One Little Word

Some of you know about ONE LITTLE WORD.  I came across it and found it intriguing a couple years back on an Ali Edwards blog.  Let me just say I fell head over heels for the idea and decided to adapt the concept in my life. She usually has a worksheet and a list of words for you to draw inspiration from.  I enjoy reading the meanings and examples other people have come up with.  It's 100% your word and needs to be something that moves you!  I like to have jewelry made that I wear as a constant reminder of MY one little word.  If you are a reader make a bookmark with your word.  Use one in your favorite book and your bible.  Put it on your bathroom mirror.  Just make it about YOU and what it takes to achieve YOUR word to the fullest! 

My word in 2010 was FORGIVENESS.
It was a time for me to let go of the past.  A past that had been holding me down for too long.  I knew  giving Forgiveness would allow me move on to bigger and better things that maybe I didn't think I was worthy of.  My goal was to lift a burden I had carried/struggled with for years.  I held grudges and that alone made me a weaker and bitter person.  You can't be bitter and be happy.  I turned to food for comfort in those moments of weakness and neglected things I should not have.  Learning to let go and start Forgiving myself led to the forgiveness of others.  It's a freeing feeling words alone are not able to express.  Not easily obtainable but worth the effort it requires.  I mean who doesn't want to feel this kind of peace??

My word for 2011 was BLESSED.
No doubt the perfect word for last year.  Regardless of obstacles and hurdles in my path I was able to learn to see just how blessed I was and am.  Confused?  What I am saying is it took a lot to finally understand I am blessed and I am worthy.  You learn from your situations as well as circumstance(s).  I may not have it all in the eyes of others.  It may not be the best of the best but I do know I am Blessed to have my freedom to worship my God.  Blessed to have a husband that is a provider to his family.  Blessed to have handsome & healthy boys.  Blessed to have found a church I call my home.  Blessed with the opportunities to see just how far I've come.  *just to name a few of my blessings*  Here is the piece of sterling silver I had made last year.

My word for 2012 is STRENGTH.
I do this instead of setting resolutions that can be limited.  Strength is physical, emotional and mental.  This word will run pretty deep with me.  Call it a gut feeling if you will.  I have been told several times over the last three or so years what a "strong" person I am.  Please know I am NOT talking myself up.  I am simply stating it's NOT what I've felt on the inside.  I can wear a smile, grin & bear it or fake it till I make it with the best of them.  I desire more than that and I deserve more.   I'm not just talking push-up and lots of treadmill time.  It's about about standing Strong in more than just my physical appearance or physical health but also Strength in my faith, marriage, family, and friendships.  I want to be Strong in resolve.  Strong in standing up for what is right and best for my family.  Strong in my decision making.  I will learn to draw my Strength in knowing who I am, what I am capable of and be secure in being that person!  I might push some limits, struggle with personal trials and even fail at times but I will not give up because real Strength will be MINE in 2012. 

Prayers Day 1-5

I was given a gift from a girlfriend this Christmas that I feel will be THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING!!  It's a daily reflection book called Prayers for Emotional Wholeness by Stormie Omartian.  A small package FULL OF POWER!  I feel moved to share as I read them.  I fully plan to read daily but may not be able to blog daily.  I know life gets busy and often we neglect things that mean something to us.  As a way of following through I may not post these daily but rather a few days at a time.  Then give my opinion or let you know how it affects me in a current situation or maybe share how it can work in my life to better myself.  Hopefully I share something that can make a difference in your life as well.

January 1
God's purpose for our lives is to make us whole- which is the way He created us to be- and then to work through us for His glory as we surrender our lives to Him.  Emotional wholeness means living without negative emotions and having peace about who you are and where your life is headed.  When we pray to God, we are spending time in His presence.  And in His presence is where we find healing from the pain of our past.  Prayer draws us closer to God, where we can get a vision from our future and better understand our purpose.

