Romans

I'm not the best Bible reader.  In fact, I'm not a huge reader at all.  I can read a few lines and five seconds later, I have no idea what I just read.  I wish I had the discipline to read in the bible on a daily basis.  I truly (meaning with all my heart) love nothing more than to run across a great bible verse that speaks to me and can honestly change my life.

I don't think God is mad at me b/c I'm not a reader.  In fact, I think that he finds different ways to hit me with his word.  I am a huge real life reader.  I love to read real life stories about other people's lives.  Hints why I like to write and blog:)  In particular, I love to read real life stories that show me how God holds us, loves us, changes us, hurts us and picks us up.  I have my very own story that most of you know.  Just a little over six years ago, I didn't really have a story but I believe with everything that is in me that God gives us these stories as part of the a much bigger plan.  

When I am worried, at my weakest or maybe even not appreciating life like I should, God sends his word to me in a way that I will listen.  In a way that strikes me to the core.  In a way that I can learn from it.

Tonight I clicked on a blog that I read often.  In her most recent post, there was a link to another blog and for whatever reason, I clicked on it.  What I read there has sucked me in and is already teaching me things.  It is a horrific story about a mom losing her son that was playing in the rain with friends one second and then swept down a flooded creek the next.  Gone....in the blink of an eye! After reading her post where she gives the play by play of what is for sure the most horrible day of her life, for some reason I clicked to read another post of her's that was in the sidebar.  She talks about how on the very night that her son passed, her husband went to plug her cell phone in to charge and instead of her app screen coming up like normal, this was on her screen:

Romans 8:38-39

 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 God spoke to her with this verse just like he spoke to me tonight at a time when I needed it most.  I am almost embarrassed to say that I have never even heard this verse before but I sure have felt every word of it as I read it over and over again.

I'm not perfect.  My God knows that.  He is OK with my imperfection but he doesn't leave me.  He finds a way to get to me even when I didn't even realize I was looking!

Blessings to all of you!

There Are No Words.....

Unless you have had your head in the sand today, you know about the horrible tragedy that has happened at an elementary school.  Oh how my heart breaks.  I have cried for those kids, those teachers and their families.  Nothing that has ever happened in my life can ever compare to what these people have had happen to them or how they feel and I hope it never does.  I couldn't stop watching the news as it was unfolding but at the same time I wanted to block it out and pretend that the world is perfect and that this would never ever happen!  I was sitting there wrapping my own kids Christmas presents while the news was on until it just got the better of me and I stopped what I was doing and left my house 30 minutes earlier than normal to go sit in the car rider line to get my kids.  Even though I couldn't see them, just being where I could get to them made me feel better.

Tonight I took time to lay with my precious 5 year old (also in kindergarten) until he was sound asleep.  That is something I haven't done in a very long time!  After leaving my son's bed, I then went and sat down for a long talk with my 10 year old.  She had saw some of the news and was wanting to know details.  I told her a little about it and then did something I never thought I would do, I tried to tell her how if something like this happened at her school she needs to stay quiet.  Don't draw attention to herself but listen to everything her teacher tells her.  Who does this???  Who in the world has to have this conversation with your elementary aged child?  My 5 year old would never understand what I was trying to explain to my 10 year old so how do I feel like I am preparing him too??  

My instinct has always been to keep my children as close to me as possible but I have to let them live.  I can't let my fear put us on lock down.  I have to say that I have never felt more content in my life than I do tonight knowing that both of my children are in their beds safe and sound.  My kids have two more days of school before being out for a few weeks for Christmas break, I just want those two days to fly by so that I know they are home with me for the next three weeks.  Yes, I know that horrible things can happen to them while they are with me but my greatest fear has always been to not be able to get to them if something bad happens.  That has to be the most helpless feeling ever!!!

