A bicycle, van, a little boy, and GOD!!!!

I didn't ask permission to share this blog from a friend until after I had already written it. I was in hope that she felt there is no need for me too, as her testimony of life has inspired me, comforted me, and educated me over many years. When I feel the strong desire, to understand God, to know more about myself in faith, I call upon this person, and without hesitation she is always ready, willing, and able to be there for me.  I feel blessed to call her "Friend" 

This morning this wonderful person and I had a very lengthy conversation, about many things, random phone call, that not only inspired me to share her story with my readers, but to have those goose bumps in life, that literally takes your breath away!  Before hanging up, my friend said "Christy, I want to share a story with you and I will then let you go"  (As this person was also in the mortgage business and worked in the same office with me for 7 or so years.  A very successful woman in business, and also with her walk with God.) As the economy has affected her family on many different levels as well, and things are far from the financial status they once were, her faith in God and her family has never wavered a second, no matter how much they may be doing without.... How wonderful of a life does she have? 

 

It was her sons birthday coming up, I can't remember if she said it's his  8th or 9th birthday (as I really try to get things as close to correct as I can) anyways, my friend's son has been wanting a new bike for his birthday. In the old days, a $130 bike was a drop in the bucket, and would have never been an issue to purchase, now though times are  financially  much different, therefore, my friend had to save several months in order to buy this bike for his birthday.  Upon his birthday, he got the exact bike that he had wanted. It was a blessing in my friends heart that she had been able to buy it. However, one morning this precious little boy went outside to get his bike out of their shed and it was gone.  No where to be found. It had been stolen. Instead of rushing out to buy him a new bike they actually could not afford to buy, my friend told her son, " God will bring your that bike back, he knows your heart" Family members were going to go in and buy him another bike, my friend said "No, I am trying to teach him to believe in the power of God"  Some time went by and my friend kept instilling into this little boy the power of God.  Well, one day guess what? The police had found his little bike across the street in the woods and knew it was his because it had a tag with the fathers name on that bike. The police called and they were able to go and get his little broken bike missing a few parts. His parents went to Walmart replaced the missing pieces and had it sitting in the driveway when the bus dropped him off from school that day.. The power of God was amazing in that house that day! 

As they only have one vehicle for a family of 4, and the vehicle is a truck with one seat, it isn't possible for the four of them to go anywhere together, unless they borrow a car from a friend. The husband is a stone mason and was on a job, that the woman somehow new the situation with their vehicle, and told the man," if you will do this amount of stone work for me, I will give you this car."  He did and came to the baby shower that I was at the very day (but knew nothing of the car, until today)  that they were having for his oldest daughter, and he told his wife he had gotten her a car. My friend was so grateful, as it would accommodate this family tremendously.  The next day, the husband came to my friend and said "We can't keep this car, as we need to give this my daughter with that baby in her belly, as she needs this car more than we do" My friend agreed, and the daughter was so excited and surprised. The same little boy in the story above told his sister how glad he was that their father had given her that car, because God was going to give them a van.... My friend was in shock, and thought not to question her son but knew she knew no one with a van.  Several days or maybe weeks later, my friend got a call from a lady that had use to work for me in our office, because that lady had seen my friend several months before that and had given her an old lap top and printer that she was no longer using.  The lady had some tax documents on the computer she had given her and asked if she would save that to a disc and bring it to her... My friend did but had no intentions of staying long or even getting out of the car, because she had been working around the house all day and wasn't looking her best.  When she arrived at the ladies house, she pulled in the driveway and the lady came out and they talked for a few. the lady had told her that she had been trying to sell a truck she had in the driveway and that if my friend wanted to take over the payments she could have it. My friend is in the no debit mode and knew they could not take on that responsibility and therefore told her she would have to pray about it.  Just then the lady said " Remember that vehicle I drove when I worked for Christy at Home America?" She said "I will have to speak with my husband but I think I can give that vehicle to you" Guess what kind of vehicle it is?  A VAN!  When my friend was telling me this story tears as big as the moon fell out of my eyes. The joy the amazement of this story seriously took my breath away! When the little boy realized that the vehicle was a van, that his family was being offered he almost passed out. His joy through the voice of his mother was something that will stay with me as long as I live. I know the little boy and makes the story precious to me but for those of you that don't,  I hope it affects you in the same way! 

