Where is the little girl?

I was looking at old photos at my parent's house and could not help but think "Where is this little girl?" So young and so determined. (okay, so determined might have also been called hard headed but I will use the word determined?)

This little girl has spent a number of years learning lessons that have made her who she is today. She has a learned:

- a broken heart is worth the pain if was broken over something that should have never been.
- Even though she never worried about money, she did have to learn that money did not grow on trees.
- That true friends are rare and when you have one you never let it go.
- That children are the most precious gift God could give.
- That always doing the right thing may make you get runover but it is better the feeling of knowing you were doing the wrong thing.
- Learning lessons are hard but sometimes God does his best work when your learning them.
- That no one can stand behind you, up for you or beside you like your Momma and Daddy.
- That the love of a good man gives security, warmth, and fills your heart.
- That some people will never value you like they should but you can be proud of yourself for being valuable.
- That somethings take longer to achieve than you would think.
- That nothing will bring peace like God's word.
- That nothing is impossible but God may not grant them permissible.
- That memories are the sweetest treasure God allowed us to have.
- That if your husband brings home a coke can, wrapped in electrical tape, with flowers (weeds) you should be thankful!
- That some people will believe in you and give you opprotunities of a lifetime.

So many thigs are different than this little girl thought but if truth were to be told - she wouldn't change a thing if it placed here right where she is the exact moment...

Home

There is just not a place in the world like HOME! When we were on our traveling adventure home for Thanksgiving this year I was beside myself when we hit that old paved road off Hwy 49.

Things had changed....Houses were gone..... The trees were a little larger....The neighbors had grown older or had moved away. I began just snapping pictures as we moved along the road trying to mentally and physically capture the long road home.

Then I had thoughts of the fact that this journey on a country road is one I use to travel daily and now I am only lucky enough to travel it once every few years. Yet, the instinct and the familiarity of the journey was like I had traveled that road to Momma and Daddy's just yesterday.

My kids were thrilled with the excitement and Kaleb even reached over and drove me home. It was like he knew that this moment was captured forever in my heart.

As I pulled into the driveway, there sat my Mom and Dad on the front lawn. The zillion golden and brown leaves layered the ground around their park bench sitting next to the front walk. As we pulled into the driveway they both stood with a welcoming smile and opened arms that said "Your Home"! Warm hugs, gentle kisses and teary eyes of joy were present amongst all.

I so love traveling home but luckily I get to feel you in my heart daily and we do not seem so far away. Next, we will just await the next reunion!

Cheer

Simply Put... Go Kenadee!

Splitend Life

I began dating Kaleb almost two decades ago. I was living in Orange when a co-worker (friend) set me up on blind date with a boy that she was friends with also. Due to several circumstances I was NOT looking for Mr. Right; but merely going on this date that would utlimately,in my mind, be a one time "favor" to her.

Kaleb and I had several phone calls before our date. I was bluntly honest about all the things I hated, all the pet peeves I had and pretty much I put up every single boundary there could be for a successful date. For some reason, after I had pretty much told given him a laundry list of my hates he still said "well, I will see you on Friday".

Friday came and we met for dinner with a group of friends from work and their boyfriends. When we met at our friends house there set Kaleb - wearing a Jimmy Hendrix t-shirt and jeans.

Remember when I said that in just a few phone calls I had pretty much told Kaleb everything I hated ---well Jimmy Hendrix and his fans happened to be on that list! Yet, there Kaleb set with a cute little grin when he said "thought you might like the shirt?".

I should have known at this moment that this silly guy would be the cure for all that ailed my heart at the time.

After several months, I knew we were getting more serious. As much as I tried to push him away - he just became the constant in my life. I refused to call him, I refused to plan anything with him, I refused to ask him for anything for months----and yet he still called me, made a point to plan things for us to do (even if it was just a coffee at Gary's) and pretty much did what I needed WITHOUT me asking.

As we became more serious and our relationship became more evidient that it was moving towards permanent steps, my sister encouraged (well, if you know my sister you know that when I say she encourged that meant she insisted) that I open up to Kaleb about myself. Pretty much every little aspect of my regrets, my insecurities and my hopes and wants. She said put everything on the table now so there can never be a "why didn't you tell me about that" later.

I had tons of insecurities, failures and mistakes that I poured out tearfully that evening. I think once I started, I figured I would never see him again so I might as well just make this a confession of all my fears, insecurities and past mistakes. My therapy at the expense of a boyfriend's future in my life :-) It lasted for some time and Kaleb just sat listening - no expression, no questions, and no input. Just silently he sat there.

I was crying, because I had just pinpointed everything that I was unpleased with myself about, and he asked me "Are you done with that story now?". I said "yes, I am sorry to just laid all that on you". Then Kaleb said the words that captured my heart forever "I don't care about any of that stuff....It is all just SPLITENDS." (Those were his exact words which were imbedded into my heart, my mind and my being forever). He also told me how much he cared about me, loved me (I think he said love...), and then he said "do you wanna go do something?".

Maybe they were tragic things, maybe they were just my fears that scared me, but he saw them for what they were and simply let his care for wipe away that disappoint in myself.

You see Kaleb did the very thing that made me know that he was my forever love.....He Loved Me, Splitends and all. He never acted as if they were not there and he also never asked me to get the "cut off". He just said that all the things that worried me were merely the splitends of life that he cared nothing about. He cared about Me!


I guess from that moment on I knew Kaleb would always be the Prince Charming! He rescued me (Splitends and all) from myself! And continues each day to overlook a splitend or few that I see in myself (and are apparent) and loves me. Can't ask for much more that that!

I am obsessed!

Yes, I am now obsessed with the idea of FREE stuff. Let me just say that all of this cost me $13!

I can do this!

Coupons

I will be the first to admit that I had a quite a few chuckles at the expense of a few of my friends for using coupons. It was not that I thought the using of coupons was funny, but HOW SERIOUS they were, THAT was funny!

I was inspired by a few favorite friends who coupon to at least give it a try. I decided that with my savings, I could buy something new, I could tithe more, I could let the kids keep it. Well, then I knew I must try it. It was a plan and I LOVE a plan!

I am planner. I buy on average 12 calendars a year, I also make list for EVERYTHING, and I think things out years in advance. I have planned meals, planned cleaning schedules, and planned activities for my family (and a few other organizations) because I love it. I love KNOWING what I am doing.


I started my coupon adventure by visiting CVS. Let me tell you there is more to that I thought. I felt so badly for the cashier, I called her manager afterwards to compliment her on how WONDERFUL she was. She had the patience of a saint! She made the transactions much easier and once she realized it was my first time doing it - she was very nice about everything. (This includes her calling for back up to the register so she could help me and not have other customer's wait.)

I then hit publix where I saved $106.86 and brought home a ton of groceries.

Kaleb now calls couponing "fantasy football" for women! Funny guy...

I am not sure if this will last forever but I think I actually got a rush out of getting stuff for FREE and SAVING money!

Kids Activities

I use to have my kids involved in all types of activities. When I went to work, I slowly allowed each of those activities to dwindle off our calendar and list of things to do.

Between school and church their calendars are typically full of things to do.

I have encouraged them to find a passion for something that we can encourage them to do. I want them to find interest and passions for hobbies, talents, career goals for the future or just their happiness.

The thing I struggle with is - how much is too little and how much is too much? When you have a family of three children a families calendar can be quickly filled up. I am okay with investing the time for my children - as long as my children benefit.