Family...this really struck a cord with me...

I'm not trying to show off my back-side, I was just going for the mom and kids thing!


My four most precious gifts!


One great mom, aunt, sister, and friend - my hero, Kathryn!!


the girls...just a few pictures that make me think of FAMILY!!!


I received this e-mail from a friend at work. I was crying even before I got to the 4th paragraph. I kept thinking...this is me, this is me. All day at work I paste on a smile, greet students and visitors, ask how I can help them and try my hardest to be professional. But, when I get home, I am short tempered and easily annoyed. This really struck it's mark with me. I just pray I can remember this in about 3 hours when I go home. Don't just let these words touch you for a minute and then go about your day. Remember them always. Nothing is more important than how we make our children feel. Do they know they are cherished? Do they know how bleak our lives would be without them? Take the time NOW to let them know how much they mean to you! If my four precious gems ever read this, know that your mommy loves you. My life was complete the day I became a MOTHER!!!

F A M I L Y

I ran into a stranger as he passed by,
"Oh excuse me please" was my reply.
He said, "Please excuse me too;
I wasn't watching for you."
We were very polite, this stranger and I.
We went on our way and we said goodbye.

But at home a different story is told,
How we treat our loved ones, young and old.
Later that day, cooking the evening meal,
My son stood beside me very still.
When I turned, I nearly knocked him down.
"Move out of the way," I said with a frown.
He walked away, his little heart broken.
I didn't realize how harshly I'd spoken.

While I lay awake in bed,
God's still small voice came to me and said,
" While dealing with a stranger, common courtesy you use,
but the family you love, you seem to abuse.
Go and look on the kitchen floor,
You'll find some flowers there by the door.
Those are the flowers he brought for you.
He picked them himself: pink, yellow and blue.
He stood very quietly not to spoil the surprise,
you never saw the tears that filled his little eyes."

By this time, I felt very small,
And now my tears began to fall.
I quietly went and knelt by his bed;
"Wake up, little one, wake up," I said.
"Are these the flowers you picked for me?"
He smiled, "I found 'em, out by the tree.
I picked 'em because they're pretty like you.
I knew you'd like 'em, especially the blue."
I said, "Son, I'm very sorry for the way I acted today;
I shouldn't have yelled at you that way."
He said, "Oh, Mom, that's okay.
I love you anyway."

I said, "Son, I love you too,
and I do like the flowers, especially the blue."

FAMILY
Are you aware that if we died tomorrow, the company that we are working for could easily replace us in a matter of days.
But the family we left behind will feel the loss for the rest of their lives.

And come to think of it, we pour ourselves more into work than into our own family,
an unwise investment indeed, don't you think?