what if...

What if I prayed because I wanted to talk with Jesus?

Not just at Him with my to do list.

What if I prayed as if my very existence depended on it?

Instead of thinking I am strong enough to figure things out.

What if I prayed like I was at Atlanta Bread talking to my friend?

Not just a stuffy forced journal entry.

What if I prayed and was quiet enough to hear the whisper?

Not just moving on to the next thing.

What if I prayed realizing I am a beloved child of the King?

Not an orphan.

What if I prayed and for a moment could pause and sense the angels singing Glory to God in the Highest?

Instead of thinking about my wish list for God.

What if I prayed in sweet communion with the Living Creator of the Universe, who is working for my good; the good being to make me more like Jesus and I really talked to Him?

What if I really made time to pray, to really talk with Him and slow down enough to enjoy my visit with Him?

What if my prayers became more like a visit with Him?

What if my prayers affected my life because I was changed and refreshed by my time with Him?

May it be so.

time keeps on ticking...

Busy! Happily, busy.

The house has to wait.

The dust gets thicker.

The laundry is clean, but not put away.

Time keeps on ticking.

I want to be wise.

The house won't last.

The kids are getting bigger.

The time is getting shorter.

Time keeps on ticking.

The floors have drool.

The windows have fingerprints.

The floor has crumbs.

It is a house lived in.

The little people are getting bigger.

The time is getting shorter.

Time keeps on ticking.

The toys are left out.

The legos are hotels.

The books are left open.

The sounds are happy.

Time is ticking.

The house doesn't live.

The people within the walls do.

Invest in them wisely.

All too soon,

It will be quiet.

Don't Hold The Phone

I wanted to share briefly how God is working in my life. Recently, He has really ministered to me through a couple of people that have said, "I am thinking about you." Last week, I got a text on my way to school that was from a dear friend, Susie, who wanted me to know she was praying for me because she was thinking of me. Notice the phrasing: she prayed for me because she thought of me. My mom called Friday and said, "What can I do for you today? I want to help you."

Another was a phone call today from my friend Katherine. Her kind voice was music to my ears: "Hey I was thinking of you...." No one specifically had anything to call about or reason other than they were thinking of me. Their thoughts were controlled by our Heavenly Father. Isn't He so gracious to encourage us through His Spirit prompting others to speak words of love? The words I don't think matter as much as the connection to the "doing." I didn't just cross their minds briefly, they acted on their thought intentionally.

Isn't that what we are called to do as Christians? To love one another? These precious friends took the time to personally contact me. We live in such a hurried society. On to the next thing, it easily becomes a game of how much we can actually fit into the rectangle on our daily planner and even BETTER is to CHECK IT ALL!!!!!

Do we make time to care, to love? I am so thankful for these friends who, by their actions, have reminded me to slow down and ask the Lord to show me who He wants me to speak to-intentionally, without hurrying, without an agenda, to just say, "Hey, I was thinking about you."

We Began

I am the M and my sweet friend/aide is G. :)

My two guys are in full swing at school.

Benjamin has declared he needs a holiday.

Luke got to bring home the Morning Message today. He was so proud of it, he wanted to hang it on the wall. It will have a place of honor.

So, there you have it.

They are all smiles. We enjoyed special dinners of their choice before their first night of school. They get to pick the menu. :) Benjamin picked spaghetti and meatballs and Luke picked homemade mac-n-cheese. Last night, a dear friend invited us to their home for dinner so I wouldn't have to cook. HOW SWEET IS THAT???? Thanks Suzanne!!!!

After orientations, I take them individually for dinner or lunch. That my friends, is priceless time. Lots of encouraging can happen: for the mommy and the child. :)

I am busy getting to know a new group of precious students. We had orientation Monday night and what a sweet, sweet group of loving parents! What a joy it is to partner with parents and pray together at an orientation for their children and for our year together.

It was really hard for me to realize Benjamin was at school all day.

I LOVE 2:30 when we load up to go get our Buddy! It is such a fun time for the boys to come home and be together. The first day, I cried because this is the next step, but mostly because I know I am entrusting him to others for longer than I get to have him. I love school, obviously; I am a teacher. However, it was really hard to know we would never go backwards to the "at home" days with naps, walks, and playing ball in the mornings. I know we have the summer, but this is a new chapter for our family. I am really trying to be intentional in the afternoons with Luke knowing next year, he'll fly off to the Big School.

It was a GREAT Day!

First grade rocks.

My first grader is one happy camper.

He didn't even mention coming home at lunch.

I am glad to say....

He enjoyed his day tremendously!

