The Simple Things In Life

It is Saturday morning. The kids get up...they get us up...they want "bekfas", according to Titus. So, here I go on the journey to decide on what to have for breakfast. After going through all of the options we decide on pancakes. And not just any pancakes, they want Mickey Mouse Pancakes like Grandaddy makes. So, this is how our day started. The four of us enjoying pancakes, bacon, and eggs together.

After clearing the table and cleaning the kitchen I got a quick run in before we had to get dressed to go to Jordan's last soccer game of the season. This is our second season of soccer with him and OH MY GOODNESS!!!! How he has improved!!!! He made two goals today...two! We were down 3-2 and Jordan was going in for his last quarter of the game. As I was tucking in his shirt, I say to him, (in "non-competitive" soccer), "Son, we are down right now. This is your last chance to score. This is the last game. Now, go out there and kick that ball in!" "Okay Mom!"--with a quick thumbs up and great big smile. He starts for the middle of the field to join his teammates on the line. The next thing I know Jordan is scoring the tying goal and then the final goal of the game---giving us a last game win of 7-3. (Tim is proud to say we won 9 out of 10 games in his soccer coaching debut season!)

They say the simple things in life are the things you cherish most. I agree. Nothing could satisfy my boys this morning like Mickey Mouse pancakes. Nothing is more rewarding than watching your children start something, like soccer, and only improve at it as they go. When he kicked those goals in, (every mother that is reading this knows what I am talking about), it was as if he had just won the gold medal at the Olympics...pride swelled up in me as I leapt to my feet with excitement! Jordan's eyes scanning the sidelines to cross sight with me...to make sure I saw it...to make sure I knew how proud he was...and to find affirmation in me.

The blessings God gives us in the simple things in life. What a reward.

The Morning After Core

There it was. Evidence that something incredible had taken place over the weekend. Sunday morning, which just happens to be my favorite time of the week, was proof that the men of GM had experienced something intangible at the 2006 Men's Retreat -- CORE. The place was abuzz with electricity from the moment you walked in the door. The stage set with all men - on instruments and vocals - some for the very first time. The freedom I felt, that flooded the room, the inhibitive factors seemingly gone...liberating. It was as if all of us were one on one with the One to whom we were focused. The shackles of religion, the chains of embarrassment...no longer present.

This "fire" did not stop when the music stopped. As Tim got up to speak, this fervor continued. The passion with which his points were made, the involved story-telling, the way he fought back tears (he would not admit this, but we all saw it!), this was evidence that they all experienced what they hoped they would, what the creative team had prayed they would.

As the service came to a close and I stood at the back waiting to greet anyone who was there for the first time...I was in speechless awe at the sights I beheld. Here at the end of the service, with more music, the passion felt in worship was more powerful than it had been 30 minutes earlier. Hands in the air, voices belting out in unison..I could not speak or sing...for my heart was bursting with gratitude that I was able to witness this. That I was brought out of the comfort and chains of religion to a place where I and so many others experience God and our relationship with Him on a personal, intimate, liberating level. What an honor it is to be here....I can't imagine what is in store for us as a church and as individuals.....

"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we could ask or imagine..." Ephesians 3:20

5 Weird Things About Me

Okay...I saw this idea and it looks fun...

I am going to tell you 5 weird things about me and whoever wants to join in and list your own, feel free...

1. I am obsessive about how my dishwasher is loaded. I just can't stand it. On the top: drinking glasses on the left, plastic cups on the right. Bowls in the middle-lined up neatly; everything else stacked around it in a tidy manner. The bottom: on the left: glass plates lined up by size toward the back, plastic plates lined up by size toward the front. On the right: pots and pans, glass pyrex lined up neatly. Weird! I am not even an organizational freak sort of person....

2. I don't like candy. Only chocolate. Some would consider that a candy. I consider it another food group.

3. Towels are put away in a certain manner at my house - rough side facing inward so that all you see are the neatly tri-folded stacks.

4. When I "lay out" in the hot weather, I must balance the sides. EXACTLY 20 minutes on the front, EXACTLY 20 minutes on the back.

