Y'all Are The Best

I don't think I ever imagined the love and support I would receive from blog world. Each of your comments and personal e-mails have meant so much to me. I just had to tell you. Thank you for your prayers, love, and support. What a blessing y'all are. I think of y'all often, throughout the day, I often say to myself, do you think they might want to know this? Or, I am wrestling through something I am learning about our God and it helps me to just get it on paper. I often start and hardly even know where it is going to end. Thanks for reading, for not minding the run-on sentences, misspelled words, or my total butchering of the English language. 

Y'all are the Best! 

MUCH love to each of you. 

My First Official Devotion

Zephaniah 3:17 “The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with his love, He will rejoice over you with singing."

Our “3 AM Wake Up Call” came a few weeks ago. Our youngest son, Jackson, came screaming into our room, pausing only to throw up all over the carpet, and continue to scream at the top of his lungs. Every mom knows what that feels like to get startled in the middle of the night with a crises. I jumped out of the bed trying to help him get to the toilet. I held his little body as he cried, screamed, and poured out everything in his body until there was nothing left inside of him. He had a fever, he was miserable, and was just plain “beside himself.” We have a small couch in our room and I carried him trying desperately to settle him. He cried out, "I just want someone to sing to me." I sort of thought he was maybe just a bit delusional since I don't sing. I replied, "that is dad's area. I just clean throw up." Brad got up and got his guitar and began to sing a song he wrote entitled "Don't Cry." I sat there on my bed and watched as his daddy sang him to sleep. I have to tell you that watching his daddy quiet his tears and settle him to sleep was an incredible experience.  Then I sae the picture of God’s love in this scene.. When we are hurt, crying, and distraught, God sings over us like a loving father to his desperate child What a picture. He loves us so. 

I Samuel 1:10 "In Bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the Lord." 
This is the first of a series of devotions that study Hannah in the book of 1 Samuel. When I think of Brad quieting Jackson with song, I think of our Father and how He quieted Hannah. Helistened and comforted her as she poured out her heart before Him.  I can now picture Hannah, who was as 1 Samuel 1 verse 10 describes “greatly distressed, praying to the Lord and weeping bitterly.”  Haven’t we all been there? – greatly distressed, praying to the Lord and weeping bitterly. I can so relate to Hannah and I hope you can to. 

The theme of Hannah’s story is that God alone is the answer to any barrenness in our lives. It proves that we can trust Him to do exceedingly more than we could ask or think, (Ephesians 3:20) that His plans are for a hope and a future, (Jeremiah 29:11) and that God works all things for good for those who love Him (Romans 8:28).  Hannah was one of these women. Hannah lived as a barren woman at a time when the nation of Israel was experiencing a spiritual barrenness.  Her solution was Israel’s solution:  brokenness before the Lord. 

Many times as pastor’s wives we feel that there is no one around that we can trust with our deepest thoughts. . . Many times our hearts grapple with needs that cannot be shared because we have been someone else’s trusted friend. . . Often we are lonely and just need a friend in which to share. God is waiting to hear from us, He longs to quiet us with His love, to rejoice over us with singing. 

What is it today that you need to pour out to him? What do you need Him to quiet you over? 

Text Me Or Test Me?

I was reading my daily Bible reading this morning and I was a bit tired while reading and I happened to look forward to the next Psalms and read Psalm 26:2 and I could have sworn that it said, "text me, O Lord." I must admit, for a brief second I got very excited. I really thought that God was going to text me. I know that He COULD if He wanted, but He just doesn't speak that way anymore. Unfortunately for me, the verse says, "Test me, O Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind." 

I realized this morning that I really didn't want God to test me, I just wanted Him to text me. I must admit, if I got a text from God saying, "I have loved you with an everlasting love." How seriously would I take that. Yet, in front of me, is a book full of His words to me that I don't take seriously enough to even read the words right. 

Do I really understand what sits in my lap each morning? Do I really grasp that it is so much more than a text message, but the living, active Word of GOD. NO, or my life would look so different. My morning Bible readings would look very different. Everything about me would be different. 

Tomorrow as I read, I am asking God to allow me to see His word for what it really is. HIS WORD TO ME. His message to me. I hope you will too. 

