B-Boo - It's a Vivas Thing!

Jun 08 2010

Lovin’ It!

I just love days like today! It started out kind of hectic, with trying to get the two little ones up and ready for school while trying to get B-boo and I out of the house first thing this morning. She had an evaluation today that would take up most of the day at the university, so I knew I'd be waiting for quite a while. I grabbed my Bible and study book, looking forward to some serious study time.

Once we got her settled in, I headed to the library. May I just say that I really liked it! I had a nice, big comfy chair, a little table all to myself, and complete and total me time. I can't remember ever being able to read or study anything without being interrupted. I spent two whole hours reading and studying about faith under pressure. It was awesome!

But the best part was the unexpected part. I just love it when that happens! My oldest son happened to have to be there today, so we got to have lunch with him. And then, after B-boo went back to finish, the Good-Looking One and I got to spend another 1 1/2 hours together, mostly just talking and enjoying a PomBlueberry thingie from the Coffee Bean. It was pretty good, but not near as good as spending half a day with my son.

B-boo and I finally made it home in just enough time to grab a quick "ah" moment, and then head over to youth swim night. Which was way cool…because I got to spend time with my friends, sitting around a table and talking and eating some amazing lasagna.

And then…we headed home. And not five minutes into the door, I was asked the following question:

"Mom! Who put the lizard in the freezer and why is his head split open?"

Well, it was nice while it lasted anyway….

May 24 2010

Making a Difference

Have you ever noticed how when you're focused on how much your life is…well…not going so well, God shows you someone's whose is worse?

Last night, as we were cleaning up after youth, I felt an urge to take the last six homeless ministry bags with me. But I ignored the urge, thinking I still had one in the van and that I'd grab some more next weekend. These bags have juice/water, snacks, hygiene items (like soap and mouthwash), and a personal note of encouragement in them. The idea is to carry them in your vehicle, and then when you pass a homeless person on the street, you can hand them a bag of encouragement. I knew I had one bag left, so I ignored that urge.

Fast forward to today. I had to run a couple of errands. Today didn't start out too great and I've had a lot on my mind. One of which is trying really hard to know what God is trying to say to me and listening when He says it. I was waiting in the deli line with an older gentleman. We waited for quite a while, and finally someone noticed and came over and asked who was first in line. I replied that the gentleman was.

He replies, "And the first will come last and the last will come first."

I simply smiled, yet was reminded of this scripture:

"So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but
few chosen."

Matthew 20:16

As I was pulling out of the store parking lot, I had to stop at the light. Next to me was a homeless woman, with a sign that said,

"I have no home or food. Please help."

I rolled down my window and handed her the bag as she quickly said "thank you."

And then I noticed several other homeless people all around me. I had no more bags to give and instantly thought of last night, when I had the *urge* to take the remaining bags with me. But I didn't. I wish I had listened to that still, small voice.

Lately, God has been speaking to me about something in particular. It's not something I'm comfortable with, but I'm trying hard to listen. I think today was a little reminder; perhaps a test. I didn't do so well.

What I can say is this. I would urge all of my readers to make up their own bags to pass out. If you're local and you attend our church, I'd encourage you to bring in items so that we can make up more bags as we are getting low. We fill the bags with juice or water, snacks (like granola bars), small bottles of hygiene items (such as mouthwash, tooth paste, body soap). We place a note card inside, with a note of encouragement from our youth. And we keep them in our vehicles for those street corners, when we wish we'd had something but didn't. Now you can.

And if you are feeling a bit sorry for yourself today, I'd suggest you open up your eyes and take a look around. Make a difference. You might just find yourself feeling a bit better about your own circumstances!

For more information on this ministry, you can read this: B-boo

⁴⁰"The King will reply,

'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these
brothers of mine, you did for me.'"

Matthew 25:40

May 19 2010

See…It IS a Vivas Thing!

