Celebrating my Senior

My home school journey with my daughter is coming to an end. I by no means am saying that she will never learn at home anymore. I am talking about that day in day out doing school and choosing curriculum on a yearly basis that has taken place in our home for the last 9 years. With the end of this journey comes all the fun of getting ready for a home school graduation. Ordering announcements, planning a party, dress shopping for these events and the list can go on. I know many of you who have seniors this year, take the time to celebrate every moment. Don't let it pass without reviewing what you have done over all these years. Our teens are getting ready to graduate into a world like none other we have ever known. We have some strong kids that are getting ready to change the world for the better. Celebrate them big!!!!!!

Celebrating Freedom

How is freedom different in America today compared to 20years ago? Do we  still celebrate freedom today as we did even 15 years ago?
I think freedom means alot of different things to alot of different people but to those of us born in America  or transplanted here we should be celebrating every single day. Every single day of living in a country where we have freedoms no other country has ever enjoyed. Freedom to work where and when we want to. Freedom to drive a car. Freedom to worship or not to worship the way we want to. The list goes on and on. But with our freedoms come restrictions. Yes, we have the freedom to work where and when we want to, but that comes with the restriction of what kind of lifestyle we might want to maintain. Yes, we can drive a car with the restriction of age depending on the state we live in. Yes, we can worship or not worship when and where we want to. Wait!!! This is the one freedom we have that seems to not have any restrictions, other than where a church building can be built.
This is why not taking our freedoms for granted is so important. The majority of our founding fathers were Christians that believed that if we gave up relying on  God in this nation the very core of our nation would fall apart. Yes, with freedom comes restrictions but aren't those restrictions worth it to continue to have the one freedom that has no restrictions. America is a Christian nation founded on the principles of a loving God. Take the time to vote to keep our freedoms in tact.

Celebrating A New Kind of Strength

What can be more exciting then being asked to be on a talk show? Now mind you it is only a local talk show but nevertheless I am so apprehensive!! All those thoughts go through your head. "Can I do this?", "Why would anyone watch me?" But yet in all of this I have to reach to the strength that is beyond me!!! The Bible says "we are more than conquerers through Christ who redeemed us". "If God is for us who can be against us". Should there be any doubt in my mind. I can't do this on my own. I so desperately need Him to lead and guide me.
I love to celebrate but when it comes to celebrating my self I struggle. Hence I will not celebrate myself but celebrate what God is doing in my life. How I can be a blessing to others, and encourage them to seek Him for strength.
Celebrate not being able to do it in our own strength today and you will be surprised how much "Strength" you will really have.

What is Celebrate?

The definition of celebrate is so different to so many people and so many cultures. What one person finds to celebrate another finds odd or the least bit interested in celebrating. My challenge to everyone out there is to find a reason to celebrate. Disney has an old movie Pollyanna, in it a little girl always "finds a reason for being glad". She calls it the "glad game". Sort of a "when life hands you lemons" thing.
Our society here in America has gotten so far away from celebrating or finding a reason for being glad. It has almost become an "I deserve to be happy and it is up to you to make me happy" game.
My goal here on Celebrate is to turn it around. Make others glad and it will definitely come back to you. Seek to celebrate and make a difference in others lives. Celebrating is so much more than just special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries,etc. Create a memory, celebrate life and give someone a reason to celebrate for a lifetime!!! 

Published!!!

I took the plunge and am finally letting people know that I wrote a book. With a blog all about celebrating, I guess you could say my book is along those same lines.I am having major issues of inadequacy thinking why did I even do this. I know why! I love to celebrate others, I love to have a party, I want people to feel that they are recognized for what they do and who they are.We never know how long someone will be with us.

I noticed it has been a while since I blogged. The last time I did was over a tragedy. This one I want to be about celebrating those we still have. Celebrate your loved ones today!!!!!!Keep the memory alive of those you've lost. Go out to dinner with your spouse. Pick a flower and give it to your neighbor (just make sure it is not from one of their plants!!:))Smile at the cashier at Walmart.Spend some quiet time with God to let Him know you celebrate Him! If you are having a yucky day find a reason to celebrate, or my wish for you would be that someone would celebrate you.

I am trying to celebrate this new journey of being an author. I may be a little freaked out but I am having fun along the way.

I hope you choose to come celebrate with me. Share with me your unique ways you celebrate others in your life.

CELEBRATE LIFE CELEBRATE BIG!!!!!!!

Celebrate Life Amidst Grief

I got one of those phone calls you never want to get on a Monday morning or anytime for that matter. A friend of ours in his early 40's passed away on Monday morning from a heart attack. Being with his 34 year old widow on Monday morning so many emotions rushing inside her head and heart. Anger, frustration, blame, fear,etc. I couldn't even begin to put myself in her shoes.She just needed to feel, and vent, and cry all at the same time. Her heart breaking and wanting him back. "I just want him to walk in that door right now!!" she kept saying. This type of deep hurt is unexplainable to those of us who have never lost someone so suddenly and so tragically. Even to those of us that have Jesus and heaven, which our friend did, still does not make the hurt any easier.

She is surrounded by so many people right now knowing that a time is coming that she along with her children will have to face. When everyone that came for the funeral goes home. This is when she will need friends around her more than ever. People around her to help her and the children face their days of lonliness and missing him.

I will choose to celebrate her by praying for her and being there for her when all the out-of-town guests leave. I will choose to celebrate her by encouraging her to keep going for her children. Celebrating amidst the grief. Celebrating a life too short. Celebrating amidst grief, is that even possible? How will you celebrate those in your life that are struggling?

Celebrate Parenting

This past weekend we shared with a group the importance of taking a parenting class that has changed our lives and helped to make us better parents. We get so busy with life sometimes we even forget to parent, especially when our kids get to be 9 and older. We tend to not see as much because they are so independent. As parents we need to remember that they are still dependent on us for so much more than just the necessities of life.The reason we are not producing morally responsible children in our homes is because parental instruction too often lacks moral reason backed up with scripture.We tell our children what to do, or just expect them to get it through influence, but never tell them why they should. here is some good heartfelt scripture to remind us to celebrate being parents!!!!!~My behavior towards you is not based on what you have done to me but on how precious you are to God. Phil 2:3-5 teaches us to Imitating Christ's Humility :
1If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
6Who, being in very nature[a] God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature[b] of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father. 12Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.14Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16as you hold out[c] the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. 17But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.
I am so thankful for verses like these that help me get right back on track and reaching my children's hearts.