Here are I am thinking about my two precious children being as cute as they can possibly be before going to bed tonight. You have no idea the emotions this stirs up when me when I think about how much I love these two children and how my father only tried to contact me once in my 24 years on this earth. I thank God every day just for allowing me to be a part of their lives. I pray every father or man that sees this post is a true man and sticks around for their children. You don't have to stay with the woman if you do not love her, but for God's sake be there for the human being or beings that you created. I want to include some helpful tips in the blog in order to not just rant about my own life, but to bring some insight into the things that I have been able to learn through my experiences. The first thing I am going to do is to include a list of things to do with your child or children in order to create a deeper bond with them:

READ- stands for "Read Everything Again Daddy" as my daughter likes to say.This is my favorite thing to do with my children. I sit them on my lap and pull out a dr. Seuss book or any other book with pictures and they will cuddle in close and listen to every word. This is a double bonus, not only are we bonding but they are learning as well. My three year old knew the entire alphabet and could sight read 100 words 4 months ago. It's not because I sit her in front of a boob tube I will tell you that much. (TV can be educational with appropriate programs...we can get into that one later) The interaction between you and your children during this time will give you motivation to get through all the diaper changes and tantrums.

Play- You have children, they like to play, so play with them. It can be as simple as getting on their level on the ground and pushing cars back and forth with them or playwrestling with them. My favorite moment of the past few weeks may sound wierd, but it was when I took the kids outside to play some teeball...wait that's not my favorite part, it was when I said we had to go back inside to eat dinner and my daughter, the food vaccuum, cried because we could not play "baseball games" as she calls it anymore. If there was one thing that got me through my rough life, besides people, would have to be baseball. Sharing an interest with your child could be it's on section, but hey it's my blog and not yours so here it is. The physical activity probably wouldn't do anybody any harm either.

Teach- Life presents many opportunties to teach our children everything we know and those things that we do not know. If your children are anything like mine, then their two favorite words are "What's That." Or "Dat," in David's case. Children want to learn, why not let them and even help them in that journey. If you are taking a walk outside, take the time to point out objects and colors. As tempting as it is to say "Shh", don't, do not extinguish that inner desire to learn in your child before they can speak a full sentence. Your children are human beings, so talk to them, lend them your knowledge and you will be surprised at how much they can pick up. I then use their new knowledge as a game after the being told something a few times. If we see a new animal they just learned or know already I point and say, "What's that?" Two words and I can assess my children's knowledge and comprehension. This I know will change as they grow older, but so will I and the way that I will lend my knowledge to them. The thing I want to teach them most is that learning is never finished, you do not just get some diploma and say, "Ok, I know everything now." I want them to be so intelligent that they know how little they know.

So, take the time to do one or all of these things today and see if you don't feel closer to your children.

I would like to get this blog going, so if any ideas please leave a comment or message me.

Back to writing

I have recently felt the need to begin writing again. It has now been over two years since my last blog post and it saddens me. It has been a very busy two years though. We moved to Illinois...again to have our second child, David Gabriel Trammell. He is now 18 months old. Our daughter Sara is 3 years old as of 6/20/2011. I started going back to school after we moved up here. I am currently working at a hospital in the food and nutrition department part time. Man, it seems like I can never get fully away from food service. I have been working with food in some capacity for 7 of my working years since I was 14. I really think I want to take this blog in a little bit different direction. I am different than I was two years ago. My life plan two years ago was to help my aunt and uncle with their camp and conference center for the rest of my days on this place called Earth. Things did not work out that way and here I am sitting 10 hours away from them and having barely spoken to them in two years. That is sad isn't it? With all the modern technology we have that somehow I have been able to not have communication with somebody, let alone family. I want to write about family in this blog and how it should be. I have grown up the majority of my life without it and recognize the importance of it. I do not see family being simply defined as blood or legal relationships, but a network of people that you can rely on and have trust in to know they will be there for you through the thick and the thin. By the way I have not found that complete network, but am searching ever for it. I will continue to post as I work my way through this ever tangling world of people and relationships with those people. I will write about my family and the things we are doing. If not interested then don't waste my time by leaving me a message or comment. I have also begun to research my family history and seek out my father whom I have only met once and have no for sure idea where to begin. I am on a journey called life, and I will be bringing whomever wants to come along with me through this blog.

God is Love

God is Love: teaching by Matt Trammell on January 1st, 2009

John 3:16-18 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in Him is not Condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only son.

Most people have heard John 3:16, but not everyone has heard the next two verses. The second part there is to affirm the fact that God loved us and that was why he sent Jesus to be our savior. The third part is to make sure we understand the only way we can know God is to know his Son. It says we are condemned if we do not believe in the name of His Son. Why does it say name and not just him. It says name because it is to be spoken and Jesus is the Greek form of Joshua which means the Lord saves. God made it abundantly clear what he sent His Son here for. He wa sent to be our Savior. So why is it that most people do not understand or are not blessed with the feeling of our God's Love? I believe it is because of all the preaching in the churches today have been sin focused and not love focused. Lets get deeper into love and you will understand how love can make the difference.

1st Corinthians 13:1,4-7 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or clanging cymbal. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always, protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if we truly knew that we were loved, truly loved by just one person. Well, you can rest in the knowledge of John 3:16 the same God that said He loved the world, was the one who inspired the definition of the word. So if God loves us that means he keeps no record of wrongs and is not easily angered. So if you are wanting to come to Christ, but think you have to clean up your life or whatever is holding you back, understand that God Loves you and has forgiven you already for anything you have done in your past and anything you will ever do. So pray the sinner's prayer and come to him, come join us in the warmth of God's Love.

Romans 3:22-24 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all those who believe. There is no difference for all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came through Christ Jesus.

So it does not matter what sins have been committed, God says it makes no difference because everyone has failed. But we have redemption through Jesus Christ. I want to talk to the people now who are Christians but have never enjoyed the fullness of God's love. God is Love. We have a New Testament for a reason, testament stands for covenant. So we have a new covenant with God that cannot be broken. To be righteous now we come through Christ, he is in us and he is full of love. Open your heart to the Love, this can change your entire life. What we think, feel and say all starts in our heart, if we feel love, love will consume our lives. When you feel God's love you will see yourself as God sees you, righteous. Thinking thoughts and speaking words of righteousness will bring out righteousness, just like any other thoughts and confessions. Words are powerful, they can bring harm and do evil, or can do wonderous and miraculous things. Guard your heart with God's love!

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrated his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the Gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Mark 8;36-38 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul. If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels.

God wants to give us his love and eternal life but if we do not accept the gift of Jesus first, then we cannot partake in any other gifts. There is only one road to Heaven and you need Jesus as your intercessor and noone else. Do not get stuck in the trap of "All roads lead to Heaven". There is only one way in. All other roads lead to Hell. I want to leave you on a better note. God loves you! The bigger Question is whether or not you love God? I want you to truly ask yourself this question. Do you "love" the same way God loves. Do you see yourself the way God sees you. I want to leave you with one last verse.

1st John 4:8 For those who do not love, do not know God, because God is Love.

So, if you have felt judged by another christian or have been cast down by someone, know that is not of God. God did not approve of that, God loves you and sees you as perfect and righteous.

If you want to feel God's love pray this prayer with me. Father God, I know I am a sinner but I am righteous in your eyes and ask for the forgiveness you have already given me. I want your love to fill my heart so Jesus come into my heart and take control. I want to see myself as you see me. I believe that Jesus died on the cross for my sin and salvation.Thank you Father for accepting me the way i am.