Carline was a breeze. I just hopped in line and followed the person in front of me. Whew!

I miss checking in with you folks! I am so busy getting our family geared up for school and getting my classroom ready that I haven't been able to read your blogs lately!

I will be back with pictures hopefully some time this weekend.

Getting Ready!

Hey folks! Remember me?

I have been getting my kiddos ready for school.

Truly a delight and honor. We LOVE our schools! One of my boys is a bit nervous. Actually, really nervous about spending a full day at school. He wants to come home and eat lunch with me. I personally like the idea, but it is time.

My room is ready with new names, my students from last year are in their new rooms. That pulls on my heartstrings too! Like I said to another mom, "Once one of my students, always one of my students."

I am hopeful that each one of you embraces this season of new beginnings. May the force be with you as you conquer the phenomenon known as car line.

A Goal and A Dream

photo complement of flickr

I have a goal. I have desired to do this for years. For about fifteen years.

The hard part is actually doing it. It is daunting. Much bigger than myself. I have the desire and the drive to do it. To climb this mountain. I am just sizing it up right now. I have sat under experts and continually stand amazed at their gift. I have tried different times, to no avail. I feel like the time is right. Now. How does one begin a larger than life project? Well, at the beginning. Lots of reading and listening. Mainly dreaming. Oh the dreams are big!

Isn't that so fun? I think as a wife and mom, I benefit my family by stretching myself. Stretching would be an understatement at this point. I am probably more like Bambi on ice. I believe God has given me this desire to push myself out of my comfort zone and go for it. I might not achieve any Caldecott honors or awards, but I am going to do my best. I am going to climb this Mount, Lord willing. Words last. So, to my boys, I will leave a legacy to them from me.

I guess you could say, fingerprints on the paper.

I want to weave words. To make stories that capture the minds of the children and take them to the places they dream of. Mainly, I want my children to know the power of words. I want them to know their thoughts and ideas are important. I want them to know the beautiful art that it is. The music that can flow from the line of a written message. To me, a story is a song in and of itself.

It is a little scary to actually write these words. It seems I am now acknowledging my dream of writing and failure is quite likely. So, perhaps the process is more profitable than the end result. I imagine I will learn more about myself through this experience. I am learning persistence, I am learning the importance of sizing a mountain before the climb and planning, but the dream is what I hold to when the mountain top has hazy clouds around the top and is out of sight. The dream is big. I can just close my eyes, dream, and sing a song through words on paper knowing there is a mountain top even though I can't see it. Yet.

Singing At Midnight

Photo:  Courtesy Library of Congress

Midnight sun in Advent Bay, Spitzbergen, Norway

This week I have been discouraged.  I was spending time with the Lord this morning and here is what He showed me:

"But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them; and suddenly there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were unfastened."

Acts 16:25-26

You may be familiar with this story from Acts.  Paul had just called out a demon from the slave-girl whose masters were profiting from her fortune telling.  The men, whose profits were gone as a result, seized Paul and Silas.  Without a public trial, they were beaten, imprisoned, and placed in stocks.  There was nothing fair or right about what happened.  Paul and Silas were doing the work of the Lord.  They were pursuing righteousness.  Following the course set for them, they were arrested and thrown in prison after being beaten.  I rather imagine, they endured it quietly, without hampering their witness.  However, at the end of the chapter, in verse 37, the truth was known.  They knew where their strength came from; Paul had just utilized the power of the Living God when he called out the demon from the slave girl.  

When they were bound in prison, surely their share of doubts came.  God, why don't you get us out of this?  Why are we in here Lord?  Don't you care?  You are the One that told us to come to this city and now we're in prison.  Do something.  Those would be my questions.  But we see something distinctively different in this story of Paul and Silas.  We see them praise at midnight.  They were keenly aware that while they were chained, they were surrounded by the Living One and True God.  They were not forgotten, they were not bound because of past sins (remember Paul's past), they were not bound because of something they did wrong.  In fact my friend, they were bound to glorify God.  The Lord God accompanied them to this place of imprisonment.  He led them there.  He called them to this place for this very hour of praise.  For with the stocks came praise at midnight.  The Lord shook the foundations of the jail and their chains were unfastened, but none left.  As a result, the jailer was saved along with his household.  Glory to God.  

Whatever has your feet in stocks, wherever you are imprisoned, praise him.  Praise Him, PRAISE HIM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Praise him at midnight when the hour looks its darkest.  Praise him when you don't see His hand working.  Praise Him when the circumstances look like the exact opposite of what you are praying for.  Praise Him because He is the One that shakes the earth...Praise Him when the hour looks darkest.  You are surrounded by a heavenly host resounding the Sweet Name of Jesus.    Join in the singing and my friend, at midnight we'll be singing together.