A Hard Loss

Drew and his team lost for the first time in a long time. It was heartbreaking. Drew is number 9. This team was the biggest team we had ever seen. Almost all of their boys were bigger than our coach. It was a hard loss. It was a sad day in the Ewing house. 

God's Favor?

Job was my daily Bible reading today and I am almost sure that part of God's favor is hardship. God was so proud of Job when He showed him to Satan. It is easy for us to boast in the Lord when things are going just the way we want but what happens when aren't? It means so much when we praise Him out of our difficulty. 

Romans 8:17-18 "Now if we are children, then we are heirs - heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." 

Jesus came to Earth for one reason, to give his life as a ransom for many. What makes us think we are to do any less? 

P.S. Please pray for me, I have been asked to write some devotionals for pastors wives and I am scared and just don't where to start or how to start or what to even say. Who am I to write a devotional for anyone, I can't really even spell??

Blessings Equal Favor?

I have been rolling this question around in my head for months. I have often heard people say, "We have been praying about something and then God answered with _______." You fill in the blank. For example, as a stay at home mom, let's just pretend that I was praying about going to work and a job opportunity just opened up. Does that mean that that is God's answer? Well, yes or no. It could be either. But it is not an automatic yes. First, God never contradicts His Word. So, if my taking that job contradicts something else He says. It would be a no. Or, what if that is a temptation for me to forsake other responsibilities for a pay check. I am not saying that it would be, just giving some examples. 

I think so many times we are so quick to see a opportunity and jump on it as God's will for us because it seems "good" or "profitable." We think any good thing is from God. Yes, All good things come from above, but what is your definition of good? Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that in all things God works for the GOOD of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose." The greek word for good here means "good, in respect to operation or influence on others i.e. useful, beneficial, profitable" In my greek dictionary, good specifically refers to good in the realm of abstract things. It is the same word used in Galatians 6:10 "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do GOOD to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." And in Philemon 1:6 "I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every GOOD thing we have in Christ."

We must change our definition of good to match God's definition. His good is to be more like Him, to posses what He posses, to think the way He thinks. We must be careful that we don't make decisions based on our definition of good but His. 

It is hard to make those decisions when others are prospering making the wrong ones. It feels unjust sometimes, it is ok to say it. Read Psalm 73 about the same struggle. We must remembers that ours is often a delayed gratification. One day, those who prosper now will perish and He will destroy the unfaithful. But as Psalm 73: 28 says, "But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds." 

I leave you with this scripture, Matthew 7:13-14 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." 

Bite Back

This Friday, April 25, is World Malaria Day. And through the Bite Back campaign, people can give a one-time donation of $10 and provide a mosquito net for a child - or a family, if they’re all sleeping in the same place - who otherwise would have no protection from this completely preventable disease. That $10 will also provide education and treatment for people who are already sick with malaria.

So here’s how you can help.

Click https://www.compassion.com/contribution/giving/bite-back.htm to donate $10 that will provide a mosquito net for a child (you can donate more than that if you feel led). Each net lasts three years, so for $3.33 a year - less than a penny a day - you can save a child’s life.

Y'all are so great!

Brag on Brad a Bit

Here is where Brad is taking me June 26th - July 3rd. I can't wait! We will be married 11 years this summer and other than our honeymoon, have only been on a vacation once. We are so excited to go here www.occidentalhotels.com/grand/cozumel this summer. 

Criticism, What To Do With It

I read this the other day and thought is was good. 

Don't Take Criticism Too Lightly - you will fail to learn, you won't mature as quickly. 

Don't Take Criticism Too Seriously - you will lose heart, you will become depressed.

Now, what do you do if it comes from your oldest son who thinks he is a bit bigger than he really is. You listen and you don't take it too lightly and you take most of it seriously. After all, they are 11 and try to manipulate you to get out of trouble but that is beside the point. We are having an obedience problem in our house. Not just theirs either, mostly theirs but I have realized that I have contributed to the problem. Let me start at the beginning. 

Have you ever been in the grocery store, mall, etc. and heard a mom just letting her kid "have it" and you say to yourself that you never want to be THAT mom, but we all know that we are. We all get frustrated and let our kids "have it" on occasion. Well, yesterday was that day. After countless times of me telling the kids thing over and over, there was no reaction. You know when you say, let's go and no one even moves. It is like you know that you are speaking but no one seems to hear you. Or after church when I told Drew it was time to go and he just looked at me, 10 minutes later he showed up at that car. Yes, it was that kind of day. 

