Good Ol' Southern Fish Fry!

That is exactly what we had at church this afternoon! We fried up some delicious catfish, made some homemade hushpuppies and fried pickles. People brought white beans, coleslaw, french fries, and baked beans.

Oh yeah~~and the desserts! (Becky, you would be proud~I stayed within my points;~)!!!) We sat and talked, ate and had a great ol' time!!! Our people know how to have a Fish Fry. We didn't get home til 5:30 and the kids are tired from all that playing and having fun! It was a wonderful time.This weekend has flown by but it has been a good one!

Mike has three exams this week and that is it for this semester and then he will off from school for THREE WHOLE MONTHS!!! YAHHHHH!!! I am so glad that he gets a break for a little while. He will be able to go to bed earlier and get up earlier. He will be able to eat supper with us instead of eating alone at 9 o'clock.

That is one thing he is a stickler about~eating at the table and having family time. I am glad that he likes to sit at the table with his family and eat. We are going to grill out lots and lots this summer. Mike is our grill master so we are looking forward to the summer.

Making a Hard Decision

We are in the process of making a hard decision and doing what the Lord would have us to do. Matthew 26:41 says"Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak."

This decision may be silly to some but we are taking it very seriously. I will explain more later after we have talked to the kids about it. Sometimes taking a stand means not doing what you want to do.

Dear Lord, Help us to do what is right in Your eyes, not what we want but what You want for us. It is hard to take a stand sometimes when the world is doing the opposite. Make us strong and fill us with your wisdom. We love You, Lord

Here We Go Again!!!!!

Okay, ya'll.... we got our van back on Friday. Here is the bad part--on Monday the "service engine soon" light comes on!!!!! What??? ARE YOU KIDDING ME????? We just shelled out BIG bucks for the mack daddy of all lights to come on?????? That light wasn't even on when we dropped it off a month ago!!!!

To top it all off, while the repair shop had it the tags expired because we didn't think they would have it for EVER! Now, in Tennessee you have to have an emissions test before getting your tags renewed. Guess what! You can't get your emissions test with the check engine light on.

We will be taking our "onion" (as the girls call it) back to the auto shop bright and early tomorrow morning because the Lord knows I have thought about reaching under the dashboard and ripping out the wires to that stupid little light!!!!

When You're a Celebrity.....

Keith Urban at the ground breaking.

Again, Keith Urban

Al Roker with a couple of students.

Dierks Bentley gave a private performance for the students.

Trevor was on the Today Show on Thursday. Well, not him personally, but the music school he attends. He had to be there at 6 in the morning and the students had no clue what was going to happen. They were given $100,000 worth of musical equipment and lots of other goodies by the Today Show.

He got a nice Nike backpack and hoodie, a Columbia fleece, lunch box, and wallet. It is real cool that his school got the donations because it is an awesome program. They give music lessons to kids for $7.50 a semester. People, that comes out to .50 cents a lesson.

The teachers are all volunteers and they are GREAT!! Trevor's teacher is a student from Belmont University and he is a real nice guy. There are about 350 students and 100 teachers. They are getting ready to build a new school. Right now, they work out of two old houses near Music Row. They had a ground breaking for the new facility a couple of weeks ago.

Shelby will be able to start there in the fall because Trevor is already a student and they have a grandfather clause. That means if one sibling goes there the others are automatically in. They have a choir, jazz band, wind band, and all kinds of great programs. They also have a summer camp for a week that Trevor loves. They put on a performance at the end of the week that is outstanding.

I am glad that we were told about this wonderful school and that Trevor has had the opportunity to go there.

My Thoughts About Recent Events

I had a post I thought about writing but I think I will hold off. I don't feel much like writing a fun post today.

The VT tragedy, my Dad's health issues, Heather's illness, and other things have been weighing heavy on my heart. I am praying for these things, but don't it feel overwhelming sometimes? I am so glad I can go to the One that is in control of EVERYTHING.

I don't have to worry, fret, or despair because God knows what is going on. I can't stand that song Bette Midler sings, "From A Distance" The lyrics say, in essence, that God has no idea what is really going on here on Earth. That He thinks everything is great and wonderful when it really isn't.

If I may be so bold~~~BALONEY!!!! God knows exactly what is going on here and NOTHING surprises Him. He knows what has happened in the past and He knows what will happen in the future.

