Random thoughts from Denise

Thankfulness

2011-11-03T22:10:00.009-04:00

I am thankful! I am so very thankful! But what does that mean to me? First and foremost I am thankful to Jesus...because without Him I would be nothing. I have made my share of bad choices in my life and I have regrets. I have always said that those bad choices are what made me who I am...but that is only partly true. The other...larger part of what made me...is that when I laid those choices at the feet of Jesus...I was wiped clean. This does not mean that I am free to make all the bad choices I want. It is not a blank check to sin. Those things that I genuinely turn over to Him are forgiven. As a child of God I do not desire to sin. I am tempted like everyone else but my desire is to be like Him. But trust me...that is a battle for even the most devout Christian. There are consequences for bad choices...some small and some big...and those are consequences I have to live with. However, I am a new creation. Some consequences are but a bad memory...and for that I am blessed. I say blessed because it could be much worse than a memory. I embrace my memories as a reminder of what I am capable of without Christ. Some days I may cringe and have to turn them back over to Jesus all over again. Other days the devil tries to lure me in and tell me that I am not far from that place...and he too likes to tell me what I am capable of. But on good days...I say "oh no, not today...I am a child of God." Wow didn't plan to say all of this when I sat down. haha! It is all true for me though. Everyone is doing thankful statuses on Facebook...I am a few days behind...so I decided to post in my blog about it. My first 3 are my top 3. I am thankful for Jesus for forgiving me, Kenny for loving me, and my beautiful girls - Kenni and Lola. On those days when I struggle I look to my top 3 for a reminder of where I am now. I am truly blessed. I hope you have a "top 3" to keep you focused...with the top one being Jesus.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
2 Corinthians 5:17

Breast Cancer

2011-10-03T22:25:00.002-04:00

For a few years my sister and I did the Breast Cancer 3Day in Atlanta. They have about a dozen all over the country...but she lived there so we did that one. I would love to do it again! It was really a lot of fun. If you have never heard of it...you agree to raise money for breast cancer and to walk 60 miles over 3 days. You don't run...they want you to walk and meet people and learn their story. You live in a little tent city and eat your meals either there or your lunch midway through your daily walk thru the city. It is a very moving experience. Port-a-potties, blisters, a great cause, and such a bonding time. We literally had to zip our sleeping bags together one night to stay warm. haha! It was great! There was frost on our tent the next morning. It was great!
October is Breast Cancer awareness month. It is very, VERY important for you to check your boobs! I know I haven't blogged in a super long time...but this is more important than a status update so I thouht I would jump back in. We have a large family of girls and I pray that we all make it breast cancer free. It isn't just for girls though. Boys can get breast cancer too! We need to check our boobs! For real!
Many of you do not know that I have started selling Mary Kay. This month I will donate a portion of all of my sales to the Susan G. Komen Fund. They are doing great things for breast cancer awareness and to help find a cure.

ok...really?

