Thought for the blog...Jan. 31st

Do not let kindness and truth leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and man. Proverbs 3:3-4

What does it mean to be kind? Is it doing something so you can get something in return? Is it led by your heart? Are we kind out of obligation? Is it your priority everyday to reach out to someone in FAITH...not knowing what might happen, but just KNOWING that you can help someone else besides yourself and it makes you feel GOD's Work?

For me it is easier to be kind to strangers than it is to be really kind to my very own family. I still get mad at my mom sometimes (for no reason..sorry mom) I am short with my sisters a lot. My poor boys get my short fuse by the end of the day. My husband gets what's left of me. Do you ever feel like you give and give and give and then you are just DONE? I feel like that a lot. Whose fault is that? Certainly NOT my family. So why should they suffer? Being a working mother, wife, daughter, and friend is exhausting and sometimes I come to the point in saying who is going to do something kind for me today?

Well, what if Jesus just stopped what He was doing before He died on the cross? What if He said I am tired of doing for others? What about me? Well, that is our answer...DO NOT LET KINDNESS AND TRUTH LEAVE YOU! ....you will find favor in the sight of God. Man, for God to be proud of me? That is a powerful thought.

God bless....

Baby it's cold outside....

If you know me..you know I love photography and actually do a little shooting on the side. Relive Photography to be exact. So if you need any pictures taken of your sweet loved ones...just let me know. Here are some photos I took of the boys today. We had a blast outside today, but going a little stir crazy locked up in the house. Either way...time well spent because it was with my boys.

Who is JEMS?

Well...JEMS would be my family. Julie Eric Mason Sam

Eric...I met Eric on a blind date in Nov. 1997 and have not looked back since. He and I are very different but it works. Anyone else out there like that with their spouse? Opposites Attract? He is quiet...I am NOT. Marriage is NOT easy. The stresses of life get to everyone...but I vow to try and DO my part as the wife I should be to Eric. God will take care of the rest. Day 22 (love dare calendar)Love is Kind....Love makes you kind. And kindness makes you likable. When you're kind, people want to be around you. They see you as being good to them and good for them.

Eric is an incredible carpenter and I swear this man can create anything....just show his a picture and he can do it. Just like Sam says...Daddy can fix it! He is also a firefighter for the city of Shelbyville. Being the wife of a firefighter is....well....honorable....scary....proud....did I say scary? I am so very PROUD of Eric and all our service men and women and I am so thankful for people like my husband. Thank you Eric...for putting up with me...loving me when I am not lovable...being an amazing father...and just being you.

Andrew "Mason" Smith....Mr. Mason....our first born. I love being a mother. I love watching them change everyday. Mason is in Kindergarten at Southside School in Mrs. Brandon's class. Mason turned 6yrs old in Dec. Loves school...soccer...baseball...TV....his Nintendo DS...and LOVES to be around friends and family. I am struggling right now with finding some mommy and mason time? anyone else have that issue with your kids? We work...we pick them up...we cook supper....mason disappears to his room or playroom...it's bedtime...then you start over the next day. I need more time...HOW do I do that?

Samuel Xavier Smith....Sam the Tool Man...our second born. This child is SOOOO different from Mason. LOUD...tornado of distruction...attitude...the whole nine yards...or shall I say...whole 100 yards and back. He is full of life! Mason is quiet and content...but Sam has to be into something ALL the time. He is funny too! Sam attends Sweet Peas Academy with the best Day Care Director...Ms. Tanna. Love you, Tanna!! If Sam doesn't grow up to be a carpenter...then my name ain't Julie Smith. He has a tool in hand all the time.

My "EMS" are the air I breath...love them so very much! You see my family...you see my HEART!

Well...that completes my intros of the JEMS! Nice to meet you. Tell me a little about yourself or link me to your blog. Just remember I am new and this and don't know much just yet. Till next time.....good night and God Bless

Here goes nothing...

Hello, blog world. Here I am ready to start this blog. I would like my blog to be about my crazy randum thoughts...photography...my precious family...and just getting right down too it...being an imperfect...faith driven...hardworking...non-cooking...housecleaning hater...wife...mother...friend...who just strives to live life to it's fullest and KEEP it Simple and KEEP it Real...

So here goes nothing...