Thank you Mom..

You were the first to hold me, and meet me with your eyes
A brand new little life, the far best earthly prize.
I just could not imagine, if I only knew
The immediate connection, and what that love would do.

You were the one to stay up late, enduring late night hours
All to bond in rocking chairs, function off your super powers.
I just could not imagine, if I only knew
Nothing would compare, to that time alone with you.

I began to walk and run, all too soon became the time
For a great, big, yellow, bus, with me second in the line.
I just could not imagine, if I only knew
You didn't cry where I could see, but now I have a clue.

With teenage years upon us, it was you who talked to me
Too much make- up, zits and drama, but my heart was all you'd see.
I just could not imagine, if I only knew
How forever you would picture, what I'd be like when I grew.

And then I turned eighteen, and was completely grown
All those years you spent on me, a child from God on loan.
And what I can't imagine, and what I never knew
Is how did you let go, to what meant most to you?

But then I was a mother, again, there with your praise
Seeing it through my eyes, honored and amazed.
No need to imagine and now I truly know
That this is how you felt, and this is why we grow.

The most precious thing I had, as a newborn little girl
Gave me the heart of love, for my now eight children, my whole world.

For all you were I thank you Mom, as I smile through all my tears
Heavens now as lucky, as I was for all those years.

I will have you as close to my heart as you always had me Mom....
"Love you more...."

Twas The Day After Christmas

Twas the day after Christmas,
when all through the house
Not a kid is in sight, better not be a mouse.
The stockings still hung, but now empty and bare
While the junk that was in them, lays about everywhere.

No children are nestled all snug in their beds
For video games now rule all their heads.
And mom in her sweats and a cute baseball cap
Will be the only one soon, not taking a nap.

When down in the basement there rose such a clatter
I tried to ignore it, but it didn't matter.
Kids running upstairs to tattle and yell
Someone hit someone, and someone else fell.

No moon on the breast of the new fallen snow
It's just simply cold out...just so you know.
When what to my wondering eyes should appear
But a bottle of wine and a case full of beer.

With a handsome, bald husband, holding a flower
Reminding me of, pending "cocktail hour".
More helpful than ever, he offered to tame
And he whistled and shouted and called them by name

Now Gabe, now Reilly, Now Gavin and Max
On Reese, on Lily, on Mason and Lex!
To the door in the kitchen, to the living room wall
Go play with your toys, go play one and all.

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
when they meet with what created, The Hale Pig Sty.
So off to the closet to get out a broom,
Cleaning up toys, candy canes, and each room.

And then in a twinkling I heard a strange sound
I walked down the hall, and knew what I'd found.
As I drew in my head, and started my peeking
I saw my dumb, stupid, washer, was standing there leaking.

Its a front loader, stuffed, from bottom to top
It's always turned on, working non stop.
Just gotten serviced from the Sears Guy named Michael.
Want nothing more than to have it recycled.

I spoke not a word but went straight to the table
I heated leftovers, still partly stable.
And laying my Windex down under the sink
I completed all missions with still time to think.

I sprang to my feet and gave my family a shout,
Soon in ran the circus, not a cry or a pout
And you heard me exclaim, I love Christmastime
Lets count all our blessings, then pour me some wine!

Hope you all had a Merry Christmas!!  XO!
Hugs!


















Hugs!

Merry Christmas!

"Stockings were hung by the chimney with care, while the crap that goes in them, will soon be in there. The stuff is all scattered, underneath my whole bed, while visions of dollar stores dance in my head. While mom is delirious, and dad has no clue, that the bank account is almost withdrew. The presents have almost taken over the home, while adding the "teen" gifts, almost equal a loan. Target, Walmart, Bed Bath and Beyond, we are finished but now need to store some on the lawn. But I hear us explain as we sip eggnog tonite, all are here and are healthy, what a beautiful life."

Xoxo for a beautiful holiday season!

With love, the hales :)

Hugs!



Hugs!