2010-12-19T16:36:00.002-05:00

Okay well...we were at church all morning and I know for a fact that Lola heard about how the devil can make you act like the Grinch...and that she really needs to act more Christ like. So how is it that when we get home Lola completely loses it! And I do mean completely! Ranting and raving and acting like a fool. I simply asked for her to clean her room and she started her usual. She is kicking, spitting, SCREAMING, hitting, throwing things and finally...she packed her bag! haha! So I really am convinced that it is the sugar. It just blows my mind that all she had was a small sprite, a candy cane and she had two sips of my coke! Urgh! I LOVE sugar! I really really do! Sweet tea, chocolate...well I don't have enough time to list all of that! How on earth am I going to cut out ALL sugar! I don't even know where to begin...well I do...but I don't want to. I know that sounds shallow...but I LOVE sugar! Okay so yes I am more than willing to do whatever it takes to help my daughter and keep her from these tantrums...and so I will be getting rid of sugar. (I know that it will be great for me as well.) I am just so warn out from the fighting. It is by far the most physically/mentally challenging thing that I do all day...do you know how strong a 7 year old is? Crazy strong! You know how you hear that people that do cocaine are strong as a bull and have a major temper...this is what I think of when Lola gets one of her tantrums. Nothing works on her! Nothing! Maybe that is what I should dedicate this blog to...instead of random thoughts...Life With Lola! Trust me...there is never a dull moment. I know for a fact that there are other mothers that deal with the same things as I do. I really should start a support group...or a support blog really. I just know that I am tired! Tired of ruined fun days! Tired of ruined vacations! Tired of not being able to clean my house! Tired of being spit at and kicked! Tired of the screaming and the rage! Tired of her mistreating the whole family! Tired of having to have one daughter lock herself in her room while I take a shower just to protect her from the wrath of the other! I am tired! Physically and mentally tired! So for two hours today I got to wrestle, spank, chase, fight, argue, be a punching bag, and a sponge (you know...for the spit). All I want to do is knit, or watch a movie..oohhhh or maybe even read a book. Oh my gracious! How can one little person be so...so...urgh! It really does blow my mind! I know how fortunate I am to have her! I know that! One day...I will get her on video in a rant..one day. I will be sure to let anyone who criticizes me to see that video. You will be shocked and amazed! Lola says I don't love her! Oh I can promise you that I do...because I do NOT know of anyone else that would put up with or take what I do with her. I know that you may be thinking..."how on earth can she talk like this about her daughter"....well I hope you never have to find out!

Why do I care?

2010-11-18T21:49:00.002-05:00

Why do I care? Why do I care about what? Why do I care about parental rights! Well I have two very good reasons and their names are Kenni and Lola. As a parent...their parent...it is my job to guide them, educate them about right and wrong, protect them, and handle all aspects of their care. Unfortunately there are some people in this country that do NOT think that is MY job...but it is the job of the courts...the government...politicians...or even the UN. Courts all over the US are challenging the rights that I hold so dear. I am not even close to being the most knowledgeable about the issue nor do I claim to be. That is one good reason for hosting a screening of "The Child" this Saturday. I want to know more...need to know more.
What (very little) I do know:
There is an attempt to have our country ratify the Convention of the Rights of the Child treaty. This treaty is governed by the UN. Our constitution states that treaties override any state or federal law. Simply said...the UN's laws would supercede our laws here in the US.
There is also an attempt to add an amendment to the constitution that would protect us from this treaty. It would not allow the UN to make rulings in court concerning my rights as a parent. It would make my rights as a parent explicit instead of merely implied.
I also know that children...and yes I mean children...are taken out of school and they receive abortions and birth control shots without a parent's consent. That is going on right now in this country...in SC...it happened just a few weeks ago. Whatever a child discusses with their physician is between them. They are not required to tell me anything...and most likely will not. I would not have a right to opt my child out of a sex education class, even if that class is offered in kindergarten.
There is a preacher here in the states that was arrested for spanking his son...spanking his son. It is already outlawed in California. No spanking! Personally that is what is wrong with this country. You never hear me say that it is okay to beat a child. Spanking is for discipline. Beating is an outrage! Spanking is not done in anger but in love for that child so they do not grow up and go to jail. Even if you do not agree with me about spanking...it is still my right to make that choice...not the UN's.
You know...I love my girls! I want to be able to teach them that Jesus is the only way to God. I want to be able to home school them...or send them to private school if I so desire. I want to spank them if that is the way I discipline. I do not want some teacher/counselor to drive them to a clinic and let them get the birth control shot...or worse...an abortion without my knowledge or consent. It is my right! If this treaty is ratified all of those things will be challenged.
ACA and Veritas...you will have to teach ALL religions. Parents you will have to give your young children options about the religion that they grow up in...whether you are Muslim, Jewish, or Christian.
So please know that this is not important to YOU for MY reasons...but it should be important to you for YOUR reasons. Come to the Premier Screening of "The Child" this Saturday at 10am at Biltmore Baptist Church. If not please check it out for yourself at www.parentalrights.org.

too many irons...to even blog!

