Janette's Sage

My Dr, Seuss Tree

2012-03-01T04:45:00.000-08:00

Just how do you want to be known in your new neighborhood? Well, before you answer, I am sure what I suggest is not the impression you are thinking... it likely wouldn't be on your list.

Usually, traffic-teenager-and-mail-lady stopping usually isn't on the list of how to impress your new neighbors. Well, that is what has happened this week... each time with a smile and excitement over my new addition to our front yard...which made it all okay!

The warm, breezy weather this week brought with it a whimsical feeling. Just as the wind change in Mary Poppins could be felt by those outside... so was the feeling I felt as I started to create. I guess this time the changing of the wind brought a magical sense of Dr. Seuss.

Could it be that we have watched the premier of The Lorax or that age has won me the privilege of saying,
"whatever"?... I am not sure of the answer.

Today, I want to introduce you to my Dr. Seuss Tree. Now my retired, first-grade-teacher-neighbor got it right away. The mail lady stopped to discuss how to make one in her yard because she loved it so much and a teen on his skate board actually looked up for a brief second to tell me, "how cool".

My second inspiration this week came from another child's book. Since having a child's heart not only makes us feel younger, it makes us remember that Christ said, "come as a child". I guess this Easter season I am working on my child's heart. I think this is also included in my "spunky category" word for the year.

At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of Heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven." Matt. 18:1-3

Bring Literature to LIfe

2012-02-25T19:07:00.001-08:00

I love the My Garden book...just tooooooooooooooo many treasures.

Home schooling my children has given me the advantage of allowing schedules to change things as I educate according to what is happening or the season around us. An art exhibit might mean we do a study on the artist, their country or try our hand at the artist's medium and explore their original art at the museum. I have to admit that each of these "sidetracked" units will just pump new excitement into me!

This past week we had warm weather...in the 80's. Spring is calling us in February. Our older son also hit the baseball field...yes, I am a sports mom, now in her 21st year of children playing sports. I have at least earned a stadium seat don't you think? The week just yelled "time to play in the dirt, either baseball or gardening." Since we now have a new yard, which provides us room for a larger garden, Benjamin and I took our education on an outdoor adventure.

Literature ushered in our passion for exploration, ignited by the reading of Winnie Finn, Worm Farmer, which led us to the store for supplies for a worm farm. Benjamin would become a farmer! Laughingly, I purchased cow manure, a by-product, that in my youth, we shoveled into my Dad's truck for free from our grandfather's farm. Science would be explored as we examined the anatomy of a worm. Personification was enjoyed through the reading of Diary of a Worm.

I couldn't help but throw in one of my all-time favorites, Beatrix Potter. When Benjamin was born, I added even more of her books with Benjamin Bunny. Benjamin set laughing and giggling through the DVD, Beatrix Potter, The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends. I have read these stories to him through the years and this wonderfully animated DVD just brought the characters to life. We now had a vision for our garden. Thank you, Mister McGregor. We also decided we would make a scarecrow. Do we really need one? No, but that would just add more delight to our garden patch.

Growing Vegetable Soup allowed us to dream about the fruit of our labor. Dirt under my fingernails reminded me I would need to forgo having long fingernails this season. I am more of a "use-the-hands forget the gloves" girl. Sharon Lovejoy's Sunflower Houses continue to add fuel of inspiration. Her books and Beatrix Potter also begged us to explore with pastel colors for our art lesson. I think our unit will continue to expand this week as the weather man forecast sun with slightly cooler weather in the 70's.

Our creative "sidetrack" allowed Mom a chance to enjoy the warm spring weather, while establishing our first garden of vegetables and flowers in our new yard. Books coming to life was our inspiration.

What is inspiring you right now?

Just in case it looks like I am totally new to this gardening adventure....here are some of our adult children in our garden adventure when they were young. Gardening stopped when sports for all four began to dominate.

Three of our five sons...the oldest are now 28, 25 and 23....and doesn't their Dad look young? Where did time go?

Make My Meal More Colorful

2012-02-23T05:03:00.000-08:00

Since this is the year of eating more greens, I wanted to stop and say I am not a color snob.

Today's post is to welcome other colors and boost up any dish with health benefits. My newest favorite addition to our dishes is the pepper. I have been buying a bag of what they call small sweet peppers. The colors are just great. My decorating genes are delighted to add more color to our meals. Of course, spring will bring us even more color for our consumption...berries, watermelon, peaches...oh my!

Just a dab of butter before going into the oven to cook. Wonderful and refreshing.

The health benefits of these little colorful giants are recorded on this site -
http://www.livestrong.com/article/445243-healing-benefits-of-bell-peppers/

Roasted broccoli with garlic and sweet peppers in a cast iron skillet.

How easy we can make new habits and enjoy new adventures in the kitchen.

Hummus with Roasted Peppers

2 cups of chickpeas (I slow cooked a full bag of dried chickpeas and had plenty for a couple of recipes for just over a dollar)
5 - roasted peppers - I grilled them myself, after taking out the seeds
2 cloves of garlic
1/3 cup of tahini or sesame oil
6 Tbs. of lemon juice
salt and pepper to taste

Mix all in food processor. I love this on chips or crackers...but healthier choices would be to use vegs.

No this is not becoming a food blog....but since that is a focus in my life this year, I will be sharing what I have learned.

Are you having fun in the kitchen this year? Sometimes we just need to add a new spice and cooking becomes fresh and exciting again. After 32 years of marriage cooking, it was time for some refreshing.

Diamonds to Dots

2012-02-20T07:47:00.000-08:00

There comes a time when you just have to step your big toe across the line.

For this "follow-the-rules" girl, who even follows all those unspoken rules, just thinking about stepping my big toe across even an imaginary line....well it pushes my comfort zone.

So began my adventure on transforming my laundry room. One of those unfulfilled "to do" creative ventures on my January list.

Back when I began cleaning and decorating our house Sonja coined the phrase for me

Janette's Diamonds on a Dime.

Well I have exchanged the diamonds for dots this time.

Who says you can't paint a washer and dryer?

Who made us think we just had to keep those ugly, yet wonderfully working appliances, so boring?

Now I do know some are beautiful now days...but mine are plain and still in good working order. I even posted once on how we fixed the dryer through visiting You Tube.

I started to see dots and words!

Well I am still working on my laundry room...so far I am having fun. I am bringing in my kitchen colors of turquoise and red.

One teenage boy came through the house and said, "Mrs. Wright, do you know someone has graffitied your washer and dryer? Now Benjamin did help out with his happy face, which my Ethel told me not to cover up.

Is it time for you to step your big toe across some imaginary line? Why Not?

Linked to Three Mango Seeds party on Monday "Do it ya self"
" Show if off Monday" from Get Outta My Head link party
Meet Me Monday - You are Talking too Much link party

A Two Car Day

2012-02-18T05:56:00.000-08:00

We all have had them. You know. The day that you need at least two cars to get everyone to their desired destinations and hopefully on time.

Well, so was the case on Friday. School schedule had changed from early-morning basketball boy to afternoon baseball practice, which allows him to sleep in later. However, Benjamin still has school north of town on Mondays and Fridays. Usually this wouldn't be a problem. I would take one, while hubby took the other and both would arrive on time.

Hubby had a meeting on Friday, eliminating one driver and one car, so I had to recruit someone. The best choice was "Sissy". Now "Sissy" is the most popular member of the family. Benjamin made "Sissy" a Valentine's card at school instead of me! So, I called upon "Sissy" to help deliver one of the two to school.

Sissy was to meet me at a certain destination "ON TIME" so I could drop off Benjamin, while I proceeded to swing around to retrieve teen baseball boy. Now she has one of those phones that does everything...except answer itself. So as I arrived but didn't see her car, I started calling......and calling.....and calling.....and isn't it funny how they never ignore their phones except when a parent calls? NO ANSWER.... we were going to be late!

I called back home to inform teen boy that he would have to walk to school.

"Mom, it is raining!" was his horrified reply. I mean, it isn't like it was hard rain, or that his mother had ever let him down, but I couldn't be in two places at once.

In the middle of this, I started driving toward Benjamin's school, while continuing to call Sissy!

Finally, an answer. Sissy jumped out of bed and met me to take Benjamin. As we were transferring him to her car I saw it!

I burst out laughing!

His shirt was on backwards. Not the backwards that couldn't be noticed. OH, NO! The graphics were on the back...it was definitely on backwards. I just kept laughing as I asked for Sissy to get it turned around before she walked him to class.

During pouring rain, I turned my car around in haste to get baseball boy before he started his walk to school. In the "Super Mom" mode that we all have had to put on, I pulled up to get him with only a few minutes left.

He arrived on time...and he was dry.

All day I giggled to myself. Thank you, Lord....and NO, I am NOT the MOTHER with her ACT TOGETHER!!!

So if you pass a little boy in the store and his boots are on the wrong feet and shirt on backwards....please give that poor mom a break! Who knows, she might have needed two cars and only one was available...she might be having one of those days! Give her a smile of understanding! Haven't we all been there?.

Have an Awesome Weekend.

My Heart Grew and Grew

2012-02-13T07:16:00.000-08:00

Most of us remember the cartoon each Christmas (for those with TV's and who watch Christmas specials) or read Dr. Seuss's book, where the Grinch's heart was measured to reveal it was three sizes too small. Through a series of events, his heart grew and grew... so was the month of January for me, a month of heart expansion.

You couldn't see it enlarge, as was revealed in the Grinch's heart, but if there is ever a way to feel it, I felt my heart grow. It expanded through tears. I am sure hearts grow (an illustration here, not factual), through loving events, but this past month that love came through pain. Losses became a daily event. Hospital stays for our parents, funerals, diagnoses given to friends and neighbors of cancer, financial struggles, operations and unanswered questions to health issues. Each time I had a choice to let my heart swell in tenderness and compassion, or shrug my shoulders with the sentiment that this is life.

God wanted to enlarge my heart. He wanted my compassion to grow. He needs His Body to be able to tenderly extend caring hands to a hurting world and to each other in the Body of Christ.

I found myself hurting...a good hurt. I thought of Jesus as he wept when he reached the grave of Lazarus and yet, He knew He would raise him from the dead. He still entered the grief of those experiencing the pain of loss. God's promises are still true for each report we heard. God is still sovereign, but for me to turn away a tear and not enter into their grief would not reflect the heart of my God.

During the month of "heart expansion," I was reading The Allure of Hope, God's Pursuit of a Woman's Heart, by Jan Meyers. NO! I didn't pick this book out because I knew in advance God was going to develop my heart. NO! the events didn't turn me to this book....past events led me to the book. I thought I was reading because of the trials I had experienced. Yet, I was also reading for the trials those around me would be facing as well.

In her book, she talks about the alleyways of our life. Here we can come out bitter or be used by God to reflect a beauty the world can't give us. Here is where we learn compassion or withdrawal to ourselves.

Being fully alive for others in the alleyway is being who Jesus was for us, a servant. And the most radiant service flows from our deepest place of need.

When a woman's heart rests in the truth that the only thing left in the alleyway is to love others, then she lives from the allure of hope. And this comes only after a deep acknowledgement that God must find her and must love her in spite of herself.

It means Jesus calls us to give of our hearts in ways we can't . - Jan Meyers

"Put your hand into my wounds," said the risen Jesus to Thomas, " and you will know who I am." The wounds of Christ are his identity. They tell us who he is. He did not lose them....If sympathy for the world's wounds is not enlarged by our anguish, if love for those around us is not expanded, if gratitude for what is good does not flame up, if insight is not deepened, if commitment to what is important is not strengthened, if aching for a new day is not intensified, if hope is weakened and faith diminished, if from the experiences of death comes nothing good, then death has won." - Wolterstorff

I can truly confess I don't understand all that this expanded heart means. God is still chiseling away at this each day through His word and through other readings He has directed me to absorb. I do know that I want to allow my heart to expand. I don't want my "alleyway" experiences to leave me on the sideline of the work God intended to be the fruit of those experiences.

So as we all enjoy sharing heart candy, wonderful loving cards, red and white, beautifully decorated tables and nights out with our Knight in Shining Armor....I am rejoicing in the expansion of my Heart.

Happy Valentine's Day to all!

Eviction Notice to My Clothes

2012-02-10T05:41:00.000-08:00

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That was it! If I am going to worry about what I put into my body, as well as, exercise my buns off....then that is it! It was time to give my clothes' closet an eviction notice.

After our move in July I just threw....yes, that is the correct term.. threw my less than desirable clothes into my new closet. I wasn't interested in organizing anything, so they got tossed into place and my shoes in a pile on the floor.

The new year began and evey blog in blogland was giving out information on organization...not one of my strengths or passions. One suggestion that stuck with me came in a question, "What If?" I don't remember all the tips, but what I got out of the post was, What if I only kept clothes in my closet that I loved? What if I removed all those "one day" clothes that only remind me I haven't been to the opera in years? What if I only kept clothes that made me feel pretty? What if I had the courage to dispose of all those "frumpy" clothes that only make me feel fat? What if I only kept jeans that were flattering?

My self-talk marched my willing body into the closet of dreaded clothes. I pictured Mary Poppins as she cleaned the room with clothes dancing to her command.

"Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more, no more, no more....hit the road Jack", well not a Mary Poppin's song, but one that commanded obedience. Each garment seen in countless pictures for over a decade...good bye! Every garment that only covered my body, but didn't put a skip in my step....so long!

Yes, that means my closet rods lifted as the weight of "less than desirable" pieces of clothing were flung into a heaping pile. Now the floor only holds shoes that are comfortable, stylish and not worn out.

I did take a tip I had heard and put it into action. Put your clothes on the rod with the hanger hanging backwards. As you wear the garment return them with the hanger going the right way. At the end of a year you will see what you didn't wear all year....add those to your donation box.

Now I look into my closet...everything is color coordinated, winter clothes separated from spring and summer....many combinations can be seen.

JEANS!!!!!!!! That was the biggest hurdle. I had a couple of pairs of nice jeans...now nice is an oxymoron when it comes to jeans, now days "nice" jeans mean you spent a bank load of dollars, and they usually have holes in them or rind-stones on the bottom....I mean, jeans that make me look slimmer and don't have holes or glittering bottoms. For some reason I felt I had to save them for special occasion...not anymore, I got rid of the worn-out, less than flattering jeans and decided to wear the "nice" jeans every day.

I am satisfied...even though my choices are limited, it allows me to dress each day with more "spunk" and since "spunk" is one of my words, I feel I have moved one more step forward.

Are you hanging onto clothes you don't especially like? If so, why? It's a New Year!

The Skinny on Green

2012-02-08T05:36:00.000-08:00

I am forewarning you! This maybe more information on Green than you want...so enter slowly.

Back in the spring (the beginning of the green season of the year) Debbie of Wagon on Wheels gave out her green smoothie recipe. Since I am usually a regular consumer of greens (salads are regular for me, or as my daughter-in-law says, rabbit food) it became very easy to add more green to our diet with green smoothies. I was doing great with this new information when my teen son broke my blender and slowed down the smoothie-making factory. Spring just yells....."eat green", while winter seems more like comfort food.

Since buying baby leaf spinach in bags at the grocery store is very convenient, it has become a staple in my grocery cart... but not on the week prior to my doctor visit. We eat it in salads, smoothies and I drop it into soups, casseroles, lasagna and even roast spinach. I was defending myself before the doctor with my appeal of how much spinach and greens I usually put in our diet when she informed me to rarely eat spinach raw... instead to eat it cooked.

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Well, I am one of those who rarely takes anyone's knowledge and makes it my own without investigation.

Like most information you research on the internet or books, you can find two sides to every story.

Here is some great information:

http://www.livestrong.com/article/497467-nutritional-value-of-fresh-vs-cooked-spinach/ - cooked -vs-raw

http://www.livestrong.com/article/476539-what-are-the-benefits-of-green-smoothies-for-weight-loss/ - benefits of green smoothies

Since I like raw spinach the best, I will continue to add it to our diet, while also venturing out to find ways to add cooked spinach, too. It seems that we can gain a lot of nutritional value in cooked spinach...so here we go, Popeye!

This year, I am also making homemade hummus (dried chickpeas are cheap) and adding quinoa to our diet. I enjoy new adventures and cooking can get old unless you add some new twists. This year, my new twists will not only be more creative, but creative through enhancing our variety with healthier choices. I am enjoying learning through Pinterest, which is very inspirational in many areas.

This week GREEN meant there was enough GREEN in the bank to go buy some raw GREEN, and for that I am just tickled GREEN....thank you, God.

In 2012, what new foods are you adding to your table or taking away from it?

Adding new foods and eating healthier makes my Sally List...joining My Place to Yours

Second Time Around is Always Better

2012-02-06T04:45:00.000-08:00

Let's just go around that tree one more time...maybe things will change. They did!

