when He didn't give me any children. I guess I'd be in jail nowadays if I did things the way my parents brought me up. Check out this news article:
Airport police in Albuquerque, New Mexico are expected to release details Tuesday about an "incident" aboard a Southwest Airlines flight during which a mother may have slapped a young child. The Albuquerque International Sunport's police chief told CNN affiliate KRQE that a flight attendant took the child from its mother.
"The mom may have yelled and may have slapped the baby," Sunport Police Chief Marshall Katz told KRQE. "I think it was a solid move from the part of the flight attendant to take custody of the child," Katz said. "It neutralized the situation. It calmed everybody down." KRQE reports the incident involved a 1-year-old.
The flight from Dallas, Texas, to Albuquerque arrived around 4:30 p.m. local time on Monday. Daniel Jiron, spokesman for the Albuquerque airport, told CNN he could not confirm whether a slap took place, but did say there was "concern over an incident" involving a child aboard the flight. Police took the child into their custody at the gate, performed a welfare check and determined there were no signs of physical abuse, Jiron said. The parents were not cited after airport police interviewed the couple, the flight attendant and some passengers, Jiron said. He said airport police are expected to provide more information later Tuesday.
OK, so when you were growing up, how many times did your Momma pop you across your mouth if you were talking back to her or just talking ugly? My mother didn't abuse me or anything like that and I don't know if the mother in this article really slapped her child or tapped it's mouth for saying something ugly or doing something ugly. It's hard to tell with the way news media s-t-r-e-t-c-h the truth sometimes. Since the child is only 1-yr-old, I hope the mother didn't really slap the child. I can't imagine why anyone would slap or yell at a baby since most of the time when they're that young you can get their attention with a stern look or a firm message whispered in their ear.
Nevertheless, this article does make me wonder if you can do anything to correct children nowadays. I'm not going to beat a child senseless like I saw a mother doing in an Explorer on the news one time, but I will pop their hands if they're doing something they shouldn't and I will lightly pop their mouth if they continue doing/saying something ugly when I've asked them to stop. I guess my situation is a little different since I've always handled children belonging to others. It doesn't really matter though. If I'm responsible for a child, I'm going to make them mind to a certain extent. I don't normally use physical interaction, but I have definitely threatened it!
I believe children need to know there are consequences for their bad actions. If you act ugly, you will get punished; and I'm not talking about sitting in a quiet corner either. Depending on the action, I think some kids just need a good ole fashion spanking sometimes. I got them when I was growing up, and I think I turned out OK. I guess some people would freak out if they knew my Momma use to get me with a switch (a small limb off a tree or bush that would eat your legs up!!) The little limbs would leave red marks for a while, but they never broke the skin. But you know what? Momma's point was made and I never forgot the consequences of my actions either. I've always had the utmost respect for my parents, for my elders, for law enforcement, and lots of others because I knew I'd get in trouble with my parents if I didn't act respectful. And sometimes if my friends tried to persuade me to do something I knew was wrong, I remembered some of those switchings and that kept me out of a LOT of trouble.
Well, enough ranting for today. God's word says "...spare the rod, hate the child.". It does not say "spoil the child". I was raised by it, it's my story, and I'm sticking to it!!
Happy Tuesday!!
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Time is moving so fast!
I can't believe it's been almost two weeks since the last time I blogged. I feel like my life is flying past me so fast I can't even see everthing what's going on.
Since my last post, we finished Vacation Bible School with about 75 kids. That was really an exciting week. We had so much fun and I loved teaching the kids new songs with all the motions. We also had the kids take up an offering for missions that week. I didn't know until Monday night that the offering was for our trip to Africa. We collected our largest VBS offering ever with $900.25. Pastor Tommy encouraged the kids each night by telling them we had enough money to get me and Jean to Africa, but we needed enough money to get us home. One church member told me he gave the 25 cents so I could come home. Ain't he just a sweetie pie?!? Jean and I are going to talk with our team leader and see if we can purchase something like a cow for a family while we're in Africa. I think that's something the kids will really relate to and be able to understand. They helped buy a cow in Africa! How cool is that?