My Life is Richer

One of Tonja's precious sons giving her a rose on her last performance night.  Pretend it is a clear picture.  Although, blurry is how we all saw it there because we were crying. :)

Meet my friend, Tonja.  

If you know Tonja, you are smiling.  If you don't, you will smile by the end of this post because she has that affect on people.

She has just lost her cheerleader, her friend, her mama.  Her heart is heavy, sad, and weary.  Now, Tonja is one strong lady.  She can look adversity square in the eyes, smile at it while remembering that she is the Tonjanator(what Ben and I call her) and kindly ask it to move over.  Her sweet faith is strong and trusting in her Savior; that is why adversity doesn't scare the T-jator.  She knows where her strength comes from.  It doesn't mean there isn't hurt or pain, but there is assurance.  

She and I have a wonderful time working together!  In fact, when it was time for me to go back to work and the boys were having a hard time with it, Tonja explained that we are all part of a family and that each person in the family does what they can to help the other people in the family.  She just knows how to explain the things in life that aren't easy.  I saw on her blog, a friend said they accidently wound up being friends and her life was richer because of it.  

So, my dear Tonja, it is through tears that I say to you that my life is richer for knowing you.   The Lord is working for your good.  Your smile warms my heart and your shoes make me dance.  The Lord smiles over you and loves you!  Your life adds music to those you are around!  Thank you for making me sing and not look to see who is watching.  

To My Most Uncommon Hero,

*Please click on the song Uncommon on the playlist in the box to the right(it should begin automatically) and make sure your volume is on, hopefully you'll be encouraged as well by the words.*

Dear Ben,

Today we celebrate our eighth anniversary.  You are so many things to me.  I listened to the song yesterday Uncommon and you exhort me to strive for this.  More importantly, you are uncommon.  Your life is different.  Your life speaks volumes.  You have so much character.  You are pursuing things in life that count.  That last.  For eternity.  You take the road less traveled.  I am along for the ride.  You remind me to trust, to let go, and to feel the very presence of God.  What a sweet breeze to my soul you are.  

I know I often resist letting you into my heart.  That is such a scary place for me.  I am thankful that as I have opened up, you hold my heart and soul gently.  I know I often retreat back and put up walls.  I guess that is what love is.  Un-guarding.  Oddly, we spend so much of our life learning to not trust, to not let go and then I met you.  Trustworthy, faithful, loving, forgiving, and most of all, safe.  I think a gentle breeze is the best way to describe your affect on my soul.  

I know you are not perfect, but I can honestly say you are amazing.   I am more proud of you today than ever.  My love has truly grown and grown.  You are leaving a legacy. One our boys will be proud and honored to say is Uncommon.

Today, I celebrate our love, our commitment, our covenant.  I am so thankful for you; you have my heart.  All of it.  For as long as we live.

The Blame Game

Today, David was in the living room scolding me for playing the piano.  He can't stand it.  He gets his little finger and flings it around in the air while commanding a halt of the music.  I told him I liked to play the piano and that he needed to relax.   To this, he flung himself into the wall and proceeded to turn on the gas fireplace.  I quickly  stopped playing (gas over music any day) and now that I am typing this, I see his thought pattern.  Little turkey!  He knew I would quit playing if he turned on the fireplace!!!!!!   Unbelievable.  

Anyway, as Dona would say, I am spiderwebbing.  

I think I scared him as I yelled to never, NEVER, NEVER turn on the fireplace.  He tripped over my lovely candles I have on the hearth.  :(  

He ran and hid under the dining room chair.  His little head was popping out and he just watched as I picked up the glass.

I calmly picked it up.  I like to put out pretty things.  So, I put them out and if they break, so be it.  I am not one to put everything I like up out of reach.  Different strokes for different folks.  I teach the boys to respect our home, the contents, and when there is an accident, to take responsibility and help clean it up (not glass though).  Honestly, we have had very few things break.  It happens, but not too often.  There are no off limit rooms, however, we respect where we are and the behavior in the room needs to be appropriate.  

WOW!!!  I am getting way off the subject!!

So, David keeps repeating, "Lukey broke it."

I am not really paying much attention due to the annoying sliver of glass in my foot that is a cross between pain and an itch.  

After all was cleaned up, I found him in with the older two.  I asked him what he needed to say. All he could come up with was, "Lukey broke it."

When that one didn't work with me, he changed it to, "Jenamin broke it."

That didn't fly with me either.  So, he mumbled, "Sorry Mommy."  

