Double Portion Inspiration

Is it already here?  The date on the calendar says it's Christmas Eve, but I am still in shock.  This has been the fastest year of my life.  You are probably feeling the same way.  Did you complete all of your holiday shopping?  This time of year can be full of anxiety.  We have so many tasks to complete without enough time or money. I look around while I am out and about and see so many discouraged faces.  Isn't this the most "wonderful" time of the year?  Many are pondering numerous thoughts:  how will I pay for these bills, how many gifts do I buy, how much money should I spend, what dish will I cook for the family dinner, or just the sheer hesitation of attending the family dinner.   Stress, anxiety and tension seem to characterize this holiday season as our society continues to move towards materialism.  Our kids have a sense of entitlement. Some children even tag along with their parents to make sure they buy the right gi...

Renee and I have been captivated and deeply saddened by the tragic events in Sandy Hook Elementary.  We have spent the weekend, like so many, with no words...just prayers .  This has been a hard subject to explain to my own children.  They have so many questions, and wonder if it is safe for them to be in school.  Our hearts cry out to understand how something so horrific could happen.  What state of mind must one be in to kill so many innocent people/children? In the days and months ahead many questions will be answered and some will remain.  Our prayers are with every family member and friend connected to this tragedy.  May God bring a swift breath of peace and wholeness for a community shattered into pieces.  Thankfully, God was not taken by surprise. May each of those tiny, bright and gorgeous faces not die in vain.  Our prayer is that we find a way to keep guns out of the hands of those with ill intent.  (Posted by Roslyn) ...

  Roslyn (left) & Renee (right) God blessed us to see another year and we praise Him for it.  If you are connected with us on Facebook, you've enjoyed us taking a stroll down memory lane.  If you missed out on the fun, visit  our Facebook page here .   For the past couple of days, we've shared some of our baby photos.  Several of you took a stab at guessing who's who.  It's been amusing reading the comments on how you made your "educated" guesses.  As promised, it's time for the big reveal.  The caption of each photo will share who's on the left and right.  We are so happy our mother was smart to write our names on the back of each of our pictures because it's even hard for us to tell each other apart in baby photos.  Renee (left) & Roslyn (right)  Congratulations to LaFern Batie who was the 1st Facebook friend to guess correctly on this photo! Roslyn (left) & Renee (right) ...

My oldest son is in middle school (7th grade).  Does anything really prepare you to deal with middle school boys? I remember classes to get  me ready for childbirth and infant care.  But there is nothing to help me deal with my soon to be teenage son. For instance, it is getting close to Christmas and I don't have a clue what to buy as a gift for him.  It used to be so easy to run into Toys R Us and buy Legos or a new truck but not anymore. One thing I've learned over these past two years, is that middle school boys love-girls, sneakers and mirrors.  Once they realize that a "girl" might be interested in them, they spend a countless amount of time looking in the mirror .  They also spend and save their money to buy expensive sneakers that match every outfit. By the way, his hearing is also not the same as it used to be.  I need to ask 2-3 times for anything to get accomplished.  Anyway, I could go on... As we grow older, our time spent in ...

Many of us did a great job yesterday "gobbling" as much turkey as we could for Thanksgiving dinner.  The holiday season is officially here.  Today, kicks off one of the biggest selling days of the year.  Many people will line up, dash in and save tons of money. Here are  few Black Friday Survival tips: PREPARE Start researching online, in the newspaper and also your mailbox.  Review what the average price is for the item you really want, and then see what stores has the lowest price.  Most retailers also have free shipping this time of year.  No need to stand in a long line, have it delivered right to your front door. STICK TO YOUR BUDGET You do not need to go into a huge amount of debt this Christmas.  Make a plan, set a budget and stick to it.  You will find some of the lowest prices of the year.   NEVER buy anything regular price! The savings are plentiful this year as retailers try to persuade and woo you into the...

Just a few days ago, I was confined to the pediatric unit of a local hospital because of my son's health concerns.  What I believed would be a quick trip to the emergency room soon lead to a four day stay.  It was one of the hardest experiences for us because our son is only four years old and it's difficult to see your children (at any age) in pain or discomfort.  Sleeping in a chair, holding down my son for daily sticks to draw blood, and frequent nurse visits became the norm.  At times I would try to hide my tears because I didn't want him to see me upset.  It was his first time ever being in a hospital and at one point, all he could say was, "Mommy, I'm scared".  A part of me felt helpless because you must depend on the medical professionals to provide the care he desperately needs.  This time, a kiss on his "boo-boo" wasn't going to help. On the day we were released from the hospital, my sister asked me a simple ...

The journey of life is filled with ups and downs.  One moment we are gliding along at a steady pace. The next moment life can quickly be turned upside down.  The victims of Hurricane Sandy know exactly how fast life can change.  The "Superstorm" of our decade has claimed many lives and left a terrible amount of destruction in its path. There are times when we can feel like "Hurricane Sandy" swept through our life.  Everything that was normal is now in disarray.  We are shaking our heads trying to figure out, "How did I get here"?  We must take comfort in knowing certain situations are out of our control .  We can make plans for our lives, but God can supersede those plans at any given moment. Marco Island Sunset You must not wait until the storm comes to anchor yourself in God's truths.  Start now, reflecting and thanking God for every moment of life.  Living water from within nourishes our souls.  Get away from the "...