tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24894026184725085912024-03-04T20:23:36.582-08:00Just CarrieMeeAway Please!MAMA CEOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14824324035487343755noreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489402618472508591.post-8237021099929110362013-01-16T14:27:00.001-08:002013-01-16T14:27:25.592-08:00Dirty God - Book ReviewWhen I first received this book in the mail, my husband looked at me and thought it was a book of blasphemy. Who could blame him with the title and the cover. Then the subtitle: Jesus in the Trenches - it was now, "OH! Well that makes sense."
The book was engaging and I appreciated the way that Johnnie vividly paints pictures of his travels and encounters with people that God has placed in his path. Dirty God is not for the faint of heart or anyone that desires to follow a blond hair blue-eyed Jesus that sits on a palatial throne separated from the messiness of life. This book is for someone that wants to dive in and truly wrestle with the idea of grace and what it looks like on a daily basis.
I received this book from BookSneeze for my honest review and opinion.MAMA CEOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14824324035487343755noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489402618472508591.post-31444914423751577382013-01-05T13:18:00.002-08:002013-01-05T13:18:54.346-08:00Heaven Changes EverythingFollowing their previous book, Heaven is For Realy, the Burpo family try to go more indepth and behind the scenes of what happened on that frightful day. They offer to give a glimpse of hope and the trauma that they found themselves entrenched in.
Heaven Changes Everything by Todd and Sonja Burpo is a devotional reader that shares the lessons they have been learning since their son's amazing experience. It is written in the same friendly style as Heaven is for Real. Although I thoroughly enjoyed the first book, I found parts of this one to be quite repetitive. Although the lessons are more in depth than the story was in the first book, most of them come from a section of the first book. In some ways, it almost seems like a segmented commentary on the first book. Because of this, it would certainly not be necessary to read the first book in order to appreciate the second.
**** I received a copy of Heaven Changes Everything in exchange for an honest review from BookSneeze, a blogger book review community. I received no other compensation. All thoughts and opinions are my own.MAMA CEOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14824324035487343755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489402618472508591.post-72189136896775902132013-01-05T13:12:00.000-08:002013-01-05T13:12:13.753-08:00Bible Stories That End in a Hug - Book ReviewBible Stories that end with a Hug has 75 bible stories for preschoolers. The bible stories presented follow the same order as the bible and are very short and easy to understand for little ones. Accompanying every bible story are two questions that correlate with the story to help children discuss and understand the bible story. Discussion points are provided with each question to help parents guide meaningful discussion with their child as they learn God's word. There is also a related scripture that helps expand the meaning of every story in the book. Every bible story ends with a hug time for parent and child!
This book is very short and to the point, and it is especially helpful with two active boys! We read it each morning as a family during breakfast, and both boys look forward to Daddy reading the Bible Story. My 7-year-old has even stepped up a time or two to read it as well.
I highly recommend this book!
Provided by Tyndale Publishers for review MAMA CEOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14824324035487343755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489402618472508591.post-82261386565300494042012-12-13T12:58:00.002-08:002012-12-13T12:58:31.794-08:00Wisdom Meets Passion - Book ReviewAuthor Dan Miller writes a clever and practical book as well as encouraging. The audience for the book is wide-ranged and can reach all types of demographics. I'm not a huge reader of self-help books, but this one caught my attention.
The obvious wasn't overly stated, but it pointed out success, redefining security and freedom and focusing on happiness. However, not preachy or judgement, it was very authentic.
This book is a good read, but it was difficult sometimes to read the words in orange text.
I was given this book to review by Thomas Nelson Publishing for my honest review.MAMA CEOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14824324035487343755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489402618472508591.post-54554955399275543572012-12-04T12:29:00.001-08:002012-12-04T12:29:01.633-08:00Tha Fantasy Fallacy: Book ReviewThis book is beyond what I expected; Shannon took the emphasis completely off of judging fantasies to exploring their meanings. It's like opening a toolbox and finding what one has needed all along without knowing it!
In the book, The Fantasy Fallacy, Shannon Ethridge analyzes sexual fantasies and the reasons behind them. Chapters in the book include; Why Discuss Sexual Fantasies?, The Faces Behind Sexual Fantasies, Our Fascination With Pleasure, Pain and Power and Putting Fantasy in Its Place. The book also includes recommended resources and help for recovery.
Before reading Shannon's book I had never thought about where fantasies come from or why we have them. I just thought of them as something to battle against and didn't understand why the battle never ended. It's more about how to live with them by learning more about yourself which will hopefully help the fantasies to happen less often.
