He Peers

As I was walking this morning I had time for reflection.
I began pondering idols.  An idol is anything that pulls my attention away from my Father.  Like a strong magnet that is put close to a metal object. You can feel the pull, the dance that one force has on another and before you know it, the magnet is clamped tightly to the metal object.  You can almost see the dance of the magnet just before it contacts the metal.  The stronger the magnet, the harder the two are to separate.  I have been listening to a series called Idol Addiction.  The thought of idolatry is one that deserves pondering.   It is a real battle.  In this world, we all face the enemy of idolatry.  The appearance of the idol is different for each of us.  There are a few characteristics of an idol are the same for every believer.  The object, the idol, takes (even momentarily) utmost importance. The dance before an idol, the gazing and false hope that the idol will fill us or make us happy becomes a driving force.  This could be a dress we have to have, an activity that we enjoy, a job, a house, an itinerary, our children, etc. The idol itself isn't always a bad thing.  In fact, for many of us, it actually may be our calling, but when we use it for self or self-worth, it becomes an idol.  Ah, the flesh... the flesh can warp our vision.  We begin to dance.  In hopes that our effort will produce what only rest in Jesus Christ produces.  WE are made in God's image.  We are made and MEANT for communion with Him.  However, when our vision is obstructed by our pride, our self, we begin to work for the object, for self.  We exchange Truth for a lie that is fleeting-the lie that is as old as the Garden.
In I John 5:21 John writes, "Little children, guard yourselves from idols."
John was writing to Gentile believers.  What sweet words, "little children."  John walked with our Savior.  He ate with him.  Laughed with him.  Cried with him.  Rejoiced with him.  Prayed with him. John when he wrote this, was probably the last surviving apostle.  It was written before he was banished to the island of Patmos.  The Son of God prayed and taught John.  And John walked with Jesus.  So, when John wrote the inspired, authoritative words...guard yourself, it is an action.   How are we to guard ourselves.
I believe that we have to pause and let Him peel back some layers.  I thought of The Great Gatsby.  Do you remember the literary picture of the eyes watching over a city?  Today, I envisioned "the eyes" as The Lord, peering through my heart.  I pictured my heart, my motives, as glass.  It is a little chilling to think of being that bare.  But aren't we?  He peers, right through.  Only, he peers as a means to work.  Much like a heart surgeon.  Not a peering to look and only to sew me back up and send me on my way.  We have a condition, and His skillful, tender hands come in and do not repair, but actually replace what is broken.  As a believer, I am given the opportunity to rest as He molds, changes, and heals the deepest parts of my heart that I can't even see.  He comes in and makes a new creation as I rest.
After reading the last words in I John, the pastoral warning of guarding myself from idolatry, I was examining how to guard myself.  After, the examining of my Father, the confession of a wandering heart, what next?  Truth.  I went to I John 1:1-5.
"What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life-and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us-what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.  These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.  This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all."

Living with Intention

Hello friends! We have been busily enjoying life! Our boys are almost 10, soon 9 and 6! We are thrilled that my brother, Brad was married in September to Mary Charles who we each love! Welcome to the family MC! We also celebrated Daddy George's 90th birthday! He and David share a birthday. What a joy that was to have so many family and friends gather with such a wonderful man to celebrate life! We play football, lots of football and yes that says we. When you're a mom of three boys football passing goes on your résumé. :) Ben did All Star soccer last fall and Luke did All Star baseball this spring. David wasn't old enough for all stars but in our book, he is an all star brother! He loves to play sports, but is equally proud of his big brothers during their time to shine! They are all playing football this fall and we Love it! 

