We spent this year at home for Christmas...and boy, it was nice! No driving out of town, no packed itineraries, no rushing from place to place, just Ron, myself and the kiddos spending more family time together then we have in ages. Wednesday, the 23rd, after work I took the kids to see a live Nativity scene in Bethlehem, GA. We had done that once before right after we moved up here, but it had been years. Some friends met us out there and we had hot chocolate and enjoyed watching the performance. (note: the one at Lake Lanier lights is better though) As we were getting ready to leave, LeAnne tripped on a curb and scratched up her face, bent and scratched her glasses, scraped her knee and busted her lip. Poor thing.
Thursday, Christmas Eve, I was off work all day. The first time in a couple of years. So LeAnne and I went to the grocery store and bought stuff for Christmas baking and dinner. Came home and baked a pumpkin pie and a pecan pie. I had never baked a pumpkin pie before (his mom normally makes him one in Albany, so I've never bothered). Wasn't sure how it would turn out but Ron said it was the best pumpkin pie he has ever had! Ron got off of work in time for us all to go to the Christmas Eve service at New Community. They had communion and real candles for the candle light service. I don't think I've been to a real candle light service before and I know it was the first time for the kids. It was also the first time that we, as a family, had ALL taken communion together. That night after the kids were in bed we wrapped the last of the presents and stuffed the stockings.
Friday, Christmas Day. Told the kids to stay in their rooms until 7 am and we would come and get them then. LeAnne was up and waiting, we had to wake James Stephen up. But he woke up quickly and was excited. Everyone had fun opening presents, even Barkley. I got a pink Nike gym bag, two books, a silver Pandora snowman charm, a gift certificate for a deluxe mani/pedi and a whole bunch of stuff to keep in my gym bag (like body spray, antibacterial wipes, travel deo, Zone bars, travel lotion, pedometer, etc). I could tell Ron put a lot of thought into my gifts this year, and I have to admit, I was impressed that he thought of the spa gift card. He has never gotten me anything like that before. I hope he enjoys his massage gift certificate I got him. (the rest of his stuff was tools) After all the presents were opened we made a pancake, egg and bacon breakfast. The kids got large remote control cars and we went into the cul-de-sac and raced those for a while. Ron bought us all a remote controlled helicopter, supposedly from Barkley. But it quickly became apparent that he bought it for himself..LOL. We all got family games from "Santa." Ron had beginners luck on Yahtzee and beat me. Lunch was BLT's. Spent more of the afternoon watching The Christmas Story and playing with everything. For dinner we grilled steak and lobster tails along with baked potatoes, steamed broccoli and crescent rolls. This was the first time the kids each got their own lobster tail. We used our Christmas plates and candles. Afterward we all piled on the sofas and just chilled out, the kids in their new Snuggies. No one really wanted the day to end and we stayed up super late.
Saturday, December 26. Woke up with my cold/sinus crud being worse so went to the pharmacy and got my antibiotics filled. Then we all went shopping, the kids had money burning holes in their pockets, but everything they wanted was sold out. Had lunch at Chipotle. Spent more family time together. Chris came over and he and Ron installed a new toilet in our master bathroom. The earlier showings of Avatar in 3D were sold out so after Chris left, we went to the 10 pm showing. LeAnne brought her Snuggie and within 45 minutes was sound asleep wrapped up in it, with her 3D glasses on. She was so cute curled up in that chair. It was 1 am before the movie ended. I told Ron it reminded me of Matrix meeting some environmentalist. He called it a tree hugger movie. My favorite part was the glowing plants. Overall, it wasn't what I had expected though. Woke LeAnne up, she said something about "tomorrow" and we said, "It is tomorrow!" We all laughed at the look on her face.
Sunday, December 27. We slept in due to the fact that it was "tomorrow" already when we got home from the movie. I went to the gym while Ron and LeAnne spent some more time racing the cars. That afternoon she and I had eye appointments. We both got some new glasses. Hers, of course, are to wear all the time, we shall see how often I wear mine. I don't particularly care for how I look in them. They should come in sometime next week. Came home and we took down the Christmas tree, wreath and all the other decorations and got it all back into the attic. Knew we would be out of town over New Years, which is when I normally take the stuff down, so went ahead and did it. It was so nice to be home all weekend and have the family time that we did.
Happy Birthday, Jesus! Thanks for coming to earth to save us and make us part of Your family. If our long weekend of family time here was so nice and relaxing, I can't imagine what a celebration we all will have in heaven with God our Father!
Monday, December 28, 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Christmas in Albany
We went down to Albany on Saturday. Had lunch with Ron's Granddaddy Cannon at the classic "old people" place to eat....Quincy's. Dinner was at his grandparent's, the Wingate's and we got to see the newest addition to the family, Langston Spring, born two weeks ago. We had Christmas with the Stewart's on Saturday night. My mother-in-law even got our dog a present! It was a lot of fun and then my sister-in-law and I went riding around looking at Christmas lights. There is this one guy in Albany that has displayed a convertible with a waving Santa Claus in it and lights and music every year, this was his 50th year! It made me feel like a kid again to see it!
Sunday morning we stopped by my grandparents, the Sheek's. Then off to Leesburg to see my brother, Jonathan, and his girlfriend, Katie. Our last stop of the weekend was my parents. My mom organized a "Happy Birthday Jesus" party for all the grandkids. All seven of them were there and they did crafts, had "Happy Birthday Jesus" plates, cups and cake and she read the Christmas story to them. It was a great way to remind all the kids the real reason for the season.
Sunday morning we stopped by my grandparents, the Sheek's. Then off to Leesburg to see my brother, Jonathan, and his girlfriend, Katie. Our last stop of the weekend was my parents. My mom organized a "Happy Birthday Jesus" party for all the grandkids. All seven of them were there and they did crafts, had "Happy Birthday Jesus" plates, cups and cake and she read the Christmas story to them. It was a great way to remind all the kids the real reason for the season.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Thanksgiving (and the week after)
Ok, so Thanksgiving was a week ago and it is now December. I've been a slacker as far as my blog goes. So just gonna attempt to do a quick update and get caught up. This is more a "family diary" entry, so if you are looking for one of my more devotional centered entries, this isn't going to be it. :)
Wednesday, after work, we headed down to our hometown to see family. Thursday was a packed full day! We had Thanksgiving lunch at Ron's grandparent's home and then we played a game his mom orchestrated. Since we won't all (cousins, grandparents, etc) be together at the same time at Christmas she decided we would do "Gobbler Gifts" and we drew numbers and played the whole "steal" gifts thing. My kids brought homemade cocoa mixes and chocolate dipped marshmallows on a stick they made. I made some gift cards with photos I have taken and Ron took a gift certificate for electrical work. It was a lot of fun! Then in the afternoon we went to my parent's home. Everyone of us eight siblings were there, except for one. It was so nice seeing everyone. After dinner we continued our decades old tradition of a hayride down country, dirt roads...in the back of a trailer on hay bales, in the freezing cold! We took Barkley this time, I even bought a cute little fur lined coat for him, which one of my brothers razzed me to death over! This year we had 22 (I think) of us in the trailer, plus a couple more and some little ones in the truck. Our family just keeps growing and growing.
Friday morning Melinda, LeAnne and I went "Black Friday" shopping. This was the first time that LeAnne got to tag along. We didn't go super early or was really out to get anything in particular so it was fun and relaxed, not crazy like some years. We went to Chick-fil-A for breakfast at the mall afterward. For lunch, Catherine, Christina and I went and ate lunch at Corner Cafe. Was a cute little place and we sat on the patio. Actually, we were the only ones willing to brave the chill and sit out there. It was great catching up and chatting. (By the way, if you ask the waitress there to pick out the grapes in your fruit bowl, she will just laugh at you!! LOL) We went and checked out Thomas and Christina's place and had a yummy, seasonal latte from Starbucks. Friday night my parents took the kids to see the 3D Christmas Carol movie at the theater. Ron and I and some of his family went and had mexican while the kids were gone.
Saturday morning we visited with my grandparents. Then Ron decided we weren't going to stay, as originally planned, until Sunday, but to come on back. Probably missed a lot of traffic by doing that. We also got back in time to go to our favorite sushi place and eat a super late dinner there.
Sunday morning Ron started getting sick. By yesterday he went to the doctor and has a mild case of pneumonia. So he missed work yesterday and today, which besides him feeling bad, sucks because he has no sick leave or time off left this year.
Last night I went to my Esther Bible study. Only four of us showed up, but the lesson was really good (DVD session #5) and we got a chance to sit and talk in a more intimate setting afterward since there wasn't as many of us. I love those ladies!
Glad tomorrow is Friday...glad for this week to be over and who knows...the weatherman says we may have snow flurries on Saturday, how exciting if we do!
Wednesday, after work, we headed down to our hometown to see family. Thursday was a packed full day! We had Thanksgiving lunch at Ron's grandparent's home and then we played a game his mom orchestrated. Since we won't all (cousins, grandparents, etc) be together at the same time at Christmas she decided we would do "Gobbler Gifts" and we drew numbers and played the whole "steal" gifts thing. My kids brought homemade cocoa mixes and chocolate dipped marshmallows on a stick they made. I made some gift cards with photos I have taken and Ron took a gift certificate for electrical work. It was a lot of fun! Then in the afternoon we went to my parent's home. Everyone of us eight siblings were there, except for one. It was so nice seeing everyone. After dinner we continued our decades old tradition of a hayride down country, dirt roads...in the back of a trailer on hay bales, in the freezing cold! We took Barkley this time, I even bought a cute little fur lined coat for him, which one of my brothers razzed me to death over! This year we had 22 (I think) of us in the trailer, plus a couple more and some little ones in the truck. Our family just keeps growing and growing.
Friday morning Melinda, LeAnne and I went "Black Friday" shopping. This was the first time that LeAnne got to tag along. We didn't go super early or was really out to get anything in particular so it was fun and relaxed, not crazy like some years. We went to Chick-fil-A for breakfast at the mall afterward. For lunch, Catherine, Christina and I went and ate lunch at Corner Cafe. Was a cute little place and we sat on the patio. Actually, we were the only ones willing to brave the chill and sit out there. It was great catching up and chatting. (By the way, if you ask the waitress there to pick out the grapes in your fruit bowl, she will just laugh at you!! LOL) We went and checked out Thomas and Christina's place and had a yummy, seasonal latte from Starbucks. Friday night my parents took the kids to see the 3D Christmas Carol movie at the theater. Ron and I and some of his family went and had mexican while the kids were gone.
Saturday morning we visited with my grandparents. Then Ron decided we weren't going to stay, as originally planned, until Sunday, but to come on back. Probably missed a lot of traffic by doing that. We also got back in time to go to our favorite sushi place and eat a super late dinner there.
Sunday morning Ron started getting sick. By yesterday he went to the doctor and has a mild case of pneumonia. So he missed work yesterday and today, which besides him feeling bad, sucks because he has no sick leave or time off left this year.
Last night I went to my Esther Bible study. Only four of us showed up, but the lesson was really good (DVD session #5) and we got a chance to sit and talk in a more intimate setting afterward since there wasn't as many of us. I love those ladies!
Glad tomorrow is Friday...glad for this week to be over and who knows...the weatherman says we may have snow flurries on Saturday, how exciting if we do!
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Coram Deo
Coram Deo literally means "before the face of God." On Friday night I attended O2 at 12Stone and the theme of the night was Coram Deo. An awesome time of praise and worship and adoration. As we partook of communion together I felt strongly pressed that sometime this week I needed to do this with my children. Was trying to figure out exactly how to do that. Then at the end of the service they handed out small brown bags with all the elements of communion. I just thought that was so like God...He gave me the desire, then He supplied the need!
Also, at the beginning of the service they gave us each a broken piece of pottery. At some point during the service we were supposed to go to one of four stations and place our broken piece of pottery on these big boards they had. Symbolizing that God takes all of our broken pieces and together makes something special. At the end, unknown to us at the time we placed our pieces, all four boards from the stations were placed together on stage and formed this beautiful mural of a tree. They had placed the tree pieces previously and all of our pieces were blue and filled in all the gaps. It was a special time for me to know that our broken parts of our lives may not go back together they way they once were, all shiny and smooth, yet God still can put them back together in a way of beauty. They had little tubs of grout at the stations to secure your tile with and wet wipes to clean up your hands if you got the grout on them. Even that spoke to me. Sometimes putting the broken pieces of our lives back together can be a messy thing. And making this mural took everyone participating. I'm thankful for the people in my life who have been willing to get a little messy with me at times.
This morning I sat down with the kids in the quiet of the morning. No school today, so no rushing around, no tv on. I explained what communion is and read about the last supper in Matthew. We each took turns praying, then we thanked the Lord for breaking His body and shedding His blood for us. The loaf of bread they gave us Friday night was like a rock, but that didn't deter us, we just used a piece of bread. And I wasn't sure what to use to pour the juice in, so I used shot glasses. I meant no disrespect and I think the Lord honored the intent of my heart. It was a special time and the kids thanked me for it. As the holiday season approaches and Thanksgiving later this week, it was nice to stop the frantic pace for a minute and remember all that we have to be thankful for.
They gave us this sheet as we left Friday night. I think it is good words to close with.
"This evening we celebrated "Coram Deo"- the privilege of living face to face with God. We have brought the broken pieces of our lives before Him and our desire to not withhold any part or fragment of our life from His presence.
As we leave this worship experience let us remember that we carry the presence of God with us into our ordinary, everyday lives. Let us remember, as Jesus reminded the disciples, of the loving and miraculous sacrifice that purchased our salvation.
In the next couple of days, we encourage you to gather friends or family and partake of the Communion elements provided in this bag. Read the scripture below and celebrate gratitude for His death that ripped the veil and restored our relationship with our Heavenly Father."
Matthew 26:26-29 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body." Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom."
Also, at the beginning of the service they gave us each a broken piece of pottery. At some point during the service we were supposed to go to one of four stations and place our broken piece of pottery on these big boards they had. Symbolizing that God takes all of our broken pieces and together makes something special. At the end, unknown to us at the time we placed our pieces, all four boards from the stations were placed together on stage and formed this beautiful mural of a tree. They had placed the tree pieces previously and all of our pieces were blue and filled in all the gaps. It was a special time for me to know that our broken parts of our lives may not go back together they way they once were, all shiny and smooth, yet God still can put them back together in a way of beauty. They had little tubs of grout at the stations to secure your tile with and wet wipes to clean up your hands if you got the grout on them. Even that spoke to me. Sometimes putting the broken pieces of our lives back together can be a messy thing. And making this mural took everyone participating. I'm thankful for the people in my life who have been willing to get a little messy with me at times.This morning I sat down with the kids in the quiet of the morning. No school today, so no rushing around, no tv on. I explained what communion is and read about the last supper in Matthew. We each took turns praying, then we thanked the Lord for breaking His body and shedding His blood for us. The loaf of bread they gave us Friday night was like a rock, but that didn't deter us, we just used a piece of bread. And I wasn't sure what to use to pour the juice in, so I used shot glasses. I meant no disrespect and I think the Lord honored the intent of my heart. It was a special time and the kids thanked me for it. As the holiday season approaches and Thanksgiving later this week, it was nice to stop the frantic pace for a minute and remember all that we have to be thankful for.
They gave us this sheet as we left Friday night. I think it is good words to close with.
"This evening we celebrated "Coram Deo"- the privilege of living face to face with God. We have brought the broken pieces of our lives before Him and our desire to not withhold any part or fragment of our life from His presence.
As we leave this worship experience let us remember that we carry the presence of God with us into our ordinary, everyday lives. Let us remember, as Jesus reminded the disciples, of the loving and miraculous sacrifice that purchased our salvation.
In the next couple of days, we encourage you to gather friends or family and partake of the Communion elements provided in this bag. Read the scripture below and celebrate gratitude for His death that ripped the veil and restored our relationship with our Heavenly Father."
Matthew 26:26-29 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body." Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom."
Jon and Kate plus 8
Last night I watched the final episode of TLC's show Jon and Kate plus 8. The season ended unexpectedly and sadly due to the divorce of Jon and Kate. I watched it curiously but not planning on it to be emotional for me. It is just a tv show. But as I watched last night, it was more then a show, it was a family that has been irrepairably broken. Those kids spent their whole lives in the spotlight and with their parents doting on them and was just such a close, family orientated unit. For all of them, but especially for the children, their lives will never be the same. As it ended, as Kate sat there wiping tears, I felt very sad for all of them. I know how close eight siblings can be, I'm the oldest of eight. So as the show ended, in the midst of the sadness, I suddenly felt so very, very grateful for my parents. Last week they celebrated their 36th anniversary!! Mike and Pam plus 8....still going strong!
Thank you Mom and Dad! I love you!!!
Thank you Mom and Dad! I love you!!!
Friday, November 20, 2009
Saga of the Insurance Check
This story started a while back, only I didn't realize it until the other week. To be exact, it was Saturday, a couple of weeks ago, the one where we didn't make it to Savannah so I started cleaning some forgotten piles of stuff, when I knowingly joined the saga. I hate to even tell on myself like this, but I'm not the best at some paperwork. Now if I know it is important or something due, that is one thing, but random mail, not so much. So I had this pile of random mail in a box that I thought I should eventually sort before discarding, but it was in a very, very low priority stack of stuff. So I started sorting and opening this stuff. Well amongst the mail was one of those notices from my insurance company. You know, the boring summaries they send every so often showing what dates you went to a doctor, what you paid, what was owed, what they covered, blah, blah, blah. I figure if I owe the doctor more money, I'm sure to hear from them. So don't keep up with these summaries on a regular basis. I open the evelope to find the summary AND a check for $195!! Apparently, I had overpaid and they were refunding me. I thought I had been paying a higher co-pay then I was supposed to, but the doctors office assured me that is what I owed, so I paid it, they passed it on to my insurance, who was trying to give it back. Excited because that is a lot of money for me to get so unexpectedly and it was perfect timing for our trip to Savannah, I deposited the check, checked online the next day and sure enough, there it was. Whoo hoo. Came back from Savannah this weekend and went to work on Monday. Monday night I come home and check the mail. In the mail is a letter from my bank stating that the check was returned and the amount removed from my account. Yikes!! At this point I'm thinking I would have rather not had the check at all then think I have it, spend it and then find out I don't. Plus I'm pretty ticked. Yesterday I tried to call the insurance company to find out what in the world was going on and to let them know I wasn't happy with this situation. After about 10 minutes of that crazy automated crap, where the machine kept mistaking me saying "myself" for "spouse", I finally get to a real person. At that same point I look down at the check and see the date and the words, "must be deposited within 12 mths." And it was dated October 2008. Arrrggggg. Simply told the guy on the phone never mind and hung up. Then sat there trying to figure out how to kick myself!! Here I had had this check for 13 months and never knew it, and by the time I realized I had it, I was one month too late to cash it.
Woke up this morning still feeling frustrated over it and then thought about the blessings that the Lord has for us that we just ignore. It isn't that He isn't trying to bless us, but that we don't take the time to see what He has or to accept it. If I had just known I had the check I would have utilized it, I didn't purposely decide that the insurance company needed the money more then me. With the Lord, it again isn't that I purposely shun what He has to offer, but that I don't take the time to really look at what is right there in front of me and available to me. You can rest assured that the next envelope I get from my insurance company will be opened and read! Yet, I have God's Word and how often do I get so busy it gets pushed lower down on my priority pile, to be read at a more convenient time. I wonder how much regret I will have when I get to heaven and see all the missed opportunities and blessings. So busy with life here on earth that I forget about the things eternal. And with the insurance check, it was money I had already paid, but with Christ, it is totally free, not a refund, but paid in full with His own blood. It doesn't cost us anything!
Tonight at 7:00 pm, 12Stone Church is offering it's O2 service. For a couple of hours Christians can gather together to pray, praise, worship and celebrate communion. It is a time of oxygen for the soul. Tonight, I pray that I go ready to listen and take the refreshing that He has for me and in turn that I will praise Him for His faithfulness, grace, mercy and love - all freely given, ready to be accepted!
John 4:10 - Jesus replied, "If you only knew the gift God has for you and who I am, you would ask me, and I would give you living water."
Woke up this morning still feeling frustrated over it and then thought about the blessings that the Lord has for us that we just ignore. It isn't that He isn't trying to bless us, but that we don't take the time to see what He has or to accept it. If I had just known I had the check I would have utilized it, I didn't purposely decide that the insurance company needed the money more then me. With the Lord, it again isn't that I purposely shun what He has to offer, but that I don't take the time to really look at what is right there in front of me and available to me. You can rest assured that the next envelope I get from my insurance company will be opened and read! Yet, I have God's Word and how often do I get so busy it gets pushed lower down on my priority pile, to be read at a more convenient time. I wonder how much regret I will have when I get to heaven and see all the missed opportunities and blessings. So busy with life here on earth that I forget about the things eternal. And with the insurance check, it was money I had already paid, but with Christ, it is totally free, not a refund, but paid in full with His own blood. It doesn't cost us anything!
Tonight at 7:00 pm, 12Stone Church is offering it's O2 service. For a couple of hours Christians can gather together to pray, praise, worship and celebrate communion. It is a time of oxygen for the soul. Tonight, I pray that I go ready to listen and take the refreshing that He has for me and in turn that I will praise Him for His faithfulness, grace, mercy and love - all freely given, ready to be accepted!
John 4:10 - Jesus replied, "If you only knew the gift God has for you and who I am, you would ask me, and I would give you living water."
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Savannah - Tybee Island - Jacksonville, FL
What a crazy, busy weekend! We got off work Friday, packed and headed to Savannah. Made pretty good time but ended up staying up until 2am visiting. Ron's dad lives there and this was the first time we met his new girlfriend, Sherry, who recently moved in.
Saturday we got up early and he cooked us all a big homemade breakfast. These Bowyer guys sure know how to cook! Then we headed over to Bonaventure Cemetery (part of the movie, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil was filmed there). Was neat looking at the old graves, it was a huge place and we only saw one section of it. Then we went to Fort Pulaski. They had movie props all set up around the fort for the new movie, Conspirator, that is directed by Robert Redford and coming out next year. (The movie plot: In the wake of Abraham Lincoln's assassination, seven men and one woman are arrested and charged with conspiring to kill the President, Vice-President, and Secretary of State. The lone woman charged, Mary Surratt, 42, owns a boarding house where John Wilkes Booth and others met and planned the simultaneous attacks. Against the ominous back-drop of post-Civil War Washington, newly-minted lawyer, Frederick Aiken, a 28-year-old Union war-hero, reluctantly agrees to defend Surratt before a military tribunal. Aiken realizes his client may be innocent and that she is being used as bait and hostage in order to capture the only conspirator to have escaped a massive manhunt: her own son.) We saw the gallows that they had built for the part of the movie where Mary Surratt was hung. The most interesting part of it was seeing the back wall of the fort...there are still huge craters in the brick from cannon balls! It had a moat around the whole fort, but a moat doesn't do much good against cannons! LeAnne of course just loved the history of it all, especially considering it was in the Civil War era. We had lunch at The Crab Shack on Tybee Island. The tables had holes in the center of them with trash cans underneath, so as we ate our low country boil we could just shove the shells and corn cobs and trash into the hole. Told Ron I wanted a table like that at home. We could eat on paper plates and after dinner everyone could just shove their trash in the hole and clean up would be a snap! They also had a mini alligator farm there and you could feed them while waiting on your table. It was a neat place. After lunch we all climbed the lighthouse on Tybee Island and the kids got certificates showing that they had climbed it. Toured this naval museum that was across the street from the lighthouse and got to use a real periscope from a WWII era ship. Then it was down to the beach to put our toes in the sand and the ocean. It was quite warm outside, but the water was freezing! Shopped at some of the little shops there on the island. Afterward, we headed back toward Savannah and went to eat dinner at Love's Seafood in King's Ferry on the Ogeechee River. (they filmed part of Forrest Gump there) The lady told us the wait was about 30-40 minutes...she lied! We ended up being there about 3 hours and the food wasn't that great either. James Stephen had alligator, I had mahi-mahi. Surprising since it was such a high rated place on the internet. But "Big Buddy" kept us entertained, or embarrassed us according to LeAnne.
Sunday we got up and ate in downtown Savannah at a place called Clary's Cafe on Abercorn. (it was in the movie, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil) The best breakfast! Plus it had outdoor tables so we took our dogs, Barkley, our yorki-poo and Sadie, their chocolate lab. The waitress even brought out doggy treats for them to eat. On River St. we walked the dogs and went in some of the stores that had a "dogs welcome" sign on the door. I think Barkley really enjoyed it. It is a very dog-friendly city. Got some warm, fresh pecan pralines from River St. Sweets...YUM! From there we headed on down to Jacksonville to go to Alexander's 2nd birthday party. (Jonathan Bowyer's son, our nephew) We saw a lot of family that we haven't seen in a while including Ron's cousin Shane, his wife and their brand new baby girl. Unfortuneately though, Ron and I had to be back at work Monday morning....so back on the road again and got in late Sunday. Like I said...a super packed, busy weekend!!
Saturday we got up early and he cooked us all a big homemade breakfast. These Bowyer guys sure know how to cook! Then we headed over to Bonaventure Cemetery (part of the movie, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil was filmed there). Was neat looking at the old graves, it was a huge place and we only saw one section of it. Then we went to Fort Pulaski. They had movie props all set up around the fort for the new movie, Conspirator, that is directed by Robert Redford and coming out next year. (The movie plot: In the wake of Abraham Lincoln's assassination, seven men and one woman are arrested and charged with conspiring to kill the President, Vice-President, and Secretary of State. The lone woman charged, Mary Surratt, 42, owns a boarding house where John Wilkes Booth and others met and planned the simultaneous attacks. Against the ominous back-drop of post-Civil War Washington, newly-minted lawyer, Frederick Aiken, a 28-year-old Union war-hero, reluctantly agrees to defend Surratt before a military tribunal. Aiken realizes his client may be innocent and that she is being used as bait and hostage in order to capture the only conspirator to have escaped a massive manhunt: her own son.) We saw the gallows that they had built for the part of the movie where Mary Surratt was hung. The most interesting part of it was seeing the back wall of the fort...there are still huge craters in the brick from cannon balls! It had a moat around the whole fort, but a moat doesn't do much good against cannons! LeAnne of course just loved the history of it all, especially considering it was in the Civil War era. We had lunch at The Crab Shack on Tybee Island. The tables had holes in the center of them with trash cans underneath, so as we ate our low country boil we could just shove the shells and corn cobs and trash into the hole. Told Ron I wanted a table like that at home. We could eat on paper plates and after dinner everyone could just shove their trash in the hole and clean up would be a snap! They also had a mini alligator farm there and you could feed them while waiting on your table. It was a neat place. After lunch we all climbed the lighthouse on Tybee Island and the kids got certificates showing that they had climbed it. Toured this naval museum that was across the street from the lighthouse and got to use a real periscope from a WWII era ship. Then it was down to the beach to put our toes in the sand and the ocean. It was quite warm outside, but the water was freezing! Shopped at some of the little shops there on the island. Afterward, we headed back toward Savannah and went to eat dinner at Love's Seafood in King's Ferry on the Ogeechee River. (they filmed part of Forrest Gump there) The lady told us the wait was about 30-40 minutes...she lied! We ended up being there about 3 hours and the food wasn't that great either. James Stephen had alligator, I had mahi-mahi. Surprising since it was such a high rated place on the internet. But "Big Buddy" kept us entertained, or embarrassed us according to LeAnne.
Sunday we got up and ate in downtown Savannah at a place called Clary's Cafe on Abercorn. (it was in the movie, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil) The best breakfast! Plus it had outdoor tables so we took our dogs, Barkley, our yorki-poo and Sadie, their chocolate lab. The waitress even brought out doggy treats for them to eat. On River St. we walked the dogs and went in some of the stores that had a "dogs welcome" sign on the door. I think Barkley really enjoyed it. It is a very dog-friendly city. Got some warm, fresh pecan pralines from River St. Sweets...YUM! From there we headed on down to Jacksonville to go to Alexander's 2nd birthday party. (Jonathan Bowyer's son, our nephew) We saw a lot of family that we haven't seen in a while including Ron's cousin Shane, his wife and their brand new baby girl. Unfortuneately though, Ron and I had to be back at work Monday morning....so back on the road again and got in late Sunday. Like I said...a super packed, busy weekend!!
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
The Root of the Problem
Wow, it has only been two days of this week and already been somewhat eventful. Monday I went to the chiropractor's office for my back and got a deep tissue massage. She said she was "stretching" the muscles on the side of the one that was pulled or kinked. That was no relaxing massage! It hurt so much that I had to keep reminding myself to breathe. But when I walked into the office it was partially bent over and when I left I was totally upright! Today I was so incredibly sore, but still upright and the lower back seems fine, so all is good! She went deep to the root of the problem, and though it was painful, it was beneficial.
We had our first Girl Scout regular meeting last night. Came home aftwerward and Barkley had this large patch of fur missing off of his backside and top of his back. Now he has been shedding lately, which is odd for him because he has never, ever shed before. But this was nearly bald! I took him to the vet today and it turns out he is allergic to fleas, and though doesn't currently have any fleas that they could see, he apparently has been exposed to some. It made him itch and he was biting to scratch himself. They gave him some super strength flea meds and anti-itch meds, so hopefully he will be feeling better soon! I talked to a friend before I took him to the vet this morning and she suggested putting a collar on him where he couldn't get to the spot on his back and bite at it. While this may have seemed like a good idea at first, and probably would be a good idea until his meds kick in, it would only fix the visible problem. Not a solution to the real, underlying problem.
Here is where my lesson of the day comes in. Aren't we so prone to do that in life? We try to fix the symptoms and find a quick, easy solution without ever digging deep to see where the root of the problem lies. I could put a collar on him and yes, that would make him quit biting himself. But it wouldn't stop the itching. I could put anti-itch cream on him and yes, that might stop the itching. But neither would be a lasting solution as neither was the root of the problem, an allergic reaction to fleas. Same goes with my back, I could have gone to my medical doctor and gotten some stronger pain medication, but that would only cover the pain, not fix the problem. In both of these cases, I saw the importance of getting to the real issue. Need another word picture? How would you like it if you went to the dentist with a cavity, but instead of drilling out the bad to fill it, they just patched the spot and gave you teeth whiteners? Your teeth might look good for a bit, but unseen to you, the root of the cavity would still be there and just keep getting worse. But oh boy, in life, I'm horrible at getting to the real issues! I tend to gravitate toward the quick fixes, the band aids, just covering the problems on the outside so they aren't noticeable or actually even look nice. But eventually what is deep within us will come out. Luke 6:45 (NIV) says, "The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks." If we don't take care of the root issues we won't last. Mark 4:17 (NIV) says, "But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away."
Wonder what Jesus has to say about fixing the outside but not the inside? In Matthew 23:27 (NIV), Jesus said, "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean." Wow, those are some strong words! Convicting words. No beating around the issue. Straight to the heart of the matter. It isn't what rules we follow, what denomination we are, how religious we act or are, but what is deep inside of us.
~ Lord, help me to learn to deal more with the heart issues, not just the outward manifestations. Help me to store up those things that are pure and godly in my heart, so that will be what comes from me. May my roots be deep and strong so that in the hard times, I will stand fast. Cleanse me from the inside out, so that my life can be used, and not full of unclean things. Help me care more about what You see in me, then what people see on the outside. May my life be an authentic reflection of You in me. ~
We had our first Girl Scout regular meeting last night. Came home aftwerward and Barkley had this large patch of fur missing off of his backside and top of his back. Now he has been shedding lately, which is odd for him because he has never, ever shed before. But this was nearly bald! I took him to the vet today and it turns out he is allergic to fleas, and though doesn't currently have any fleas that they could see, he apparently has been exposed to some. It made him itch and he was biting to scratch himself. They gave him some super strength flea meds and anti-itch meds, so hopefully he will be feeling better soon! I talked to a friend before I took him to the vet this morning and she suggested putting a collar on him where he couldn't get to the spot on his back and bite at it. While this may have seemed like a good idea at first, and probably would be a good idea until his meds kick in, it would only fix the visible problem. Not a solution to the real, underlying problem.
Here is where my lesson of the day comes in. Aren't we so prone to do that in life? We try to fix the symptoms and find a quick, easy solution without ever digging deep to see where the root of the problem lies. I could put a collar on him and yes, that would make him quit biting himself. But it wouldn't stop the itching. I could put anti-itch cream on him and yes, that might stop the itching. But neither would be a lasting solution as neither was the root of the problem, an allergic reaction to fleas. Same goes with my back, I could have gone to my medical doctor and gotten some stronger pain medication, but that would only cover the pain, not fix the problem. In both of these cases, I saw the importance of getting to the real issue. Need another word picture? How would you like it if you went to the dentist with a cavity, but instead of drilling out the bad to fill it, they just patched the spot and gave you teeth whiteners? Your teeth might look good for a bit, but unseen to you, the root of the cavity would still be there and just keep getting worse. But oh boy, in life, I'm horrible at getting to the real issues! I tend to gravitate toward the quick fixes, the band aids, just covering the problems on the outside so they aren't noticeable or actually even look nice. But eventually what is deep within us will come out. Luke 6:45 (NIV) says, "The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks." If we don't take care of the root issues we won't last. Mark 4:17 (NIV) says, "But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away."
Wonder what Jesus has to say about fixing the outside but not the inside? In Matthew 23:27 (NIV), Jesus said, "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean." Wow, those are some strong words! Convicting words. No beating around the issue. Straight to the heart of the matter. It isn't what rules we follow, what denomination we are, how religious we act or are, but what is deep inside of us.
~ Lord, help me to learn to deal more with the heart issues, not just the outward manifestations. Help me to store up those things that are pure and godly in my heart, so that will be what comes from me. May my roots be deep and strong so that in the hard times, I will stand fast. Cleanse me from the inside out, so that my life can be used, and not full of unclean things. Help me care more about what You see in me, then what people see on the outside. May my life be an authentic reflection of You in me. ~
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Weekend Wrap-Up
Wednesday night was our Esther Bible study night. We met at Starbucks to discuss this week's homework. There were only four of us that were able to make it, but it was kind of nice like that. We all had a chance to talk and I felt like with that size we got to know each other a little bit better. Plus, the seasonal drinks were out and I got my fav...an egg nog latte. Sweet! Ah, the joys of the little things in life.
Whoo hoo...had another date night this week. A girl could get used to this! We met after work on Thursday for sushi and Mai Tais at our favorite sushi place. We didn't stay long, but was nice just to meet up and chill out a bit before heading home. We are trying to connect more on a different level then just the fact that we parent the same kids.
Friday morning he called and had finally actually looked at the on-call list at work and lo and behold, he is on call this weekend and upcoming week. That shot our plans for a weekend in Savannah. So Saturday morning I woke up ready to seize the opportunity to do some much needed, major cleaning. Got right to it but after a couple of hours I somehow managed to pull a muscle in my lower back. Not talking just "ouch, it hurts", but crippling type of pain. Nothing seemed to help...meds, ice pack, resting, etc. I totally lost my cool at one point because it was like mom is out, whoo hoo, we don't have to do anything else! Made me feel like no one cared about helping and actually being a part of the family. But after my little melt down, I guess they got the point because they quickly jumped up to help, and actually ended up being quite a big help. I tried to get up and do something in the afternoon but the pain was so bad I just laid back on the sofa and was trying not to cry. Both kids came over to me and on their own, they each grabbed a hand and took turns praying out loud for me. A very touching moment. Ron cooked dinner for us, it was so good! Mahi mahi, steamed broccoli with cheese, homemade mashed potatoes (LeAnne peeled them all!), and from scratch, fried cornbread Johnny cakes. Then around midnight, just as we were about to head to bed, the on-call phone rings. An apartment building in downtown Atlanta had lost power to part of the complex so he had to go. It was after 3 am before he made it back home. Well of course then he was super tired. So Sunday morning comes and I know I have GOT to make it to the grocery store as we had nothing to eat, unless pickles and eggs count, because that was pretty much all that was left! LeAnne went with me so she could grab the items I pointed out and put them in the cart. I almost rode the little battery operated shopping carts, but didn't. Might have been fun though..lol. About half way through I was hurting so bad that I started sweating and just stopped and leaned all the way over into the cart, never was able to stand up the whole time I shopped, just kind of hunched over the cart and shuffled my way through the aisles. (Had my coupons though and saved $44.77!) Thankfully, the bag boy loaded the groceries for me. The kids unloaded and put away when I got home. That totally wiped me out, was back with my ice pack! Rested most of the day and then was feeling a little bit better while ago. My mother-in-law is awesome and for Halloween, since we couldn't be there, she had sent each of us a gift card to Bruster's. So, we decided to go get dessert. Took Barkley with us and they give these free doggie treats there if you bring your dog. So all of us, including Barkely, got some ice cream. They put vanilla in this little bowl for him and put a little doggy milk bone on top. The kids thought that was the coolest thing and Barkley licked it clean, not a DROP left! I think it was his first time getting ice cream.
Well, it's almost bed time for the kids and then I'm going to go soak in the hottest water I can manage and hope I can make it through work tomorrow. Guess I'll be taking a break from the gym this week. Though I sure need it after sitting on my backside for the majority of the last two days doing nothing other then eating!
Whoo hoo...had another date night this week. A girl could get used to this! We met after work on Thursday for sushi and Mai Tais at our favorite sushi place. We didn't stay long, but was nice just to meet up and chill out a bit before heading home. We are trying to connect more on a different level then just the fact that we parent the same kids.
Friday morning he called and had finally actually looked at the on-call list at work and lo and behold, he is on call this weekend and upcoming week. That shot our plans for a weekend in Savannah. So Saturday morning I woke up ready to seize the opportunity to do some much needed, major cleaning. Got right to it but after a couple of hours I somehow managed to pull a muscle in my lower back. Not talking just "ouch, it hurts", but crippling type of pain. Nothing seemed to help...meds, ice pack, resting, etc. I totally lost my cool at one point because it was like mom is out, whoo hoo, we don't have to do anything else! Made me feel like no one cared about helping and actually being a part of the family. But after my little melt down, I guess they got the point because they quickly jumped up to help, and actually ended up being quite a big help. I tried to get up and do something in the afternoon but the pain was so bad I just laid back on the sofa and was trying not to cry. Both kids came over to me and on their own, they each grabbed a hand and took turns praying out loud for me. A very touching moment. Ron cooked dinner for us, it was so good! Mahi mahi, steamed broccoli with cheese, homemade mashed potatoes (LeAnne peeled them all!), and from scratch, fried cornbread Johnny cakes. Then around midnight, just as we were about to head to bed, the on-call phone rings. An apartment building in downtown Atlanta had lost power to part of the complex so he had to go. It was after 3 am before he made it back home. Well of course then he was super tired. So Sunday morning comes and I know I have GOT to make it to the grocery store as we had nothing to eat, unless pickles and eggs count, because that was pretty much all that was left! LeAnne went with me so she could grab the items I pointed out and put them in the cart. I almost rode the little battery operated shopping carts, but didn't. Might have been fun though..lol. About half way through I was hurting so bad that I started sweating and just stopped and leaned all the way over into the cart, never was able to stand up the whole time I shopped, just kind of hunched over the cart and shuffled my way through the aisles. (Had my coupons though and saved $44.77!) Thankfully, the bag boy loaded the groceries for me. The kids unloaded and put away when I got home. That totally wiped me out, was back with my ice pack! Rested most of the day and then was feeling a little bit better while ago. My mother-in-law is awesome and for Halloween, since we couldn't be there, she had sent each of us a gift card to Bruster's. So, we decided to go get dessert. Took Barkley with us and they give these free doggie treats there if you bring your dog. So all of us, including Barkely, got some ice cream. They put vanilla in this little bowl for him and put a little doggy milk bone on top. The kids thought that was the coolest thing and Barkley licked it clean, not a DROP left! I think it was his first time getting ice cream.
Well, it's almost bed time for the kids and then I'm going to go soak in the hottest water I can manage and hope I can make it through work tomorrow. Guess I'll be taking a break from the gym this week. Though I sure need it after sitting on my backside for the majority of the last two days doing nothing other then eating!
Friday, November 6, 2009
Hot Chocolate & Flexibility
What does hot chocolate have to do with flexibility? Not much actually. But they are both just more of the little tiny life lessons I've learned this week through daily life with my kids. I think so often in my life I have expected God to speak to me through a "burning bush" experience or boldly proclaim a lesson. But more often it seems He takes the small, day to day things, and teaches me a subtle lesson through them and through my kids.
Hot Chocolate
Last week we had a chilly morning and my son was running behind in getting ready for the day. I was at the door and ready to head to the gym when he said he had just finished making his hot chocolate and needed to drink it first. I glance at this mug, nearly full and something in the back of my head said "this is not a good idea" but my impatience over ruled common sense and I told him, "just grab it and bring it, you can drink it on the way." He climbed in the truck and sat the mug in the cup holder. Well we are parked on quite a hilly driveway, if you have been to my house, I'm sure you will agree! The incline alone nearly made it overflow and backing down would surely do it. I told him to hold it I didn't want it to spill. He complied. We make it to the gym without incident. But as I'm getting out I hear "whoops, mom, I spilt some of it, but it was almost gone and hardly any of it got on the seat." Obviously we have two different opinions of what "hardly any" really means. At that point though I just took his word for it. By the time we finished at the gym and I took him to the school, he hopped out and then I saw why he had been sitting oddly in the seat...this LARGE spot all over his seat that he was hiding. Grrrrrr. It had sat there soaking the whole time we were in the gym and though I wiped at it, the damage was pretty much done. Proud to say though, I handled it quite well, figured that it just added to the character of the already patch work of stains the kids have managed to somehow get on the seats, despite only drinking water or drinks with lids. How does that happen?? This one does stand out though, especially being in the front. The rest of the week goes by without incident and somehow at the family reunion on Sunday we got to talking about food, drink and kids in cars and I mentioned to my aunt and my mom that my son had just made this big stain by spilling his chocolate milk on the seat. Oh my gosh! My son was standing there and you would have thought I had just made the world's largest blunder! It was NOT chocolate milk, it was HOT chocolate he quickly informed all of us. We were like "whatever"...the result is the same. But in his mind, there was a very distinct difference. So...how does this apply to our spiritual lives? How about when we "rank" sins? Or call sin by a better sounding name? Or excuse our behavior over technicalities? The result was the same no matter what I called it. There is now a big stain on the seat. That is the same thing with sin. We might sit on it, trying to cover it, but it's still there. We downplay the seriousness of it. We give it different names....murder becomes abortion, theft becomes borrowing, gossip becomes prayer requests, immorality becomes an affair, anger becomes indignation, rebellion becomes a free spirit, the list could go on and on. Isn't it all sin in God's eyes? Now I could probably go on and do a whole new blog on removing the stain of sin, but that's another story. This one, simply for me, was learning to call sin what it is, it's time to quit sugarcoating it in order to make it easy to accept and swallow!
Flexibility
My daughter last night was trying to mimic some poses of her as a baby. When she was really small she would hold her bottle with her feet and feed herself that way. No hands at all, just fold right up in half. Back then it wasn't as funny as she had some serious Sensory Integration Disorder issues. But looking at the pictures now makes us laugh...and very grateful! Well, she never could fold up last night like in the picture. So she announced "I'm just getting older and not as flexible!" Of course she still had to show me up by putting one foot behind her head! Part of me wanted to join her on the floor and show her I could do it too, but common sense prevailed and with the dread of getting stuck like that, I resigned myself to being "old" and I agreed with her that I could not do it and didn't even bother trying. Flexibility does decrease with age, but with proper exercise and stretching you can retain quite a bit of flexibility. As I was despairing of my "oldness", at least in my daughter's view, I thought about other areas in my life that I have become rigid in. Just because that is how I've always done it, doesn't mean it is right. Think about palm trees, they flex and when storms hit they withstand the pressure by moving. Pine trees stand rigid, but in the fiercest of storms, they fall over. Isaiah 64:8 says, "And yet, Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We are all formed by your hand." Once clay is hardened it can't be formed into anything else. It can be broken and shattered, but it is inflexible. If God is going to shape and mold my life, then like clay, I must learn how to remain soft and pliable. So maybe I can't put my foot behind my head, but my prayer is that I continue to be flexible enough that my life can be shaped to the glory of God! And what a timely lesson for me, because our family had planned to go to Savannah this weekend, we were looking forward to it and this morning my husband called to say he was on call this week and our trip is postponed for at least a week. So this afternoon, as I tell the kids not to pack, that we aren't going, I'll have an ample opportunity to teach them something about flexibility. I can pout, complain, blame, etc...or I can accept it as part of life, encourage them that sometimes things happen and to let it go and move on. Yes, it is a tiny thing, but teaching kids character...and flexibility...is taught slowly, surely and most of all, by example.
Hot Chocolate
Last week we had a chilly morning and my son was running behind in getting ready for the day. I was at the door and ready to head to the gym when he said he had just finished making his hot chocolate and needed to drink it first. I glance at this mug, nearly full and something in the back of my head said "this is not a good idea" but my impatience over ruled common sense and I told him, "just grab it and bring it, you can drink it on the way." He climbed in the truck and sat the mug in the cup holder. Well we are parked on quite a hilly driveway, if you have been to my house, I'm sure you will agree! The incline alone nearly made it overflow and backing down would surely do it. I told him to hold it I didn't want it to spill. He complied. We make it to the gym without incident. But as I'm getting out I hear "whoops, mom, I spilt some of it, but it was almost gone and hardly any of it got on the seat." Obviously we have two different opinions of what "hardly any" really means. At that point though I just took his word for it. By the time we finished at the gym and I took him to the school, he hopped out and then I saw why he had been sitting oddly in the seat...this LARGE spot all over his seat that he was hiding. Grrrrrr. It had sat there soaking the whole time we were in the gym and though I wiped at it, the damage was pretty much done. Proud to say though, I handled it quite well, figured that it just added to the character of the already patch work of stains the kids have managed to somehow get on the seats, despite only drinking water or drinks with lids. How does that happen?? This one does stand out though, especially being in the front. The rest of the week goes by without incident and somehow at the family reunion on Sunday we got to talking about food, drink and kids in cars and I mentioned to my aunt and my mom that my son had just made this big stain by spilling his chocolate milk on the seat. Oh my gosh! My son was standing there and you would have thought I had just made the world's largest blunder! It was NOT chocolate milk, it was HOT chocolate he quickly informed all of us. We were like "whatever"...the result is the same. But in his mind, there was a very distinct difference. So...how does this apply to our spiritual lives? How about when we "rank" sins? Or call sin by a better sounding name? Or excuse our behavior over technicalities? The result was the same no matter what I called it. There is now a big stain on the seat. That is the same thing with sin. We might sit on it, trying to cover it, but it's still there. We downplay the seriousness of it. We give it different names....murder becomes abortion, theft becomes borrowing, gossip becomes prayer requests, immorality becomes an affair, anger becomes indignation, rebellion becomes a free spirit, the list could go on and on. Isn't it all sin in God's eyes? Now I could probably go on and do a whole new blog on removing the stain of sin, but that's another story. This one, simply for me, was learning to call sin what it is, it's time to quit sugarcoating it in order to make it easy to accept and swallow!
Flexibility
My daughter last night was trying to mimic some poses of her as a baby. When she was really small she would hold her bottle with her feet and feed herself that way. No hands at all, just fold right up in half. Back then it wasn't as funny as she had some serious Sensory Integration Disorder issues. But looking at the pictures now makes us laugh...and very grateful! Well, she never could fold up last night like in the picture. So she announced "I'm just getting older and not as flexible!" Of course she still had to show me up by putting one foot behind her head! Part of me wanted to join her on the floor and show her I could do it too, but common sense prevailed and with the dread of getting stuck like that, I resigned myself to being "old" and I agreed with her that I could not do it and didn't even bother trying. Flexibility does decrease with age, but with proper exercise and stretching you can retain quite a bit of flexibility. As I was despairing of my "oldness", at least in my daughter's view, I thought about other areas in my life that I have become rigid in. Just because that is how I've always done it, doesn't mean it is right. Think about palm trees, they flex and when storms hit they withstand the pressure by moving. Pine trees stand rigid, but in the fiercest of storms, they fall over. Isaiah 64:8 says, "And yet, Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We are all formed by your hand." Once clay is hardened it can't be formed into anything else. It can be broken and shattered, but it is inflexible. If God is going to shape and mold my life, then like clay, I must learn how to remain soft and pliable. So maybe I can't put my foot behind my head, but my prayer is that I continue to be flexible enough that my life can be shaped to the glory of God! And what a timely lesson for me, because our family had planned to go to Savannah this weekend, we were looking forward to it and this morning my husband called to say he was on call this week and our trip is postponed for at least a week. So this afternoon, as I tell the kids not to pack, that we aren't going, I'll have an ample opportunity to teach them something about flexibility. I can pout, complain, blame, etc...or I can accept it as part of life, encourage them that sometimes things happen and to let it go and move on. Yes, it is a tiny thing, but teaching kids character...and flexibility...is taught slowly, surely and most of all, by example.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Weekend Wrap-up
Third time is the charm, right??? Because my computer is NOT playing nicely and this is my third, yes third, try at updating this thing tonight! So here is our family news for this past week...
