For the New Year....

This won't mean a thing to anyone but me, and that's okay...looking forward to what's in store for this new year...and what He will do in it....

"Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow, but woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! .... And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two withstand him - a threefold cord is not quickly broken."
~Ecc 4:9-10, 12

Like Larry...

I rather feel lik Bob on this ornanment. Really wanting to get off this ride as it's a bit crazy.
Always seems there's is so much busyness in a time I'd just really like to take it all in.



Kinda of like Snoopy. He's restful. He's chillaxin. I just really don't think he has a care in the world laying up on top of that dog house. But I'm sure that is not really realistic. I'm sure Mary and Joseph had quite the journey to Bethlehem. I'm sure that they were excited, anxious, and tired all wrapped in one. And when He came, they found the journey worth it. When He came, they found rest.

So maybe I'd should take on the attitude of Larry....he's just enjoying the ride. The days are busier than I'd like, the days are more tiring than I'd like, but they should be enjoyed. And when He comes along side I find the days worth it. When He comes along side I find rest.......

Surrender...

"Rather, I think there is something to be said for abandoning our expectations and surrendering to His." ~ Emily Freeman, Chatting at the Sky

Digging deep...

That day had been filled with the ugliness of self and the hurt of lonliness. The pain of being forgotten...or so it seemed. As I continue my 1000 Gifts journey, I find that when I most think of jotting down some gifts is when I need to look for them most. When I need to find the beauty instead of the unlovely. And they come, and sometimes I don't think I'll be able to think of one lovely thing. But then they come....

36. After 7 days of the flu for Fep, a day without fever, healing comes
37. Sunday afternoon nap
38. Sunday afternoon football and rooting for a team I normally wouldn’t. Sometimes you just need to root for those who are down.
39. Moose and his legos
40. Being remembered…so much better than being forgotten!
41. A bittersweet Womens' Christmas Dinner
40. Laughter over a kitten gone wild in our Christmas tree
41. Excellent customer service found at the Apple store. Replaced an iPod for free that was not under warranty.
42. My pup waiting for me, always near, always there. Is there really a friend so faithful as a dog?
43. God's grace, both given and received, is an unbelievable, beautiful journey
44. Christmas Tree shaped Little Debbies
45. Cute reindeer wrapping paper

1000 Gifts

20. Cleaning out three closets!
21. For the first time in weeks, a weekend at home
22. Finding the humility to go to the altar
23. Really realizing that His grace is deeper still…His love is further still
24. Realizing what it takes to give grace and not just receive it
25. Soft kitten paws
26. A purring kitten
27. How when Laura May laughs, she laughs with her whole body
28. My stomach bug was only a 4-Hour bug
29. Mammer’s chocolate pie, comfort food at it’s best

1000 Gifts

I follow her. I read her. I want to approach life as she does. Humble. Real. Grateful. After over a year of following Ann Voskamp, and even seeing Dawn make her own list in the sidebar, this week I started my own 1000 Gifts list. I've tried in the past, but always stopped because it seemed I didn't have the time. I couldn't find the little things and the list just seemed to become so generic. Will this time...would this time be any different?

My day yesterday started off poorly. Work interrupted school too much. But it was Veteran's Day and everybody else had the day off anyway. So, we embraced it and after I finished my work, we had some play time. We went to the library, and at the library, I had a slight little accident with my car. I asked Fep, "It's not too bad is it?" She shakes her hand from side to side with a look of sorrow for me on her face as to say, "I hate it for you...but it's scratched, Mom."
Ugh.

I also went for a hair appointment and wrote the biggest check I've ever written to my hair lady. 2 haircuts, 1 hair weave/color, 1 hair product, and 1 discounted Chi flat iron. I'm just sayin' that Chi purchase was a what a deal. She already had one, but bought another and never used it. She sold it to me for 1/2 price! Can you see my justifying here? Yeah. It was a big check. And I felt so very guilty over pursuing such luxuries. I still feel that guilt this morning.

