Family Update

Good morning friends! I'm back in Florida for the second time in a month. It's a blessing to have my family close by. It helps with the loneliness of Reggie being gone so much to Germany. But even though he's gone in person, we are closer than ever before. We appreciate the time we have together on the phone and it's helps build a deeper appreciation for the man I've grown to love so dearly. Every week, he reveals so much more of how passionate he is about life, travel, God, and the one's he loves most...this family. The hardest part of him being gone is not having that person physically around to give me the drive to be a better person. When I do my early 6:00-7:00 prayer, he's right beside me in our prayer room. But with him being gone I can feel the struggle of having to do it alone. There's a seven hour time difference so it's even hard to fast together too. But, God has me in the place of making choices for myself and seeing how determined I'm going to be to run on for him even if I don't have a support system around. I can see God's hand in the whole process and know that God is with me always. I can do this and I will do this with the Lord's help.
This week I've been busy preparing for July international convention. I can't believe God has spared Rev. Hicks life of 92 years to be around for another convention. I'm excited to hear the word of God and even more excited to have Reggie back home the day before convention. He will be able to attend convention together. He will also be around for his son's second birthday on July 6th. I'm planning a special birthday party for Jadon too. It will be after convention back in Florida. Also, Noa will start her 1st session of summer classes at the Academy of Fine Arts and Performing Arts. She has an interest in dance, singing, ballet, and playing the violin. So, I'm not sure if soccer will be in her future which she's played for over four years. For me, I'm going on a major two month diet for my 11th year anniversary in September. I'm also going to work in my bible institute books, finish some projects that I've been working on over the past year and just be the best mom I can be for the kids while Reggie is learning his new job overseas.
God bless you all and keep us in your prayers.

FACEBOOK

Good Afternoon friends! I've reactivated my facebook account for the sole purpose of using it as a tool for our friends to find our family blog. We value all of our everlasting friendships and wouldn't want anyone to lose contact with our family. Over the recent months, I've gotten a lot of texts, emails, and calls on friends trying to keep up with our family and I came up with the idea of activating the facebook account but deleting the wall. I'm no longer on facebook. I blog on this site and try to keep it current with scriptures, pictures, videos, recipes, personal stories, and music. The military life is ever changing and we're up for the challenge. We're closer as a family than we've ever been and enjoying the new places the our job is taking us. We are so excited to share our lives with everyone. I'm happy to have reached 25 registered followers on the blog with many many more who follow but haven't registered yet. The number grows each week and I'm so thankful for everyone's support of our family. God bless you all!

"The Rock Worship Center"

Since moving to Huntsville, we've been searching for a local church to attend. We've been to several churches across the city but I kept being drawn to this church. We are happy to have found such a loving group of people who love God and love others. Thanks for everyone who's praying for us during these tough times and when we're not attending CGG, we miss it. We can't wait for convention so we can get our fill of Jesus! God bless you all.

Favorite church song of the week!

The funniest father's day song ever!!(played at church today)

A great father is what you are!

A father is some one who there for their children unconditionally. A father is someone a child can look up to as a role model. A father is some one who always there and never leaves you. A father is some one you can trust and talk to with your problems,  a man who stands by his family. Makes sure everything is supplied for the family. A father is the one who corrects you when your wrong, advices you when your mistaken, leads you when your on the wrong path, carry you when your weak, displines you when you do something bad. A father encourages you when your hurt and works to feed his family. He spends time with his family, prays for his family, and leads them in the way of God. He nutures his wife and children and is one of the main building blocks of a healthy family. A father comforts you and lets you know everything is going to be ok. A father is someone you trust. He's a humble man who allows everyone to have an opinion and brings the family together. He's selfless and helps in anyway he can around the home and with the children. He allows mama to have her alone time and gives her his time. He's a faithful man who's has eyes for only you. He's passionate about his family, his Lord and his career. He loves his family and will protect his family at all cost.
You are a forgiver and patient person that knows that even if there's bumps in the road...they can be crossed or made smooth. Reggie, you make it easy for me to define what a father really is. You are all this and more and I appreciate you being a great father and husband on this special day! Happy father's day honey and I love you dearly. Even though it's a bitter sweet day, for you have to leave today on father's day to go back overseas. You are still not forgotten for the sacrifices you make everyday for us. HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO YOU AND ALL THE FATHER'S OUT THERE THAT'S TAKING CARE OF HOME!
A special happy father's day to my father! He's a great dad and person whom I love dearly.

Tennessee Aquarium, the kids looking at the sting rays.

Noa loved touching all the fishes.

I think this is the closest I've ever gotten to an aligator. lol.

Butterfly garden in the aquarium

Tennessee Aquarium! It's was an awesome way to spend the afternoon right on the Tennessee river.

another view of the natural waterfall in Ruby Fall cavern.

waterfall inside the cave (145 foot high)

entrance of the cave

Noa

Me, inside the cavern

inside Ruby falls cavern

Jadon and Dad entering through a tight spot in the cave.