I love that the author is not judgmental. She takes a look at many fantasies and brings them into the light. The fantasies themselves are not evil; and when exposed to the light, darkness has no hold on them or people who have them. Shannon's research indicates that the fantasies we entertain are not always rooted in the sexual acts themselves and we don't have to act on them. We can control our fantasies instead of allowing our fantasies to control us.
Disclaimer: I received a free book in order to write this review and have shared my honest opinion. MAMA CEOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14824324035487343755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489402618472508591.post-58598189592081804542012-11-26T14:39:00.001-08:002012-11-26T14:39:26.199-08:00As One Devil to Another - Book ReviewI rated this book a 2.5, as I believe that it will appeal only to very a specific audience. The writing is done well, but in an older style (to imitate that of the original). The subject matter is limited to those who read satire and/or Christian texts, though I do feel as though it could put off each of these readers equally. I went in for the satire and feel as though the Christian element was a bit heavy - handed. Even a Christian reader may find the satire to be heavy-handed. I felt the original was more subtle in these tones. As with many stories, I always suggest the original over any subsequent "remakes." Read the original first, if it appeals to you, pick up this one as well. With all that said, Platt has done an admirable job of updating the original.
***I received a complimentary copy of this book to review. I was asked to give my honest opinion of the book - which I have done.***MAMA CEOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14824324035487343755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489402618472508591.post-56728397432476908722012-11-26T14:26:00.001-08:002012-11-26T14:26:55.427-08:00Beauty for Ashes - Book ReviewThis is my first Dorothy Love novel and I'm most certain and I will be reading more by her. It is not very often that I read Christian romances. Usually the storytelling isn't very gripping. They often are sweet and feel-good stories, but not one to keep me up at night for the next page; however, this one is.
The author's writing is clear, concise and moving. Beauty for Ashes is a very moving story and I very much enjoyed reading it.
The story itself is just delightful. Carrie's brother Henry has just married Mary, and Carrie feels trapped by Mary and her sons' intrusion to the family farm. The women fight like cats until Carrie moves out... only to move back in when Mary becomes pregnant and Henry leaves to find work in Chicago. Mary treats Carrie as a servant, as though she is there to do her bidding. When Carrie decides to do something else and tells Mary that she should take a part in caring for her family, Mary tells Carrie not to be so lazy! I kept waiting for the time in the book when Mary would see the error in how she was treating Carrie and was slightly disappointed that it didn't happen the way I wanted it to.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's sweet, honest, and a joy to read.
***I received a complimentary copy of this book to review. I was asked to give my honest opinion of the book - which I have done.*** MAMA CEOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14824324035487343755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489402618472508591.post-29056198877378515702012-02-15T07:05:00.000-08:002012-02-15T07:11:35.975-08:00Book Review: Beneath the Night TreeBeing a friend to several Christian single moms, this one was close to my heart. It helped me see more of what they have to deal with especially in terms of relationships and keeping it all together.<br /><br />This was a great read and I found myself wanting to continue reading it, even after I chose a stopping point. I got wrapped up in Julia's love for her son, brother and grandmother. I loved how her grandmother was such a major influence in Julia's life.<br /><br />Single parent Julia DeSmit is defined by the roles she fills: mother, granddaughter, sister, student, worker.... Mothering her five-year-old son and her eleven-year-old brother is the great joy of her life, but also a huge burden. Although she shares the task with her aging grandmother, Julia still feels the weight of her responsibilities. Her long time boyfriend, Michael, seems to hold the promise for a better life - security, love, shared responsibilities - but while he is in school miles away those promises remain elusive. The biggest problem that Julia faces, though, is how to maintain the closeness and love she feels with her small, unusual family once Michael becomes a permanent part of her life. Will his love hold the key to the normal life she hopes awaits her? Then without warning Julia is contacted by the last person she ever expected to hear from again - the father of her five-year-old son. With his single question - "Do I have a child?" - Julia's well-ordered life is gone. What takes its place is the answer to the prayer that she didn't hope to pray - a prayer answered beneath the night tree.