Well, I have not been blogging for a few weeks, mostly because this whirlwind I call a life has had me quite swept up the last few weeks.
I LOVE VBS so this year...you guessed it, I was in charge. It has gone great. We don't do your traditional week long VBS at our church. We do Vacation Bible Sundays and for every Sunday in the month of July we have a different night of VBS. It works great, everyone comes back, week after week refreshed and ready to worship God.
So although, I was in charge of VBS, I could not have done it with out the help and support of some very awesome people. First of all my parents, they support me in my endeavors continuously. I don't think I have ever thought "I can't " because my parents always told me "I could"
Then there are the Elders and Preachers at our church, ever supportive, always willing to jump in and lend a hand. I have been at churches before where Elders and Preachers have a hands off approach and just say yes or no to whatever decisions may need to be made, not at my church. The Elders are so encouraging and so engaged in seeing true spiritual growth from the congregation. Our ministers are inspiring, to hear them speak they make the Bible come to life, they make you want to be a better Christian.
And lastly are Greg and I's beloved friends, man they are worker bees. These are mom's and dad's just like us willing to give it their all. Ready to jump in and do WHATEVER is needed. It is awesome to work alongside these amazing families and to raise our children with them. I have to say that I firmly believe that through VBS in the month of July we have truly bonded.
So, why post about this, most of the people I go to church with don't even read my blog...no body really reads it, I don't think I have any followers, but our theme for VBS was the Fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5: 22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
So to me these fruits speak volumes to my duty as a wife and mother. I need to show love, have joy (in all that I do), exude peace, demonstrate patience, be kind, be good, be faithful, show gentleness, and exhibit self-control. If I can show these to my boys, then they will pick these up and our world, our home, will be a better place.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Friday, July 6, 2012
Cleaning
Oh my goodness, cleaning is one of those things that no matter how much I do it, it is never done. I wish I was a minimalist instead sometimes I think I come very close to being a hoarder. Stuff, where does it come from? How does it accumulate so very quickly? Why am I attached to these things?
So today, I decided on a great purging. I cleaned out, cleaned up, and cleared out. And yet there is still STUFF.
That got me thinking, what is this stuff? Do I need it? Who does need it? Could someone else use it better than me? No, I don't need it, and yes I am sure someone else could find something to do with it. The purging of the physical junk in my life made me think...how much emotional junk do I have?
Ronald Reagan once said, “Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly, leave the rest to God.”
I believe this will be my knew theme.
So today, I decided on a great purging. I cleaned out, cleaned up, and cleared out. And yet there is still STUFF.
That got me thinking, what is this stuff? Do I need it? Who does need it? Could someone else use it better than me? No, I don't need it, and yes I am sure someone else could find something to do with it. The purging of the physical junk in my life made me think...how much emotional junk do I have?
Ronald Reagan once said, “Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly, leave the rest to God.”
I believe this will be my knew theme.
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Love
On a day in which I know my children will be up against the odds or in a uniques setting, I wear a bracelet to remind me of the following:
1 Corinthians 13: 4 &7
Love is patient, Love is kind, it always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
Being a parent is just that...parents must be patient, kind, protect, trust, hope, persevere, and if we can do all of these...we as parents will not fail.
Having that bracelet on my wrist as a constant reminder of scripture and God's expectations for me as a parent, is crucial on days when my patience may grow thin and my kindness may not show. No one ever said being a parent would be easy, but they never said it would be this hard either. Ultimately it is the ONLY job that matters in my life.
1 Corinthians 13: 4 &7
Love is patient, Love is kind, it always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
Being a parent is just that...parents must be patient, kind, protect, trust, hope, persevere, and if we can do all of these...we as parents will not fail.
Having that bracelet on my wrist as a constant reminder of scripture and God's expectations for me as a parent, is crucial on days when my patience may grow thin and my kindness may not show. No one ever said being a parent would be easy, but they never said it would be this hard either. Ultimately it is the ONLY job that matters in my life.
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Happy 4th
Psalms 33:12--Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance.
I have always been the patriotic type, I still get chills when I hear "God Bless the USA" and I love to celebrate our freedoms as Americans. On this day, I like to stop and think of all those who have served and worked so very hard for the freedom we have today.
