Wanted to sahre

I got this in an email lately, and just loved it. So much so that I wanted to share it here!

Haters/ By Maya Angelou A hater is someone who is jealous and envious and spends all their time trying to make you look small so they can look tall. They are very negative people to say the least. Nothing is ever good enough! When you make your mark, you will always attract some haters... That's why you have to be careful with whom you share your blessings and your dreams, because some folk can't handle seeing you blessed... It's dangerous to be like somebody else... If God wanted you to be like somebody else, He would have given you what He gave them! Right? You never know what people have gone through to get what they have... The problem I have with haters is that they see my glory, but they don't know my story... If the grass looks greener on the other side of the fence, you can rest assured that the water bill is higher there too! We've all got some haters among us! Some people envy you because you can: a) Have a relationship with God b) Light up a room when you walk in c) Star t your own business d) Tell a man/woman to hit the curb (if he/she isn't about the right thing) e) you are a strong person and don't let people run you over f) you have a strong and loving marriage and they can't get in-between spouses to spoil it Haters can't stand to see you happy. Haters will never want to see you succeed. Most of our haters are people who are supposed to be on our side (like some family and friends). How do you handle your undercover haters? You can handle these haters by: 1. Knowing who you are & who your true friends are ; *(VERY IMPORTANT!!) 2. Having a purpose to your life: Purpose does not mean having a job. You can have a job and still be unfulfilled. A purpose is having a clear sense of what God has called you to be. Your purpose is not defined by what others think about you. 3. By remembering that what you have is by divine prerogative and not human manipulation. Fulfill your dreams! You only have one life to live...when it's your time to leave this earth, you want to be able to say, 'I've lived my life and fulfilled my dreams, Now I'm ready to go HOME! When God gives you favor, you can tell your haters, 'Don't look at me...Look at who is in charge of me...' Pass this to all of your family & friends who you know are n ot hating on you including the person who sent it to. If you don't get it back, maybe you called somebody out! Don't worry about it, it's not your problem, it's theirs. Just pray for them, that their life can be as fulfilled as yours! Watch out for Haters...BUT most of all don't become a HATER! 'A woman's heart should be so hidden in Christ that a man should have to seek Him first to find her.' Maya Angelou

Love...

A variation on I Corinthians 13

If I live in a house of spotless beauty with everything in it's place, but have not love I am a housekeeper, not a homemaker.

If I have time for waxing, polishing, and decorative achievements, but have not love, my children learn of cleanliness- not godliness.

Love leaves the dust in search of a child's laugh.

Love smiles at the tiny fingerprints on a newly cleaned window.

Love wipes away the tears before it wipes up the spilled milk.

Love picks up the child before it picks up the toys.

Love is present through the trials.

Love reprimands, reproves, and is responsive.

Love crawls with the baby, walks with the toddler, runs with the child, then stands aside to let the youth walk into adulthood.

Love is the key that opens salvation's message to a child's heart.

Before I became a mother I took glory in my house of perfection. Now I glory in God's perfection of my child.

As a mother there is much I must teach my child, but the greatest of these is love.

Thank you to Assistant Pastor Robbie Fisher at Forest Hill Church for sharing this!

Further elaboration on the Thought of the Day...

"It's not where you're from; it's where you're going. It's not what you drive; it's what drives you. It's not what's on you; it's what's in you. It's not what you think; it's what you know."

I read this yesterday on someone's facebook page. It's my new favorite quote. It's the new quote I want to model my life after.
Each part of it has so much to offer; each part is something to think about. Not just to think "Oh, that's nice", but rather REALLY think about.

"It's not where you're from; it's where you're going."
To me, this part means that it's not necessary to live in the past. It means that I'm not defined by where I grew up, but rather where I choose to spend my future. In the physical sense. It also means much more than that to me. It's not just about a physical location. It's about not being defined by past actions or decisions, but rather current and future ones. I'd like to think that people can change and redefine themselves. Of course, change isn't necessarily needed. But if change happens, it can be for the better.

"It's not what you drive; it's what drives you."
This one kinda opens up a can of worms, in my opinion. To me, this is all about being superficial and fake, rather than showing who/what you really are. And let me just say it to get it out of the way: I cannot STAND superficial and fake. A perfect example: driving a car you can't afford, just to project a certain image. The image that you are wealthy, or cool, or worthy of being around. While in reality, you can't afford the car payment, or some other bill. I've realized over time that if I quit spending time worrying about what people think of me (or how they perceive me), then I'm a lot happier. Instead, it is about what drives me. If I think about that (which for me is my family), I am fulfilled. It's hard in the beginning to change the thoughts that occupy your mind, but over time it becomes natural and real. I try to focus on myself (looking inward), rather than looking outward to others around me. I don't measure my happiness or level of success based on what's in my garage. I prefer to measure it in giggles from Drake, smiles from Eli, and kissed from Eric. On another note, I can't stand people who drive super expensive cars (for no reason), even if they can afford it. Now if you really do drive it for some of it's capabilities, that's great. I remember a discussion with a certain someone (who will remain nameless), who was tickled to pieces about his new 60K car. Yet he had a wife he "required" to work, and some kids whose college/savings funds weren't complete. What a selfish bastard.