After a longggg day yesterday, I picked up the teens from spending some time at a local refugee *camp.* I don't think that is what it is really called, but they had gone to play games with the refugees. And they had fun, too! So afterward, our youth pastor takes them to Sonic. They go in to order and the next thing they know, they're being told to get back in the vans. The Talented One states he never saw our youth pastor move so fast, so he knew it was serious! All they saw outside was a tour bus and lots of police with rifles.

Fast forward to this morning. I'm sound asleep. I hear a voice calling, "Mom! Mom! Wake Up!"

I roll over in my bed in time to watch B-boo crumple to the floor. Swoosh! Just-like-that! (It was like she had turned into a rubberband…swoosh.)

(May I just state right now, that that is NOT the way a mom should have to get up in the morning! It is just plain rude!)

I yelled at hubby to wake up…WAKE UP! Something's wrong with B-boo!

She was mumbling and he was yelling at me to take her to ER while trying to figure out if she was ok or not. I ran downstairs to grab some pants. (Ok, the ONE TIME I run out of pj pants and regular pants is the one time I need them?!) As I ran downstairs, the Talented One comes running in asking me what is wrong. I tell him that his sister is upstairs on the floor and to go help dad. I grab the first set of pants that I see and meet them at the bottom of the stair case and off we go.

Didn't get to brush my teeth.

Didn't get to comb my hair.

I'm in my pj's.

She's fine, btw. She's been fighting a virus for a week and a half now and isn't resting properly. She's stubborn like that. She needs to drink more fluids and take care of herself.

Back to last night.

While we're in the ER, we talk to Punky about last night. We found out that an attempted robbery had happened and the guy with the gun had crashed into the bus that was in front of the Sonic that they kids were about to eat at. I am SO glad pastor got the kids out safe with his quick thinking.

Back to this morning.

B-boo has had a cough, too. So last night I gave her Nyquil. She took the CORRECT dose and almost 10 hours had passed before her little episode. But the Good-Looking one…he wonders if it was the Nyquil, just because one little time he took a little too much and ended up asleep in the bathroom. He just won't let it go! You'd think after over a decade he'd move past it, right? No, son, I did NOT overdose your sister!

See, it's times like this why we say, "It's a Vivas Thing!"

May 09 2010

My Mommy Made Me Do It!

For those of you who didn't know it, today is Mother's Day. That's the day where you tell your mom you love her, and if you are a mother yourself, tell your kids, too.

I've had several moments over the past couple of weeks to kind of reflect on Motherhood. I've been thinking about this particular post for a while, thinking it would make the perfect Mother's Day post. So…here goes.

If you're a mom, have you ever thought about how the things that your mom did with you are now reflected in what you do with your own kids? Even the things you didn't necessarily want to do, but did anyway because your "mommy made you?"

For instance, my mom taught me how to sew. (I actually enjoyed that!) My mom is one of those moms that can do anything. I'm serious! I can't think of a single thing she doesn't know how to do or isn't willing to try! Anyway, she can also sew anything. She made all of my prom dresses, dresses and outfits for all of us when we were kids. She even made my wedding dress! I can't sew anything near what she can, but I knew how to make my own barbie clothes and once time I even won an award for an outfit I made. I stopped sewing after I had my third child. I had a sewing machine, but it didn't work and I never got around to getting another one. This year, B-boo is taking a fashion class. Guess what? That means she has to learn how to sew. I thought it would be great; except that the teacher doesn't really teach the kids much. She just tells them to make such and such and they are on their own for the most part. So, I am teaching her how to sew. Only…I don't have a working sewing machine. So we were borrowing my mother-in-laws to help her with the quilts and other projects that she was making. Then, when my parents came to visit while I was recovering, they brought a brand new sewing machine for B-boo! Her last project was a stuffed elephant. She had to follow a pattern and do certain stitches. I was sooo glad my mom had taught me how to sew and made sure I knew the different stitches; because I was able to help my own daughter with the same thing. And she got an "A." I am looking forward to teaching my younger daughter how to sew now, also. And all because my mom did it with me.