<br /><br />I realized after I started reading that it was part of a series, but you could read this by itself as well. I hope you get a chance to pick it up and read it.<br /><br />Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.MAMA CEOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14824324035487343755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489402618472508591.post-74435993851251642902010-10-03T11:20:00.000-07:002010-10-03T11:28:23.188-07:00Book Review: Outlive Your LifeOutlive Your Life by: Max Lucado is yet another great book written by a great author. In this book, Lucado takes great detail to show how the early church was on fire for God as shown in Acts. When I saw the cover of this book a picture of a young child by the sea side, it seems to represent the potential of what a child can do to make a difference in this world. A childs view of the world is simple and innocent. This book is about not giving up and helping others to grow. Pray for wisdom and guidance, God will make it happened. Nothing is impossible through God. With challenging chapters this book gets you to look at your own life and see where you can change in thinking and in action. Lucado's writing is always down-to-earth, conversational, relevant, and enjoyable to read. In my opinion I give this book a rating 5 out of 5. Once you start reading it, no putting down.I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their Booksneeze bloggers program. I was not asked to write a positive review and thus, the book review is 100% my own opinion.MAMA CEOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14824324035487343755noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489402618472508591.post-14494075107805227342010-07-20T14:11:00.000-07:002010-07-20T14:11:26.515-07:00TRYOLOGY!Nothing like getting free stuff! I found this great website where I receive well-known name brand products in the mail for me to review! WHOO HOO! Check it out!<br /><a href="http://expotv.com/tryology"></a>MAMA CEOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14824324035487343755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489402618472508591.post-1461897787876856652009-10-17T16:25:00.000-07:002009-10-17T16:26:12.337-07:00Autumn Activities!<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" bgcolor="#ffffff"><tr><td><a href="http://smilebox.com/play/4d5445344f4459324d54493d0d0a&blogview=true&campaign=blog_playback_link" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="303" alt="Click to play this Smilebox slideshow: Autumn Activities 09" src="http://smilebox.com/snap/4d5445344f4459324d54493d0d0a.jpg" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/?partner=smilebox&campaign=blog_snapshot" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="46" alt="Create your own slideshow - Powered by Smilebox" src="http://www.smilebox.com/globalImages/blogInstructions/blogLogoSmileboxSmall.gif" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/slideshows" target="_blank">Make a Smilebox slideshow</a></td></tr></table>MAMA CEOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14824324035487343755noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489402618472508591.post-76098597623035719242009-10-13T06:23:00.001-07:002009-10-13T06:23:41.240-07:00FIREMAN...er boy....in training!<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" bgcolor="#ffffff"><tr><td><a href="http://smilebox.com/play/4d5445344d5449794e7a633d0d0a&blogview=true&campaign=blog_playback_link" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="303" alt="Click to play this Smilebox scrapbook: West Metro Fire" src="http://smilebox.com/snap/4d5445344d5449794e7a633d0d0a.jpg" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/?partner=smilebox&campaign=blog_snapshot" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="46" alt="Create your own scrapbook - Powered by Smilebox" src="http://www.smilebox.com/globalImages/blogInstructions/blogLogoSmileboxSmall.gif" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/scrapbooks" target="_blank">Make a Smilebox scrapbook</a></td></tr></table>MAMA CEOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14824324035487343755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489402618472508591.post-12190169413214001322009-07-13T06:27:00.000-07:002009-07-13T06:37:52.860-07:00A Little Impromptu!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihLz2JNhvWkBx4DaDRnfS0UhHJ7C4L9SRhv6cjZv_ZR7jwkG0oHbjGVGcbEOLj-RcEd2md4MbLfdTe8nNDa9JBbgifdYL94CsTYPUWjrh2NUyrAhIfAoFQbKhAlQYJvc1uVqbzy-vJsKE/s1600-h/Children-Playing-Baseball.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 160px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihLz2JNhvWkBx4DaDRnfS0UhHJ7C4L9SRhv6cjZv_ZR7jwkG0oHbjGVGcbEOLj-RcEd2md4MbLfdTe8nNDa9JBbgifdYL94CsTYPUWjrh2NUyrAhIfAoFQbKhAlQYJvc1uVqbzy-vJsKE/s200/Children-Playing-Baseball.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357938474465388002" /></a><br />There is nothing that can spell out summer more than an impromptu game of baseball on a cool summer evening with litte neighborhood boys.