I'm availaable...IF you need me....even though I KNOW you NEED me.

So, I was talking to my husband today....not really a good thing on just about no sleep, coupled with the social, personal, and educational responsibilities that keep me going like a plane on auto pilot.Anyone that knows me knows I am a night owl. but I tend to take that term to the enth degree...as in hardly no sleep.
My theory is that so much can and should be done at night!!!
Banking, Christmas shopping, school...everything should be available at night...once my kids go to sleep....ALL of THEM....even "a Jenae" as she refers to herself; when people ask how many children I have...I respond five kids and she says...."and a Jenae"
The thing is... I am available to so many people throughout the day, that by the time, I'm not needed or wanted..it's pretty late....Now of course I can and do make myself available, but not with action.Meaning I am available...but I'm not interested and am not going to watch you jump on one foot while singing the latest show tune you made up, or listen to one more story that leads into another, or look and this, fix that, sign this and taste...or smell THAT!!!

That leaves me motionless...BUT I'm available....THAT makes me feel good...:)

Like when I put on my earbuds ...blast smooth jazz and leave my door open for kids to come in, looking up, smiling and nodding....unaware of their real needs...uninterested for the most part.Unfortunately...the person...usually the youngest and his sister the drama queen......gets my attention enough to where I take ACTION and remove my earbuds...and lend my full attention.

OK...so back to my first though....availability, conversation with husband....LOL....I'm focused...I'm focused!
So God commands his people to : Go, prove,seek, test. try, study, pray and a whole list of other VERBS that require action and a position of action in one state or another.
For some reason, many people have the notion that we are to be available...and they leave it right there..." I'm available Lord", " Use me lord...I'm here" are a few thing we hear all the time.
The truth is...God is waiting on YOU....to Go, teach, tell, serve, pray, DO...DO....DO!!!!
This takes us from the first position...that mirrors what I described above..... but really...how effective am I when I KNOW they not only need me to be available...but to meet a need or want.

As I type this, losing my train of thought...( 2 hrs of sleep will do that )..Contacts dry...just got finish teaching a ZUMBA class...tending too the kids, putting air in the tire,praying for my husband, finding the universal remote...and losing the codes paper, listening to Allyn tell me about..something....Allowing the Wii to be played...one more game....and getting a peek a boo like " Hi Mommy " from Radiant..Cerah asking to hang out in my room, telling her no, then feeling bad...ALL in the last hr...I want to challenge you to not only be available...but get into action...for your family, friends, community, and most importantly God.
Someone needs to hear/read this and at the least...this is my space in cyber space ...so I get to yap on as much as I like....:)
Saying you're available sounds real good...and looks good on paper...BUT what are you doing to make a difference in ONE person's life...that you KNOW has a need...or a want?

DISCLAIMER: Let's not over complicate this and super size it spiritually..(McDonalds fries on the brain....I passed them up today...I miss those things...)..This may simple mean,,helping a neighbor, calling a friend, writing a letter,, giving someone money or just listening.....it's the little things you do to show how much you care...and it's the little tings that shine the most

I've always been mindful to look for opportunities to be a blessing to someone else.NOT that it always happens...but for the most part..I am VERY mindful and take action....it is a thankless position to be in...with MAN...but I know where my reward is
So folks....Yes, I'm THAT lady in the store that butts into your conversation to answer your questions like, "where's the bathroom, or how does this look...and I've even settled marital tits in stores..(Let him get the IPAD....I got one..it works well!!!.....LOL...yes...THAT"S ME"-As the old folks use to say, I never meet a stranger....

Happy Wednesday.....With Jesus, you're over the hump!!!

