CONFESSION TIME

I am a screamer.

There I said it.

I yell when I get frustrated.

I was frustrated last night and I yelled~

at those sweet faces up there in the picture~

and I made them both cry~

and then I cried and asked for forgiveness~

and they gave it and then we prayed~

and I am begging God to help me have self control

over the yelling~

because I hate to make my girls cry.

I am a sinner and thankful for God's grace.

Humble pie is a dish I need to eat more often.

MEETING THE GOVERNOR

We went to the Governor's Mansion on Sunday afternoon. He and his wife had an open house and it was pretty neat. There were a lot of people and we were able to walk through Conservation Hall. (Nashvillians will remember this as the "bunker" that the previous Governor's wife had built.)

We were able to tour the first floor of the mansion. I use "tour" very loosely because there were so many people.

I wanted to take a picture of a man that was standing in line with us but Mike wouldn't let me. He was dress in 1920s fashion. Not in a creepy way but a cool, fun way. I tried to find a picture on the internet to link to so that you would know what I was talking about.

He had the newsboy cap, the glasses, the suit, and the overcoat. I couldn't see his shoes but I am sure they were part of the ensemble. I loved the whole look. I tried to get his picture when he got off the bus~I didn't get a good one.

I'm glad he didn't see me~he might have thought I was a stalker or a weirdo or private eye or something.

WHAT'S GOING DOWN...

The last few days have been pretty low key. We got snow on Thursday so we just stayed in until this afternoon.

We did school, read aloud (still Anne of Avonlea), played Wii, cleaned, baked brownies, exercised (because we ate brownies:), cleaned, and played.

Today we slept til 10~well, Mike didn't...umm he slept from 7 til 10. See, he got off work, came home, put on his pjs, and slipped into bed. It was nice to just have a lazy morning with nothing to do and no where to go.

Tomorrow should be pretty interesting~we have the nursery. We love working in the nursery. Really. I'm not being sarcastic. We love it.

Hope everyone has a wonderful, worshipful Sunday.

Let the redeemed of the LORD say this--those he redeemed from the
hand of the foe~Psalm 107:2

THOUGHTS ON TUESDAY

Here we go again~

In no particular order~these are some of the things rolling around in my brain:

I'm so glad my dishes are washed tonight.

Playing Shenanigans today at music school with the Lomax family was FUN!

Will I be able to meet my Bible reading goal by April 3rd?

Man, I miss my brother and his family.

I wonder if it will rain all day tomorrow.

The dinner I made tonight~Honey Chicken, Risotto, and seasoned green beans~ is a "make again".

I am glad Mike moved the girl's beds back into the same room yesterday but when I got up this morning they were still in the same twin bed. I love that they get in bed with each other~every night.

Where did all this dust come from?

Tomorrow is trash day~and I don't have to roll the garbage cans down. I never do:)

Man, my skin is dry. Must be winter. Where's my lotion?

I really miss my Book Study Buddies. I am so glad we start back next week.

That reminds me~I need to send them all a reminder e-mail.

Why does Mike's alarm have to go off every night at 9:30? Oh yeah, it reminds him to go to work~BOOO!!

I really don't want to go get the load of laundry out of the dryer. The garage is too cold and I am nice and toasty but we need towels so I better go get it:(

I hope everyone has had a Terrific Tuesday!

INAUGURATION DAY

In honor of the inauguration of our new governor, Bill Haslam, a lot of the state attractions were free today. We had a list of things to choose from. We decided on The Country Music Hall of Fame because we have lived here for 7 yrs and had never been.We started out in the Songwriter Session with John Wiggins. He spent almost an hour playing, talking, and answering questions. His guitar has a neat story behind it (probably only my Dad will appreciate this). It was made from the mahogany mantle board that his dad had made for his childhood home. His parents sold the house and the new owners let it go into foreclosure. He was there one day looking around outside and one of the doors was unlocked so he went in and took it. He had just gotten it from the maker. It was beautiful (the guitar, not the story:)

This picture is for my mother in law. She will appreciate it.

