Queenies Little Kingdom

Have you ever had a job you hated? I have. Every single day, I dreaded going in. I could find reason after reason for not being able to work. Who wants an employee like that? I would have to say nobody. Luckily for me, I have a job I really love. But lately I’ve been so tired that I feel like I’m spinning my wheels. Maybe it’s the weather changing or my getting older that’s the problem. Whatever it is…..I am pooped!

Tonight my brain is buzzing…..that’s how tired I am. I started thinking about Solomon. He was a wise dude. He had it all….there was nothing he was in want of. But he also felt unsatisfied at times. In Ecclesiastes, he lays it all out there. A time for this a time for that. Everything is meaningless, pleasures and wisdom. All that we do…..none of it can even come close to comparing with God.

All that we stress out about, every little worry. None of it matters. What does matter is that we live a life that is satisfying to Christ. All the hard work we toil and struggle with in our jobs (that’s never going to bring a true satisfaction). Until we learn (like Solomon did) that we do not find happiness in our jobs, people, stuff, going places and living the good life….we will continue to feel miserable and disatisfied. I don’t know about you…but I want to live a satisfied life. I don’t want to be a hater. I want to live at peace…and rest in His hands. I’m learning to live contently and let God control His world and ME! How about you?

Ecclesiastes 2:17 “So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun is grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.”

With all the hoopla over those older two teeny boppers. I am proud to announce the baby of the family has hit the show scene with her first choir concert of the school year. Woohoo, go Miss Gates! Her director is fresh out of college and in her first year of teaching…..so let’s just say, her energy is amazing! She’s creative and talented like nobody’s business. Last night’s show proved to the standing room only crowd (they ran out of seating way before the concert even began!) that Mrs. Thompson can “bring it”! It was THE BEST choir show I’ve attended at that school in the five years I’ve had a child perform there. BRAVO!

Una Voce (Gates show choir group) performed the opening number, THRILLER! It was fantastic! They even had the choreography down……pat! Each student had on dark clothing with white painted faces (you know the Halloween theme and all). Everyone looked the same. Except you can’t hide a Galloway girl thanks to their wild hair. I had a little mix-up at first. Another girl had curled her hair and looked a little bit like Gates….me old eyes had to adjust a little, why with the fog machine blowing in all that fake smoke….I was having to blink and look again! They were incredible! Way to go, Una Voce (One voice in Italian)!

Gates had a little solo moment while singing with Una Voce, the song Transylvania Mania. I have a quick picture of her at the microphone. She was there and gone in a flash! But she sounded great. The Ballad of Sweeney Todd was another amazing song choice. These kids sounded much more mature than 8th grade. I’m telling you…..it was an impressive night.

As a mama, I can’t be more proud of my kids. This night belonged to Gates! You really are a cool kid, Miss Gates. We love you and are so proud of you. It’s not always easy to follow behind two really awesome siblings….but you do it very well. God bless you for paving your own way in this world and pointing those around you to Jesus. Wow! You’re awesome girl! 🙂

At the end of the concert….guess who came in to swoop up the crowd with their mad skillz? Yep, Touch of Class (Gavin’s hot-shot group from the high school). They were dressed thug/gangsta and performed, IM’MA SHINE! It was great! These kids…..all of them…rocked the house. This was really my favorite choir show yet. I have a few clips. I hope they give a little taste of the energy that was in the room. Enjoy!

Gates is in the middle on the front row. Somebody call a doctor!

Gates Fall Show from Wanda Galloway on Vimeo.

Gavin is the dude in the white hoodie on back row. For realz!

Gavin’s Hip-hop (Touch of Class) from Wanda Galloway on Vimeo.

Just tell me?  Why?  What is the deal?  I wanna be laid back!  I want stuff to just roll off my back, dang it!  I’m a total control freak!  I’m also bossy and pushy!  It has to be that first-born curse thingy!  I’m so hopped up on my own adrenaline…..I can’t chill-ax!  That has to be dangerous!

I know the old saying…..Let go, let God!  I do that for most part…..but on some things..I get all stressed out and frazzled!  Knowing the whole time, I should just let it rest and trust God.  Lord, I am your weak child.  I’m sorry!  Help me relax!

There are some things that really get me wound up more so than others.  My kids!  Recently, I read a little article linked from the famous Boomama blog called “Trophy Kids”. The article was great and pretty informational.  Employers are dealing with our trophy kids….the ones who’ve had everything pretty much handed to them.  You know, the ones who expect stuff and privileges as their God-given right?!!  Oh don’t act like you haven’t set your kid up just a little for this one.  We’ve all done it somehow.