Your own Thanksgiving :)

Most of us agree as parents, or anyone for that
matter, it's important to show
kids (and everyone) that "serving" is important....
Helping or creating something for someone else...and to have
the gift of giving it to them---not just at Christmas but whenever.

This first idea for Thanksgiving Day is that everyone in the family, prepare
a piece of the meal.
Not just Mama should be in the kitchen!
We are adding in the "surprise" of it all to make it more drum-rolly-
grabbing your dish from a hat. 
That me friends, is two fold.
More suspense of course, any excitement around here is huge.
With a bonus of not being able 
to blame mom/dad for getting that one, or wanting another.

Each of us are going to be in charge of that specific thing-
Shopping for the ingredients, making it however you'd like, picking the
presentation of it.
Whether it's a special dish or 200 toothpicks around the edges!
Then, at dinnertime, walking around the table, and placing it
onto everyone's plate.

The second idea was the "thankful five".
Having chose a family member, and writing down five things you
love about them.
After dinner is done, you go around the table and take turns sharing the
great things that you feel, when you think about them.

Every year I try and have the kids do crafty place
cards for everyone...
Someone write a special prayer....
Any little idea that can make it a homemade day.
And these two, I think will be added, to the traditions
around here..

Its so huge to me to always have a message along with the "festivities"...
And after we made our plan for it last night, I just thought I'd share in case
your family was looking for something too.

Wishing you all a beautiful Thanksgiving holiday.
Here's to sanity, love, and the simple blessing of health in your lives.

Remember, no matter where you are in your life when
you wake up Thursday, you are here. 
You are alive.
There is a plan for you.
And so much to be thankful for!!!

Hugs!

The little things

Jewelry, a hundred dollar perfume, weekly blow outs at my favorite salon?
Those days, even if I ever had them, are over....
The little things my husband could do for me, doesn't even compare.

It's like a daily game of WOULD YOU RATHER? 
With the winning answer (for me) never being
a tangible item.
The times I feel the closest to Roman aren't probably ever the
times he would think (well, until I told him).

Our anniversary plans are nice. 
Romantic dinner,
whatever sweet present he passes across the table. 
I do love it.
But to be honest, the car ride with one nights no interruption,
the idea of HIM,
actually making the plan for what were doing....
those are the heart jumper things.
The stuff that make me love him.

Maybe I'm not the "norm" but I know I'm not alone here.
The idea from back in the day that you could never understand,
the giving is better than the gift, is sorta like this.
Isn't simply picturing your spouse thinking about what to do for you awesome?
Actually coordinating a freaking plan? 
And hopefully connected to what
he thinks you would enjoy? 
Anything after that is icing. :)

When is it exactly that the thing YOU COULD NEVER IMAGINE
being exciting, become so? 
Or the things you only heard your mom wanted for Christmas or
her birthday would be on YOUR own list?

Peace, a long bubble bath with no questions to answer,
no shouting for one morning, and someone
to call out "Alice" instead of  Mommy a few times?
It's not a lot to ask....
And even if everyone around you simply tries, it's a score.

Let's face it, it's sort of a running joke how mom's never get breaks-
That's why the universal picture of one, mothers day morning, still in bed
pretending to be sleeping while their circus "surprises" them with breakfast,
is so adorable.
The entire family KNOWS she never gets to rest.
And commercials, or movies, lead all to believe that she needs more
after that...
When in reality, if after she eats, someone just gave her a homemade card
and she got to stay in her pj pants, she'd be over the moon.
It's the little things----

Say them, do them--every day if you must. 
And we'll be ready!!
We'll be happier, because we feel loved.
We'll be less moody, because we were considered.
We'll be less stressed, because one little thing literally means ten to us.

How about communicating?
That's a little thing...
and yet, it's just
SO HARRRDDD for men.
Please. 
It's only hard because you picturing having to get
ready for an actual event.
Dressed up and headed for the kitchen table, chairs
across from each other,
like you're preparing for the high school debate competition.
Like you need note cards and to have studied..
Like you may or may not make it out alive.