This picture is for my Daddy because had a guitar just like this one when I was growing up. This one was Glen Campbell's.

As you can imagine, there were lots of people there because it was FREE. We weren't surprised and saving over $60 was worth it.

We finished out the day with a trip to Chick fil a to see Trev and Forever 21 to see Jessie.

Hope y'all had a splendid Saturday!

P.S. Please keep Joshua Rosenbalm in your prayers. He is the 8 yr old son of my dear friend, Sharon. He will be having surgery to remove a softball sized mass from the right side of his brain on Monday morning.

NEED TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE DAY

Umm...the girls and I stayed home all week this week...except for the two hours on Tuesday when Shelby had to go to piano. From Sunday night til this morning~we were at home.

And guess what...it was good.

We got a lot of school done, read some "Anne of Avonlea", cleaned some, and enjoyed not having to go anywhere.

I have an announcement...ahem...I think I am turning into a homebody. Usually, I like the schedule and going here, there, and everywhere but this week I have really soaked in being at home. Yes, I am a stay at home mom but most SAHM's can tell you that it doesn't involve staying... well, at home.

There are lessons, appointments, errands, church functions, play dates, Y visits, more errands, library days, and unexpected whathaveyous.

Anyway, today we got out of the house and went to the movies. We saw Tron Legacy.

I almost went to a different movie because it is not my kind of movie.

But, at the last minute, I decided to buy a ticket and go see Tron with Mike and the girls.

I'm so glad I did. Not because I loooovvedd the movie because I didn't, but sitting there between my man and my girls passing candy back and forth, holding hands with them, sharing my pashmina as a blanket, and sharing the experience made it so worth it.

Yeah, I could have went to another movie that was more my kind but I would have missed all that sweet goodness that just made my day. It was REALLY worth it.

SNOW MONDAY

We are "snowed in" today. I use that term loosely because we could get out if we really, really wanted to. But we don't so we are.

We have had a good school day and I'm thankful for it.

That is one thing about homeschooling~there are no snow day if Mom says school is still on.

The girls did go out and play. I was in the kitchen talking to Mom on the phone when I heard a bunch of screaming and commotion. I looked out the window and Shelby and Abby were going at it. Shelby had hit Abby with a snowball in the face so Abby had Shelby down on the ground rubbing snow in her face.

And guess what~I stood in the window watching and laughing.

Because it was funny. I don't step in every time they fight or argue. They usually work it out themselves and if it starts to escalate then I will step in.

I'm just glad they didn't see me laughing in the window 'cause they probably would have ganged up on me.

SNOWY SATURDAY

Abby and Shelby with Jack Sparrow at Downtown Disney

This week has been really great...academically.

Starting our lessons after Christmas break was actually refreshing this time.

The girls were willing to start anew and so was I. That doesn't always happen.

You know, being on the same page with both of them, on the same day.

Sometimes I am the one who is RARING to go and the girls are blase.

Sometimes it's the other way around.

I am liking the new changes I have implemented. We got everything done that I had planned.

Why, because I was more organized. We even made it to the Y three times this week.

Now, you're probably asking yourself why I am even writing about this.

It's because I will need a reminder how things go when I take the time on Sunday evening to sit for just a few minutes and organize myself.

To my future self: IT'S WORTH IT!!!

Bert Tippett

In a couple of hours I will be going to a funeral. A funeral for Bert Tippett, the man in this video.

Mike and I had the privilege of being in the same Sunday School class as he and his wife, Mrs.Dianne, over the last few years.

What a blessing God gave to us.

He lead a God-centered life.

He was an example and an encourager.

When he and Mrs. Dianne looked at you and said, "We are praying for you." You knew they really were. It wasn't just lip service or a flippant response. They were praying.