<br /><br />Last night, we visited my family for dinner, and then decided to hang out on the front porch. What started as a little hit and catch with Ted and Aidan, ended in a 5 man game of baseball; with a cheering section to boot! We even had the "Rock Pile" across the street filled with neighbors.<br /><br />What made it most enjoyable was watching/teaching these neighborhood boys how to play a real game of baseball. Many of them didn't know what bases were, where to run, or how to hold the bat. Once that was taught and shown, we went on to the pitcher's mound and the catcher's responsibility. Once that was "mastered" the outfield was added by some neighbors.<br /><br />Even if the hit was a foul, the cheering section cheered the player on to run the bases; albeit in a zig-zag formation most of the time which included the pitchers mound, a couple of circles, and definitely not staying in the baselines, but who is counting! The boys were so excited and enjoyed themselves, especially when the older of the boys slide into home plate...NOW THAT WAS TOTALLY AWESOME! (as Aidan so excitedly expressed!) Now all the boys wanted to hit the ball and slide into home plate. What a hoot!<br /><br />The game ended, and we went inside for some icecream, another summer treat, and went home.<br /><br />I think impromptu activites like that are the best. Because no expectations were had, no one had feelings hurt because there were no shows or who weren't invited. Just good ol' plain neighborhood fun that involved laughing. I miss those days where neighbors hung out in their front yards enjoying company and spending time with family and friends. I pray that Aidan and Luke will get to grow up with that. We are still praying for a house, but for now, we'll take surrogate neighborhoods for now.<br /><br />Enjoy the summer everyone!MAMA CEOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14824324035487343755noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489402618472508591.post-38582888186691072009-07-07T15:21:00.001-07:002009-07-07T15:21:53.919-07:004th of July<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" bgcolor="#ffffff"><tr><td><a href="http://smilebox.com/play/4d5441794e7a51344e54413d0d0a&blogview=true&campaign=blog_playback_link" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="303" alt="Click to play this Smilebox scrapbook: 4th of July 09" src="http://smilebox.com/snap/4d5441794e7a51344e54413d0d0a.jpg" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/?partner=smilebox&campaign=blog_snapshot" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="46" alt="Create your own scrapbook - Powered by Smilebox" src="http://www.smilebox.com/globalImages/blogInstructions/blogLogoSmileboxSmall.gif" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/scrapbooks" target="_blank">Make a Smilebox scrapbook</a></td></tr></table>MAMA CEOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14824324035487343755noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489402618472508591.post-2964557232681688422009-07-01T06:31:00.000-07:002009-07-01T06:37:17.383-07:00Nothing to blog about<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSrv1M6kO2-Df62-9guC3AfPlhtNmW4KAsiWy9FEXrHZlQkmgbZxFonkD4-c3PSdGH7mo9amm-qGc4n7DAe9gSsKmhPfyu1BICHTC6FDn2oNpvUFj1GSSzX7ojty9ix-KqhLWg6-6-Yh0/s1600-h/DSC_0088.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSrv1M6kO2-Df62-9guC3AfPlhtNmW4KAsiWy9FEXrHZlQkmgbZxFonkD4-c3PSdGH7mo9amm-qGc4n7DAe9gSsKmhPfyu1BICHTC6FDn2oNpvUFj1GSSzX7ojty9ix-KqhLWg6-6-Yh0/s200/DSC_0088.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353484207410917666" /></a><br /><br />I have been on hiatus way too long. So many things have happened, but as I sit down this morning, writers block seems to have jumped in my way. Aidan and I have been spending our days either at the pool or the lake. Mainly because of my "threatened" bed rest from my doctor. Although Baby Luke comes on October 20th, my doctor is taking every precaution with this pregnancy as I have 5 babies in heaven already. I'm thankful for that, but nonetheless...IT IS SUMMER! How do I "take it easy" with a 3, almost 4 year old...IN THE SUMMER???? Hence...my nice tan. MEH! What are ya gonna do.<br /><br />Hopefully, I can get back to bloggin' again. It seems that almost everytime something funny, noteworthy, or just a plain ol' memory happens, I think to myself...Hmmm..what a great post I could do with that...I even think up of a catchy little title...all to forget it by the time the weeks roll around and I sit down to write it out. Alas...my writer's block will soon be lifted...soon...right?MAMA CEOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14824324035487343755noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489402618472508591.post-82193866600244079622009-06-09T08:30:00.000-07:002009-06-09T08:31:15.017-07:00First of Many Fishing Trips<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" bgcolor="#ffffff"><tr><td><a href="http://smilebox.com/play/4f5463314d7a41784f413d3d0d0a&blogview=true&campaign=blog_playback_link" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="303" alt="Click to play this Smilebox scrap pages: First