We really don't ask for much. 
I mean, please, we married A MAN!
How much expectation could we possibly have? 

But ladies, do not make the mistake I did, and ask your
husband to throw you a bone.
YOU WILL NOT LIKE THE RESPONSE TO THAT ONE.
Ummm, not what I meant honey.

Maybe if men knew not only how much these things mean
but how long we
just may remember them...

One of the sweetest things Roman did was a few years back.
He called my cell from 
the road on the way to a job and proceeded to let me know he just saw
the best looking girl.
I was like....coooolllll.....
He told me he was on the highway going toward Savannah and that her car
passed him while he was at a light.
Again, I was like, coooolllll....
Then he said, YOUR HAIR LOOKS AWESOME TODAY.
I got tears in my eyes.  I had passed him, it was ME!

Still to this day, I remember hearing that, and how it made me feel.
My morning was going crazy and such a small thing for HIM to do
but so huge to me.  Still.

Whether it's a single flower from your own
yard, holding hands for the two seconds you may have in the morning,
or a smile~ that after you've been
married a while,
says more than anyone else knows....do it.

If your a man, remember your wife loves if you check in to
say I love you after lunch.
She wants to hear how you feel every now and then, even if it's the shortest
sentence ever. 
She also likes to be reminded that you feel lucky to have her.
.
If you're a woman, remember your husband likes to hear you still
love his butt. 
That he is a hard worker and
(even if it's a long shot) that you may want some tonight.  ;)
They don't need much.

Even if you can afford all the "big" stuff,
you can't buy the "little".
All those things are only sold inside ourselves....
That's probably why it feels even better
to receive it.

I know at least for me it is.
At this point in my life,
38 years old with eight kids, it's a clean sweep.

The sweetest thing Roman can do is put the coffee on. 
The sparkle in my eye every morning with that, far surpasses
any diamond ring that he could ever find.

Enjoy the "little" in your life...and pass it on :)

Hugs :)

YOUR CLIMB

Roman and I have joined a class at church. 
It has been really inspiring, really informative.
It is based on the bible but hits on the topics of christian marriage,
family and the core of just living a good life.

Not only do you learn and relate these things, but the ten to twelve
couples there, are able to share their own opinions
and stories, whenever they feel led to.

People have laughed, cried, felt a sense of relief...
And in some instances, at least we, have left, with a true renewed spirit
to take into the next week.

It's nothing that we've ever done before , but even within our own family,
has made a
difference already.

The topic for the first few weeks was FORGIVENESS, which you assume is one
whole idea. 
But as you dig deep into it, you cannot imagine how many letters are under that
roman numeral outline. Wow.

But the best class so far, was this past Sunday's---
When they added on-~stress, anxiety and worry.
Yup, something we have all dealt with, are dealing with right now,
or will in the future.
In fact, it is a guarantee.

Yes, it is promised that things will go astray or not as planned in your life. 
But you are in good company.
Everyone alive will be faced with these stumbles-
so if you are prepared and have faith, you will come
out better than you went in.
The class shared so many things this week, of course
because it is so freaking relatable.

Their were stories of job loss and the feelings of fear.
Stories of daily anxieties people have, and are constantly struggling
with, some for no reason they can even come up with.
One woman's words even put an older lady in tears, talking about something
she wouldn't elaborate on.
Just feeling each others emotions, brought you into their life. 
And even if your own tale wasn't comparable, you could take a little bit of it, and
bring it into yours somehow.

All of us have been there in one way or another.
And anyone that has had to walk that "unknown" so far, can only say one thing. 
It not only will get better, but it makes you better.

With each thing-there are two sides, the "scary" and the "new"
Scary is the change.
In life, change equals hard.
Hard equals unknown.
And the unknown equals fear.

Unknown is uncomfortable. 
And that explains why it is so difficult for people to move, change occupations,
add another child,
or have a health scare.