I am well aware that there is evil in this world and there are powerful evil forces waring against good. I know that man has a choice to accept Christ and war with the good or he chooses to go his own way. We have an innate sinful nature that we don't have to work at. We are born with it. We do have to work at righteousness.The only way we can be righteous is through Christ.

For the wisdom of the flesh is death: but the wisdom of the spirit is life and peace.

Because the wisdom of the flesh is an enemy to God. For it is not subject to the law of God: neither can it be.
And they who are in the flesh cannot please God.
But you are not in the flesh, but the spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
And if Christ be in you, the body indeed is dead, because of sin: but the spirit liveth, because of justification.
And if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you; he that raised up Jesus Christ, from the dead shall quicken also your mortal bodies, because of his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
Romans 8:6-11

Target is SOOO Going on My Blog.....

I almost had a complete melt down in Target today. I needed a few things and a $5.00 off coupon, good shopping combination. We went to the bank, dropped Trevor off at work and the girls and I headed to the new Target.

My girls couldn't stop irritating each other and touching each other. They kept pickin' and pickin' at each other til I almost lost it!! I couldn't find what I was looking for and I couldn't take the arguing!!! I made them come home and lay on their beds for 20 minutes with no toys or music on. They hate that!

There are some days that a $5.00 coupon just ain't worth it!! Sad, but true.

News About My Dad

My Dad was having chest pains Saturday morning so my sister and Mom took him to the hospital. He was admitted and given medicine to help his arrhythmia and high blood pressure. He had a stress test done today and they said that was normal.

They let him go home today and he has to go have another test on Wednesday. Thank you for those that were praying for him. Please continue to pray for him and my Mom. When I talked to him last night he sounded good.

My brother and his wife are buying their first house and I am so excited for them. They have their closing at the end of the month. The kids saw it for the first time yesterday and J. said that they were over the moon for it. I am sure they can't wait to play in their huge yard.

That is an update about the E. family. Thanks again for your prayers!!

I THINK I AM GOING TO NEED VALIUM!!!!!!!!!!!!

When I went to pick my boy up from work this afternoon I decided to pull over in a neighborhood and let him drive. He was reluctant at first but he got in the driver's seat. He did fine and I really think he is just nervous.

BUT! OH! MY! WORD! I am just having a hard time with my child driving. I mean, I am excited for him and nervous and scared and feeling like I am going to puke, all at once!!!!!!! Is this normal? Is this how I am supposed to feel? Are there others that have almost had to resort to prescription drugs?

I want him to grow up and do the normal things that comes with growing up. AND~don't get me wrong, I think he is very capable of driving a car and driving responsibly. I am just a little apprehensive because HE! WILL! BE! DRIVING!

I am wondering just how calm my Mom really was, sitting in the passenger seat of that lime green Datsun B210. I don't remember her yelling at me. I don't remember my Dad screaming my name when I turned the corner too wide. I do remember that he calmly walked me through changing gears while in a LARGE, EMPTY parking lot.

I do remember being so nervous that I thought I was going to wet my pants! I remember thinking, " This is so not worth it. I really don't need to drive. Mom and Dad can just take me everywhere I need to go."

Yeah, why not? Does he really need to drive when he has two able-bodied parents that are ready and willing to take him anywhere he needs to go? ABSOLUTELY!! So suck it up, Jennifer!! It's all part of growing up!!

Could you hand me the motion sickness bag, please? Thank you!

The Oysters Were Curious, Too!!!

MOPS has been a lifesaver in many ways. When we first moved here, I felt like I was on an island. I had left all my friends in Virginia and I was drowning. One day I got on the computer and found a MOPS group and they have been great for three years.

I met my friends, Jenny and Ruthie, there. I have found encouragement and strength in all these ladies. AND~~ I am graduating. Abby will be in kindergarten in the fall so this is my last semester of MOPS.

I think these women are great!!! They share freely and honestly. They are strong, capable women who want to be Godly wives and mothers. These ladies are sometimes overwhelmed by their calling but know that it really is a calling to mother children.

I am proud to be a part of this lovely group. I am excited about what God has in store for me but at the same time I have a twinge of sadness that I won't be the mother of a preschooler come fall.

"I know that whatever God does,
It shall be forever.
Nothing can be added to it,
And nothing taken from it.
God does it, that men should fear before Him.
That which is has already been,
And what is to be has already been;
And God requires an account of what is past."
Ecc. 3:14-15

Easter Pictures

Anybody up for Scrabble Junior?