Sunday, July 25, was Pastor Tommy's last Sunday with Center Grove Baptist. We had a great service that day with a huge lunch afterwards. Everybody was very emotional as you'd expect since he'd been our pastor for 9 years. We watched him complete his master's degree; meet, court, and marry his wife; have two children; build a house; and complete his doctorate degree. Shucks, he practically felt like a little boy who we watched grow up.
Pastor Tommy and his family did a lot for our church and our body of believers. I think a lot of people, including myself, are much stronger in their faith now because of his teaching, preaching, and encouragement. We'll miss all of the Kiker family, but I understand when a call has to be answered.
Mitch and I celebrated our 29th wedding anniversary Monday, July 26. 29 years! Where did all the time go? We were so busy the week and weekend before that Mitch suggested we take that day off from work and just be together to do whatever we wanted. I still can't believe he took a day off from work just to goof off with me, but he did and we had a great day! Mitch and I are simple people, so it doesn't take anything extravagant to please us. The one place we knew we wanted to go was Outback. Nothing else really mattered, so we spent most of the day in Virginia shopping and looking at things I could use or take with me to Africa. We found a Dick's Sporting Goods in Virginia Beach that was just an awesome store. I wound up buying some new shoes to wear on the trip that will be really versatile for any kind of weather or climate, but I am feeling so much buyer's remorse I can't hardly stand it. I can't justify wearing new shoes to a country where most people probably don't even have shoes. I think they're probably going right back where I got them because this feeling just won't leave. God's telling me something!
The time to leave for my trip to Africa will be here before I know it. I've been walking off and on since the first of the year, but I think I better get realy serious with it now if I'm going to be shape for my trip. My counterpart who's going with me has been walking for a few months. She's lost about 40 lbs. and walks every morning at 5:30. However, she is retired so she doesn't have to rush back home and get dressed for work when she's done. One day soon.....
Less than 90 days to be exact. I'm constantly getting papers in the mail from the retirement system to fill out and return, so it's moving rather quickly. I hope I'll be able to adjust and devote a lot of time to things I want to do instead of rushing through so many things I have to do. We'll see!!
Since my last post, we finished Vacation Bible School with about 75 kids. That was really an exciting week. We had so much fun and I loved teaching the kids new songs with all the motions. We also had the kids take up an offering for missions that week. I didn't know until Monday night that the offering was for our trip to Africa. We collected our largest VBS offering ever with $900.25. Pastor Tommy encouraged the kids each night by telling them we had enough money to get me and Jean to Africa, but we needed enough money to get us home. One church member told me he gave the 25 cents so I could come home. Ain't he just a sweetie pie?!? Jean and I are going to talk with our team leader and see if we can purchase something like a cow for a family while we're in Africa. I think that's something the kids will really relate to and be able to understand. They helped buy a cow in Africa! How cool is that?
Sunday, July 25, was Pastor Tommy's last Sunday with Center Grove Baptist. We had a great service that day with a huge lunch afterwards. Everybody was very emotional as you'd expect since he'd been our pastor for 9 years. We watched him complete his master's degree; meet, court, and marry his wife; have two children; build a house; and complete his doctorate degree. Shucks, he practically felt like a little boy who we watched grow up.
Mitch and I celebrated our 29th wedding anniversary Monday, July 26. 29 years! Where did all the time go? We were so busy the week and weekend before that Mitch suggested we take that day off from work and just be together to do whatever we wanted. I still can't believe he took a day off from work just to goof off with me, but he did and we had a great day! Mitch and I are simple people, so it doesn't take anything extravagant to please us. The one place we knew we wanted to go was Outback. Nothing else really mattered, so we spent most of the day in Virginia shopping and looking at things I could use or take with me to Africa. We found a Dick's Sporting Goods in Virginia Beach that was just an awesome store. I wound up buying some new shoes to wear on the trip that will be really versatile for any kind of weather or climate, but I am feeling so much buyer's remorse I can't hardly stand it. I can't justify wearing new shoes to a country where most people probably don't even have shoes. I think they're probably going right back where I got them because this feeling just won't leave. God's telling me something!
The time to leave for my trip to Africa will be here before I know it. I've been walking off and on since the first of the year, but I think I better get realy serious with it now if I'm going to be shape for my trip. My counterpart who's going with me has been walking for a few months. She's lost about 40 lbs. and walks every morning at 5:30. However, she is retired so she doesn't have to rush back home and get dressed for work when she's done. One day soon.....
