HITS ME AS SOON AS I HIT MY PILLOW AT NIGHT. I SOON THINK ABOUT WHAT KIND OF MOTHER I HAVE BEEN TO MY CHILDREN, AND I KNOW WITH OUT A DOUBT THAT I WAS ALL I COULD BE TO THEM THAT DAY.GOD KNEW MY HEARTS DESIRE TO BE A PARENT LONG BEFORE I WAS BORN.HE HAS HAD ME IN CAREFUL THOUGHT, AND HAS BEEN PREPARING ME FOR THIS WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE AND JOURNEY THAT I WAS ABOUT TO PARTAKE OF.HE HAS BEEN RIGHT THERE PREPPING ME AND MOLDING ME TO BE THE TYPE OF PARENT THAT I SHOULD BE TO MY EXPECTATIONAL AND LOVING CHILDREN. MY PARENTING SKILLS AND ABILITIES ARE SOMEWHAT UNIQUE , AND I GIVE MY ALL TO MY CHILDREN. PARENTING IS A TOUGH JOB, THE TOUGHEST, AND I DO NOT TAKE IT LIGHTLY. WHEN I WAS A YOUNG MOTHER, I OFTEN WAS GIVEN ADVICE BY MANY, AND I OFTEN ADHERED TO IT, BUT AS MY CHILDREN'S NEEDS AND INSIGHTS CHANGE, SO DO MY PARENTING EFFORTS.I OFTEN LOOKED AT OTHERS PARENTING EFFORTS, AND THOUGHT THAT THEY WERE DOING "IT" RIGHT, BUT I SOON REALIZED THAT THEIR EFFORTS WERE SELF-SEEKING, AND SOMETIMES DIDN'T BENEFIT THERE FAMILY AS A WHOLE. I WAS NOT GOING TO MAKE THE MISTAKE OF DOING THIS. WHAT WORKS FOR ONE FAMILY, DOES NOT ALWAYS WORK FOR THE OTHER .GOD HAS A PLAN FOR EACH FAMILY, AND THE EXPERIENCES WE HAVE MAKE EACH FAMILY WHO THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE IN LIFE.THE EXPERIENCES THAT MY CHILDREN HAVE, WHETHER IT BE POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE, ARE TRACED BACK TO JERRY AND I, AND HOW WE HANDLED CERTAIN SITUATIONS THAT WERE DEALT TO US ON A DAILY BASIS. PARENTING IS SOMETHING THAT WAS GIVEN TO ME AS A GIFT, HOW I UTILIZE THIS GIFT IS ULTIMATELY UP TO ME, GOD ALLOWS US TO MAKE CHOICES, BUT HE KNEW THAT I WOULD SEEK HIM IN THIS WONDERFUL JOURNEY OF PARENTHOOD.GOD HAS BLESSED ME WITH MY CHILDREN, HE GAVE THEM TO ME FOR A REASON. HE KNEW WHAT PARENTING POTENTIAL I HAD, AND TRUSTED ME TO BE THEIR MOTHER. I LEAN NOT ON MY UNDERSTANDING, BUT I LOOK TO HIM FOR LEADERSHIP IN RAISING MY CHILDREN. MY CHILDREN ARE VERY SPECIAL AND UNIQUE CHILDREN, AND THEY REQUIRE SPECIAL ATTENTION AND NEEDS. IT WOULD BE BORING IF MY CHILDREN WERE LIKE EVERYONE ELSE. MY CHILDREN ARE GIFTED IN MANY WAYS AND AS A PARENT, I AM EXPECTED TO INSURE THAT THEY EXPAND OUR THEIR POTENTIAL AND THEIR GIFTS. I LOVE MY CHILDREN THE SAME, BUT THE WAY I SHOW LOVE IS IN DIFFERENT WAYS. BAILEE IS A VERY GIVING PERSON, AND GIVES MOST PEOPLE A BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT, SHE OFTEN NEEDS "CONFIRMATION" THAT SHE IS APPRECIATED, AND THAT HER LOVE AND GOOD ACTS DO NOT GO UNNOTICED. SHE IS TRULY A PERSON OF GOOD NATURE AND TRUST IS OFTEN ACCOMPANIED MY FAITHFULNESS. SHE HAS STRONG OPTIONS ABOUT CERTAIN ISSUES AND EXPECTS YOU TO CONSIDER THEM GREATLY. SHE IS THE "OVERSEER" OF OUR FAMILY, SHE PROTECTS OUR FAMILY AGAINST CERTAIN THINGS THAT MIGHT HURT US. CAIDEN IS AN GIFTED CHILD IN THAT HIS INSIGHT INTO CERTAIN SITUATIONS CAUSES HIS HEART TO SOFTEN AND HE FORGIVES EASILY. HE OFTEN SEE PAST THE SIN OF SOMEONE DEAR TO HIM, AND LOVES THE POTENTIAL THAT PERSON HAS, AND HE SOMEWHAT HAS INSIGHT ON THAT PERSON THAT HAS HURT HIM. HIS COMPASSION FOR OTHERS IS IN HIGHEST REGARDS.BEFORE HE EVER REALIZES IT, ONE DAY THAT RELATIONSHIP WILL HAVE A PROFOUND AFFECT ON HIM WHEN HE LEAST EXPECTS IT. HIS OUTLOOK ON LIFE IS MOSTLY