We got Scrabble Junior recently and I felt very confident that I could beat anyone that dared to play with me! Shelby and I played on Monday and let me say, it's harder than you think. It is a fun game that is a little different than regular Scrabble.

There are words already on the board and you have to use 2 tiles for each turn. You have to start a word with the first letter until you can put the last letter on the board and win a token. We have had fun playing this game, even Mike and I played by ourselves!

We thought we would use this game as a spelling game for school and we have all been able to enjoy it. Even Abby is spelling the words on the board. She is so proud of herself!

Today we made the payment that will take us to Disney in May. We are saving money by camping and taking a lot of our own food. We have been pinching some pennies,but still, I think I am going to be sick, that is all!:~)

No, you can't live at dance class!!!

Crazy, crazy day today!!

We are still without our van and I have to say I am impressed at how we are able to juggle everybody's schedule with one vehicle. I had to take Mike to school this morning and Trevor had to work so I was on the road for about an hour this morning.

The girls and I ran to Kroger for a few items and let me just say~~~ whoever thought it was a wonderful idea to make tiny, junior size shopping carts DID NOT have two little girls that like to push them. We started out good~ except for almost mowing down a couple of little elderly women on the cereal aisle.

We finished up there and headed home. I just casually mentioned to Abby that her last dance class was today and Daddy and I were going to get to watch her perform "Peter and the Wolf". I had no idea that a panic would ensue!!

She started saying things like, "I want to live at dance class!" "I'll miss my friends!" "Mommy, I don't want dance class to end!" "Please let me live at dance class!"

Her very wise older sister (by two years) calmed her down by saying, in a kind of psychiatrist sounding voice, "Now Abby, I felt the same way when it was my last dance class. You will get to start back in the summer. It won't be as bad as you think. You can see your friends other places."

Well, there you go! What do they need me for? I felt like just the chauffeur today, folks, just the chauffeur.

Baby, It Ain't 21!!! (Thank God!!)

Today is my 34th Birthday.

Let's face it I am at the age that marketing people don't really care about. Unless you are 18-34 they could really care less what you buy. Do I care about that? Not in the least!! I have been the type of person that finds a thing that works and sticks with it~no matter what the trend.

I look at my kids and smile. I look at my hubby going off to school and smile. I look in the mirror and smile. Not because I am perfect or because they are. I just feel more at home in my skin than I have in a long time.

Abby looked at me this afternoon, while sitting on the potty, and said, "Mommy the most favorite part of the day was when me and Shelby played superhero. She is Super Kick and I am Shrinky Dink. We are going to make a movie!!!" She makes me laugh! That is a good day for you!!!!

OH, BUT I AM SO GLAD THE STORY DOESN'T END THERE.......

You see, there was a borrowed tomb and a massive stone that seals it's opening. Come with me there and keep watch. The first day in shock and grief as we relive the brutal death we saw Him die. The second day feeling the pain of our loss and the third day, the third day something strange is happening. Beneath our feet the Earth begins to tremble, suddenly our eyes are blinded by a brilliant light and we see an angel dressed in white pushing back the stone. Breathlessly, we watch as Jesus comes forth from the tomb in awesome power and majesty and a great wave of worship washes over us that we can hardly contain. We cry out with all creation, "WORTHY IS THE LAMB WHO WAS SLAIN!!!! WORTHY IS THE ONE WHO WAS DEAD AND IS NOW ALIVE FOREVER MORE!! AND AT THE NAME OF JESUS LET EVERY KNEE BOW IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH AND UNDER THE EARTH AND LET EVERY TONGUE CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD!!"
*taken from the cd "My Utmost for His Highest" Free Will Baptist Bible College Choir