During this season of life, I think the biggest lesson The Lord whispers is not to waste our life! We are desiring to leave HIS fingerprints, lasting fingerprints on the lives that we are a part of on our home and outside our home.  My mom has a sticky note(she's famous for those) that says: 
We want to live
"With nothing to gain.
With nothing to hide.
And with nothing to prove."  
May The Lord make our lives a reflection of Him. 
We are learning new parenting tools with a preteen in the house. How to deepen the lessons of life beyond" because I said so." We are trusting somehow the best Parent will guide us now in the same but different role we are learning. 
David did cut his head open on the diving board. Of course I think diving boards are a sanctifying tool (just kidding)! The board teaches boys to conquer fear and man up if you will. It teaches their mamas to let go, grind their teeth, and know the pediatrician a number by heart! My boys are tough, really tough. Blood gushing, but fear not, David was walking around in the grass. Probably about to get back in line when a friend brought him to me. He also split his baby tooth to the nerve and had it extracted as a result of the impact. I do carry a First Aid Kit in my car now. 

As I think about trying to always be ready to tend to one of my active boys' needs, it brings me to rhis thought: Am I ready to meet a need of someone The Lord places in my path? To live a life not wasted, we will be in prayerful conversation with Jesus and will  that not change the way we talk with others? We will be speaking Truth that heals and restores. We will use what He gives us, including our time to point others to Jesus. Let's not waste our lives.

From Happy New Year to Happy August

It is hard to believe that I haven't posted since January. We had a wonderful spring. Summer has been a blast!

We went to North Carolina with both sets of Grandparents. Benjamin and my mom got a little off the trail. He spotted a baby bear. Really, if you know my mom that is hilarious! She suggested making lots of noise and getting on some stumps. You can look for her on the next round of Dual Survivor. :) We went tubbing down a mountain stream-the coldest water I have ever been in to date. I screamed and laughed the whole way! The boys are all brave little dare devils! We also rode a train through the mountains. We loved the Hemlock Inn. Thanks mom and dad for a great trip!!!!!!!

In July, Ben surprised me with a 10 year anniversary trip to SeaSide. We went there on our honeymoon. He made friends with the proud owners of a YoLo board. Really fun! I am too scared of sharks, but he did great! Wow! 10 GREAT years. That needs to be a whole different post. I am truly blessed with absolutely the best husband! He is a true picture of Christ to me.

We just returned from a trip to the Grand Hotel in Fairhope. We ate dinner at sunset while the boys played croquette. There were ping pong battles, cannons fired, kayaking in the bay, going out on the catamaran, Wii music tournaments, putt putt, water slides, lazy rivers, pole fishing, bicycle riding, and lots of fun! Thanks Pop and Mama Sue!

Ben got a canoe for his birthday. That has been a lot of fun for our family. It is a bit like a kayak that seats 5 people. We found a little spring that is really, really, really deep. The boys like to dive to the depths and explore the underwater world. I was really amazed when Benjamin jumped in with no one else. Way braver than I am! I mean this water is coming up out of the earth! REALLY DEEP. Ben did get in with him, but we let him exert his manhood a bit and head in first. I sometimes think that parenting all boys (at least for the type like myself) means praying and simply closing your eyes....and asking Ben are you sure this is okay?!?!?

Just the swimming pool is an exercise for me not to squelch that need little boys have to conquer, or prove that they have what it takes. I am convinced that life's lessons could be taught on the diving board. I often just have to bite the inside of my cheek and smile. That leads to a whole different post too!

By the way, school supplies are in our closet and I am giddy with excitement!

Maybe I will get around to posting again before Christmas.

Happy New Year!

We have traveled to Missouri. We loved every minute.

We have enjoyed around 5 different family Christmas Celebrations.

We celebrated New Year's Eve with dear friends and their families.

We have undecorated our house.

Our children have become a bit of what I would describe as wild. Sweet; oh so sweet. BUT wild. You know it's the whole 3 little boys thing. Lots of energy and today was rainy. I feel the need for boot camp. Does anyone else feel that way?

Happy New Year to you and your family!

thank you flickr.com

When the checklist gets off

Um, okay. Deep breaths. Today, I didn't get the cleaning done! :( I know you think no big deal, but it is. To me. So, I will try to get it done tonight. Sweet Ben is actually folding the laundry as we speak. We laughed at the quantity of clothing tonight! The blessing- ALLLLLL of those little shirts and pants! Miss matched socks galore. All due to the blessing of a full quiver!