5. I LOVE surprises...if Tim tells me way in advance about a gift he is thinking of or getting for me, it just makes me irritated...I would rather wait for the surprise! I could stare at a gift from October to December and not open it until Christmas Day...the anticipation just gives me a rush!

So, there you have it...my list...I can't wait to hear some of your weirdness!!!!

Easter

Hi all! So, I am a couple of days late on the Easter pics....sorry! My parents will enjoy this even if it is late!!

Easter this year was great. A monumental day in the life of GM...two services, which were successful. Several people commented on their communication cards that they accepted Christ during the service...now that is what it is all about! The worship was incredible, as always. The sermon, well, Tim shared the gospel in an easy-to-understand way that touched the heart of the crowd....and God added to our number...

Lunch with family....I totally felt like my Mom that morning...got up at 5:30, finished up the ironing for the day, put a pie in the oven, fixed Easter baskets, got dressed, got the kids dressed, put the ham in to cook while we were away at church, set the yeast rolls out to rise....WOW! I really am an adult!

The 2nd Annual GM Easter Egg Hunt (this is the 1st one outside, last year, we got rained out!). The kids loved it! The Easter Bunny came and took pictures with everyone. Some of the little ones were scared of him, but he was great! Jordan really got into the hunt, as you can see, I could only get a picture of the back of him because he couldn't stop to take a picture. He rejoiced as he counted out all of his candy when he was finished. Titus...well, he didn't really care about the egg hunt, and he sure didn't want any of that candy! He was highly irritated that anyone was trying to give him extra candy. Great photo ops, though...

Also, as I am forgetting, Sunday was my 30th birthday....it was a bit of a whirlwind, but it was just fine! Tim and I decided we would celebrate my birthday with his next month since it is just too busy around here right now. It seems crazy to me that I have reached this age. I sure don't feel like it....

Love to all and from our family to yours, we hope you had a wonderful Easter!

Friends

Okay, so I have got some great friends! There are so many Proverbs that speak to friendship. There is so much to be cherished. Friendship is a gift. We connect with different people in different ways. Certain personalities just fit. And that is where you find the best of friends.

Recently, I have experienced, once again, having a friend move away. I have been through this many times being the daughter of a preacher, and then the wife of one. You learn to live with it. People come and go. You come and go. But, it has been a long time, I guess 4 years now, since I have really dealt with this. You get close to someone. You become a part of their lives and them yours. You spend time together. You cook together. You shop together. You laugh together. You cry together. You watch movies. You feed husbands. You dress children. You deliver babies. You obsess over body fat. You work out. You eat. You eat some more. You work out some more. There are so many memories....the list just keeps going. And after the dust settles, that is what you have - the memories. These little nuggets that you hang onto and cherish as if a fragile slice of something that you guard so that no one can take it away. Friends who are separated is a hard situation in life. There is nothing fun about it. Except the memories. When we are left alone with our thoughts - this is when we start to enjoy our memories.

I have many friends who live here, who are a part of my daily life. I have friends who live far away, who may not be a part of my daily life, but are a part of me in other ways-blogs, text messaging, emails, phone calls. I count myself rich with blessing that I have been given the gift of friendship. So, thank you to God for the supporters in my life - the connections - the strength - the laughter - the memories - that I share with my friends. What a great life I have been given!

Titus' 3rd Birthday

Okay...so I have taken a little hiatus from writing this week. It has just been busy and writing has not been a priority. Anyway....Titus turned 3 last weekend and we had a Star Wars party for him. I went totally simple this year...trying to keep from outdoing myelf for every single birthday...good grief...they are still 5 and under, I can't keep killing myself every single time! So, anyway, simple--presents, cake & ice cream, play outside. They loved it. That's really all they care about anyway. He was overjoyed with all of the little toys he got. He is into everything that Jordan is into. No more Dora, Blue's Clue's, Sesame Street...no, no...we are on to Power Rangers, Ninja Turtles, Fantastic 4, and, of course, Star Wars. Tim's Dad came in and got to go to Jordan's soccer game and to the party...the boys loved seeing him. We had a great time celebrating Titus with our friends and family....Titus you are so blessed to have so many people who love you. I am so thankful for the network of supporters in our lives...here's to Titus and his wonderful little life!