I sat this morning and thought I need to check in on my 1000 Gift list. I just have to say...this list...this time...this time is different. I sat thinking, "Yesterday was a bad day. I'm going to have to dig hard. What good will I even find? Still remembering the whole car fiasco...still recovering from paying my hair dresser. My head hurt. I went to bed with a headache. I woke up with a headache. What good will I really find? Maybe a couple of gifts to find and add? But this time is different. My list is simple. The gifts are not fancy. But I do find them to be the greatest gifts. This time is different. Maybe it's in our bad days...that's where we can find the most to be grateful for? If we will only take time to look....


11. Mercy found

12. A phone call filled with excitement of the hope that change could possibly bring

13. The understanding, the memories, the knowing that someone else understands deeply – reading I Will Carry You

14.A new revelation and new insight in approaching the Lord found in the story of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus (also found in the book I Will Carry You)


15.A short chat with Heather, her voice soft like her name

16.A complete game of Scrabble with the children, and how cool a scrabble board looks when all the letters starting connecting


17.How soft my hair felt after I had it done

18. An impromptu day off school complete with lunch at Chic Fil A and a trip to the library-relaxing

19. Timothy praying over lunch at Chic Fil A, “Lord help us eat more chicken” which made me laugh and kind of had me wondering if he was being irreverent…but then... followed by a prayer for Veterans. The irreverence gone…


Maybe if I will only take the time to look.....

The next thing....

I'm overflowing with it as of late. Convictions and teaching and knowledge. But what do I do with all of it? Living it all out can be so completely overwhelming. It's so hard when you see your list of want to's and need to's piling up. My list is becoming lengthy, and while it is all to be done in His name and to grow in Him, it's overwhelming. Start a scripture memory plan, take more time to play with my children, contact the Children's Home. And that's rather ironic. I need to find more time with my own children yet we feel led to maybe sponsor and become involved with a child at our local Children's Home. And the list could go on and on. I just know there is something better that He has for me. And I expect it all at once. So, maybe it's just a lack of patience that leads to me being overwhelmed? I just know there is something better He has for me. And I expect it all at once. Or maybe it's a lack of discipline to act on that accumulated knowledge, that conviction? Maybe I'm just still struggling with....self?

It's all so overwhelming......but I find that maybe the living it out is only overwhelming when I try to live it out all at one time. Maybe it's day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute. Maybe it is just as Elisabeth Elliot said, "Just do the next thing." And maybe the next thing can be done quickly...or maybe the next thing will take some time. The next thing. Not the next ten things. So onward I press, to the next thing. And I know He will be there, too, in the next thing.

"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord...

~Jeremiah 29:11

I find myself lately growing and stretching in ways I'm uncomfortable with. Wanting to let go of what is life draining to find and take hold of what is life fulfilling. Again, I'm uncomfortable and I find that the ugliness of my heart greets me at every corner. "The heart is desperately wicked..." the Scriptures so aptly testify. When I talk with Jesus, I say often "Lord, I'm so glad you've shown me this so that I can work on it, so that I can repent....but it's so hard to see who I really am." I'm so thankful for the One who extends grace when He's known all along who I really am. His grace goes further still.

And with this growing and changing, I wonder often what to do with this blog. I barely post anymore, and I wonder is it because I'm still trying to post for others...is it because I'm caught up in the busyness of life I can't find the words or time...is it because I've nothing of worth to say...is it a combination of all of that??? Does this blog give life or does it drain? I've gone private and back public again. Does any of it really matter?

I've decided that maybe it does matter. That maybe this blog gives life. Because most of what is recorded is the goodness that He creates. They are my memories. My loves. My family. Our stories. One day when I'm gone or if something tragic were to happen to me, my husband and children could come to these pages and remember me. The good parts of me that loved the great parts of them.

The flying heart....