Earlier this week my husband and a friend applied and received their business license. Honestly, this kind of freaks me out! I like the security of a "real" job, regular paychecks, health insurance, etc, etc. Yet at the same time, it is kind of exciting. When we married we both wanted to own our own business. At that point our dream was to own a 1-hour photo lab (we met at work at a photo lab). Really glad that life didn't go that direction as the digital age has just about killed that business. But even before the digital stuff really hit big we knew that wasn't going to cut it, so he packed away his Commercial/Industrial Photography degree and went back to school. Here we are 13 years later and he still dreams of eventually being his own boss, and this was the first tangible step in that direction. I have a feeling this is going to be quite the adventure, so much stuff to learn and do and so many unknowns.
Wednesday night was our Esther Bible study night. It was video night so we watched as Beth Moore led us deeper into the story of Esther. (Esther 4:1-14) Our sentance this week was "It's tough being a woman thrown a giant-size weight."
Friday night LeAnne and I went shopping and got the rest of her Girl Scout uniform. (the pants, shirt and green socks) Now we just need troup numbers and some little stuff like that. I'm hoping to get her vest totally "official" before the end of December so I can put a pic of her wearing it in her 5th grade tribute ad in her yearbook.
Saturday, a major red letter day for the kiddos! With Halloween falling on a Saturday I had to contend with the "how early can we go?" question most of the afternoon. They along with their two best buds were finally dressed up and ready to get their sugar high by 6 pm. The two boys were storm troopers (StarWars) and the two girls were in long, crushed velvet dresses, one as a vampiress and one as a wizardess. We took them to the mall to trick or treat there but it was a madhouse! So we hit the neighborhoods instead...three of them to be exact! It was a lot of fun though, we followed along in the truck and when they got tired they hopped on the tailgate for a breather. It misted some on and off, but not enough to damper the fun! On a side note...I am continuing to learn the whole "couponmom.com" thing and saved $42 at the grocery store Saturday morning! I've managed to cut our grocery bill down by a third this past month. And should do better as my coupon stash grows.
Sunday, the kiddos and I headed to a camp about an hour and a half from here. Each November a family reunion (my dad's side) is held there. It isn't our closer family one that is held in March for my Grandaddy's birthday, but quite the extended family! My daughter was like, "Wow, I didn't know we had this many relatives!" We hadn't been in about 3 or 4 years. Anyway, they have a lake there and we had fun canoeing and riding the paddle boats and the kids got to see their grandparents, great-grandparents and some cousins. Was happy to get another four-generation pic of my granddaddy, dad, myself and my kids.
Tonight we had the parent meeting for the new Girl Scout troup. Before the night was over, I ended up joining as well...as a troup leader (co-leader, helper, etc). Will have a training meeting Thursday week and then just waiting on my background check to get completed. However, I steadfastly continue to refuse to be the "cookie mom!!" Famous last words, huh? I hope not!
Earlier this week my husband and a friend applied and received their business license. Honestly, this kind of freaks me out! I like the security of a "real" job, regular paychecks, health insurance, etc, etc. Yet at the same time, it is kind of exciting. When we married we both wanted to own our own business. At that point our dream was to own a 1-hour photo lab (we met at work at a photo lab). Really glad that life didn't go that direction as the digital age has just about killed that business. But even before the digital stuff really hit big we knew that wasn't going to cut it, so he packed away his Commercial/Industrial Photography degree and went back to school. Here we are 13 years later and he still dreams of eventually being his own boss, and this was the first tangible step in that direction. I have a feeling this is going to be quite the adventure, so much stuff to learn and do and so many unknowns.
Wednesday night was our Esther Bible study night. It was video night so we watched as Beth Moore led us deeper into the story of Esther. (Esther 4:1-14) Our sentance this week was "It's tough being a woman thrown a giant-size weight."
Friday night LeAnne and I went shopping and got the rest of her Girl Scout uniform. (the pants, shirt and green socks) Now we just need troup numbers and some little stuff like that. I'm hoping to get her vest totally "official" before the end of December so I can put a pic of her wearing it in her 5th grade tribute ad in her yearbook.
Saturday, a major red letter day for the kiddos! With Halloween falling on a Saturday I had to contend with the "how early can we go?" question most of the afternoon. They along with their two best buds were finally dressed up and ready to get their sugar high by 6 pm. The two boys were storm troopers (StarWars) and the two girls were in long, crushed velvet dresses, one as a vampiress and one as a wizardess. We took them to the mall to trick or treat there but it was a madhouse! So we hit the neighborhoods instead...three of them to be exact! It was a lot of fun though, we followed along in the truck and when they got tired they hopped on the tailgate for a breather. It misted some on and off, but not enough to damper the fun! On a side note...I am continuing to learn the whole "couponmom.com" thing and saved $42 at the grocery store Saturday morning! I've managed to cut our grocery bill down by a third this past month. And should do better as my coupon stash grows.
Sunday, the kiddos and I headed to a camp about an hour and a half from here. Each November a family reunion (my dad's side) is held there. It isn't our closer family one that is held in March for my Grandaddy's birthday, but quite the extended family! My daughter was like, "Wow, I didn't know we had this many relatives!" We hadn't been in about 3 or 4 years. Anyway, they have a lake there and we had fun canoeing and riding the paddle boats and the kids got to see their grandparents, great-grandparents and some cousins. Was happy to get another four-generation pic of my granddaddy, dad, myself and my kids.
Tonight we had the parent meeting for the new Girl Scout troup. Before the night was over, I ended up joining as well...as a troup leader (co-leader, helper, etc). Will have a training meeting Thursday week and then just waiting on my background check to get completed. However, I steadfastly continue to refuse to be the "cookie mom!!" Famous last words, huh? I hope not!
Friday, October 30, 2009
Longing to Belong
My 11 year old daughter has finally talked me into letting her join the Girl Scouts. A neighbor across the street is going to be the leader and her daughter and my daughter are eagerly awaiting the start of this brand new troup. Our first parent meeting is Monday, but I went ahead and ordered the "Junior" age starter kit. Which included her vest, some emblems, the handbook, badge book, a couple of other books and a drawstring backpack. I got the call at work on Monday afternoon, the much anticipated package had arrived and she was begging to open it. I told her she had to wait until I got home from work...just kidding...no way I could have done that to her! So anyway, by the time I did get home she had the vest on, some of the pins on it and her books in hand! We sat down and went through several of them, finally spending the majority of our time on the badge handbook. This is where you can see all the different badges and the requirements to get each one. By this point, I'm pretty excited too. A lot of these badges will need my help and I can see this turning into quite a fun mother/daughter thing. Except for maybe the part about spending half of spring selling cookies in front of Wal-mart! It reminded me of her time in AWANAs and her excitement of getting that first vest as well. Now my daughter can get pretty excitable anyway, but I was thinking about why, especially over something as simple as a green vest and badges. My excitement came from knowing the time that I'll get to spend with her. Hers was on the vest and the actual badges she will earn. Then I realized, it isn't the actual vest, but what the vest represents to her. She will BE a Girl Scout, she will belong to this troup, this council. She will be a PART of it. And deep down, don't we all really want to belong?
We post it on facebook by the groups we join, I announce to other drivers that I'm a certified SCUBA diver by my car tag and dive shark emblem, we wear clothing to show the sports team that we identify with and as Christians we join churches, youth groups, and small groups.
Luke 9:49, 50 (NLT) John said to Jesus, "Master, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons. We tried to stop him because he isn't in our group." But Jesus said, "Don't stop him! Anyone who is not against you is for you." How often do we pass someone over because they aren't in our group or circle of friends?
As Christians, we are all an important part of the body of Christ. Just look at a few of the many examples of how we belong to Christ.
Romans 1:6 (NLT) "You are among those who have been called to belong to Jesus Christ,"
Romans 8:1 (NLT) "So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus."
Romans 12:5 (NLT) "We are all parts of his one body, and each of us has different work to do. And since we are all one body in Christ, we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others."
Romans 14:8 (NLT) "While we live, we live to please the Lord. And when we die, we go to be with the Lord. So in life and in death, we belong to the Lord."
Galations 3:29 (NLT) "And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and now all the promises God gave to him belong to you."
Ephesians 2:13 (NLT) "But now you belong to Christ Jesus. Though you once were far away from God, now you have been brought near to him because of the blood of Christ."
I John 3:1 (NLT) "See how very much our heavenly Father loves us, for he allows us to be called his children, and we really are! But the people who belong to this world don't know God, so they don't understand that we are his children."
You matter and you belong!
We post it on facebook by the groups we join, I announce to other drivers that I'm a certified SCUBA diver by my car tag and dive shark emblem, we wear clothing to show the sports team that we identify with and as Christians we join churches, youth groups, and small groups.
Luke 9:49, 50 (NLT) John said to Jesus, "Master, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons. We tried to stop him because he isn't in our group." But Jesus said, "Don't stop him! Anyone who is not against you is for you." How often do we pass someone over because they aren't in our group or circle of friends?
As Christians, we are all an important part of the body of Christ. Just look at a few of the many examples of how we belong to Christ.
Romans 1:6 (NLT) "You are among those who have been called to belong to Jesus Christ,"
Romans 8:1 (NLT) "So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus."
Romans 12:5 (NLT) "We are all parts of his one body, and each of us has different work to do. And since we are all one body in Christ, we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others."
Romans 14:8 (NLT) "While we live, we live to please the Lord. And when we die, we go to be with the Lord. So in life and in death, we belong to the Lord."
Galations 3:29 (NLT) "And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and now all the promises God gave to him belong to you."
Ephesians 2:13 (NLT) "But now you belong to Christ Jesus. Though you once were far away from God, now you have been brought near to him because of the blood of Christ."
I John 3:1 (NLT) "See how very much our heavenly Father loves us, for he allows us to be called his children, and we really are! But the people who belong to this world don't know God, so they don't understand that we are his children."