When we got home, I asked the boys to help pick up a bit. I asked Drew to get some chairs by the front door and move it to the garage. They were still there from our football game the day before. About 5 minutes later, he still hadn't done it so I asked him about it and he said that he didn't know what chairs I was talking about. He was confused as to what I really wanted put in the garage. Now, for your information, there was only one thing by the front door (the bright red chairs that we sit on at football games) that needed or belonged in the garage. I don't really think he thought I was asking him to move the couch into that garage but I am parenting a future lawyer and he was trying out his super skills of pleading a case and I just got frustrated. I told him enough, go get the chairs. You see, I am the original lawyer and I can argue with the best of them. 

Then the poor kids eyes fill up with tears and he tells me that, "EVERY TIME he makes a mistake, I ALWAYS get mad a him. I have no grace and mercy." I just about fell over, if he only knew how much grace and mercy I have given that child but that was beside the point. If only he knew how much grace he was receiving for me to listen to him. But, thankfully, about this point, I was silently praying, "Oh Lord, how do I handle this?" He kept saying you apologize for what you did do. Now, here is where I start by arguing with the Lord, "But he is trying to manipulate me, trying to get out of trouble for his earlier disobedience by blaming it all on me,but . . . but . . . but . . . " you know how the argument goes. Not me Lord, but them. You deal with them and not with me. We all do it. 

I finally listened and stopped the whole thing - very hard for me. I pulled both kids into the living room, we all got on our knees and I read James 5:16 "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." We all held hands, and confessed our attitudes, anger, and disobedience. Then we hugged and all was well in the Ewing household again.  

I must tell you the best part, a few minutes later the boys asked me to come upstairs. SCARY. But when I got to the top of the stairs, they had unloaded all the clean laundry and put it up in the right place, even dad's was put up right. Drew said, "I'll make a deal with you, you wash the clothes and we will put them up." WAHOO! Matthew 23:12 "For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." I choose to humble myself and admit my part and where I was wrong and then I was exalted and by exalted I mean, I had two boys who put up two baskets of laundry without even having to be asked. Oh yes, God is so good. 

Darn If You Do, Darn If You Don't

Brad and I unsuspectingly picked out "The Kite Runner" to watch last night. I heard that it is what good and showed what life is like in Afghanistan. I was in no way ready for what I saw. The movie is about the life of two boys and what their life is like living there. I must say, the movie left me in all sorts of emotions: scared, shocked, angered, heartbroken, every emotion that I have, I think I felt it during this movie. Warning, there are scenes you will never forget. I am pretty sure we should not forget. It shows what the Taliban did to their country when they took over. It shows how awful humanity can be without God. It clearly pictures why the Taliban needs to be stopped. In part of the commentary the director talks about how we as outsiders did nothing to help Afghanistan people when they were invaded by the Soviets and how the world watched as the Taliban took over and destroyed their country. I just have to say one thing, "Darn if you do, and darn if you don't!" When we as Americans come in and help, people scream that we are trying to take over the world and to stay out of their business. When no one helps, the world screams that we sat by and watched an injustice happen. How irritating is that! We are needed to stop the hideous crimes that happen in that country and many more due to Taliban rule. There are children who are homeless, raped, and left for dead on a daily basis, I'll tell you what - that is worth fighting for. There was this one scene when they stoned two people for adultery saying that the Bible says to do this. I think I recall Jesus saying, "You who are sinless, throw the first stone." People getting stoned in the name of "god" is worth fighting for. 

Boy, did that movie stir up a hornets nest. We can't just act like this isn't going on because we live her in America and we are tired of the war. This a real and powerful enemy we face. It is time to do something about it and stop fussing over why we are there, when we leave, blah, blah, blah. Remember the line from "A Few Good Men" the soldier says, "we were supposed to fight for those who couldn't fight for themselves." That is what we are to do. 

James 1: 27 says, "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after the orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

Overachieving Parents!

