Mr. Homeless Snootypants

Today me and Zach traveled to UNCA for Relay for Life. We had a great time, he even made a new friend. He had a wonderful time stomping in the mud and rolling around on the ground. I don't have any pictures of the event to post because someone stole my camera yesterday but I am waiting on Tacky Trashy Tuesday to address that one.

So, on the way home we came to the West Canton Exit(#37) where there has been a homeless man standing with the same piece of cardboard for the last 10 years. It says "Homeless and hungry. Please help. God Bless" He has been there every time I have used that exit for as long as I can remember. However, he is only there in the Summer.

Because you know people are more giving when they're delirious from heat exhaustion.

I know I may be confused enough to hand out a 20 in mid July when I can't think right due to the heat.

Ok, I'm just kidding, it would more than likley be a 10. Were in a recession you know.

Anyways, as thought not to let me down(or make me a liar, because it would kill my story) he was there today. The people in the car in front of me got out and tried to hand the guy a brown paper bag. He shook his head, handed the bag back to the stunned lady, and she got back in her car and left. I was concerned about this for about 2 seconds and preceded on my merry little way.

I stopped at a gas station a little on down the road to pick up my usual. The oh-so-sweet Starbucks Double Shot energy drink. Mocha no less, because who don't like a little chocolate in there espresso and ginseng?

I went up to pay for my few minutes of happiness, and night of insomnia, when who did I see? The lady that had tried to give the man at the corner the bag. She was talking about the ordeal to the cashier and said:

"He said that he did not like bologna sandwiches, and he wouldn't take it"

Well of coarse he wouldn't.

I mean what self respecting homeless person would steep so low as to eat a bologna sandwich?

Its good to know that if things really get so bad that we become homeless, that I will not be forced to eat tomatoes, because I hate them. Maybe someone will take pity on me and bring me a Starbucks Double Shot.

Prayer Request, News, And Alot of Links

Well this post really has no rhyme or reason to it. They're some news/prayer request that I wanted to share so it will all be jammed packed into one disorganized post. So for all of you that have to have things in order (Mama) you might want to look away now! :)

So we will start with the prayer request.

1. My sister Michele is pregnant with my first niece. After two pregnancies that have ended sadly this one is going great! Over the coarse of the last couple of weeks she has broken out in what we believe to be the PUPPS rash. This only affects 1% of pregnant women, and naturally it has hit her hard! She is very misreable, and it is about to drive her nuts! Please pray that she will find comfort for the next few weeks. I can't imagine. Also if any of you have had this or known someone who did and you know of something that offers relief please let me know so that I can forward it on to her.

2. Last Month some friends of mine Angie, and Pete, along with two other people that I don't really know, went to India on a Compassion Blogger's Trip. The stories that they shared were unreal! I laughed, I cried(alot) and I found Love in Christ that I never knew existed! You can read all their post from the trip by clicking on this picture!

As you may have herd in the news Calcutta has been hit by a Cyclone named Aila. This hit the area they were at, and a lot of the people they met, and a lot of them children, were killed/are now homeless. As you can imagine Angie, and Pete are having a hard time with this. Please pray that God offers healing, and hope to those hit by the disaster, and for Angie and Pete and the other two Bloggers that were with them on this life changing trip. (I just learned while I was writing this post that one of these Bloggers that was with them is Melissa, Beth Moore's daughter! What an honor!)


Now for some news.

If you remember a few post back Cross Point Church of Nashville where Pete is the Pastor did a series called "Backseat Jesus". It was a great series that really made you think. They are doing another one called "Q". It is about the questions about life and God. I love Pete and the messages he delivers and thought you may be as interested as I was in this message.
Here is the trailer, and just so you know you can go to the Cross Point Web page and watch any service that Pete does on your computer, so if you like the idea of a series and want to know more feel free to follow through the complete series.

Q Series Promo from Cross Point Church on Vimeo.

One last thing (I promise). I know that I ask you guys to pray for some pretty heavy stuff at times, and it has me to thinking that I would love to hear your prayer request as well! Wouldn't it be wonderful if we had a group of people praying for each other! Let me know what you think of this idea. If you want to leave a prayer request as a comment on this blog please feel free, and know that EVERY one of them will be prayed for! I do ask that you pray for the other prayer request as well. If you have a private one that you don't want everyone to see but you still need prayer please e-mail me at jennie.newland@yahoo.com.

Okay I think that is all that I have for now, sorry that it was so long and random! Hope you are all still with me! Please let me know what you think of the prayer request idea!

Tacky Trashy Tuesday (The First Ever!)

My friend Micah is starting her own blog carnival called Tacky Trashy Tuesday. I LOVE this idea, because lets face it, who don't want to rant and get away with it! Here is the disclaimer that I took from her blog so read it, read my trash talk, and join in! If and when you do hop over to Micah's blog leave her a comment telling her that you joined so that she can go read your also! I know she will love it! So here goes...