2010-11-09T00:02:00.003-05:00

Well it is obvious from the date of my last blog that I have way too much going on. haha! April of '09! Really? Of course since there will only be about 5 people who read this...I don't think there is a big concern there. LOL!
So....I am very excited about Thanksgiving. More excited about Christmas...but I am trying to be patient. I love this time of year. I want to cook and bake. I want to be around a lot of people visiting, eating, and just hanging out. So...on our menu...turkey, ham, corn, mashed potatoes, and rolls by me. Dressing and congealed salad usually come from Becky. And we gotta have sweet tea to drink.
Now dessert? Oh mercy..."Ms Peggy's Pecan Pies"...a yummy goodness a sweet lady in Arkansas brought to my Aunt Bec and Uncle Jimmy's house when my Auntie passed away a few years ago. Somehow she managed to get them to their house STILL WARM. They are individual pecan pies...so cute! They are so scrumptious!! Some kind of pumpkin dessert...but I don't like pumpkin pie. So, usually a pumpkin cake or roll. :) Kenni Grace informed me that she wants apple pie too. I think we might have more desserts than food. Island is for food...but the buffet...that is reserved for all the yummy goodness of dessert-ville. :)
I love having extra folks over too. One year we had five different families here counting ours...okay so there wasn't but about 15...but it was fun. Always looking for refuges to come! haha! Kenny has to work Thanksgiving this year...so it is looking like it is going to be small...just 5. That means we get to nap-time faster! ;) Seriously though...it stinks...because he makes the BEST mashed potatoes.
I love the whole cooking scene with the parade in the background. Hopefully Lola won't cut her hair this year! True story...that happened about 4 years ago. Ugh! Right in the middle of me cooking and going crazy getting everything ready. Man I could have strangled her. haha!
Umm...confession time...the best part is...the next day we go pick out our Christmas Tree! I so LOVE doing this. We go to Sandy Hollar Farm in Leicester and walk around until we find the "perfect" one. Daddy cuts it down by hand...because he is a manly-man...and we love him for it. We bring it home and pull out the gazillion boxes and get to decorating. And decorating...that doesn't happen without Elvis going in the background! Man...I can't wait! I am ready how bought you? I hope whoever reads this has an amazing Thanksgiving spent with family and friends! What a blessed person I am and I am so very thankful for everything the Lord has given me. God Bless!

2009-04-13T23:28:00.003-04:00

Last weekend we were in Charleston for the Cooper River Bridge Run. After the run we drove by to see where the furniture store fire had been that killed 9 firefighters. The first picure shows the 9 crosses that are placed at the front of the property. The second one shows the vacant lot where the store was located. The flags that seem randomly placed are actually placed very purposefully. The flags are all placed where a firefighters body was found. It was very sad to see. One of the firefighters that went with us for the run lived in Charleston for a time and knew one of the firefighters that was killed. It was hard to see this and to know that that is where they had lost their lives. I just hope I never have go thru that with Kenny. The thought sometimes is overwhelming! I just pray God's protection and comfort over their families, even now...almost 2 years later.

So much to say!

