OLD IS A THREE LETTER WORD

As I sit here in a quiet house at 9:30 in the morning (don't hate me, my girls are late sleepers:) I am, of course, thinking of the wedding coming up in a few short days.  It has been a little surreal at times because here in NoVa no one knows my son and Jessie so when I talk about it there is only surface talk.  You know what I'm talking about~ "My son is getting married."  "Oh, that's nice."  and then we talk about the logistics.

Inevitably, the statement is made~"You don't look old enough to have a son that is getting married."  Some days if I'm having a moody day I want to say, "Well obviously I am since I just told you that my son is getting married."  I don't ever say that but sometimes it's right on the tip of my tongue.

Since I will turn 39 shortly after Trevor gets married I have been reflecting on a lot of different things and I have come to the conclusion that I am not afraid to embrace age and all that it entails.  I have heard a couple of people recently bemoan getting older and even cursing the aging effect.  I can see where aging has it's negative side but I also see so many positives in getting older.

For one, I feel like I'm more comfortable in my skin.  I was a young wife and mother and I often felt very self conscience.  When we got married I was so unsure of myself. I was so miserable.  Not with my marriage but with myself.  I can remember just looking at myself and hating everything about me.  Not just appearance but everything.  The way I talked, the way I laughed, the way I kept house, the way I decorated the house.  EVERYTHING. And guess what, it all played out in my relationships as well.

There were so many times I felt pulled this way and that and none of what I was being pulled to was what I really liked or wanted.  Things started changing very slowly when I started staying home with my kids.  When I say slowly....I mean S..........L.........O, you get the picture.  It took years and years to get where I am.  I have setbacks sometimes but I feel more in love and comfortable with me now than I ever have before.

Now that I am older, I feel more at peace, more relaxed in myself.  I'm not afraid of gray hair (I have a lot and not going to dye it:)  I'm not afraid of wrinkles, they come with the territory.  Through love and  growth in Christ and my relationship with Him I've learned to love the person He created me to be.  Through the love of my husband I've learned how to trust, which is Christ teaching me in the flesh.

So when people look at me and say I don't look old enough to have a son that's getting married I just smile and say thank you, knowing that every gray hair and wrinkle has brought me to a new place with my relationship with Christ and the people I love.  I wouldn't change a thing.

INTERSTING, VERY INTERESTING

I love Voddie Baucham. Not that way, silly!! Although, he is rather cute~not as cute as my hubby (love you, babe) but he is cute~~okay I'm stopping now!!! From the wonderful Bible Study I did over two years ago , The Ever-Loving Truth, he captured my attention.

I read this article and thought I would share it with you all. It is long but very poignant and it is unfolding before our eyes. Please take a moment and read it.

I know, I know~~you are sick and tired of all the dooms day news that has been reported non stop for the last few weeks. I am too!! But, this is relevant to the times we are living in and the public school system.

I'm done now~~get back to work, people!!!

MOM, CAN I PICK THE DAFFODILS????

OH MY WORD!! The weather here is making me have spring fever!!! We have been more outside the past two days than the whole month of February combined.

We are having Bible conference at the college this week. We went last night and this morning. The sermons have been great and the workshops are very helpful.

The workshop Mike and I decided to go to this morning was "Families in Crisis: When Trauma Strikes". The teacher, Edward Moody, Jr., has just published a new book, "First Aid for Emotional Hurts". I recommend this book to have if you are in ministry. It has practical advice to help people who are hurting.

The 11 o'clock service was powerful. Dr. Garnett Reid talked about "How to be a God empowered leader." It was challenging and insightful. I am so thankful for the speakers that study and bring a fresh voice to the scripture. I am also thankful for wonderful Christian fellowship that we have experienced over the last couple of days.

We have had problems with our van since the beginning of January and now the vehicle we have been relying on is acting up. It is aggravating at best. We missed a wedding on Saturday because we didn't want to get that far from home in case the car decided to die. Bummer!! We are asking God to show us how to be good stewards~should we look for another vehicle? or would it be advantageous to get them both fixed or one fixed?~which one?~ see we have a lot of questions.

REFLECTION

Today was a good day for reflection. It is real dark here and dreary. I have three hours on Tuesday mornings to myself and I usually do my Bible study in the car.