I have been experiencing ADD cleaning. You know what I am talking about unless you are a super woman and seriously organized. But for the vast majority of us-this occurs during the times we need to have our cleaning done ASAP. ADD cleaning results when too many returned Christmas cards that you have no addresses for pile on your calendar, cardboard boxes that Christmas gifts were shipped in became a fort, a garage that is beginning to look like it needs a yellow caution sign around it, and the Christmas baking done on Tuesday didn't get cleaned up last night all needs to be tended to BEFORE you can EVEN BEGIN CLEANING-please say AMEN so I know I am NOT alone!
So, I did get the garage cleaned out today. I didn't clean the house; not yet anyway. If all else fails, we'll eat Christmas Brunch in the garage. Hugs and caffeine as we await SATURDAY!

Tis The Season

Hi Gals! Well we are on the Count down to Christmas aren't we? I can't believe how quickly it has come! This is my favorite time of year. Isn't it amazing that the Son of Heaven came and put on skin-wow! Emanuel-God with us! I was so fortunate to share this with a third grade class this year with a friend of mine, Jennifer! WE had a BLAST!!!! Talk about getting into the Christmas spirit! Going into a secular school and sharing the history Christmas is breathtaking! Their faces are priceless, their hearts are truly beautiful, their souls-hungry for truth. Aren't we all! Whether you know Jesus or not, we all hunger for Truth. Jennifer and I really were the ones that were blessed as we shared-a reminder of WHY we celebrate Christmas! I think the point I came away with was Emanuel-God with us!

My mom treated me to a weekend away and we had a soul spa-a Deeper Still conference in Birmingham. One of my brother's friends got us a ticket and boy was it great! The three speakers were Kay Arthur (she still blows my socks off), Priscilla Shirer(the chic has it going on), and Beth Moore (need I say more...no pun intended-lol). The week before we left, mom gave me the Michael W. Smith cd- A New Hallelujah. Check out the song Deep In Love With You. Beautiful. Now you girls go grab that thing put it on your iPod and tell me thank you later. You will have your own little praise time; I promise!

Now, here are some of my steps to a sane Christmas.

It begins today.

1. Bake ONLY 3 different goodies. Mine happen to be: sugar cookies, Muddy Buddies (not overly Christmas like, but who doesn't LOVE this stuff?), and Buck Eyes.

Sugar cookie is from a mix and the boys will decorate.

Muddy Buddies-easy. The boys can shake the bag!

Buckeyes-I remember these as a favorite "goody" that came our way at Christmas. The boys can roll these little chocolate gems.

2. While baking, I will run laundry. House will be messy and that is OKAY!!!!! My only goal for today is baking and washing clothes.

Wednesday:

1. Cleaning house. Boys have Christmas decorations to make, so they will work on this while I clean. We'll see how it pans out. :)

2. Weds. night I will do the Christmas Cooking grocery run. Maybe. I am getting older you know, so I might exert all the energy I have cleaning. Grocery may have to be pushed to Thursday.

Thursday:

1. Iron-MAYBE

2. Paint ornaments with the boys. We bought the plastic, clear balls from Michaels and some cute ribbon and paint. I will let you know what we come out with! I am a craft gal that doesn't have a plan, just throw some supplies out and let the kiddos go at it! They usually do better than I would have anyway!

3. Grocery-I am TRULY A WALMART gal. Sorry you Publix fans, I tried. I really did. I watched my receipts and I save about $25.00 at least(actually that is a generous figure) at Walmart. I will tell you I DO NOT get my meat at Wally World. I like Sam's or our friends Suzanne and Jeorge for organic meats. You really HAVE to try their homemade jams! I ordered jams for stocking stuffers for family this year.

Friday:

Sip coffee, enjoy family (my brother Brad is coming and we are sooooo excited!), and prep food for a fun and hopefully tasty Christmas morning brunch with all of our family-except we will miss Aunt Brooke and Uncle Daniel, but they will be enjoying time with her sweet family.

Saturday:

Rejoice with family about Jesus' Birthday-I surely need a Savior!

Sunday:

We'll be on the Big Jet in the sky on our way to see Daddy George, and our FABULOUS cousins! We can't wait!