It costs a lot of money to go to the fair these days. I had been wanting to go every time I passed by, but I kept thinking how expensive it is. So, even though I have not been in 20 years, I thought we shouldn't spend the money. I knew if I mentioned it to The Bob, he'd be all over it. 1. He's always up for fun. 2. He's not as crabby about money like I am. But one evening, he came home from work and started talking about ride that he had seen that day as he passed by. That was it. It was all I could take. We all happily decided we were going. The next morning I told The Bob, "What if we took our change bucket and wrapped the money in it to help toward the cost." I hadn't lost all my crabby senses about how much it'd cost. His reply, "Do you really think that's necessary?" Me: "Well, it would just help." And he said ok and that it would be good for the kids to see that we don't just spend money like it grows on trees. Cause sometimes they do think that ya know. So the kids and I wrapped the coins and were pleased with our bounty and what the Lord had provided. I told them this way we wouldn't have to worry about how much rides cost, how much a corn dog costs, and we could completely enjoy our fair experience.

There was one member of our family who enjoyed it as it should have been. One who was fearless on rides. One who completely embraced every bit of excitement that he could. Moose. When he rode the ride with his dad in which they take you straight up about 80 ft. in the air and then let you free fall to the bottom, he was fearless. Initially his eyes were big from the shock, but after he released the hoots and hollers of a boy who may have completed a passage to manhood. On a ride that had me screaming, fretting "is this thing gonna hold", and holding on for dear life...Moose held on to nothing. He let loose, held out his arms, and he was flying. And in that moment I saw him flying and the look of joy, contentment, and happiness on his face...my heart was flying, too.

The Real Deal...

The movie Fireproof is one of my fav-o-rite movies. Remember how the black guy at the firehouse loved the Lord and took so much teasing for it? There's one scene in which Kirk Cameron's character tells another fireman character, "Well, we can say what we want to about him. But we both know. He's the real deal." I looooove that line. I hope people say that about me. I hope I come across as the real deal. Real deal people have so much influence for the Lord. I once read a quote that said, "Live your life so that when others talk bad about you that nobody believes it." I wonder when bad things are said about me, is it so easy to believe it...or not? I hope...how I hope not.

"I just want to be a blessing..."

I got that saying from Heather. And you have to say it in a high pitched voice or it just doesn't work. Heather. She's full of sayings.

And I did want to be a blessing. Cause her Mom is real sick. Cause she's taken on her Mom's care. Heather needed milk, and I needed to serve someone other than myself. She wouldn't tell me she needed the milk, but I knew better. So to the store the kids and I went with me reciting through the store, "A loaf of bread, a gallon of milk, and a stick of buttah." { Sesame Street :) }

The strange thing about blessing others is that usually it means just at much to you, too. There are now two hugs that I will always remember in my friendship with Heather. The one she gave me right after Beth died. And the one I gave her when I took her the groceries. It was done with me trying to keep a light spirit in a dark time. Me teasing her about not coming clean about needing the milk and bread. But there was so much more underneath. It was an "I love you Heather you are so precious to me I can't even describe how sorry I am and did I mention that I love you" Hug. Yep, all that in like a 5 second hug.

She needed milk. I needed that hug.

Rejoicing....

The last time I saw her she was a mess. Her younger brother had just died unexpectedly from a heart attack...he was in his mid-twenties. It was the hardest funeral I have ever been to. Ever. At the funeral, her grief was open and raw. She loved him deeply.

But this night was far different. She was radiant. Beaming. The night was hers, and she knew it. It was the wedding she had waited 29 years for. Her brother was not far from our minds, and he was mentioned throughout the night. Yet, we rejoiced. This young lady who through her rebellious teen years found herself pregnant had obviously grown and matured since then. Her wedding honored the Lord and her family. Her daughter, now 10 years old, stood by her Momma during the wedding. And we rejoiced when the groom gave his new daughter a special gift. He called her over during the service and said, "Just like I made a promise to your Momma, I make this promise to you...I will always love you as my own." And he slipped a ring on her little finger just as he had slipped a ring on his bride's finger. The little girl who had been waiting for a father now had one and they hugged their first father-daughter hug. Yes, we rejoiced.

I think often that people who are forgiven much praise much. Tonight I think that people who hurt greatly rejoice greatly.

or maybe my house will be turned upside down...