*Disclaimer... sort of*
What is Tacky Trashy Tuesday all about, you ask? Well, I'll tell you. It is my chance to let out all of my frustrations, talk about people (though I promise not to name names), and just generally bad mouth. ((Insert a big cheesy, devilish grin here.)) I have to say that I came up with the Tacky Trashy part because I am probably going to touch on that which I find tacky and trashy. But it will also be me being tacky and trashy, so in essence, I am speaking of my own kind, and ask to please not be judged for my comments, remarks, and snide snips. If you feel you have been offended in any way, I do not apologize, because, well, I warned you that I was not going to be nice on Tuesdays. You didn't have to read it, now did you? You read it because you thought you might laugh, or at least be entertained for a brief, if not fleeting, moment. Even if you see yourself in some of my wimble wimbles*, you know you cracked a smile. You know you did, so don't try and deny it. And so, the very first Tacky Trashy Tuesday commences.

I hate it when people (at work) who had the same job as you for the past ten years get a "promotion" and totally forget where they came from! You are no better than me! You need to remember your roots!

Do not tell me how to raise my child. Especially if you have never met me or my child! No one needs supermarket parenting advice. Do not act offended if I don't take your wacky advice because the last time that you had children was in 1965 and times have changed...just a tad!

I get aggravated with people who do not have proper blog etiquette! If someone visits your blog and leaves a comment, you should in return at least visit their blog. You never know you may make a new friend. I feel there is no reason unless you get 300 comments per post to recognize your readers! Its just good manners!

Attention Gentlemen! If you see a lady struggling with children please do not walk around them, so to go through the door first and not hold it open for the lady. All the while laughing and saying "Looks like you have a load there" HELP ME OPEN THE FREAKING DOOR! Do you know how rude that is?

Well that was my first attempt. How did I do? Don't forget to tell Micah if you participate, and please participate...that felt good!

The Newest Member of the Red Hat Society

Do you think he is to young/the wrong gender to join the Red Hat Society?Of coarse I think the Passy would totally change their minds! What do you think?

Update On Stellan

Do you remember my friends baby that I asked you to pray for?

Yes, I do know that I have asked you to pray for quite a few babies over the past few months.

I am speaking of Baby Stellan. His Mommy Jennifer AKA MackMama probably sounds very familiar, because I don't think there is many people out there that know what a blog who has not herd of MackMama.

If you remember Stellan had/has the dangerous heart condition that causes his heart to beat to fast, and at times do nothing but quiver.

It occurred to me that I had not given you an update on Stellan in a long time, and then I saw this video on MackMama's blog and thought I would share it with you(on the very slight chance that you have not already seen it on her blog) so you can see for yourself what the power of prayer can really do!


P.S. On another note, the other baby that I had asked you to pray for~Kayleigh~ passed away last week. Please keep her family in your thoughts and prayers during this terrible time.

P.S.S. Just because I had a question on this yesterday if you see a word in a post that is pink, and underlined it is a link. You should (that is assuming the author of the post can get it right)be taken to the website that I am talking about. Hope that clears up any confusion!

Mommy's Meal Ticket Very Smart Boy

I like to pretend that I am someone that can figure things out. There is not much that trips me up, because if I don't know the answer I am pretty good at making it up :)

However, three things I have always has trouble with:

1. Spelling/Grammar- you may think of this as an odd thing for someone who enjoys to write like I do, but if you remember this post I am not a "go getter" and I never did my spelling homework until about 10 minutes before it was due so I still have trouble with spelling. When I was in Middle School I had a friend (who has her own, very witty, cute blog that you can check out by clicking here) who I passed letters with a lot and she always found my spelling abilities funny!

2. Math- I am so bad at this that I think I have a handicap! I'm serious! You would probably never talk to me again if I told you how bad at it I am!

3. Chopsticks-not on the piano the utensils you eat Asian food with. I know that sounds weird but I LOVE Chinese food, have ate it for years and have never figured those stupid, big splinters-waiting-to-happen things out! I swear God knew what he was doing when he put me in a country that uses the fork, because I would have starved to death at an early age! No wonder it is so hard to find and over-weight Asian---because they have to eat rice with those things!

So, I guess your wondering if this post has a point? Yes, indeed it does! Last Saturday my Mom and I went to eat at a new Chinese restaurant in town. (Just as a sidebar it was wonderful!) We were waiting on our food and Zach was getting fussy so I gave him some chopsticks to play with.

Then this happened!

Yes, you are looking at that right! My two year old picked up his first pair of chopsticks and started to use them like he has known how his entire life! He ate most of his meal with them!

I suspect he will be telling me how to spell things correctly, and helping me with my math homework next week!

And just as a bonus I love this picture of us, because it is a rare one where he is actually looking at the camera, and his Mama don't look like a pregnant shamoo stranded on the beach!

Blessed

Have you ever needed to be reminded how blessed you are? I do all the time.

I get so caught up in day-to-day life that I forget to stop, look around me, and thank God for all that I have that is good in my life.

This is been a tough week. You see I failed my Nursing final this week by 2 points and now have to repeat the coarse in January.

