MY LIFE IN A LIST

Here is a brain dump of all that I am thinking about today:

• I am praising God for the good report my Dad got yesterday from the heart cath.
  
• I am praying for a situation in the lives of people I love dearly that can only be resolved through God's help and guidance.
• I am cleaning and preparing for traveling this weekend.
• I am grieving a little over the fact that this is the first Thanksgiving I will be without Trev since he was born. I love him so and will miss him terribly. I keep reminding myself this is what happens when babies grow up and start leaving the nest. My head knows this but my heart stings.
• I am rejoicing with my friends that through some turn of events and MUCH prayer they will be able to keep their house.
• I will get to spend Thanksgiving with not only my parents but my in laws as well. All of us together.
• I have friends that sticks close and tell me the truth even when it smarts a little. Because they care and they want me to do right. I am blessed.

HONDURAS ISN'T SO FAR AWAY

Well, actually it's around 3,400 miles as the crow flies.

But not really.

Because last night Honduras was sitting beside me on a round, red leather couch and teaching me a few words in Spanish.

And, no, her name isn't Honduras but she's from there.

She is my friend that doesn't speak much English.

She has two beautiful daughters and a handsome, hardworking husband.

Last week I asked her to come to my church and Sunday they did. They couldn't find the church at first~she said she tried to tell her hubby where it was but he didn't listen. That made me laugh~it sounds familiar:)

They brought their Spanish Bible and sat with Mike and I.

Last night while we waited for our daughters to finish practicing for Select Singers I asked her if they enjoyed the service. She said they really liked it.

And then she asked me something that pierced my heart.

She pointed to her skin with a concerned look and asked me in broken English, "Is this problem? Most people American."

I told her emphatically as I could that it was NOT!!!

A huge smile spread across her face as she nodded and laughed as if she were relieved.

I had no hesitation about inviting her and her family to my church because I know the color of their skin isn't an issue. I am so thankful that I didn't have to even think about whether inviting them would be an issue.

I am praying that we will continue to build a friendship and that they will feel God's love through me. I am absolutely going outside my comfort zone and it's scary but I am pressing forward.

NOT ME! MONDAY!

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

I did not let my library fines get out of control because I just couldn't get it together enough to actually take the books, CDs, and movies back to the library. I am always very responsible and always stay on top of everything. Not me!!

I did not make a deal with my oldest daughter that if she wore tights on Thanksgiving she didn't have to wear them to church yesterday. I would never "make a deal" with a nine yr old. I would demand that she wear them to church because I said so. Not me!!

I did not laugh with my youngest when she accidentally peed on the closed toilet lid at a friends house Saturday night. I also did not laugh when she asked me if I had ever done that and say "More times than I can count". I would never pee on the lid of the toilet because I waited too long to go to the bathroom and didn't realize it was down. Not me!!

FRIENDS ARE FRIENDS FOREVER

Our weekend has been full of great friends and great food. We have laughed and cried with friends that are VERY close to losing their home. They are trying to make the best of a bad situation. It's all in the Lord's hands and whatever happens He will get the glory. It's amazing how in the midst of uncertainty God's children have the certainty of His love and grace. He is faithful and kind. He can be trusted.

So many people are going through this right now and it is something that is being experienced by believers in Christ as well as unbelievers. The difference for believers in this situation isn't that they aren't sad, upset, or even scared. The difference is that they know that no matter what comes Christ is there comforting, guiding, and directing. He knows the pain because He has experienced it.

As children of God, I think we go through things sometimes to be able to help others and point them to Christ. Because, honestly, it's not about "us" it's about Him.

THINKING

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Phil. 4:8 ESV

I AM GOING TO CALL OFF WHITE~DIRTY WHITE!!!

We went to a Holiday Crafts Festival today and I am now ready for Christmas.

I didn't buy anything Christmasy I bought Thanksgiving stuff but they were playing Christmas music and it smelled like Christmas.

There was a booth set up that I loved. They had childrens clothes and they were adorable.

While I was browsing a lady that was working the booth came up and started talking to me.

She pointed to a lady sitting there and told me that all the proceeds made were going to her for a domestic adoption.

We left the booth and finished our "look at everything first and then decide what you're going to buy" manuvers:)

When we got back to that booth I looked at Mike with tears in my eyes and a catch in my throat and told him I thought we should buy something. He called me tender hearted and told me to buy something.

When I picked out what I wanted the woman that was adopting took my information because she would have to mail my purchases to me.

She said that the baby they are adopting will be born in January and they had just decided two weeks ago to have this booth.

All those precious things had been sewn by those women in two weeks to bring home a precious child,

I left that booth thankful that I, in some small way, had a part in bringing that baby home to it's forever mother.

FRIDAYS ARE FABULOUS

Abby, Anali, and Shelby at the church in Alaska.

Mrs. Janice, Pastor Ron, Abby and Shelby
at their house on our last night in Alaska.

AHHHHH

No rain for 5 days so far!! AND they aren't calling for it until Monday:)

It has been so nice to have bright and beautiful days!

I am getting ready to make an apple crisp with apples that need to be eaten. The girls are playing nicely in their room.

AHHHH~~or maybe not.

The Lord has really been dealing with my heart lately and as I ponder and seek His counsel I am reminded of how much grace HE gives.

I don't want to be satisfied with my spiritual walk. I want to always be hungry for more of Him. I want to stand and do right even when it's hard and misunderstood by others.

I don't want to look at things and judge them by the world's standards. I want to measure them against God's standards.

And if that makes me weird or kooky or having too high standards or unrealistic or uncool or too much of a Jesus freak. I'm okay with that.

I want to love and be compassionate. Loving and be willing to stand for what is right.

Unwavering.

Lord, help me to be a vessel used by You. Strong in faith and love.

NOT ME! MONDAY!

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

I did not clean out my pantry shelves and decide to cook some dried beans I have had for a while. I most certainly didn't make so many that I came away with 6 QUARTS of beans to freeze. Not me!

I did not have people over last Friday night and neglect to clean the cobwebs off the ceiling fan~HEY it was kind of a Halloween party:) Not me!

I most certainly did not eat the butterfingers out of the Halloween candy after everyone went to bed. That wasn't my candy and I would never take cand from my children without them knowing it.

I did not start switching summer clothes to winter and get side tracked so now I have extra work to sort out because they kinda got mixed together. Not me!

COMING DOWN OFF A SUGAR HIGH

November 1st!!

Wow, where did October go?

I can't believe it's time to bring out my pilgrim salt and pepper shakers from Publix~"Where shopping is a pleasure".

We feel water logged here in middle TN because this has been the 5th wettest October on record.

That means it rained~A LOT!!

So much, in fact, that most of the gravel in our driveway has washed away.

And~now driving on it is like being on one of those off road courses (not really but this is my blog and I can embellish if I want to)

I'm hoping November isn't so wet and that it goes by slowly. I'm tired of looking forward to the weekend or another special event or tomorrow.

Don't get me wrong~I don't think it's a bad thing that I do that sometimes but I also don't want to wish my life away because I'm waiting for the next thing instead of living in the right here and now.

I want to focus on thankfulness this month and how the Lord has blessed me.

Today I am thankful for dish soap:)