January 2
Lord, I thank you for Your Word because it is good and it gives me life.  It puts joy in my heart every time I read it.  I pray that Your Word in me will fill my heart with Your love and peace and cause all anxiety, depression and other dark clouds to blow away from me like ashes in the wind.  I ask that you would take away any sadness in my heart and set me completely free from all negative emotions.
Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad.
Proverbs 12:25

January 3
Lord, help me to not feel anxious about my future or getting my needs met.  Help me to trust that You have brought me this far and that You will bring me the rest of the way.  Help me to not worry about things but to take my concern to You in prayer instead and leave them in Your hands.
I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on.  Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?
Matthew 6:25

January 4
Dear Lord, because I am Your child, I don't have to be weighed down with anxiety.  Because Your Spirit lives in me, I have the power to rise above the things that trouble me.  Because I love You and Your ways, my life can be renewed every day.  Today I pray that You will take away all anxiety, sadness and depression and renew my mind and emotions.
Unless Your law had been my delight, I would then have perished in my affliction.  I will never forget Your precepts, for by them You have given me life.
Psalm 119:92-93

January 5
Lord, I pray that Your would take away any sadness I feel and evaporate all depression or oppression that hangs heavily over me.  I want to experience Your joy in my soul at all times.  I want to feel the lightness of heart I know You have for me.  Thank You for bearing my sorrow so I don't have to carry it myself.  Help me to experience Your peace that passes all understanding.
Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God and afflicted.
Isaiah 53:4

After typing this and rereading these prayers I think to myself, WOW!  When you can't seem to find the right words just pray.  Even if you can't speak and find yourself sitting in silence thinking of HIM, He knows where your HEART is....  He knows what your needs are.  He knows what you are thinking and what's hurting you.  GIVE IT TO GOD!  It's biblical folks and He is the only one that can guide you to where you are meant to be.  Once you let go and let Him you can feel a change begin in your life.  Read these prayers out loud if that helps you.  Write your favorite down and pray it daily if you wish.  Just because these are intended to be read on a specific day does not mean you don't have those particular feelings on different days or even some on a daily basis.  Something else I have done is put them in my phone as memos or type yourself a daily message (like a reminder or to-do) that pops up like an alarm on your phone or computer.  It helps you to set aside time for yourself, reflect and PRAY!!  This year I pray that I become more attentive to my spiritual needs.  What I mean by that is instead of getting to where I feel like I can't take much more I'll find reasons to be thankful and grateful in the current situation.  Carry no additional baggage or stress yet understand I am in this season for a reason.  Easier said than done but with Him on my side who can stand against me??

Wayne Leon DeMeritt "Pat"

Wayne Leon DeMeritt "Pat"

August 12, 1919 ~ December 25, 2011

My family and I suffered a great loss on Christmas morning.  It hurts so much feeling like such a huge piece of my heart is now missing.  The fact he is no longer in pain brings me peace.  I take with me many wonderful memories and for that I am grateful.  I love you Pat.  I will miss that smile, those beautiful blue eyes and most of all your touch.  You were a loving and compassionate Grandfather to me and even better Great Grandfather to my boys.  I can never thank you enough for that.

God saw you getting tired.

And a cure was not to be.

So, He put His arms around you

and whispered, "come to me".

With tearful eyes we watched you

and saw you fade away.

Although we loved you dearly,

we could not make you stay.

A golden heart stopped beating

and hard working hands laid to rest.

God broke ourh earts to prove to us

He only takes the best!

Harvest Ladies Christmas Party

On December 16th I felt honored to be apart of a special event hosted at Harvest Church.  It was a memorable night for me and I know the other ladies attending felt the same way.  I wish there were more time spent among girlfriends like this.  It was a moving night and I enjoyed the stories.  The hostesses did such a wonderful job on each of their tables and the meal was over the top YUMMY.  A big thank you for the invite and to the church for putting on the event.  I took picutes of some tables to share with everyone.

~Vanessa's BEAUTIFUL table~

 Michelle~Vanessa~Lori~Andrea

Me & Vanessa

Life sometimes

It is not easy to live life sometimes, and face the world with a smile when you're crying inside.  It takes a lot of courage to reach deep down inside yourself, hold on to that strength that's still there and know that tomorrow is a new day with new possibilities.
If you can hold on long enough to this, you'll come out a new stronger person with a new understanding and a new pride in yourself knowing that YOU MADE IT!

December Update

It's been awhile since I have updated.  I promise to be better ending this month and in the upcoming new year.  MAN~  have The Ash's been busy and on the go.  Starting with removing the hay & pumpkins from the front yard to quickly rushing into the new holiday season.  My 36th birthday was on the 29th of November.  I was blessed to have family and friends meet me for dinner at Alfredo's.  We LOVE that place.  It was a great night!  I thank my family and friends for making it that way!

It's overwhelming when the bins come down from the attic with ALL MY CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS.  You folks have no idea.  I wanted to do several trees.  But I settled with 2 this year.  Not as much put into the front yard this year as I have in past years.  Again it's overwhelming but WELL WORTH the payoff when people come over to sit and enjoy it with you.  Just the thought of having my feet up, fireplace going and relaxing as I'm looking at all the bright white lights and snowmen around my house.
(As I sit I am pretending all my gifts are bought and wrapped under the tree too!!!)
Here is how the snowman tree ended up looking.  It's full of scarves, mittens, Santa hats, stockings, snowflakes and sweaters.  Anything that makes you think of the warmth of winter!