Another thing my mom taught us was how to draw, paint and make crafts. I'm not great at that, either, but I do know the basics. Last week we were making props for our Children's concert tomorrow night. We were tracing, drawing, painting, etc. At one point, I needed to draw some stuff free hand. All those lessons from my mom came pouring back, and I managed to do a pretty decent job! Then, I got to give a certain teen a mini painting lesson when it came to painting Kermit the frog. And then, there was the mixing of the paint to get the particular colors that we wanted. Again, all learned from my mom. And while I always enjoyed the painting and crafts (still do), it was nice to put it to good use with my own (and other people's) children!

There is one thing that I never cared to do, but my mommy made me. My mom was a cosmetologist and loved to cut hair. I never liked it. I admit it. I never wanted to do it and had to learn great patience at being forced to learn how to cut hair. She always insisted I needed to know how to do it. I'd much rather pay someone else to make my family look beautiful, but…my mommy said I could do it. And insisted that I learn. So I did. I've been cutting my hubby's hair for years. It's not something I really enjoy doing, but he likes it, so I like it. I used to cut my boys hair when they were little, and even the girls. But as the teens have wanted certain styles and such, I started having someone else do it.

And then my hubby lost his job. And well, everyone needed hair cuts. Including myself. So, I started with my nephew one day because he wanted a cut and he knew I had the stuff to do it, so decided I needed to cut his hair. And then, I got brave and did my own hair! And the next week, I did my own hair again, a little bit better! And then, my teenage son asked me to do his. I REALLY didn't want to, that made me VERY nervous. This boy likes his hair just right. Somehow we made it through and he states he actually likes it. It kind of made me feel good to have his approval, because he is so very picky. He trusted his mom to cut his hair; something I wouldn't have known how to do if my mom hadn't taught me!

And speaking of hair, B-boo needed a french braid for her recital this week. That's something I never could quite get! So, she had to have a friend do it for her. Sorry about that, B-boo.

My mom also instilled the love of cooking in me. She loves to cook; bake, too. I grew up not afraid to try new recipes, etc. I am forever grateful for that one! Especially since I have two children with serious food allergies. Trying buying something these days that doesn't have at least one of the following ingredients in it: dairy, egg, nuts, wheat, soy, gluten, or apples. It is nearly impossible! And if you do manage to find something, it costs way too much! So, I make bread, bake cakes, learn how to substitute ingredients and manage to make some pretty good meals, too. What's even better, is that my children like to cook; especially the ones with food allergies! They will grow up learning to cook whatever their hearts desire! And all because my mom instilled the love of cooking in me when I was a child.

Mom also loves animals. Doesn't matter what kind they are; she likes 'em all! So do my kids; which is why we've had pets such as snakes, lizards, rats, birds, rabbits, fish, etc.

There is one thing I have never managed to learn from my mom. That is a taking care of plants. I try, I really do, but I did NOT inherit her green thumb! I will kill them dead after trying and trying to keep them alive. I'll give them to her for burial, and she'll have them resurrected within days!

One thing my mom was not. She was not afraid to be a mother. She taught me all about being a mom to my own five kids. She also taught me to welcome other children into our home; something my parents always did. Our home was always open to others; and now, our home is always open to others.

I've not physically been with my mom in several years now on Mother's day. She lives 12 hours away. This year, she is getting to spend it with my oldest brother. Something she hasn't done in years, so I am sure she is having the time of her life!

And me? Well, tonight as I write this to post on Mother's Day, I am sitting here typing while my own two daughters cuddle next to me. I'm needed tonight because the Drama Queen is sick. So I'm going to finish this and give my full attention to her now. Tomorrow, she's going to bless me with her beautiful voice in a Mother's Day concert, provided we can get her well!

Happy Mother's Day, Mom. I love you!