The weird part is the lady offered this 2 months ago, and has not yet delivered on her promise of this van, however, I'm not sure that is the important part of this story, it's the pure offer and the Van coming around full circle in a vision of a little boy and his walk with God.  To be honest I want to call this lady and say "Give her that van you promised?" However, as my friend said " We don't call this lady and ask her, we believe in God and he will deliver what we need" How powerful are these stories? 

Under Educated & Over Qualified

The title of this blog came to me in a conversation I was having with a friend earlier this week.  A simple statement of words, that has more truth to my life then most things I could say. Sad, but true. When I graduated high school, I could not wait to get out of there, so college wasn't even an after thought for me. I barely made it through high school, not because I wasn't smart, I was just honestly full of the lack of effort. I thought school was stupid, I hated homework (rarely even did it) I just wanted to be out on my own with a job, maybe have  a family one day, and just live this white picket fence fairy tale dream. Being a single mom, raising my children all alone, I suppose you could say those dreams were far fetched from the reality that I found myself living. Oh, don't get me wrong,  I love being a mom, wouldn't trade a day of my life with anyone else, and that is the honest truth!  It's just been more of a struggle to be so darn strong and independent! My girls look for me for strength, guidance, comfort, and love. The moments I feel I have nothing more of myself to give, I am required to reach down and find some more. It's hard, I can not deny that. I built a great career, and gave my oldest a life that we both were needing and wanting to live. We lived it to the fullest.....trips, clothes, nice dinners out, anything we wanted I was able to afford us both. We were living the American Dream, until the American Dream became just having enough money to feed your family and not what it had been... "Being a homeowner".  

In the midst of the housing bubble I as many others I know, I  found myself wondering "Oh Lord, what am I going to do?"  I knew my own strengths, I'm that person that could sell snow to an Eskimo, I can see a pile of hay and try to figure out how I'm going to turn that into gold, without a magic spinning wheel.... The type of person that never takes "NO" for an answer, but in job searching I found that I didn't even get a "No" I got no response at all. How can you fight for your abilities when you are never even given a chance to fight? I have spent a lot of time thinking about all of  this. I've done more soul searching in the last several years than I probably ever did my whole lifetime. I feel that it has helped me to stay Sane! I wish now more than anything in my life, I had gone and got my college degree, I wish I had realized the importance of having a degree, I didn't because I was so much about what I could do, that I guess I thought the world could see me the way I see myself and I would be fine. When technology changed over the years I was making money, and interviews were no longer meeting someone face to face to see their job abilities, and became more about the words you wrote on a piece of paper, that you filled out online to apply for a job, I realized how important some things really were in life. I can't go back now, I have no desire to go to college at night, so I became an insurance agent, I'm able to fulfill my abilities and again rely mainly on myself to succeed, and I'm good with that, it's just a slow moving process at first. Everything takes time to be successful, I know that, but it still doesn't help the fact that I need more money to pay the bills. I make do and as I build my business I am learning more ways to cut cost, and to save on any and everything I can.  The art of life isn't to make money, it's honestly to save it. I had it backwards for way to long, and my past is ruined for my inability to understand and accept that, however, my future looks brighter everyday with that mindset, the pure understanding of the importance of saving money, I can't go wrong. I will never allow myself down that road again. 

I write these blogs to help others see not only my mistakes but so many others I know and love. I share my life with my readers because not only does it hopefully help others, it helps me too. It's my way of expressing to the world my mistakes, in hopes that someone else can learn something before they make the same ones. We are raised to believe that money can make us happy, the more we make, the more we can have. The more we have the happier we are. That is until we have so much stuff that we can no longer afford, and we back track...to knowing if we could get rid of all these things and obligations we have, we would be happy. As myself and so many people I know we were in full force "Go forward mode" now we are all in reverse. The forward button is coming I feel it, I see it, I believe it, the key to moving forward is really learning from our mistakes and making all new lifestyle choices going forward. We can't rewind the past, we have to live moving forward! 