I was reading Matthew 5~The Sermon on the Mount because our pastor is doing a sermon series about this chapter on Sunday nights. He asked us to read it each week and ask ourselves a couple questions~

• What is the Lord trying to teach me?

• Why did You lay this on Pastor Gladson's heart?

I have read that chapter before. I have had that chapter preached to me before.

Today it was like Jesus was sitting in the seat beside me talking to me. I am so honored to be able to hold the words of my dear Savior in my hands.

I have been weighted down by some things recently and I felt a huge weight just lift off my shoulders as I sought to get closer to Jesus through the sermon He spoke.

Jesus is all the world to me, my life, my joy, my all;
He is my strength from day to day, without Him I would fall.
When I am sad, to Him I go, no other one can cheer me so;
When I am sad, He makes me glad, He’s my Friend.

Jesus is all the world to me, my Friend in trials sore;
I go to Him for blessings, and He gives them over and o’er.
He sends the sunshine and the rain, He sends the harvest’s golden grain;
Sunshine and rain, harvest of grain, He’s my Friend.

Jesus is all the world to me, and true to Him I’ll be;
O how could I this Friend deny, when He’s so true to me?
Following Him I know I’m right, He watches o’er me day and night;
Following Him by day and night, He’s my Friend.

Jesus is all the world to me, I want no better Friend;
I trust Him now, I’ll trust Him when life’s fleeting days shall end.
Beautiful life with such a Friend, beautiful life that has no end;
Eternal life, eternal joy, He’s my Friend.

---

SORRY TO LEAVE YA'LL HANGIN'

I am so excited about this Biggest Loser stuff. Not only do we compete for money but Isabeau (the runner up from last season of Biggest Loser) will be our trainer for the duration of the contest!

I will be going to the work out with her tomorrow so I will let you know how it goes and if I like her or not:~)

We have been busy, busy, busy this week with all kinds of stuff and Mike went back to school Tuesday. His schedule is so crazy this semester that I had to write it on the memo board to keep it straight. I HAD to do that cause everyday this week I have asked him, "What is your schedule??" He was getting fed up with me asking him a dozen times a day:~)

We had our homeschool prayer group last night and it was such a good time. We started by writing down reasons why we homeschool. We shared our thoughts with each other and it was refreshing to hear people's reasons. When I leave our little group, I walk away feeling more determined to finish this course that we are on and finish strong.

I am reminded of II Corinthians 12:9- But He said to me,"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." I feel very weak most of the time. When I think of teaching my kids I feel weak. Not up to the task. With my strength I am not but with God's strength and power I am more than able to accomplish the course set before me.

Have a great weekend, ya'll!!!!!

RECOVERING FROM THE PARTIES!

Here is the sight I just came across! Our two girls, their Daddy, and Miss Kitty all curled up on the couch snoozing away!!

The flash on the camera makes the room look bright but it really isn't. The only light in the room is the TV. They are wiped out from our partying. We went to a New Year's Eve get together last night and they did not go to bed til 2 am.

Then, we went to a New Year's Day get together at 11:30 today. We didn't get home til almost 5. They really earned a nap!!!

My sweet Michael has to go to work tonight so he really, really needs the rest. He loves it when the girls curl up next to him. He calls Abby his little "pea pod" because she gets all warm and toasty when she lays up next to you and goes to sleep.

We had a wonderful time at both parties!! Last night, the guys played Mexican Train with dominios and the women played Phase 10. We laughed our heads off.

We ate authentic tamales and guacamole til we thought we were gonna puke. They were delicious!!!!!

Today, we ate tons of good food!! We all felt like we were going to explode and then they brought out the fondue pots!! Oh! sweet! chocolate! glory!!!!!! They had bananas, strawberries, Oreos, pretzels, marshmallows, cream puff, Nutter Butters, chocolate chip cookies, rice krispy treats to dip into blessedly delicious chocolate.

Let me just say that a cream puff dipped in chocolate is about the best thing there is!!!! It is so yummy!

It was nice to spend ringing in the new year with friends and enjoying each other's company.

I have been thinking about 2007 and what has transpired since I started this blog. I have been looking over things I wrote last January and it has been funny in a way. We have had a trying year. It has been happy, sad, exasperating, challenging, etc. I know that God stretches us and shapes us through our experiences.

I know the main experience He used this year is the miscarriage. I have struggled to make sense of it where there is none. I have questioned why and received a response I knew deep down all along.