Off to the doctor, again, for verification of my clean bill of health. I took all my notes...all my journaling of my blood pressure, what I ate, my exercise and sleep. Even with all the proof, my blood pressure still skyrocketed, but I didn't waver and bounced into the room for my final exam.

She started down the check list...good, good, good!!! Then with excitement in her voice, "you lost four pounds in two weeks!" "Okay, lets see what is going on here...something isn't quite right", she mumbled to herself. I felt she was questioning my recording. She gently started to discuss my diet. I thought I had been good. I was so cautious of what I ate because I had to record it and turn it in...you know like school!!! I hadn't cheated on the test, and it had been a very stressful week, which was apparent in my food selection.

The enemy of my weight and possible blood pressure is an All Time TEXAS favorite.

I had been honest and told her these are my weakness. Now if you need to de-stress, isn't this the answer...chips and salsa? Why couldn't I just said, "get behind me Satan" and move on. Each bite is increasing my waist line and the salt is not good for blood pressure.

My diet showed too much of this also...more comfort food.

Yes the dreaded carbs. She smiled, "now you can have one, but not two at a meal! Did you hear me say you don't have to give up tostadas?" I nodded. Just don't eat too many and don't eat them at night.

"Janette, do you see that you are skipping meals?" I nodded like a student in elementary school. "Okay, if you skip meals you get fat", she grinned. Well the scales has testified to that fact. "Please eat three meals. You have also left out a very important food group. I don't see it at all in five days.", she encouraged. She was showing me the way to better health and a skinner body. My week had been chaotic and I hadn't put salads on the table, not like me, but I still am not eating enough of this wonderful anti-cancerous, blood pressure lowering food group.

"Add these to your diet...and I would prefer for them to be at night. You need your greens. Now don't eat too much spinach raw...it is better for you cooked." Oh I didn't know that one, I was only eating it raw. She explained why and that most vegetable are better raw.

I kept thanking her for making me keep the journal, therefore, opening my eyes to something I just didn't want to see. She continued my check-up and then we talked. Yes we talked.

She said, "thanks for telling me thank-you and that I am being helpful. I want to see you healthy. Remember I am the one that has to give so much bad news to people, and it is so nice to not have to. I am grateful you appreciate it. Let's keep you healthy, let's keep the blood pressure down, and let's get you to losing weight."

As we discussed my mood swings each month she suggested chaste tree...an herb, not a drug. She then giggled, "now there is one side affect" as she placed her hand on my knee, "it will make you fertile." I laughed out loud reminding her of my age and even my husband's age, as if she didn't know. Since I know the story of Abraham and Sarah, and so does she, she is a Jew, I don't plan on seeing it happen again this side of the Bible. So she reminded me to be careful...which just made my husband laugh. Cautious we will be....our grown kids would die!!! Funny, I really think it is funny, that in reality that would truly be a miracle. I am not for calling God's blessings (children) a curse, but we will also use wisdom.

So my husband has a new adventure ahead. His wife is going to loose her moodiness and weight. Sounds like a time for a planned "second" honeymoon, don't you think??? Are you eating enough greens? Since some are picking colors for the year, maybe mine should be green!

Heart Lifting Day!

2012-02-04T06:08:00.000-08:00

Our creator is never late on encouraging us. His timing is impeccable and the love through His Body (his people) is beyond words.

So was the case yesterday.

Waiting news on our daughter-in-law's surgery...three and half hour surgery...while also finishing up touches for a dessert auction, I felt God look down with sunshine on me. What form did this sunshine warm up my tired, anxious and weary spirit? The sunshine came in a box.

Yes, I had won the give-away at Debbie's of The Way We Are but had no idea when it would come or what it would contain. I love Debbie... there isn't anything not to love and be encouraged by. I visit her with each post she puts up...and her saying that I love, "it is the way it is." As I lifted my head from prayer for my daughter-in-law and son, the doorbell rang. Anxious, excited feet went skipping down the stairs... two pairs... Benjamin and mine. Eagerly we picked up a package addressed to me...no return address.

In the kitchen, we went to pull out this wonderfully wrapped box! Who is it from? What is it? Wrapped packages bring out the kid in all us.

As we opened it, both Benjamin and I squealed...yes, that is what we did and we ooooohed and aaaaahed. Looking at my goodies!! I could feel my spirit lift. I could feel a hug from states away, giving me courage to continue my day...a program was still ahead...a call from the finished surgery still hadn't arrived.

The call came later in the afternoon. Our daughter-in-law's surgery brought great hope. Our son had also walked through waiting on his wife all that time...surrendering her to the Lord. I think we forget that men have feelings, too. I am so proud of them both. She awaits a pregnancy... he stands in support and hope (thanks for all the thoughtful prayers).

I took the apron with me to the school dessert auction. The auction went off without a hitch...God was faithful, even though the enemy had tried to steal my joy during the event...he was defeated.

So I stand amazed, once again, at how God is in the little things, as well as the Big details of our life. This time it came in a box. May I remember that as I look to encourage others. I should allow God to direct the timing.

I Made It - Just Five Years Late

2012-02-01T05:11:00.000-08:00

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Okay, okay....I got there! Why aren't there any cheers...I mean come on?!?!?! It may have been five years since my visit, but can't you congratulate me for my arrival?

Can't you say, "Janette it is so good to see your healthy smiling face. We see you haven't graced us with your presence in over five years, and even your last visit was to inform you that you were healthy. We are so glad your visit today is to further confirm that there hasn't been any body snatchers in the last 1/2 decade. First, we want to congratulate you on living a healthy lifestyle which allowed you to avoid our office. We see you haven't been on any prescriptions...that is good! You aren't on any over-the-counter drugs either...that is good. You haven't had a drastic weight change...just up 8 ounces, although I know you were wanting to lose some, you still have stayed steady. You are able to walk, talk, eat and see (even if you now need readers)...you are doing well. Over all, Janette, we are encouraged by your empty folder and lack of need for our services. So today we thank-you for allowing us to validate your bill of health."

Now wouldn't that have been more pleasant? Instead the nurse looks up at me like I am from a foreign planet to inform me that it hadn't been only three years it had been five!! Now what can I say, "oh I was living life!"

So with her very calm, but irritating remark, she placed the blood pressure cup around my arm. Now can you guess the results?

YES, I have white-coat-blood-pressure...which means my blood pressure normally runs around 117/75 until I am escorted into a doctor's office...at which time my blood pressure has a mind of its own. My own mind is saying, "calm down, calm down it won't happen this time, you aren't even anxious!" So much for self talk...the machine spits out my need for a return visit....154/80!!!

Yes, after my doctor, who doesn't wear a white coat, step back with concerned eyes over my blood pressure she informed me I was to keep a five day journal to prove my "white-coat" blood pressure....well I felt the blood pressure rise again. Who has time to journal all this....my blood pressure, how much I sleep, what I eat and my exercising?

I have been obedient and will return this Friday for documented verification that I am still living! Substantiate my days has been good for me...it has motivated me to stay on target of my goals for the year. I have even lost a four pounds.

So I can check off one of my task for the month of January...done!! Now to get going on painting that laundry room that I was side-tracked from while keeping a health journal and making sure I get in my girlfriend weekend on the calendar.

Sunday Singings - Meekness

2012-01-29T05:37:00.000-08:00

Jesus embodies meekness, one of my words for the year. Our God can be small enough to hear us....His strength is shown in His meekness as He reaches out to us. This song seems to say it all....as I continue to learn on meekness, while I am the receiver of meekness from my God.

I hope you enjoy this song for my Sunday Singings...dedicated to my grandmother. Thanks for your sweet words and prayers of encouragement this past week. Our daughter-in-law will have surgery on Thursday as they continue their journey for a child. Our prayers are still going to heaven for Elise's family. Thanks! How beautiful is the Body of Christ.

I will return in the new month with my own thoughts and words....which are many after this heart stretching month of January.

Not Re-inventing the Wheel

2012-01-27T17:01:00.000-08:00

I have heard this saying all my life, "don't re-invent the wheel." So many times we try to do exactly that. I can even do it with my blog post. If someone else has said it more eloquently, why try to capture the truth in my own words? Why not let their words speak my heart? The Bible always crafts words better than I, as well as other writers. Today, I am not even going to try to re-invent the wheel. These authors words penetrated my heart this past week, so I will let them speak...may you be blessed.

Charles Spurgeon - By perseverance, the snail reached the ark.

Tender hearts give the same kind of shelter. But his comes from being shaped by the whipping gale force winds of the alleyway. - Jan Meyer - The Allure of Hope-God's Pursuit of a Woman's Heart

This perseverance can be either hard or tender. We all know women who can gut it out. That's easy. Tender perseverance is an art. - Jan Meyer

Jan Meyer, also quoting C.S. Lewis
It can all be worth it. We can be shaped by the winds of trial with a confidence that we will give shelter and life along the way. But as C.S. Lewis said, "Probably this will not, for most of us, happen in a day; poetry replaces grammar, gospel replaces law, longing transforms obedience, as gradually as the tide lifts a grounded ship.
(Can you say Amen to that?

"We all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image...." 2 Corinthians 3:18
Oswald Chambers - Utmost for His Highest
Beware of anything that would spot or tarnish that mirror in you. It is almost always something good that will stain it - something good, but not what is best.

Totally Healing for Elise

2012-01-25T04:55:00.000-08:00

This morning I began receiving text as our precious friends made a two hour trip to another city to walk the journey of totally healing for their grand daughter Elise, whom I mentioned in my post on Sunday. Her parents and family will miss her here on earth, but know that now she is totally new in the arms of Christ.

Psalm 23

A psalm of David.

¹ The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
² He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
³ he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
   for his name’s sake.
⁴ Even though I walk
   through the darkest valley,^[a]
I will fear no evil,
   for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
   they comfort me.

⁵ You prepare a table before me
   in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
   my cup overflows.
⁶ Surely your goodness and love will follow me
   all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
   forever.

Comments are off today, instead I ask you lift this family up in prayer during their loss.

The Silent Pain

2012-01-22T12:11:00.000-08:00

This photo was taken by our son, Allen, of Benjamin and I for an Anti-Abortion paper he wrote for English in College.

This post is dedicated to Sanctity of Life Week.

Most of us just assume life will go according to some rules. We will marry our prince charming, establish a home, fill the home with the children we desire, graduate them from college, attend their weddings, bounce grand babies on our knees while enjoying retirement. Life rarely goes according to our Garden of Eden ideas. Heaven will hold that perfect vision, not this sin-filled world.

Sometimes in our journey, reality checks come. You start to see that everything isn't a bed of roses. Finances haven't turned out how you expected, you walk through miscarriages, a child's rebellion shatters your world, an abuse from the outside world brings you to your knees and God isn't finished with your children, as you watch them struggle.

When your children are struggling and they remain under your roof, one has a false sense of being able to control the struggle. You continue to release them, but somehow you feel you can cushion the blow.

Our son and daughter-in-law have been married 6 years. They started out the vision of a young married couple. She finished her college degree while he established himself in his own business. They bought a house, cars, fun toys and vacationed. They gave themselves time to mature while getting to know each other. Then the day came, like most young couples experience, and the decision to have children was made.

What was not in the plans was infertility. Everyone around them was having children, both inside and outside of marriage, so how would they have known they had a different path to walk?

Infertility doesn't only hit the couple experiencing it, it hits the whole family. As my daughter-in-law has experienced one miscarriage and empty arms at this time, so have I. Each time she hears of another pregnancy, she hurts and each announcement of another grandchild being born, I, too, ache for a grand baby.

In the midst of our family praying through their journey of infertility, we have very close friends dealing with another ache.

Their daughter married one year after our son. We have known the family since our children were born. The daughter followed the dream also...waited, got further along in her career and her husband's degree plan and bought a home. The pregnancy came! The rejoicing began. Then the pain that shatters a whole family happened. The diagnosis for the new baby girl was that she could not live outside the womb.

Both couples are believing Christians, raised in Christian households. Both couples have surrendered their trial to the Lord to bring Him glory. Both couples have dealt with, and still are dealing with "WHY?' Both sets of grandparents...to-be-grandparents, pray for their children's journey.

Our children are no longer under our roofs. We can't protect them...but we both know God is Sovereign.

I share all of this in case there is someone who can be encouraged.

My daughter-in-law has started a blog to document their journey... Alien Encounters of the Womb

The story on my side bar is from the Aunt (age 15) of the baby that will be received into heaven upon her birth. Elise (click to read the Aunt's story of her niece)

All of our prayers are to lift Him up and stand firm on His promises as the journey continues for both families.

May we all remember the Silent Pain that many women walk in everyday. The empty cradles or infant graves that they deal with each day. Our world doesn't allow us to walk through life without thorns, and yet we have a Savior that wore the thorns so that we will be perfect, lacking in nothing.

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, ³ knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. ⁴ And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1: 2-4

Do What? Really?

2012-01-20T06:15:00.000-08:00

Now don't I sound like my 20-year-old by saying, "Do What? Really?" Those are the words I would have heard her say if she was standing in my position over a week ago.

While in a decision with other women, I was stereotyped to my face. Now I realize that stereotyping is just something most humans do and I have fallen into the trap more times than I can count. But I think I have been a skilled "stereotyper" by hiding it from the person who I am stereotyping. Now I am not proud of that...just saying.

Here is the false "stereotype" said to my face.

"All Home Schoolers are Millionaires!"

Choke, choke...now do you hear my daughter? "Do What? Really?"

Well, if all home school families are millionaires then I need to make a trip to our bank...something is wrong and the numbers on our account aren't accurate. Somehow we missed out on that advantage the last 23 years of home schooling.

"I don't want to home school my teenage son so he can play video games like all the home school high school kids do all day!"

Again..."Do What? Really?"

Well, I didn't get that memo when I raised four home school teenagers. What was I thinking...instead I drove tens of thousands of miles taking them to music lessons and home school sports, while wasting my time from 8 to 4 each day trying to educate them. Wow!, you mean I could have just set them in front of the video games and enjoyed my million dollars!

Stereotyping isn't fun and I felt the sting as I gasped and tried to decide if I should even try to explain.

But just in case you have the same stereotype of home schoolers, I thought Benjamin and I would share with you our "non-conventional" school day this week.

The sun and temperatures just called us to take our school outside.

Handwriting was done on the picnic table.

Math was done on the fence. Yes I labeled the fence post (don't they look like fence post you would see on a million dollar house?) and he did his addition and subtraction facts. He tossed a rock to hit the fence with the correct answer...so we combined math and exercise.

Benjamin believed there were four leaf clovers...so we investigated...since our yard is full of green clovers.
Discovery....only three leaves on a clover.

Painted with watercolors after the reading of "The Clown of God".

Making shadows in the backyard...discussing the sun's position in the sky.

I hope I will think twice before I stereotype again....what we usually assume is miles from what is reality!

It's A Dirty Job, But Someone Has to Do It

2012-01-18T07:21:00.000-08:00

There are jobs that we all don't want to admit need to be done. I so enjoy posting on making a wonderful dessert I had pinned on Pinterest or a finished project, but life isn't all Pinterest and success. Life tends to have twist and turns which can clog us up....so was the case for six days in our home.

Yes! it was clogged!!!!!!!!!! The boys toilet.

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For six days I attempted to unclog that thing.

I used the plunger!

I used the auger!

I even watched You Tube videos and followed all instructions

I put bleach in and let it stand.

I twisted the arms of my sons and hubby to try also....no one was winning this clogged fight.

I knew from day one what to do...don't we always?

But instead the job became a mountain and procrastination set in.

My home builder son said, "Oh!, NO mom don't do that!", but he wasn't living in the house with a clogged toilet.

So I got up..."took the bull by the horns" and pulled my resistant sons into the bathroom to conqueror the beast. They could use their strong muscles and I would direct the action to win this battle.

Yes we did...we took the toilet off the floor...we wrestled with the clogging substance and WON!!!!

Those dirty jobs we don't want to do usually are accomplished in only minutes. Yes, it took a whole 20 minutes to get it all taken care of and back into its rightful place.

Now is there a lesson here or what? January is still the beginning of the year. I am looking at the battle we won and seeing how the twist and turns caused the problem, but it was accelerated by procrastination.

Lesson learned....don't make a mountain out of a mole hill...stare it straight in the face and pull that hill down fast.

The Too Busy Card

2012-01-15T06:02:00.000-08:00

Our society has an obsessive epidemic with pulling out the "too busy" card in response to life. We proudly display our card as a sign of our significance and worth. We wear it proudly. We retrieve our card at a moment's notice.

"Can you take a meal to a sick family?"

"Oh, I would love to, but I am TOO BUSY"

During our "busyness" we become deaf to the still and gentle promptings of the Holy Spirit. Who can hear over the anthem of busyness playing in our lives?

This past week I was the recipient of the "too busy" card, as well as having paid the price for using the card myself one too many times.

January 8th, I woke to another year of my life. This birthday was just another birthday of many but today I would be the receiver and the reaper of the card. My adult children, who live close to us, were all "too busy" to come to see me. Each made a call or text to wish me Happy Birthday. As I released grace to each of them, I still felt the sting of the "too busy" card.