When I got on facebook after watching the news for a while, there were so many amazing updates showing that prayers were just flowing for anyone affected by this.  But there were also those that took a political stance and blaming the gun for the killings or the school for not having enough security.  The fact is that 27 people are dead.  No one cares about your political views or your pointing of the finger.  If a crazy person wants to harm others, he will not only find a way to get a gun but he will also find a way to get in to the most secure of places.  Instead of pointing blame, you should pray.  Instead of pointing blame, you should be praising God for those teachers.  We don't know what it was like in that building but these adults that could hear shots going off all around them, had to think of these kids first and put themselves last.  I promise that if we heard a story from every one of those teachers, they would have an amazing story of how they kept the kids calm, hid the kids and protected them.  I watched an interview on 20/20 tonight with one of the teachers and I cried the entire time.  You can tell that she will never be the same.  She packed all of her students in a tiny bathroom, she kept them quiet and clam but the best part of her story was how she made sure to tell them all that she loved them b/c she wanted that to be the last thing that they heard.  She thought that they were all going to die but yet she stayed calm and protected those children.  She may have saved every one of those kids lives as I am sure many other teachers in that school did too!  I don't know a single teacher that wouldn't do this for their kids! 

I just pray that those that lived through this and survived can one day be OK.  I pray even harder for all of those families whose lives will forever be changed and will forever have a missing link.

God definitely has my attention tonight!!!

No better verse to end this post with than this...."Be still and know that I am God."  Psalm 46:10

Mommy Caught The Flu

and her poor daughter did too!!!

This has been the longest week ever!  For the first time in my 32 1/2 years, I got the flu.  No I didn't have a flu shot....save your comments for someone else b/c my dear sweet daughter had a flu shot and still caught the flu from her mama.

It is very safe for me to say that I have never been so miserable in my entire life as far as sickness goes.  It all started last Saturday.  I woke up not feeling well but not really sick.  I got up and motivated and began feeling a lot better as the day went on.  We went to run a few errands late in the afternoon and then came home to order a pizza for supper.  We sat down to eat at around 7:00 and it hit me....the worst cold chills I have ever had!  Things just got worse from there.  I was in bed shortly after that b/c I was just freezing to death and I stayed there for the next two days.  I only got out of bed after two days b/c my husband made me get up so that he could drive me to the doctor.  I was so sick that I was literally crying in the waiting room b/c it was going to be an hour to an hour and a half wait and I couldn't even bare to think about being out of bed that long.  So this germaphobe did something I have never done before, I just laid down on a bench and spread my germs with the world!  I tested positive with the flu and was also diagnosed with a sinus infection too.  I came home and got straight back in the bed and I can't even remember when I got out of bed again after that.  Tuesday morning, Rylee woke up feeling sick and has been in the bed with the flu ever since.  In the meantime, I have been up and down.  One hour I feel like I can get up and move around and then suddenly I am knocked flat on my back.  I just can't seem to kick this and it is driving me nuts!

My body has ached, I have had the worst cough ever that just won't leave me alone, stuffy nose, headache, so weak and tired, dizziness, upset stomach....you name it, I've had it!  Rylee has followed the same process and even though everyone says the flu shot will lessen the symptoms, they haven't for her:(  

I am so tired of being sick and stuck in this house.  I have gotten behind on everything.

So far, the boys are both good but I don't know how.  Tegan had a flu shot but Paul didn't and since he has refused to sleep anywhere but in the bed right beside me at night, I am praying over him that he doesn't get it!

My husband has been great.  He has handled everything with the kids, did the laundry, kept things picked up, and has took great care of me! 

I am praying that I have turned a corner and will be like a brand new person by the end of this weekend but judging by this coughing fit I am having right now, it isn't looking so good:(

Small Business Saturday

Today is Small Business Saturday!

Be sure to get out (or online) and support a small business today! 

Cohen Lane is having a 40% off sale in our etsy shop today only!

 Thanks so much for your support! 

Visit the Cohen Lane blog here!

Visit us on Facebook here!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! We have a busy day with lunch with my husband's family, supper with my dad, a little night time shopping and then another Thanksgiving meal on Saturday with my mom.