Those are Emily's words from this post. And those words in Emily's post linked to this book. That book is circulating like crazy at my church and I'd not really given it much notice. But, the video clip at Amazon got my attention. Oh, it got my attention. And it was His further stirring of my heart.....I like the American Dream. I think if we're all really honest...really, really honest...we all really kinda like the American Dream.

I mentioned in the past that I wanted to take an overseas mission trip. And I do. And every time they throw up the video testimonies from Honduras at church, I cry...sometimes it's almost the ugly cry. But the Lord wants more than just my tears. I have realized within the last several days that I only want to do missions when it's comfortable for me. When we have the money. Make that when we have the extra money. Like after we've taken our vacations and spent it on our pleasures. Or when we have the time. And make that when we feel like we have the time. And so on and so on. But...the money isn't even there for vacations right now. And it really may not be the right time. But, He's showing me more...am I ready for the journey? Maybe, just now, it's an attitude of my heart...preparing me for something...maybe later it will, indeed, be that big oversees mission trip...but until then couldn't I do something? Couldn't I find room in my heart to do even the little somethings?

Surely, there is something I can do. Like writing Ro in India every month. Like checking on that relative in prison. Like finding something to do in my community. Like praying, really praying, for those who are doing His radical work. Like just loving like Jesus really loved. Do we really love like Jesus loved...or do we love Him in our American Dream or in our comfort zone... and do we really love ourselves and what we want more?????

to fill my soul...

Looking back I did it for all the wrong reasons. It was not because of the Lord's leading. It was not because of any deep conviction. It was because of Mark Hall. You know Mark Hall, right? Oh, sure you do. Casting Crowns lead singer. They heavily endorse and promote World Vision at their concerts. And being the Casting Crowns groupie that I am, and being all caught up in that moment at the concert some 2 years ago, I signed up to sponsor a child. And so for 2 years, we have sent money each month to help this child with basic needs like school supplies, a blanket. I think that may be what he received with some extra funds we sent for his birthday. A basic black blanket given to him through World Vision. I'd imagine he'd need one as his bed is a "hand made mat". And in 2 years, I can count on one hand how many times I have written this child a letter. And now the conviction sets in. This post. And this post. And last, but not least this post. And I find myself a lame sponsor. So lame. Overwhelmed by my shallowness, I put these words by Ann Voskamp on my refrigerator with my little fellow's picture:

"Maybe we are only at our most beautiful work in the same places too --- the places where we don't hide behind the distractions of stuff, where we finally empty our hands of all our possessions and idols and come to God empty and ready. The places where we can make art with tears.

Where the notes can finally soar in the space.


No one tells you that wealth numbs you to life and consumerism callouses your soul to the sacred.

Or maybe Someone did: “"It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." (Mark 10:25 NIV)" ~ Ann Voskamp

I think it will be a process to remove the calluses. I have truly been callused by consumerism and numbed by our abundance. But....last night, I pulled out all that I could find I'd been sent in two years, and looked with fresh eyes. An open heart. And I noticed. He's grown in two years. And now is the time to not just help provide his basic, physical needs...but to invest in a soul. And I may find that his is not the only soul that's filled...but mine as well.

Linked at Tuesday's Unwrapped / Chatting at the Sky

Out of the mouths of babes....

(photo credit: www.icanhascheezburger.com)

Something we are constantly working on in our house is with Fep and Moose. Moose lives to get on Fep's nerves and Fep lives to boss Moose and correct him. It's a vicious cycle...and it can be very draining on my little nervies. Fep is first born...and is everything that goes with that. Everything. However, when her first born status gets in the way, The Bob will jokingly tell her that she has "First Born Syndrome". I don't believe that's a real diagnosis, but I think maybe it should be.

The other night Moose was talking about his history book and how boring it was ,etc., etc., etc. (and I do admit, he's in an extremely boring section right now...we may just pass over this chapter) The Bob told him that maybe they could do it at night together and that might make it more "fun". For some reason, Fep has a melt down and insists that the only time a school book should be used is during school. Where she pulled that from I don't know, because she has often looked through her science book for the pure enjoyment of it? The Bob laughs and asks her if she's worried her little brother will get smarter than her. And then Moose pipes up and says, "Fep!! You just have First Sinner Syndrome!" Ummmm...not quite Moose...but close enough ;)

This is a repost from June 26, 2009. It is in honor of Taylor who went to be with the Lord yesterday morning at the young age of 14. She fought a hard battle against her cancer, but I guess it wasn't meant for her to win. He had other plans. He wanted her with Him. My thoughts are with her family, and my heart is heavy for her parents....


~Hawaiian Wishes~

In this post, I talked about all that Hawaiian decor Heather and I put out. So, who is going to Hawaii? Me? Noooooo. Not me. Better than that. What could possibly be better than ME going to Hawaii? It's that this young lady is going....


In December our company raised money for charity to sponsor a terminally ill child's wish. With the help of our customers and employees and a local retailer in our area, we were able to raise enough money to grant a wish. The approximate cost of one wish is $7000. And that's what was raised. Even at Christmas when people may already be a bit stressed about money, and even in the down economic times, people gave. And they gave. And they gave. We raised almost $5K of that $7K in a period of just 2 days.

This young lady's wish was to go to Hawaii. She was diagnosed with cancer last year and was given a 35% chance of beating it. With a lot of help from St. Jude Children's Hospital and healing from the Lord, our true Healer, she is now in remission....

Her story is not complete without her Mom. Her Mom has literally battled cancer right along with her child. Two months ago, she underwent a double mastectomy for breast cancer. She came, and I thought she looked lovely. This would be Mom with another one of her children, her son....

I was grateful to be a part of this event. Grateful for our employees who sacrificed a lot of their time to help with the fund raiser. Grateful for people who gave even in tough economic times. Grateful for volunteers who work selflessly behind the scenes....


She and her family will leave for Hawaii on Sunday. ALOHA!!

This post is linked at Emily's Tuesdays Unwrapped

Her turn...

It's funny how different your children are. And it's funny how different your reactions with them can be. When Moose left for camp, I cried like a baby. We dropped Fep off for camp on Sunday evening, and I only teared up a small bit. You'd think it be the opposite....Moose went for only 2 1/2 days to a kid's church retreat. Retreat. Fun, fun, and more fun. Air conditioned bunk houses. Fep is going to camp. Camp. Learning, learning, learning, and a little fun. No air conditioning. None. That is so important to note because our highs for the last 3 days have been in the triple digits. Fep went to an Audubon Ecology Camp. She will learn so much...and before we even left the bird instructor was already impressed and smitten by her. When it's all said and done she will have been gone 5 nights, 4 days. The longest 4 days ever. I'm only 2 days in and it's already been an eternity. So while the tears may not have flowed like they did for Moose, the longing to get my little Fep back is definitely there. I thought about her a gazillion times each day and prayed for her every time I thought of her....Lord let her make a friend...Lord let her be safe...Lord guard her mind and her heart...Lord let this be a great time for her...Lord keep her safe....Lord guard her mind and her heart....over and over with every thought of her. My last image of Fep was her about to cry when it was time for us to leave. I keep thinking of that and it just makes my heart sick. And that really is a good description for my feelings. Though the tears may not have flowed like a faucet...my heart has been sick with the absence of my Fep. I cannot wait to get her back!

Oh Lord, keep her safe....let her have a good time...guard her heart and mind...

Something Beautiful...

I made time. I pushed the work to the side and for an hour I went swimming with my children. After I got out of the pool, I laid on the hammock to get good and dry and even get a little sun. I set the timer for 15 minutes which was all I had left to spare of anything that looked like free time for the day. I turned on my iPod and "Something Beautiful" by Need to Breathe started playing. Suddenly, I was 15 again and laying out in my backyard with a small radio playing. I was seeking that savage tan...not caring at that age how unhealthy it is to "lay out". But being 15 again was something beautiful. And laying there on that hammock, Moose came and curled up beside me. Yes, we found the lost "I love you". That too, was something beautiful. I thought about Dawn as I always do when I hear that song, cause she often has it playing on her blog. And "the lady with the smiling eyes" really is something beautiful. And finally I thought about a nameless lady at church. I call her nameless, because I don't know her...although I want to. A few weeks ago, we had baptisms. They ran some video testimonies, and the nameless lady had the sweetest, most genuine testimony. It truly touched my heart. And when the pastor baptizing her asked her before submerging her in the water if she'd given her heart to Jesus, she said with a smile, "You know it." I giggled and tears filled my eyes. Her new believer enthusiasm for Christ was contagious. The following week they ran video of the baptisms and it was done with "Something Beautiful" playing in the background. And my eyes caught what my ears did not. After the nameless lady came up out of the water, she pumped her fist in the air as she proclaimed victory. Victory in Jesus was hers. She knew it, too...and she knew it was something beautiful.

And with all those random thoughts running through my mind as I laid on that hammock, I found that my 15 minutes was up. Who knew that 15 random thought filled minutes carved out of a busy day could be something beautiful?

The lost "I Love You"...

I thought that he might want to, ya know. Even though he's nine years old and really far too old for them...suddenly last night he was my baby again.

((a flurry of activity occurs in our house as we get Moose ready for church camp...his first trip away....alone....by himself....ever))

Me: Moose do you want to take your Peep?

((I was prepared to tell him how he could smuggle it in his suitcase and pull it out a night

when nobody could see))

Moose: ((Shakes head no))

Me: Oh. You want to be a big boy?

Moose: Yes Mam.

So, we finished packing with The Bob labeling everything that went into his suitcase with his initials, address, and the like. I think he labeled everything with that Sharpie except Moose himself. Me constantly telling him where his Benadryl and his Epi-Pen were in his backpack should he get stung by a a bee...or even worse, a wasp.

This morning we got up in plenty of time to get him to church. His dad left for work before anybody was awake, so he called him to tell him bye on the ride to church. Then he passed the phone to me, and The Bob talked to me about being very upbeat and not all sad and whinny so that Moose could in turn be a big boy and not be scared. We pulled into the parking lot, and the church rented a big charter bus. He's never ridden on such a big bus, so already the adventure was beginning. After waiting for the final parents and children to arrive, and after a brief summary and prayer by the Children's Pastor, the parents were told they could go. So in my very upbeat and happy voice, I told Moose bye...and we left. My last shot of him was out of the corner of my eye. He was headed toward some little boys...surely going to make friends. He makes friends easy.

((In the parking lot))

Fep: Are you about to CRY?

((strange that she knew because I had on sunglasses and she couldn't see my eyes))

Me: I'm thinking about it.

((In the car))

Me: ((Tears begin to stream)) I don't think I told him I love him. Fep, you know I love you even when I don't say it, right? Surely, he knows I love him.

((I drive contemplating how much of an idiot I would look like if I turned around, went back to church, and hugged him and told him I love him...))

I was so concerned about being all upbeat and happy and trying to ease his nervousness that my "I love you" got lost. Surely he knows from all the other times I tell him. I really do tell him often. And really, how could you not love a Moose like this....

Fep's Feathers....

Cause when Fep grows up, she wants to be like Ms. Jen :) All photos taken by Fep. And we are not clever enough to think of captions for every picture like Jen does, but we've put them where we could....

Where there's a will, there's a way...

Hello, Mr. Bluebird!

The Bluebird is The Bob's fav...

A face only a mother could love...

Ummmmm...I got nothin' here. No caption. Again, I'm no Jen.

Happy Birtday!!

A few weeks ago, we had a birthday party for a close friend. And I made him a cake. This cake...

(Rustifer is his nickname. We live by nicknames around here.)

And yes, I do homeschool my children even though I apparently cannot spell birthday correctly. There's a real reason I messed up, but I won't bore you with the details. The laughter and joking throughout the evening over it was so worth the mistake. It was the kind of laughter that makes you loose your breath. The kind of laughter that makes you cry. I just love that kind of laughter. We embraced the mistake and really got into it, because then we changed the signs....