Don't Have a Title

Okay, so as I re-read this last post, I thought it sounded a bit materialistic. Let me re-word some of this. I do love shopping. In every store I look for the very best bargains I can find. Something inside of me does love to buy. Why is that? I think different personalities get a kick out of spending money. My husband, Tim, just loathes spending money. So, here we are two different worlds colliding. Yes, I love the mall. Yes, I love Target. Yes, I love Hobby Lobby. I love to get out and see the newest thing, the best deals, the cool home decor. But, when I go overboard, and I usually know when that point is, that is when I cross the line. So, here is my semi-confessional...just wanted to clear a little bit of that up!!!

A Day At The Mall

Don't you just love a day at the mall? I mean, nothing can lift my spirits and put me in a great mood like spending a day at the mall. Even with my two boys in tow, I had a wonderful time. Yesterday was playgroup...that means we started out at Barnes & Noble for storytime, then went up to ride the carousel and get some lunch, then started out on the real fun. Two other Moms were with us, both with their children, but this did not slow us down for one minute. This is the test of a real shopper--through running, screaming, wild-acting children--will continue on their course unwavered! You hope that the kids meal you bought them 30 minutes ago had a cool toy included, but if it did not, then you buy a toy, buy a snack for them, anything to prolong the experience and get in just one more store! You see, as we entered one store, the Mom who was new at shopping with us said, "You guys don't understand. I am a shopper! Don't come crying to me when you are broke and your husband is asking you why!!!" I thought this was great...just think of what could happen without the children present! Yesterday was fun, even at times chaotic. But, of course we true shoppers persevered....thank goodness for Stonebriar Centre...don't you just love it here?

Things God Hates

Yes, God hates. In Proverbs 6, there is a list of things that God hates. Want to know what they are? These are found in verses 16-19---seven things God hates:
1)proud (arrogant) eyes,
2) a lying tongue,
3)murderers,
4)hearts that plot deceitful schemes,
5)feet that run quickly to trouble,
6)false witness who pours out lies,
7)man who stirs up dissension among brothers.

Now, some of these we would consider worse than the others. But, Proverbs tells us that God hates them all. The lying tongue, the false witness who pours out lies-like a faucet, the man who stirs up trouble--these are things that most of us struggle with from time to time. As I was reading this morning, I read in Proverbs and Ephesians. Cross these scriptures from Proverbs with Ephesians 4:29-32
"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."

Proverbs tells us that God hates a liar, one who runs to tell lies and He hates one who stirs up trouble. Look at Ephesians. Whatever is in our hearts come right out of our mouths. Any ugliness in there cannot stay in. Bitterness, rage and anger, slander...these come crawling out of our mouths in the form of unwholesome talk. YUCK!!! Ephesians also tells us that this grieves the Holy Spirit. They fall into the category of things God hates. When we are tearing others down, this is a form of pride (proud eyes)---when we are being untruthful even in the smallest way, this is lying, being a false witness---when unwholeome talk comes out of our mouths, this certainly does not build up, but tears down and causes dissension.

May I be one who pleases the Lord, may I not fit into the category of things God hates. Instead of ugliness, may I be kind and compassionate, quick to forgive, may I build others up and exude the love Christ has given me, not the ugliness that comes from my human nature.

I love what I do!

So, here is why I love being at home with the boys. This......we can all stay in our pajamas all day if we so choose. Oh, to be this carefree forever. Nothing better than sipping on a drinkable yogurt on your basketball beanbag watching your favorite TV show in your PJ's! The boys are doing great this week. We are getting ready for Titus' 3rd Birthday coming up this weekend. I cannot believe he is 3!!! Time has flown. My Dad was just telling me this weekend that he just cannot believe he has daughters that are in their and approaching their 30's. He was saying that you basically go through life and then look up, and your kids are grown and you have grandkids. Your mind still tells you that you are young, but your age does not reflect that. Anyway, I wish they could stay little forever, but that is not possible. As Jordan just told me 5 minutes ago, "I will be turning 6! I am not staying 5!"