I say this all the time, I'm not as strong as every one thinks I am, but you know what, I think I even under estimate myself! I am strong. I can make it through anything I set my mind to .... Attitude is a HUGE key to happiness, that is something I've been reminded of over and over the last several years, A good attitude will get you a lot further in life, than a bad one. 




No matter how bad things can be or get in life you have to keep a good attitude, find that strength within that you didn't even know you had, and smile because No mater who or what you may owe,.... The good thing about that is  "That can't eat you"  I've said that to my brother many times over the years and he always laughs but it's true.  Keep holding your head high, get up every day and do the best you can do and you are fulfilling your obligations in life and that is certainly something to be proud of!  That's what I do... We got this... It's all in the attitude baby! 

Staying Positive .... My first poem

Staying Positive......



When life seems to be closing in around you
and you feel that there is nothing else you can do.
Believe in yourself, your strength and inspiration
and never allow yourself to be lead into any temptation.
As life is only as hard as we allow it to be
and only the changes that need to be made, can be made by me.

A new day brings us a fresh start
so don't be walking around day in and day out all tart.
Pick yourself up and hold your head high
and kiss your blues goodbye.

Look yourself in the mirror and smile at the person you are
and see the reality of how you want your life to be is not so far.
See the beauty in the simple things in your life, and see the beauty in all
and most importantly always  hold herself up tall.

When we are in our moments of feeling lost
we have to just give those insecurities a great big  toss.
It's hard to stay positive when things are crashing around you
but if I can do it, I know you can too.

Be positive, be bold, be strong
And with all that said you can never go WRONG!

A GREAT LIFE... It's simpler than you think

All my wisdom and encouragement within is called "Living Life"  I'm so grateful every day that I am alive. I live my life to look forward to another day with my family, friends, and kids. To write my blogs and share with the world not only my struggles I have faced, but my ability above anything else to stay positive and keep going.  I have days things get tough, I have to be honest, those days aren't really days at all, they are merely moments, because, the second I hear myself say something negative, and disappointing..... I am quickly over the pity party and onto something that will make me smile.  Pity parties aren't any fun. They are downright depressing and life consuming. Who wants that?  Things aren't easy, they have never been, and I honestly think they never really will be... It's how you approach your life, the decisions you make in those moments of the whole world is falling in on you, as to what you can possibly do to make it better.  

I have a hard time trying to make myself understand depression. As most things revolving around depression has to do with money, not all, but I think most. Money is nice to have, it provides a lot of financial options in this world, however, money CAN NOT buy you happiness. It can help to make life a little easier but never really happy! . Happiness comes from within. If you are not happy with you, then do something about it. It's more often a mental talk with yourself. A lifestyle change, appearance, or friendships. Do whatever will make you happy as you are the only one that can really do it. Nobody else will ever make you happy, if you are looking for someone to come along and make it all better, you are going to be waiting a very long time.  Do your own soul searching, face the person you are with the person you want to be in the mirror and begin your happiness right now. Demand it from yourself, do whatever it may take, and never look back! 

Life is so wonderful, the trees, flowers, grass, people, blue skies, rain showers, sun, and the moon. Find the beauty in all of those free things in life. Go outside, sit on the lawn, and look for four leaf clovers, the calmness of being outdoors, it's almost like searching for that pot of gold under the rainbow. It's soothing. What better to give yourself in the moments you just feel you can't take another moment of life, then to just enjoy the simplicity of all it has to offer. Life is suppose to be so much more about the simple things in life than having everything in our lives consumed with money.  I spent much less time with my child, stopping to smell the roses, or even seeing who I really was on the inside as I was to busy working to make money to spend and spend and buy useless things, I didn't need nor want a week after I bought it. I say as long as you have enough money to pay your bills, feed you and your children, and you can take the time to enjoy the simple things in life,  YOU HAVE A GREAT LIFE! 