"It's not what's on you; it's what's in you. "
Oh, another can of worms. Actually, it's really related to the one above. Or, an elaboration of it. It's about being more concerned with whether my jeans are from Nordstom's or Target, rather than learning who I am and what I believe is true and real. It's interesting to me that every October I become a year older, and hopefully, wiser. With each passing year, I also make more money and pay off more debt. So, you would think that with that happening, I could/would be more interested in and impressed with superficial things that money can buy. Sunglasses, purses, clothes, etc. Instead, I've become less interested. I'm certainly not saying I won't pay money for expensive name brand items. (Because I LOVE seven jeans!) But I pay money for them because I truly love the item, not because I'm trying to project a certain image. Self reflection can be a good thing. And when I've spent time on that, this quote becomes all the more true. And as I focus more on what's in me, I find myself quite turned off by people who are only concerned with what's on me. And with that, I find myself VERY turned off by people trying to make themselves appear as something they are not. Like misrepresenting something they are wearing as their own, when in reality it's a knockoff- or only borrowed from a friend. Blech....

"It's not what you think; it's what you know."
I know what's really important to me. And I know who I'm really important to. And I think it's time to be true to that.

Thought for the day

"It's not where you're from; it's where you're going. It's not what you drive; it's what drives you. It's not what's on you; it's what's in you. It's not what you think; it's what you know."

I'll elaborate with my thoughts on this quote later. But it was too good to not share immediately!

Random thoughts of the morning

First random thought: Why do pediatricians give so much shit to a parent who doesn't vaccinate according to the AAP schedule, but yet just lets it go when a parent doesn't breastfeed as the AAP recommends? Why is one AAP recommendation more important than another? Why jump all over some Mom's, and let others "off the hook"?

Second random thought: Why be completely neurotic about taking even a Tylenol while pregnant, yet show up to the hospital begging for drugs before they'll even admit you, just b/c you NEED the epidural? News flash: That little epidural has a million more potential complications than a Tylenol. I'm just sayin'........

And lastly, stay tuned for photos! I think it's finally cool enough to put Drake in his costume long enough for photos. I don't believe in making my child uncomfortable in a hot costume, just so "I" can celebrate Halloween. Next year I'll know to get one with short sleeves and no long pants!

Random thoughts

My sweet boy was a such a little trooper at his nine month photos today! I couldn't believe how many times we managed to get him in a different outfit or look. Because of me having to work 5 days a week, it's gonna be about 3 weeks before I can get back to view them. I don't even want to think about how much money I'm going to spend. Shhh, don't tell my husband.

In other photo news, I've been thinking about having our next birth documented. I first heard about it in Charlotte, as there was a photographer there who had just started doing it. It is more common amongst natural birthing moms and home birthing moms. I'm not really sure why that is. There is certainly more to photograph for them. I mean, there are only so many shots you can get of a mom in bed with an epidural, and attached to an IV. I wonder if that's why NCB moms choose to have birth documentation/photos more often than other moms. So, I've been thinking about this, and an opportunity has presented itself at the perfect time.

The photographer we are using in Florence for our family's portraits has a blog on his website. Check out www.cmsmithportraits.com. His wife writes the blog, and recently wrote about possibly starting "lifestyle photography" as a division of their studio. Birth photography and documentation is part of that, and I was beyond thrilled to read about that. I really had not anticipated finding someone in Florence for that type of work. And get this---she's had TWO natural childbirths! So not only could she shoot our birth day, she could also be an advocate and supporter.

Drake is super tired this afternoon, and it took FOREVER to get him asleep. He's currently tied to my chest in the Moby. It was the only way he'd finally fall asleep. We tried everything else known to man.

I love having these two days off, and having so much snuggle time with my sweet boy. There truly isn't anything like it.

Thought of the morning

In order to be unbelievably hateful and hurtful, I believe that someone must be very sad and miserable inside. I feel sorry for any unfortunate blog reader this applies to, and NO, I won't be publishing your untrue and asinine comments.

Thought of the day

Some people really are as "bad" as you think they are, and as nasty. While on the other hand, others aren't nearly as "good", and caring, as you think they are. True colors ALWAYS show.

Thought of the day

Today's random thought is that I feel sorry for children who's parents wouldn't let them watch President Obama's speech. I feel sorry for them because they missed the speech, but more so because their parents are morons. I wish Drake was old enough to understand it.

In other news, I'll be starting a new blog shortly. One for all of my ramblings, and then this one for my family. This one will share all our news and adventures, plus plenty of cute pictures of Drake.

My thoughts and very opinionated opinions will be moving to a new blog. I'm sure it'll piss plenty of people off. Not my problem though. This way, it'll allow our family and friends to keep up with us, without always having another random post about what's on my mind. I think this is one of the better ideas I've had in a long while.......

Ugh...

Ungrateful and rude people really piss me off. Especially the ones who pretend to be so mannerly and proper. It wouldn't be all that painful to say thank you and mean it. Or to be respectful and fair. Okay, rant over........

I love....

I could eat pancakes for every meal right now. I love them. They are my very favorite thing in the world. With butter and syrup. I've now had them for breakfast three days in a row, and I have no intention of stopping. Pancakes are the best.

I also am hooked on a new magazine...."Mothering". It only comes out every other month, and that makes me sad. I wish it came out every other week. It's a "natural family living" magazine...quite granola.

So there you have it...I love pancakes and my new favorite magazine.