One thing that has always given me those, "I'm proud to be an American" chills is at the beginning of every school year in my school district. We have a beginning of the year teacher meeting, all of the district employees gather for a day of professional development, new teachers are announced and the Director of Schools makes an opening statement about the year to come, but to start it all off, boy and girl scouts bring in the flag and the Pledge of Allegiance is said. It gives me chills for a gym full of teachers, administrators, support staff, custodians, cafeteria servers, etc., people that make a difference in the lives of tomorrow's leaders, all stand and say the pledge, it just moves me.
We are so blessed to live in the country in which we live, yet so often we forget to be thankful for every freedom we have because in a moment it could all be gone.
God Bless The USA
by Lee Greenwood
If tomorrow all the things were gone,
I'd worked for all my life.
And I had to start again,
with just my children and my wife.
I'd worked for all my life.
And I had to start again,
with just my children and my wife.
I'd thank my lucky stars,
to be livin here today.
‘Cause the flag still stands for freedom,
and they can't take that away.
to be livin here today.
‘Cause the flag still stands for freedom,
and they can't take that away.
And I'm proud to be an American,
where at least I know I'm free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.
where at least I know I'm free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.
And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
‘Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.
next to you and defend her still today.
‘Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.
From the lakes of Minnesota,
to the hills of Tennessee.
Across the plains of Texas,
From sea to shining sea.
to the hills of Tennessee.
Across the plains of Texas,
From sea to shining sea.
From Detroit down to Houston,
and New York to L.A.
Well there's pride in every American heart,
and its time we stand and say.
and New York to L.A.
Well there's pride in every American heart,
and its time we stand and say.
That I'm proud to be an American,
where at least I know I'm free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.
where at least I know I'm free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.
And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
‘Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.
next to you and defend her still today.
‘Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.
And I'm proud to be and American,
where at least I know I'm free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.
where at least I know I'm free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.
And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
‘Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.
next to you and defend her still today.
‘Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.
I will never forget as a child going to Stone Mountain in Georgia for a fireworks show, as the show came to a close this song was played and you could hear the members of the audience yell out as their part of the country was called, but more importantly we were all united in knowing that we ARE Americans and we are proud of that. So as you go about your day today, please remember to thank God for all of our freedom's as Americans, pray for those freedoms continue, and pray that His hand will continue to guide our country. God Bless the USA.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
H O T
Well in Tennessee these days it is HOT. Sunday night was the kick off for our Vacation Bible Sundays and we were worried the heat would deter folks from coming out. It did not!
We had 130 people, children had a fabulous time, the food was great, and relationships were built. It was amazing.
So in the midst of all this some amazing friendships were forged as we went through the decoration and building on Sat. and then the set up all Sunday afternoon. For the first time in my adult life I feel that we are truly coming to a point where true Christian relationships within our families are developing. The relationships and friendships I have longed for. My parents had these types of relationships and I have been desperate to have these for my children and it IS happening. These are the people I want to help raise my children, these are the people I know I can depend on, these are the families that I call my friends. Spending time together allows us to be bound to each other.
Matthew 18:20 says, "for where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I with them."
We had 130 people, children had a fabulous time, the food was great, and relationships were built. It was amazing.
So in the midst of all this some amazing friendships were forged as we went through the decoration and building on Sat. and then the set up all Sunday afternoon. For the first time in my adult life I feel that we are truly coming to a point where true Christian relationships within our families are developing. The relationships and friendships I have longed for. My parents had these types of relationships and I have been desperate to have these for my children and it IS happening. These are the people I want to help raise my children, these are the people I know I can depend on, these are the families that I call my friends. Spending time together allows us to be bound to each other.
Matthew 18:20 says, "for where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I with them."
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Silence
Whoever said silence is golden, was correct. My mouth is my greatest enemy. Sometimes the devil just gets in there and words spew out without even thinking. Ugggh. My constant prayer and scripture is Psalms 141: 3
Set a guard over my mouth, Oh Lord, keep watch over the door of my lips.
Oh how I pray to think before I speak. Words are so permanent and so scarring that we as humans (even more so as women) use them as a weapon. A way to make ourselves feel better about some insecurity. For years I have told middle school girls "oh she just says that to make herself feel better" and then I catch myself, knocking someone else down so that I look better. To who. Certainly not to God. He never intended words to be hurtful.
Alas, words are hurtful. And they burn an impression into your soul and start to define you. Hurtful words from another person start to make me question myself, my own integrity, my own good intentions. So why would I dare to think of doing the same to someone else?
So to any of you that are my friends, family, strangers who read this blog for comedic relief, I ask that you join me in my prayer.
