We Love our Cool Kids

We love our Cool Kids! 

Recently, a new song has come out called Cool Kids by Echosmith. Of course, the hook is nice. My kids took to it immediately. Then, I started listening to the words. I don't know about you, but that is the most disturbing song that I have heard in a long time. I am not even posting a link here because I don't want to give it more publicity.

Part of the lyrics: I wish that I could be like the cool kids cause all the cool kids they seem to fit in.

I know that all of us can relate to that part in our lives. When we think about that time reflecting on how hard it was (for some), then we really don't want our blessings going through those same self-esteem struggles. I immediately turned the station in the car and explained to our blessings that they are exactly like God made them. They are perfect in His eyes, and that they don't have to be "like the cool kids" because they are cool in God's eyes.

A few days later, we were listening to our favorite channel "KLTY 94.9", and the Cool Kids song started to play. Then, it faded into the background with someone saying on top of the song "You are exactly how God created you..." Then, they went on to say exactly what I told our blessings. It's not about what others think, it is what God thinks. I was so happy to get a confirmation of what I was feeling about THAT song and about our blessings.

Then, we heard a new song by Francesca Battistelli called He Knows My Name. Her lyrics go like this:

Spent today in a conversation

In the mirror face to face with

Somebody less than perfect

I wouldn't choose me first if

I was looking for a champion

In face I'd understand if

You picked everyone before me

But that's just not my story

True to who You are

You saw my heart

And made

Something out of nothing

I don't need my name in lights

I'm famous in my Father's eyes

Make no mistake

He knows my name

I heard the chorus, and nearly started screaming right there! That is what we need to be sure that Our Blessings know about themselves. They are famous in HIS eyes, not the world's eyes.

What makes my Cool Kids even better is that THIS IS THE SONG THAT I HEAR THEM SINGING WHEN WE ARE RIDING IN THE CAR TOGETHER, PLAYING GAMES AT HOME, AND GOING TO SLEEP. God is always their for all of us. We just have to seek Him.

Please be sure that your blessings know they DON'T HAVE TO WANT TO BE THE COOL KID, THEY ARE ALREADY COOL!

Our new home :-)

Pinterest has really helped my husband and I put our designs and tastes together in order to make our new house a home. We built a Board together of our ideas, and it helped us stay on the same page throughout the whole process.

Our new home has everything each of us wanted except the yard of our dreams. Considering "The Blessings" don't do well in the elements, that is fine for us to have a matchbox yard.  Two months in the new home, and we are 95% done with all of the unboxing, the Honey Do List, decor crafts, etc.

Hope you like our Burnt Orange home!

 

 

 

 

Definition of a Real Dad!

I am so happy and blessed to share my Definition of a Real Dad right before Father's Dad's Day.

I want to say thank you to a wonderful man, Future Lilly.  He has been a stay-at-home dad for the past 4 years or so to his 5.5 year old twin boys (The Twizzles), and his wonderful 8 year old little girl (Princess Liyah).  These four years have allowed him to make a bond with his children that men don't ever get to do.  He has dressed them, fed them wonderful meals, played with them (oh sooooo much), and just made their lives complete by just being there.

We both prayed and thought long and hard about him becoming a stay-at-home dad, and it was just the right thing to do for our family.  We didn't know how long it would be for, God has provided for us every step of the way to where The Twizzles will start school this Fall, and Future will be able to start a new chapter for our lives as a Professional Real Estate Inspector.

We bought a new home last month, and moved in 3 weeks ago.  Prior to us moving, we had a very close group of friends that had similar family dynamics.  With so many similarities, our blessings would definitely have to become the best of friends.  Future would always plan play dates with the other kids blessings. Today topped any day that I could have imagined.  Future planned a play date with those friends from our old neighborhood by himself to have a NERF BATTLE throughout our new home.  He had to pick up some of them, which he was happy to do that.  And, he planned snacks and lunch for each eccentric child.  I was so bummed that I would miss out on 9 of our blessings playing together (ages 5 to 11), but he worked it out for me to participate as well.

Everyone taking a break from the first battle. (I had just gotten home.)

Everyone, including Future, getting ready for the second battle.

Everyone shooting me while I take a "better" shot of them before the second battle.  Future decided to have everyone shoot me while I took the picture. So Funny!

This is the definition of a real dad, to me.  Someone that will go out of his way to make his family feel loved, important, and wonderful all at the same time.  Someone that cares enough for others to make their day a wonderful one no matter what.  For someone who didn't grow up with a dad/role-model, this man knows exactly what to do!

It was the best time ever! I can only imagine what God has in store for us with our new home, our close family friends, and this wonderful husband that I have been blessed with.

Happy Father's Dad's Day 

Future Antonio Lilly!

Oh, I forgot to add, I WON Battle #2!  I can't wait for the rematch!

Possibly a new home...

We are taking a new journey this year. We are buying a house :-) a home. That is such a stressful thing to do, but it's nice to do it with your best friend and partner for life. So, Hubby and I saw about 15 homes, and we agreed on a BEAUTY!!!!