Official Trip-fish" src="http://smilebox.com/snap/4f5463314d7a41784f413d3d0d0a.jpg" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/?partner=smilebox&campaign=blog_snapshot" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="46" alt="Create your own scrap pages - Powered by Smilebox" src="http://www.smilebox.com/globalImages/blogInstructions/blogLogoSmileboxSmall.gif" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/Scrap+Pages" target="_blank">Make a Smilebox scrap pages</a></td></tr></table>MAMA CEOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14824324035487343755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489402618472508591.post-29097044572555540452009-05-22T12:39:00.000-07:002009-05-22T12:44:47.229-07:00Geez! Where Have I Been?Okay, so really no excuses, but I have totally slacked in blogging...man...glad I don't get paid to do this! For those of you who do...KUDOS!<br /><br />Anyways, today was Aidan's last day of Preschool...not really because he'll be back in the fall...but hey...<br /><br />Here is a Smilebox of that...<br /><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" bgcolor="#ffffff"><tr><td><a href="http://smilebox.com/play/4f5451334d6a597a4e413d3d0d0a&blogview=true&campaign=blog_playback_link" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="303" alt="Click to play this Smilebox scrapbook: Last day of Preschool 09" src="http://smilebox.com/snap/4f5451334d6a597a4e413d3d0d0a.jpg" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/?partner=smilebox&campaign=blog_snapshot" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="46" alt="Create your own scrapbook - Powered by Smilebox" src="http://www.smilebox.com/globalImages/blogInstructions/blogLogoSmileboxSmall.gif" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/scrapbooks" target="_blank">Make a Smilebox scrapbook</a></td></tr></table><br /><br />And...we will be having a baby in the fall! WHEW! We've been busy...*wink...wink*!<br />It's a boy! We are naming him Luke Alan...Luke...such a calm name...Ahhh....<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Eyv8h1ASquOZlrkXdJDtqAN24fuVXZKmI4V0_gfsDgMVr0UogNXs1S8e7OuoMCVVEDUOfilr_jCQ33r2G6CQfPQWHlj6MD4FY2f3uqxCRpZgVVtSPKceVyUBCUJwHotdEZ-vLTobuvE/s1600-h/5-20-09+16+weeks+BOY!.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 166px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Eyv8h1ASquOZlrkXdJDtqAN24fuVXZKmI4V0_gfsDgMVr0UogNXs1S8e7OuoMCVVEDUOfilr_jCQ33r2G6CQfPQWHlj6MD4FY2f3uqxCRpZgVVtSPKceVyUBCUJwHotdEZ-vLTobuvE/s200/5-20-09+16+weeks+BOY!.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338736123959966130" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOKK-KNH6II1GmpbfQm1hmDoDT0Cbb38ocMYgSfz7VXTllyPsBoQKE5VzJX6s-pZ6a8uk0rt76MviEWM-8yEZ1yZBcpayWwlzbNQztDC6MOT2eTGvMp3c7HFA-qs1ubIwGuPocKPs5Aog/s1600-h/5-20-09+Face+down+16+weeks.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 174px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOKK-KNH6II1GmpbfQm1hmDoDT0Cbb38ocMYgSfz7VXTllyPsBoQKE5VzJX6s-pZ6a8uk0rt76MviEWM-8yEZ1yZBcpayWwlzbNQztDC6MOT2eTGvMp3c7HFA-qs1ubIwGuPocKPs5Aog/s200/5-20-09+Face+down+16+weeks.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338736548993994466" /></a>MAMA CEOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14824324035487343755noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489402618472508591.post-45760183049363353032009-04-01T08:06:00.001-07:002009-04-01T08:17:57.221-07:00What's In A Name?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge5GQWbGuw0aLaonuxGa0_ZAye5yK2yl37HP1Kq7L-H6MFqBt8Gk5mmjPqYiEr7D9G8kQ6bwFHd4jF_HR_K_TA-RighIBBRjWNDeCAnTUhFX1_oKGYbXKrOXiclOC4ULrLo7ihztvpG6Y/s1600-h/charliebrown.png"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 108px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge5GQWbGuw0aLaonuxGa0_ZAye5yK2yl37HP1Kq7L-H6MFqBt8Gk5mmjPqYiEr7D9G8kQ6bwFHd4jF_HR_K_TA-RighIBBRjWNDeCAnTUhFX1_oKGYbXKrOXiclOC4ULrLo7ihztvpG6Y/s200/charliebrown.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319742508696622450" /></a><br />As I'm sure there are many of you who have little nicknames for your kiddos as they have grown through the ages, we have a "few" for Aidan. When he was about 2 months, at each late night feeding, he would make this sound that resembled a small bird waiting for its mother to bring back a juicy morsel of worm. This noise would only follow a gaseous explosion, as if he were preparing his little tummy for more food...hence the name..."TURDYBIRD". This name has stuck...only in a loving term! As he grew older, a friend of mine noticed that his big, bald head with only a few combed-over hairs showed him to be a likened image of Charlie Brown...hence the name..."CHARLIE BROWN". I've heard a vast array of nicknames ranging anywhere from little peanut, princess, yada. But for us, "TURKEYLURKE" just kind of slipped out one day...and thus, "TURKEYLURKE" was born. Just recently, Aidan has been watching "MARTHA" on PBS...a story of a talking dog. A line in the theme song says, "YO JOE! WHAT DO YOU KNOW?" So, that has been slipping out of my mouth when he would come waltzing in to the room...probably asking for a snack.