Everybody has a birthday. But not just anybody can have a birtday ;)

Psalm 38:7

This past Thursday, we were supposed to go see Tim Hawkins. If you don't know who he is, he's a Christian stand-up comedian. My friends have raved and raved over him and all but forced us to get tickets to go see him in our area. The night of the event we couldn't go, so I sent my children with my friends. They brought us back one of his DVDs, and we watched it last night. This was one of my favortie skits on the whole DVD. I've been chuckling about this even a day later. This video quality is not good, and it looks kinda older. The DVD was just a smidge better (funnier) than this, but this still should give you a good chuckle....

Held...

For Beth...who went to let Jesus hold her on Mother's Day 2003...



Thank you, Jesus, for holding me, too....

Organize....

"Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it's not all mixed up."

Winnie-the-Pooh/A.A. Milne

My favorite blogs and sites for organizing and homemaking inspiration:

Small Notebook
Inspired to Action
Keeping the Home

The Pearly Gates....

For the past year, our pastor has been taking us through the book of Revelation. He preaches what I would call "John MacArthur style" or expository preaching. We are finally toward the end of the book. Tonight he preached from Revelation 21:9-22:5. We've all heard the stories of the pearly gates. I think we've reduced them to something they are not. As my pastor noted, we picture a person standing at the little pearly gates with his checklist of those who may or may not enter. We must never forget that our God is so much bigger than that. And that He is a God of order. Revelation 21:19-20 goes through all the gems and stones found in the building of our heavenly home. Sapphire, Topaz, Amethyst, and Emerald just to name a few. Revelation 21, verse 21 specifically talks about the gates of pearl. A single pearl massive enough to form these great gates. Tonight in his sermon our pastor read us this quote:

"How appropriate! All other precious gems are metals or stones, but a pearl is a gem formed within the oyster - the only one formed by living flesh. The humble oyster receives an irritation or a wound, and around the offending article that has penetrated and hurt it, the oyster builds a pearl. The pearl, we might say, is the answer of the oyster to that which injured it. The glory land is God's answer, in Christ, to wicked men who crucified heaven's beloved and put Him to open shame. How like God it is to make the gates of the new Jerusalem a pearl. The saints as they come and go will be forever reminded, as they pass the gates of glory, that access to God's home is only because of Calvary. Think of the size of those gates! Think of the supernatural pearls from which they are made! What gigantic suffering is symbolized by those gates of pearl! Throughout the endless ages we shall be reminded by those pearly gates of the immensity of the sufferings of Christ. Those pearls, hung eternally at the access routes to glory, will remind us forever of One who hung upon a tree and whose answer to those who injured Him was to invite them in to share His home." (Exploring Revelation, rev. ed. [Chicago: Moody, 1987; reprint, Neptune, N.J.: Loizeaux, 1991], 254)

How like God and how appropriate, indeed. May we not take for granted what He has prepared for those who He loves.

"The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl...."
Revelation 21:21

Five...

That's how many weeks of homeschooling we have left. Five. Five long weeks. This time of year, every year, I suffer from burn out. I don't know if it's because we've been going for 8 months now, and we need to let our brains rest? I don't know if it's because the beautiful Spring weather beckons us to lay aside our books? Nah, it's not the weather. Today is cloudy and stormy, and I still dread the school hours today. Yesterday, I started thinking of a plan to shorten those five weeks. I haven't thought of a good plan yet. And then there's the dread of testing. Love it or hate it; we are testers. I both love it and hate it. Well, love is a little strong. I like it and hate it. I worry have I taught them enough? Will they do well? Will they bomb? I'm worn and weary I'm telling you. Worn and weary. But in five weeks, I'll find Summer Bliss! The countdown has begun....

Sunday's Comin...

Monday was surely a Monday. I spent a good part of the day worried and depleted. That evening I watched this clip on facebook posted by my Worship Pastor. When I first started watching, I thought, "Not really sure I like the look of that artwork." But what it said overpowered how it looked. And I must warn you that if you watch the clip, "It's Friday, but Sunday's comin'" may get stuck in your head. I went to bed right after watching with "It's Friday, but Sunday's comin'" rolling around in my head, and I thought about the disciples and those that loved Jesus so, and how absolutely dejected, discouraged, depleted that they must have been after Jesus died . Surely they must have felt like all hope was gone. And then I thought about my day...feeling some of those same emotions. I may be in a season of my life that "It's Friday"....but I know "Sunday's comin'"!!!