This picture is the definition of an overachieving parent. These cars were for a movie night last year for Awana. My friend called me yesterday and was telling me the long list of things she had to accomplish this week. One item on her list was to make cars for movie night for Awana. I was thinking that shouldn't be too hard, just get a cardboard box and draw some wheels. Then she preceded to tell me that her cars last year were "speciality cars." How can one just send their kids in a cardboard box this year when last year they had these cars pictured above. I told her that she had  broken the number one parenting rule. Never start big. Start slow and small and work your way up each year. Then your kids don't suffer disappointment and you don't feel the pressure of having to outdo yourself each year. By the way, these are the best cars I have ever seen, how would one even begin to top that? I have no idea. I can't wait to see their pictures from this year. I will keep you updated. 

We do this don't we? In our spiritual life we get excited and become spiritual overachievers only to soon burn out. We work and work and strive and strive and never really grasp the fact that spiritual maturity takes time and the Spirit working through us. Yes, it is work but His work. We labor and toil but don't stop and worship the King. Working is easy for me, I am what you would call a spiritual overachiever. I have learned my lesson (have to relearn sometimes). I need to let God's work sink in and change me and not just know bunches of facts and information but to KNOW OUR GOD. We have got to know Him. To know someone intimately takes time, undivided attention, and history. You build on your history together step by step. It is a marathon, not a race. 

Take time today to build your relationship with Him, to KNOW Him. Let's not be  spiritual overachievers who burn out quickly, let's be one's who endure over time and build our relationship with him. Step by step, verse by verse, prayer time by prayer time, trial upon trial, joy upon joy, day by day spend time with our Most High God. 

Must Read

I read this tonight and laughed my head off. Y'all have to read. This story is from our old pastor in college. He is talking about his parents and their marriage. It is great. It is called, "The Rolling Pin is Mightier then the Sword." 

http://www.elitton.blogspot.com/ 

Enjoy! 

Radio Play

Brad and the band are finally on the radio. Listen to 90.5 KTLF in Colorado Springs. Call them and let them know that you LOVE hearing their songs on the radio. On Tuesday, Brad will be in the studio and they will interview him and he will play some songs live. Call in and tell them you LOVE it!. (Are you getting the hint, we need your help!) 

Please call or e-mail 719-593-0600 or lcar@ktlf.org

Come To Me All Who Are Weary

I just woke up from a glorious nap. I have finally arrived to a great stage in parenting. The stage that I can tell my kids that I am going to take a nap and no one is to disturb me unless they are hurt or bleeding. It was wonderful. I was only woken up once by my youngest to help him in the bathroom but miraculously, I feel back asleep. I am not one who usually naps in the afternoon because it is hard for me to get to sleep at night normally, much less with a nap in the afternoon. 

But today, I took a good hour and a half nap. Oh, glorious day! Our oldest had a football game and had to be there at 8:15 am. On a SATURDAY! Needless to say, after a very long week and early football game. I was weary and tired and just a bit grumpy. I knew we had church tonight and needed to be refreshed. I had my nap and woke up ready to head to church. However, once we got ready Drew said he was not feeling good and I took his temperature and of course, he had a fever. No church for me tonight. I was so looking forward to a night of spiritual renewal. 

Guess I will be have my own spiritual renewal here. Drew and I are eating popcorn and watching "Facing the Giants" which is sure to inspire us live differently. I keep thinking of the verses that Jesus says, "Come to me all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." 

I know that Jesus plan and promise is that when we come to him, he will give us rest. We must come to him for the rest. We are to take his yoke and I am thinking that means that we are to do what only He wants us to do. I think we are so weary is because first, we aren't coming to Him and second, we are adding things to our days and schedules that He never asked us too. 

I am starting this week to begin my day saying, "Lord, you order my steps today. I only want to do what you would have me to do, nothing more and nothing less."  

This afternoon, I thank him for a good nap and a night of rest to hang out with my boys and watch movies and popcorn by the fire. 