Might be my favorite area of decorations.  I just LOVE me some snowmen.  Can you tell?

The mini hallway tree

~All in gold, glass & black~

With the decorations all up it was time for some entertaining.  We had a few friends over for the not so great OU / OSU game.  My Sooners fell short.  Well, honestly they didn't actually show up to play that game.  Regardless I am and will ALWAYS be an OKLAHOMA SOONERS fan.  We had only one chick in the house that wore her orange with pride. 

Lori has bragging rights at least until next year.

Same night of the game we also had a bunch of kids stay the night with Cameron and right at midnight they wanted to surprise Mike with a poster and cupcake singing Happy Birthday to him.  I teared up becuase those boys wanted to make him feel special and be first to wish him a happy birthday.  How sweet is that?!?!?

~ Cameron, Cayden, Jaylen & Tristian w/Coach Mike ~

We took both our boys downtown to the tubing event hosted by Chesapeake Energy.  A friend got me 4 tickets for my birthday for a private session.  In years past it would take 20-30 minutes between turns and that was not the case this year.  Cameron had fun, lost count of how many times he went down the ice.  Mike, Kyle and I actually did it too.  I must admit it was fun!

This month was also the end of the seasson COUGARS team football party.  The boys enjoyed a game at The Lloyd Noble Center watching OU / Oral Roberts.  We were able to have almost the entire team make it.  Only missing 2 kiddos.  One was at camp and one had a program he was in and had to attend.  WE LOVE OUR COUGARS.  They loved getting to sit courtside, just behind the OU players.  You got to see a row of Cougar Blue on TV and the news.  It was their last year together as a team and we wanted something special for them.  Next year they move on to Jr. High football.  We wish each of them the VERY best! 

The next event was the 2nd annual COUGARS BASEBALL CHRISTMAS PARTY.  Mike & I wanted the 2012 team to get together, enjoy each other's company and share in some Christmas memories as a team family.  We honestly has an awesome set of boys with more talent than you know.  Parents are fun to be around and we all take pride in being COUGARS!  Here's to a great upcoming season to each of you!!!

 Corey, Cayden, Raequan & Jared

 Darrien

 Brock, Elijiah & Jordan

  Jaylen, John Michael & Cameron

*  THE 2012 OKLAHOMA COUGARS *

Jared & Cameron ~ original COUGARS.  Played together since tball

In closing we have so much to be thankful for.  Don't say I did not warn you when I said we were busy.  I meant it.  Thank you to everyone involved in our active lives.  Thank you to our friends with both football & baseball.  I hope this year brought you much happiness and leaves you wanting nothing but the best in 2012.

Turkey Day

May you have a BLESSED & HAPPY TURKEY DAY!!!  Please take a moment to give thanks for what you have and the people who are in your lives.  Share stories or reminisce, make new memories and take lots of pics.  BE THANKFUL FOR HOW TRUELY BLESSED YOU ARE!!!! 

In my family we celebrate Thanksgiving on the eve of.  My Mother Regina, Step-dad Mike and Grandmother Ruth usually do all the hard work and preparation of the meal.  I am very thankful & appreciate ALL the effort.  As expected, it always turns out so beautiful and delicious!  YUMMY FOR THE TUMMY!!!

Mom's Table Decor

 
This year was a little different.  I was able to share Thanksgiving with both my boys.  It's been three years since thats happened.  I was one happy MOMMA!  But, on a very sad note, Grandpa Pat is not doing so great and is in a specialty care facility still.  It was not the same not having him at the table along with my sister Juli.  She lives in Florida and due to work could not make it.  BOO!!

After dinner my boys and husband headed to the deer woods to meet my Dad J.C. & Grandpa King.  It's time for a little deer hunting.  The men of my family have always went hunting on this extended weekend.  Maybe they will come back with a deer or two so I can have some deer jerkey.  *hint, hint*  What they are sure to come back with is stories.....this I know.  I hope everyone has a great time.  I usually hang out by myself with plans to watch The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade while going thru black friday ads.  Not sure if I am having any part of the shopping on Friday though.  I have no big ticket items to go after.  So I am not thinking it would be any fun or worth it.  Best of luck to those that do.  Hope you gets some great deals folks! 

Here are some of our family pics: