Jenny & God...

It will be a brand new year in less then 10 hours! I am so excited about 2009...but more on that later. I wanted to stroll down memory lane today and found some favorites from back in the day!

Each year brings something exciting and new and I love it. Good or bad it is another chapter in your book of life.

But it is fun to cruise down memory lane and remember the "blasts from the past". Listening to the sounds of the 80's reminds me of being young and well, young! Driving around in my brand new red mini truck (remember the mini truck craze?) Big hair, big shirts, big belts and leggings or pegged jeans! Oh I was so cool! It makes me sick to think of the size of my ego, lol. But all in all it was a part of growing up and becoming the woman God has formed me into.

Stroll with me....back in time...to the days of The Cosby Show, Molly Ringwald, Rubiks Cube and L.A. Disco. Yikes...was that really dancing? In every high school, even my Christian one, you had groups of Mod, Punk, New Wave and Preppy.

867-5309/Jenny - Do those numbers sound familiar to you? If so, then you are a child of the 80's and remember the infamous song by Tommy Tutone.

How about Jessie's Girl by Rick Springfield. Are you kidding me? I would have died to be Jessie's Girl! I don't think Rick Springfield had much talent as far as singing goes...but that face! Catch me I am about to faint!

Another song I loved was by Human Leaque "Don't you Want Me?" The song seems like a typical break up song. You know how they went...girl figures out she is better off without this boyfriend and she dumps him. He is desperate and will do anything to get her back. When you watch the video though....well, I don't get it! What the heck are the talking about???? Someone help!

Stacy Q had a great song to dance to...Two of Hearts...was the perfect song to play while driving around in my little truck!

As much fun as it is to stroll back to the 80's....I wouldn't let my girls listen to one of these songs at all! No wonder my parents were always telling us to "turn it off".

Think about the lyrics....YIKES!

Poor "Jenny" had her name plastered on the wall! Every teenage girl's nightmare! But here's the thing....was she supposed to find comfort in this "guy" calling her? Listen to the lyrics again...sounds a bit like a stalker...but then that's a mom talking now. Back then I was like everyone else singing "867-5309!"

Maybe Rick Springfield should have thought better of smashing the bathroom mirror with his guitar if he really wanted Jessie's girl to like him. Of course, the reference to her body make me blush as a mom. I don't even remember hearing those words as a teenager.

"Don't you want me?"...ok, the boy threatens that they will both be sorry! As a teenager I remember thinking "oh, he'll probably date another girl" as a mom I think "Will he kill her? Will he bomb the school?...oh, dear!"

And don't get the mom in me started with Stacy Q!

lol, It is fun to remember the good old days. The sweet memories of growing up are all involved with those songs but I cringe at what I was listening to.

Yes, being young is sweet...but being who I am now...is sweeter. My joy and love comes from the Lord and knowing that forever in his eyes I am a Princess, I am beautiful and I am special....yes, maybe I don't weigh 100 lbs anymore....I'm not Miss Teen County of San Bernardino any longer...but I am something better....I am the daughter of the king. I am forgiven!

When I think of my teen years...I smile. They will always be special. When I think of myself as a young adult...I feel my heart beat because that was when my journey with my husband began....but, when I think of myself now...I cry....because I am a mom, a wife, a women and more then anything a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) being made over and over to glorify God.

I am not worthy of His love or His blessings but he gives them because He wants to (Ephesians 1:2-4) and that makes me cry and smile and laugh!

I have know the Lord for over 24 years and I can only praise Him and look forward to each new day. Each new year in my "God's Tale".....

Tonight when the clock strikes 12:01 I don't want to be watching Times Square. I really don't care what Ryan Seacrest will be doing... I want to be praising my Lord...the reason for 2009!

Take a moment to listen to "these" songs......and be blessed this evening and for all of 2009.

Open the Eyes of My Heart

Come, Now is the Time to Worship

I am Free *This is the most amazing song....

Blessed Be Your Name *Dedicated to my dad, Martin

How Great is Our God

Indescribable

Holy is the Lord, God Almighty

Our Father *By Two or More

Lord, I Lift Your Name on High

Here I am to Worship

Happy New Year!
Christine
IE Mommy (aka MamaHawk)

It's Christmas and ..... You'd Better Be Good!

"What do you mean Christmas Eve is today?"

"Yep, and they say we "s-t-i-l-l" have to be good!"

"Man, that's a lot of work for some toys!"

Ok, I really don't know what the conversation was between these two when the photo was taken. But considering  how they are acting today...this might have been the "Real" conversation.

Regardless...I am ready for Christmas!

Yep,  you heard me...done...ready...and willing to enjoy the day.

Presents wrapped, house cleaned, children washed and food cooked! Praise the Lord!

Like a fool, I stayed up till 3 a.m. last night "making" a present and putting together the special Santa presents that will be opened on Christmas morning.