The next morning I woke to an email. My Uncle had died unexpectedly the morning of my birthday. I was now the reaper of the "too busy" card.

In November, we traveled to a family member's 50th Wedding Anniversary, which caused us to travel through the city of my uncle's residence. A gentle and still small nudge came from the Holy Spirit...
"on your way home, stop and see your Uncle."

The trip became longer than I had expected. I was determined not to use the "too busy" card. We took the time to make sure we had visited with our extended family, not rushing back for prior obligations. Traffic backed up for miles, which slowed down our traveling time home. Our son repeated his need to finish a project for school. As we neared my Uncle's city, I quietly resolved that the visit wasn't going to happen. We were "too busy".

I stuffed my frustrations and told my husband to proceed through the town. I glanced out my window toward my Uncle's house situated just two miles off the highway and whispered to myself, "next time, I will make it a priority, I promise."

Next time wouldn't come. My next visit with my Uncle will be in heaven. My next trip to his town was for his funeral on Saturday. I hugged on relatives and promised to see them soon...I didn't pull out my "too busy" card.

I don't feel condemnation, I feel convicted. The "too busy" card robs us of the blessings God has for us. He knew the day of my Uncle's entry into heaven, I didn't. He gave me the last opportunity to take my two sons to see him - I, however, pulled out the "too busy" card.

Comments are closed today because this is too close to my heart! Today, I am celebrating my Uncle with a resolve to put away my "too busy" card and slow down to visit those I love and miss so much.

In Just A Year

2012-01-12T04:24:00.000-08:00

What a difference a year makes.

Well I think the actual words to the song are "What a difference a day makes, twenty-four little hours, brought the sun and the flowers, where there used to be rain."...now I am humming the song in my head, you still get the point.

We can get so caught up the whirl-wind of life that we can live with tunnel vision, whatever is happening...either good or bad, can lead us to forgetting "time changes everything".

So today I celebrate "What a difference a Year makes" through pictures.

Last year by this time we had already had four snow storms....so unlike Texas. (2011)

January 2012 - overly warm temptatures and wonderful sunshine

His looks have just changed so much and he left age 5 behind last week...yes mother still wants to pickle her little ones at this age, but I must, I must, let them grow up.

Where I thought we were going to live until we could buy a house. Covered with snow...prior to a summer of drought and record breaking heat.

Our new rental and rain after a summer drought. A warm winter and rain.

The only thing certain in life is CHANGE!!

What will life look like in another year....for now I am enjoying today.

Yes, I did turn a year older also (thank you for the birthday wishes)...on the 8th, I share my birthday with Elvis.

Our other son turned 16 on the 3rd and Benjamin on the 6th....life goes on.

Meekness

2012-01-07T12:11:00.000-08:00

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My spiritual word this year is Meekness. One of the fruits of the Spirit along with a quality mentioned in the Beatitudes will be my focus this year. This is a very big word for God to place on my heart. I have no clue where this will lead this year, but He has said it and I am following. As I have started my research on meekness, I am soberly aware that this is a fruit of the Spirit I am not walking in. The Lord's idea of meekness and our society's understanding of meekness are at extreme opposite ends. The Lord says that the meek will inherit the earth, vastly different from our thoughts of people who are meek. Kay Arthur confirmed this word to me through her book. The Holy Spirit quickened it to my spirit.

Does meekness connect to "spunk"? I am starting to see the two are meant to be products of the other. True meekness brings a "childlike" faith of releasing things to a Sovereign God, which allows our outward self to skip in "childlike" faith. Meekness brings confidence in God's plans and releases worry, frustation, disobedience and striving...once again allowing us to embrace the "spunkiness" of life.

My journey into meekness has only began...below is the starting line. Since it is a Fruit of the Holy Spirit, I am praying the Holy Spirit will bring meekness and the understanding of meekness into my life this year.

Moses was meek - Numbers 12:3 "Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth."
Zeph. 2:3 - "Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD'S anger."
Is. 29:19 - "The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the LORD, and the poor among mankind shall exult in the Holy One of Israel." (notice the meek will obtain fresh joy!!!)
Ps. 37:11 - "But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace."

Surely our understanding of this remarkable characteristic must be askew! Bible commentators generally agree that modern man, living in our Western, Judeo-Christian cultures, lacks this godly attribute. Meekness, being a fruit of the Spirit, is an attribute of God Almighty Himself and important to our being in His image and a true witness. Indeed, this characteristic will largely determine how much peace and contentment are in our lives and how well we do during trials.

Meekness is what results when one's spiritual knowledge, understanding and passions are in right balance.

This is very important regarding trials because meekness is the opposite of self-will toward God and of ill-will toward men. In his commentary on Matthew 5:5, Matthew Henry writes, "The meek are those who quietly submit themselves to God, to his word and to his rod, who follow His directions, and comply with His designs, and are gentle towards all men" (p. 1629).

Meekness is the fruit of God by His Spirit working in us. Godly sorrow softens our stiff-necked rebellion in our hearts so that we are made receptive to the workings of the Creator to produce His image in us. Therefore meekness, along with the qualities already mentioned, also includes our becoming pliable, malleable, submissive and teachable. A New Testament term for this condition might be "childlike."

This is not a virtue to ignore because carnal men consider it weakness. It may appear to them as weakness, but the spiritual reality is that it is great strength, an attribute of Almighty God and a fruit of His Spirit we greatly need.

Read more: http://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Library.sr/CT/PERSONAL/k/237/The-Fruit-of-Spirit-Meekness.htm#ixzz1inzRr35l

This year will be exciting to see what God does in my life in the area of meekness.

Spunk or Moxie?

2012-01-01T16:39:00.000-08:00

Main Entry:	spunk [spuhngk] Show IPA
Part of Speech:	noun
Definition:	courage, nerve
Synonyms:	backbone, determination, doggedness, fortitude,gameness, grit, gumption, guts, intestinalfortitude, mettle, moxie*, pluck, resolution, spirit,toughness, true grit

goole image....now this is Spunk or Moxie!!

Recently I heard someone describe life after 50 as the years that women regain their "spunk" which is a characteristic of young girls. For some reason that has just stayed with me as I mauled it over and over again in my heart. I let my memory go back to the age of unrestricted "spunkiness". Some of you have never left it behind...your blogs always show "spunk". I, however, allowed it to slip through my hands as the balls of life I was juggling filled my hands to capacity.

One of my words for this year is just a fleshy, fun word - Spunk.

Do you know when you are feeling "spunky"? After I heard this thought on my age, I started to see when I felt "spunky". As I felt it, I started to become acquainted with this again.

I felt it start to crawl up my spine as I got up from my seat at my friend's daughter's wedding to join my friend on the dance floor. We are in our 50's and share similar backgrounds of having been in the drill team in high school. These shared experiences has brought us to laughter many times. I have put away my dancing shoes (and my teaching of dance), years ago, so for me, to venture toward a dance floor was a pure spark of "spunkiness". We both joined the group in a line dance with giggles and laughter, while celebrating the marriage of her daughter. Here I felt a little spark.

The following week found me downtown Grapevine at night. Grapevine is known as the Christmas Capital of Texas with its streets lined with lights which blink to the sounds of Christmas Carols. Along main street is a large white gazebo where you could see people dancing to the music. Benjamin said, "let's dance, Mom!" Now I have to admit dancing in my home with my children yes!, but dancing out in a public gazebo - it hasn't happened, until I felt that "spunk" set in. I grabbed Benjamin's hands and danced him around the gazebo.

I was starting to recognize "spunk" again when I ventured onto the sunlit basketball court with my teenage son. He has been in a slump in making baskets. I strolled onto the court as if I knew what I was doing and asked for the basketball. Now remind you I WAS NEVER IN SPORTS - I danced. I took the basketball and challenged him in a shooting contest. I started to shoot the ball and low and behold...it went into the basket! In fact, it went into the basket nine times in a row. I was winning...it took him a couple of tries before he could beat my record of nine baskets. There it was, my "spunk". I knew when to leave the court when other teen boys came to shoot...so I stepped aside and cheered from the sidelines...again acting more like a girl than a mom.

Now one of my words for this year is to get my "spunk" back. I don't know what forms it will come in...and I am sure there will be times I look silly. I just think it is time to let that little girl back into my life.

Okay are there any of you who need to add some "spunk" in your life? Those of you that have it...well, I am watching you!

High Ho, High Ho

2012-01-01T15:32:00.000-08:00

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"High Ho, High Ho, now off to work we go." Now are you singing it?
It is January and for me that means making a plan. So this year, I think I will take it one month at a time...mark down some objectives and see what happens. I know not to plan too far in advance and not to be too set in my plans...God seems to always come along and change them anyway.

First goal for this month..."High Ho, High Ho - Off to the Gym I Go!!!"
I worked out alot this past year, but the scales didn't reflect lower numbers. I did, however, lose a couple of inches, but not enough to change my clothes size. I have also observed that I am an emotional eater. Now since confession is good for the soul, I hope acknowledging that fact will help me to watch it. So when I'm in a stressful event or just feeling bored - I need to learn how to relieve that feeling by a more productive way... other than eating.

Second goal of the month - Clean out and Organize my pantry and refrigerator
After the holidays, both need attention. I need to cook up some freezer breakfasts and meals for the remaining basketball season. If I have healthier alternatives available to both my teenage son and me, we will eat better.

Third goal - Well, the appointment is set...UGH!!!!!!!! So that annual doctor's appointment that was three years ago...well, it is finally on the calendar and I must go!

Fourth goal - Do something fun that re-energizes me. It is too easy to be caught up in children's schedules and never leave any time for play. I am going to work on at least one fun thing for each month. I think I might take a weekend off to go see my friend...this is something I have never done and it would be good for me to try something new and refreshing. She is one of my friends who says, "pull up your big girl panties and deal with it!"

Fifth goal - Do something creative. I think I will paint my laundry room. It connects to my kitchen and I sooooooooooo LOVE my kitchen walls that I will carry that color into the laundry room. I will put in some accents of red to cheer me up while I am doing that weekly chore.

How about you? Do you have some things you are planning on this month? So, here it goes for my once-a-month goals...we will see what twists and turns happen.

Start at the Beginning

2012-01-01T08:56:00.000-08:00

This week holds three birthdays in our household, two basketball games, return to school schedule and a new year. Could you load anymore in one week?

January the beginning of the year. Genesis the beginning of His Story. My Bible at my side, the music I sing to lift my spirit to His throne room playing, the empty calendar to be filled by His design - beginning.

As in the past I have shared music that has reached past my flesh to my spirit. There are times to just dance around with fun music and then times to stop and allow God to speak through His composers.

My daughter-in-law shared with me this Christmas season the music inspired by The Story written by Max Lucado. Today I want to share the site that tells about this inspiring work. For some this genre of music may not be your style...but the words still speak truth. This video only presents the music and the words.

http://www.thestorycd.com/ - this link supplies information on this CD.

I share one of my favorites from this CD...I hope you have time to be inspired and remember that from the Beginning He had a Plan for each of us. Look what He sees..."I see a star, He sees a galaxy....Who but You would dream your dream in me?

Reflecting on 2011

2011-12-30T05:45:00.001-08:00

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As the end of the year calls, I turn to reflect on the year I just journeyed through. Did I learn what I was supposed to learn? Did I grow spiritually, physically and emotionally or did I get stuck?

The year had begun with great expectations as I entered my 50's the first part of January. I had settled into our new way of life with a new level of contentment which allowed me to start reaching outside myself, along with my word for the year, "bloom where you are planted". I was anxious to see the seeds I had begun to sow with my neighbors take root and hopefully blossom. While planting seeds in getting to know and ministering to my neighbors, Benjamin and I planted seeds for a wonderful garden in our backyard. The year was progressing very gently.

God decided to stir the pot. In May, while looking forward to a harvest from both our backyard garden and neighbor relationships, we had the unexpected opportunity to move. Opportunity is the word I use today...then, it was the horrible news of an unplanned move.

What was happening? I had heard to "bloom where I was planted" and now I was to be transplanted?

Benjamin and I gently transplanted our garden into pots. This was therapy for both him and me. I was able to talk to him and help him adjust to our new transplanting. We closed down his "Batman Cave" closet while making up stories of "what would the walls tell the new renters if they could talk?". It was fun to imagine the walls telling the new children about a boy that lived in the house who had a Batman Cave in this closet.

Summer brought record heat and drought. Our carefully transplanted garden died. I tried to stay encouraged through this unwanted transition by decorating my new dwelling. The next change - moving another one out of his pot - came as we heard God tell us to put our son in public school. He would be our first child to enter public school and attend high school through graduation.

Adjustments began for all.

Our pastor began a study on Habakkuk. I don't know if I have ever heard a complete study on all the verses of Habakkuk, but it was where I was and I soaked in every teaching.

Now I end the year still trying to transplant myself in unfamiliar territory. A new neighborhood, two new school experiences while adjusting to changes in my adult children's lives among my own physical changes.

I close out the year reading Kay Arthurs' Learning to Embrace Life's Disappointments: As Silver Refined. I ask God questions as I end the year and as I listen, I find myself in a chapter of her book where she is discussing... guess which book of the Bible? Habakkuk.

Advent reading on hope and waiting tied up the end of the year with bows of encouragement.

As I read my post at the beginning of 2011, I see that what I thought it was going to mean and what the Lord had planned were very different...but His plans are always better. I feel I learned a lot this year...there was tilling, weeding, planting and I believe some harvest in my life.

  Thanks for joining me on my journey this past year and for ALWAYS giving encouraging words and comments.

My verse for 2011 -  “Forget the former things;
   do not dwell on the past.
¹⁹ See, I am doing a new thing!
   Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
   and streams in the wasteland.
I am still in the middle of Him doing a new thing...and I am continuing to learn to not dwell on the past.

My verse for 2012

He has made my feet like hind's feet, And makes me walk on my high places. Hab. 3: 19

Non-Photo Shop Christmas

2011-12-28T07:09:00.000-08:00

This year, photo-shopped pictures have been on my mind. You can take a not-so-flattering picture and, with technology, have a whole new look after the talents of photo-shop have gotten hold of you. In the end, the final results usually aren't anything like the real person or event. I am just real...no photo shop here...or you would see me looking years younger and pounds lighter. My family is what it is...with all the ups and downs of life. Sometimes we could be put on the "America's Top Family" magazine and other times "America's Most Wanted" due to the sin in our life.

Today, I celebrate our strengths in our photos... the times we put hurt feelings, offenses...well, our sins, aside and allow God's grace and mercy to shine through. Only He sees us as we are. He sees us through the cross. I am so glad when He looks down He is pleased with the unfinished work that is before Him. I am glad He promises that He will complete what He has began.

Christmas was celebrated with the extended family on Friday night. The winner of the cooking contest was our married son and his wife...well, she did the work...her Turkducken. (Ever had it? AMAZING!!)

Benjamin allowed all of his siblings to sleep later than his siblings ever allowed us to sleep. So instead of a four or five o'clock wake up, he waited until almost 8:00 before getting them all out of bed to unwrap gifts and celebrate again through food. Our North Pole drink from Pinterest was a HUGE hit!

I couldn't resist...so I leave you with my cartoon strip ("For Better or for Worse") which sums it all up. May you all continue to enjoy your family time during this season as you prepare for a New Year. May the Lord give you a time to reflect on His faithfulness this past year while giving you vision for the year to come. I will be reflecting this week.

Yeshua in Hanukkah

2011-12-21T09:27:00.000-08:00

One of my greatest joys while home schooling is what I learn. In my early days of home schooling, I became very interested in the Biblical Feasts and Jewish History. A home school curriculum has allowed me to further my knowledge while giving practical forms of teaching to my children.

Last night at sunset began the Feast of Hanukkah. This is one of the seven feasts Jesus celebrated during His life in the Bible.
Each feast points to Christ... either His fulfillment of scripture in His first coming or His fulfillment in His second coming. Those that don't point to Christ are Purim and Hanukkah, as far as fulfillment, which are both based on Jewish historical events - the life of Esther and the Maccabbees.

The history behind Hanukkah is the miracle that took place under the leadership of Judas Maccabee and his followers when they drove out the Syrians and regained control of the Holy Temple. The altar of the temple had been defiled by the sacrifice of pigs. After their victory, they cleaned out the temple idols and found one day's supply of oil for the holy lamps. The miracle that occurred was that the oil burned for eight days. Thus Israel decreed that the re-dedication of the altar be observed each year for eight days.

Many believe that Jesus (the light of the world) could have been conceived during Hanukkah. The Bible doesn't tell us the exact date. But since the sheep were in the pasture (Luke 2:8), he probably wasn't born in the winter months. If he was conceived during Hanukkah, then his birth would line up with the Feast of Tabernacles....when Christ came to "tabernacle" with us.

