I have been thinking about my grandfather a lot lately and the talks we used to share. Those talks about freedom and why we are able to have/do certain things. Now, by NO means was my grandfather perfect, but one of the most humbling experiences I have had came when a man wrote my grandmother after Papa's death.
The letter told of how "Billy" (my grandfather) had saved his life during WWII. How Billy flew in, against orders, to help save he and his crew when their plane had been shot down by the enemy. My grandfather, "Papa" (to me), was a Navy pilot, and never in a million years would have told us that story. We heard about those fun times in the Navy...those times when the boys would all get together and drink, but never had we heard about how our grandfather saved lives. Sadly and especially today, I wish I could tell him thanks.
I can't even imagine what some soldiers have to "blank" out when returning home from war. Their stories I'm sure are altered and the pain locked deep inside because regular ole Joes like myself can't take it. I am reminded of that each time I get off a plane and I see a military person walk by me ready to get home to their kids or when I turn on the news and hear that another 10 soldiers were killed because some crazy man hates our American government. I am reminded of that each time I play with my nephews or think about our future children or whenever I watch politicians do the same song and dance everyone loves to hate: candidates say one thing "to get a vote" but then never DO anything to help once they get into office. How do you explain war to a 4 year old and when will these politicians start realizing that real lives and families are being impacted?
My point is this: Please pray for our country's leadership, our troops, and our future generations to come. I am not one to push a candidate on you, and certainly do not want to get into a policy argument, but I do feel it's time to pray on this issue as our country is in need of a major "Come to Jesus." We need a leader who will watch out for our people and restore the faith that my grandfather talked of during his WWII days. To you soldiers: Thank you for saving our lives and our freedom and please know you have people thinking about you everyday!
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Thursday, January 3, 2008
New Years 2008
Well Happy New Year everyone and welcome to 2008. Seems time just keeps flying by and frankly I'm getting kinda weirded out.
I turn 26 this month (I know I'm ancient right?!). I now like going to bed at 10 PM (OR earlier if I'm lucky), our friends are actually beginning to get pregnant and "stuff," Dave and I continuously talk about "old married people stuff" like updating the house and/or shopping at Ellis Pottery for decorations, and we lately amuse ourselves by sitting on the couch comparing HDTV to regular TV! I know...exciting right? So, what the heck is going on?
Seems the "honeymoon period" is in fact wearing off and life is beginning to settle in as it should while my wifely duties have started to become more natural. To be quite honest, I have started to enjoy them a lot. HAHA! But as I have ventured more and more into marriage, I can't help but wonder about this honeymoon period. Why does it have to end? And where does it go? Do couples one day wake up and decide to be boring and not into each other?
After having this conversation with my husband and others at work, I decided to "define" my idea of "honeymoon period." It's the point during a marriage when you continually flirt/leave your spouse wanting more (Sepulvado-Anderson, 2006). Yes, you're married, but it seems during this period it's almost like a playful game that keeps the spark and sass between both parties. I'm not talking about the idea of men or women spending money to by their husbands/wives gifts or some fairy tale ending some people dream of. I'm talking about the playfulness, the spark, and the ongoing idea of hey...your my husband/wife and I want to jump your bones. The idea of saying hey..thanks for being my rock and the one I depend on during even my roughest days. What happens to this?
I have seen/heard from numerous people who have been married much longer than Dave and I that life just seems to get in the way. Take a moment and remember back to your last dining out experience...did you see one of these couples? You know the people that just sit there (without emotion), no talking or spark. Instead they eat, stare into space, and leave without even the smallest gesture to one another. Has life gotten in their way? I have to say yes... and I would go even farther saying that I think life gets in the way of a lot of our relationships.
Seriously...think about it. Each morning you get up, get dressed, race out the door, blast into work and try to work/smile for at least 8 hours (if not longer), get off, stop by the gym, come home, wash/clean/feed whatever and whoever is in your household, and then maybe just maybe have about 2 hours tops with your spouse. From there usually people have other obligations either with work or school. I know I teach one night a week at a local university here. I love it; however, grading/prepping for class can sometimes take me hours. And this does not include the time you spend with your kids. EXHAUSTING right?
So, to wrap up my thinking for the day, my point is that the honeymoon period can stay alive during your marriage. It can and it will if you just remember to flirt and have fun with each other even during bad days. My hope is that when you read this you remember to keep that sass in your marriage - be confident in who you are and show your spouse how much you love him/her. It's during those flirtatious moments when you remember that feeling of falling in love for the first time and why God brought you two together in the first place! I have been reminded lately when we are sitting on the couch and looking at the differences between 720p and 1080i television (whatever that means) how much I love my husband and how I am so thankful that our spark is still alive!
Happy New Year everyone....let's have a rockin' year!