Now, a confessional. We are Dave Ramsey fans. We are not overboard, but thankfully, he has helped us shape our finances very early on in our marriage. I am not sure, but I don't think I am doing my best in this area. Is that weak or what? Okay, I am sure I am not doing my best. We are hitting the envelopes again next week. I really love the envelope system. From what I hear you can do it online, but if you know me well, you know it's a stretch for me to download pictures. :) So, I am actually excited to have the envelopes going again. It is called Financial Peace for a reason.

Now, girl go get yourself that cd or download A New Hallelujah and get going. I am off to start the laundry mountain. I think I need to be secured by bungee cords in order to do this! LOL!

Get your Christmas lights plugged in, turn your music up, and by all means, dance a little as you do your work!

Recipe for Extraordinary Ohio Buckeyes:

1 cup creamy peanut butter

1/2 cup margarine

1 3/4 cup powdered sugar

2 cups semisweet, milk chocolate chips

Toothpicks for dipping

Line cookie sheets with wax paper and set aside. Mix peanut butter and butter until creamy. Add sugar a little at a time. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Roll peanut butter mixture into 1-inch balls. Place on wax paper and freeze for 30 minutes or until firm. In microwave-safe dish, melt chocolate chips in microwave on high for about 30 seconds. Stir. Repeat until chips are melted. Do not scorch. Insert toothpicks into frozen peanut butter balls and dip balls in chocolate. Let cool on wax paper. Store in cool place. Makes about 100 buckeyes.

I am Here!

Hello my friends! We have been in a busy place in our lives. Do you know about that? I bet you do. So, if you are a bit busy-here is a hug from me to you. {{{{}}}}} Take a deep breath, go get a warm blanket, cup of tea or coffee, and don't read here any more. Go get your Bible. That's right. Let's get our eyes on Jesus. I am going to do that right now. I miss you all! Leave me a note. I'll be back to posting in a few days.

The 22nd

Today is a special day for these two. Our David is 4 and my Daddy George is 88. There is 84 years between these two fellas, but man do I love them both!!!!! I am so thankful that they share the same birthday!

David,

What a joy you are to all that meet you! You are full of energy and wit. You love K-3 and dance around as you get ready to go to Preschool. Your smile is contagious and your laugh warms my heart. Daddy, Benjamin, Luke, and I are praying that you will know what it means to put your trust in Jesus an early age. You often ask me where God is. I smile as I tell you He is all around. You look for Him as I tell you this and I know soon, you will see Him too. You have a warm heart that loves others. Daddy and I pray that you will love Him with your whole heart! We love you so much! We are so proud of you. Happy 4th Birthday!

Love,

Mommy and Daddy

Alarm

This morning I set off our alarm. :)

It is so loud, but I like to play a game with myself.

First, you have to know, that I would have loved to have been in the FBI.

Undercover. So, when I set the alarm off, I like to see how calm I can be while I get it turned off. I guess somehow in my mind proving I would have been a great undercover agent.

You know the alarm is loud, really loud. It BLARES loudly in my ear. I just lock my eyes on that keypad and tune out the noise. I am good at tuning out noise. I live with three loud boys.

In order for me to blog about something, I wanted to think how that experience relates to life.

I came up with the world as the alarm and God as my keypad. If I focus on Him and tune out the noise of the world, I am focused and intent on my purpose. What if I took my eyes off of the keypad and tried to enter my code without looking? The alarm would get louder and the chance for me to become frazzled would occur. As long as I focus where I need to and keep my purpose clear, I can with GREAT accuracy disarm my alarm. If I take time to dilly dally and allow my ears to pierce and my mind to panic about what the code is or if I will remember my password when the security company calls I will inevitably get distracted, lose time, and begin punching in the wrong thing. I can't think about a security password for a phone call that hasn't happened yet. I just have to disarm immediately and handle the step I'm on before jumping to the next one.

God desires our gaze to be fixed on Him. He wants my soul, my very innermost parts to rest quietly in Him. He wants me in the midst of BLARING noise to remain stedfast and quiet. To be steady and purposeful-to handle only the step He has brought me to.