I have tried to bring the feasts into our home.I am not legalistic about this. It is a form of learning more about our Savior. It has increased my understanding of scripture. If I am not able to celebrate them to their fullest, I have tried to take time to read with my children the significance of the feasts with the emphasis being that Jesus celebrated them. I want them to understand that Jesus always taught through the feasts to bring the Jews to the understanding that He was the Messiah.

Hanukkah Readings when Lighting a Candle

Night One - The Lord is Our Light - Is. 60:19; Ps. 27:1; 2 Sam 21:17
Night Two - The Word is Our Light - Ps 119;105; Ps 119:130; Prov. 6:23
Night Three - We Should be a Light to Others - Matt 5:16; Luke 11:33; Eph. 5:8; Phil 2:15
Night Four - The Light of the Body is the Eye - Luke 11:34; Acts 26:18
Night Five - The Messiah is the Light of the World - John 1:4-5; John 8:12; John 12;35-36
Night Six - Paul Saw the Light - Acts 26;12-18
Night Seven - If Christ is Your Light, You are No Longer in the Darkness of This World - Eph 5:8-11; I Thess. 5:4-6; I Peter 2:9; Eph 5:11-15; I John 1:5-9
We Need to Shine - Phil 2:14-16;

My family and I pray you have a wonderful Christmas/Hanukkah season. May you meet the Light of the World face to face and allow Him to shine through you.

I have collected many sources through the years on Biblical Feasts and Jewish history. Today, I used Biblical Holidays by Robin Scarlata...you can click on her name to find more info on her blog.

I Bow in Worship

2011-12-18T17:40:00.000-08:00

google image...notice no shoes....as she bows she is on Holy Ground! Her clothes are normal attire....her hair looks as if she has been busy at home, just pulled out of the way. She acknowledges where her source comes from and worships Him.

On this Sunday evening, my heart just cries out, "Bow and Worship the King".

God has been working very deeply in my heart through this season of Advent. So much of it can't be put into words at this time. I can feel the seeds that He has planted and I anticipate the growth He will bring. As we prepare to celebrate His birth with the miracle of God becoming a human, we must move through the birth to the cross. Yes, God became man in all sense of the word... but it didn't stop there. The miracle of His birth... His resurrection....His anticipated 2nd coming when we will go to live with Him forever...the completed story.

Music is a staple in my life and this new song just seemed to sum up the Advent season for me. I challenge you to listen to it...take it in...let your heart be stirred. Then join me as we bow in worship before Emmanuel.

Josh Wilson Jesus Is Alive Lyrics

Wish that I was there,
On that silent night,
When your tiny heart started beating for mine,

I wish I couldn't seen,
The star in David's town,
When you turned a stable into Holy ground.
I sing along, the angels song.

CHORUS
Noel, Noel, Jesus is alive.
Emanuel, hope is here tonight.
So go, and tell, the world that death has died.
'Cause Jesus is alive. Yea Jesus is alive.

VERSE 2
The God who made us all,
With these two little hands,
Is bringing us his kingdom quiet as a lamb.
Oh such Amazing Grace!
A divine conspiracy.
This Savior in a manger changes everything.
That's why we sing.

CHORUS
BRIDGE
Sin you have no sting.
Hell you have no power. (Jesus is alive)
Curse you are no more.
This is your final hour. (Jesus is alive)
Because the son of God
Has not left us alone. (Jesus is alive)
He'll live and die and rise again, and then he'll bring us home. (Jesus is alive)
The old will pass away
And we will become new. (Jesus is alive)
This baby boy is making all sad things untrue.

CHORUS 2x
Jesus is Alive!!

Playing with Creative Ideas

2011-12-16T21:22:00.000-08:00

Well my "Waiting" post hit our household immediately. God put me on hold and took my computer to the shop....for 10 days. Now I just want to post a fun post. I will give thanks for His faithfulness and continued "waiting" rooms at the bottom of my post.

This year I have enjoyed pinning my ideas from wonderful blogs on my boards at Pinterest. So below are some of the ideas that I have taken from my boards and brought to life in our home.

1st - Recycle the Thanksgiving Pumpkins
I took my silver-painted-stenciled pumpkins and turned them into snowmen.
The snowmen are gracing our Christmas table and even made a debut at Benjamin's Class Christmas Party.

2nd Printing on Fabric - I have been intrigued by printing through your printer onto fabric. So once again I looked at a few tutorials and pulled out scraps of drop cloth and went to work.

Graphics are free for downloading from The Graphics Fairy

A wonderful Christmas pillow for a very special lady...I hope she enjoys it.

3rd - Cookies!....well the cookies on Pinterest are just too much fun....so here they are

They were a huge hit at Benjamin's Christmas Party! Melting Snowman!!!

4th - Left over drop cloth began my Christmas skirt...making it large enough to accompany a live tree also. Next year I plan to have time to write scriptures that foretell the birth of our King. This year it stays simple.

I love the idea of script scripture all around the skirt for next year.

That is it for my creative juices this season.

{Thanks to all that prayed for our daughter. On December 3rd she had a grand-mal seizure. This was a once in her life unexplained seizure. All test came back clear. They feel it was caused from lack of sleep and dehydration. She spent a week recovering and is now venturing into changing her lifestyle ....meaning slowing down! If God places it on your heart I would love prayers for our son and daughter-in-law who will see another infertility specialist in another city next week. Again....we are in the waiting room, praying for God's healing touch on both of these situations.}

Have an awesome weekend! Enjoy the Reason for the Season - Christ

Waiting

2011-12-04T09:13:00.000-08:00

As I enter this second week of Advent, I look back on a full week of concentrating on Hope. Everywhere I turned I saw evidence of Hope - either in words, actions or answered prayers. Last week was truly a week of Hope as God pointed me to His word and His definition of Hope.

Our Advent guide focuses on Waiting this week. We are a society that does NOT know how to wait. As I drove down our busy highway, I observed signs of our lack of patience. Signs announced your waiting time at the Emergency Room of the hospital. The signs flashed how long it would take to drive from one point to another. Advertisement boards were selling faster means of obtaining internet services. Fast weight loss solutions were everywhere. Self, check-out lines at the grocery store also give us a false feeling that we are getting out of the store faster. You watch people get annoyed if the information on their cell phone or Ipad doesn't come up fast enough. Everything in life screams - HURRY! or you will be left behind!!!

Abraham and Sarah had to wait for their promise. The Israelites waited decade after decade, generation after generation for the Messiah. Simeon waited to see the promised Messiah.

Our family is waiting...

My son and his wife for a baby - our first grand child
Loved ones to come to a relationship with Christ
Unresolved Health Issues
A job that would bring income and some sense of stability
A future home

So, this Advent season I wait...
I am sure most of you are in a waiting season for something.

from our Advent Guide:
We know that God uses times of waiting to increase and strengthen our belief, longing and the boldness of our asking. This was true as the people of Israel waited for the promised Messiah, and it is true for the people of God today.

Are you unsettled in your soul? Are you longing for righteousness, justice, freedom from shame, peace and security?
Does your waiting, longing and groaning debilitate you, or is it laced with hope? Romans 8:18-25, I Thess. 4:13-17 and Titus 2:11-14
How does anticipation increase joy? Like a catchy hook in a song's melody, the building progressions of each note rising slowly until they resolve and repeat... can we find pleasure in the anticipation?

It is difficult to know how Simeon dealt with the rising anticipation, but we know he held fast to the promise.
As we wait, we should rise in agreement, hold our breath, and let out a hopeful cry.

He is Good

2011-12-01T05:26:00.000-08:00

He has already played seven games in two weeks.

Good-bye November you have been good. Reflecting on the past month I have to stop and say thank-you Lord. His faithfulness still brings me to my knees...which is where I need to remain in a state of gratefulness. November brought our son's beginning of his high school basketball season. It has been a joy to be back on the bleachers after a two year reprieve. This once resistant sports mom is back in her arena with her cheering voice being heard across the court. "Go Stepheoooooooooooooooooooooo" Yes we affectionately call him Stepheooo!

Thanksgiving weekend gave us the opportunity to enjoy the sunshine and warm weather at a wildlife preserve. We just kept saying, "you are so pretty...how beautiful" as we admired God's handiwork. We fed and touched some of the most beautiful animals on our trip through the wildlife preserve. Isn't it going to be great when the lion and the lamb lay down beside each other again?

Although all our children weren't with us for Thanksgiving lunch we still kept our traditions in place. My parents joined us for a wonderful day. After a satisfying meal, afternoon of touch football, we all huddled near the television to watch the last football game between The University of Texas and Texas A&M....a 107 year old rivalry came to an end. Our day ended in a last 2 second win by UT... younger brothers of past players, McCoy and Shipley brought in our win.

What a precious month of experiencing God's faithfulness even when I wasn't faithful. Good-bye November you hold some precious memories for 2011. Welcome December, you are the last month of the year, what memories do you hold?

Benjamin and My Virtual Farm

2011-11-29T09:45:00.000-08:00

Benjamin's Farm - Sue has everything at her farm except a pig

I just love it when God reaches down and gives us a kiss on the cheek along with a smile. That is just what He did for Benjamin and me this week.

We walked to the door two times to find unexpected boxes of "goodies" from two precious women.

We both have dreamed of a farm. Benjamin wants the animals. What I want and envision is a place to roam, be still and enjoy a garden with chickens. Our dreams became "virtual" through two blogging friends.

Sue of Pear Tree Lane Farmhouse sent Benjamin the farm animals and a tractor. To fulfill my love of home-made canned jam, she sent us two jars of hers. She also provided garlic for our suburban garden. Benjamin has adopted Sue and he climbs up on my lap to enjoy her blog on a regular basis. She has also allowed him to name some of her farm animals. If you don't know her....well, you should; she is a jewel. Sue has encouraged me in my spiritual walk more than once...sometimes beyond the blog post through emails. Thank you, Sue.

Leslie of Farm Fresh and I met at the beginning of my adventure into blog land. We emailed back and forth and got to know each other beyond the pages of our blog.

Gifts to Benjamin from her kids.

She is a "wiser in years" mother also...so we both enjoy the mixture of menopause symptoms, while taking a child to kindergarten. She has a farm!

Her retro-kitchen is just a joy. So when she saw my kitchen and knew my desire for her farm life....well, she added to my kitchen and sent more "virtual" farm goodies. Her two little ones sent items to Benjamin also.

Her humor is shown in the "chicken poop" and "udder" lotion. She also sent seeds for my flower garden. She allowed me to dream even more as I looked through the magazine she sent.

To Leslie and Sue...you have made our day. We are both enjoying our "virtual" farm. Love you, girls!

Advent the Season of Hope

2011-11-27T15:16:00.000-08:00

Strolling into the sanctuary, weighed down with many hearts concerns, I met the Savior.

Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good new to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heavens, things into which angels long to look. Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. I Peter 1:8-13

Advent, formed from a Latin word meaning "coming" or "arrived" is about the coming of Christ. It 's the celebration of the first advent of Jesus and the anxious awaiting of His second.

Advent

My Savior started to speak to His child as the Advent service progressed. The most overwhelming joy for the Advent season, lifted my heavy heart. I believe my age and life experiences are allowing me to enter this Advent season in a deeper depth than years before. The first teaching was over patience and expectations. Where is our Hope?

Quotes from our church Advent Guide

"Expectations are powerful. We long to trust possessions, people and ideas with our hope - hope of something greater than what we currently have. Relationships, careers, and entertainment willingly receive our expectations. To the degree that we think each will deliver, anticipation grows inside of us. The voice of childhood may change tone through the years, but the same gut response comes with every disappointment: But you promised....

There is no more powerful expectation than patience in the promises of God, for He has provided the Lamb, and the Lamb is the coming King."

There is where my Savior meet me....His promises and my lack of patience in His promises. There in the sanctuary I sang out..

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

And ransom captive Israel

That mourns in lonely exile here

Until the Son of God appear

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel.

Consider what you place expectations on and how that affects you when they are not met. Are you patience or irritable?
If we place our hopes in finite things, which never fully meet our expectations, it seems that are meant for something greater. What things have you trusted in for the joy of your heart instead of Jesus. Who is fully able to meet your every need?
God's faithfulness is proven as each of His promises comes true. Where are you tempted to forget or distrust His faithfulness to you in Jesus?

Welcome Advent Season! My heart jumps with joy over this time as I place my Hope in the one who fulfills His promises.

Still Amazes Me

2011-11-21T05:29:00.000-08:00

Each year as I recount with my children the story of God's providence over the sojourners of the Mayflower, I am amazed. The story never grows old. The story inspires me through my struggles and once again reminds me God has a plan. It truly is His Story.

How can you not have tears come to your eyes when you step back and look at the sovereignty of God over the Settlers of Plymouth Plantation? Amazing examples of God's sovereignty:

the main beam of the ship broke...which should have led to the sinking of the vessel...instead there was a screw brought with the passengers for home building that repaired the mast
66 days at sea
not one person lost on the voyage
boys set off firecrackers and yet they didn't catch the gunpowder on fire that would have led to a total explosion of the ship
a compact made between all travelers before leaving the ship
corn found in baskets that provided food through the first winter
over half of the Pilgrims died during the first winter...none were children
usually only 6 adults were well enough at a time to build the settlement
peaceful Indians....they also spoke English - Massasoit, Samoset, Squanto
A clearing in the land for the settlement
Squanto taught them how to survive while he lived his remaining days with them
A peace treaty with the Indians that lasted over 50 years
A three-day celebration after the first hard winter - more Indians in attendance than settlers
No one turned back to go home

As I recall the story once again, I stand amazed. God touches my heart, reminding me of His plans in each of our lives. He is our strength. To Him we owe all our Thanks. He is Sovereign.

Happy Thanksgiving

Last years post on how we celebrate Thanksgiving - click on Thanksgiving.
Happy Birthday to my oldest...he turns 28 today...now how can I be old enough to have a child that age?

Thanksgiving Song from Benjamin

2011-11-17T05:12:00.000-08:00

Basketball season has arrived for my brother Stephen, so I am mother's guest writer today.
I wanted to share with you my Turkey song I learned at school.
Mom thought it was so funny that we decided this would be my post.
I wish I could sing it to you myself...but this will have to do instead.
I did put in my Turkey pictures.

Mom will see you again soon...thanks for stopping by - Her son - Benjamin

A Turkey Followed Me Home

Walking home from school one day, along a lovely street. When from behind me came a noise, the sound of tiny feet.

I spun around to see a bird, my jaw dropped to the ground. A turkey stood in front of me, his wattle swinging ‘round.

Turkey, turkey, go away! Please don’t follow me! I am going to my home and it’s not safe for thee!
Turkey, turkey go away! Let me make this clear. It’s Thanksgiving week, you see so please get out of here!

(Kid 1): But he followed me home anyway (Kid 2): Shoo! Go on! Git! Ohhh!

I hid him in the basement and I hid him in my room. I covered him with laundry, but there wasn’t wiggle room.
I tried to find the perfect place. I looked and looked and looked. For if I could not keep him hid, his goose was surely cooked!

(Kid 3): Thanksgiving came, Thanksgiving went….(Kid 4): Yeah, you were lucky. THIS time.

When December rolled around, we thought the coast was clear. I saw the turkey to the door. He had a cool veneer.
Keeping turkeys out of sight is not an easy thing. Take my advice, you turkey, you, and don’t come back ‘til spring!

Christmas is coming, the turkey’s getting fat! Don’t come back ‘til spring!

Mom says it is better when I sing it...but I hope you liked it anyway!

Why Don't They Get It?

2011-11-14T04:50:00.000-08:00

goole image...Tower of Babel...they didn't get it either

Why don't they get it?

How many times have you said that or thought that? I am sure it is dozens and dozens of times. As a mom we can become frustrated with repeating ourselves over and over again in the training of our children. These words or thought can also pour out through other areas of life as well....just being alive gives reason for the frustration. Hey! let's be honest, life is just messy.

Health - don't they get it? You can't eat that type of food and be healthy. You can't refuse to exercise and hope your body just continues to stay in shape. You can't neglect going see the doctor if there is something going on.
Relationships - Do they not see what is happening here? Do they just not get it? Do they have to see the relationship end before their eyes are open?
Spiritually - Do they not get it? This is an eternal issue. Christ died for their sins...plain and simple, salvation is a gift. Why can't they see?
Financially - Don't they understand that too few deposits and too many withdraws mean you are in the negative? Do they just not get it?

I think I could go on and on, while you could add your list of frustrations on why someone just doesn't get it.

It seems to always be clearer to the one viewing from the outside. The person viewing from their tower can see so plainly what is happening, "they get it", while the one below is hindered by their lack of vision.

How can a blind person see the sunset? We would ever question their ability "to get it" and yet when someone's view is obstructed they too are blind.

I climb down from my tower of frustration viewpoint allowing the Lord to show me my blind spots. I need Him to show me a clearer view. I need to see the view of my own "not getting it" and grace for those I love that "aren't getting it". I need Him to remind me that He knows "they aren't getting it" and He is in control. His view is complete, while mine is only a partial view.