POSITIVE AND HE CONSIDERS ALL AVENUES OF LIFE. HIS ABILITY TO SEE "POTENTIAL" IN SITUATIONS THAT ARE DEALT TO HIM MAKES HIM A "MIGHTY CONQUEROR." CAIDEN EXCELS IN EVERYTHING HIS PURSUES. HE RESPECTS HIS GOD GIVEN TALENTS AND DOES NOT FLAUNT THEM . I THINK WHAT I LOVE MOST ABOUT CAIDEN IS HIS HUMBLENESS. HE IS NEVER PROUD, HE IS ONLY APPRECIATIVE, AND HE NEVER EXPECTS THINGS IN RETURN. HE IS ALWAYS THERE TO BE A FRIEND, WHEN A FRIEND IS NEEDED. ITS AMAZING TO ME HOW MY CHILDREN CAN BE LIKE THEIR PARENTS, BUT IN RETROSPECT, THEY ARE DEVELOPING INTO THEIR OWN SELVES, BUT THEY WILL ALWAYS CARRY A PART OF JERRY AND I WITH THEM. THAT'S WHAT A FAMILY IS. WE ARE A PART OF EACH OTHER, AND OUR LITTLE QUIRKS AND PERSONALITIES SHINE SOMEWHAT THROUGH THEM, MAKING PARENTING SUCH A REWARDING JOB! JERRY AND I TRY SO HARD TO GET ON THEIR "LEVEL" WHEN IT COMES TO A SITUATION THAT IS HEAVY ON THEIR HEARTS. SOME PARENTS DO NOT TAKE THEN TIME TO SEE THINGS THROUGH THE EYES OF A CHILD, AND THEY OFTEN CAUSES A CHILD TO BE MISUNDERSTOOD, AND THAT OPENS THE DOOR TO A LOT OF ASSUMPTIONS, AND WORDS AND CONFLICTS LEFT UNSAID. WE ALWAYS TRY TO GET TO THE HEART OF THE MATTER, SO THEY CAN HAVE" CONFIRMATION." THEY CAN REST ASSURE THAT THEY ARE LOVED AND RESPECTED ON ALL LEVELS. THIS IS THEIR "CONFIRMATION." OUR FAMILY LIFE IS SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT THAN MOST FAMILIES. JERRY'S JOB REQUIRES TO HIM TO TRAVEL QUITE A BIT. SOME PEOPLE THINK THAT OUR FAMILY "ARRANGEMENT" MIGHT BE DAMAGING TO OUR KID'S FUTURE AND MIGHT HAVE SOME NEGATIVE EFFECT ON THEIR ABILITIES TO FUNCTION AS "NORMAL" ADULTS. A LOT OF FAMILIES CANNOT WITHSTAND CERTAIN SITUATIONS AND OBSTACLES THAT OUR FAMILY IS DEALT WITH. BUT I BELIEVE WITH ALL MY HEART THAT GOD KNOWS THAT ONLY "SPECIAL" FAMILIES CAN HANDLE IT, WITH HIM GUIDING US. HE KNOWS THAT WE WILL ULTIMATELY LOOK TO HIM FOR GUIDE FOR OUR FAMILY, AND SOMEHOW HE WILL SHOW THAT THROUGH PERSEVERANCE, FAMILIES CAN BE SUCCESSFUL IN ANY TYPE OF ENVIRONMENT. JERRY WORKS 12 HOUR DAYS SO OUR CHILDREN CAN HAVE THINGS THAT KIDS SHOULD HAVE. HE SACRIFICES A LOT FOR OUR FAMILY, EVEN THOUGH HIS IS NOT HERE, HE KNOWS THAT HIS EFFORTS ARE IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF OUR FAMILY. I AM THE ONE WHO ENSURES MY CHILDREN WILL HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO HELP THEM GROW AND PROSPER LIKE GOD HAS INTENDED FOR THEM TO DO. I AM THE ONE THAT TUCKS THEM INTO BED AT NIGHT: I AM THE ONE THAT TELLS THEM THAT THEY WERE SUCCESSORS IN WHAT THEY HAD PURSUED THAT DAY. I AM THE ONE WHO SEE THEM ASLEEP AT NIGHT WITH THE LOOK OF "CONTENTEDNESS" ON THEIR FACE. THAT IS SURE "CONFIRMATION" THAT I WAS THE PARENT I SHOULD HAVE BEEN TO THEM THAT DAY AND FOR MANY MORE DAYS TO COME!
IT SEEMS LIKE THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS THAT WE HAVE "LIVED" ON THE ROAD! AS SOON AS WE GOT BACK SUNDAY FROM PLAYING BASEBALL IN VICKSBURG, WE PACKED UP AGAIN THAT SUNDAY NIGHT HEADING FOR NEBRASKA. WE DROVE TO LITTLE ROCK ARKANSAS AT STOPPED AT A HOTEL AT 12 AM. WE SLEPT IN OUR CLOTHES AND BROUGHT ONLY TOOTHBRUSHES AND CONTACT STUFF. WE UNPACKED NOTHING ELSE. WHEN YOU HAVE A CAR PACKED SLAM FULL WITH STUFF, AND OH, A LITTLE WHITE DOG, YOU JUST LEAVE THINGS AS THEY ARE, AND WAKE UP TO ANOTHER DAY OF TRAVELING! 12 HOURS TO BE EXACT!!!
