Sunday, February 27, 2011

Where does help come from?

So, I got up this morning the same routine I do every Sunday morning I log onto my church's web site and read the daily bible verse....

I lift up my eyes to the hills -- where does my help come from?  My help comes from the LORD, the maker of heaven and earth.  
Psalms 121 Vs 1-2

As I read this passage It was apparent that I do know where my help comes from but sometimes I don't listen or see it when it is right in front of my nose.  So, as I went to church today during Sunday School we had a new topic and as I listened to our wonderful pastor teach us I was thinking back to how many times I got out of the boat and had to rely on Jesus to keep me on track and when I did not rely on Jesus to keep me on track Wow... how things went a muck.  It also struck me on how many people God places in our lives to help us keep on track...

After church and I was driving home my mind keep going back to how many people are in my life to help me keep on track.... All I had to do was think over the last couple of weeks and what has been going on in my life...

My girlfriend Nicole was the first person I though of ... She also goes to my church and we are so a like in our thinking and problem solving... What an amazing spirit she has and how up lifted and how I know just what to do after she and I talk even it's only for a few minutes on a text or in person. 

I also thought of several family members ... my dad is a big one and one being my brother... I am amazed every time I am around him and listen to him talking how loving, understanding, down to earth, and just how much he uplifts me... I can see God's work within him... What a joy to have him in my life and to be able to call him my brother....

Then I look at the strength within my own family... my husband and my kids... even though all of my kids have special needs they each have their own way of uplifting my day.... my husband in his way of knowing to help or to just leave me be without words being said... It's amazing to me...

The most closest person I know to GOD would be my Pastor's - Pastor Rob and Pastor Ben... No matter what is going on or how frazzled I might be they know what to say.  It's an uplifting feeling to know how much they both care and can show you with a smile, a how are you or just a let me know if you need anything... Very, Very thankful to GOD for directing us to Crossroads!!

So, I really do understand by thinking and praying about our Sunday School lesson how I have jumped the ship many times and each time Jesus has had some person their to guide me so I don't sink... It's amazing the love that GOD shows me every day in my life and some days I might not get it but thinking back it's there.....

I am hoping and praying if you are reading this you take the time to think about how and when you've had to jump the ship of life... you keep your eyes on GOD and he will never let you sink!  If you don't have a personal relationship with Jesus... stop reading this and pray and ask GOD into your life... I can promise you if you do your life will never be the same and you will always know that you will never sink!!

Friday, December 31, 2010

Memories of 2010

Christmas 2010
As I went to the party store yesterday to pick up a few noise makers, hats, and decorations for the "Kids" version New Years Eve Party we are having.... It got me to thinking about how Blessed this past year was for our family....

As I write this blog and think over the past year I am thankful that I have a very growing family of 7.....Although this year has come with happiness and it's challenges and especially the stress of the everyday things again I can only say it's great to have a family... to share things with, to laugh or cry with and especially to lean on and count on.....

For Milton it's been a big year... A junior in high school... already talking about Graduation and all the fun and excitement that comes with... Making that big decisions of "What College"







Age 14
It's been a year to remember.... Nicholas got to hold a Falcon and have a Turkey vulture land on his arm....He got to meet his birth dad.... and the anticipation of becoming a freshman at the High school. 






Bethanne Age 15
 
Bethanne went to her first Homecoming dance.... Being a freshman at the high school is challenging ....









John Age 6


John amazement when he asked for a swimming pool for his birthday and he got one... First year of Kindergarten an adjustment but he is making it.... John is now official with his adoption in May.







Age 2

Christian has had an amazing year of challenges and new experiences that has brought amazement to us... His love of the new things he can learn and the excitement he loves to experience.  He's growing fast... Christian became a official part of the family .....





I love each one of them for their own corks... their unending love... their smiles and the amazement every time something happens new.... 

For Chuck and I we celebrated a big anniversary our 15th... In this day an age that's along time to be married.... Were thankful that Chuck still has a job, one that he loves... and I am thankful that the money stretched so that I still can continue to stay at home an raise our great bunch!!

We enjoy the smallest of things... Birthdays.... Steelers Football.... Playing..... going to places that bring hours of fun.... Our family vacations.... But most of all just the every night around the dinner table discussions....

It's great having a family to love and a family that loves you back... No questions.....

So, here's wishing you and yours a Blessed and Happy New Year!
Love, The Hughes




Monday, November 29, 2010

Weekends Memories

Weekends always seems to be laid back at our house.... I guess because of how busy a family of 7 can be during the week. 

Our weekend started on Thursday, enjoyed Thanksgiving with my wonderful family.... spent some good quality time with my brother and his kids.... Enjoyed a feast... and spent a nice day on Friday with my kids putting up the Christmas Tree... Saturday we watched Christmas movies and relaxed... Sunday we were off to Church for the Hanging of the Greens and then watched football and just spent more time relaxing...

So, I noticed how much more time there is on the weekends when there are no buses to catch, work schedules to be there on time, and how much more time you spend enjoying your family...

I also enjoy the memories that we create on the weekends... I must have taken at least 60-90 photos from Thursday to Sunday.... for me photos are my memories and I really treasure the photos I have of Loved ones that have made their journey to Heaven. 

Weekends give you more time to play games with your children, read a good book, watch that movie you've been meaning to see, and overall a great time to make memories that will last a life time for your kids....