By Faith We Let Them Go

"Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am." John 17:24

O death! why dost thou touch the tree beneath whose spreading branches weariness hath rest? Why dost thou snatch away the excellent of the earth, in whom in all our delight? If thou must use thine axe, use it upon the trees which yield no fruit; thou mightiest be thanked then. But why wilt thou fell the goodly cedars of Lebanon? O stay thine axe, and spare the righteous. But no, it must not be; death smites the goodliest of our friends; the most generous, the most prayerful, the most holy, the most devoted must die. And why? It is through Jesus' prevailing prayer - "Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am." It is THAT which bears them on eagle's wings to heaven. Every time a believer mounts from this earth to paradise, it is an answer to Christ's prayer. A good old divine remarks, "Many times Jesus and his people pull against one another in prayer. You bend your knee in prayer and say, 'Father, I will that thy saints be with me where I am;' Christ says, 'Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am." Thus the disciple is at a cross-purposes with his Lord. The soul cannot be in both places: the beloved one cannot be with Christ and with you too. Now, which pleader shall win the day? If you had your choice; if the King should step from his throne, and say, "Here are two supplicants praying in opposition to one another, which shall be answered?" Oh, I am sure, though it were agony, you would start from your feet, and say, "Jesus, not my will, but thine be done." You would give up your prayer for your loved one's life, if you could realize the thoughts that Christ is praying in the opposite direction - "Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am." Lord, thou shalt have them. By faith we let them go. Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening, March 22, Evening 

I must admit, I have never thought of death this way. I have never thought of intentionally praying against Jesus will. I often say, Jesus, not my will but yours. But do I really mean it. What if His will for me means death of a loved one ( I know this one to be true), death of me (or just my way of doing things, I am thinking literal death might be easier!). 

As I prepare food tonight for a dear family who has lost their mom, wife, daughter, sister, my heart is grieved. This devotion brings much comfort. Why? I KNOW that her death was Jesus will. I know we often throw around words and sayings, "God is sovereign." "He is in control." I know this all to be true. I trust that, I cling to that but I have never thought of it this way. That I could possibly be praying against what Jesus is praying. That is scary stuff. I would never want to do that but I know that I do. Often, it seems. What Jesus wants for us is so often not what we want for us. My prayer life will definitely change, I will not only only ask that His will be done. But ask for the Spirit to show me what Jesus wants and is praying in each situation. 

It is his love for us, the love that longs for us to be with him in heaven that is calling us home, not some mean God up there trying to ruin our lives. It is his love for this world that causes Him to wait for to bring us all home. He is waiting so that others may come to know Him. I know in theory that God loves me, but to realize that He longs to be with me, that He prays to the Father for me to be with Him. How cool is that. Let that really sink in. I think sometimes, we forget how great is love is, how intimate it is. How much He longs for us to be with Him. How many times a day do I blow Him off, when I am too busy to spend time with Him. 

Oh Lord, forgive me for my lack of understanding. Thank you for showing my how deep and how wide your love is for me. Forgive me when I think your plans are not for me but against me. Oh Lord, that I would live this life in light of eternity, knowing one day we will see You face to face and this life here will seem like a vapor. So, by faith, I let go the love ones who are with you in heaven! 

Weekend Getaway

Brad and the band were up in Vail, Colorado to lead worship for a church there and the wives all decided that we would go up for a night and stay with the guys. Now, I am far from family and getting away one night takes lots of work and coordination. It has hard to get someone to watch your kids for the night. Most of my friends have kids of their own and really don't need my two adding to their family. 

But, I knew it was important to take time away with just us and not the kids so I persevered and decided to pay someone to watch the kids for the night. I have found sometimes it is just easier to pay someone to watch your kids.  You know, no guilt while you are gone if someone else is watching your kids. It is hard for me to ask people to help! 

Anyway, I left for Vail and the baby sitter was going to come to my house and get the kids a little later. Well, have you ever heard the saying, we make plans and God laughs. I think of that saying often because it seems like the harder I plan the more they unravel. 

My babysitter was coming in from out of town and didn't make it around the time she thought and so I was in a mess. I know, my life seems to be one mess after another. 

I got on my phone and made some calls and my second family out here - our neighbors, have a wonderful daughter that my kids love (so do I, even more so now, if possible) and she took the kids for the night. It all worked out and we got our nice night together. 

I wonder why it is so hard for husbands and wives to get away together. Why does something always "come up." I forgot to tell you that that morning I almost didn't go because of weather but it cleared up and I could drive through it. 

So, back to my question? I really honestly feel like Satan has it out for Christian marriages and he is not going to make it easy to celebrate or even enjoy your marriage. He is going to do what he can to interrupt our plans. 