Wednesday are called hump day, old people are stereotyped by a hump, camels are known for their humps and unfortunately nothing too positive is associated with a hump... even a day of the week.Wednesday, "hump day" is what most Americans call this day of the week that is after Monday and Tuesday...hmm What makes Wednesday so different???
Wednesday is treated like that one piece of chocolate in the box with the pink mystery filling, or the sock that is left over from laundry; tossed from room to room on any given day, at any given moment.Wednesday is tolerated like THAT one friend that has jokes that no one understands, or Chemistry 101.....at JCC...and its labs.... Poor Wednesday.....sheesh.....people are conditioned to regret Monday's, accept Tuesdays, and struggle through Wednesday.Well, I have a different mindset about Wednesday, everyday for that matter!Wednesday is another day on this earth, to love, to live and to share Christ with my life!!!
Taking into account that we all have days or moments where we just don't feel like it, or as I say," don't feel like being bothered."These are days when my husband proclaims in a questionable tone," yall better leave your Momma alone now...LOL"( yes, he laughs in the end...hence me questioning his intent...LOL).
OK!!! Back on subject!!
Except the days that just aren't filled with emotional fireworks, Skittles, smiley faces,Jesus t-shirts and armbands, why would we set ourselves up on Tuesday to have a mindset of defeat on Wednesday?Life offers unforeseen challenges, disappointments and struggles, so why do people choose to place themselves in position that is inferior....hump?
To be in a hump, or humped over is not a posture of superiority, and to approach Wednesday with the mindset of "humping" through the day, is emotional defeat; before the day begins!!!People just kind of get through Wednesday...instead of TGIW or HAPPY WEDNESDAY, or even planning parties on Wednesday....lol....I encourage people to see the days of the week differently-
The mind is a terrible thing to waste,and is also a route to your spirit.So if we say Wednesday is hump day, instead of " (Wednesday) is the day that the Lord has made, I WILL rejoice and be glad in it"Psalms 118:24, then we are setting ourselves up for defeat.It's like someone determined to be mad, you know that person!I was that person from time to time....the grudge holder....silent treatment!Why are we giving Wednesday the silent treatment?Wednesday does not stand a chance to be a good day in many people's lives, because of the preconceived notion of " humping through the day."

I challenge you, like a good round of wrestling, to see your days on this earth differently.Rejoice in life, and the fact that you are living!Even if life is not what you want it to be, perhaps if you change your mindset about the simplest things, such as the days of the week, you might be inspired to change! With Jesus, life is not without struggle, but with him, we've already won.So if that's the case, we have no humps to get over....so why give ourselves one???
So while America is wishing people well on their "hump day" I am happy it's Wednesday!!!As I type this, I am watching classic Sesame Street with my youngest and oldest sons.Guess which one is humming along with the music?Life is not perfect, but I am full of joy and peace...and choose to love all the days of the week.....:)

Life interrupted and disrupted!!

Wow...it has been a long time sense I blogged.I've had a time in life sense my last post.In short, life was interrupted to the point where it seemed to be disrupted.The Bible says to count it all joy when you fall into diverse trials and temptations.My favorite thing is knowing that ALL things work together for the good of them that love God and are called according to his purpose.I know that everything I've experienced in my life has not only made me stronger, but increased my love for my heavenly father!!What happened you may say????Well there is more to come in this blog as well as the other blogs that willbe created!

Soooooo I want to rename the blogspot...hmmmm what shall it be???I may just keep this one though

My husband and I will be creating one call He said...She said......biblically based encouragement for men and women!!Filled with practical knowledge and humor..with the mission to shed light on things often left unsaid, misunderstood or ignored in the life of people that are single, engaged and married!

Avoiding the necessary

So....I have to prepare to meet my husband in a few days .Much...much earlier than anticipated.We THOUGHT he was coming in June..We had it all planned:
We were going to steal away for the night, then return home in the wee hours if the night.The kids will not have a clue that he is home.THEN in true Vannell fashion, we were going to have vannell begin to cook breakfast and sing with joy, as if he never deployed.We knew the kids would think they were dreaming, and or going crazy...
Well that plan got nixed for a different one.So now I have to pack, not knowing how long I will be gone for.Thank God my mother is here...and Glynnis make sure you check too..
The thing is, I know exactly what I want and need to pack...I just don't feel like it.
So I am just sittin here waiting till I get the phone call, then imma do the Flinstone shuffle to get the hell outta dodge to see Mr.Until then I will reinvent my list in my head...over and over again.
I am, however , excited about seeing Mr.I cannot wait to see his smile, hear his laugh, and smell his cologne...he always smells soo good.I thank God for a pretty boy on most days....getting ready for church can be hell though...lol.
SO as my journey to Walter Reed unfold, I will try and keep you that follow this blog posted.
Thankfully, he is not in critical or immediate danger.Thankfully, whatever is the problem was found before it became an even bigger problem or became fatal.
I am happy he is coming home, but as we say, wish it was not on these terms.
It's funny, because knowing what I am gonna have to face gettin him all cared for, I am thinking of ways as to how I can make a difference in the lives of soldiers that will be, and have been there for a long time....talkin about selfless(not to toot my own horn...just want to make a difference)
With that being said, I thank God for his love, because he saw pass what he was going to loose and gave us his son, so we might live.That's love, and with the same love that is shown to me and my family, I want to give back to other men and women in the military...including my husband.