I was 12 weeks from graduating! (I am still mourning the loss)

All that I could think about is how this puts all of my plans back a year...

To own a house...

A new 4 door car...

Maybe Marriage...

Possibly a new little brother, or sister for Zachary...

But in case you missed what I just said these were MY plans, not GOD'S!

So, needless to say I was feeling pretty sorry for myself on Tuesday. Well Okay, were all friends at this point, I was wallowing in self pity if you really must know!

I went to my computer to Tweet the bad news and I saw this. And if that were not enough I watched this video! (For some reason this hyperlink did not change colors, but you can click on "video" and see the video. There is a 15 second comercial that plays first, then the story)

Who am I to be upset that my life has been delayed another year? I may not have the car that I want, but I have a very nice car that has never gave me any trouble(knock on wood), I may not have the house that I want but I do have a roof over my head!

Most Importantly I have a wonderful, healthy, little boy that I don't deserve! I don't know what it is like to carry a child, just to come home to an empty cradle. I have not had to see my baby suffer. I get to tuck him in at night, kiss his boo-boos, and raise him to know our Savior. I have a family that loves me, sisters that are always there for me,a Mama that taught me how to love Christ, and a Daddy that spent years defending the helpless.

I am so BLESSED!

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank-You so much for the blessings in my life. Please help me to never forget how much you have gave me. Please help me to be thankful for everything that you put into my life, and to always remember that you have a plan for me; and although I do not know that plan yet please allow me to have peace in knowing that you are in charge!
~Amen~

Tell me how you have been blessed!

A New Day

I am not a "go getter".

I never have been.

I can remember making "C's", and "D's" on my report card year after year because I would do my homework the night before, then decide that it wasn't worth my time to turn it in; so I would put it in my locker and forget about it.

Did I mention that I was also a very smart girl! :)

I didn't care if I made good grades or not because I knew that I knew the material and that was all that mattered. I didn't need a teacher to tell me that on my homework.

I didn't care if my paycheck was never as much as it could be because I made enough to pay my bills and do what I wanted to do, and I didn't think that I needed anymore than that.

What did it matter if the boyfriend that I had at the time was a complete and total peice of crap
completly wrong for me, because that is what I wanted at the time and that was all that mattered to me.

So you see, I can't remember the last time that I have tried as hard as I can at anything. I have spent the largest part of my life settling.

Then I had Zach. Then I got better, I want to be the best Mommy that I can be, but lets face it, we all take short cuts. He may go to bed without that bath that he REALLY needs, or not eat supper at 6pm, but I am a good Mommy.

Then another amazing thing happened....I renewed my relationship with Christ, and that I am trying my best at.

I have put alot of my efforts into my relationship with Christ. I have started going to a great Church, reading my Bible, and even started (and finished...which if you know me personally that is HUGE) a Bible study, and have started on a second one!! I am so happy with this new life that I have been given!

Two Years Ago

I am not the same person I was a little over 2 years ago.



OK I know what your thinking..."Who Is"?



Two years ago I would have never gave it a second thought to lay down $60+ for that "perfect pair of jeans" (Although if you ever do find that "perfect pair" it will change your fashion life) instead of thinking of all of the little person cloths that I can buy with that money.



Two years ago I would have not been very happy having to wake up in the middle of the night just because someone needed me....I mean how dare someone interrupt my sleep?

Two years ago I could have cared less if the dishes were washed as long as I had something to eat on, the laundry was clean as long as what I wanted to wear the next day was clean, and I never understood why it made my Mom mad that my room was a constant mess, I mean it was my room what did she care?


Two years ago I thought that my friend Brandi was crazy when she would tell me that she was "exhausted"....all she done was stay home all day with then three children, how hard could that be?

Two years ago I never imagined that I would be wiping poop, wiping snot, and finding out that there are smells that come from little bodies that can make a sanitation worker gag! AND love every minute of it, what on earth am I glutten for punishment?

Two years ago I had not met Angie, Pete, Jennifer, or Adam, and Aimee and I didn't know that people can walk through the flames of hell and come out on the other side praising God. Because I didn't talk to God unless I needed something.

Two years ago it would have never touched my heart the way it did yesterday when my Mom gave me a new Bible for Mothers Day, because two years ago it was "just another Bible" that I didn't have the time, or desire to open.

To put it simply two years ago I was a selfish, lazy, and completely self absorbed person. All I worried about was me and what made me happy. And at that time my relationship with God was not a good one on my part. That's not only how being a Mother has changed me, but is is also how God has changed me!! Because you see, God chose ME to be Zachary's mother.

He knows there will be days when I make mistakes, and say or do the wrong thing, but he still decided that I was the best person for the job. That is a humbling thought! Have you ever thought of it that way? That God thought YOU were the best person in the entire world to be given the responsibility of raising YOUR children? WOW!

I want to know how Motherhood has changed your life. Mothers Day is next Sunday and in the spirit of Mothers Day tell me how you have changed!