"God has given us these times of joy." Psalm 81:4
I turn 26 this month (I know I'm ancient right?!). I now like going to bed at 10 PM (OR earlier if I'm lucky), our friends are actually beginning to get pregnant and "stuff," Dave and I continuously talk about "old married people stuff" like updating the house and/or shopping at Ellis Pottery for decorations, and we lately amuse ourselves by sitting on the couch comparing HDTV to regular TV! I know...exciting right? So, what the heck is going on?
Seems the "honeymoon period" is in fact wearing off and life is beginning to settle in as it should while my wifely duties have started to become more natural. To be quite honest, I have started to enjoy them a lot. HAHA! But as I have ventured more and more into marriage, I can't help but wonder about this honeymoon period. Why does it have to end? And where does it go? Do couples one day wake up and decide to be boring and not into each other?
After having this conversation with my husband and others at work, I decided to "define" my idea of "honeymoon period." It's the point during a marriage when you continually flirt/leave your spouse wanting more (Sepulvado-Anderson, 2006). Yes, you're married, but it seems during this period it's almost like a playful game that keeps the spark and sass between both parties. I'm not talking about the idea of men or women spending money to by their husbands/wives gifts or some fairy tale ending some people dream of. I'm talking about the playfulness, the spark, and the ongoing idea of hey...your my husband/wife and I want to jump your bones. The idea of saying hey..thanks for being my rock and the one I depend on during even my roughest days. What happens to this?
I have seen/heard from numerous people who have been married much longer than Dave and I that life just seems to get in the way. Take a moment and remember back to your last dining out experience...did you see one of these couples? You know the people that just sit there (without emotion), no talking or spark. Instead they eat, stare into space, and leave without even the smallest gesture to one another. Has life gotten in their way? I have to say yes... and I would go even farther saying that I think life gets in the way of a lot of our relationships.
Seriously...think about it. Each morning you get up, get dressed, race out the door, blast into work and try to work/smile for at least 8 hours (if not longer), get off, stop by the gym, come home, wash/clean/feed whatever and whoever is in your household, and then maybe just maybe have about 2 hours tops with your spouse. From there usually people have other obligations either with work or school. I know I teach one night a week at a local university here. I love it; however, grading/prepping for class can sometimes take me hours. And this does not include the time you spend with your kids. EXHAUSTING right?
So, to wrap up my thinking for the day, my point is that the honeymoon period can stay alive during your marriage. It can and it will if you just remember to flirt and have fun with each other even during bad days. My hope is that when you read this you remember to keep that sass in your marriage - be confident in who you are and show your spouse how much you love him/her. It's during those flirtatious moments when you remember that feeling of falling in love for the first time and why God brought you two together in the first place! I have been reminded lately when we are sitting on the couch and looking at the differences between 720p and 1080i television (whatever that means) how much I love my husband and how I am so thankful that our spark is still alive!
Happy New Year everyone....let's have a rockin' year!
"God has given us these times of joy." Psalm 81:4
Sunday, November 25, 2007
I love the holidays!!!
So, these next few weeks kick off my favorite time of year....the Holidays!!! Something about the cold weather, LSU games (yes they are still fantastic), hot chocolate, and that smell of burning wood outside just makes my heart skip!
Cooking for our family is an all time favorite of mine. Now, don't let me fool you...my cooking is by far not perfect, but getting together and hearing the joy that comes from a dining room table as all your family and friends are together is priceless. So many traditions are shared, jokes told, and memories retold. As my Dad says, "that is when your house finally becomes a home" and I could not agree more!
Even more fun is Reed (our now 4 year old nephew). He is taking a liking to Uncle Dave and Aunt Carla now calling us to see if he can spend the night with us. We do everything from watch movies to cook to play ninja turtles and spider man games (with toy figures as well as on the Wii). I see him looking up to Dave so much and I am so thankful to have moved back to watch this little boy grow up. God really does lead you in life as I never thought I would return to Shreveport. Now, I can't even imagine being away.
Thanksgiving was a blast this year. We got to spend half the day with my side of the family. Our newest little nephew (Owen) is starting to laugh and want to be held by ME!!! My morning was spent playing baseball in the backyard with Reed, holding Mr. Owen (now almost 6 months old), and laughing at my brothers and Dave when they ate way to much.
About twoish, we headed to Dave's side of the family. They have some meaningful traditions as well. Every year I am amazed at how real they are....what you see is what you get, and I love it. They enjoy getting together, having way too much food and doing my all time favorite thing....laughing with each other. This year we got to celebrate a new arrival....Dave's cousin had her first baby (Ms. Bailey) and she is so pretty. Let me know if you don't believe in God...I will show you this little baby! UGH...she takes my breath away.