"I don't have enough information, I don't know if it will work, or how
I will feel., but most
importantly, will we be happier, more successful...?"

Newsflash.  Life is turning, and how the heck do you grow, or make a difference
if things stay the way they are, all the time?
And again, to change lives and people, there needs to be growth.
And growing hurts sometimes.
And other times, take a while.

What we rarely think about is the basic concept of  "our timeline".

We are on "on demand society" and the realistic side of us knows
that it isn't always possible
But the NOW NOW NOW people, that we have become,
expecting our outcomes to happen immediately.

"Oh my gosh, if this happened on Monday, and it's now
Wednesday, were doomed.
I thought something would have changed by now...
its not lookin good."

Think about anything in life that you are trying to change..
Joining a gym, to lose weight or get in shape.
Climbing the corporate ladder..
Even compare it to your kids in school--having to go through elementary
school, to middle school and then high school....
You don't learn, and grow, and see a difference in you life, without "the climb".

If you didn't have to work your way through a moment, or you
had a stage handed to you, you would
not only not learn struggle, you would have nothing
even close to appreciation,
for the lesson in front of you.

God isn't looking at this "page" in your life,
he's instead focused on your "story".
As you should be.

The book of your life is being written with each day that you get through,
and the last chapter can only be as amazing as you were throughout .

Just because today, or yesterday, has a question mark across it,
doesn't mean
that next week or the one after, isn't going to have
an explanation point. 
Your life can turn in a minute,
but it has to depend on faith.

One of the lessons taught Sunday said that with worry and fear, comes
a "diss" to God.

It is saying, you don't see your life safe in his hands. 
That you want the control, you trust yourself more, and aren't willing
to look back at your past-
How he's gotten you up your mountain.
And will again.  And again.  And again.

God wants the best for all of us. 
He will do anything to show and prove that to you.
But promises there will be time of need. 
Time of prayer.
Time of heartache. 
That is the way for him to become close to you.

You may not see for a while~
What it was, or why it even happened.
But it time, it will become clear ~
And you will become a stronger version of you.

I know my family has had it's share. 
After my sister was diagnosed, I could not imagine the tailspin my
life would take.
I could not envision ever having so many tears. 
Or living a single day without a sister I was never apart from.

But that chapter in my life was meant to be. 
It was meant for me, and hundreds of friends and people we knew,
and never knew, who were and still are, touched by her story.

A twenty five year old who chose her baby over treatments. 
Someone that wanted more than anything in the world to be a mommy and
wash a t-ball uniform.
And someone who would never get that chance.

So many moms will wake up and hug their kids
tighter now.
So many people will appreciate more than they ever would have, because
of her memorial service.
Meeting her son Noah, who will have an undying example
of the ultimate sacrifice.

Financially~ a less important, but difficult lesson.
It took us sixteen years to build perfect credit and attain properties for
or kid's future
But within eighteen months, lost bigtime.

Four years ago we came back from Ga, with our tail between our legs.
Sold some, lost some, credit trashed .
Prayers were abundant...but there was no changing that plan for us there either
.
We made all the right choices, were honest, and responsible. 
But the outcome was to be the same.
This was another lesson, understanding
again, was meant to be.

At the end of the day, it got us back near family and more open minded.
When we hear stories of hard work and yet struggle, we relate more.
When we see someone needing a break, we are less judgemental.
We have given our last dollars to friends in need, and somehow
things always get paid and work out.
But I don't think, the "goosebump" moments would be the same,
without having experienced it ourselves.

What's abundantly learned is that if we made a list of our struggles,
worries, fears...
only one thing is the common denominator ~
95% of our scary-list, are things, simply out of our control.

Seriously, get a pen and jot down yours-
How many things in front of you could you do anything about at this moment?
That is why you aren't to worry.
Where does it get you?
No matter what you decide to do today, it may not work for your tomorrow.

