1st Dentist Trip

Thursday was our first dentist appointment. I love going to the dentist. Mom still has the paper from Kindergarten where I put my favorite thing to do was to go to the dentist. :) I know I'm weird. I like to think of it as unique. Travis was able to go to the same dentist that I have gone to my whole life. 

We had NO cavities and he let them clean his teeth. :) He was Sooo excited to get his goodie bag. He racked up with a free ice cream cone, toy car, tooth brush, toothpaste, and balloony.

Eating his ice cream from Dairy Queen!

Travis and Balloony (Travis said, "Look Mom,  Balloony only has one teeth.")

We have been struggling with doing everything we need to get done and with some of our behavior. I decided we would try a chart to help us. I browsed through Pinterest looking for ideas. I looked at several different posts. I can't remember exactly which ones I used. Anyways, Travis and Reese both have chore charts. We have morning and afternoon chores. We put up stars as we complete the tasks. So far, it has worked out wonderfully. The first day, they read the chart at least 10 times to make sure they finished everything. We also have a behavior chart that we fill out at night. They get a red star if they need to improve their actions, a silver star if it was an ok day, and a gold star if it was an outstanding day. Our goal obviously is to have all gold stars. I wanted to make sure this would work before I spent a ton of time in making a magnetic chart for them. Reese is a little young for all of it, but I didn't want her to fill left out. Travis and I just help her out with her chores. Travis is working VERY hard to earn gold stars. He mentions them several times a day.

I also made a Memorial Day/ 4th of July/ Veterans Day wreath. I saw the cutest wreath on Pinterest at A Night Owl's blog. I modified it of course. I used Navy ribbon instead of tulle and I added rhinestone stars. I absolutely love this! So far, Bama has resisted eating it. She eats everything she can get her paws on. We have already been through several buckets and tennis balls. 

 

What's your legacy?

I am reading a book called Quiet Moments with God for Mothers. I have had this book for a long time and never finished it. Yesterday, the part I read was about everyone being God's precious ones. We should be making sure that everyone knows they are precious to God. This made me think about how we treat people. What are my actions showing? Am I showing people they are important?

I went to a graduation Thursday night. It took me back in time. Tamberli and I were trying to remember if that was the song we marched out with and what the speaker talked about. I can't remember. I probably should have paid more attention. I mean graduating high school is an important moment of life. I started thinking...Have I made smart choices? I know I made many mistakes, but did I learn what I needed to from those mistakes? What does my past tell about me?

This morning in church, we talked about taking a stand on important issues and what your legacy will be. The sermon went right along with all that I have been thinking about. Being a teacher, I have a chance to touch many lives. Am I doing all that I can to show them God's love? When I die, what will people remember about my impact on them?

With Memorial Day coming up, I remember all the sacrifices our military has made so we can live in a free country. The legacy of heroes is the memory of a great name and the inheritance of a great example.  ~Benjamin Disraeli 


What will your legacy be?


On another note, Travis built a car wash. I was called into the playroom to see the car wash. He told me his car wash was now open for business. I love watching his imagination grow each day. 

My children are important!

I recently read a blog by Hands Free Mama .  This is a very inspiring story about the hazards of modern day technology and spending time with your kids. It really hit home with me. The blog made me think about how involved I am in my children's lives. Am I constantly pushing them away? How much am I using my technology when I could be spending time with them? Do they feel like I am never there for them?

When I think back, I know there were plenty of times I should have been hanging out with them. I LOVE to read! I have to admit I am a hopeless romantic and mystery junkie. I love happy endings and trying to figure out what happens before I read about it. My downfall is that when I start a book I get so wrapped up in the story plot that I can't put it down. I used to buy several books at a time, but I could only hold them up for so long before my hand started hurting. When I got a nook for my birthday a few years ago, it made it so easy to read the next book in the series. Now, I can pick up where I left off on my cell phone. This is great when you are waiting by yourself at the doctors office! However, you can miss out on your kids lives if it is all you do. I'm not saying to totally spend every waking minute of every single day with your kids. I mean honestly we all need our space. It is up to us to show our kids what to do and how to act. If we are always on our computer, reading, or on our phones, how can we expect them to know we love and care about them. They will grow up thinking that whatever you are doing is more important than they are.

The blog reminded me of the song Cat's in the Cradle.

I have more to say but my sweet boy is going to read me a bedtime story now! :)

Praising God

I quit blogging since I felt no one cared and life got hectic. I decided yesterday that it was time to start back and use my blog to not only document my family but to also glorify God. I will try to fill in the gaps of our life later. This post is all about yesterday.

Yesterday was awesome because God is awesome and powerful! We went to a friends house for a pool party. Normally pools are a little worrisome for me, but yesterday I just rolled with the punches. The kids were having a great time. Everyone was getting out of the pool to eat. Reese was playing in my lap, and Travis had dried off. For some reason, Travis went back through the gate to the pool when I wasn't looking. James was drying off at the car and assumed that when he saw Travis he was just putting something back. From what I can gather, Travis dropped something in the pool and jumped in without floaties to retrieve the toy. The pool is shallow on one end where the kids can touch. Travis jumped where it starts to slope. Thankfully God put Jeremy in the right place at the right time. Jeremy jumped in the pool and saved him. God watches us even when we don't know we in trouble. I say this because neither James nor I knew that Travis had gotten into the pool. I knew that something had happened because Ashley kept looking at me and saying Travis is fine everything is ok. I am used to things happening to Travis, and unless he is screaming or crying it is normally nothing major. I wasn't panicked since he wasn't screaming.  I assumed he had just fallen and scraped himself. I mean Travis is one of the clumsiest people I know. He runs into walls and falls all the time.  I know that God knew I couldn't handle dealing with the knowledge of my son almost drown without me holding him and seeing he was ok first. It was like I was disconnected from the whole situation. When it finally all hit me on the way home, I was thinking what a HORRIBLE mother I was not to run over there and check on him. What if something would have happened and I wasn't there for him? What if my baby would have died? What if...? What if...? James told me I didn't know that it was anything serious and that I could think of the what if's. I know that there is no point in talking about the what ifs. I know that there was nothing I could do. I am so very grateful that God is in control not Morgan Davis. Everything happens for a reason. I don't know that reason for this near death experience. I know that it reminds me that everyday is a gift from God and don't waste that time. Love unconditionally, Pray always, and Follow God forever. 

I am going to wake everyone up and get them ready for church. James is going with us today. :) I will post pictures and finish out the rest of yesterday later. 

Happy Mother's Day!!!