Less than 90 days to be exact. I'm constantly getting papers in the mail from the retirement system to fill out and return, so it's moving rather quickly. I hope I'll be able to adjust and devote a lot of time to things I want to do instead of rushing through so many things I have to do. We'll see!!
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Everybody Say Yes to V-B-S!!
We're having Vacation Bible School at my church this week, and I am having a blast!! We have somewhere around 75 kids and it has been so fun--except for my voice.
I usually do music for VBS and I usually have my time with the kids all together during the opening worship service before they leave for their classes. Well, this year, we decided to do it a little different. We decided to make music just like one of the other stops. Kids come by to see me for about 20 minutes and I work with one or two classes at a time. I really do like this in one respect that the groups are smaller so I can work closer with the kids; but, on the other hand, it is absolutely killing my voice. Our songs are pretty long and by the time I sing them 8 or 10 times a night, I can hardly talk and my throat is killing me. Say a prayer I can make it through Friday night. We may need to change our plans for next year.
Our teachers and VBS Directors did such a great job decorating the church and the classrooms this year. I went by this morning while everything was quiet and got a few pictures. Check 'em out:
And if any of you remember reading my blog last year when I posted about my church completing this new classroom building we're now using for Bible school, I think I mentioned that the son of one of our church members was planning to paint some murals on the walls in the children's classrooms. Look at the beautiful mural below he painted in the nursery. My camera really doesn't do the vivid colors justice at all. It is absolutely gorgeous!
And this is another mural he painted in the toddler's class. He just finished painting it last week. It's really pretty too!
So that's a few pics to let you know what Bible school looks like around Center Grove Baptist. We are having a ball! This is the last time we'll be having Bible school with Pastor Tommy as Sunday is his last day with us before he moves to Texas. Please be in prayer that we can win lots of children's souls for Jesus this week, or at least help them to better understand God's word. After all, that's what it's all about!
Have a great week!
I usually do music for VBS and I usually have my time with the kids all together during the opening worship service before they leave for their classes. Well, this year, we decided to do it a little different. We decided to make music just like one of the other stops. Kids come by to see me for about 20 minutes and I work with one or two classes at a time. I really do like this in one respect that the groups are smaller so I can work closer with the kids; but, on the other hand, it is absolutely killing my voice. Our songs are pretty long and by the time I sing them 8 or 10 times a night, I can hardly talk and my throat is killing me. Say a prayer I can make it through Friday night. We may need to change our plans for next year.
Our teachers and VBS Directors did such a great job decorating the church and the classrooms this year. I went by this morning while everything was quiet and got a few pictures. Check 'em out:
Walking in the front door at church (my Mitch made this)
In the vestibule
The front of the sanctuary
Over by the piano in the sanctuary
The information room leading to the classrooms
A scene in the K5 Class
From the 1st and 2nd grade class
other side of same room
another view in same room
4th and 5th grade classroom
same room
same room
And if any of you remember reading my blog last year when I posted about my church completing this new classroom building we're now using for Bible school, I think I mentioned that the son of one of our church members was planning to paint some murals on the walls in the children's classrooms. Look at the beautiful mural below he painted in the nursery. My camera really doesn't do the vivid colors justice at all. It is absolutely gorgeous!
And this is another mural he painted in the toddler's class. He just finished painting it last week. It's really pretty too!
Have a great week!
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Momma's 82nd Birthday
Sunday was Momma's birthday. I'm sure she wouldn't mind me telling you she just turned 82 years young, and let me tell you, she is one remarkable lady! Since Daddy died 3 years ago, Momma has done well on her own. She still takes care of the house, cuts her grass, and washes my daddy's truck almost every Saturday. She washes vinyl siding and cleans just about anything else around the house she sees that needs to be washed, weeded, dusted, vacuumed, cut, or picked up. I can certainly tell she has her daddy's genes!
