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....

The longest day...

This was my yesterday:

6:45 - I'm up late. I should have gotten up at 6:00 to make my 8:45 doctor appointment.
7:00 - Wake kids before jumping in shower.
7:30 - Out of shower, curling hair. Moose asks, "Where is Fep?" She's not up! "Fep, please get up. I woke you up 30 minutes ago, and we have to leave soon."
8:00 - Leave for Dr....running late...it takes 35 min. to get to his office. Just for the record, I used to work at a doctor's office. Just because your appointment is at 8:45 doesn't mean you walk in their door at 8:45. Arriving 20 minutes ahead of appointment is always appreciated. Ummmmm....but I didn't make that today.
8:00 - no gas in car. Will have to stop. Lovely. This will make me even later.
8:05 - stop for gas. Click the pump handle in the little slot thingy that allows you to pump without holding onto the pump. Go in store to get kid's breakfast. Come back and pump is broken and the release did not click off when tank was full. Gas is spilling out all over my car and all over the ground. Probably pumped about $10 worth of gas onto my car and the ground.
8:15 - Keep thinking gas is not good on a car's paint. Pull into another convenience store and buy 5 bottles of water to rinse off gas. Sheriff deputy hanging out at register makes comment I must be really thirsty. I fake a smile. I'm sure they really thought I was nuts if they saw me pouring the water on my car. I'm embarrassed and feel like the whole parking lot is looking at me. Oh, and I'm really late for Dr. now.
8:45 - Sign in at the Dr. at the exact time of my appointment. I'm late, but not late all rolled in one. It takes the girl at the front desk 15 minutes to load my new insurance into the computer. 15 minutes...
8:30 - Listen to lady in waiting room talk on her cell phone. She's disputing a bill. Nice.
9:50 - Nurse calls me back after we've been in waiting room for one hour.
11:00 - Ready to leave Dr. after being told that I have Strep. Fep was diagnosed with Strep on Friday. Strep is very contagious so I ask about Moose and The Bob. They'll have to see Dr., too, if they want antibiotics. Make Moose appointment for 12:30.
11:10 - Leave Dr., get lunch, run to Target, and go back to Dr.
12:15 - Back at Drs. office for the 2nd time. Already feel like I've been there all day.
1:00 - Moose does not have Strep, but they are putting him on antibiotics anyway.
1:20 - Waiting at Pharmacy for meds.....find some yummy Weight Watchers candy for the diet that I'm now on....oh wait, it's not a diet.....it's my new way of life.....
2:20 - Home. Finally.
5:45 - Leave to take Moose to guitar lessons...another car ride and I'm ready to sing, "On the road again..."
7:10 - Moose's lesson is done. Head back home....
7:45 - Walk in the door and finish dinner....
8:00 - Eat dinner while watching 2nd half of The Biggest Loser.....really glad I'm having healthy Black Beans and Rice or I'd really be feeling guilty....also have the urge to go get on the Treadmill after watching the show....but I don't, instead I....
9:00 - Watch Chopped on Food Network. One of my very, very favorite Food Network Shows...
10:00 - Rush kids to bed. Give Moose medicine. Fep took hers earlier.
10:15 - Look at the dosage on everyone's antibiotics. It makes sense that my dosage is a bit more than Fep's cause I'm bigger. But why is Moose's dosage more than Fep's and as much as mine and he doesn't even have Strep??? Will call Dr. tomorrow....and find that this day is now running into tomorrow.....Bah.
10:45 Can't remember if I took my medicine. Have to count out all the pills to see if I did or not. Nope. I didn't take it. So, I take it now.
11:00 - Now that I think about that gas spilling everywhere....I was more concerned about my car than the gas on the ground....what if when I left someone dropped a cig or something....I should have told the lady in the store....Ugh.....

I don't know why, but this was the longest day. Not a bad day, but just loooooooong.

One day....

It happened about a year ago when we started going to a new church, and this new church had/has a large missions focus. I am going to be blunt honest. I am very selfish, and I don't like to be uncomfortable, hot, or dirty. I'm not a people person and I'm extremely content in my little world. Missions just really did not fit into my idea of a good trip to take. But this church, now my church (and I'm so pleased that is is my church), and the Holy Spirit changed my heart. My pastor (and I'm so pleased he's my pastor) says, "The Great Commission is not the Great Suggestion" I'm not sure if that's his own original quote or if he borrowed that from someone else. Anyway, he feels it's really not an option. Christians are called to GO tell the world about Jesus. My church goes to The Good Shepherd Children's Home in Honduras twice a year every year. And every time someone comes back with pictures and testimonies, my heart is broken and tears pour. They also go to Zimbabwe, Africa once every year. And for those who think, "Well, what about the people here that need help?" Yes, my church is a big supporter of local missions as well. There is also missions work done here in the United States and in our own community.

But in my heart, I long to go overseas. Right now, we just do not have the money for a big mission trip, and we'll just have to focus on the local work. It's sad that when we did have the money that we didn't do it. But the LORD had not changed my heart yet at that point, so......... I know that if He laid it on my heart that one day He'll provide the way. I've already told my family that I'm willing to sacrifice the next vacation that we could afford to take and that Honduras or Zimbabwe could be our vacation. I'm not sure that my family is on board with that.....yet. And it doesn't matter anyway, because we aren't taking a vacation and the decision isn't to be made now. So right now, I live vicariously through others on these trips. And I'm looking forward to one day when we get to go, too. One day....

The Good Shepherd Children's Home

The Journey

Sing, sing a song, sing out loud, sing out strong....

(pardon the glare! and the dust!! it REALLY is not as dusty as it looks....I hope)

In a post last year, I mentioned that I had been on Weight Watchers and that I had gained back half of what I had lost. I even was bold enough to post my weight in a sidebar and track my progress in what I was going to loose (again). You'll notice that sidebar has been removed, because I now have gained ALL the weight back that I lost on Weight Watchers. I fell off the wagon big time. I will not be so bold again as to post my weight. Weight Watchers Online has that information....I like for my blog to be my happy place, so I'm not posting that big ugly here again ;)

In getting back on the wagon, I've started exercising again. The treadmill is my friend. I do find though that when I do get on the treadmill that if I can make it the first 5 minutes, I'm in for the journey, and then I usually don't want to get off. Why? Because when I walk, I listen to music, and I sing. And I'm just telling you that despite what my family says and despite their laughs and giggles, I know that on the treadmill I sing reeeeeeeeal gooooooood ;) It is quite funny to hear someone randomly burst out into song. I've heard The Bob do it once on the treadmill, and it is really funny. Anyway, I have loaded my favorites, and when Casting Crowns sings Until the Whole World Hears, I just have to sing with them. I know they appreciate it. That song just makes me want to charge hell with a water gun...Jesus going before me of course :) When Travis Cottrell sings Jesus is the Lord, I'm compelled to sing with him. We harmonize quite well together. I know it. I just know it.

Seriously, while I know it doesn't sound pretty, I do sing from my heart. It is not uncommon for me to tear up while walking...and not from pain from the exercise....but because I'm overwhelmed with His grace and love. It is not uncommon for me to raise my hands (weights included) in praise to Him. And so I have found my time with Mr. Treadmill is not only good for my body, but also my spirit.