Why do I think this? Because after we got through crises number 1 and had the kids taken care of. We woke up in Vail to snow, I mean lots of snow. Snow that was falling so hard you couldn't see in front of you. We knew that is was supposed to continue snowing and if we didn't get on the road fast, we would get stuck. (Then my kids would really be in a mess!) So, our day that we were going to spend in Vail just hanging out together turned into driving home at 10 miles an hour on snow, ice, and who knows what else. We couldn't see the car in front of us at times, we had hours of white-knuckled driving. Talk about stress. Now, most of you know that Brad and I are not big fans of the snow and neither of us like driving in it. Much less when the car in front of you is sliding around and hits a guard rail. Whew, we know how to take a short vacation together. 

So, to totally prove my point. Satan (and sin, it is not all his fault) is into messing up our lives and he sure doesn't want a Christian marriage to thrive and grow. I mean, God created marriage to be a picture of the church - why in the world would he want that to happen. So, what do we do? WE DON'T LET HIM WIN! 

We decide that we were making some good memories and we laugh about it later and enjoy the fact that we made it safely. It increased our prayer life. Nothing like driving when you can't see the road in front of you to get you praying. 

I told Brad this weather was going to turn me pentecostal. I was raising my hands, but only one at a time because I had one hand on the wheel (Jesus, take the wheel . . . Hee hee, I listened to that song too, I was taking it a bit more literal than intended, I think. )Anyway,  I wanted to be safe, while praying "Oh Loooord, please watch over this car. Oh Looord, protect us. Oh Loord!" I was claiming and yelling all kinds of things, this normally emotionally cool (unless angry) woman is not in habit of doing. I was stepping out in all kinds of stuff. So satan, you can take your ideas of ruining my weekend and stick it! The weekend didn't go as we planned but I know my God is control, even when I can't see five feet in front of me. 

Praise the Lord, I think I need me some praise banners! 

Psalm 124 "I lift my eyes to the hills (snowy mountains) - where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot (or car) slip - he who watches over you will not slumber, indeed, he who watches over Israel (Brad and Kasey) will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you - the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun (snow) will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm- he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both (to Vail and home) now and forevermore."

"Quality Shoes"

I have just been informed that there is a song written in dedication to quality shoes. 

Check it out. Mark Knopfler has  a song titled "Quality Shoes" on his Ragpickers Dream album. 

I guess we aren't the only ones wanting some good, quality shoes!

He Comes By It Honestly!

Ok, I must admit that Drew's desire for "Good, Quality Shoes" is an inherited trait. After school yesterday we headed to Sports Authority (it is way cheaper than Dick's) to do some shoe shopping with Drew's money. Guess what, I found the best pair of Nike running shoes for him for $68. What a deal for good, quality running shoes! I kept trying to convince him that these were the shoes for him. He had $65 and I told him I would even pitch in the extra money for the difference. 

I learned yesterday that Drew is not the only one who has a problem spending other people's money. I was more than happy for him to purchase the $68 pair when he was using his OWN money. 

However, Drew was not so excited about the $68 pair - he said, they are cool looking but WAY too expensive. He settled on a less expensive pair and we left. 

Lesson learned for all of us. Buy shoes with your own money, you are much more responsible when it is your own cash you are spending! 

"I Just Don't Think $35 is Enough to get Good, Quality Shoes!"

These are the exact words I heard from my oldest son yesterday at the sporting good store. My oldest son, who in the last month has gotten 3 new pairs of shoes. Well, make that four. I found some Nike cleats on sale at Ross for $14.99 that I just had to get him. Other than that he had to have basketball shoes, football cleats, and just plain ole' regular tennis shoes. So you can imagine our disgust when he told us that he didn't think that "$35 was enough to get good, quality tennis shoes." It was hard not to beat him over the head with the horrible-quality shoe.

So we like good parents, left. We told him that if he wanted the $44 shoes than he could get them with his own money. Oh, and that he needed to get a job! 

So, this morning I told him that after school we could go shopping WITH HIS MONEY for some "GOOD QUALITY TENNIS SHOES." He said, "It's ok, we can get the cheaper pair, they are fine." 

Can you believe it? When it is his money, the shoes are fine. When it is our money, he needs some good, quality tennis shoes. 

Here's to good quality tennis shoes, for a mere $35.