I am so super thankful for so many things.  There were way to many things to list in the facebook challenge that everyone is doing so I thought I would do a few here....

My God. My husband. My Kids. My health.  My life. My Home. My attitude change.  My baby boy Cohen.  My ability to recover. Everything good and bad that molds me. 

I honestly think this list could go on and on for days but since I have some cooking to do, I have to cut it short but I am most thankful for the life that I have with my husband.  We aren't always at the point in our lives that we imagined but we are there together and somehow our marriage has survived things that most couples can't make it through!  

I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving.If you get a chance, do something great for someone when they least expect it without even letting them know it is you. Oh and if you go shopping tonight, be sweet and chill out.  It is all fun in the end b/c you know this stuff will go on sale again in a week or two:)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Many Blessings!!!

The Cracked Nuts

I tell you what, I have felt like a cracked nut for the past two months.  Every night was filled with soccer practice and games, twirling practice and performances, and play practice that ended with SEVEN shows.  It is safe to say that not only my kids are excited about a weekend at home but these parents are too!

Even though it makes for a crazy schedule, I love to watch Rylee in these plays and she loves to do them.  I think this one was her favorite so far.  It will be a while before she is in another one b/c the next one is just adults but that's OK, I welcome the break:)

The play this time was called the Cracked Nuts.  It was so funny and every night they threw a little something extra and off the wall in there that would crack me up.  People left smiling and happy from every show.  I have to thank Dannette, Susan and Nikki for doing such a great job putting the show together, taking great care of my girl and most importantly, allowing her this opportunity.

Of course, this was my favorite part of the show.  Ry is the smaller girl in the red (I just realized she doesn't have on shoes?).  Of course my camera card got full before it was over and I was a little wobbly 

but here you go....

I took lots and lots of pictures....

 Sweet Ry on stage at the beginning of the play!

 There were some great people in this play!  So kind to the kids!

 In the above picture is Dannette and Susan!  They are great!  One day soon, we will see Dannette on TV doing her comedy!  She has a talent for sure.

This was a great experience for Rylee.  She is already saying she can't wait to see what is next.  

Hopefully this post explains my lack of posting.  It has been so busy and I felt like I was falling behind but I am feeling all caught up now and ready for the Holidays!!!  

Happy Friday everyone!!

Flying By Fall....

I have no idea where the last half of October and first half of November have went.  It has been very busy around here for us and I am playing a little catch up.  

I love fall!  There is no doubt that it is my favorite time of the year.  I always have huge hopes of cute fall decorations all over the house and some pumpkin spice candles burning.  I fail at doing either of those things every year.  But I'm OK with that b/c that means I am busy with my little ones.  I know that all to soon there will be a time when I can do all the fall decorating I want but for now, I just like to enjoy these not so babies.

We went to the pumpkin patch with the church.  I love the pumpkin patch even though I had already bought me a really huge pumpkin at Aldi for $2.49:)

It was a fun and busy day so I didn't get very many pictures to show....

 Then came Halloween. I know it sounds strange for fall to be my favorite time but yet Halloween is my least favorite holiday.  I'm not a huge fan of the dressing up, running from house to house, the endless sugar rush, etc.....  But these kids won't let me get out of it.  Luckily, this year our church had a Halloween Trunk n Treat on Halloween night so we were able to go there and skip the door to door thing.  They got a ton of candy.  I was last minute thinking about their costumes and everything was sold out so we had to get a little creative. 

Teg was a scarecrow.  I had everything he needed to make his costumes so it was so simple and he was so excited about it....except for the hat.  

Rylee was a nerd!  She made the cutest little nerd that I have ever seen.  As with Tegan, we just used stuff we had at home for her costume.

As you can see, she took her costume seriously and played the part very well.

It has been one of the busiest past 5 weeks ever with Tegan's soccer, Rylee's Twirling and her endless play practices and seven shows (more on that later).  

I hope you are all having a great fall.  I know it is silly but I am having to stop myself from putting up all my Christmas Decorations b/c that is my favorite Holiday!!!