Set a guard over my mouth, Oh Lord, keep watch over the door of my lips.
Oh how I pray to think before I speak. Words are so permanent and so scarring that we as humans (even more so as women) use them as a weapon. A way to make ourselves feel better about some insecurity. For years I have told middle school girls "oh she just says that to make herself feel better" and then I catch myself, knocking someone else down so that I look better. To who. Certainly not to God. He never intended words to be hurtful.
Alas, words are hurtful. And they burn an impression into your soul and start to define you. Hurtful words from another person start to make me question myself, my own integrity, my own good intentions. So why would I dare to think of doing the same to someone else?
So to any of you that are my friends, family, strangers who read this blog for comedic relief, I ask that you join me in my prayer.
Lord, please hold my tongue except when sharing your glory or in comforting. May all of the words I speak and actions I portray be done to the glory of you. Please set a guard over my mouth, do not let the Devil near these precious lips of yours. Allow my mouth to sing only of your glories and to proclaim your greatness. I know I am still a work in progress and that you are not finished with me yet. Let my lips seep forth only kind words of comfort, friendship, peace and love.
Amen.
As you go about your day. Remember words hurt, start wars, and can even kill. Chose your words closely. I know I will.
Monday, June 25, 2012
Sleep
Ahhhh, sleep. I have never felt so tired in my entire life. After a wonderful date night with the love of my life Sat. night, I could not sleep. So at 3 A.M., I was still wide awake. So I vowed Sunday morning not to take my ritualistic Sunday afternoon nap (yes that is in the Bible, 1 Opinions) Anyhow, I kept my afternoon busy, lunch with the family, shopping for VBS, running errands, and then met everyone else at church at 6:00.
As I was sitting in my Sunday night ladies class (thank goodness for these ladies, they are amazing) it hit me. I was exhausted. I yawned thirty times in 45 minutes, I thought for sure as the boys and I went to the car that I would pass out the moment I walked in the door. No such luck.
Dinner had to be made. Check. Boys needed to be put to bed. Check. Finally, love of my life (LOML) and I could go to bed. We get to bed. Thirty minutes pass, an hour, two hours, oh no...not again.
Finally around 11:00 I must have drifted off. I awoke this morning feeling very well rested and with an amazing need to get things accomplished. Add to it the fact that the boys (who usually wake up at 6AM) slept until 7:30 and 8:30. Whew. Peacefulness. We are all well rested.
So why is it that I can't sleep. My eternal weakness, worry. I lay in bed at night worrying about things that are not important. Sometimes I think I lay in bed worrying about worrying. I know I shouldn't. I know it is not in my control, yet I continue down the path of worry.
Matthew 6: 25-27
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?
Oh Lord help me to put my trust in you. As Max Lucado said, "No one can worry and pray at the same time." Tonight I will say my prayers, cast my worries aside, and sleep.
As I was sitting in my Sunday night ladies class (thank goodness for these ladies, they are amazing) it hit me. I was exhausted. I yawned thirty times in 45 minutes, I thought for sure as the boys and I went to the car that I would pass out the moment I walked in the door. No such luck.
Dinner had to be made. Check. Boys needed to be put to bed. Check. Finally, love of my life (LOML) and I could go to bed. We get to bed. Thirty minutes pass, an hour, two hours, oh no...not again.
Finally around 11:00 I must have drifted off. I awoke this morning feeling very well rested and with an amazing need to get things accomplished. Add to it the fact that the boys (who usually wake up at 6AM) slept until 7:30 and 8:30. Whew. Peacefulness. We are all well rested.
So why is it that I can't sleep. My eternal weakness, worry. I lay in bed at night worrying about things that are not important. Sometimes I think I lay in bed worrying about worrying. I know I shouldn't. I know it is not in my control, yet I continue down the path of worry.
Matthew 6: 25-27
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?
Oh Lord help me to put my trust in you. As Max Lucado said, "No one can worry and pray at the same time." Tonight I will say my prayers, cast my worries aside, and sleep.
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Home
As my incredible hands on father of a husband had brought the boys home from breakfast this morning, the conversation turned to the future and he said, "I can't wait to see what you boys will be like in 20 years." To which W, the free spirit, proclaims "I will still be living here!" For those of you not sure of your math, that would make him 25 and living at home....I don't think so!!!!
