It's been awhile since I've posted and not for any good reason at all. Maybe life in general - it seems to get busier every moment.

I have started to read a new book and I am truly loving it and hating it all at once! Great book! It's called Captivating. It makes you deal with the dysfunctional part of your life that you have learned to make your normal because you don't want to deal with the parts that have caused pain. Make sense? I am excited to see what God has for me thru this.

The past couple of days have really made me more and more thankful for the daughter I have. Shelby is a 15 year old, teenage daughter that has faced more (excuse me) crap then any 15 year old should ever. For years and apparently the true prime years or the first set of prime years it was just she and I. We spent every minute together when I wasn't at work or she wasn't at school. I'm realizing how much that is paying off. Not just because we spent the time together but because during that time I asked her about her. How she is, how her day was, what happened at school (key question I'm coming to find out). A day hasn't gone by that I haven't continued to ask those questions and I'm sure glad I do. I know there have been days where she was like "Mom are you for real?" I'm not trying to pat myself on the back what I'm getting to is that parents seriously need to know what is going on with their child(ren). Kid's these days have so much going on at school and just like we adults, they too need to share and just talk. Who better then to their parents!!?? As we personally have dealt with bullying, death, boys, sports competitions etc kid's can be cruel and why? Other kids can't even answer it so how can they deal with it? Kid's are at school to learn not to rely on them to counsel them too. They don't want counseling at school, that's where the problems are. We as parents need/must take time and spend it with our kids. Tomorrow isn't always going to be there. When you go to Starbucks, take your child(ren) with you and don't go thru the drive-thru. Go inside, pull up a seat and take time with them. I am so thankful that Shelby shares so much with me. It brings tears to my heart when I hear what she has to deal with. She is only 15 years old and shouldn't be going thru this stuff. High school years are suppose to be the start of the best years ahead. I'm not the perfect parent; just thankful that my child knows I'm here for her. Shelby I am SOOOO proud of you. I'm proud of the true person you are. I'm proud that you stand up for your faith and you take that faith and share it with others. I'm proud that you don't tolerate the junk others try and bully you with. I'm proud that you know the truth and stand firm. Keep your faith and take the talents God has blessed you with and change the world! If anyone can...it's YOU! I love you beyond words and don't ever forget that you and everyone of your friends can come to me with anything! Hugs baby!

On another note (since it's been awhile since I've posted I might as well posted it all!) We have our new roommate moving in shortly! We have been praying that God let's all of us know if this is what should happen. We were hurt in the last situation but have trust in the new. God has blessed us with great peeps and one of them will be sharing our home! It's exciting!

Father, thank you for blessing us with all that you have. Father please hold the families involved tightly and may they know you. Lord hold our children and protect them. May you use those of your children that walk with you to shephard those who need you too. Father our children are precious and we thank you for letting us raise them in your glory! I glorify you for the pain and the suffering and know that you will guide us through it all. This is part of the pathway that you have us traveling thru and may we know that you will hold us tight and we will be bright beacons in the end. Amen.