Decorating is an exciting moment too. In my house growing up, my parents would always wake up the day after Thanksgiving, have cinnamon boiling on the stove and Christmas music playing as they worked together to transform our house into Christmas time. This year, that tradition unfolded for Dave and I too. We both woke up, started the music through the living room speakers, put the smell of cinnamon on in our kitchen, and felt the cold air hit us as we brought down box after box from our attic to begin transforming our home into Christmas time. Crazy how traditions do in fact run from generation to generation!
This holiday season I am reminded how blessed we are as a family. I pray that you take a moment and see what traditions you have in your family, what your children will remember when they grow up, and how lucky you are to be alive.
Cooking for our family is an all time favorite of mine. Now, don't let me fool you...my cooking is by far not perfect, but getting together and hearing the joy that comes from a dining room table as all your family and friends are together is priceless. So many traditions are shared, jokes told, and memories retold. As my Dad says, "that is when your house finally becomes a home" and I could not agree more!
Even more fun is Reed (our now 4 year old nephew). He is taking a liking to Uncle Dave and Aunt Carla now calling us to see if he can spend the night with us. We do everything from watch movies to cook to play ninja turtles and spider man games (with toy figures as well as on the Wii). I see him looking up to Dave so much and I am so thankful to have moved back to watch this little boy grow up. God really does lead you in life as I never thought I would return to Shreveport. Now, I can't even imagine being away.
Thanksgiving was a blast this year. We got to spend half the day with my side of the family. Our newest little nephew (Owen) is starting to laugh and want to be held by ME!!! My morning was spent playing baseball in the backyard with Reed, holding Mr. Owen (now almost 6 months old), and laughing at my brothers and Dave when they ate way to much.
About twoish, we headed to Dave's side of the family. They have some meaningful traditions as well. Every year I am amazed at how real they are....what you see is what you get, and I love it. They enjoy getting together, having way too much food and doing my all time favorite thing....laughing with each other. This year we got to celebrate a new arrival....Dave's cousin had her first baby (Ms. Bailey) and she is so pretty. Let me know if you don't believe in God...I will show you this little baby! UGH...she takes my breath away.
Decorating is an exciting moment too. In my house growing up, my parents would always wake up the day after Thanksgiving, have cinnamon boiling on the stove and Christmas music playing as they worked together to transform our house into Christmas time. This year, that tradition unfolded for Dave and I too. We both woke up, started the music through the living room speakers, put the smell of cinnamon on in our kitchen, and felt the cold air hit us as we brought down box after box from our attic to begin transforming our home into Christmas time. Crazy how traditions do in fact run from generation to generation!
This holiday season I am reminded how blessed we are as a family. I pray that you take a moment and see what traditions you have in your family, what your children will remember when they grow up, and how lucky you are to be alive.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Stillness
Every Sunday, I can always bet that something in the scripture is going to knock me across the head. In fact, I have this running joke with myself that it's God trying to knock the hardheadedness out and actually make me listen.
So this past Sunday amist all things going on, I here:
"Be still, and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10)
Interestingly enough, tonight (Tuesday)I got home and was looking for a fairly important document we needed for business. I had turned my house upside down FOUR different times before tonight, gone to my parents and ransacked their office and now I was back home looking AGAIN for this one delicate piece of paper. As I was throwing papers around, I heard a soft voice in my head...."Be still, and know that I am God."
"Yeah right God", I said to myself. "I am here in a pile full of my junk and I really don't have time to be still right now. I love you and all but just wait a second." I found everything from our marriage license to old pictures...but still no document. I turned off the light and started to walk to the bedroom in defeat. Then the verse came to me again..."Be still, and know that I am God." At this point I just said okay and began to look one last place. Still nothing. "Dang it," I thought, "its got to be here somewhere!"
I walked into the next room, and my husband was sitting at my desk as still as he could be flipping through some papers. His stillness caught my eye as I had just heard that voice in my head and well....I guess you can figure out what happened....he had found the document. Chills just ran up and down my body...no way did that just happen to me.
Now I'm not one to preach or tell you how to lead your life, but I truly believe God gives us signs in life. If we listen maybe, just maybe we can find what we are looking for. "Be still, and know that I am God." Very meaningful to me this week and my hope for you is that you can take a few minutes each day and be still with the Lord. It's in that stillness of time that God has some of the best life lessons!
Blessings to you all,
Carla
So this past Sunday amist all things going on, I here:
"Be still, and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10)
Interestingly enough, tonight (Tuesday)I got home and was looking for a fairly important document we needed for business. I had turned my house upside down FOUR different times before tonight, gone to my parents and ransacked their office and now I was back home looking AGAIN for this one delicate piece of paper. As I was throwing papers around, I heard a soft voice in my head...."Be still, and know that I am God."
