Sharing My Jennarocity

I have really given a lot of thought to this lately and I thought I would share.   Raising kids is hard, can I get an AMEN?? Sometimes, I really feel like I might be overly strict about stuff with the kids. We've really been instilling in them, while they've been with us in July, that life just isn't about them. It's about your family. It's about your friends. But more than that, it's about your future.   We are really trying hard to teach the kids responsibility. We are trying hard to teach the kids consideration of others. We are trying to teach the kids how to behave and be a person that other people want to have over to their home. And there are times that I just think, "They are 8! They are 11! They aren't adults yet, it's OK if they don't do this or that." But then I think, "All of this I am doing now is laying the ground work for this little person to be a good husband or wife someday. I am laying down groundwork for ho...

Avery is really in to the camera now, and really in to making faces.     Such a cutie!  

I really loved participating in VBS at church this week! I've never done that before and it was a wonderful experience. Our children's minster chose an awesome curriculum, which allowed the children to be transported back to Athens, where Paul preached the Gospel of Jesus.     The kids got to hear from Paul each day and got to visit a marketplace each day of shops, led by shopkeepers, some of whom didn't believe in Jesus. We had snacks that were healthy and "Greek", such as pita bread, grapes, yogurt, baked goodies, and nuts. (Since it was in the evening, I really appreciated that they didn't pump the kids full of snow cones and sandwich cookies!!) I learned a lot myself and was able to really understand how difficult it would have been to spread the news of Jesus to places like Greece, where they believed in a multitude of other gods and didn't like Christians who talked about the "one true God." I just thought it was so well done and s...

I had a conversation on Facebook yesterday with a friend of mine about an article that a wife of a pastor wrote. The article wasn't becoming of a woman who was the wife of a pastor. It was a bad reflection on her church, on Southern Baptists, and on Christians. It really made me wonder what social media is doing to us as a society, but really as Christians.   During the abortion bill vote in Texas, my Facebook feed was flooded constantly with some interesting status updates. Some of the posts were incredibly inappropriate, even from friends I knew that are Christians. I look at comments left in online forums such as Yahoo, just judgmental, hateful comments. I believe in my heart that the more and more we are not face to face with each other, the more trouble we have controlling the things we say.   My question is this: would you feel comfortable saying the things you say on Facebook, in the same tone and verbage, to a person standing right in front of you? For ex...

I read this article today and I just thought it was such a great read...   My Post Baby Body is Ruining My Marriage   I would be lying if I said I didn't have inner monologue constantly going in my head about my self-image and body. In fact, at times, it is just so loud I can barely think of anything else. At times, I think I look pretty good and think I am fine with myself as it is. Other times, it is so negative that I just beat myself up over it and walk around with this aura of insecurity. Of all of the things I think, what I hate the most is how much hate I have for myself about being "lazy" or having no self-control.   It's not my tummy being soft, or my thighs being big. It's the fact that I seem to think I should be this superwoman, every week, every day. With the ultimate in self-control, exercising constantly, and never allowing myself pleasures when it comes to food. Why do I do this to myself? I am not lazy. I work a 40 hour a week job. Fo...

 I seriously can not believe that this little cutie... Is now ONE YEAR OLD!!   At first, she wanted nothing to do with that cake, but she came around.       It was a Nemo themed party and it was adorable! (Those marshmellows were to die for!!) And of course, she didn't know all of those presents were for her!   I am so happy for my sister and brother in law - they have such a beautiful and sweet little girl. It's been a joy to watch her grow up this last year....any moment now, she will be a walker! Maybe even by the time we go to the beach in a couple weeks?   I love you, Colbi Morgan!! Happy Birthday!

The kids came home from their mom's house tonight with their Christmas requests in mind. We were with them a total of 30 minutes and they spent the entire time talking to us about what they wanted for Christmas. One of the two asked for a Nook (she will remain nameless :-) ) and I told her that at my house, I don't think it's appropriate for an 8 year old who doesn't even like to read to have any piece of technology over $100 just given to them, especially when 8 years old can barely remember to take care of the stuff they have that costs a whole lot less.   We kind of got aggravated because that was all they talked about with us - I asked them if the second they saw us today, is all they saw dollar signs in our eyes?   I love Christmas. I do. I love buying gifts for the kids and I love watching them open gifts. But I HATE the inevitable requests and wants we hear for the 6 months prior. I hate hearing the same item mentioned, over and over, whether in a direct...

I just took some pictures from our day yesterday. It was almost quitting time..Avery came in to "play video games..." I am glad I got this shot, because she only tried for about a minute.     Then she decided to make a mess with all of the puzzle pieces.   Sophia is putting together some puzzles...   The kids watched a movie...   And Bella just chilled.   And of course, our naked egg experiment!   All in all, pretty uneventful, nothing wrong with that!