Family Videos

As I drove to Arielle's on my way to a family reunion. I was remembering when Arielle was a baby. I would put a video camera at the food table at family Christmas dinners.  After the reunions were over I would take the videos home. Then on the nights when Kev would be at meetings I would show the videos to Arielle. I would point out each family member and tell her who everyone was. I wanted her to get to know my family, her family. I also had family pictures in her room and we would name each person before bed.

So when Arielle was probably two years old we went to a family reunion at my cousin Debbie's. I went in and started setting up the camera. The video camera was huge and we had to carry the VHS player with us to attach the camera.  Kev was bringing in the food. When he came by the table, he asked where Arielle was. I told him I thought she was with him.

We went on a search. As we walked through the crowd everyone said she came by and said hi, and went that way. When we found her, she was on the front porch with the older men and  sitting in my Uncle Grady's lap with her glow worm. I said, "I'm sorry", and when I went to get her, Uncle Grady, said, "She's fine, go visit."  That showed us that the videos worked. She was at home with a family she had only seen a couple of times.

I'm from North Carolina and when Arielle was a baby, I really wanted her to feel a part of my family even tho we lived so far away. I grew up in a close knit family. I lived near grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. My church had lots of family and we went to grandparents every Sunday for dinner (that's lunch).  The videos truly helped.

Now lets fast forward to today. You do not need a huge camera and VHS player, you can use your phone. FaceTime is a perfect example. Your kids can visually speak and have a relationship face to face even though they are hours apart. You can send videos to each other. We sent videos to my nephew on his daughters adoption day for her to watch. Everyone wanted to make sure she knew who they were and that she is loved. My daughters mother in law has started a Facebook group for her kids and grandkids. She reads stories and sings songs, so even if she isn't there physically for her grandchildren she can still read them to sleep.

Have a Blessed Day,
Mama D

"Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it." Proverbs 22:6 (NIV)

From BRAT to BOSS

 "From BRAT to BOSS" is the name of my book. I had the title for probably 10 years but every time I thought about writing it I would come up with lots of reasons not to. My favorite was, I'm too busy!

A little background before I finish telling how God worked in my life to finally bring the book to fruitition. I've been teaching children in Sunday School since 1994ish, Arielle was in the 3rd grade. The teacher was a very sweet older lady with a soft voice. She would tell the bible story and then the kids walked up and down the halls, go sit in the church library, etc. you probably get the idea. Rev Kev (my husband) asked me to pray about helping her. After I prayed about it, I decided since Arielle was not the sit quietly in a chair for 30 minutes after a story was told kinda kid, that helping the teacher was the right thing to do. After 3 weeks of helping, the teacher asked me if I would teach and let her go back to her class. She said she'd been teaching children 40 some years. Oh my! I was a teacher. 

Arielle grew up to be a wonderful Minister of Students and I stayed with the 1st to the 5th grades.

Okay, now back to my story. I started my book after I lost my job in 2014. I was walking my dog, praying and crying. I was telling God, I just didn't understand. I worked hard, met my deadlines, and really enjoyed the people so I was totally floored when it happened. God told me, not verbally but in my heart and head, "So you've always said you were too busy to write the book. WHAT'S YOUR EXCUSE NOW!!!!" Needless to say I went home from walking the dog and started writing.

I was also sending in resumes, painting the house and downsizing so when or if the Lord sold our house we would be ready to move. I got a part time job a year later. I went in early so I could work on the book at lunch before my shift. We were still working on the house. Then another year passed, I was able to get a full time job. It's an hour away but I like listening to the Christian radio station and sometimes I listen to books on CD. 

We were still trying to sell the big house and we had bought a smaller home that needed some renovations. I put the book on hold again. I needed to put time into learning my new job and getting the new to us home ready to move in. 

Last week I finished my book and I sent it to the publisher. It is a Bible Study book for Tweenagers (9 to 12 year olds). It is about the life of Joseph. I started the story with Joseph's parents because I think the readers need to know why I think Joseph was a BRAT. He was the only son of the love of his life, Rachel, for several years before his younger brother was born. He had 10 other brothers. 

One of my goals is for the young people that get the book to learn that they, like Joseph, can stay positive even while going through hard times during their life.

It will be probably 3 months before it's ready to be put on Amazon and the other book lists. It has to go through several stages with the publisher. 

I am very excited!! Please pray for the young people that study the story of Joseph.

Have a Blessed Day,
Mama D

3 John 1:4 NIV
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.