Here's the kicker, can someone explain to me why the heck a "short sale" is called a short sale when it take so doggone long!!!! The bank signed one document in less than 24 hours. We were shocked to hear something so fast, but it was a nice thing to see. We learned about all of the other documents to come. It's been a month, and we have signed one document since the first one.

I am constantly dreaming about how to organize the home (during the day and the night). AND WE DON'T EVEN HAVE IT YET! On top of that, I started watching House Hunters this week for inspiration. What's the first episode that I watched, a SHORT SALE! Goodness Gracious!

We started the journey in January, and hope the bank approves by June. Future and I know that it is ours because we actually agreed easily on it. It has so many things that I wouldn't accept, but I just see so much fun and potential in the 5 year-old Grand Home! I mean, the owners put in every possible upgrade except one, and I might have left that one out myself.

I started a Pinterest Board to capture the styles that my Hubby, and I want to do. Can you say BURNT ORANGE THEME! That's right, we are going to have a burnt orange accented home! I can't wait!!!

Take Your Blessings To Work

We had such a blast on Wednesday at Take Your Daughters and Sons to work. I like to say Blessings instead of daughters and sons because it is just more appropriate.

Those with children have to remember that they were blessed with children. When those blessings don't act the way you have taught them, or they aren't as humble as you would like, remember that they were a gift from God.

Endangered Species - African American Men

I am so blessed to be married to a wonderful Endangered Species.  I said it right.  We are in an age where someone walking down the street with a Hoodie on being construed as a threat.  No visible gun, just a Hoodie and some snacks (Trayvon Martin). This is 2012, and I am afraid that I am raising two little Endangered Species that mean the world to me.  This is 2012, and there is an unspoken mentality that African American Men are a threat.  This is so far from the truth because they are the ones being threatened.  

They are growing up in a world where their only aspirations are to grow up in jail or to not grow up at all.  Some African American women don't help them have any more aspirations than these.  I feel that there is such a vicious cycle of unwed young African American women (girls) having sons that grow up with no role models, no fathers, and never really learn the true meaning between right and wrong.  Then, those sons have children by young women (girls) to keep the cycle moving downward.  These men and women don't see the true purpose that God has laid out for them.  Many of them don't go to church, don't see any inkling of a better life for themselves.  They have this ENTITLEMENT mentality instead of having a HARD WORKER mentality.  

So, I read an Essence article last week written by an author called " Real Talk: What Does It Mean to Raise a Black Boy?"  It explained how some famous Caucasian women can adopt African American children.  I was floored for so many reasons.  

#1 She points out Charlize Theron was born and raised in South Africa.  So, she is AFRICAN.  Adopting an African American child would fit her just fine, right?  I mean come on.  What are the odds for this African American child to be adopted in the first place, let alone by an African woman?  How lucky is it that this child doesn't have to grow up in an orphanage, group home, aged out system, but is given a chance at a wonderful life?  These endangered species have been given the opportunity to be brought up in a home that they will not have to “want” for anything.  They were chosen to be loved, not forced! 

#2 Again, who else will adopt them?  I would rather every child be adopted, but that is definitely not the case in this day and age.  I would have understood this article more if this author had adopted a few kids of her own, better yet adopted a few African American boys of her own.  But, that isn't the case.  

I can't imagine a world without these Endangered Species.  I grew up in a time where African American Grandfathers were considered an Endangered Species to me.  Both of my grandfathers died when I was around seven-years-old.  I can barely remember their mannerisms, quirky sayings, anecdotes, etc.  I noticed that a few of my African American friends' grandfathers died when they were young if they had a grandfather at all.  A lot of my friends of other nationalities had their grandfathers from elementary through high school and beyond. 

My Endangered Species husband strives every day to be the father that he didn't have.  To be everything that our children need him to be.  To help them become productive HARD WORKING citizens of this great nation.  That's what God has told him to be, and he has taken that charge.

I see now that I need to amend my Endangered Species from African American Grandfathers to just African American Men.  Speaking as the wife of an Endangered Species, and the mother to twin Endangered Species pre-schoolers, I pray and strive to take them off the Endangered Species list.

Signed,

Concerned Conservationist

Read more:http://www.essence.com/2012/03/19/real-talk-what-does-it-mean-to-raise-a-black-boy#ixzz1qKZzx4F1

Do you think White women are capable of raising Black boys?

Read more:http://www.essence.com/2012/03/19/real-talk-what-does-it-mean-to-raise-a-black-boy#ixzz1qKZtIFfy

Demetria L. Lucas is the author of “A Belle in Brooklyn: The Go-to Girl for Advice on Living Your Best Single Life” (Atria), in stores now. Follow her on Twitter @abelleinbk

Read more:http://www.essence.com/2012/03/19/real-talk-what-does-it-mean-to-raise-a-black-boy#ixzz1qKZmmj8t

Trip to Freising 2012

My trip to Freising was so beautiful and short.  Both things that really fit my world.  Beautiful because I have always loved sight-seeing.  Short because I was able to experience the beautiful sights, and come back quickly to the blessings that I have at home.  I hope you enjoy my view of Freising.

Thanks to all of you who prayed for a safe trip for me.