I will be taking kleenex to the service but I won't be crying for Brother Bert. I'll be crying for all of us here.

Heaven just keeps getting sweeter.

04 JAN

I got a lot of stuff rumbling around in my head tonight.

In no particular order:

Mike not sleeping

My new to-do lists

Reading through the Bible in 90 days

Exercise

Cursive handwriting

Why I ate spicy soup when I know it's gonna make me have indigestion

Where is my motivation to pack away these Christmas decorations

Mars, the planet not the candy bar

My friend's grandfather

My mother in law's HUGE kidney stone

Snow, forecast for tomorrow

Can I get through the rest of the week with no kitchen trash bags

When will someone come cut up the tree in the front yard so these scary looking men will stop coming by to give me their tree service business cards

My friend who needs a job like NOW

Should I cut my hair

Should I color my hair

When can Mike and I plan a get away SOON

Why did I forget to call my sister in law back

A beloved mentor that is dying of cancer

His precious wife and family

These thoughts plus many others are rolling around like marbles in my head tonight.

BACK TO THE FUNDAMENTALS PART 2

I thought I would share the rest of the notes from Pastor Mike's sermon.

Like I stated yesterday, the text was from 1 Thess. 5:16-18

"Stressing fundamentals in the spiritual arena of life are important for spiritual victory.
The fundamentals are to be practiced daily in life. These exhortations are addressed 
to believers as individuals concerning their personal lives before God.

1. Maintain a joyful attitude that is expressed through rejoicing. Having a joyful attitude: wards off temptation in your life, encourages fellow believers, and attracts sinner to God
2. Develop prayer habits that are continuously reoccurring.
3. Have an attitude if gratitude IN every circumstance of life. (Notice he said "in" not "for")

Conclusion: These three exhortations are not just good advice; they are God's will for every Christian. God's will means joy, prayer, and thanksgiving for those who are in Christ Jesus. And that is fundamental to our spiritual victory.

Also:

I have started reading the Bible all the way through a couple of times only to fall short.

I really want to finish this time and I am  determined to do so. 
I look at it this way, 90 days is nothing compared  to other things in my life that were not as
pleasant and I have endured  them. 
Therefore, I should be able to do this because it can only be  good for me. 
There are no cons to reading the Bible in 90 days:)

BACK TO THE FUNDAMENTALS

Pastor Mike's sermon today was about getting back to the fundamentals of victorious living.

His text was from 1 Thess. 5:16-17

I am going to take the next few days and focus on the points of that sermon.

• rejoice always
• pray without ceasing
• in everything give thanks

Honestly, I've had a hard time with these lately.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

This is Ms. Clarice's* tree and it is over 40 years old.
It is the same kind of tree my Mamaw and Papaw had when I was growing up.
(*Shelby's piano teacher)

This week has been a whirlwind of activity with the aftermath of Christmas and the after holiday blahs. My parents got into town Wednesday after the threat of being snowed in at my brother's house. They were blessed with over a foot of snow starting Christmas night.

We have enjoying their company just spending time together. We were able to go to the Nativity Museum at the Upper Room Chapel downtown. They have over 100 creche from around the world. We were also able visit the Oryland Hotel to see all the changes they have made since the flood and the beautiful Christmas decorations.

Last night was our 4th annual New Year's Bash at Marvin and Sonia's house and it did not disappoint. We laughed, talked, played, laughed, ate, and laughed until almost 6 this morning.

Like 2008, 2009, and 2010, 2011 was rang in with a look back at God's blessings and a look forward to the blessed hope we have in the future. As we sat around the table playing games I was reminded of some of the struggles we have all endured this year. Some have been resolved and some we are carrying over to the new year.

I was also reminded of the awesome favor and grace we have been given that will flow endlessly over 2011. That thought should make us want to give Jesus our laud and honor. He truly is my Rock and my Shield. My ever present Help, my Comfort, my Deliverer.

Welcome, 2011! I'm ready for you.