May we all allow His point of view to become the glasses in which we view our circumstances through, while giving grace to those who "just aren't getting it".

However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him. I Cor. 2:9

You Have Come a Long Way Baby!

2011-11-11T04:40:00.000-08:00

Isn't it funny how time can resolve just about everything?

I wish I could have understood that concept years ago and even today. There is hardly anything that time can't teach us....especially in the area of motherhood and handling a household.

I was one of those overly-energetic new brides. I truly wore "rose-colored" glasses as I entered the venture of being a wife at the naive age of 19. My husband (the dreamer) could just carry me away with all the possibilities that were before us. I could just take any idea and start to run with it. There was nothing I wouldn't try when it came to being a "good wife".

This is my copy from the early 80's and I was stunned to find out it is worth a pretty penny...again, who knew... and time.

The kitchen was one of my first mountains to climb. I made a vow that the first year of our marriage that I wouldn't cook the same dish twice....so collecting recipes and cookbooks became necessary to achieve my goal. I have to say I achieved it...mainly due to the fact that with my college classes, my husband's out of town travel and our weekend schedule, the challenge wasn't hard for the amount of meals we ate at home.

As our children continued to come (four in 7 years), I used my kitchen as one of my creative outlets....and that is why this story comes to mind. You see, even if you don't know what you are doing...time will eventually give you the experience you need.

My adventurous, get-tired-of-anything-more-than-once-a-month mentality, took over while corralling little ones in the grocery store. There they were! I was missing our traveling and I could bring some of our traveling cuisine to our dinner table. The kids eyes lit up with excitement as I grabbed the iced red bag of crawdads for our Etoufee that evening. As a home school mom. I would also treat this as part of our science studies, telling my interested students about this crustation.

As was the norm, the older boys were to help bring the groceries from the car. I threw the red crawdad bag on the countertop, to deal with later after taking care of the youngest child.

Hubby made it home and he, too, was excited about the Cajun dish I would be serving. Then he heard a SCREEEEEEEEEEAM coming from the kitchen....it was me.

To my horror, those crawdads had awakened and were crawling all over the kitchen cabinet!

Who knew they were still alive? Not ME!!! I had no clue that they were live crawdads which had been lulled to sleep while sitting on the ice. Once removed from the ice, they would be revived.

My husband was rolling over with laughter as I pleaded with him to catch them. He looked at me with the look of , "what were you thinking?" I am yelling "they are alive!" "Yes", he replies. I start to negotiate. "I am not going to cook those. I don't know how to cook live crawdads. Please do something!"

My loving husband goes to the phone to call the grocery store. Over the phone he re-tells the story to the butcher who is now laughing his head off. "Well, just bring them back up here and I will boil them for her!" Now I must say...I didn't show my face in the store for them to identify me....NO, my hubby gathered up the crawdads and took them back to their timely death.

google image

So you see...time does resolve so many of the issues that can set our hair on end. With just a little time and some experience we can all say, "You Have Come a Long Way, Baby!"

Will This Become Extincted?

2011-11-09T04:52:00.000-08:00

Saturday, my daughter and I strolled down the card aisle looking for a lovely card for the monumental occasion we would be attending. As I stood there with her I said, "you know it might not be long before they no longer need this card section." Now I wasn't meaning there would be no more cards, I was referring to the change in our society. That was when it dawned on me how special this event would be.

Many marriages don't make it to this mark due to things beyond their control. My grandmother became a widow in her 30's. Some marriages end in divorce that was not desired by one or both parties. Others don't marry until later in life.

However, the main reason many will not celebrate this milestone is because of changes in our society:

Delaying Marriage or choosing not to marry prevents many from this celebration
The Divorce Rate in our country is around 50%, making us #1 in Divorces
Only 59% of our population is married
3/4 of divorces are initiated by women; the Walkway Wife Syndrome happens later in marriage
30% Rise in Silver Divorces

These stats leave only 5% of marriages to celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversary.

Upon arriving home, I pondered on the rich marriage heritage of my children:

Both sets of grandparents have celebrated 50 years of marriage
One Aunt and Uncle have now celebrated 50 years of marriage
Three sets of Great-Grandparents have celebrated 50 years of marriage
Three Great Uncles and Aunts have celebrated 50 years....one couple has celebrated 60

My Husband's Sister and Husband - 50 years

The church fellowship hall was filled with 50+ years of married couples The widows attending were from single marriages. The next generation held the marriages that would not make it to 50 years, due to multiple marriages or the age in which they entered marriage.

I stood in awe at the marriage riches that surround me... the faithful widows that have poured out their lives to others after they continued their journeys alone... the married couples of 50-plus years now sharing other challenges that life has brought them, along with perseverance through past trials... the joy of each of their smiles as they walked through the room mingling with others. I hope my children will one day understand that they saw something rare, that they may not see very often....but this time it was part of their heritage.

Prayer Warrior

2011-11-06T17:25:00.000-08:00

This is an incredible video with awesome words. It touched my heart as I lift up my sword in pray. The battle is still raging and God has called us all to be Prayer Warriors. This is dedicated to a precious couple who heard some devastating news this past week on their 5-month-old in the womb, first child. This prayer warrior cries out for a healing miracle from Our Awesome Healing God.

Standing also in the gap for

Prodigals
Infertility
Marriages
Teens
Lost loved ones
Finances/Jobs
Revival in our Churches
America
Up Coming Elections
Pastors/Churches

You can add your own to the list above. I hope this video and the song inspired you to pick up your sword and leave behind a legacy of prayer for generations to come.

PRAYER WARRIOR

1.We may see her in the grocery with her children
Or in the city nine to five each working day
She's a mother or a teacher or a woman all alone
But she's someone else entirely when she prays

C.She's a prayer warrior down on her knees
Wrestling with power and principalities
Standing in the gap for others
For her sisters and her brothers
Reaching heaven with her heart – prayer warrior

2.We don't see her lonely nights of intercession
Or that tear she shed with every whispered name
We may not see the simple things hidden in her heart
But the eyes of God are watching her with care

Repeat Chorus

Bridge: And we'll never wholly know the debt we owe her
For we'll never know the evil we've been spared
Many nights she's crushed through Satan’s strongholds
Reaching heaven with her prayers

Tag:Oh you have touched the very heart of God
Prayer warrior - prayer warrior - prayer warrior

Clean-up Duties?

2011-11-03T05:48:00.000-07:00

Today's post celebrates "National Housewife's Day"...yes November 3rd is National Housewife's Day.

Now in case you think the above picture is common in my household....well, don't hold your breath.

As the holidays approach, so do all the logistics for the occasions. There is shopping, cleaning, preparing the meals, decorating and after all the celebration...clean-up. In most households, (I know there are a few that don't fit this pattern), these magical events are orchestrated by the women of the family. In my male- dominated household, you can probably guess which arena we fall into....well, I fall into.

I love preparing. I love decorating. I love setting too many dishes on the table. I enjoy cooking and all the adventure leading up to preparing the day's menu. I love being creative......................but I don't enjoy the clean-up. There, the counter tops are filled with all those beautiful glasses, silver, chargers, salad plates, dinner plates, coffee cups, dessert plates, serving dishes and cooking utensils waiting for me to attack. I have been known to do them in sessions....one load in the dishwasher (yes, grateful for this wonderful, modern day appliance)...wait...another load...hand-wash, drip-dry..... and then round four into the dishwasher. This will usually eat up the rest of the evening and part of the next day.

Saturday, my mother jumped up from the table and began washing the dishes....(the picture above is us years ago...and again we stood side by side, getting the cleaning done). She had been the guest of honor so I protested. Her reply, "I ate, didn't I?" Then she laughed. She said, "Don't you remember your grandmother never washed dishes? She cooked and we cleaned. She felt if you ate, then you cleaned!" I had to nod because I was one of many grand kids who always made their way to the kitchen after each meal to clean. My grandmother always prepared a great meal for us all to enjoy and we were assigned clean-up duty.

Another family friend had these guidelines for their family holiday clean-ups. The family was evenly matched boys and girls (still is even to this day). The females decorated and cooked. When the meal was finished, the women went walking while men stayed to totally clean-up from the meal. I mean totally clean-up...nothing remained undone when we came back from our walk...we were guests one year.

How do you handle clean-up duties? Are they different in your in-law's house or the same? How do you handle them when they are in your home? Do you wait to be asked to help or do you automatically help your hostess?

Even cleaning up can become a wonderful tradition filled with sweet memories. I never remember resenting the time all of us cousins spent in the kitchen....now I am not sure how good of job we did...but we did create memories. I remember watching my Grandmother, Mom and all of my aunts enjoying conversation during meal preparation. I remember the load being shared, therefore, making it easier for the hostess not to be totally worn out. The work of our hands does bring joy and a sense being a part of each holiday memory.

If you don't know what a "housewife" is worth these days...read last year's post... see (housewife).

Do We Understand Honor?

2011-10-31T05:37:00.000-07:00

Honor

silver spray-painted pumpkins... their names printed on each pumpkin

I feel we are losing our grip on honor. It is something that makes my hair stand on end when I see the lack of honor in our society. Giving honor to someone else seems to be a lost art.

I may not agree with a politician's political position, but I am commanded in scripture to honor the position the person holds. A community-servant position also requires honor...police, fireman, soldiers...etc. The position is what requires the honor from us citizens, not the person's actions. God is the one who puts the person into their position and therefore, He knows what He is accomplishing through them.

God commands honor be given to our parents. He doesn't list the "if they do this and that" then you honor...He requires honor. His command also comes with a promise.

Clear glass plate transformed...thanks to trade secret from Debbie, the master of tablescape

The granting of honor to others is an essential experience in the believer's life.
Christians are to bestow honor on those for whom honor is due. The believer is to
honor God, for He is the sovereign head of the universe and His character is unsurpassed. The believer is to honor those in positions of earthly authority, such as governing authorities (Rom 13:1-7), masters (1 Tim 6:1), and parents (Exod 20:12).
As a participant in the church, the believer is also called to honor Jesus Christ, the head of
the church (John 5:23), fellow believers (Rom 12:10), and widows (1 Tim 5:3). resolved youth article

Recently in a home group, a woman voiced, "I am so tired of everyone blaming their parents for what is wrong in their life!" I felt her heart and thought of how we are losing this sense of honor. Even in Christiandom, someone will give their testimony....."I was raised in a Christian home....but!!!!! my parents were too legalistic...etc, etc." I have to ask you how is that honoring? Does God receive honor when we trash someone else while pointing to Him?

This past weekend I was given the chance to honor my parents. Both have moved into their 70's. My father is almost completely deaf, making it hard for him to enter into social conversations. As I prepared a birthday luncheon for them, I thought of how I could honor my parents... the honor due to their position as my parents and believers in the Body of Christ.

Silver spray-painted large pumpkin and stenciled-in-bronze, garage-sale table cloth and napkins

I gathered questions from my kids to their grandfather. I typed these questions on a sheet of paper so he could read and answer. He was delighted to share stories and talk. Through some tears he expressed what was important in his life - his wife, his God and his education. This didn't require listening on his part. My children were learning to extend honor by putting their own agenda aside...their own conversations, their cell phones and their time.

My mother enjoys beautiful things, so a fully-decorated table was in order for her. She sat at the opposite end of the table from my Dad (listening to him talk, through the most loving and caring eyes) holding a bowl of pictures from years past. She would randomly pick up a picture and tell the story behind it. She picked up her family picture...out of the seven in the photograph, only three are still living. She passed on her stories of losing her Dad at a young age then her two brothers. She giggled at Dad's comments about meeting her...you watched them both become 16 and 18 again.

Honor was extended. Their position in our family was placed as priority. I pray that my children received a much-needed lesson this weekend. I know I did. They get to try it out again this next weekend as we visit their other grandmother, age 96, and celebrate their Aunt and Uncle's 50th Wedding Anniversary.

In order for us to turn the tide of dishonor in this land we have be begin at home. I have to express honor to those God has placed in positions of honor in my life, no matter their actions. I hope as I remember this lesson, my own family will be stepping toward giving honor to those it is due.

(I am not saying there shouldn't be "safe" places to share true life experiences. Hiding abuse to show someone "honor" isn't honor. Thanks to Vee for pointing out the need for true exposure in order to point someone to complete healing in Christ."

Cultivate - Again

2011-10-27T06:57:00.000-07:00

Cultivate - to prepare, to loosen or break up the soil, to foster growth; to promote or improve growth by labor and attention; to develop or improve by education or training; to seek an acquaintance or friendship. To cultivate the arts means to encourage the arts.

Wow! All of that under the word cultivate. This word was used in our pastor's sermon on Sunday morning as he was expanding on I Peter 3:1-7. You probably wouldn't think about the word cultivate when looking at these verses, but it was in reference to what should be done for a wife. He expressed that her gifts should be cultivated.

Somehow, in the rush of trying to survive the struggles my family has been going through, I just stopped growing. Not that I didn't grow in size... I did, and not that I didn't age... I did, but I didn't grow. I started to justify NOT spending time cultivating.

How many times do women set aside their own growth to make sure the family is making it along the journey? Many will say that is why they work in jobs outside the home, so they can continue to grow themselves. At home, moms will justify their lack of cultivation due to their responsibilities as a mom, while believing this neglect is being spiritual.

My choice has been not to work outside my home, even though that work would have provided financial security and, at times, much-needed adult conversation. We chose for me to stay home, to home-educate and raise six children. In the early days of mothering, I seemed to know the importance of cultivating. This usually meant a trip to the park for the kids to play, while I ate up the contents of a book. Cultivating meant taking walks with one in a stroller and the others on bikes,which gave me added energy AND a trim body. I would also escape to my bedroom during lunch time to steal away and watch a home decorating show... this was before HGTV. Each of these things would re-energize me, cultivate me.

I enjoyed creating and, in my early mothering days, I had a cabinet built for my sewing machine in the same room where the kids could play, while I sewed. I had my own business, where I could remain at home and still create. This allowed me the opportunity of cultivating my love for interior decorating. My business never took away from my mothering of four young children. Yet, it enhanced my mothering skills because I was cultivating myself, while learning to raise my children.

I read books, books, and more books. I seemed to have four or five going at all times that cultivated my mothering, my cooking, my spiritual walk, my home education and my business. I took evening classes on different pursuits, while also attending conferences.

Each mother needs to cultivate the woman God made her to be. A woman has so many facets of her life and each one reveals rays of the beautiful light God intended for her to share.

Somewhere between raising and guiding the first four through teenage-hood, I stopped growing. We moved to a new city, which was good. But when my eldest started high school, the full schedule put a hold on all my cultivating. As any gardener knows, if you don't cultivate the garden, your crop yield will be less and the weeds will invade your plot of land. As I put my tools down in order to maintain our busy schedule and adjust to our ever-decreasing finances, I allowed the weeds to take over the garden.

So, when our pastor talked about a woman needing to cultivate the gifts God had given her and how that was a priority in his stay-at-home wife's life, I had a sinking feeling in my soul. I stated to someone recently that I felt "lost", not knowing what I was supposed to do. Yes, I still have three children at home and two still need me full time. No, I am not re-entering the work force outside of my house, even though I am at the age for an empty nest. What I am going to do is go before the Lord and ask how to pick up my tools. They may not be the same tools He had used to cultivate me before, because this time, I first need to break up the hard ground. I need to know WHAT He wants to cultivate in me, WHICH gifts are still on my shelf that need to be brought down and WHICH gifts He wants to reveal in me now.

It is so easy to have life nail us with curve balls and we let them sideline us. When this happens, we justify setting our gifts down, usually because we feel we need to or just don't have the energy or resources to continue them. As our pastor explained, this puts a new level of importance on a wife being cultivated and that it is just as important for his wife to be cultivated in her gifts as it is for him to pastor his large congregation. These are gifts that God has given to us, to be used for his glory, to reflect Him with the many facets that shine from our lives.

I will pick up my tools once again and look forward to this new season of cultivating the woman God made me to be, while continuing to be a wife and mother. I am believing that while I am digging up hard soil, my family will be enriched by the new crop.

This is a re-post for when I began blogging. God is still working this truth in my life. Blogging and re-doing my home is a fruit of the cultivating I have started. I hope this re-post blesses you.

A Need for a New Topper

2011-10-24T06:41:00.000-07:00

There are just times in life when you just need a new topper.

In the life of a lamp, which brings such wonderful light into any matter,.there still comes a time for change.

This is a second post in Diamond Designs on a Dime.

My lamps have survived many knocks and bruises. I mean, try to life in a household with boys...basketballs and baseballs flying. Even if the residences of the home didn't send the lamp's parts flying at times...well let's say their friends could do some damage.

So with mixed emotions I decided that the memories from all the knocks over the past 16 year showed too much on the shades of our lamps. I just couldn't part with the bases at this time, having paid toooooooooooooo much for them years ago. But one too many tumbles had called for attention and updating of my light shiners.

Easy fix.....new lamp shades from Tuesday Morning.

I removed the old shades and traded them out. I took the finial at the top and painted them back instead of the gold color from past years.

Another new topper was a thrift store find and "dressing it up" for my kitchen.

Now all I need is to paint thrift store $4.00 base to bring in my retro-blue.

Now to add some more spice to the lamp shade.

A new lamp for my kitchen.

Look what some hot glue and pom pom fringe can do to a thrift store find....total cost $10.00.

Had I Been Joseph's Mother

2011-10-22T05:37:00.000-07:00

google image

This post is dedicated to Jill @Pathway to Purpose. Her oldest child has an on going health issue. She has been strong and expressed her faith at each turn of this journey. Today I dedicate this poem from Ruth Bell Graham to her and all mothers. We all go through seasons with our children in which there are struggles with physical, health or spiritual challenges. We will also see challenges again with our grand children, since we still live in a fallen world. Ruth Bell Graham experienced struggles with her own children, as well as, her grandchildren. She also witnessed God's faithfulness, yet her poems express the heart of a mother crying out to her Lord.

Had I Been Joseph's Mother

Had I been Joseph's mother

I'd have prayed

protection from his brothers.

"God, keep him safe.

He is so young,

so different from,

the others."

Mercifully,

she never knew

there would be slavery

and prison, too.

Had I been Moses' mother

I'd have wept

to keep my little son:

praying she might forget

the babe drawn from the water

of the Nile.

Had I not kept

him for her

nursing him the while,

was he not mine!

- and she

but Pharaoh's daughter?

Had I been Daniel's mother

I should have pled

"Give victory!

-this Babylonian horde

godless and cruel-

Don't let him be a captive

-better dead,

Almighty Lord!"

Had I been Mary,

Oh, had I been she,

I would have cried

as never mother cried,

"Anything, O God,

Anything....

-but crucified!"

With such prayers importunate

my finite wisdom would assail

Infinite Wisdom.

God, how fortunate

Infinite Wisdom

should prevail.

What is a Floor Cloth?

2011-10-20T05:47:00.000-07:00

This is one of four floor cloths I painted for the home school prom. This year it had been used for four prior proms.
Don't tell my son I used this picture....he is now 22 and has a serious girlfriend, which isn't the one in this picture.

My floor cloth from my kitchen brought about some questions....so here it goes.

Sonja has suggested I have a business called Janette's Diamond Designs on a Dime....instead I will name this my Diamond Designs on a Dime post One.

I painted my first floor cloth back in the early 80's during my country decorating style phase. It was 2'x3' and went in front of our fireplace.
Floor cloths go back to the Colonial Days and are still sold and designed today...many are works of art...google floor cloth and you will be amazed.....mine have just been useful
When the prom needed a floor covering to transform an area into a garden courtyard I began painting 10'x10' pebble-looking floor cloths. 1000's of prom attenders walked across these for years...I didn't seal any of them
Another time when we had a home with a very large bathroom with cold ceramic flooring I painted a floor cloth to bring color to the room and cover the cold floor
You can lay them on ceramic, no-wake floors...I would not suggest on wood or carpet

How to:

The following is how I have made floor cloths. You can find more extensive processes. I have never needed mine to survive for decades...even though mine never worn out I did finally get tired of them and threw them away.

Purchase a drop cloth - the quality of drop cloths vary. I bought cheap ones for the prom...$10.00 a piece...I bought a better quality for my kitchen - Lowe's Blue Hawk, Canvas Drop Cloth
I washed, dried and ironed my drop cloth before starting the project

You seal the floor cloth - for the prom I didn't do this step...we were going for fast and cheap...now remember it still lasted for years. For my kitchen I didn't omit this step. You seal the whole size of the floor cloth with Gesso. Start in the middle and work out...the floor cloth will stretch some

Draw your design on the dried Gesso - you can do complicated or easy

Paint your design with Acrylic Paint
I paint the back of my floor cloths with left over paint of any color...this seals the back of the floor cloth...again I didn't do this step for the prom...temporary floor cloth
Turn over your edges and glue or sew down

Seal the dried, finished floor cloth with clear Polyurethane - I paint a couple of coats
You can use different items to keep the floor cloth from slipping on your floor...I have never had any problem with this and haven't added anything on the back of the floor cloth.

That is all, now enjoy your new transformed floor.

I am off to make one for in front of our fire place....may show you soon.

Bible Best Sellers List

2011-10-17T06:09:00.000-07:00

Gideon...google image

Benjamin and I have been reading through the Old Testament in his Children's Bible. We approached the battle stories...which any little boy enjoys. David and Goliath, Joshua, Gideon and Deborah... all winning victory over their enemies. After reading through the top Biblical battles, I could see the titles on the Christian Top-Sellers list if these events happened today:

Walls Will Fall with a Shout - How to Conquer for Your Inheritance, by Joshua
Fool-Proof Business Associates - How to Pick Those You Want at Your Side, by Gideon
Women Can Lead The Way - How Women Can Overthrow the Competition - by Deborah and Jael
Only One Stone, No Need for More - Don't Overload Yourself, Lighten Up - by King David

I am sure you are getting the picture and can creatively add your own.

What struck me while reading with Benjamin was the fact that each battle was won in a different way. God didn't repeat. He didn't pass down the conquering handbook of past successes to each new commander. He usually took the most unlikely person and put them in charge. He did insane things...how could a shout cause walls to fall, lights in pots cause the defeat of a mighty army or a prophet laying on his side for the sins of a nation?

The Victory was going to be the Lord's Victory and not men's.

How many times have I run to the latest "Best Seller" to find what armor I am to wear. How am I to enter into the battle of life? How am I to win the Victory? to Parent? to be a Wife? to be a Christian? to eat right? to reach my neighbors for Christ?

What worked for David with one stone wasn't going to work for Gideon or Joshua. Why do I feel that someone else's victory, which had come only from the Lord... would work for me? Just because God gave the victory on how to lose weight, how to succeed in marriage, how to have children that never rebel................ (the list goes on and on) for others, does that mean it is for me? Other than God's own set of written laws, there are alot of variations He has placed in each of us that requires His own personal plan for our life. As our pastor said one day, "You know those parenting books were written from someone who it worked for, but they didn't have the same combination of personalities, sins, etc. that your family does... that is why it didn't work for you."

If the Lord wants the Glory to go to only Him......................then isn't it He that gives out the commands and orders to the win the battle He has given me?

This doesn't mean I will never read another book. It just means I need to make sure WHOSE commands I am following. The disappointment that comes when "Top-Seller" methods don't work only proves that their method wasn't what the Lord intended to win MY battle....it won the author's battle.

May I give back Saul's armor and be courageous enough to ask, "how do you want me to enter this battle?" "Lord, may the victory be yours and not mine. May your methods seem foolish to those around me so that no one can doubt it is YOU that has won the battle."

Once a Fashion Statement

2011-10-13T06:41:00.000-07:00

Just walk with me through those moments when you realize you really aren't a "young chicken". You pick up the latest fashion statement, while old memories rewind through your head, you anxiously try it on. Either you still have it all together and can still pull it off, or you have that "Aqua Velva" moment. If you know what the "Aqua Velva" moment is then you are admitting your age.

So, my vanity was slapped this summer. My husband wanted to buy me a new fashion accessory. I was less than excited until I saw it. Yes, it called to me across the packed aisles of Sam Moon. I put it on...oh, my... did I feel like........

Yes, from one of my All Time most favorite shows..."Funny Girl". Can you see her on the boat singing "Don't Rain on My Parade" tossing her head back with her hat? What beautiful hats! If you
want to watch and sing along.....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_g3kkGH8Mo&feature=related

Then I started to laugh internally while strolling toward my newly wanted accessory. My love affair with

The Hat

had begun in high school.

Okay, now this is your warning....all laughing will be heard through your

computer coming across to me. I have arranged for this to happen.

Laugh too hard and I will come pull out your old photos, too.

Yes, the Drill Team Hat. I wore her proudly and strutted with her presence upon my head. She accompanied me through the years of leading a small group of girls onto and off the field with the direction of my whistle...and yes, I still have the whistle, but didn't get to keep The Hat.

She once again adored my head at my wedding, along with six brides maids also wearing her.

She walked through my early years of motherhood. I wore many varieties to church... that was back in the days when you dressed up for church, not the flip-flops and jeans of today. I had a large red, straw-brim hat. I had a off-white felt hat. I can see them all.

Now I wouldn't be a Texan if I didn't, at some time, put on a cowboy hat.

Then styles changed and I put away the hats. I only remember once in the last two decades pulling it out for the last time...a beautiful orchid Easter hat.

Benjamin and I played with hats which were props for the Home School Prom. Yes, home school students have a prom...the last one I helped to decorate for had over 850 students...I must show those pictures one day.
Isn't Benjamin just a doll here? I now have a blackmail photo for when he is a teen....here he is, age 3.

As I bounced youthfully across the room, remembering my love affair with the hat, my vanity was put in check with the tags hanging off my hat. The long list of all the types of protection it gave you from the sun.

It was now a health issue that caused me to buy this hat....no longer a fashion statement!!

I realized that I am now in the category, not of a fashion statement, but a necessity. I am also not the age where I can wear a red hat with the Red Hat Club. I am now stuck in the middle of Hat - mid-life!

Kitchen Reveal

2011-10-10T06:30:00.000-07:00

Okay, okay... I was going to let you think I was Super Designer Woman, who leaps through decorating challenges in one bounce, producing in just days the same results as those on HGTV. Well, just in case you were thinking all this got done in a matter of days, I will come clean. The painting was done the weekend my husband went out of town...remember getting rid of my hormonal mood? The walls were painted during my painting marathon. The back splash didn't go as easy as I had hoped...so it draggggggggggggggggggged on and on. The curtains got cut out and then just sat and sat... which is dumb since I used to sew curtains with my eyes closed....it was my business. Let's just say it has been years and sewing insecurities took over for a month. Vee kept showing her sewing projects which inspired and convicted me to return to my former sewing days.
(Before pictures of kitchen, click here)

So what got done this week?...finished and installed the curtains, knife block, floor cloth, made wall pictures and arranged accents. Here she is...................

Back splash... painted solid then stenciled in diamonds and used art tape for the grout lines. Accent piece - red microwave.

All is temporary and can be painted over if needed when we move. If it was my own house, it would be real stone...but this gives the look I wanted for pennies. Sealed with clear matte polyurethane.

In place of a mosaic tile back splash, I found a temporary fix. This is a plastic tray I found at Target. When we move, I can take it down without damage to the wall. I can also take it off the wall for cleaning.

Walls went from calming green to energizing retro-turquoise blue. Retro-designed fabric was sewn into kitchenette valances. They were installed closer to the ceiling to bring your eye up... creating the illusion of higher ceilings. The hotel vertical blinds were exchanged for 2" faux-wood blinds.

Instead of curtain treatments on the back door, I cut out flowers from the material and starched them to the wall...again temporary.

Floor cloth still needs edges seamed and sealed. We had some "prayed-for rain", so I didn't get around to sealing it to protect it from wear.

The large space above my cabinets gives me plenty of room to decorate and combine past kitchens with the new kitchens. Accent pieces from all of my kitchens through the years are finding a new setting place..... Country, Tuscan and now adding new Retro kitchen accents.

More space around the top to add some new items...the hunt makes it fun.

This is the view from the opening to the den. I am standing behind the kitchen sink.

Here's a Breakdown for those interested:

40% off paint from Sherwin Williams
30% off curtain material at Hobby Lobby
Cheap 2" Faux Wood Blinds and Curtain Rods - Walmart
Drop Cloth - Lowes - finished 8 x 8 check floor cloth
Blue jar accents - 95% off at TJ Maxx
Baker's Rack - 50% off at Hobby Lobby
Tray from Target - stove back splash
Printed off Retro pictures - put in black frame I already owned

A happy wife who is still adjusting to not owning her own home...but learning to live in a temporary home.

Price Less
I hope you enjoyed the tour...thanks for the accountability...it really worked.
As for me being a huge sports fan...well I am not, I just watch my children play sports and stay up with what is happening in sports in order to communicate with my sons.
We also live in a city with four professional teams.
Getting the chance to yell...well, I will take that anytime....when it is to root someone on to score.

Burnt Orange or RED

2011-10-08T14:27:00.000-07:00

google imagine...a imagine I saw in real life for 38 years of my life, before moving north

Okay, what happens when three..."young-at-heart women"...get to challenging each other on whose team is going to win the....Red River Rivalry? You have alot of FUN!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, my allergy-blurred, mid-life-with-menopausal brain went into full gear. I took up the challenge.

I am sure you have one of these types of games in your area. Even if you usually don't watch sports, you hear about it. As I drove through town, the radio announced, "Welcome all of you here for THE GAME.", as if there weren't other games being played. We all knew what "The Game" meant.

All of that is to say....I bleed Burnt Orange. My Dad and Husband are both University of Texas graduates. I started going to their games at the impressionable age of 17, followed by attending my freshman year at the University of Texas.

During the final weeks of my pregnancy with my first-born, I loaded my large belly into a car and headed four hours north to watch the UT/OU game. My soon-to-be son flopped all over my belly during each touchdown of the game....the stadium crowd noise was unbelievable.

Years later, Benjamin(#6) was born within 24 hours of Texas winning the National Championship, under Vince Young...my family had threatened me NOT to go into labor during the game. I obliged and Benjamin was born while they were all still exhausted (having not slept the night before out of excitement over the Championship)....so I had dead-tired assistants at Ben's home birth.

So, when Lea threw down the gauntlet....well, I just couldn't let it go at that. I harassed back through our blogs...Sonja and I emailed through the devastating game, while I yelled my heart out. Three blogging friends who have never met....had fun!

My son did this for me and says this isn't enough punishment....he doesn't have the gift of mercy!!!

Today I post my defeat picture....and yes, I got my mascots straightened out....I mean, what is a Sooner????

So I bow to the winner... OU (don't expect that again) and just to let you know Lea....your time will come!!! This game was just shameful!!!

I also brag on the upcoming McCoy and Shipley Dynesty...we will arise again. UT also has a fight song I can sing (click to understand)

Hook 'em Horns!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Below is a picture of where both teams win....the game that matters most.

Here are my past posts telling about the Christian (click for post) young man Colt McCoy (another post) His younger brother is now playing at UT and wears number #6, which is half his brother's number #12.

I Interrupt the Previous Scheduled Post

2011-10-06T05:49:00.000-07:00

I interrupt the previous scheduled kitchen re-do post to have.... well a table talk!

I love my tables. I brought them all with me to our new dwelling. They are just sentimental pieces to me.

This table was bought when we only had five kids without any expectations of more,however,

that is not how the kids saw it.

This table seats eight and we only had seven, so they all said, "well that means one more Wright!"

At this time their ages ranged from 15 to 2.

So when our future daughter-in-law started eating meals with us...well she completed the 8...we thought.

Benjamin would enter the picture just years later to complete our family of 8, along with our new daughter-in-law (who technically came first), which extended our family to 9. For years Ben used the high chair.

Now family gatherings are around the large formal dining room table.

There is my story...here is the transformation this table has been through as our family also transitioned through life.

The table began its life with us with its original clear pine table top with white legs.
This worked great for years and then my painting bug hit me.
About 7 to 8 years ago I got out all my paints and attacked that white boring table.

This is when it is expanded to full size. Remember it has been in use for 8 years.
The more you use it the more it looks authentic.
The layers are red, gold, off-white, stencil and a stain.

The legs have an extra coat of paint...black, because I was experimenting with leaving them black.
I took my electric sander and danced around the surface, leaving worn marks, after all the coats of paint were applied and completely dry.
The stain went on last to age the look of the paint and bring protection with its polyurethane.

I sanded over the stencil to produce worn-out edges.

Chairs have multi-coats also...see I told you I had the gold before.

There is the tale of my table and I am sticking with it.
Right now I am dreaming about what colors I might add or paint so it enhances my kitchen.
That will be for another post and another day.
See you soon from the finished kitchen.

Upcoming Premier

2011-10-04T05:34:00.000-07:00

Last time you will see the eating area this calm!!

Some how my decorating roll petered out, but not my desire to transform our new dwelling It just had to step aside while adjusting to the new school year and all that extra time I thought I had on my hands...well I haven't found it yet.

So I am creating accountability for myself by giving a upcoming premier of my kitchen. This should jump kick my roll again...hopefully, and make sure my kitchen is "some what" finished by this weekend.

Blogging before pictures will hold my feet to the heat to show the "some what " finished product...or else disappear in procrastination shame. Now the kitchen will not be totally finished by this weekend, because I plan to enjoy slowlyyyyyyyyyyyyyy finding the right accents, but the bones will be in place. The upper cabinets will be adored with past kitchen accents, keeping memories alive, while along side the old will be new pieces to go with my retro-theme. The hunt is part of the thrill of creating a room.

