~ The True Meaning Of Christmas~

Have you ever had one of those weeks where you felt like your life was so hard that you just wanted to break down and cry? Well let me just tell you, this week has been one of those weeks for me. Trying to juggle school, dance, being a mom, and a wife can be overwhelming at times.Especially during finals week. Who honestly wants to be spending everynight away from your family during the Christmas season. Not me! Just thinking about it makes me more upset. But I was reminded tonight by my 4 year old what this time of year is all about.

While Hallie and I were in the car on our way to pick Kevin up for his usual 5:00 break, we started to talk about Christmas and Santa and the Elfs. She started rambling on and on about all of the things she wanted for Christmas this year. Then, out of the blue she said something I have told her many times before but didn't think she understood or had a long enough attention span to obsorb. She said "Mommy you know, Christmas isn't just about Santa or presents; it's about love, family and mostly Jesus".

 What better way could God have reminded me about his love and about Christmas than through the heart of a child ? I was reminded through her, that God sent his only son to earth to save me.  What if I had to give up my only child in order to save the world? I can say with certainty that I couldn't do that. As I was thinking about loosing her, I was reminded how blessed I am to have a happy healthy family and how blessed I am to see them live for the glory of God every day.  I was reminded that I shouldn't be planning to celebrate Jesus's birthday just on December 25th, but that I should wake up every morning of, every day of every year with an attitude of praise.

"I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High". Psalms 7:17
Sometimes we must be reminded of what we are here for and what this time of year is all about. I hope this was a blessing to you and your life.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!




Hallie in front of our beautiful Christmas tree



At Nana's by her tree



Daddy and Hallie



 

This Is What Big Families Are All About

Macie Cantrell

            There is nothing like coming home from school and seeing the candy you got for Halloween two days ago scattered all over your bedroom floor after one of your little sisters raided it. After you cool down and try not to freak out, you notice that the candy is all gone and only the wrappers remain.  Almost every day was like this when I still lived at home.  Even though there were bad and annoying times, I still learned a lot about myself and gained an infinite amount of wisdom by being the oldest of 5 kids.

            Patience. Even after all these years of being the oldest kid of 5, I still haven’t quite figured this one out. How can you be patient when you’re about to pee on yourself and there is only one bathroom? Or when you have to wait in line for dinner like in a freaking cafeteria? It was hard to wait on all of my siblings, through ball games, getting picked up for school. I’m not going to lie to you. There were times I wanted it to be all about me so I didn’t have to wait one anyone else.  But being part of a big family taught me to wait and be patient for other people besides myself.

Unselfishness. I can’t tell you how big of a deal this word was growing up.  There was no my room, your room it was every ones room. If you needed to study, well good luck because someone would come in without knocking every 5 min. One time I was changing and of course, my stupid brother walked in on me naked. So instead of freaking out and covering up I just stood there and said “Hello”. He always knocked from that point on. Everything that I owned, I never really owned because someone would always be borrowing it and of course loosing it.  Learning to live with a bunch of people taught me how to share not only my things, but my time and my life.

Responsibility. I learned how to cook and clean. I greatly aided in the raising of my younger siblings. I learned to do things that will always come in handy. Like, don’t put a rag in the microwave to heat up for your little sister’s leg cramps and forget about it. Don’t worry; it was only on fire for a few minutes. I learned how to deal with grumpy kids, poopy kids, snotty kids, mean kids, etc. There is a home video of me and my brother when I was 2 and my brother was just born. I wanted to change his diaper. When I opened it up he peed right in my face. To this day we watch that video and crack up.

I learned so much by living with so many people, but I think the most important thing I learned was to love and be loved. I learned it from my parents. My parents are the kind of parents that never missed a game, always gave us hugs and kisses, and told us constantly how wonderful we are. Since I am the oldest, I had the blessing of being able to instill the love they taught me into the lives of my younger siblings. I think that being a part of a big family showed me how to love unconditionally and that love has no price tag. There is always someone there to lend a hand, always someone to help you through or just to make you laugh. There is never a time when you feel alone or helpless. There was love all around me growing up

Side Note: I WANT TO HAVE A BIG FAMILY WITH LOTS OF KIDS!!!!!!

~Dance In Public School~

Dance has made its way through the world, making a difference in the hearts and lives of individuals for centuries.  Through dancing, human beings have been able to take stances, share opinions, and relate so much more to entire generations, than words ever could, without speaking a single word.  To me that is powerful.  What have the dance styles said about past generations, and what are they saying now?  How has dance as an art form changed the way people perceive the world, and the issues that surround them? 

There are several reasons dance was and is still performed today. It is performed for social reasons, political, spiritual, cultural, and for entertainment.  Of course the styles have changed and adapted over time, but the principles of why it is done still stand. We might dance at a wedding for social and ritualistic reasons, some dance in Washington to covey a political stance on a subject such as immigration.  Why do you dance?  Do you go dancing at Sky Bar in Bricktown on Friday night with your friends, or is it that you can’t dance at all? Is it that you are the awkward “jelly fish” of the group who wouldn’t dare grace himself or anyone else with his presence of the dance floor? Well coming from a dancer, that’s probably a good idea. You still want to somewhat impress the ladies.