2008-11-06T12:28:00.003-05:00

Well...it has been a long time since my last post. I apologize! Let's see...we have married off Kenny's brother, survived the ten day trip there and back, life, Halloween, HOOPLA, life, trip to the apple orchard, homeschooling stuff, more life, seen gas drop back to $2.25, and still an occasional slap upside the head from my youngest. haha Oh and lest we forget...our nation voted in the the craziest choice for President. So that about sums up life since my last blog. Sad that I can do that in one paragraph!
I am getting geared up for the "holidays". And by holidays I do not mean that I am not saying Christmas. I mean Thanksgiving and Christmas and New Years. This is my favorite time of year. I love the decorating and the baking! It is so much fun for me. The only thing that could make it better is if I had someone to clean up after me. :D So to my earlier point about Christmas...I make it a point to always say Merry Christmas! People say happy holidays to me and I reply to them with Merry Christmas. The girls and I usually make candy canes with the story of the candy cane on it and give them out to everyone. The girls take turns giving them away. (ie-fight over whose turn it is.) It really is fun though. People don't usually expect to be given a treat when you go thru the grocery line or the bank drive thru. I got the idea from a lady that came and talked at Festival of Holidays a few years ago. I loved it and so we have made it a tradition.
Now to another tradition. I should have started with Thanksgiving first, since it is next. We go every year and get our tree at a tree farm in Leicester called Sandy Hollar Farms. We go the day after Thanksgiving usually. The girls love it! They have a hay ride up to where the trees are and you get to pick out your own tree. They will cut it down for you (which they didn't used to do) and string it up and send it back down the mountain for you to pick up. They also sell wreaths and garlan there, which they make on sight. Love it! Oh and they have hot chocolate and snacks. It is so much fun. I will have to find a picture from last year and post it. So much fun! I have been going to the same farm since I was a little girl. That family is the nicest! They used to be in a different place though, this one is bigger. It is way fun if you have a bunch of people to go. Then we bring it home and decorate it that night. Sometimes it takes me the whole weekend though to get the house just right. :D Again...favorite time of year!
For many reasons this is my favorite time. The first and foremost is that Christmas celebrates the birth of our savior Jesus Christ! (Which we do have cake and sing for.) The second is the excuse to visit with familiy a little longer than normal, to have friends over for dessert and good conversation, and to have a tree sitting in my living room with pretty lights on it. :D Last but not least...ELVIS PRESSLEY CHRISTMAS MUSIC! I love it! Christmas ain't Christmas without ELVIS! Maybe I should add that one to my facebook quotes. haha
Well I am going to end here for now! I have to go get my hair did. I promise to blog again soon.
Oh...please check out "Laura's blog", over in the left hand column. That is my sister. She moved to Arkansas and is living on the family farm. That is my dad's place and where I spent a lot of summers. I love that place! Anyway, she blogs about the farm so check it out.

I got beat up by a kindergartener!

2008-09-18T22:18:00.003-04:00

Okay...so it probably sounds like part of a catchy tune by a punk rock band. But no! I really did get beat up by a kindergartener...my own. Okay not beat up, but slapped around a bit. Seriously.
So this is my blog for today...Lola. Today Lola went and changed clothes. Not unusual, but annoying. I do a TON of laundry and Lola's pile is always twice as high as everyone elses. So, I have "rationed" her clothes. She is allowed one outfit a day, well unless it gets something spilled on it. I know it sounds mean but you have to understand that she changes like 4-5 times a day if I don't watch her. So anyway, today I asked her to put her clothes back on and put the clean clothes back in the drawer. She proceeds to pop me on the hand with her pencil. Oh, did I mention that we were trying to do school at the time. :) After the pencil, she hops out of her chair and kicks me. I know...funny. I picked her up and took her straight down the hall to her room where she had to stay until she was in a better "mood". I know what you are thinking...my dad used to pop me with the belt too. I am convinced there is nothing that works with Lola though. Trust me, I have tried it.
So after a bit Lola was back at the table to do school. But, she had changed back to her original outfit. ;) Score one for me! (Unfortunately it would be my only one.) A few minutes went by and she didn't like something else that happened, and really I can't remember what it was. So we are back at it again. Literally, I am chasing her around, and under, the kitchen table. She is fast! I am ashamed to admit that I actually went over the back of the couch at one point. I can't believe it! How did I get to this point...you know, being under my kitchen table? I couldn't begin to tell you. I know...laugh. It is very funny when I think about it. Well actually I had to bite my lip a couple of times to keep from laughing. There was the one time though that I took a pretty good one upside my head...and that one...that one brought tears. And not because it stung...which it did. But because it really hurt my feelings.
I am not really sure where that comes from. Her anger. Where do you go with that?! No really...I am at a loss. Maybe, just maybe, I need to find me a good priest. You know...for an EXORCISM.