Come on in for the before shots...

Here is that year 2000 green...notice the back splash is the same color as the walls. Too much green...didn't stage my pictures...sorry!

More green walls....I have got to do something with my pantry door!!! Knife block will be changing. Small island...but a good place to put something fun.

Inspirations!

Remember I said I was going to be bold in one room!!! I want cheerful for my kitchen

Another theme piece...will be carrying out this theme in different places in the kitchen.

Now are you starting to guess which way I am going????

The hotel blinds have been removed....again cheap 2" white faux woods in their place...letting the sun in.

I have one window properly dressed in her kitchen glory.

The rug under my painted table....well a floor cloth will be taking its place..so long jewel tones.. Love those drop cloths.

Stencil and diamonds...will found themselves at home again in my kitchen.

All on a very minimum budget...another challenge that just makes it all fun.

See you Soon!!!!

Oh My!, I Sang That?

2011-10-01T06:47:00.000-07:00

google image...our son's high school football stadium

Now before I begin, I have to remind new readers of where I am coming from. Yes, I am 50 years old with four adult children and two still at home. We home schooled our first four through high school and now have our fifth in public high school. Our first four all played home school sports - basketball and baseball, through different organizations. During their home school days football wasn't a sport played by home school students.
Okay...that is the summary.

So we went to our first high school football game in over 30 years on Thursday night. Now remind you we have been to college and professional football games, but I have to say there is something about a high school football game that just brings back memories.

As I sat on the bench feeling years younger, I started chanting to the opposing teams fight song. The music was the same used by my high school armada. Singing into my teen's son ears...(yes, one of those moments where they roll their eyes at you indicating the thoughts of "Mom, you are crazy"), I caught myself in mid-chant. Surely I didn't sing that fight song in high school. Oh, my...not right-winged-correct, not left-winged-correct, not even politically correct....I mean we were minors...this would be illegal.

Another background note. I am at least a third generation tea-totler....always have been and still am. I have never had a beer...and very little liquor has ever touched my mouth...the drinks I have had were as an adult. This has been my own personal conviction from my youth. So I was surprised to remember my school's fight song and the words... well what would you think? (note: melody is the same as the Notre Dame fight song)

Beer beer for old Austin High

Bring out the whiskey, bring out the rye
Send those freshmen out for gin, and don't let a sober SENIOR in
We never stagger, we never fall
We sober up on wood alcohol
All ye saints of Austin High are out on the drunk again

Yes! that is our fight song. Now I just started laughing when I realized what it said. I yelled it at the top of my lungs for four straight years. I led it with my drill team. As a Mom, I would probably protest the use of this age-long fight song. I mean we have enough teen drinking without using it as our fight song.

As I giggled to myself, I also realized how it has so much to do with the heart. My heart was before the Lord through high school....and even in my naive chanting of a fight song I still survived. I also was so thankful for the faithfulness of my God who walked me through those years with very little scares. This is my prayer for my new high school son. May we all remember to pray for this generation as they fight the temptations set before them. May God protect their hearts.

(We only got to see one quarter of the football game. A lightening storm shut down the game...that was also a first in our life, and we had to leave the field. They resumed the game an hour later and we won!)

Fall Applause

2011-09-29T05:14:00.000-07:00

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How does the saying go? "You don't appreciate what you have until it is gone". I can now say that about summers past. How could one appreciate our usual hot summers unless you live through a summer of scorching heat. Yes, we set new weather records. We had 70 days of 100-plus temperature...far above norm in our otherwise hot, summer state. These records also caused us set our own personal records for the most days with air conditioning and staying inside. So I appreciate the normal heat of summers past after the summer of 2011!

Today, I want to share my Fall Applause. The heat, still here at times, has also bowed her head to rejuvenating cool mornings. The anticipation of Fall can be smelled for a few hours in the early morning, while I set to take in all the possibilities of the season before me.

Cool enough to open the windows! Letting the breeze rush over my shoulders as I have my quiet time, just renews my energy and delight in this coming season.

The breeze also ushers in the sounds of the high school band practicing...a sure sign that Fall is here, even though afternoons call for the air conditioner. As the band plays, my memory drifts back to early morning drill team practices in the Fall during high school....and of course, high school football!

I hope you are enjoying your first taste of Fall and letting the cool breezes bring back days of past Falls. May we appreciate this time of year before she is swept away by winter's cold.

Celebrating You!

2011-09-26T00:01:00.000-07:00

This post is dedicated to you the bloggers. I am here cheering from the sideline saying,

"Thank-You! You all Rock!"

I wish I could write pages and pages of celebration about each one of you....I have been truly blessed. Today I want to stop and celebrate the artistry of two fellow bloggers and one that I had the joy to meet.

Sandy of Faith, Hope and Love is what I would call a vessel of refined silver. The story goes that the silver smith will heat the silver, pulling the dross to the top...the dross is the impurities in the silver. He would remove the dross and continue to heat until he can see his own reflection in the refined silver.
Sandy reflects the image of her Savior. Her blog has inspired me to push in on my relationship with the Lord, as have so many other Christian bloggers post.

She is also a creator of beautiful jewerly. I am honored to own this necklace from Sandy's creative hands. With my necklace she wrote the meaning behind each stone and the word God had given her for me through this necklace. She will be starting a blog to sell her beautiful creations.

This necklace is a Christmas gift for a love one who gives herself selfishly daily to serve others.

Cindy at Letters from Midlife is another artist. She glorifies the Lord through her camera lens and writing. She combines her talent in photography with her love for hand-written notes. She sells her cards also (click on her name to see). Her cards were the first mail I received in my new mail box.

Then last week I had the honor of meeting a fellow blogger...Lori @ His Song to Sing.
She was traveling through my city and we meet at a wonderful little bistro. She brought with her two, life-long friends to join us. The three women just glowed with the Glory of the Lord and their love and support of each other is a true gift from God. It was my pleasure to meet them all. It was a delight to see each other in three dimension!

Lori was as dignifed and gracious as she comes across on her blog. This meeting was a wonderful blessing.

By putting flesh on another blogger I realized what an honor it is to enter into the blog world and meet women from all over the world.

So today I celebrate each of you. I pray for you and ask the Lord to continue to bless you and your family. Thanks for all your comments and visits. What an awesome tool the Lord is using to expand and encourage His Bride. How beautiful is the Bride of Christ.

Have a wonderful week.

High Hopes

2011-09-23T06:37:00.000-07:00

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Just what makes that silly of ant think he can move a rubber tree plant?

This past week brought some challenges. Tears were flowing out of frustration, prayers were being prayed and directions were being sought. In the midst of this time Benjamin and I were studying ants. There is so much to be learned from the ant.

Through this bump in the road, God swept down and gave me a laughing hug. So, as I looked at the suggested song for Benjamin's study on ants, I burst into singing this little child's song. Oh my, just like we have all stated before...the Power of Music. In just seconds I was grinning and the burden was lighter as we sang about the ant.

If you haven't already watched the precious video I will share with you the words.

My desire for you this weekend is that you have High Hopes and all your Problems Go Kerplop. We are entering a new week like the ant and the ram....not letting go of our High Hopes!
(*dedicated to my precious high school son who had a very hard week)

Writer(s): Cahn/Van Heusen

Next time you're found, with your chin on the ground
There a lot to be learned, so look around

Just what makes that little old ant
Think he'll move that rubber tree plant
Anyone knows an ant, can't
Move a rubber tree plant

But he's got high hopes, he's got high hopes
He's got high apple pie, in the sky hopes

So any time you're gettin' low
'stead of lettin' go
Just remember that ant
Oops there goes another rubber tree plant

When troubles call, and your back's to the wall
There a lot to be learned, that wall could fall

Once there was a silly old ram
Thought he'd punch a hole in a dam
No one could make that ram, scram
He kept buttin' that dam

but he's got high hopes, he's got high hopes
He's got high apple pie, in the sky hopes

So any time you're feelin' bad
'stead of feelin' sad
Just remember that ram
Oops there goes a billion kilowatt dam

All problems just a toy balloon
They'll be bursted soon
They're just bound to go pop

Oops there goes another problem kerplop
Oops, there goes another problem kerplop
Oops, there goes another problem kerplop
Kerplop!

A Heritage to Leave

2011-09-21T05:49:00.000-07:00

google image - I think this bookstore is what most readers wish we still had. Isn't it wonderful when you go into a bookstore where the workers have read books?

Many people plan and work all their lives to leave behind a heritage to their children. I feel this is an admirable goal. A passed-down heritage seems to give us roots, no matter where God may plant us.

Unless God brings about a miracle, we will not be leaving behind a financial heritage to our children, but my heart's cry is that the heritage we pass down has spiritual roots with heaven as the prize.

I do, however, have a material heritage I would love to hand over to our future generations. As you all contributed to the list of books that you have enjoyed and enriched your lives, I let my dream expand.

Throughout the years of home schooling, I have fallen in love with wonderful children's books. My kids would tell people that I bought a book a day...not true, but in their eyes the bookshelves were filling up fast. As I learned books could go out-of-print, I would make sure we had copies of our favorites. I still pull many of those favorites out as decorations for my coffee table during the year. In many of the books, I have printed the date bought and who the book was read to....this is how I plan to remember it when I cuddle up to read the book to a grandchild and say, "yes, your 'mommy or daddy' read this when they were.......... old."

As we moved to different homes, my older sons laughed while hauling all the book boxes. Mockingly, they said their children won't be reading printed books, only electronic books. They also laughed that the only place their kids would see printed books would be at my house....well, that is just fine with me. Time will tell. I am not letting go of my books.

Also lining my bookshelves are spiritual growth books. My children haven't come home yet to borrow them, but time brings many life experiences and I hope one day they will glean from the wealth held in the books that I continue to pack and carry to our new homes. Most books are highlighted and tagged, with even some of their names in the margins or covers because I was thinking of them when I read a passage in a book. Many just show the different seasons of life and my spiritual growth as a wife, mother and daughter of the King of Kings. The covers may look dated, but the truths within the pages are timeless ones.

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Here is my dream library for all those who want to sneak away from the world and get caught up in the world of books. I can just imagine snuggling up on the little couch to read to a grandchild...or by myself.

Thanks so much for joining me on my post, "Exercising My Brain". Many of you have enjoyed some of the same jewels I have enjoyed and others added new ones to my list of "want to read". You might enjoy going back and reading through the list given.

Maybe one day my dream library will become reality....when it does, I will invite you to come to curl up and enjoy a book. Even if I don't have the room I will still have the books...a material heritage for our future generations.

Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers. ~Charles W. Eliot

I Trust in Jesus - Sunday Singings

2011-09-18T06:00:00.000-07:00

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Second to reading the Word of God (Holy Bible), along with other books that have increased my walk of faith, is music. Music has spoken to my heart as powerful at times as the written or spoken word.

As my older ones entered their teen years I made a conscience effort to reach out to different genres of music. One group I embraced was Third Day. I remember my oldest attending their concerts and pumping their songs through our house. My now fifteen-year-old son...then just a toddler, would bounce to songs of his brother's music...all giving praise to the Lord God.

I will not be "silent" nor will I allow the rocks to cry out in Praise louder than I. I will lift my hands to a Holy God and offer up my sacrifice of praise.

Today I share one of my newest favorite praise songs. The video is wonderful. I have also posted the words for those who don't care to listen or watch. My desire is that you will enter into Praise as I dedicate this post again to my grandmother...the one who took me to Sunday Singings. I am sure she is in heaven tapping her toe in Praise and lifting up her hands to her Lord.

I also read this article Shaking America and the World (click to read)(thanks Susan) this week which seems to go with this song and my finished reading on Jonah. I was convicted and stirred.

One of these days we all will stand in judgment for
Every single word that we have spoken
One of these days we all will stand before the Lord
Give a reason for everything we've done
And what I've done is

Trust in Jesus
My great Deliverer
My strong Defender
The Son of God
I trust in Jesus
Blessed Redeemer
My Lord forever
The Holy One, the Holy One

What are you going to do when your time has come
And your life is done and there's nothing you can stand on
What will you have to say at the judgment throne
I already know the only thing that I can say I

There's nothing I can do on my own to find forgiveness
It's by His grace alone I trust in Jesus
Trust in Jesus

I Trust in Jesus!

Need to Exercise My Brain

2011-09-14T05:18:00.000-07:00

Now I have decided if I have to give up my morning Chia Tea....then just give me a shovel and I will dig my own grave....giving up my tea isn't gonna happen. Since I am also a Native Texan...living just miles from the original Dr Pepper factory...well an occasional Dr Pepper (I take mine with sugar cane please) is also on my list of "guiltless pleasures".

We are all learning to continue to watch what we eat...organic, whole grain, no fat, lean meats, more fiber...etc. etc., while pushing ourselves to exercise on a regular basis.

As a Christian I know I can't add a day to my life...God has already determined my home coming, nor can I totally decide the quality of my health. Our pastor who ate only organic, exercised, supplemented and kept his body is tip-top shape reminds us that even with all that human effort he still came down with brain cancer, as he declares God's sovereignty each week through his sermons. I can be faithful to the temple God has given me and leave the rest to Him.

So I was knocked off my bike peddling legs when I read this comment.

It's amazing to me that our culture can be so smart and deliberate about physical nutrition and so mindless about the spiritual, intellectual, and emotional content of the ideas we consume. We're so casual about what goes into our minds and then end up in therapy desperately trying to change what's in there. I'm convinced that if we took half the care to guard our minds that we do to guard our bodies, in about five years we would be amazed at the transformation that has taken place in our heart and relationships. Chip Ingram from Good to Great in God's Eyes

Wow! Now I have to confess I put the book down... pedaled a little harder, to get rid of more calories and just mediated on that thought. Now if I am going to get up early each morning to work-out and invest in my health...I need to also invest in my brain....Some Stinking Thinking Needs to Go!

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Ingram goes on to admonish the reading of scripture...meditate and memorize. I know that fact...but have I been faithful to realize that I need my spiritual muscles more than my physical muscles?

After the Word of God he explains how Great Books expand our minds and change us. My loaded down bookshelves testify to the readings which have affected my life, yet I was challenged to see how I need to do more. It is time to make a list and start exercising my brain more. It is time to enter fall with a dream to expand and grow mental muscles.

So today I am asking you to give me some of your favorites. What book has changed your life? What is your favorite "just for fun" book? I am not a fiction reader...so I am trying to expand my limited knowledge of books in that area. What is the most inspirational book you have read?

If you could only take five books with you and you could never have any more....what five would you take?

Thanks for sharing....I am excited about this re-newed zeal to work on my thinking.

Simple Joy - Comics

2011-09-12T05:35:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a very sobering day. We put out our flag..the only one on our street...and turned on the television to watch the memorial services. Like everyone else in America I can remember the morning forever sketched in my mind and heart. As a home school mom we were all in our school room starting our studies when my husband yell, "turn on the television!!!!!" and we watched in horror the events unfold.

Since we lived within two miles of a major airport we discussed if we needed to leave the area...but where was it safe? We fell to our knees and as a family began to pray. As the days past and all planes were grounded, we lived in a constant reminder of the events because of the deafening silence of the air over our home.

The day planes were allowed to fly I heard them boom over our home, I ran outside in tears....the silence had been broken and life would go forward in a new way.

Each of us have heard the stories and will continue to hear them throughout the remaining days of our life's.

Today I share a Simple Sunday Joy with you....reading the Sunday paper, along with the comics. Yesterdays comics just summed it up so well. How many times the comics bring us joy....and now they remind us also of what is important...so I share with you the ones that jumped from the pages of my newspaper.

Hardship - Silently Adapt

2011-09-07T07:43:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of the bristle cone pine called the Methuselah Tree. This tree is the oldest known living organism, surviving at elevations of 10,000 to 11,000 feet in California, believed to be about 4,723 years old.

This tree was alive when Pharaoh built the pyramids, Moses led the Israelites through the wilderness, the Roman Empire conquered the known world and Jesus Christ was born, died and resurrected.

Characteristics of Methuselah:
1) flourishing through extreme hardships over long periods of time
2) adapts to a changing environment
3) surviving in barren landscape
4) during droughts, it becomes dormant
5) starving off portions of itself to feed small parts, based on availability of water and nutrients

Wow! All of creation points to the Creator and the Creator leaves behind messages to us, his creations.

The message my Creator shouted through this creation was to develop the ability to adapt. Through all the different weather conditions, the Methuselah Tree has learned to adapt to the environment...not to be killed by the storms. Although it appears to be dead, it is still alive. The gnarled appearance has been caused by extremely harsh environmental conditions over centuries of time.

I have the same Creator as the Methuselah Tree, and He, and only He can see me through extreme hardships with peace as my guide. Can I silently adapt?

I am not known for silence, unless I am extremely angry, so silently adapting will have to be God.

God speaks through so many things in our lives. Today, it was this 5000-year-old miracle tree named Methuselah.