You matter and you belong!
Monday, October 26, 2009
Weekend Wrap-Up
Since I created this blog with the intent of including a family diary of sorts I decided to add a weekly feature I think I'll call the Weekend Wrap-Up. Bits and pieces of stuff that happened throughout the week or weekend that never made it to a blog entry of it's own. A bit of randomness I guess you could say.
As far as randomness goes, it is in the middle of the night and I can't sleep, so figured I'd write for a bit and try to sleep again afterward. You typically think of a house as silent in the middle of the night, but it has plenty of sounds of its own...especially the 'fridge!
This week was Teen Read week at the local library so Wednesday and Thursday after school JS walked to the library and stayed there until I got off work. Wednesday they did craft time and Thursday they fed them pizza. When I went to pick him up one of the librarians chatted with me for a minute and told me that he was a neat kid. Made me feel good and proud of him. His teacher also told him this week that he was a model student.
Wednesday night I took him to the student group at the church we are currently attending. Was his first visit there. He really seemed to enjoy it and saw a couple of kids from his school, so that was nice. We've had a hard time getting him plugged into a church youth group somewhere that he likes. After I dropped him off a friend from my ladies Esther Bible study and I met for dinner at a Mexican place as our Esther group had the night off. I don't know what women would do without other women friends. Not to bash the guys, but its so nice to chat with someone and realize that some things are universal and you aren't the only one feeling that way. Especially relating to the pressures of being a woman, trying to juggle work, home, kids, husband, etc, etc. And not getting so wrapped up in those things that you lose who you really are in the process. I can so see that happening to me especially in regards to being a mommy. That right now is probably the biggest part of my life and it isn't a bad thing to pour yourself into your kids, they grow up so fast. But if I base the majority of my identity as mom, then when they fly the nest that will leave me facing a serious identity crisis. I'm not sure what exactly I'm trying to say, other then I know there needs to be balance there and I can't live solely for my kids.
Speaking of kids not becoming your whole world and identity, my brother-in-law came over Friday while I was at work and picked up the kids to keep over night so that Ron and I could spend some solo time together. After work Ron and I went out for dinner and drinks. We managed to loosen up, goof off, laugh and I'm afraid annoy the family beside us in the restaurant. LOL But it was good, it was nice to just chill out and enjoy each spending some time with each other as adults, not just always relating to each other in our roles as parents. The realities and responsibilities of life tend to weigh you down at times, and it was a much needed reality break. Saturday we got up early and headed to the mountains, the leaves were very pretty and we walked up to Anna Ruby Falls. With all the rain lately the water falls were beautiful and the whole walk along the creek was so nice. It was still early, cool, crisp, and you could just smell the fresh air and hear the water the whole way as it tumbled and splashed down the creek. At one point we just stopped on this bridge and watched the water. It was so clear, clean and fresh. I started thinking about the beauty of the splashing water, the pureness of it and the sounds it made. So often in my life I want the still water, the calm time, but still water stagnates. Yes, those peaceful times are nice, but the growth, change, power and raw beauty come from the turbulent waters. Something I'll try to remember more often. After we left there we just drove around for a bit and found this odd little rock shop. It was 2 stories with the home on top and shop on the bottom. Inside the shop part of the ceiling was just plywood with this one little hole cut into it. I kept hearing a meow sound that sounded like it was above me. I looked up and sure enough, this cat head was hanging down into the shop. It was hilarious to me, I don't know why I got such a kick out of that cat. His name was Phoenix. I guess it was just so unexpected to see a cat head hanging down from the ceiling of a store! You couldn't see the rest of him, just his head swiveling around watching us. Got the kids a little something, JS a slice of rock with all different colors of blue, very pretty. And for our science lover, LeAnne, we got a fossil. Then headed to Helen, where of course we got some fresh fudge and just walked around the town a bit. That evening we went to get the kids and had dinner with Chris and Melinda and my nephews and just visited with them a bit. We all watched a show called Dangerous Encounters with Brady Barr. That guy is a freak! He acts like he has a death wish! Anyway, much thanks to them for keeping the kids.
Sunday we went to church and did a whole lot of clothes washing, but other then that, I had no motivation to do much of anything. Our neighbor did invite the kids to a Trunk or Treat at her church so we went to that. The kids had fun dressing up and scouring a bunch of candy. I think it siked them up for Saturday (Halloween).
And, in other news, one of my family members was arrested this week. Which isn't good at any time, but seeing that he was already on probation in two counties, it is a really sad thing. He is so young and has so much life and potential ahead of him and to see it being basically destroyed by drugs, alcohol and bad decisions is very sad. But I see ladies in the prison ministry who are using their time in jail to make life changes and turn themselves around and know that God can use it for good. Our stupidity doesn't limit His power! But why we humans tend to repeatedly ignore Him, thinking His way is keeping something from us, when in reality His way is for our own good and protection, I don't understand. I've tried living life both ways...for Him and for myself, and when living for yourself you may think you are living in freedom, making your own choices, but in reality I'm learning more and more each day that true freedom only comes when we follow Him.
Well, I think I shall once more lay down and see if I can find this elusive thing called sleep!
As far as randomness goes, it is in the middle of the night and I can't sleep, so figured I'd write for a bit and try to sleep again afterward. You typically think of a house as silent in the middle of the night, but it has plenty of sounds of its own...especially the 'fridge!
This week was Teen Read week at the local library so Wednesday and Thursday after school JS walked to the library and stayed there until I got off work. Wednesday they did craft time and Thursday they fed them pizza. When I went to pick him up one of the librarians chatted with me for a minute and told me that he was a neat kid. Made me feel good and proud of him. His teacher also told him this week that he was a model student.
Wednesday night I took him to the student group at the church we are currently attending. Was his first visit there. He really seemed to enjoy it and saw a couple of kids from his school, so that was nice. We've had a hard time getting him plugged into a church youth group somewhere that he likes. After I dropped him off a friend from my ladies Esther Bible study and I met for dinner at a Mexican place as our Esther group had the night off. I don't know what women would do without other women friends. Not to bash the guys, but its so nice to chat with someone and realize that some things are universal and you aren't the only one feeling that way. Especially relating to the pressures of being a woman, trying to juggle work, home, kids, husband, etc, etc. And not getting so wrapped up in those things that you lose who you really are in the process. I can so see that happening to me especially in regards to being a mommy. That right now is probably the biggest part of my life and it isn't a bad thing to pour yourself into your kids, they grow up so fast. But if I base the majority of my identity as mom, then when they fly the nest that will leave me facing a serious identity crisis. I'm not sure what exactly I'm trying to say, other then I know there needs to be balance there and I can't live solely for my kids.
Speaking of kids not becoming your whole world and identity, my brother-in-law came over Friday while I was at work and picked up the kids to keep over night so that Ron and I could spend some solo time together. After work Ron and I went out for dinner and drinks. We managed to loosen up, goof off, laugh and I'm afraid annoy the family beside us in the restaurant. LOL But it was good, it was nice to just chill out and enjoy each spending some time with each other as adults, not just always relating to each other in our roles as parents. The realities and responsibilities of life tend to weigh you down at times, and it was a much needed reality break. Saturday we got up early and headed to the mountains, the leaves were very pretty and we walked up to Anna Ruby Falls. With all the rain lately the water falls were beautiful and the whole walk along the creek was so nice. It was still early, cool, crisp, and you could just smell the fresh air and hear the water the whole way as it tumbled and splashed down the creek. At one point we just stopped on this bridge and watched the water. It was so clear, clean and fresh. I started thinking about the beauty of the splashing water, the pureness of it and the sounds it made. So often in my life I want the still water, the calm time, but still water stagnates. Yes, those peaceful times are nice, but the growth, change, power and raw beauty come from the turbulent waters. Something I'll try to remember more often. After we left there we just drove around for a bit and found this odd little rock shop. It was 2 stories with the home on top and shop on the bottom. Inside the shop part of the ceiling was just plywood with this one little hole cut into it. I kept hearing a meow sound that sounded like it was above me. I looked up and sure enough, this cat head was hanging down into the shop. It was hilarious to me, I don't know why I got such a kick out of that cat. His name was Phoenix. I guess it was just so unexpected to see a cat head hanging down from the ceiling of a store! You couldn't see the rest of him, just his head swiveling around watching us. Got the kids a little something, JS a slice of rock with all different colors of blue, very pretty. And for our science lover, LeAnne, we got a fossil. Then headed to Helen, where of course we got some fresh fudge and just walked around the town a bit. That evening we went to get the kids and had dinner with Chris and Melinda and my nephews and just visited with them a bit. We all watched a show called Dangerous Encounters with Brady Barr. That guy is a freak! He acts like he has a death wish! Anyway, much thanks to them for keeping the kids.
Sunday we went to church and did a whole lot of clothes washing, but other then that, I had no motivation to do much of anything. Our neighbor did invite the kids to a Trunk or Treat at her church so we went to that. The kids had fun dressing up and scouring a bunch of candy. I think it siked them up for Saturday (Halloween).
And, in other news, one of my family members was arrested this week. Which isn't good at any time, but seeing that he was already on probation in two counties, it is a really sad thing. He is so young and has so much life and potential ahead of him and to see it being basically destroyed by drugs, alcohol and bad decisions is very sad. But I see ladies in the prison ministry who are using their time in jail to make life changes and turn themselves around and know that God can use it for good. Our stupidity doesn't limit His power! But why we humans tend to repeatedly ignore Him, thinking His way is keeping something from us, when in reality His way is for our own good and protection, I don't understand. I've tried living life both ways...for Him and for myself, and when living for yourself you may think you are living in freedom, making your own choices, but in reality I'm learning more and more each day that true freedom only comes when we follow Him.
Well, I think I shall once more lay down and see if I can find this elusive thing called sleep!
Monday, October 19, 2009
Church Shopping
Church shopping, when did that phrase start? I wonder what the 12 disciples would have thought of that term? Anyway, the term is there and that is what our family has been doing since the beginning of summer.