<br /><br />As the story goes, I've sweetly spoken one, if not all, of these nicknames to Aidan, such as "Yo! JOE!" Which he promptly responds with hand on his hips..."I'm not JOE! I Aidan!" Well, okay then!<br /><br />Wal-Mart seems to be my place of doom in toddler stories...so of course, I'm in Wal-Mart, not having the best of times with my little "TURDYBIRD", and I say that nicely. When at the checkout stand, a sweet older lady who tried to keep him occupied while I helpe bag, asked Aidan what his name was. This was his response:<br /><br />"I Aidan, Turdybird, Turkeylurke, Charlie Brown...and now I Joe!"<br /><br />My head dropped into my hands, eyes rolled into my head...and a sigh of astonishment expelled from my heavy chest! The sweet old lady, laughed and smiled at me and said, "Well, at least he won't ever have an identity problem!"<br /><br />Oye-vey!MAMA CEOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14824324035487343755noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489402618472508591.post-62674726090783135042009-03-28T08:16:00.000-07:002009-03-28T08:17:23.728-07:00Spring Snow<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" bgcolor="#ffffff"><tr><td><a href="http://smilebox.com/play/4f4451784d4467774d513d3d0d0a&blogview=true&campaign=blog_playback_link" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="303" alt="Click to play this Smilebox slideshow: Spring Snow 09" src="http://smilebox.com/snap/4f4451784d4467774d513d3d0d0a.jpg" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/?partner=smilebox&campaign=blog_snapshot" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="46" alt="Create your own slideshow - Powered by Smilebox" src="http://www.smilebox.com/globalImages/blogInstructions/blogLogoSmileboxSmall.gif" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/slideshows" target="_blank">Make a Smilebox slideshow</a></td></tr></table>MAMA CEOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14824324035487343755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489402618472508591.post-90019362197841697712009-03-23T07:22:00.000-07:002009-03-23T07:32:41.279-07:00Being Mommy<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT6kOob0fHuy4hNTXkYhYHQJHHRI5b0eou_v23lGu-Co7y4saJ6kDsLF459e2N4e4bO4_4NusnnsuViYlrm2Y3m54QuZRoHTxE7x_fDS0jvwbctf4gbwe3CHj2h0nV6yYf8RM9NLtSOgE/s1600-h/mommy+hugs.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 169px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT6kOob0fHuy4hNTXkYhYHQJHHRI5b0eou_v23lGu-Co7y4saJ6kDsLF459e2N4e4bO4_4NusnnsuViYlrm2Y3m54QuZRoHTxE7x_fDS0jvwbctf4gbwe3CHj2h0nV6yYf8RM9NLtSOgE/s200/mommy+hugs.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316391068571264178" /></a><br />Just recently, I found out how attached I am to being a mommy. This weekend, my little guy was at my MIL's house having a blast with them and his cousins. When Sunday morning rolled around and getting ready to go to "work", aka...ministry...we got the dreaded call that parents loathe to get when their kiddos are away. My MIL called and said that he wasn't feeling well and wanted to come home! WHAT? TODAY? But...I have to go to work! My DH is teaching for me...what? That is 1.5 hours away...okay...okay...what do I do? It was this time where I had to not be super mom and rely on others to help me out. My husband drove to get him, my mom came over to take care of him, while we went to church and ministered. The whole time I was franctic about my little guy and the fact that I couldn't be there with him. I think this was when it hit me...I love being a mommy! <br /><br />So today, with the cooler weather, I decided to stay at home and be a mommy. I'm gonna hang out with him, he is feeling much better by the way. Maybe in my own way I am making up for not being able to care of him yesterday, but in reality...I think I just missed being a mommy and needed a fix.MAMA CEOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14824324035487343755noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489402618472508591.post-85754590191980657602009-03-10T07:22:00.000-07:002009-03-10T07:32:34.898-07:00Snugglebug<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgqf0TExO02RRxGldhapN3EVgdgdNs4GecujeAi8Pxj4GIiq7TcOvZUTvkzEjKb4OXUKe8IXU5hpWQu9MxMeF4Rvb-pNvP7KHa3hMHFhmqSzpaQSxJHbrx9CmHllW4evpPgG2dUu8yYY/s1600-h/Snugglebug.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 143px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgqf0TExO02RRxGldhapN3EVgdgdNs4GecujeAi8Pxj4GIiq7TcOvZUTvkzEjKb4OXUKe8IXU5hpWQu9MxMeF4Rvb-pNvP7KHa3hMHFhmqSzpaQSxJHbrx9CmHllW4evpPgG2dUu8yYY/s200/Snugglebug.