Momma's favorite restaurant is The Mayflower and that's where she wanted to go for lunch on Sunday. We were trying to just get the siblings together to go out, but that just didn't happen. My brother works 24-hour shifts at a fire department, and he had to work Sunday. So, the rest of us got together and went on as planned. We did have a few of Momma's great-grandkids along for the ride, and boy did they provide some entertainment! Check out some pictures below:
Momma at The Mayflower
(sorry for all the sunlight in the background)
Our group
(My SIL Judy, Preston, Mitch, my BIL Wayne, my great-nephew Bryce in the baby carrier, my sister Linda with Haley beside her, and Momma)
One of Momma's Newest Great-Grandsons, Bryce
He was such a sweet boy!
Another Great-Grandson, Preston
Preston LOVES tractors and I think we spotted EVERY ONE of them between Ahoskie and RR!
And another great-grandchild, Haley who is Bryce's big sister
(I call her Haley Bug)
Turns out Haley LOVES crab legs. Her Nanna ordered chicken tenders for her, but Haley didn't eat any chicken. All she wanted was some of Nanna's crab legs.
So after enjoying lunch, we did a little shopping. Momma always wants to go somewhere and look for a dress to wear to church. I remember doing that same thing with my Momma and Daddy when I was young and they would take my Grandma shopping for a dress. Those trips way back when weren't usually too successful, and neither are our trips with my Momma! LOL!! The current styles don't usually appeal to the taste of seasoned ladies! How's that sound for political correctness? Sometimes we get lucky and find something she likes, but more often we don't. We do have lots of fun teasing Momma about things we think would look good on her (usually in a joking manner), but she takes it all in stride and just plays along.
We did do a little shopping and even got in a trip to Wal-Mart inbetween the little ones napping. It was a great day and I'm so thankful we all got to celebrate with Momma! I think it was a great day for a great lady!
Monday, July 12, 2010
It's All About Jesus!
Anybody who knows me, knows I have a whole slew of nieces and nephews. Most of them are great-nieces and nephews ranging in age from 15 years to 5 months with the oldest of the greats being Alysia. My Alysia.
When Alysia was little, I use to keep her a lot. We use to have the best times. We'd go shopping, ride bikes, run and play, and just do a little bit of everything. She was too little to ride a bike on her own, so I'd take Mitch's bike, put a pillow on the bar, and ride with her between my legs. We've ridden many a mile like that on my road. When it was time for bed, I'd make a place for her beside mine and Mitch's bed because she was too frightened to sleep in another room. When Sunday came, I'd take her to church right along with me and Mitch. I'd dress her up in whatever Missy sent with her, but most of the time we'd go shopping and buy her something new.
I loved dressing her up and taking her to church. Since I played the organ and Mitch sang in the choir, she'd sit on the front pew right by my organ until we both got done and then she'd come over and sit with us. I remember one Sunday she let out a great big yawn with a big moan and I was so embarrassed. When I turned around and looked at her, she was sitting back with her head leaning back on the pew swinging her feet. She looked at me as if to say, "What??" I explained after church that you yawn quietly in church and try not to make so much noise. I loved me some Alysia.
As she grew older, I'd take her to school and pick her up from day care too. I'd play contemporary Christian music and we'd sing along with the songs. We've done homework together, but thankfully I never had to go to any teacher conferences. Alysia has always been special to me, but as her brothers and sisters and cousins all came along, I loved them too and took them right along to church with us too if I had the opportunity. Thankfully, Alysia's parents have since become members of my church, so they have the joy of taking their kids to church these days.
Alysia is now 15 years old. She's taking driver's ed this summer and she's also working part-time as a babysitter. She went to Camp Caswell with Edgewood Baptist Church last week where one of the most amazing things happened to her. Alysia accepted and came to know Christ as her Lord and Savior. Is that not the most wonderful news in the world!!! My Alysia is now bound for an eternity with the Lord! That just makes me want to shout a big ole HALLELUJAH!!!! I'm so proud of her, but most of all, I'm proud that she's made such an important decision at the right time in her life. I believe it's something she's been contemplating for quite a while now, and I don't think it's a decision she's taken lightly or been influenced into making. When I've heard about some of her friends making such an important decision, I worried they made their decision because another friend did the same thing. I don't think that's the case with Alysia. She's been so bold in telling others about her decision, I think she's truly where's she's suppose to be in her relationship with Christ right now. And I can't wait to watch and see her grow in her walk with Him!!