It seems that each of the four of us has our own idea of what we want in a church. There are so many choices out there, and so many options. Locations, denominations, worship style, clothing choices, kids activities, teen activities (I still can't believe I have a teen!), small groups vs. Sunday school, etc, etc. I can't help but think back to the summer of 1993. That summer was spent in the mountains and jungle areas of Papua New Guinea with New Tribes Missions, learning the basics of mission studies, language acquisition, Bible study...basically all the nuts and bolts of what it takes to be a missionary.
In PNG there was no option of what church has the best media, music, drama, which one was closest or had a coffee shop. We got up early, hiked through mud and jungle, through a couple of villages and after quite a bit made it to this clearing. Finally, there was the church! Complete with an outhouse with wooden seats (that was an improvement, believe it or not). Being that there was no sound system, most people sat as close to the front as possible...besides there were people in the back with sticks that would poke you if you dozed off! Not that dozing was very easy considering the rough log planks in place of padded backed chairs and the open windows and doors in which chickens and pigs attempted to come in. Wow, thinking back on that, I'm not sure I'd be comfortable taking any of the tribal members to a church here in America. I'd be embarrassed as they overheard us church members complain about the fact that the song wasn't our favorite, or we had to walk 1/2 block to the church, or the line in the ladies bathroom, or that it was too warm, too cold, that the service ran over by 5 minutes, or any other number of things that we commonly complain about. Oh yeah, and forget about the pew Bibles or the argument over KJV or other versions. Bibles there were scarce and considered a prized possession. The closest I have ever seen anyone here touch their Bible and hold it in that kind of awe, reverence and love is Kay Arthur at the Deeper Still conference in Atlanta in 2008. Went to church in Honduras also, a vast improvement to be sure, but still a cinder block building with a dirt floor, and open window holes and doorways.
I digress and I certainly don't mean to look down on the churches we have in the United States. And I know all churches aren't the same. Don't get me wrong, it is with MUCH gratitude that I sit down in a padded seat, in my comfy jeans and flip flops, holding a fresh cup of java, praising the Lord along with a rocking worship band, opening my Bible to study it without fear of repercussions, all while knowing my kids are safe and happy in a service catered specifically to their ages. I've enjoyed visiting area churches, have met some great fellow believers, but now I'm ready to settle down and find a place not where I'm there to decide, with my consumerism attitude, if that church has all our family is looking for...but where we can jump in, serve and be part of the body of Christ.
It seems that each of the four of us has our own idea of what we want in a church. There are so many choices out there, and so many options. Locations, denominations, worship style, clothing choices, kids activities, teen activities (I still can't believe I have a teen!), small groups vs. Sunday school, etc, etc. I can't help but think back to the summer of 1993. That summer was spent in the mountains and jungle areas of Papua New Guinea with New Tribes Missions, learning the basics of mission studies, language acquisition, Bible study...basically all the nuts and bolts of what it takes to be a missionary.
In PNG there was no option of what church has the best media, music, drama, which one was closest or had a coffee shop. We got up early, hiked through mud and jungle, through a couple of villages and after quite a bit made it to this clearing. Finally, there was the church! Complete with an outhouse with wooden seats (that was an improvement, believe it or not). Being that there was no sound system, most people sat as close to the front as possible...besides there were people in the back with sticks that would poke you if you dozed off! Not that dozing was very easy considering the rough log planks in place of padded backed chairs and the open windows and doors in which chickens and pigs attempted to come in. Wow, thinking back on that, I'm not sure I'd be comfortable taking any of the tribal members to a church here in America. I'd be embarrassed as they overheard us church members complain about the fact that the song wasn't our favorite, or we had to walk 1/2 block to the church, or the line in the ladies bathroom, or that it was too warm, too cold, that the service ran over by 5 minutes, or any other number of things that we commonly complain about. Oh yeah, and forget about the pew Bibles or the argument over KJV or other versions. Bibles there were scarce and considered a prized possession. The closest I have ever seen anyone here touch their Bible and hold it in that kind of awe, reverence and love is Kay Arthur at the Deeper Still conference in Atlanta in 2008. Went to church in Honduras also, a vast improvement to be sure, but still a cinder block building with a dirt floor, and open window holes and doorways.
I digress and I certainly don't mean to look down on the churches we have in the United States. And I know all churches aren't the same. Don't get me wrong, it is with MUCH gratitude that I sit down in a padded seat, in my comfy jeans and flip flops, holding a fresh cup of java, praising the Lord along with a rocking worship band, opening my Bible to study it without fear of repercussions, all while knowing my kids are safe and happy in a service catered specifically to their ages. I've enjoyed visiting area churches, have met some great fellow believers, but now I'm ready to settle down and find a place not where I'm there to decide, with my consumerism attitude, if that church has all our family is looking for...but where we can jump in, serve and be part of the body of Christ.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Prison Ministry
I signed up to be part of the ladies prison ministry, but very clearly stated that I was a support person ONLY. I'll be a second person in our team of 2 per pod, would pray, bring music, etc...but I do not want to teach. Oh yeah, I knew my limitations and what I was willing to do, and not to do. HAH!! As so often happens, God had something else in mind. Which led to today, me going to the prison pod, not only totally alone, but leading. For the second time. Reminder to self, it's not a good idea to tell God what you can and can't do!
The first time I soloed I spoke about Rahab, then gave my own testimony. Wanted them to know that God doesn't just work in the past, but is still at work in our lives today. Afterward several of the ladies were crying and came up and just wanted a hug. It was a changing point in how I viewed the prison ministry. They were no longer just inmates...they were people, people like you and me, people that need our prayer. We bonded that day.
Today, I once again felt overwhelmed with the responsibility of teaching them. Who am I to teach anyone anything? Me, who struggles daily with doing the next right thing. But isn't that pride, thinking that I am the one teaching? Turned it over to the Lord. Asked Him to lead through this weak, earthly vessel. And He showed up...in a mighty way! The lesson was on our words, how we have the power of life and death in our tongue. We all took turns reading verses from Proverbs on our speech. I encouraged them all to use their words this week to build each other up, to find the time to write something positive about each other and share it. We had "positive night" in recovery where each of us in the group had to write something positive about each person in the group. I still have those bits of paper with what the others wrote about me. In a world that is so full of negativity, and in jail, where the positive is hard to find, I encouraged them to do the same for each other this week. God spoke the world into existence...talk about the power of words! May I be aware of the words I use this week, may they uplift, encourage, guide and show love. Several of the ladies told me how timely this lesson was and thanked me for coming. One lady said she is always glad to see me come, because I just sit there with them and speak from my heart, very open and letting them know this is what God is teaching me and I'm just sharing it with them. (some of the leaders stand up in front of them and "preach" and boy they do it well!, but that is not my style)
Passed out prayer/praise requests to the ladies. They all filled them out and I promised them I would pray for them this week. Came home to read them, and just sat there crying and praying over them. So many were prayers for their children as they are away in jail. I'm a mom, and I can't imagine how hard it would be to be locked away from my kids, hoping and praying that they were doing ok. One lady put down as a praise that someone brought her little girl and she got to see her. I now have names of many of them so can pray by name for them. Was overwhelmed not only with their reality, regrets and hope for the future, but by the grace that the Lord has shown me in my life. We had started the hour with some praise music, ended it with the song "Unwritten." I left them with the thought that the rest of their lives are still unwritten, it isn't "I was in the county jail...the end." To use their words carefully and go write the rest of their story!
The first time I soloed I spoke about Rahab, then gave my own testimony. Wanted them to know that God doesn't just work in the past, but is still at work in our lives today. Afterward several of the ladies were crying and came up and just wanted a hug. It was a changing point in how I viewed the prison ministry. They were no longer just inmates...they were people, people like you and me, people that need our prayer. We bonded that day.
Today, I once again felt overwhelmed with the responsibility of teaching them. Who am I to teach anyone anything? Me, who struggles daily with doing the next right thing. But isn't that pride, thinking that I am the one teaching? Turned it over to the Lord. Asked Him to lead through this weak, earthly vessel. And He showed up...in a mighty way! The lesson was on our words, how we have the power of life and death in our tongue. We all took turns reading verses from Proverbs on our speech. I encouraged them all to use their words this week to build each other up, to find the time to write something positive about each other and share it. We had "positive night" in recovery where each of us in the group had to write something positive about each person in the group. I still have those bits of paper with what the others wrote about me. In a world that is so full of negativity, and in jail, where the positive is hard to find, I encouraged them to do the same for each other this week. God spoke the world into existence...talk about the power of words! May I be aware of the words I use this week, may they uplift, encourage, guide and show love. Several of the ladies told me how timely this lesson was and thanked me for coming. One lady said she is always glad to see me come, because I just sit there with them and speak from my heart, very open and letting them know this is what God is teaching me and I'm just sharing it with them. (some of the leaders stand up in front of them and "preach" and boy they do it well!, but that is not my style)
Passed out prayer/praise requests to the ladies. They all filled them out and I promised them I would pray for them this week. Came home to read them, and just sat there crying and praying over them. So many were prayers for their children as they are away in jail. I'm a mom, and I can't imagine how hard it would be to be locked away from my kids, hoping and praying that they were doing ok. One lady put down as a praise that someone brought her little girl and she got to see her. I now have names of many of them so can pray by name for them. Was overwhelmed not only with their reality, regrets and hope for the future, but by the grace that the Lord has shown me in my life. We had started the hour with some praise music, ended it with the song "Unwritten." I left them with the thought that the rest of their lives are still unwritten, it isn't "I was in the county jail...the end." To use their words carefully and go write the rest of their story!
Welcome to my blog
Blogging has been on my mind for a little while now. I love facebook, but there are those times when I just want to write more then a soundbite. Then today LeAnne found some old "newsletters" that I had written about 10 years ago! She had a great time reading about her first birthday party and other bits of family life. I totally stink at actually keeping a diary though, so thought I could blog bits of my life...or bytes in computer lingo. And this is my reality, what I think and feel about life, hence the name, Reality Bytes. Ok, so probably a little corny, but oh well...its mine!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)