That got me thinking about the future. Home. One of the earliest newlywed, pre-child fights my husband and I had was about me referring to my parents house as home. Apparently I did it quite frequently...after church, "do you wanna go home with my parents for lunch?" What was a simple concept in my mind--my childhood home, safe place, memory maker---was not really home anymore. Home was the small cabin on the Harpeth river where we honeymooned for a year.
Now as I am older, and not any wiser. I realize that Home really is where your heart is and my heart is in this messy, house that myself and 4 boys (including a 100lb lab) live in. And when I say live, I don't mean that we reside here....no we LIVE here. Home is where you let your hair down and goodness knows we let our hair down a lot in the land of O. No it is not ever as clean as I would like it to be, yes we need new floors desperately, yes it needs work, but NO it probably won't ever be on the tour of homes...why because I want my kids to feel comfortable in this house and we spend a lot of time as a family in this house. I refuse to spend tons of time doing things working on the house that separate us from our children more than they already are. You see we are both working parents. Time at home with our boys is precious time, time we savor, long for and thoroughly enjoy. So when "the free spirit" is 25 and living back at home with us, he can paint the front porch, put new floors in, and whatever else needs to be done at that time. Because, as the last line of a poem from my mom's house read when I was growing up,
The cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow
For children grow up, we've learned to our sorrow
So quiet down cobwebs and dust go to sleep
I'm playing with my children and children don't keep
Psalm 27:3 Sons are a Heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him
So quiet down cobwebs and dust go to sleep
I'm playing with my children and children don't keep
Psalm 27:3 Sons are a Heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him
So rather than polishing silver, I will polish the rewards the Lord has given me. I will embrace them, spend time with them, punish them, play with them, but most importantly I will LOVE them for they are a most precious gift from the Lord and they are what makes this House a HOME.
Lazy Saturday
So, I don't mean to brag...but my husband rocks! Every Saturday, he wakes up early and takes the boys to breakfast allowing me to sleep in, have some alone time, and sleep in some more. It is such a gift. After about an hour they all return home and the craziness, loudness, and chaos resumes but for that hour or so I can just BE STILL.
Psalm 46:10--Be still and know that I am God.
How often in life do I actually take that time? Not often enough. And how do I teach my children to be content with being still? In this computer crazed, video game, iPhone world in which we live, being still is not easy. Taking the time to embrace the silence of a not so silence world is not an easy task, but as Christians I believe that we are called to do just that. We must rise to the challenge and find time to BE STILL.
Psalm 46:10--Be still and know that I am God.
How often in life do I actually take that time? Not often enough. And how do I teach my children to be content with being still? In this computer crazed, video game, iPhone world in which we live, being still is not easy. Taking the time to embrace the silence of a not so silence world is not an easy task, but as Christians I believe that we are called to do just that. We must rise to the challenge and find time to BE STILL.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Summer
Well although school has been out for weeks, my summer officially started on Monday and by Thursday, I am already remembering why it is that I am a working mom.
Don't get me wrong, it is not that I don't love my kids. I do. I just don't do good with down time and neither does my oldest. We both seem to function better on a schedule, yet summer begs to be un-schedulable. Down time just gives him time to get in trouble and me time to want to be lazy. How do we find balance, how do we make it work, how do we survive the next 6 weeks?
The Bible seems to have many things to say about time but my favorite has always been in Ecclesiastes 3
1. To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 2. A time to be born, and a time to die; and a time to pick up what has been planted; 3. A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4. A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5. A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6. A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7. A time to mend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silent, and a time to speak; 8. A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
How do I teach my son to take the down time we have been given in the summer and simply enjoy it, embrace it and allow God's purpose to unfold? How do I continue to push myself to be the example God wants me to be, to take this time and just enjoy, embrace, and allow them to be little.
Don't get me wrong, it is not that I don't love my kids. I do. I just don't do good with down time and neither does my oldest. We both seem to function better on a schedule, yet summer begs to be un-schedulable. Down time just gives him time to get in trouble and me time to want to be lazy. How do we find balance, how do we make it work, how do we survive the next 6 weeks?
The Bible seems to have many things to say about time but my favorite has always been in Ecclesiastes 3
1. To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 2. A time to be born, and a time to die; and a time to pick up what has been planted; 3. A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4. A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5. A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6. A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7. A time to mend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silent, and a time to speak; 8. A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
How do I teach my son to take the down time we have been given in the summer and simply enjoy it, embrace it and allow God's purpose to unfold? How do I continue to push myself to be the example God wants me to be, to take this time and just enjoy, embrace, and allow them to be little.
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