So, take time this weekend to just enjoy the memories that you are creating for your family.

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Thankfulness!

As I got up this morning for Church and spent some time praying I realized that I have so much to be thankful for.... 

A wonderful husband, who without him I would not be able to do as much as I do.... 5 very energetic, loving, and challenging children..... Friends and extended family.... the ability to volunteer with others.... and I can't imagine  where would I be now without them all.

It's amazing how if you just take a few minutes to evaluate the things you can be thankful for ... you find there is so much.... and to think that without God in my life would I even have so much....

Today is "All Saint's Day" and it's a time to remember the people or persons that have gone on to Heaven to be with God.... I am very thankful for the people that are currently in my life and the people who have gone on to Heaven.  I Miss them all dearly and can't wait till the day God calls me home and I see them face to face, especially GOD.  I'm not afraid of that journey and I think it is because I know that God will guide my way... just as he guides me daily... It's amazing that GOD can do all of this....

So, take a moment to think of all the things you are thankful for and please take time to thank GOD for those things.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

CHANGE!

As I got up this morning and looked out the window .... it was foggy so I could not see too much.... but as I was driving home from picking my son up from school.... The change was in full bloom in front of me.... So, this got me to thinking?

When God created fall..What was the purpose for Fall?  A time for change... a time for reflection... a time to take a step back and re-examine things.... Think about this...

The trees change colors to alert us humans to the change coming in the weather.... The colors green, yellow, orange, and red.... It's time to change the flowers we go from beautiful spring/summer flowers to hearty mums that can with stand the colder days and nights.... You start changing your routines... school starting...football games...after school activities no more lazy days of summer.... You change the appearance of your home, your clothing... .. What else does GOD want us to change....

As I thought more about this I got to thinking could he want us to use this time to have us personally change... Thinking ahead to the colder days and nights and the snow soon on it's way... We will have more time to reflect... read a good book... catch up on the movies.... but more time to enjoy each other... As the holidays approach families have more time to share with their loved ones time... Something so priceless in this busy world we live in.... families  make it a point to spend that time together to create more memories.... It's amazing how many people I know don't have time for much during the spring/summer but fall/winter time seems to stop..... it gives us more time to reflect on the changes we would like to make within ourselves.....the way we deal with others.... the way we talk with others.....

Change it's a good thing!!  God is showing us with the change of seasons...now might be a good time to reflect on how you can make changes within yourself....

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Being Thankful for the small stuff

It's been 2 years since our son "Joseph" went to be with Jesus...Oh how much I miss his smiley face ... how I miss his curly black hair and those big brown eyes.... those small moments with him .. curled up on the couch reading a book.... snuggling on a crisp fall morning .....these small moments that now are more precious than ever. Did I take the time back then to realize how important those moments were ... No, I think I took them forgranted as I rush through life.... I've been struggling with people.. the hustle and bustle of life.... and how fast everyone goes ... and really do you take time to enjoy the small things??

Today, I was picking up Christian from school and as I was pulling out of the parking lot I looked in my rear view mirror and noticed Christian was just staring out the window.... Hm... I though, what in the world could he be thinking?

I arrived home to find Chuck and John having a great conversation about what went on at kindergarten.... for a brief second I saved that moment and realized they are making a memory.

After all the bigger kids came home from school, all five of my kiddo's were looking out the back window of our house discussing how the leaves were swirling in the yard and what tree did they come from and Nick saying how far do you think that one traveled.  Amazing small moment making a memory.

Today..  I have come to realize that God just don't give you these small moments of time to waste time... He gives us these moments to have us all remember why we are here... I believe in my heart this was God's plan and purpose for my life to be a mom.... I've had a career, I've done things for me in my life .. but now God has in trusted these five very special people into my life for me to love and guide through this life and someday they will figure out there purpose..

AMAZING!!!  God's love is so powerful that you can find it in the small stuff....

So take time to enjoy those small moments throughout life God makes possible and remember them always!!

Friday, September 24, 2010

Giving up Control!

It's hard to give up control.... on a lot of things....

Over the past several months we have been dealing with a lot of issues with our daughter.....

Our daughter has Asperger's syndrome which is on the Autistic spectrum... As if that is not difficult enough to deal with ... She also has Reactive Attachment disorder... which makes it very hard for her to trust or realize she can depend on others.... and finally she is a teenage girl....

As a mom I know that I should be able to a handle everything and anything that she throws my way but wow it's much harder to do this.... The other part is that I was a teenage girl but don't remember doing a lot of what she says and does.... Disabilities a side she is a normal teenager..... I guess taking more time to think about it there are probably a lot of things that I did maybe a different way...... God Bless my mom .... who I can imagine dealt with a lot but still plugged along and look I turned out ok....

So, in my mind I know all the struggles now and all the not seeing eye to eye eventually will die down and we at some point will be able to communicate where there is a "your not getting it" from me and a "you don't understand being a girl" from her... but when??  A lot of people (not medical people) try to tell us it's her disabilities, and we won't allow our kids that have disabilities use them as a crutch because as we all know in this great big world people eat up people with disabilities... So, as I preach to all my kids... God doesn't create bad people, he created all of us for a purpose and for you it might take a bit longer and take a different route to get there... but you will fulfil your purpose.

So, as I continue to struggle to parent my 15 year old teenage girl.... I know that with God's love and God giving me lots of patience and guidance... she will turn out to be a great person!! :)