Ruby falls, the beautiful limestone formations as we walked through the cave

Our weekend trip to Chattanooga, Tn

Friday, we decided to jump start our weekend by traveling to Chattanooga, Tn. It's a little over an hour from us. One great things about living in a centrally located town is that it's easily accessible to over seven states around us. Within a couple hours we can take a small vacation with our family and enjoy the few days a month we spend with Reggie who has been traveling overseas often for his job. I love to travel and experience new things so we decided to visit the caverns in Tennessee. We had a great time. Our adventure began while waiting in line for about 20 or so minutes. Once inside the building we began our journey. We boarded an elevator that took us 260 ft below ground level. Once there we were put into a bigger group (I would say 15-20 of us). Then our real journey began--to the underground water fall. We walked a half mile to and from the waterfall through all types of cave formations. Some areas were narrow and others were low.  Then, there is only 1 way out and in so each time an outgoing group "survivors" passed by, we had to stop and put our backs to the wall. In a small space this was uncomfortable at times especially with Reggie being so tall. They also had no restrooms inside the cave and I was thinking that I hoped my kids didn't have to go to the bathroom. lol.  Once we made it to the waterfall we got to see the most spectacular sight I've ever seen. Nobody knows where the source of this 145 foot waterfall comes from but it rushes out of a rock into the Tennessee river. The more it rains, the more it rushes out.  There was a beautful light show and peaceful music to help capture the beauty of the waterfall.  On the journey back, WE were the survivors so WE got to keep walking. It took us about 2 hours round trip. There is a nice children's mining area, playground, and cafe once we got out of the cave.
Our next stop was the Tennesse Aquarium. We were told that it's one of the best in the United States.
I’m pretty much an aquarium junkie and one of our reasons to visit Chattanooga was to see the aquarium. We've been to the Atlanta Aquarium and Baltimore Aquarium. So, we were hoping it measured up to those great aquariums and it did. The architecture of the aquarium is very interesting; and the layout makes it easy to traverse without missing anything. There are two buildings – River Journey and Ocean Journey. One of my favorites was the jellyfish; they had a great display with black lights and we were able to get some spectacular pictures. The kids seemed to enjoy the 3-story tank with sharks, as well as petting the stingrays, fish and seeing the snakes. They also enjoyed looking at the penguins and big tortoises. It was centrally located so we headed across the street to Buffalo Wild Wings for a late lunch and to Rita Frozen Custard for a much needed cold dessert for it was hot outside. We had scheduled a 4:00 IMAX 3d movie earlier in the day and made it just in time to see a cool Wildlife movie. By the time the movie was over Jadon was knocked out sleeping and Noa was yawning. Within five minutes of our car ride the kids were sound asleep. Hmmm, I can only imagine what their dreams were like as they crashed in the back seat of our vehicle.

Little Golfers!

Our 15 minute meal. Spinach Ricotta cheese Tortetillini

I'm a busy mom and it's not easy always making meals that take up hours of my time. Yes, I'm a stay-at-home mom, but with small kids they keep me busy and I love making quick tasty meals that leaves them asking for seconds. Cooking isn't something that's a passion for me and in true honesty I probably eat out more than I cook in. But, I'm learning to like it more and realizing that it doesn't have to be hard, time consuming, and I don't have to work up a big sweat in the kitchen. It's interesting that I grew up with both parents being avid cookers. They cooked all the time as we watched them at the kitchen counter. Out of the four children, two loves to cook and two couldn't care less about cooking. The two that love to cook are Tammi and Rachel, my sisters. They would've loved to attend a culinary school but both found interests in Pharmacy. I have great childhood memories of growing up on all types of international foods including chinese food, Jamacian food, seafood, Thai food, and soul food. My mom was the international cooker. She'd cook anything that crawls on land or swims in the sea. One time, she found a snapping turtle in our backyard, threw it in a big pot and cooked it for our dinner. It could have been our neighbors pet for all we knew, but we had turtle soup with it! lol. She always knew how to make a meal out of anything.  My dad was the griller, seafood and soul food cooker. He loves to bring home fish that he's caught earlier in the day and fry it. He also was a chef at one point for a upscale resort in Destin. So,they both were great cookers and we never missed a meal. To this day, I'll eat just about anything.
Today, I'm cooking a simple meal for my family. It's vegetarian but I promise you will never miss one piece of meat. The dish is Spinach and Ricotta Cheese tortellini.

1. Olive oil and fresh spinach in pan

2. Add this package to boiling water in separate pan.

3. Boil for 10 minutes or until soft, then drain.

4. Add garlic alfredo sauce to cooked spinach and cooked tortellini noodles

5. Add spices to taste. Pasley, salt, paprika, basil, onion powder, garlic powder, peper, oregano.

6. Finished dish! You can add cheese on top or add grilled chicken to dish for meat lovers.

Teaching kids to be grateful.

