just not there. I've been so busy with my job that blogland has taken a back burner. I am so thankful for my job though. It's been such a blessing. So to sum up a whole year in 7ish minutes, I'm just going to let you watch this video. And I'll hopefully have a little more time to devote to blogging in the near future!

A Tribute to Remember

Today Cleveland County honored the life of a fallen soldier who served our country. I do not know this man but my family stood to honor him as the processional made its way through our city.

I hadn’t really thought about it much… other than “that’s sad that happened”… and “he was from Shelby”.  My friend texted me last night & asked if I was going to processional.  My first thought was “no, I didn’t even know him”.  But then I started thinking… we have a family member serving right now and a good friend who was deployed just about a month ago.  This processional today wasn’t just for one man, it was for all soldiers…past and present….ones who have served, ones that are there now, those that will serve in the future.  So many have sacrificed for our country… willingly… and today this soldier did not come home to hug his family, but he came home in a different way. 

As I watched the hundreds of cars drive by, looking into the eyes of those I could see… tears, smiles, cameras… I wondered what they must have been thinking.  They drove for 7 miles with people alongside the roads the entire drive.   Tears filled my eyes. 

Business closed for a few hours or excused their employees to come out in support… parents pulled kids out of school early to go…two entire schools brought their kids out in front of the school…. little kids (including mine) who probably don’t even understand what was going on.  For a few short hours, people stopped…. they stood alongside a road, most of them holding a flag, in silence, hands covering their hearts.  People showed that they cared and I am honored that my family was able to experience that.  Not only for Sgt. Chris Newman… but for all the fallen soldiers and those who are serving now. 

What was witnessed today will be forever etched in my mind. I’ve never experienced this before and I hope I never will have to experience it again.  Today I am thankful… for the freedom to live in a country that sometimes comes at a price…and for the freedom of eternal life that comes because of my Savior. 

Happy Birthday to Kensley!

My baby turned 5 today… a whole 5 years old.  {I’m hyperventilating a little.}  We celebrated her birthday on Friday night at the Dover YMCA with her Hello Kitty birthday party.  She was a little confused about the actual date that she turned 5 and on the way to her party she said “now I’m not the real 5 today… right Mom?  We are just “sal-a-brating” my birthday today and I will turn 5 next week… right Mom?”  So stinkin cute! 

She is such a sweet girl with such personality.  What a joy to have her in our lives.  I am so blessed by all my children  but God giving us a girl was the icing on the cake for me.  She’s such a priss and a diva but can hold her own in a fight with her brothers and get down right dirty as well.  She’s a good listener, tender-hearted, compassionate, a leader, spunky and so much more. 

She is in her last year of preschool at Aldersgate, started her first year of dance and loves life!  Here are a few pictures of her party.

The Boys of Fall

Carter is playing tackle football this year.  He has begged since Kindergarten to play and finally this year, we gave in.  He’s been so excited… to get to practice, to get the gear, and now to play the game. 

They started off the season with the Cleveland County Football Jamboree at Crest High School.  This is where all the teams in the county come together & scrimmage.  I had no idea that football at this level would be so huge.  I was somewhat surprised when we arrived to a full parking lot and lots & lots of people.  Here are a few pics … Carter kept the bench warm until the last few minutes of the game. 

Carter & his buddy Peyton Swink.

This past Saturday, September 17 was the first official game at Springmore Elementary.  Carter played a bit more in this game as the kicker/punter and also linebacker. 

First Day of School

Goodbye summer…another school year is underway.  Today my boys started school.  Chandler is in the 6th grade at Crest Middle School.  A new adventure for him.  He is on the Sharks team and starting band.  Wow!  It was a rough start to the morning for both of us, but he ended up having a great day. (this was an after school picture)

 

Carter is in Mrs. Hunt’s 4th grade class at BSE.  We were very excited because Chandler had her as well and we loved her.  Carter also has several of his good buddies in his class this year.  I got a very encouraging note from his teacher this afternoon saying what a great day he had & how proud she was of him for making the new kid in his class feel welcome.  Aww….

This is a first for us this year… 3 kids at 3 different schools.  Seems strange in a way.  Kensley starts preschool next week and she’s very excited about it.  I think all of the kids are going to have a great year.