When it was time for us to have invitation at church yesterday, Alysia was up and out of her pew before we hardly played any of the invitation song. And when Pastor Tommy asked her to stand by him so he could announce her decision, she proudly stood by him with no shyness about her. She looked as if "I've made my decision and I stand by it wholeheartedly!" I'm so proud of her!!!
As I mentioned in an earlier post, Pastor Tommy is leaving our church and his last Sunday will be July 25. The plan right now is for Alysia to be baptized that day. It's going to be a bittersweet day in that Pastor Tommy and his family will be leaving our church, but I can't wait to see Alysia baptized to start a new life walking with Christ!
I LOVE YOU ALYSIA AND I'M SO PROUD OF YOU!!
I hope I get to see all my nieces and nephews come to know Christ as their Lord and Savior. What an exciting time that will be!! It will be so wonderful to see them in heaven where I won't have to discipline any of them! LOL!!!
When Alysia was little, I use to keep her a lot. We use to have the best times. We'd go shopping, ride bikes, run and play, and just do a little bit of everything. She was too little to ride a bike on her own, so I'd take Mitch's bike, put a pillow on the bar, and ride with her between my legs. We've ridden many a mile like that on my road. When it was time for bed, I'd make a place for her beside mine and Mitch's bed because she was too frightened to sleep in another room. When Sunday came, I'd take her to church right along with me and Mitch. I'd dress her up in whatever Missy sent with her, but most of the time we'd go shopping and buy her something new.
I loved dressing her up and taking her to church. Since I played the organ and Mitch sang in the choir, she'd sit on the front pew right by my organ until we both got done and then she'd come over and sit with us. I remember one Sunday she let out a great big yawn with a big moan and I was so embarrassed. When I turned around and looked at her, she was sitting back with her head leaning back on the pew swinging her feet. She looked at me as if to say, "What??" I explained after church that you yawn quietly in church and try not to make so much noise. I loved me some Alysia.
As she grew older, I'd take her to school and pick her up from day care too. I'd play contemporary Christian music and we'd sing along with the songs. We've done homework together, but thankfully I never had to go to any teacher conferences. Alysia has always been special to me, but as her brothers and sisters and cousins all came along, I loved them too and took them right along to church with us too if I had the opportunity. Thankfully, Alysia's parents have since become members of my church, so they have the joy of taking their kids to church these days.
Alysia is now 15 years old. She's taking driver's ed this summer and she's also working part-time as a babysitter. She went to Camp Caswell with Edgewood Baptist Church last week where one of the most amazing things happened to her. Alysia accepted and came to know Christ as her Lord and Savior. Is that not the most wonderful news in the world!!! My Alysia is now bound for an eternity with the Lord! That just makes me want to shout a big ole HALLELUJAH!!!! I'm so proud of her, but most of all, I'm proud that she's made such an important decision at the right time in her life. I believe it's something she's been contemplating for quite a while now, and I don't think it's a decision she's taken lightly or been influenced into making. When I've heard about some of her friends making such an important decision, I worried they made their decision because another friend did the same thing. I don't think that's the case with Alysia. She's been so bold in telling others about her decision, I think she's truly where's she's suppose to be in her relationship with Christ right now. And I can't wait to watch and see her grow in her walk with Him!!
When it was time for us to have invitation at church yesterday, Alysia was up and out of her pew before we hardly played any of the invitation song. And when Pastor Tommy asked her to stand by him so he could announce her decision, she proudly stood by him with no shyness about her. She looked as if "I've made my decision and I stand by it wholeheartedly!" I'm so proud of her!!!
As I mentioned in an earlier post, Pastor Tommy is leaving our church and his last Sunday will be July 25. The plan right now is for Alysia to be baptized that day. It's going to be a bittersweet day in that Pastor Tommy and his family will be leaving our church, but I can't wait to see Alysia baptized to start a new life walking with Christ!
I LOVE YOU ALYSIA AND I'M SO PROUD OF YOU!!
I hope I get to see all my nieces and nephews come to know Christ as their Lord and Savior. What an exciting time that will be!! It will be so wonderful to see them in heaven where I won't have to discipline any of them! LOL!!!
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