The fact of the matter is that we all dance, even if it’s just in front of our mirror alone in our room, in the car listening to our favorite 80’s album we listened to when we were kids, or at your very own wedding (sorry boys its gonna happen sooner or later). We all dance in this country, but it would be nice for awareness of dance and the essence of it to be conveyed in all seriousness to others so that they too can experience the richness that it holds firm within its grasp.

Dance as an art form is loosing its velocity, its momentum, its meaning. I think the main place that dance is missing is in public schools.  “Yes” answers the average everyday teacher, politician, or parent when asked, “Is childhood obesity rising in this country?”  Then why the hell has nothing been done? I am sorry but running suicides for a half hour in 5^th grade for exercise doesn’t make you want to loose weight or eat better, it makes the child want to go home and eat a box of Twinkies before he actually commits suicide. It does nothing to increase the overall betterment and well being of the child.

Through dance we have the opportunity to help people with their health and their self esteem and to also teach them to be well rounded.  By creating a dancing program in public schools, we are not only helping the kids to stay healthy, but creating for the kids an environment where they learn how to take care of their overall wellbeing. We are teaching them the art form of dance so that it is more highly appreciated and not considered “gay” when he wants to be well rounded and play football and dance. If it’s that we want our children and our population in America to be highly educated and less fat, why it is that in public school education arts; especially in dance is not deemed necessary to teach our children? Changes need to be made.



My first dance recital when I was 5. It was a ballet called "The Gift" I was a red bird, my very favorite color.



Me at around the age of 17.

~Changed Forever~

FEAR- Why do I feel this fear?

Maybe it's the pain, O yes it's the pain

Please make it go away

WONDER- I wonder what you'll look like

I wonder what you'll feel like here in my arms

Ahh!! I feel swarmed

ALONE- Why do I feel so alone

Yet everyone is here

I wish I were at home kicking back and having a nice cold beer

ANXIOUS- Please little one

Won't you come see

Don't you want to meet your daddy and me

RIGHT NOW- O! Wait....you mean it's time?

It's ok I am doing just fine

Now I look in your eyes for the very first time

And place your tiny hand in mine

Eyes they wonder

they wonder

they meet

I can't take my eyes off you

as you gaze up at me

And so was the day I became a mommy
 
 written by: Macie Cantrell

~ Dreams~

Hallie has always loved to draw. Ever since she was old enough to pick up a pen, crayon, or pencil she has loved to draw. Drawing is something that she starts at the beginning of the day, and by the end of the day the living room floor is covered with her colorful works of art. Some days, as much as I hate to admit it, I find it frustrating to have a very messy living room that I had just cleaned the previous night. Well today as she was drawing, instead of being foolish and getting irritated about my dirty messy floor, I took the time to look at each individual picture and listen to her tell me the stories behind each one. I realized it was dumb that I waited so long to do so. As I looked around the living room at each unique drawing, it truly inspired me! The way that she stayed so passionate and driven to finish each elaborate drawing, made me think of the things I often leave unfinished because I loose interest or simply don't have the time. A lot of times us "adults" forget how to stay focused, driven and passionate about that one thing in life that surpasses all others. The one thing that when you join or engage in, makes everything else in the world stop, and for a moment it's just you with your dream..... How truly intimate is that??!!  We are all made to accomplish that one thing in life that no other human on earth can accomplish! We are all beautifully and wonderfully made! We must not forget about our dreams or let them slip away! Do not let the things of this world keep you from your dream and gift that God designed for you!

"But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded."2 Chronicles 15:7

Even though we are grown up to our children, we are still children in Gods eyes. We must remember to sometimes keep a childlike approach in life. We must remember to devote ourselves to our dreams and callings just as Jesus devoted his life to his calling.

So as I am finishing up, I leave you with these questions: What is your calling? What do you dream about? What makes you the most fulfilled when you experience it? Now that you know what that dream is, What is keeping you from fulfilling your dream? Pray about it! Let me know your dreams so I can pray for you!

Hallie posing with her drawing

She fell asleep while she was drawing.
If that's not devotion I don't know what is.

A drawing of Hallie, Maddie and Emmie


 

~ I Wish She Could Stay Little~

As I sit here, in my new Edmond apartment, watching Tinker Bell with Hallie (who will be 4 in September), I am taken back.... It seems like just yesterday we were living in McLoud watching Barbie and the Diamond Castle. It's crazy to think that so much has changed in just two short years.
 

As I have been reflecting on my life,  I have also had much more time to spend with my family.  My little Hallie is not so little anymore, and sometimes it's scary to think about. It's one thing to hear your parents say " I will miss you, and be so sad on your first day of school, but I will be happy for you:" and to actually experience it for yourself. Well I have actually had to experience this the last week, and it is very bittersweet. It's hard to imagine that my little Grace is already so anxious to take off away from me. I knew this day would come, but unfortunately I didn't know it would be so soon... I am already so proud of the young girl she has become. I love the way that she lights up when she speaks of Jesus and what he has done for her. WOW! What an amazing child of God.  Raising her and being her mother has been fun, difficult, and yet the most amazing experience of my life. Thank you Lord for giving me Hallie, my unexpected, wonderful and lovely first born daughter.

Train up a child in the way he should go;
even when he is old he will not depart from it.

—Proverbs 22:6