What about forgotten homework?  Have you ever driven that up to the school….in order to keep Jr. from getting a zero?  Or what about paying for A’s?  Ever done that one?  We’re too poor for that one, but we would have if we could have!  I’m guilty!  Every little helicopter parenting move we have made in our kids life….unfortunately will stand the chance of molding them into people who expect things to go their way.

Do you remember consequences?  I do.  I had jobs to do NO MATTER WHAT ELSE WAS GOING ON IN MY LIFE!!  I still had to complete those jobs before my parents let me go anywhere, game or no game!  We don’t hold our kids to the same fire these days.  I’m so wishy-washy on..”Oh he has a game, he can’t get to that right now!” excuses.  I either end up doing the job for the kid or it goes undone for who knows how long.  More guilt!  That’s not to say that there are times when something needs to be shifted around on the to do list.  But I should be holding my kids accountable for the responsibilities they have within my family.  I’m sending the wrong message when I don’t.

I’ve had a crazy day today.  Remember I work with teenagers (HIGH SCHOOL TEENS!!).  It was cooking day in the classes I taught.  You cannot even begin to understand how young adults DO NOT LISTEN OR FOLLOW DIRECTIONS!!!!  On simple instructions!  No common sense!  We were cooking brownies, ya’ll.  Not making our own yeast rolls.  Brownies, from a box!  Come on!  It was a real eye opener.  I made a comittment to myself right then and there…..I’m cutting my kids off the apron strings!  They are going to be responsible people when they leave my house or else!

I’m on a mission!  I have worked my whole momhood with a few serious goals in mind.  One, I’ve prayed that my children would accept and follow Jesus Christ.  Check, got that one!  Two, I’ve also been praying over their purity and for their future spouse’s purity (and the parents raising them).  All’s pure at this darling teen age.  Three,  I’ve taught and prayed over their education and choices for their future.  No one’s quit school and started hanging out at the pool hall thus far!  Lastly,  I’ve worked hard training them to be productive, responsible, smart, trustworthy, hard-working contributing citizens of our world.  Why? Because the children really are our future!  Can I get an amen in here?

Well, as you can see……..I’ve got stuff to do.  My job is not finished…these people are still living here and God has put me in charge of them.  I have to get busy teaching them to be responsible and productive.  Oh and how to make brownies!  Then, I’ve got to relax!

Maybe I’ll ask for a massage appointment for Christmas??!!!   Naaaah, I’d rather have a Wii!

Matt. 11:28 “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

I’m so excited to participate in this Bloggy Carnival giveaway!! I’m really just a newbie on the blog scene and I have longed to do a giveaway like those who have gone before me. I have been so inspired by the other bloggers out there. You people are amazing! So many of you are living your lives transparent for all to see and doing it with some serious grace, ya’ll! Thank you for sharing yourselves in your blog and for pointing your readers to the Lord Jesus. I so love that!

Now on to the real reason you’re here……..WHAT ON EARTH AM I GIVING AWAY????? Well, I’m giving away something that I needed for myself and couldn’t find at a store. A camera case for my little digital camera. I wanted something pretty and simple that I could stick in my purse or hold on my arm (and still look cute). So, I just went out and bought material….came home and whipped up my own creation of a camera bag! Crazy huh? Well, if you knew me…..you’d agree….CRAZY to the shizzle! I am not a seamstress! I am a mean hot glue-er’er…..and there’s nothing I won’t try to hot glue if needed. I did sew in this case. Remember this is “homemade”, people!

I don’t know what your needs are…but if you would like to win this weird little prize. Please leave me a comment and tell me……1) Do you have a camera? 2) Do you march to the beat of your own drum and do things your way……or the way the world says? (Not a trick question…..I’m just wondering if you’re like me and not willing to go with what is out there when what you want is something different than that?!?). Oh, and I have 3 of these babies to send out in the world. Contest runs October 27th-November2nd. Three lucky winners will be randomly selected. If you’re not a blogger, please don’t forget to leave an email address.

Oh and good luck! Thank you for stopping by my blog……I hope you’ll come back!

Hmm, good word huh? Content! Satisfied, fullfilled. Not longing for something more. Happy with what you have. At peace with all things in your life. Proclaiming your thankfulness for what and where God has you in life. So, how ya doing? Are you feeling content with life? Well, I’m not here to step on any toes, but……do you need a boost in the contentment area? Me too!

Life is so unpredictable! I have no clue where the darts come from sometimes. But I’ve been the target more times than I can count for discouragement and hopelessness. Maybe that’s just a weak spot for me and satan knows it. All I know is that I want to be content and happy with life….but stuff happens! I bet it happens to you too.