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311566694629738514" /></a><br />In all of the rushes of my life, I simply cannot express the joy that comes from having a snugglebug morning with my little guy. This morning, all of us woke up late...so chaos ensued. Thinking of the crazy-hecticness of the morning, I was not excited to get started. As I staggared to my coffee pot to pour myself a cup of ever-living-energy...darn half-caff...I noticed a white blanket on the evergreen bushes out my kitchen window! It snowed! YEAH! Finally some relief to the dryness here. Anyways, as the morning moved on, all my little guy wanted to do was snuggle! He got his Thomas the Train blanket I made for him at Christmas, and drug it over to me and said, "Mommy, can we snugglebug?" WELL OF COURSE WE CAN! So we snugglebugged together on the couch, watching kid-shows, reading his new books, and talking! What a morning! Then, looking up I realized that we were going to be late to EVERYTHING today...no matter...I cancelled some stuff...you know...due to the 1/2 inch snow on the ground ;)...and Aidan and I have planned out our morning together...<br />Ahhh...I should totally do this more often...take time away from my "TO DO" list and do something on my "NEED TO DO" list!MAMA CEOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14824324035487343755noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489402618472508591.post-47653106273579033522009-03-09T10:12:00.000-07:002009-03-09T10:18:06.683-07:00The Concert<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTFrhHyx6dR9AUGuL2-QTYWmCv80rVO3BsUPqw54G7VKiPbJtRRXGGTOWF0EMTB32_WuvlfDvLkuvOX-z2RYCd16U_MqfzqqiMzE_sP8kEJJkiEt1HWm0ZPFI4I_k81ASzfHM5axGoILc/s1600-h/piano.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTFrhHyx6dR9AUGuL2-QTYWmCv80rVO3BsUPqw54G7VKiPbJtRRXGGTOWF0EMTB32_WuvlfDvLkuvOX-z2RYCd16U_MqfzqqiMzE_sP8kEJJkiEt1HWm0ZPFI4I_k81ASzfHM5axGoILc/s200/piano.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311238494782265490" /></a><br />When the house lights dimmed and the concert was about to begin, the mother returned to her seat and discovered that her child was missing! Suddenly, the curtains parted and spotlights focused on the impressive Steinway on stage. In horror, the mother saw her little boy sitting at the keyboard, innocently picking out "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." At that moment, the great piano master made his entrance, quickly moved to the piano, and whispered in the boy's ear, "Don't quit." "Keep playing." Then, leaning over, Paderewski reached down with his left hand and began filling in a bass part. Soon his right arm reached around to the other side of the child, and he added a running obbligato. Together, the old master and the young novice transformed what could have been a frightening situation into a wonderfully creative experience.<br /><br />The audience was so mesmerized that they couldn't recall what else the great master played. Only the classic," Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star."<br /><br />Perhaps that's the way it is with God. What we can accomplish on our own is hardly noteworthy. We try our best, but the results aren't always graceful flowing music. However, with the hand of the Master, our life's work can truly be beautiful. <br /><br />The next time you set out to accomplish great feats, listen carefully. You may hear the voice of the Master, whispering in your ear, "Don't quit." "Keep playing."<br /><br />May you feel His arms around you and know that His hands are there, helping you turn your feeble attempts into true masterpieces. Remember, God doesn't seem to<br />call the equipped, rather, He equips the 'called.' <br /><br />Life is more accurately measured by the lives you touch than by the things you aquire.<br /><br /><br />I saw this in an email years ago. I thought it was appropriate to say exactly what I and probably many other moms are going through!MAMA CEOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14824324035487343755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489402618472508591.post-80121554748829543722009-03-03T13:47:00.000-08:002009-03-03T13:51:42.571-08:00Invisible Mom<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHvpxms1y1lobcsa971Ls_GF_M4tOyNYXZ7xBvprpzdCqscQJPmgu9i05gP1WjLt6x-Asao-t_trGpwjTDGdSFzPRiCG77643eTMQsh2oJ1pCgGjAav1reA8PZtSaP4FpdajOLmVQ6gFc/s1600-h/cologne-cathedral.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 160px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHvpxms1y1lobcsa971Ls_GF_M4tOyNYXZ7xBvprpzdCqscQJPmgu9i05gP1WjLt6x-Asao-t_trGpwjTDGdSFzPRiCG77643eTMQsh2oJ1pCgGjAav1reA8PZtSaP4FpdajOLmVQ6gFc/s200/cologne-cathedral.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309082360012988434" /></a><br /> It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?'<br /><br /> <br /> Obviously not; no one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible. The invisible Mom. Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more! Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this?? Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?' I'm a satellite guide to answer, 'What number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a car to order, 'Right around 5:30, please.'<br /><br /> I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude-but now, they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going, she's going, she's gone!?<br /><br /> One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England . Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.' It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe . I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: 'To Charlotte , with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.'