There's enough to take care of that you are IN CHARGE of.
God's letting you change your babies diapers, and get the groceries. 
He's fine with you driving to soccer and Christmas shopping.
And yes, you are to work for the things you have...

But put the rest in his hands.
He wants you to enjoy being here, 
being present in your story. 
And no human can do that the right way, along with all the rest.

2011 is getting out of hand. 
We aren't supposed to attain the mansion, brand
new SUV, clothes of Hollywood stars,
and then search to the heavens to be able to afford it all.
You aren't to live like that, because to do it, the stress and struggle
of providing for it, will hold you back from the best in life.

Were supposed to live simple,
welcome our "journey" and embrace our blessings.
No worry, stomach aches, migraines...
Think about it, how much more would you see
clearly, if you really did hand that heavy backpack over?

God's delay, is not denial.
Your troubles are no surprise to him...
and he already knows when they are fixing themselves-
Question is, how will you see yourself when it's all over?

Wake up, with your arms stretched out.  
Make your coffee, love your children and stay in faith.
No crying tears of worry, only tears of joy.
There are struggles you cannot imagine, that others are facing---

"The Climb" is part of your book--and your book has already been written.
You are now starring in the production, as we speak.
Will you have a captivated audience? 
What will they walk away learning from you and how you
handled your "action scenes"?

I am hoping for a standing ovation.
And one very, happy ending.


"I may not not know it, but these are the moments I'm gonna remember most "

"Ain't about how fast I get there, ain't about whats waiting on the the side,"

"Keep on moving, keep climbing...keep the faith, keep your faith, it's all about the climb."

Hugs!

Don't worry about me, still waiting......

Dear Fios Tech Support,

Having nine people that need my assistance every day, makes it really
easy to understand
your job description and what you are surely up against in your occupation.
I get many aspects of your existence....

Surely you wake up every morning with every intention of getting your
orders completed.
You have endless customers waiting for you to come and fix their problems.
Be their miracle worker.
I'm sure you have different hoops to jump, and many obstacles that are thrown
into your mix.
I also get that you are facing crankiness~over the phone, at the door, or even by
your fellow employees ~
As you, even you, have to wait for customer service to get the quick codes
for my order.

But there's a problem. 
In my life, and most others, if I were to pull the five hour window scam, and
still not show,
things wouldn't work out so well.

If I had told my doctor I would be stopping in, anywhere from 8-12, and didn't,
after laughing his ass off,
he would probably slam his door on me, after charging me a no-show fee
of course.

If I told Giant, I'd be back between those five hours, to get my groceries, and
didn't, they'd be put back on the shelf and I'd have to shop all over again.

And if that time span was given to my kids' school, as to when I'd show to
chaperone
a field trip, the bus would surely have left me behind, along with any chance
of needing
my help again.

So why is it that I am not treated in that respect?
And if I can't be,
why can't I simply have an appointment?

Why can't someone, like I have to do, book a time to come and fix the problem
YOUR EQUIPMENT is giving me?
Then we can all be happy and no one's time is wasted.
I'm at home, you're able to get here, and it's all over.

If not, you do not agree, and this 8-12 thing works for you, why do I sit here,
at 2:30, without you here yet?
Worse yet, why haven't you even called me?
Let me know you didn't forget, or your running late (duh), or when you
are even going to eventually get here.

I get things come up.
I get I'm not the only one and you're not at the spa.
But here we are, no signal and no you.
And I'm not at the spa either.

I'm here, just like I have been.
Since eight a.m.
Because I said I'd be.

So, I'll just hang out, I mean, it's obvious you didn't think I had plans.
Just, whenever you can make it, is fine at this point.
I'll figure, that you'll figure out you're at the right place, once you pull up.
Cause once you're here, you'll know it.

Don't know if you're a parent or not, but get ready!
We'll be the house with seven kids, that haven't had
TV or Internet for almost 72 hours...
And I'll be the mom, that let's them "help" you,
the entire time it takes you,
to fix the problem.

You can thank me later :)

Sincerely,
Jennifer Hale