It got me thinking.   How many times do I hear great truth and in the back of my mind think, "Boy do I wish so and so would hear this."   Or, read convicting passages in the Bible and instead of looking at myself and the sin that God is trying to show me, think of how much so and so needs to read this passage.  If I were focusing on the areas God is trying to deal with me, the application from the Truth, would fall on my shoulders and my eyes would not be so much on others, but on myself.  

Quotes

This was Benjamin on the first day of K4

This little guy cracks me up with the things he says!

To Luke he chided,  "Luke, you sound like a whiny lady."

Last week as we were driving in the car. Our family was talking and apparently Benjamin became frustrated at the lack of attention he was receiving.  To which he replied, "Some people get all the love."

Benjamin climbing a tree (one of his favorite things to do) at Gaucho farms in June of 2009.

Rainy Day and the News

This is Uncle Daniel, Ben's brother.  I have some news!  He is getting married!  He asked Brooke(click here to visit her site) to marry him, and guess what?  She said, "Yes!"  Congratulations Daniel!    

About the new header:  

The hands are Benjamin's and Luke's on  glass doors we have going into our living room.

I was able to do some really fun editing stuff at this site (click here to try it out).

We have enjoyed our rainy day today.

We home schooled (we do this in the summer) this morning.  I absolutely love getting to teach them.  I know the time is so short and we will look back on that fondly.  

After that, we went and did a little (emphasis on little) work in my room today.

I always start to get excited thinking about the upcoming school year!!!!!

Then, we went to Barnes and Noble.  We had so much fun there, until it was time to leave.  

We enjoyed an indoor picnic at home today since it was so rainy.  How thankful I am for the rain!!!  Our little vegetable garden is smiling.  

The Conference, The Fountain Drink

I just returned from Samford University.  I am a graduate of Samford and have been blessed to attend a Summer Institute for Teaching Excellence with my dear friends and fellow teachers.  I am beyond thankful for our friendships that we have at the preschool where I teach-it really is a God thing!  

On my way home, I stopped at a Chevron on  highway 231.  

I was thirsty.  From singing.   That tendency can drive my boys batty.  The iPod was invented for people like me.  Now I can just sing any time I want to!!!!  And sing I do.  Aren't you proud Tonja?

So, the need to quench my thirst was great and I pulled into a nice clean facility to get a little gas and a GREAT BIG FOUNTAIN DIET COKE!  You know there is nothing better.

I had cash.

Apparently, cash is becoming like a thing of the past in America.

I kept pushing the help button.  To no avail.  

I pull up to another tank since I am now wet with sweat and REALLY thirsty.

I notice signs on all of the other tanks.  IF you have cash, pay inside.  Oh.  

I just wish the little lady inside would have used her little microphone to let me know I was looking like an idiot.

I headed inside to pay CASH for my gas and to purchase my icy, big, refreshing Diet Coke.

As I filled my cup, the cola ran out and was only the carbonated water-OH NO!!!!! I mention to the little lady the problem- thinking she would quickly switch the tanks.  Not so much.  She stayed where she was and said she would have to change it-her body language insinuated later as opposed to earlier.

Get this-I said,"Well here is my cup, I guess you just want me to throw it away?"

I said it like a question, but what I really meant was-sorry about the cup, I am not waiting for the Diet Coke tank change.

BUT YOU WILL NOT BELIEVE WHAT SHE SAID!!!!!!!!

"No don't throw away that cup, it is my inventory.  I will just rinse it with a little Clorox."

Do you get what she is saying?

She was going to swish a cup that I handled, filled with some liquid and put Clorox in it and put it BACK OUT FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO BUY!!!!!

I looked at her in disbelief and said, " Ma'am that is GROSS!!!!!!"

photo courtesy of flickr.com

A little mishap

Meet Coal.  He is a great dog.  Given the opportunity, Coal doesn't mind taking the scenic route.

I was watering our flowers the other day.  Several hours later, I noticed Coal was not on the porch.  He is an outside dog.  As you know, it is about the temperature of Mercury around here lately.  I figured he was long gone since it had been so long.  The kids were all asleep for their naps and I couldn't go look for him.

I opened the garage door to call for him and I found him resting on the mat in the garage.  Too hot even for a dog to run away with a wide open gate!

A little over  a year ago, I got a call.  Very early.  Like something was wrong early.  A sweet little lady just wanted me to know that Coal was in her laundry room.  She complemented him and told me what a good dog he was.  I couldn't take it all in when she was telling me, as I was still in shock that she told me OUR dog was in HER laundry room.  Apparently, he went in through her doggie door.  Nice.