And there it goes!

Wow! Where did the school year go? It seems as only yesterday that we were buying school clothes, shoes, and picking out what to wear that first day. It has flown and with it went a great year. I was richly bless by my students (stories to come) and Jonathon has ended his elementary career! That is so hard to believe! So, as fast as the year went the summer will too so we've got to get busy having fun! More Later.......

Proud Parental Moments!

This weekend we traveled to Fort Worth to watch Jonathon compete in the Region 3 Tumbling & Trampoline Championships. Region 3 is comprised of 8 states. How very proud we are of him! He brought home 7th place overall in trampoline, 5th place overall in double-mini and 2nd place overall in tumbling!!! Not to mention, he qualified for Nationals in all three events. He will not be attending Nationals this year. That is something we're going to take on next year! His coaches were very proud of him and so were we! We did manage to get in some "fun" along the way! Saturday evening we ventured into the Fort Worth Stockyards.


She wasn't exactly sure about it but was willing to try it! It seemed like she wanted to laugh and cry the whole time!



As you can see, I got a big kick out of watching him! (He says I enjoyed it way too much!). Nonetheless, we had a great weekend and thoroughly enjoyed our time together. I am so proud of both of my children and thank God daily for the gifts that he has given them but also for the gift he gave me, through them. I am so blessed to be their Mom!

A Whole New Meaning to Happy Hour

I've been meaning to post this for some time and am just now getting around to it. So....where do you go for Happy Hour? Yes, Happy Hour???? I go to happy hour and not just on Fridays! Sometimes I go EVERYDAY!! Hello....my name is Gayla and I am addicted to Happy Hour........at SONIC!

Recently, I picked up my kids and was in a rush and a bad mood all together, I zipped into Sonic for my Happy Hour fix and was served by the most uplifting carhop in the business. I have been served by him during times before and he never changes. Here's a sampling of our brief conversation.

CARHOP: "Hello....how are you today???

SELF: "Good" (not really meaning it but not wanting to be rude) "How are you?"

CARHOP: "Blessed. Absolutely blessed!" You had a diet Dr. Pepper. Is there anything else I can do for you today?

SELF: "No thanks"

CARHOP: Alright ma'am. God bless you and enjoy the rest of your day!

SELF: (feeling a bit humbled by this young gentleman) Sir, I need to tell you that you are a blessing to run into.

CARHOP: Thank you so much ma'am. I pray everymorning that God would use me and shine through me in EVERYTHING I do and with EVERYONE I meet.

SELF: (feeling very humbled) Well, you have blessed me today a great deal and I've seen you here before and you are always the same. I just want you to know that you have been a blessing to me today.

CARHOP: Ma'am, thank you! You, too, have blessed me!

SELF: (what????, I'm the grumpy one?)

And off he went.

I pondered our brief conversation on the way back to work. Here he is, a young man, working as a carhop at Sonic, coming into contact with HUNDREDS of people everyday, and uses it for a time for God to use him. I, in my selfish world, work in an air conditioned room, come into contact with the same hundred people everyday, and I don't know that I bless any of them the way this young man blessed me.

I do know this. He has definately made me think about how I treat people on a daily basis and what (or who?) I'm letting them see. And another thing, I love going to Sonic, no matter the hour, to watch this young man in action.

So....if you're looking for a Happy Hour to attend, you'll find the one at 82nd and University to be uplifting, relaxing, and possibly, life-changing!

A New Chapter

As most know, Sal completed 12 years and 2 months of employment today with MHMR. Tomorrow, he moves on to a new chapter. The move to Community Access has been one of faith for us. God brought the opportunity to Sal without Sal having o look for it. There are still some aspects that we are simply trusting God with and I can't wait to see how God uses Sal in this position. Tonight as I look at him resting, I can't help but be nervous for him. In the morning he will step into an office that he is to direct, not knowing anyone and they knowing nothing about him. Sal is such a hard worker and loyal employee. He is highly intelligent and has amazing insight. Anyone is lucky to have him as an employee. My prayer for him tonight is that tomorrow morning when he walks in tto his new office, that those employees will see a man of God, will see someone who is going to be fair, and someone who is going to lead them to the next level. My prayer has been that God bless Sal in the workplace and allow him to have favor among men/women that he comes into contact with. Tomorrow is the beginning of what can be and what I believe will be, an amazing opportuniy for Sal. I am so glad that God has chosen me to be part of this journey with such a wonderful man.

His Wife Will Thank Me!

Jonathon has been bugging me for about a month to "teach" him how to do laundry. So, this afternoon we embarked on Laundry101. He was a very good student and helped me sort and changed 3 loads all by himself. I do hope that when he gets married that two things will happen: 1) His wife will appreciate that he knows how to do laundry and that he'll be as willing then as he is now and 2) That he still isn't having to jump up on the washer and dangle inside to remove all of the clothes!!!

I Should Know Better after 42 years!!!

Friday I was blessed to have celebrated my 42nd Birthday. That morning, my children brought me birthday cards and my present. While I was opening the present, I asked Clarissa how old she thought I was. Her quick response of 60 or 62 was so matter of fact!!!! OUCH!!!! You would think by now I would have learned if you don't want someone's opinion, don't ask for it!!! SO, while my husband thought her response was quite funny, I decided to take it a little further and ask her how old she thought MY Mom was........her response???.....OH, She's about to die!!!!

Well, to say the least, we have all (including my Mom), gotten a great laugh out of that one! I can't wait to enjoy another year of laughs!!!!

God is So Good....AGAIN.....

This evening I was laying on Clarissa's bed with her "chatting". It was almost time to go to church. Our conversation went from silliness to seriousness quickly. Somehow or another the topic of heaven came up. (insert - As we got deeper in the conversation, I decided to keep going with it and miss church while Sal and Jonathon went on. I'm glad I did!) We talked for about 30 - 45 minutes. Throughout the course of our conversation, Clarissa kept asking me what heaven was like and what the "fire pit" was like. She told me about people in other countries and even our own that don't believe in Jesus. All of a sudden, she looked at me and said, Mommy, I want to accept Jesus because I know he died for our sins. What a beautiful moment! So, right there, on her hot pink bedspread, she and I prayed and she asked Jesus to come into her heart.

I realize that some are so skeptical of a child making such a decision. However, it isn't our job to judge and I firmly believe that God knows the tenderness of her little heart. Does she understand everything? I'm sure not but then again, neither do I. What she does understand is that God loves her so much that he sent Jesus to die for HER. She also understands that now, no matter what happens on earth, that we will be together, forever.

On a funny note, while we were talking, she asked me if I was going to be here when she got married and had children. I explained to her that I hoped I was but that God had a plan for my life and that He was the one that knew how long I'd be here. She looked at me real serious and said, so, do you know what day your leaving? I almost cracked up! No, I don't know but I am so glad that I was given today to be here on earth with her.

God has been so good to me. I'm ashamed to say but I don't recall hundreds of people that I've gotten to lead to the Lord. I pray that I've planted seeds in several but He has granted ME, the opportunity, to lead both of my children to Him. I am so thankful and blessed!