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world." (Psalm 19:1-4; cf. Psalm 97:6)

This is a re-post from last year - because God seems to be speaking the same words to me again...sorry if you have already read it...I am sure I am speaking to myself.

Prayers are with our neighbors here in Texas that have lost so much due to the fires that are scorching the country side. May the Lord be with them all and for all the firefighters and recovery teams being sent into these areas.

What Were They Thinking?

2011-09-05T08:22:00.000-07:00

It use to be cool....well that was the slang word then for being with the crowd. I wore it proudly. I was a stylish-drill team member in high school when the fashion industry introduced the ring. At least that is what I told myself as I adorned my finger with the fashion statement. Since school rooms were usually cold what my ring indicated had nothing to do with the truth....it was always black.

Mood Rings!

Recently I noticed this fashion statement of the 70's is back in style.

Now really....What were they thinking?

Surely it is still for the young.

I don't think the world needs to know the mood of middle-age, menopausal women. I think we show it very clearly and I don't think any of us really want to read indicators on a ring. I don't need a color to announce my mood....thank-you! Besides we might need our own chart to tell the truth of the matter. Now wouldn't that be marketing tool....Tell the Mood of a Middle-Age Woman

So this is one retro-fashion statement I will not endorse. How about you? Do you want to wear a Mood Ring? Did you wear one?
I hope you have a wonderful "mood" week!

The Writing is on the WALL

2011-09-01T05:35:00.000-07:00

I haven't cross-stitched in years....I would need very powerful glasses to do this again.

As I meander through old items, deciding again what to keep and what to trash, I am noticing that I have always had words on my walls. I first began this talking wall journey with cross-stitching. I don't think I ever cross-stitched anything that didn't have words. Then I bought pictures with words. I also dreamed of our old home, which had those wonderful 24-foot walls, speaking out quotes, scriptures and words hand-inscribed up and down. That dream wasn't fulfilled....but let's say I am drawn to the new vinyl letters like a bee to honey. I also expressed some thoughts through vinyl in our previous rent house, and they do remove easily.

The wall was painted down to hide it's worn days of welcoming people up the stairs.

Here is my wall of words! This wall is on the landing of our stairs. It isn't visible to the casual visitors to our home...you have to be invited up the stairs. The vinyl words...and yes, I will be adding some on the side walls...speak to you among the stories in each of the family pictures.

My collection of two-year-old pictures are mixed in with pictures of our ever-growing family, both past and present.

The vinyl letters were bought at half-price and all the frames were under $5.00 a piece...so an economical way to decorate a boring wall.

I even changed out the light...yes I did it myself...electrical wiring and all!

Everything looks a little better with some light on it.

As my family descends the stairs to start their day, they are greeted by my mirror with the word "Courage".(past post on making mirror)

This is an unusual place for a mirror, but it seems to remind us all...check out what you look like, see your heritage behind you on the wall and face the world with His Courage.

So there is my wall of words and my family. It tells the story of two people who joined in marriage 31 years ago and what the Lord has done. The wall still has space...the story continues.

Sitting Quietly

2011-08-29T07:22:00.000-07:00

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Today I have five hours without children. Today I enter a new phase of my life. Today begins two days a week to focus on other things besides home schooling. So, today I woke wondering what I was going to do. Not that I don't have a long "to-do" list, but where was I suppose to spend my energy?

Our family has had in the last two weeks several storms hit us. Each of these storms has long rage affect on all of us...one is eternal. I saw them coming. God prepared me to face the storms, but I still feel a little beat up by the effects of them raging. He isn't finished yet and His promises are true, so I look to the future with peace, but my flesh is tired. He has created the storm and He is in the midst of the storm with me.

Then today I stopped to pick up my devotional and read the wrong day, but God knew... He was going to speak. I am sharing it with you since it spoke to me so directly. I pray that it speaks to someone else also. I will do as it suggests. God has spoke on what my plans are for my first free day.....sitting quietly before Him.

Jesus Calling by Sarah Young

Demonstrate your trust in Me by sitting quietly in My Presence. Put aside all that is waiting to be done, and refuse to worry about anything. This scared time together strengthens you and prepares you to face whatever the day will bring. By waiting with Me before you begin the day's activities, you proclaim the reality of My living Presence. This act of faith - waiting before working-is noted in the spirit world, where your demonstration of trust weakens principalities and powers of darkness.
The most effective way to resist evil is to draw near Me. When you need to take action, I will guide you clearly through My Spirit and My Word. The world is so complex and overstimulating that you can easily lose your sens of direction. Doing countless unnecessary activities will dissipate your energy. When you spend time with Me, I restore your sense of direction. As you look to Me for guidance, I enable you to do less but accomplish more.

Luke 12:22-28, Eph. 6:12, Prov. 16:3

May you have a blessed week and God directs your path.

Oops Paint and Teen's Room

2011-08-24T04:50:00.000-07:00

When you hit those little bumps in the road that want to pull you into the pit of giving up, a good friend with an encouraging word can sure help you to just jump over the bump.

This was the case when I entered our dirty and decoratively-challenged new dwelling. I strolled through our new place with less-than-graceful or designer-possibility eyes. God in His wisdom knew what He was up to when He brought a good friend to view things differently. As I pointed out all the faults of this design- challenged home...more than had ever presented themselves to me in my lifetime.......she just smiled with, "it is all cosmetic!"

The rooms were abundant in size, yet the "slopped" (and I am being nice when I say "slopped") on painted walls were way-less-than desirable

I promised my son, whose wall had been "slopped" over with yellow paint to half-way cover the once-totally pink walls, that I would come to his male-ego rescue. The shared, boys' bathroom would also be raised from the dead... as soon as I could find the money tree.

God in His mercy gave me vision for each room in the house...so reconstruction started and I have already completed two rooms' transformation.

One of the most cost-efficient ways to transform a room is with paint. However, even that can become very costly when painting a whole house. In the past I have been known to paint full bedrooms in Oops paint.

Oops paint? Well, they are the gallons or quarts of paint that someone brings back for some reason...usually not the color they thought. My developed eye doesn't have trouble grabbing a gallon...usually about $5.00 or a little more, to see what I can create. So last week, the last week before the start of school, I took my teenage son to go look at oops paint. I had a vision in my head...he didn't. I looked first, then allowed him to survey what they had. He picked out exactly what I knew he would....now for the transformation.

Antique bed...spray painted in brown...mine from when I was a teen.

I had already bought him a very reasonable (cheap) comforter for his bed...remember, teenage boy. We attacked the walls with his chocolate paint. He had envisioned all four walls in chocolate...I had not. To my excitement, we ran out of the chocolate paint after two walls were completed. There was just enough left to put my creative slant on the walls. I continued the chocolate paint on a horizontal border going around the second two walls. A lighter taupe...left over from a past project, finished up the walls.

Western art, metal signs and a cowboy boot has started our accents in his room. "Keep it simple, so it will stay clean" is my battle cry on teen boys' rooms....I am picking my battles.

This wall will probably hold all the sports pictures from high school.
We still have more accents to finish.

I was on a roll...yes, a paint roll... On to the bathroom. Since this bathroom will be shared by a 22 year-old-college son, a 15 year-old-high-school freshman and our precious non-stop talker. age 5....it had alot to accommodate. The size is great...but past colors were still showing out from under every corner, baseboard and tile possible..does anyone know how to paint? In came the color used at the top of the horizontal border from the son's room.

I gathered up all the car pictures, posters, and accents I could find from our different collections. I ran to buy cheap...(remember, boys again), shower curtain, towels and rug. I used these pieces to add the punch of color...RED. In one day. I had the bathroom up and functioning well.

I am still trying to decide if it needs a racing stripe going vertical in red....what do you think?

My motto, "If it doesn't look good....go grab some paint....and just possibly the oops paint will work the best."

Also grab that friend who can give you a new perspective.
Thanks Angie!

Here We Go - Because I Am the Mom

2011-08-22T06:04:00.000-07:00

I have been hearing this song running in my head as we start our school year.

It is just tooooooooooooooooo true.

So today enjoy with me the Momisms Song!

Pat yourself on the back for all the years you have also said these words.

Laugh! Singing along! For all of you with children at home....nod and get fired up.

If you can't view the wonderfully funny video, here are the words set to William Tell.

She is just the greatest....don't miss it.
I might just run this song on full blast each morning, so I won't have to do it myself.

Thanks for all the Kleenex...first day was wonderful...now today starts the real deal.
It is going to be a good year for us all.

(Still 100 plus degrees here...no rain)

Get up now
Get up now
Get up out of bed
Wash your face
Brush your teeth
Comb your sleepy head
Here’s your clothes
And your shoes
Hear the words I said
Get up now
Get up and make your bed
Are you hot?
Are you cold?
Are you wearing that?
Where’s your books and your lunch and your homework at?
Grab your coat and your gloves and your scarf and hat
Don’t forget you got to feed the cat
Eat your breakfast
The experts tell us it’s the most important meal of all
Take your vitamins so you will grow up one day to be big and tall
Please remember the orthodontist will be seeing you at three today?
Don’t forget your piano lesson is this afternoon
So you must play
Don’t shovel
Chew slowly
But hurry
The bus is here
Be careful
Come back here
Did you wash behind your ears?
Play outside
Don’t play rough
Would you just play fair?
Be polite
Make a friend
Don’t forget to share
Work it out
Wait your turn
Never take a dare
Get along
Don’t make me come down there
Clean your room
Fold your clothes
Put your stuff away
Make your bed
Do it now
Do we have all day?
Were you born in a barn?
Would you like some hay
Can you even hear a word I say?
Answer the phone
Get Off the phone
Don’t sit so close
Turn it down
No texting at the table
No more computer time tonight
Your iPod’s my iPod if you don’t listen up
Where you going and with whom and what time do you think you’re coming home?
Saying thank you, please, excuse me
Makes you welcome everywhere you roam
You’ll appreciate my wisdom
Someday when you’re older and you’re grown
Can’t wait ‘til you have a couple little children of your own
You’ll thank me for the counsel I gave you so willingly
But right now
I thank you NOT to roll your eyes at me
Close your mouth when you chew
Would appreciate
Take a bite
Maybe two
Of the stuff you hate
Use your fork
Do not you burp
Or I’ll set you straight
Eat the food I put upon your plate
Get an A, Get the door
Don’t get smart with me
Get a Grip
Get up here I’ll count to 3
Get a job
Get a life
Get a PhD
Get a dose of…
I don’t care who started it
You’re grounded until your 36
Get your story straight
And tell the truth for once for heaven’s sake
And if all your friends jumped off a cliff
Would you jump too?
If I’ve said it once, I’ve said at least a thousand times before that
You’re too old to act this way
It must be your father’s DNA
Look at me when I am talking
Stand up straighter when you walk
A place for everything
And everything must be in place
Stop crying or I’ll give you something real to cry about
Oh!
Brush your teeth
Wash your face
Get your PJs on
Get in bed
Get a hug
Say a prayer with Mom
Don’t forget
I love you
**KISS**
And tomorrow we will do this all again because a mom’s work never ends
You don’t need the reason why
Because
Because
Because
Because
I said so
I said so
I said so
I said so
I’m the Mom
The mom
The mom
The mom
The mom
Ta-da

Written and performed by Anita Renfroe (copyright 2007 Bluebonnet
Hills Music/BMI)

Happy Monday!

Hand the Kleenex Please

2011-08-19T06:32:00.000-07:00

Today I stand in the Boo Hoo breakfast group. I join those new moms who have just dropped their kids off for school for the first time. Wiping their tears as their little one enters the new world of education the mother's see their children are growing up.

Now you all are laughing at me....since you know that my Boo Hoo breakfast is because my 6'4" tall, brown-eyed-baby boy enters public high school. The new adventure begins as this home school mom of 23 years hands over the reigns of educating my fifth child through high school to someone else.

Could anyone have more confirmations on a decision they have made? I can LOUDLY SAY NO!! on this decision. God has confirmed at every corner. His provision and direction have been unmistakable.

So while we attend our first PTA meeting and I still have one foot in the home school circles with Benjamin....well just hand me the Kleenex.

My excitement for this adventure is only compared to the year I started home schooling our oldest. I love that God in His wisdom has said, "Janette, I have dished up for you a life full of many experiences. You will be a mom of multi-generations at one time. You will know the sides of home schooling and public school. You will be able to relate to the tired mother with a young one, while hugging the mother whose child just said "I do" in marriage. You Janette, will be able to say, "Been there", with true compassion."

He is now a "Wildcat"....and here is something that has never been in our house....everything is new. You know like your first day of school or your child's' first day.

I am now joining the Moms in Touch group for the high school. Oh prayer, that just so excites me. I will also be working as assistant room mom for the two day school Benjamin will attend. I will be the fan at the sports events yelling, "Stephe-ooooooooo"... as my son enters the basketball court and baseball field! I will encourage the new home school moms at Benjamin's coop school also.

I will have two days a week by myself...first time in 28 years of parenting! Now what will I do?
I need another Kleenex.

Time to Run and Set Down My Suitcases

2011-08-15T18:45:00.000-07:00

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I want to run!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't want to be encumbered. I don't want to be afraid.

I want to live life to the fullest.

Recently I have had an excitement in my spirit. I am not sure what it all means, but I do know that I don't want to be weighed down...I want to be free to run.

The closing song at the end of my post Suitcases by Dara McLean just seemed to speak what is brewing in my heart. Time to set down the suitcases. I have set down suitcases along the way during my life, but I think I have turned back and picked some up.

Some possible suitcases that can weigh us down :

Fear - For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7
Feelings of Intimidation or Inferiority - "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."
Eleanor Roosevelt
Lack of or Inadequate Education - Lack of or uncompleted education didn't stop these people - Bill Gates, Michael Dell, Dave Thomas (Wendy's founder), Bobby Flay(high school drop-out, Food Network guru)
Age - Mary Kay began her company at age 47, Moses was 80, The Colonel started KFC at age 65, Sarah was in her 90's when she gave birth to the promised one... Issac.
Resources/Money - 2 Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything; you may have an abundance for every good deed;
Excuses - post on this pest (last October), link here and here - I think this suitcase probably weighs most of us down the most....it has to go.
Lack of Faith - for we walk by faith, not by sight. II Corn. 5:7
many more that can only be revealed through prayer, I am sure you can add to this list.

Now to let the Lord's hand release the hold these suitcases have on my life, so that I can run the race set before me.

Here is the catchy song which encouraged me to look at the load I need to set down. You can hear it on You Tube (it is a toe tapping tune)...here are the words. (don't miss the end after the song)

SUITCASES Lyrics

Dara MacLean

How can you move when they’re weighing you down
What can you do when you’re tied to the ground
Yeah

You carry your burdens
Heavy like gravity
Just let them go now
There’s freedom in relief

You can’t run when you’re holding suitcases
It’s a new day
Throw away your mistakes and
Open up your heart
Lay down your guard
You don’t have to be afraid
Just breathe
Your love can be lifted
There’s a better way when you know you’re forgiven
Open up your heart
Lay down your guard
You don’t have to be afraid

Can you imagine what it’s like to be free
Oh oh oh
We’ll send them backpackin’
They’re now what you need
Vending your troubles
By the side of the street
Just let them go now
Believe me

There’s nothing holding you back now
Just run

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I hope you set down your suitcases and run! Meet you at the finish line!

Just Missed the Record

2011-08-13T06:12:00.000-07:00

We were hoping we were going to need one of these

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Our anticipation and excitement grew as we saw this come over our house

We ran out so we didn't miss this long awaited event. As the clouds covered the sky over our home the sun had to take a break from the scorching heat we had been under for months. We were two days from the record breaking 42 consecutive days of 100 or more degree weather held from 1980. We also needed those drops of silver refreshment to quench the drought ridden, cracked earth which resulted in dead grasses.

As Benjamin and I watched in excitement, Ben said in a matter of fact voice, "Well yes there will be rain. Dad prayed for it last night." I pointed to the divided clouds giving way to the glaring sun just over the horizon. "Dad asked for US to have rain." Somehow his little mind felt the answered prayers were for our yard only.

The clouds stopped our consecutive 100 degree weather. Friday took us back into the 100 plus degrees, but before we got back to 100plus, we went to discover our new neighborhood park.

How funny that your perspective can change on what is hot. We felt cool while playing in the high 80's and low 90's degree on the still summer day.

The re-fueled energy from the lower temperature gave me the desire to join Benjamin on the swing set. Allowing my legs to reach toward the sky in children's play on the swing....once again realizing that the life and the faith of a child are precious.

How long has it been since you have swung in a swing? You might try it again....I didn't jump out.

Look what woke me up at 4 am.....yes RAIN! Benjamin will be so excited when he gets up.

It is still slowly coming down....slowly soaking the tired ground and refreshing our scorched land.

Happy 6th Anniversary to my son and daughter-in-law, we are so proud of you both and love you dearly.