<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhPsdOegQLf5qnbEMZXdQZik6z05PA5twkdYUcykKQJ_aclTKe1BTl_ZPXZF3L3ORMTCEefjEB2gUxb7vPdbTeotOJyDwLSa_TcfHQARGt0SUXcujnqv-goe-EX2dTOyEljeiakUhZ0h8/s1600-h/new-cathedral-salamanca-spain-bw-lowres.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhPsdOegQLf5qnbEMZXdQZik6z05PA5twkdYUcykKQJ_aclTKe1BTl_ZPXZF3L3ORMTCEefjEB2gUxb7vPdbTeotOJyDwLSa_TcfHQARGt0SUXcujnqv-goe-EX2dTOyEljeiakUhZ0h8/s200/new-cathedral-salamanca-spain-bw-lowres.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309081839593961474" /></a><br /> In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything. A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam.. He was puzzled and asked the man, 'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof, No one will ever see it. And the workman replied, 'Because God sees.'<br /><br /> I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become. At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride.<br /><br /> <br /> I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree. When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, 'My Mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for 3 hours and presses all the linens for the table.' That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home……!! And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, 'You're gonna love it there.'<br /><br /> <br /> As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.MAMA CEOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14824324035487343755noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489402618472508591.post-56074374913335451992009-02-14T16:07:00.000-08:002009-02-15T09:17:07.054-08:00GOR-ILL-A<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwntNSO1bqNFwzRZ8gp6iSL0V7AUeWjMr445ISLPhEOK3rtq_NuFejpxbBy0P2UWttpMGAFu_NUlqpxjRMgAVUq8ivVSqtKeT9edcGgLiC2qH8kN7wN5hRNZwlZgfvKvRpM89Jeipuj_o/s1600-h/IMG_1506.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwntNSO1bqNFwzRZ8gp6iSL0V7AUeWjMr445ISLPhEOK3rtq_NuFejpxbBy0P2UWttpMGAFu_NUlqpxjRMgAVUq8ivVSqtKeT9edcGgLiC2qH8kN7wN5hRNZwlZgfvKvRpM89Jeipuj_o/s200/IMG_1506.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303074280371187538" /></a><br /><br />For reasons unknown...we own a gorilla costume. Don't ask me why, but it is in our repetoire of costumes!<br /><br />So last Sunday I brought it to church to drive home a point for the kids. When we took it out of the trunk, we realized that it doesn't have such a "friendly" face and that we should keep it hidden from Aidan until he's older. He's already having enough dreams of being scared...I don't want to add this to the dinosaurs and the like to his list of frights.<br /><br />After church we put it in our room to hide until he was taking a nap to put it away. BUT! He found it...and LOVED it! Here are some pictures!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUbwfMJ6QdkWBJnPlEWFv8evul7bxEwbkZxRIcIP1cFGsTq-uwHhs6ZW41v3PRuJyzTUoM2IOy6jdxcEao-ouiAQgdvyLmFNT5P3Y-UMK5u2x6Rg5WJiCvIV9oqli_FlJYwl8oAXO9TPo/s1600-h/IMG_1505.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUbwfMJ6QdkWBJnPlEWFv8evul7bxEwbkZxRIcIP1cFGsTq-uwHhs6ZW41v3PRuJyzTUoM2IOy6jdxcEao-ouiAQgdvyLmFNT5P3Y-UMK5u2x6Rg5WJiCvIV9oqli_FlJYwl8oAXO9TPo/s200/IMG_1505.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303074083282726642" /></a>MAMA CEOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14824324035487343755noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489402618472508591.post-91323277387145729352009-02-10T13:57:00.001-08:002009-02-10T14:10:20.877-08:00Perfection...My Enemy...Okay, so I started this new job. It's nothing new. I've done this type of work before. But why am I wigged? Perfection seems to be my downfall. I'm not perfect. I know that. But why do I try to do things perfectly? After all...I'm a mom! I'm luck if I wear stuff that matches...or get out of the house with everything I need, although, it may not be pretty...I'm out and I've got everything necessary...right?<br /><br />It's like I'm sitting on the cusp of something awesome, but I am freaking out because I feel that I'm not ready. Not ready for WHAT? That's my problem...I don't know. This new job is going to be great! I can't wait to see what God is going to do! I get to be apart of it, but inside, deep down, I'm wising He would call someone else up. The battle on the frontline is difficult. The gospel is being attacked. The church needs to become excited about seeing people, kids even come to a saving relationship with Christ! But the task seems daunting...because I am doing it on my own...OYE VEY! How do I step back and let Him take the reins and I just follow?<br /><br />Anyways...I have found the greatest song by, <a href="http://www.francescamusic.com/">Francesca Battistelli</a>...mouthful eh? Awesome, just awesome. It pinpoints my faults but exalts the fact that not being perfect is just what the King ordered.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.francescamusic.com/">Take a listen!</a>MAMA CEOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14824324035487343755noreply@blogger.com4