The 5K

2008-09-13T21:09:00.003-04:00

Well I had my 5K today! I have to tell you that this was a half marathon and a 5K rolled into one. The half marathon started at 8 and then the 5K followed at 8:15. To differentiate between the two the people participating are given different colored numbers. So today the 5K were blue and the half marathon was yellow. When I got downtown at 7:30 there were actually people, in yellow numbers, running around the building. Okay I understand that this helps you to warm up...but you are fixing to run 13 miles. Oh my stars! I can't imagine adding anymore to that. I mean they were actually RUNNING! Hard! I would be tired before I started. haha Seriously!
Ok so the half marathoners lined up first and at this point I am a little nervous. I haven't done this before...ever...and I don't really know what to expect. I haven't even ever been to a race before. So my main goal? Finish and not be last! haha No really. I just wanted to be upright when I crossed the line and not be "dead" last. I am not really sure what I was thinking starting a running "career" at the age of 36...but I am liking it. It is hard! Something that my body is not used to...but rewarding. In a weird way. I loved crossing that finish line today. I felt like I accomplished something. It made me want to do better next time. And, it is something for me. I do it for me! Not anyone else! I do need better running music though. haha Man you hit a slow song and there goes your pace. Seriously! I can tell a huge difference in my running when a slow songs hits my iPod and when a faster pace song comes on.
A little note to people that have never run. Check the digital clock at the finish line and you can get your time right away. (Didn't even pay attention.) Also, run until you hear the beep when you cross the line. The beep is your "chip" being tagged at the finish line. If you slow before you get all the way across you have a longer time. Just a couple of things I didn't know about.
May I also say this?! Have someone meet you there, either to run with or a family member to greet you in the end. My husband had to work today and let me just say...I didn't think it would be a big deal, but in a way it would have been really nice to have someone to share this with. I did run into a lady from church, Robin, whose husband was running and I hung out with them afterwards. I actually saw a few people from church. Anyway, I am just sayin', it would have been nice to have someone to celebrate with. Whether it be someone that is running with you or someone waiting for you. :D I did see the sweetest thing ever. A couple, about late 20's, was running the half marathon. As they came across the finish line they grabbed each others hands. That is a Hallmark moment if I ever saw one. haha I know, I am being all girly and mushy, but that was sweet!
Okay...so for the results. I finished in 33:42 and I was 317th out of 498. I think the time sounds better than my placement. Ugh! haha If you want to, check out this link: http://orig.citizen-times.com/promotions/race/. You can check results and pics. And no, I already looked and there are none of the 317th. lol So check me out...#317 on the 5K results. ;D
I have to tell you this too. I was sitting on the curb after I was done watching and cheering others in. All of a sudden the crowd starts freaking out! They had already been very excited about this cute little like 4 year old coming across the finish line, so I just assumed maybe it was another kid. NO! I look coming in and here is the first half marathoner coming in. His time was 1:08. That would be one hour and eight minutes. I couldn't believe. Crazy! I don't think I will ever be that guy! haha Man! That was awesome though!
Okay...so...I did it! I survived! And, I am ready to do it again. Okay not next week...but soon! Hopefully this time with someone. :D I really did love it. About mile 2, not so much! But I did love it! I am going to keep running! I just hope I can stick it out with it getting cold outside. We'll see...
So I lied...check out album 16 (I think) picture 96. I am behind that guy. haha

Okay...gas...prices that is!

2008-09-12T14:37:00.002-04:00

Well...it only seems appropriate that my first blog would be about the gas prices since today is the day that the world is freaking out about the hurricane. Seriously?! Well, the hurricane is serious...the other not so much. So the media has gotten everybody in an uproar about the gas situation. In a matter of less than an hour, around here, gas jumped anywhere from .25 to 1.50. That is just crazy to me. Our own governor said that gas should not have jumped more than .20. Can someone please explain this to me?! I mean I get it, but it sure sounds like price gouging to me.