Good Morning you Hypocrite

When I woke up this morning, with a heavy heart, and mind full of thoughts, all I wanted to think about is "What can I write my blog about today?"  So,  after arriving at the office at 6:00 A.M., the place is empty, and I worked until I heard others coming in the office building I work in.  I decided that I would go and meet one of my neighbors in the building, since we work in the same area, I thought it would be great... THOUGHT is the key to this story.... I don't care to repeat the things this lady said, and to be honest it isn't even about what she said. As the words of stupidity coming out of her mouth, literally made me want to just knock her completely off her feet by seriously punching her in the face. I refrained, I didn't response nor defend what she was speaking about. What I did was stand there and listened to her judging someone and spreading UNFOUNDED and UNTRUE gossip as all of that was coming out of one side of her mouth, and God was coming out of the other.  I was so mad. I felt sorry, for such a mean and vicious person and what she stood for in her religious beliefs about herself HYPOCRITE.... I felt shame in her words and actions for her.  I must confess the old "ME" would have told that lady off and she would have walked away not only think but knowing words she has never heard before in her life. But, you know what... That lady doesn't have to answer to me, she will answer to God for her actions and believe me she will.  I despise someone that goes to church everyday the doors are open and preaches to everyone they come in contact with about religion and then is nothing but a pure and honest hypocrite. Keep your mouth shut, practice what you learn in church.  If I knew the bible well enough I would quote a scripture about being a hypocrite, however, I don't but thankful there is Google in the world so here you go.....

Matthew 7:5


You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.



Matthew 23:27


“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness.





That's all I gotta say about this.

Procrastination

I have to admit, this is my first article, not only for  "Sweet Tea" but for any publication.  I've spent the last week, trying to figure out the perfect thing to write my very first article about, and decided to write it about just that "PROCRASTINATION". It's often so easy to procrastinate on things that we need to do, it's not generally because we don't want to do something, there are just many reasons. Mine I suppose would be as simple as fear. Fear that I wouldn't write the perfect article that the readers would enjoy. Silly I know! So, what better to write about today then  what I am feeling!   When you are scared, and uncertain of what making your decisions will lead to, you wait, you think, you ponder, and then you are extremely rushed to make that perfect decision. I would like to think, I have  found it. Because procrastination is a part of all of our lives, in one form or another.


It's like when we were children, and our school projects were due, so often we waited to the very last possible moment to get it done. We finished it, but not without thinking how much better it could have been if we would have not waited to the last second. Instead of getting that B+, we could have gotten at least an A... Life is  continuously that way, from childhood to adulthood. Well, at least for some of us.


In a ever changing world, I've seen things really change for a lot of families over the last several years, financially, mentally, emotionally, and of course physically.  The economy turned on so many people that there was no time to procrastinate on anything, There were no decisions that could have been made to change things, but the repercussions of the changing economy caused so many people to sit back and say  "What happened?"  We are all faced with what to do next, wondering how can I get back to that place I was before? As a single mom, with a great career, life going along beautifully and comfortably, the housing bubble burst and so did my livelihood .  As so many people I know. Great business professionals, intelligent, goal driven, and no college degree and wonder what in the world will they do now?  I'm not sure that many people thought this economic times would last this long, thinking the market would get better, business would start booming again, and I can just pick up where I left off. We're 5 years into it and the change hasn't happen yet, but hoping it will begin again soon.  More adults are back in college, working on building an education for a new career, all the while trying to continue to put food on the table. There is no time now to procrastinate we all have our own decisions in life to make and to make certain that we do as a parent, and a family what it takes to make ends meet. With all of that said, I strongly recommend and suggest couponing. Couping isn't something any of us should now be procrastinating on. It's a great to key to saving money. I was one of those people in the good old days that thought "Coupons are for poor people" Guess what I was so wrong, Coupons are for SMART people.  It's a little time consuming, it takes longer to check out at the store, and it's finding the right coupons to meet your needs but it's certainly helpful and beneficial to your checking account balance.  The less money you spend  on necessities the more money you have in doing other things you and your family want to do.  There are hundred of coupon sites you can join, to get free download coupons, the Sunday Atlanta Journal is full of coupons, the sales ads for all the major grocery store chains are in there.  I start my Sunday mornings with buying the double version of the Atlanta Journal. I take out all the sale ad and coupons, I go through all the specials each store has for the week and then I match up the coupons for the  things that I can get the cheapest at each store. I make a different stores list  of what I will buy at each store to make certain I get the best deal. This generally takes me an hour to get the list ready, and then off to the different stores I go. It would be so simple if you could just shop at one store and get the best deals there, but it doesn't work that way. Saving money isn't easy! There have been times I have walked into the store and bought things without coupons and find myself thinking how much better it would have been taking the time to save the money that I could with a little extra time and effort.  I would love to see everyone in line using coupons, and saving all the money we can! Don't procrastinate on saving money! Make it your mission and I promise you won't be disappointed. I must admit without my friend Rebecca M... this article would not have been possible. Thank you Rebecca M. for your suggestion and sweet desire to point out my procrastination's on getting this article done! If you would like to read more of my Less really can be a whole lot more articles you may follow me on my blog at
https://lessreallycanbeawholelotmore@blogspot.com...  Christy Hicks