Yes, I am a glutton for punishment...but I did get to sleep in until 9:30 a.m. so that worked out okay.

I hope that each of you will have an incredible and blessed Christmas. Read the gospel of Luke tonight before you open presents...it will help to bring into focus the "real" gift of the this Holiday!

God bless each of you and Merry CHRISTmas!

Christine

IE Mommy Blogger

Help me to DECIDE!

I started working blogs on both BlogSpot and WordPress and really don't know which one I like more.

Give me a hand....which blog site do you think looks or works better?

Click here to view the WordPress IE Mommy Blog.

Of course, you are currently reading the BlogSpot IE Mommy Blog.

I really need your help...because I will drive myself crazy trying to figure out which is the best. 

So, give me some feedback...please!

I WON!!!

Do you have any clue how excited I am right now?? Well, okay probably not...but I am!

I so love winning contests and I won one today!! I won SIX pairs of Chic Bud ear phones!

This is so rocking awesome! I have a pair of Chic Buds for my cell phone and they are so perfect. You get great reception and a little bit of "bling" to spice it up!

When I saw that Set Your Style was having a give away...I just had to enter! When I found out I won...well...let's just say I was doing the happy dance around the living room!

The fun part about this contest was entering. You had to create your "perfect" New Year's Eve outfit in order to be eligible to win. I decided to go with a classy, elegant yet sexy look. I wanted something that I would really wear on New Year's Eve.

Why did I go with a basic black dress...well, frankly you can't have too many black dresses or black pants in your closet as far as I am concerned and this one was created in a way to accent your assets and hide some flaws. Of course, if you know me at all, then I have to have a classic pair of very high pointed toe heels!

I am so excited!!!!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

They say "All good things must come to an end". I am not sure who "they" happen to be...but it appears "they" are correct.

Today was my last blog for Inland Empire Family Magazine.  2009 will bring a new blogging team to the magazine and website. I hope that they will enjoy their new adventure as much as I did. I know I will be reading.

This past year has been so much fun. It has been a great privilege to be a "mini-mini-celebrity" in the I.E. I love sharing my life with the readers which is why I decided to continue blogging. I never imagined myself being a blogger and yet, here I am...blogging again. What can I say, it's fun!

I am glad to have you on this new adventure. It is excited to have you come along. The site will have an official launch in January. When the craziness of the holidays has slowed down a bit.

I very thankful and grateful to Churm Media and all the people that help to create the website and magazine (Jeff, Kathleen, Colleen, Kim, Craig, Amy, Kristen and the list goes on). To have had the privilege to work with amazing moms such as Monica, Aileen, Kathleen and Lily...well, what can I say the "Original Mom Squad" R-O-C-K-S!

With only 2 days left before the big guy in the red suit arrives...my life is a whirlwind of activity. Trying to get all the food prepared, cookies baked, last minute presents to buy and on and on...I hardly have time to breath. But I love it!

I am giddy with anticipation for 2009. I am eager to see what the Lord has in store for me.  My goal is to continue to home school and work in ministry at my church. As long as God will use me I hope to remain involved in women's and kid's ministry at church and we only 11 1/2 more years of home school....so I think we are good there.

This will be the first year...in a long time...that both sides of the family will be attending Christmas Eve services together. I am very excited about that. The twins will be part of the children's choir. They are so jazzed about singing in front of everyone! What can I say it's in their blood.

Christmas is a time for forgiveness and fellowship and I hope that you'll find that joy this year. I have listed some great churches that have amazing Christmas Eve services. I pray that you'll attend one of them.

• Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside 
• The Packing House in Redlands  
• Calvary Chapel Golden Springs in Diamond Bar 
• Horizon Christian Fellowship in San Diego  
• Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa  

Wishing each of you the most amazing CHRISTmas and New Year. 

Hope to see you in my Mailbox,

Christine

"The" IE Mommy

You know there are mornings where you just "sit" there. Maybe at the table drinking coffee or in front of the computer or television. You know you have a long list of things to accomplish but truly have absolutely no goal or desire to do them. That is how I feel today. I'm exhausted. I want to take the twins to visit Santa but frankly, don't really care if we get there today.

It rained and snowed all day yesterday and it is cold. I know, perfect weather for Santa, but not perfect weather for this home grown IE Mommy.

Welcome to my world! I am the "IE Mommy" formerly the IE Mom blogger from Inland Empire Family Magazine but alas, things change and life revolves into other forms and here I am!

I fell in love with blogging last year and was offered an amazing opportunity to blog for IE Family Magazine. It wasn't a permanent job so I was not surprised when they chose to create a new group of moms for 2009.

What did surprise me was the joy I found in blogging. Yikes....did I really say that?
I guess I did because here I am.

I hope you enjoy my journeys, joys and trials as a mom of twins living in the Inland Empire!