Driver's License Date

Good Thursday morning!

The Showcase Pic today is of Joshua after he obtained his DRIVER'S LICENSE! That's right. Another huge milestone for the Faulkner Five. Four out of five of us are driving... legally. Don't ask! (I will now be using my Austin Goes to College medication for Joshua is Driving Alone medication as well. It's very versatile.)

Before we get into today's post, I want to talk about something that has always bothered me a little (Code for A LOT). I think (and correct me if I'm wrong) some people (not all) have the wrong impression of who I really am. I've had people tell me years ago when I taught a Christ-Centered Tradition Class at my church I made them feel bad about themselves. Even though I spoke of my mistakes (and there are many) and my flaws (and there are 42), I unintentionally portrayed myself as a better wife, mother, friend, daughter, sister, etc. than I really was. I didn't want to make people feel bad. I wanted to share my passion and my interests in an interesting, yet simple, manner. But somehow, I didn't quite pull it off.

When I started A Simple Life, it had a slightly different purpose. It was going to be my little way of taking some of the stigma away from having mental illness in your family. (Did you know 1 in 6 people deal with mental illness... either personally or with a close family member or friend?) But it was also going to be a way to talk about my passion and interests again... FAMILY STUFF!

I've tried to think of a way to do this and not make ANYONE ever feel bad. Should I list my 42 flaws? (No. I'm much too prideful to do that. Oops. I let that one slip.) Should I make a new section called A Mistake a Day listing the mistakes I've made as a wife, mother, friend, daughter, sister, etc.? (Uh. No. There's no sense in making me feel bad, too.)

And then it came to me. Actually my friend, Charlotte, and I were talking about it at the football game the other night. Everyone has a gift. I will never be able to sing like Charlotte. Ever. It is not my gift. But would I ever NOT listen to her sing because it made me feel bad because I didn't have her magnificent gift? That would be NUTS! Of course not! (Please remember the exclamation points are not "blog yelling." I'm just trying to make a point.)

I'm going to leave you with these verses:

"We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully." Romans 12:6-8.

Whatever your gift may be... serving, teaching, encouraging, giving, leading, or writing a little blog called A Simple Life, do it and do it with all your heart and might! Oh, and do it TODAY!

Thank you, Charlotte. I needed that!

Blog Linkage

As promised, here a few blog links which may interest you. Today, I'm keeping it simple and giving you only three. Two of the blogs have a good bit of reading, but they are wonderful and interesting. They are definitely NOT a waste of your precious time.

The first linkage is under my Blog List. Click on Nitty Gritty, and then go to her left sidebar. Once there, click on Our Story of Losing Teagan to read her amazing story. You will leave her blog so thankful for your family, for the ordinary, for the mundane. I don't know if you'll ever look at your children the same way again. She is truly a blessing as she writes about grief, faith, hope and her day-to-day life with a child in Heaven and five in her earthly home.

The second linkage is also under my Blog List. I know I have referred you many times to Nitty Gritty AND The Pioneer Woman, but in case you have never read how The Pioneer Woman BECAME The Pioneer Woman, you have to go to her left sidebar and click on Black Heels to Tractor Wheels. It's a modern day love story. You will laugh. You will cry. And the very best part... It all really happened. I love her story.

The third linkage is, of course, the one I refer to each and every Thursday originally given to me by my friend, Jennifer. However, if you go to the link yourself, you will see all kinds of bargains, discounts, etc., as well as the "family fun" activities I listed each week. The blog address is http://blog.al.com/bargain-mom.

Okay. There you go. Please keep in mind, these other blog links are NOT to be read INSTEAD OF A Simple Life. They should be read AFTER you have read your daily helping of A Simple Life. (And don't think I won't find out!) Enjoy!

Driver's License Date

I called this a once-in-a-lifetime date, but in actuality, I know it can take more than once for a teen to obtain his/her driver's license. However, whenever it is time for your teenager to take the driving test, have their picture made and laminated and then drive home from the courthouse, it is a time of celebration... if not for the parent, then for the teen.

This is a great time for a celebratory lunch with parent and new driver. You've already taken off work for a half day, so make it even more special by treating your child/young adult to a special lunch at the restaurant of their choice.

Because they are happy (and believe me... they ARE happy), even the most closed-mouthed child will probably be more open to conversation about anything and everything. Take advantage of their good mood, and enjoy this time with them.

Mikie is the parent who takes the kids on the Driver's License Date. This has fallen into his lap because he is much calmer than I am on the ride home. (There's not enough Austin Goes to College OR Joshua is Driving Alone medication in the world to make me relax enough for this to be considered a fun date.) However, it is right up Mike's alley.

Unless something unforeseen happens, he'll be taking Roxie on this same date in three short years.

Tomorrow we'll be talking about Weekend Happenings, and I'll be giving the first clue concerning the Special Guest who will be appearing on A Simple Life November 2. Enjoy your beautiful fall day today.

Take care, and I'll talk to you tomorrow.

Sincerely,

The Enchanting and Heavily Medicated Belinda