Yes, It's Friday...but Sunday's Comin'

Celebrate his Resurrection!

The goal is not just good choices...

I had the privilege of going to a Mother/Daughter type conference with Fep yesterday. The speaker was outstanding. She had three children: an oldest son in college, and daughter in her first year of college, and her third son in his senior year in high school. She said that when the first two were teenagers, starting to branch out on their own, able to leave home and go do stuff, stuff with their friends, that one of the last things she would say is "Make good choices." And then with her 3rd she realized was that the goal? Good choices? Because even the world's best choices are not necessarily even "good choices" for a Christian. So with the last son still at home, but ready to branch out, she tells him before he leaves the house, "Remember the Cross". Remember the Cross. Mmmmmm. I love that. Because if we remember the Cross in all we do, we will not just make "good choices". We will, hopefully, make "His choices". So, when my children are of age that they are branching out, I can already see them walking out the door, with my voice reminding them to "Remember the Cross."

You can find out about the speaker at our conference here.

And with this being Palm Sunday, read Dawn's post here. I thought it was lovely. Embrace Passion Week with your family this week!

Pesky...

Pesky, they are. More than just getting in our bird feeders. Here is a snippet of a recent conversation between The Bob and I:

The Bob: (working on truck, has the hood up) "Those darn squirrels are chewing on wires in my truck. They've chewed on this here. This cable has been chewed on. Look at this...."

Me: "How do you know it's the squirrels. Maybe it's mice?"

The Bob: (putting his hand into a foam covering in the top of the hood) "Because he's left his nuts in here!" (Pulls out acorns...)

Me: (walks away giggling)

:)

Fep's Feathers...

All photos by Fep :)

For Aunt Heather and Mrs. Jen. By the way, Jen, we really missed Feathers on Friday this past Friday!

Not a feather...just for you, Jen ;) Photo also by Fep :)

Their Adventure Books...

If you haven't seen the movie UP, you really should. I took my children to see it last summer, and I expected so little from it. I only went because my children wanted to see it. When I cried at the beginning of the movie and again at the end, I couldn't believe that such a little movie would bring out such emotion. And again I expected so little of it when I walked in the theater.

Yesterday, Fep put in the UP dvd. I was in the kitchen only half watching it. I was cooking up some spaghetti for supper...slicing onions to be exact. The little boy character, Russell, began telling grumpy Mr. Frederickson what he liked doing with his Dad. At the end of his conversation he said, "I know it sounds boring, but the boring stuff is what I remember most." And that line cut to my heart, and I wasn't sure if the tears were from that movie line or the onions. Maybe it was both. But I can't help but have my heart filled by that one simple statement. Because it is the boring stuff that I like to remember most from my childhood. The simple everyday stuff. And it fills my heart to know that that is what my children will remember, too. Just the simple everyday stuff their Mama did with them, that they did with their Dad, and that they did with each other. The days pass so quickly that I can't remember it all. But they will. They will remember the boring stuff the most. And just like Ellie in the movie, their Adventure Books will be full.

Flowers....

I know. I know they're just weeds. I started to throw them in the trash, but then I couldn't do it. I saw the face of a little boy out playing who saw them as a treasure for his Mom. How much longer will he see weeds as flowers? How long until the reality hits that they are just weeds? I rather dread the day when he's gotten so big that he sees the difference. I'm sure that day is just around the corner. But for now, I'll keep accepting what may be just a weed, because to Moose it's a flower, and it's rooted in love.

This post is linked at Emily's Tuesdays Unwrapped.

Just a glimpse more...

Because just one glimpse was not enough...not for my heart anyway...

Glimpses of Home....

Emily at Chatting at the Sky is hosting Glimpses of Home...just a simple something or something representing home...


I picked this because this is what I'm longing and waiting for. Plush green, flowers blooming, and front porch swinging...I'm ready for the life that Spring brings to home....