Matthew 27- The Message

In the first light of dawn, all the high priests and religious leaders met and put the finishing touches on their plot to kill Jesus. Then they tied him up and paraded him to Pilate, the governor. Judas, the one who betrayed him, realized that Jesus was doomed. Overcome with remorse, he gave back the thirty silver coins to the high priests, saying, "I've sinned. I've betrayed an innocent man." They said, "What do we care? That's your problem!" Judas threw the silver coins into the Temple and left. Then he went out and hung himself. The high priests picked up the silver pieces, but then didn't know what to do with them. "It wouldn't be right to give this--a payment for murder!--as an offering in the Temple." They decided to get rid of it by buying the "Potter's Field" and use it as a burial place for the homeless. That's how the field got called "Murder Meadow," a name that has stuck to this day. Then Jeremiah's words became history: They took the thirty silver pieces, The price of the one priced by some sons of Israel, And they purchased the potter's field. And so they unwittingly followed the divine instructions to the letter. Jesus was placed before the governor, who questioned him: "Are you the 'King of the Jews'?" Jesus said, "If you say so." But when the accusations rained down hot and heavy from the high priests and religious leaders, he said nothing. Pilate asked him, "Do you hear that long list of accusations? Aren't you going to say something?" Jesus kept silence--not a word from his mouth. The governor was impressed, really impressed. It was an old custom during the Feast for the governor to pardon a single prisoner named by the crowd. At the time, they had the infamous Jesus Barabbas in prison. With the crowd before him, Pilate said, "Which prisoner do you want me to pardon: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus the so-called Christ?" He knew it was through sheer spite that they had turned Jesus over to him. While court was still in session, Pilate's wife sent him a message: "Don't get mixed up in judging this noble man. I've just been through a long and troubled night because of a dream about him." Meanwhile, the high priests and religious leaders had talked the crowd into asking for the pardon of Barabbas and the execution of Jesus. The governor asked, "Which of the two do you want me to pardon?" They said, "Barabbas!" "Then what do I do with Jesus, the so-called Christ?" They all shouted, "Nail him to a cross!" He objected, "But for what crime?" But they yelled all the louder, "Nail him to a cross!" When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere and that a riot was imminent, he took a basin of water and washed his hands in full sight of the crowd, saying, "I'm washing my hands of responsibility for this man's death. From now on, it's in your hands. You're judge and jury." The crowd answered, "We'll take the blame, we and our children after us." Then he pardoned Barabbas. But he had Jesus whipped, and then handed over for crucifixion. The soldiers assigned to the governor took Jesus into the governor's palace and got the entire brigade together for some fun. They stripped him and dressed him in a red toga. They plaited a crown from branches of a thorn bush and set it on his head. They put a stick in his right hand for a scepter. Then they knelt before him in mocking reverence: "Bravo, King of the Jews!" they said. "Bravo!" Then they spit on him and hit him on the head with the stick. When they had had their fun, they took off the toga and put his own clothes back on him. Then they proceeded out to the crucifixion. Along the way they came on a man from Cyrene named Simon and made him carry Jesus' cross. Arriving at Golgotha, the place they call "Skull Hill," they offered him a mild painkiller (a mixture of wine and myrrh), but when he tasted it he wouldn't drink it. After they had finished nailing him to the cross and were waiting for him to die, they whiled away the time by throwing dice for his clothes. Above his head they had posted the criminal charge against him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS. Along with him, they also crucified two criminals, one to his right, the other to his left. People passing along the road jeered, shaking their heads in mock lament: "You bragged that you could tear down the Temple and then rebuild it in three days--so show us your stuff! Save yourself! If you're really God's Son, come down from that cross!" The high priests, along with the religion scholars and leaders, were right there mixing it up with the rest of them, having a great time poking fun at him: "He saved others--he can't save himself! King of Israel, is he? Then let him get down from that cross. We'll all become believers then! He was so sure of God--well, let him rescue his 'Son' now--if he wants him! He did claim to be God's Son, didn't he?" Even the two criminals crucified next to him joined in the mockery. From noon to three, the whole earth was dark. Around mid-afternoon Jesus groaned out of the depths, crying loudly, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?" Some bystanders who heard him said, "He's calling for Elijah. One of them ran and got a sponge soaked in sour wine and lifted it on a stick so he could drink. The others joked, "Don't be in such a hurry. Let's see if Elijah comes and saves him." But Jesus, again crying out loudly, breathed his last. At that moment, the Temple curtain was ripped in two, top to bottom. There was an earthquake, and rocks were split in pieces. What's more, tombs were opened up, and many bodies of believers asleep in their graves were raised. (After Jesus' resurrection, they left the tombs, entered the holy city, and appeared to many.) The captain of the guard and those with him, when they saw the earthquake and everything else that was happening, were scared to death. They said, "This has to be the Son of God!" There were also quite a few women watching from a distance, women who had followed Jesus from Galilee in order to serve him. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the Zebedee brothers. Late in the afternoon a wealthy man from Arimathea, a disciple of Jesus, arrived. His name was Joseph. He went to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body. Pilate granted his request. Joseph took the body and wrapped it in clean linens, put it in his own tomb, a new tomb only recently cut into the rock, and rolled a large stone across the entrance. Then he went off. But Mary Magdalene and the other Mary stayed, sitting in plain view of the tomb. After sundown, the high priests and Pharisees arranged a meeting with Pilate. They said, "Sir, we just remembered that that liar announced while he was still alive, 'After three days I will be raised.' We've got to get that tomb sealed until the third day. There's a good chance his disciples will come and steal the corpse and then go around saying, 'He's risen from the dead.' Then we'll be worse off than before, the final deceit surpassing the first." Pilate told them, "You will have a guard. Go ahead and secure it the best you can." So they went out and secured the tomb, sealing the stone and posting guards.

