Hi Ya'll! Welcome to my corner! I hope everyone has been doing well.

Whew! I'm tired. This last week has been a busy one. The kids had vacation Bible school Monday through Thursday night. They had a blast!

Our family also celebrated two birthdays this week. Our daughter, Sarah turned double digits. She is the "big 10"! My older sister, Terri,.turned double digits too. That's all I'm gonna say.

We had a birthday / 4th of July cookout Saturday, at my mom's house. We have a big family. Sometimes I forget just how big...until we all get together. I have three older sisters, four brother-in-laws, four nieces and one nephew. All of the nieces and nephews are grown now. Two of them live out-of-state.

My, how time flies! I was 14 when the first one was born. I worked all through high school. I used to spoil my nieces rotten with toys on their birthdays. I can't wait until they have kids, so I can do it
again!

I struggled with what I was supposed to write today. I prayed about it, before I went to bed last night. As I sit here, one particular memory keeps coming to my mind. My fourteenth birthday.

My mama worked third shift at a hosiery mill in Robbins. My dad had become disabled by his first stroke. My sister was pregnant with the first grandchild. My mama had worked all night, that night.

Growing up, we didn't have a lot of money. We ate a lot of Chef Boyardee pizzas, hot dogs, etc. We never got a lot of presents. At least, not in comparison with what kids get today. My mama is so smart. She always knew what to keep in her cupboard. We always had a cake. She made sure of it. If we got any sweets, they were homemade.

It was on my fourteenth birthday, I got a present I never would have dreamed of getting. I had a phone call at school. My sister Lisa, was on the other end. She said, "Happy birthday sweetie, I got you a niece!" I went back to class. I got in trouble for talking that day. I wanted everyone to know what I got. I decided to walk home instead of riding the bus that day. I liked to walk on the railroad tracks with my friends. If I had saved some of my lunch money, that meant I could stop in at Tarheel Drug and get a cherry coke.

I opened the front door of the house. There stood my poor little mama. In front of her, was a strawberry birthday cake for me. She had worked the night before. She stayed up all day to make my absent-minded self a cake! She wanted to see my expression when I saw the cake. She just stood there, smiling.

We got in the car with mama. She drove us to Randolph Hospital to see Danielle. Joy overcame tiredness that day. I look back and marvel at the strength that God gave her. Not just on that day, but throughout all of her days. She displays such an unselfish heart. I hope that when I grow up, I'm like her. I hope my double digit baby will say the same thing about me one day.

I have a challenge for the two of us today...to display an unselfish heart regardless of the consequences. Don't think it through before hand. If you do, then your mind will change the desire of your heart. Just do it. Let the joy of the Lord, be your strength and motive today. Just for today.

I want to thank my family for helping Tim and I with Sarah's party. Everybody brought something.
I'm not talking about cups, plates, or food here. Everybody brought a heart wrapped up
in joy for someone else.

Thank you. Mama, I love you.

Remember our challenge today.

Have an unselfish, joyous, and blessed day!