God has been faithful through this year.
When I thought He wasn't there, He was there.
When I thought He didn't care, He cared.
When I thought I wasn't going to make it through, He held me close.
When I thought I was alone, He whispered, "I am here."
When I didn't think I was ever going to get any help, He gave a series of messages to my pastor and I believe they were just for me.
When I needed a loving hand to hold and a shoulder to cry on, He showed me my precious husband.

I know that through it all God's plan will prevail. I don't have to know the whys and the hows because He does and I can trust in Him.

I am excited to see what will happen in 2008 and what He has in store.

He is God and He, alone, is worthy to be praised!!

Happy 2008

AT A LOSS FOR WORDS!!

*Update~if you want to read more in depth notes from Deeper Still go to Boomama and she will direct you where you need to go. Keep on keepin' on, sistas!!!

Now, if you know me in real life, you know that it must be something big, right? I have been trying for 4 days to write a post about this and I have just now been able to sit here and do it. I have been at a loss for words that would do this past weekend justice. I have made a feeble attempt but here goes~~~~~

I went to Deeper Still The Event Friday and Saturday with my good friend Debbie.

IT WAS AWESOME!!!

I received a rhema (that is "word" in Greek)

I didn't want to leave!!! The music was great. We got to see Mandisa, live and rocking the house. Well, we were at the Curb Center at Belmont University but she rocked it!! Also, the praise band was great and Anthony Evans is awesome.

Let's see how many times I can use the words awesome and great in this post.

Priscilla Shirer talked about David knowing who he was and whose he was. I am telling you right now the Holy Spirit met us right there Friday night! I could have jumped out of my seat and ran the aisles!! She was giving us words that God wanted us to hear.

Beth Moore talked about cooperating with God, returning to whole-hearted obedience, and having the courage to see the fulfillment of God's promise to you. Again, she brought us the Word of God. I could have shouted that place down.

Kay Arthur talked about being at a crossroads and using David as an example of having many crossroads in his life. She, also, brought us the the Word of God. Again, the Spirit was evident when she spoke.

I don't want to even try to post all the notes I took and all the things that God has given me to "chew" on. I got some meat from these ladies this weekend and I will chewing for awhile to actually swallow it all.

Two things that really impressed me this weekend was:
1) they did not promote their books. In fact, it was said that to hear from the Lord don't read their books you need to read your Bible.
2)we had a question and answers session. One of the ladies in the crowd asked how to get her husband to speak her love language. Kay Arthur said just start speaking his and he will be so full and overflowing that he will want to start speaking yours. She also said have s*x with him. She said, "Ladies. our bodies are not our own!!" People, that is from Scripture! Nowadays women don't want to hear that but it is the truth. When you are married your body belongs to your spouse. That is not popular thinking but it is Biblical thinking.

Oh yeah, one more thing, my pretend BFF Lisa Whelchel was there. That was an added treat. She doesn't know it but we are BFF in my pretend world.

I am so thankful for the opportunity to got this weekend. Thanks to Mike for doing without me for a whole Saturday and doing it lovingly. Thanks to Debbie for getting the tickets and being excited with me.

IMPROMPTU LUNCH DATE

Trev wanted to go to church with a friend of his yesterday so we left an hour early for church and took him to church. No big deal it was just a little out of the way and we got breakfast before we headed to our church.

After church we went to pick him up and his friend's mom met us at the car and said, "I hope you don't have any plans for lunch because I just picked up lunch for everybody and heading to my house." We said okay and we were on our way.

Have you ever come away from a situation and said "That was a total God-thing!!" Going to their house and spending the afternoon was a Total God-thing! I talked with friend's mom about how God has worked in their lives. I picked her brain about a mentoring/discipleship ministry that she does. She challenged me spiritually, she encouraged me spiritually. She was a breath of fresh God air!

She loves the Lord. She loves spending time with Him. She lives what she knows and she shares what God has taught her. She was not harsh or judgmental, she just shared her life. She even brought out old journals and shared from them what she had been through in the past couple of years.

Mike and her husband had a good time of fellowship, also. The kids had fun, too! It was just a relaxing, growing experience for me. I was challenged in a few areas that I need to focus on and she just gave me oodles to think about.

Loved every minute of our visit yesterday. There is nothing like a God-thing!!

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