MOTHERS DAY

Today, is Mothers Day! The day all mothers should be celebrating with their children, mothers, and others that have had that motherly impact in all of  our lives. The one day of the year for mothers to be celebrated.

All week long, I have been thinking about "Mothers Day" and reading status updates on facebook, and just thinking about people I know and strangers that I don't even know well, but know their stories.  For there are some of us that dread this day, even though we are mothers ourselves, because our moms have left this earth and we don't get to have the physical chance to spend Mothers Day with them.  I decided earlier this week, that I was no longer going to allow myself to be upset on this day, as I am a mother now the tradition of Mothers Day can begin with me, and I can spend my time focusing on the great things about my mother, and hopefully carry down some of those special things about today with my own children and grandson.  I think most of my readers know that Evan has a great step mom, Amy, she has accepted my little Evan as her own and that is very heart warming, in ways I never dreamed would be possible...

 I have a very close family friend that lost her son a few years ago, as I stand on the side lines so often, only thinking of her, sending an occasional message (when I feel that I can find some words to actually say and hope that they reach comfort and peace into her heart) I hope today she will celebrate the life of being a mother. I hope with all my heart she knows she is loved even if it is from heaven now. 

 For the moms that I follow their blogs that have lost their newborn babies to horrible diseases, I hope not only they have comfort in loving and losing those babies but can find the strength to celebrate being a mom to the children they have left to love and raise! Fresh wounds are hard and I can only imagine how losing a child is one of the worst things I could ever imagine. The hard part about life is it never stops no matter how much hurt and heartache we are feeling.

For all my friends and followers that still have that GOLDEN opportunity to be with their mothers on this wonderful day, celebrate in that chance. As you never know how precious something is until it's gone, allow yourself to give a bigger hug, a chance to stay a little longer and celebrate the woman/women in your life that you have here at this very moment to touch, hug, kiss, and listen to their Mothers Day  stories. As it's really crazy when you think about it this way, our mothers (at our age) have all mostly missed having their mothers here on earth to celebrate with....Someone is always very happy on this day and someone else is sad in one way or another.

I have written this hundreds of times in my blog but today I think I should repeat it again.. I tell my little Evan all the time..."Nobody will ever love you as much as your mama does" It's so true!

For me I hope that there is this huge Mothers Day party in heaven today.... I hope that my mama celebrates the day that she gave birth to her 3 children and has friends and arms of comfort today, as I can't give it to her but in my mind, I hope that she will feel the joy of being a mom and being a person that gave the three of us the most precious thing she could give us in this world "LIFE"!

There are many things that go along with any special time in our lives, it's all about how we deal with things, The hard times make us stronger, and the moments of weakness make us realize all the strength we must have.  Today, I'm invited to come to my oldest daughters new home, my first invitation I must add, but the best one I could ever ask for. I'm so excited and I'm here writing my blog at 8:20 am wishing more than anything it was 4:00 pm already, as I can't wait to see her, hug her, and celebrate Mothers Day together, not only as mother and child, but mother and mother.

Thank you all so much for reading my blogs, encouraging me in ways that no words can describe with your comments and emails.  A writer is something I never dreamed 5 years ago I wanted to be, even though I wrote things all my life, only for me to see. Putting yourself out here into the big wide world, isn't as easy as some might think it is. It's my passion. It's what I love, and I always say even if I touch one person, and they happen to reach out to me, I have succeeded greatly in my mission, so thanks again,.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY TO YOU ALL!!!