There are a few things....

I want to share with you that I have been studying for a couple of months. I started a study on a book titled "Loving Your Husband". I have learned a lot while reading and answering the questions. I wanted to share a couple of the quotes that really spoke to me.

"The Scriptures describe a giving love~a love that says,"Whatever I have, I want to share with you, and want you to be what God meant you to be." It is a love that takes first things first as far as the other person is concerned. We can see immediately that this kind of love is not emotional. One does not fall in and then out of this kind of love. It is love of the will. It is something addressed to our volition. We do it because we make ourselves do it. We order ourselves. Because of Christ, we are motivated to love. We do not wait for attraction or like interests." ~Arthur H. DeKruyter


"Love can be expressed through patience, tolerance for the failings of your husband, meeting his needs, and by avoiding criticism. Love does not demand, it gives. Your own need for love can make you unlovable if it expressed in a demanding or martyred manner. Marriage is the most difficult of all human relationships, and it requires patience, skill, tact, and emotional and spiritual growth. You can "grow a good marriage" if you are willing to work at it."~Cecil Osborne

There were many more things that spoke to me in this book. It takes I Cor. 13:1-7 and helps you break it down in terms of loving your husband. I felt like I was reading it for the first time, in relation to my husband.

I have had this book for awhile and I started it a few years ago. I was cleaning off my bookshelves and came across it again. I am glad that I decided to pick it up and read it. I want to continually work on my marriage and strive to be the wife God has called me to be.

"Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path...." Psalm 27:11

My Shelby's 7th Birthday!!

Shelby's Birthday was Friday. I can't believe my first daughter is 7. She is a gift from God. We tried for 5 years to have another baby before she came along. She is the one I prayed long and hard for. She is the one I thought we would never have.

When I got pregnant with her I worked for an OB/GYN and I saw pregnant women day in and day out. I wanted another child but we just couldn't seem to get pregnant. We finally decided to put our energy to use some where else because I was being consumed by it.

We started taking foster parenting certification classes. We enjoyed those classes and we got certified. We waited and waited to have a child placed with us and when it happened we were thrilled. This little 3 yr old boy was so sweet. He had a lot of health problems and he had been abused but he was just a sweetie pie.

A couple of weeks after he was placed with us I found out I was pregnant with Shelby. We were thrilled! We had a ball with him and we would have kept him, but his great aunt and uncle wanted to take him and they were great people. Social Services decided to place him with his family. We were thankful for the opportunity to have at least a few months with this special little boy.

Shelby is a wonderful little girl with lots of personality and heart. She can't stand to see anyone hurt or upset. When someone is crying she gets a tissue and brings it to them and hugs them to make them feel better. She is smart and funny. She, her sister, and brother get along good and that is a blessing.

We are glad God gave her to us. It is a privilege to be her parents. She is special.

This Weekend was a Good One!

We went out to East Tennessee for Mike to preach at a church for the Bible College. We left Saturday morning bright and early. We got there and walked down the little Main Street in the small town we stayed in.

Then, we went and put Spring flowers on Mike's Granddaddy's grave. We went back to the hotel with some Pal burgers (YUMMO!!) and went swimming in the pool. The kids had a blast swimming and jumping in. We went to bed at 9 o'clock which is very early for us but we had to get up early Sunday morning.

We had a good time at the church we visited, once we finally got there. Mike had gotten the wrong address from the College so we went 40+ miles out of our way. We did fine though because we left ourselves plenty of time.

The Spaghetti and Singing Benefit we had for the church member who lost her husband a few weeks ago went very well. They raised around $1200 to help her with her expenses. It was a good night and a good weekend!!