"Yeah right God", I said to myself. "I am here in a pile full of my junk and I really don't have time to be still right now. I love you and all but just wait a second." I found everything from our marriage license to old pictures...but still no document. I turned off the light and started to walk to the bedroom in defeat. Then the verse came to me again..."Be still, and know that I am God." At this point I just said okay and began to look one last place. Still nothing. "Dang it," I thought, "its got to be here somewhere!"
I walked into the next room, and my husband was sitting at my desk as still as he could be flipping through some papers. His stillness caught my eye as I had just heard that voice in my head and well....I guess you can figure out what happened....he had found the document. Chills just ran up and down my body...no way did that just happen to me.
Now I'm not one to preach or tell you how to lead your life, but I truly believe God gives us signs in life. If we listen maybe, just maybe we can find what we are looking for. "Be still, and know that I am God." Very meaningful to me this week and my hope for you is that you can take a few minutes each day and be still with the Lord. It's in that stillness of time that God has some of the best life lessons!
Blessings to you all,
Carla
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Serious decisions
Laughter seems to get me in trouble quite often. Yes, I'm the youngest of three and like attention...what can I say. I like to make fun of things and I seem to side with a joke rather than being serious simply because lets face it: 1) nothing is ever as bad as it could be and 2) frowns give you wrinkles for heaven's sake!
So humor is one of my many gifts; however, I have come to respect seriousness for what it's worth recently. I am finally learning to trust in the Lord and become serious when I say 'okay, lets start making a difference.'
I thought I trusted in him before....I mean when your mom has had cancer, and your dad has suffered a heart attack believe me you realize really quick that someone/somewhere high above is watching out for you. But lately, God is giving me an even more personal lesson in seriousness and trust....He is teaching me to be serious when it comes to things like my marriage, my family, my friends and the relationships I build on a daily basis, my career, and last but certainly not least my health.
October 9th, 2007, I had weight loss surgery. I was/still am embarrassed (part of me excited), but after months of praying, followed by research, followed by information seminars, followed by doctor's trips, and finally pre-op appointments, I am finally becoming serious about me and my walk with the Lord. The me that is a wife, a future mother, a daughter, a sister, and a friend. I am finally seeing that a corporate office and/or fancy title is not going to help me become the person I need to be, and I'm having to lay it all out there and trust in the big man upstairs himself when it comes to life.
As I wake up each morning, I am blessed to look over at my husband and thank God for giving me such a rock to lean on during my hard days. I am blessed to have a great family and group of friends that rock my world because they are so awesome and I am blessed to be able to laugh and keep my sense of humor to go out and face the world even during serious times!!
Remember: 1) nothing is ever as bad as it could be and 2) frowns give you wrinkles for heaven's sake!
So humor is one of my many gifts; however, I have come to respect seriousness for what it's worth recently. I am finally learning to trust in the Lord and become serious when I say 'okay, lets start making a difference.'
I thought I trusted in him before....I mean when your mom has had cancer, and your dad has suffered a heart attack believe me you realize really quick that someone/somewhere high above is watching out for you. But lately, God is giving me an even more personal lesson in seriousness and trust....He is teaching me to be serious when it comes to things like my marriage, my family, my friends and the relationships I build on a daily basis, my career, and last but certainly not least my health.
October 9th, 2007, I had weight loss surgery. I was/still am embarrassed (part of me excited), but after months of praying, followed by research, followed by information seminars, followed by doctor's trips, and finally pre-op appointments, I am finally becoming serious about me and my walk with the Lord. The me that is a wife, a future mother, a daughter, a sister, and a friend. I am finally seeing that a corporate office and/or fancy title is not going to help me become the person I need to be, and I'm having to lay it all out there and trust in the big man upstairs himself when it comes to life.
As I wake up each morning, I am blessed to look over at my husband and thank God for giving me such a rock to lean on during my hard days. I am blessed to have a great family and group of friends that rock my world because they are so awesome and I am blessed to be able to laugh and keep my sense of humor to go out and face the world even during serious times!!
Remember: 1) nothing is ever as bad as it could be and 2) frowns give you wrinkles for heaven's sake!
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Introduction
After months of hearing how I should do this, I figured I would take a chance and try this little thing called "blogging." I have always enjoyed writing, but having others actually see everything I write...that's like having someone hear you pray...it's a different story. So, where to begin?
About me I suppose: I am a fairly independent, married, mother of two (dogs that is) and love being able to say "I'm alive." I write from the heart and can always use a laugh. Hopefully my stories will have some connection to you and we can dance this little dance called LIFE together!
About me I suppose: I am a fairly independent, married, mother of two (dogs that is) and love being able to say "I'm alive." I write from the heart and can always use a laugh. Hopefully my stories will have some connection to you and we can dance this little dance called LIFE together!
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