Paul understood tough times. He was a servant that took a licking and kept on ticking. The man was in prison (and I’m not talking conditions that can be found in today’s prisons), he was stoned…so badly stoned that they drug his body out to the dump because they thought he was dead. Paul knew what it was like to be hungry, cold, tired, shipwrecked, & beaten over and over. He was misunderstood, mistreated, forsaken, forgotten, abused, attacked and left for dead. Oh brother! and this is the guy who talks about being content in Philippians 4:11.

I only know a tiny bit about suffering…..but nothing like the apostle Paul. My life is a bed of roses compared. I feel foolish ever whining when I think of what my Lord suffered for me or Paul for the sake of the gospel. (God, I’m made of flesh….forgive me!?!) Can you relate? Are there things in your life that have you completely baffled and discontent? I’m sure there are. Thankfully, as a follower of Christ we have God’s grace. Remember: “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.”

Having a wonderful life is not part of the Christian creed. Our happiness is not God’s chief aim. Stuff will happen, things will not go as we hope or plan. We will feel pain and rejection, we’ll experience loss and failure. If we allow it…we will grow more like Him through our struggles. Oh but that’s hard to swallow when we are suffering. My prayer for you is that God would give you some perspective. Like Paul, how can you manage your situation? Is there some way to know what it is to be in need and yet feel content? Read more on Paul. His life story is inspirational. Perspective….

Philippians 4:11-13 (New International Version)
11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Listen to these words by Nicol Sponberg (former member of group Selah & mother that lost 3 month old son Luke to SIDS this year).

Very beautiful! Perspective.

I woke up this morning to that sound all mama’s dread…..”Moooooooooooom, come help meeeeeee!”. I jumped up and ran down the hall, I could see one of my babes was in the bathroom. I knocked on the door and peeked in. Yep, sick girl! Poor Miss Gates…she had a quilt on the floor by the potty. It appeared she and the pot had been close buddies most of the night. I instantly felt terrible for her. I know being sick feels gross not to mention doing it on your own. Blak!

I helped her get a little Ginger-ale down and some pills with it. She got in the shower hoping for a miracle bath, I think. Then I remembered I had to get our poodle, Lizzy to the beauty parlor by 10am. So off we go with dirty dog and sick girl as my partner/delivery girl. I run in with the dog and the groomer says she is feeling sick herself. I leave the dog and head to Walmart for soup and more Ginger-ale. Gates begins to feel better but is still weak.

We arrive back home and carry in the Walmart load (you know we bought more stuff than soup and Ginger-ale?!). Then I hear it again, “Moooooooom, please come here!”. Down the hall again, this time it’s Gavin and he’s in bed…..so sick he can’t move! He’s been up all night in his bathroom. He felt terrible too. He had searched the cabinet for a particular medicine and couldn’t find any. I agreed to run back to Walmart for med’s. He gets up and tries to eat something and hears my cell phone beeping. I check the call and it’s the groomer……I call her back and she’s so sick she needs me to come back to get the dog. What is the deal? Everyone’s sick!

I go back and get the dog (poor lady….she’s terribly ill with this monster sickness) and stop by Walmart again. Make another stop for movies since I know this means people laying around and moaning in misery. Get home and settle in to watch a movie with my two sickies (Ally was in her room eating and reading/texting). We relax and enjoy the movie…..both kids are slowly coming back to life.

My friend Valerie calls me…she’s on her way into town and wants to get together. We have a weakness for yummy coffee drinks at our town’s little coffee shop. So I agree to go….warn her that I look like the mom of two sick kids (which is code talk for I looked ragged out awful!) and she says, “Who cares?”.  Now that’s a friend!

She picks me up in her cool convertible (it was a rainy dreary day out so the top was up) and off we go to A Perfect Day Cafe! If anybody needed that it was me, ya’ll! I was needing to turn my day around and start over. Do you ever feel that way? I know I do. That’s how sin is too. When we wreck our fellowship with Christ….we can’t get peace until we repent and deal with Him who offers forgiveness. Everything we do, God sees. He is El Roi (the God who sees). We can’t hide anything from Him.

Both kids are feeling much better tonight. Gavin actually went on and cheered at the football game. Gates met up with a girlfriend at the game for some hang time. Now they are both home, tired and in pj’s. Hopefully they’ll get some sleep tonight and not spend time in the bathroom. Oh and me….well, I’m doing great. After all, I’ve had a perfect day! 🙂

My yummy Caramel Frappi!

Proverbs 5:21 “For a man’s ways are in full view of the Lord, and He examines all his paths.”