Teaching your children to say "thank you" is only half the battle. It’s equally as important to teach them to be thankful like sharing their favorite things or just appreciating a kind gesture. Its a way that they will find deeper meaning in their day-to-day experiences. This process can be a very tricky experience especially when kids can tend to be self centered and demand attention all the time. Me and Reggie are one's who use self help tools in trying to put gratitude in our kids. We didn't know if they'd work but continued to implement the things that we've learned. Yesterday, I am happy to report that I heard my 1st "Thank you mom, I really appreciate you spending time and money on me" from Noa after having a fun packed day with her at the mall. It brought tears to my eyes as if was felt she lacked gratitude for the opportunities and extra things she gets. I didn't expect the kind gesture but was really excited to hear it come from her heart without me having to tell her to do so. It encouraged me to keep positive and keep using the tools that I've learned. Here are five personal things that we do to help our children to learn more gratitude.

1. Set the Example. Parents have to model behavior they hope their children adopt as their own. A simple, sincere expression of gratitude when the kids do something they were asked to do is always appropriate. Taking an extra moment to thank a sales clerk at the store or to tip your news carrier for getting the paper on the porch every day lets them know that gratitude is acceptable and encouraged.
2. Establish a Family Tradition. Family traditions are important in forming a habit in a child each year. A family tradition during the holidays will help impact a child's life in a positive way. For thanksgiving, teach your children to be thankful for their food, friends, home and family. During Christmas, we give our kids only two toys a piece. One educational toy and one fun toy. This teaches them to appreciate their items and not have a greedy spirit towards wanting a whole bunch of things. We sponser a family and allow them to shop for them and give to others.
3.Try Going Without. From time to time, have a family project that involves going without something important. For example, try making bread for a week rather than buying it, or try walking to any destination less than two miles away. A little sacrifice causes us to miss things that we take for granted and helps us be a little more humble and grateful when the thing is restored. We let them know that there's people who are homeless, jobless and starving in the world and that it's God's grace that we have the things that we have.
4. Don't Demand Thanks. "I work my fingers to the bone every day for you, and I never hear a word of thanks" was a popular litany in homes around the country. We try to avoid demanding thanks from your children with anger. They will internalize you showing them a good example of how to be thankful much more than they will threats or humiliation. If you offer it sincerely to them, they will learn the skills of gratitude. You can role play and show them how to be thankful for things.
5. The Word of God/Prayer. The bible has many scriptures on thanksgiving. Read to your children and teach them that the good book is God's law and promises for his people. Pray with your kids and in your prayers ask God to help them and yourself with gratitude and thanksgiving.

We still have a long road ahead of us with getting this gratitude in our hearts and our childrens hearts, but want to be a good example to them and raise them in the ways of God. They are not perfect but we like seeing little signs that it's getting in their hearts. God loves gratitude and therefore we need to ask for him to help us with it as we raise these precious kids.

MY TOP PICKS SUMMER SHOPPING LIST!

1. MAC CLEAR LIP GLOSS. If you're looking for a lip balm that will make your lips soft, supple and smooth, M.A.C Lip Conditioner SPF 15 is the way to go. It moisturizes and conditions lips instantly upon contact, leaving behind a silky finish and hours of hydration.

This is definitely one of the best lip balms I've found. I've been wearing it to bed and my lips are still smooth in the morning -- seven or eight hours later! This is thanks to ingredients like almond oil, shea butter, avocado extract, wheat germ oil and Vitamins A and E.

There's even petroleum to seal in moisture and make application smooth, lightweight and -- thankfully -- non-sticky. And the addition of SPF 15 means I can protect my lips year-round.

M.A.C Lip Conditioner SPF 15 retails for $13.50. Dillards.




2. CORKY FLIP FLOPS. Corkys flip flops are the most comfortable ever.  They can embellish these for you with genuine Swarovski crystals and cute conchos of your choice for lots of shiny bling. They even have flip flops with crosses on them. It's a must have for me for the beach!









3. Sunglasses. They are an absolute must for the summer! They protect you from the sun's harmful uv rays. They are also a great accessory to any outfit.

4. The cute dress. Dresses are back on top! We no longer have to dig through clearance racks and thrft stores for dresses. We have plenty to choose from this year because they are a top trend right now. They are great for any body shape and look great with a thick waist belt and light weight summer sweater. Purchase at Ross, TJmaxx, Target and many retail stores.


5. Handbag bible case! Never leave home without your sword. This trendy case looks like a purse but houses your bible. It's perfect for the working lady to use on her lunch break or anyone who loves keeping their bible handy. You never know when you need it! lol. purchase online.

6. UMBRELLA. A cute accessory for those summer afternoon showers.  They are a must have for your car glove compartment.





7. HAIR ACCESSORIES! Why not bling your hair do with some unique accessories? Crosses!

 


8. A Watch. Since I don't wear jewelry, I look for watches that will make a statement on my wrist . A nice watch will do the job. I will splurge a little for a nice watch seeing that I don't buy earrings, bracelets, neclaces and makeup.



9. JEAN SKIRT. I wear jean skirts as much as a person wears jean pants. It's my casual look and a must have for my closet.
(above skirt: overstock.com) I like wearing mid lenght skirts for the summer and long skirts for the winter.

(DNKY jean skirt 59.00 zappos.com)

10. A pair of summer stilettoes!! Stilettos, stilettos, stilettos!! What girl doesn't like a cute pair of shoes to accent her cute summer dress or skirt? They come in so many styles, colors, and confort levels.