a good spanking never hurt anyone.

She will deny this. But I promise it's true.

When I was in elementary school and my mom would ask me to do something, I would always ask her "Why". It could be ANYTHING. And I would still ask her why. So one day she had had enough of me and when I asked "why" after she told me to do something- She said and I quote "One of these days you're going to be playing in the middle of the road and when I tell you to move you will ask "why" and get hit by a truck because you didn't just obey". I love my mom.

Also, I remember once I got spanked. I got spanked good and I can't remember why now. But I do remember that the next day, I walked down the hall to my moms room in tears, turned around, pulled down my pants and screamed "LOOK WHAT YOU DID TO ME". (mind you she was on the phone with her mother at the time). My mom had spanked me so hard the night before that her hand print was still on my butt the next morning. At this point in my life I can only imagine that it took everything inside of her to not laugh at that moment. In fact I almost remember her laughing, but I'm not 100% sure.

I love my mom.

I started a new job a month ago. I work for a before and after school care program in bowie. In the last month I have never been so grateful for my parents.

I remember I was in middle school and I had stayed home one day from school because I was sick. However, there was a dance later that night that I wanted to go to. And my mom despite all the mean things I said to her and the manipulating I tried, she wouldn't let me go. She said that 1. No means no and 2. If you're too sick to go to school, you're too sick to do anything else.

It wasn't until I graduated that I realize all the good it did me. And every day I work at my new job I realize more and more stuff that my parents taught me. Mostly because I see kids who their parents haven't taken the time to teach them these lessons. Like about how to listen, and how to be obedient. Lessons about how we say we are sorry when we kick somebody and that no means no. No doesn't mean maybe, or yes, or keep asking, no means no.

Although I did learn that when my dad said "we'll see" it usually meant a no. (I hated that one)

I know that parenting is hard. And I know that I know NOTHING about it. But I do know that I will train my Child to the best of my ability in the way of the Lord. And so help me I will beat them if they disobey. I also know that I had pretty good parents growing up. I think I turned out ok, even if she did want to send me to boarding school when I was 14.

I love you mommy :)

P.S. I'm NOT pregnant.

thats all

-j

I've been caught in a Crossfire

It's been almost four years since I moved to Maryland. Upon moving I knew that I needed to find a church so a few friends started traveling around the area and 'church hopping'. We hopped to a place called Belcroft.

Belcroft has been my second family since the fall of 2007.
This last Sunday, Brian and I said goodbye.

If I was to list all of the things that I learned because of the people at belcroft it'd take a while... but lets do a few of them just for funsies.

I learned:
-How to be a leader
-The ability to discern the difference between good and bad preachers (schuppe is amazing)
-Sardines with 15 year olds= bad idea. with 12 year olds= good idea.

-That I could teach kids

-That I could play guitar

-That I could (try) and lead worship

-what a Godly marriage looked like (i've learned this other places to tho)
-the importances of a church community

-that I love beth moore

So many people in that small community have touched my life and have shown me things they probably didn't think they did. I wish I had pictures of all of them, but I don't. So many people came along side me and helped put my feet on sturdy ground.They taught me so much and made me into the person I am. They equipped me for this new journey that B, and I are about to embark in.

Two people of all did this the most. They were with me in the beginning and they said goodbye to me when I left. They were with me in the really hard times, and god to be apart of the really good times. I will never forget what a blessing they were, and in ways they don't even know.

Below are pictures of people two helped in a different way. These are (SOME) of the youth kids that I've come in contact with in the last four years. They have changed and grown since these pictures. I will miss them and for the ones who have already grown up, I do miss them. But thats what this ministry is all about; trying to make the biggest impact with no time in the hardest years of life. To God be the Glory if anything good has come out of it.