May our day be quiet-in the midst of the BLARING noise of the world.

9

Happy 9th Anniversary Ben.

I love you!

The Supplies are Done

Yesterday, something exciting happened.

We got our school supplies!!!!!!!!

We hit Walmart and The Pencil Box.

Everything on the list is in stock right now. Rollback prices. Good deal on the budget.

I was VERY excited with what we spent for two children at the Big School.

They are very excited.

It's beginning to smell like freshly sharpened pencils and BRAND new crayons.

I am getting so excited for school to start for me too. I love this part of the summer when we still have summer, but are excitedly anticipating a new year. New beginnings.

David got his school bag yesterday. We had to review the way to hold it. Not around your neck. It's a bag that goes over your shoulder. :)

We went to Fairhope, AL this weekend. We stayed at the Grand Hotel.

I got a massage. Shhhhhhh.

We went out on a catamaran in the bay.

Rode bikes.

Ate.

Swam.

And of course, shopped.

Pictures will follow.

Now, we're off to work in my room at school. :)

Enjoy your Tuesday.

By the way. I am doing flylady cleaning. I'll fill you in on how that's going later. Let's just say, I have flown, flapped, and flopped, but all in all, I like it. Check it out here.

To Clarify

In my last post, you may or may not have seen that it was I that missed out when the gal came by my house. Thus, leaving me with lukewarm mop water and the feeling of lukewarm faith.

I know that God can work in any person's life with or without me. He is far bigger than I am! However, I was so saddened that I passed up the opportunity to get to know this girl a little bit better. YES, the lesson was completely for me. I had prayed that morning that God would direct my day and surely in His providential plan, the doorbell rang at the appointed time. It was I, that all too quickly shut the door. She didn't see Him in me that day, that is my regret.

Dear Door To Door Book Sales Woman,

Yesterday I prayed that God would direct my day.

Then, I filled up my mop bucket.

I also got the laundry going and had a momentary lull of noise.

Then, you rang my doorbell.

It was not good timing. My hot, soapy water was waiting. My kids were actually quiet. And you were at my door.

I quickly told you I wasn't interested in what you had. I didn't explain to you gently I had not budgeted to buy your books or allow you the courtesy to do your job. I abruptly stopped you before you got to start. My soapy water was waiting. You were interrupting my day. The one I asked God to direct. True as it may be, I didn't need your books. But perhaps, you needed to see Jesus in our home yesterday. I don't say that to make me sound like I am what you needed, but my Redeemer is. We all need Him.

So, I am sorry. I am sorry that I missed an opportunity to be patient with you while you were visiting the country I love. I am sorry that you didn't see a difference in the way our family lives because of WHAT JESUS has done in our hearts.

I am thankful that your salvation (if you aren't saved) doesn't depend on my actions and what I did or didn't do. I am thankful that the Lord will work in your heart at the appointed time, but I do regret that I missed an opportunity.

My soapy water was luke warm by then anyway.

Pray for Hannah Grace

Please continue to lift up Hannah Grace. They just had a princess party for her. She is truly a princess. You can follow more of their story here.

Abbeville

Do you ever find it difficult to have peaceful faith? There are situations and seasons that fly into our lives uninvited and catch us off guard. The difficult times produce growth in my faith. However, the day to day circumstances can often be the biggest hang up for me. Not to say I soar victoriously through the "big" trials of life-oh no. I just mean that today, out of the blue I was slammed into a spiral of inner-conflict that did not remain so inner (I should say). Just ask my dear sweet husband. :)

I know that my peace comes from the Lord. He is my Rock, my Hiding Place, and the gentle whisper I hear in the morning breeze. He is peace to me. I sense it early in the morning on my back porch while I talk with Him or in my "special" room where it is quiet and cozy for even a few moments. I just wish I would savor the peacefulness and gentleness that hovers in those moments of quiet throughout the day. How quickly I can become unravelled. How fast my temper or fears will grip me. I wish I would call upon my Shepherd with more haste so as not to let the one whom is seeking my destruction like a hungry lion a moment of temporary victory.