Friday Funnies

Since I am on my way to Savannah to run in a 5k, I thought I would post these while I am gone. Have a great weekend! Funny things heard around our house this week: David has been raising funds for his school and was calling his grandmother to ask for a dollar donation for each lap he would run. He already got $20 from someone else, which, unfortunately for him, he thought was the amount to get a scooter in prizes. In order to get the scooter he needed to raise $20 a LAP - not total. So not knowing this information, he calls his grandmother and asks for a donation. She said "will $30 be enough?". His reply "Oh no grandma, you don't need to spend that much, I already got $20 from someone else." Jason responding to me calling him today "Yes, Mother. Mother of Pearl". Wonder where he heard that? Jason praying for one of his friends who got into trouble today at school "Dear God, please help Zachary to learn to be kind. Thank you for giving us sins. Amen." Needless to say this prompted a long discussion on sin and that God does not give us sins but FORgives us of sins.

MOPS Revisited

I had a great opportunity last night to spend some times with my MOPS girls again. My how I have missed them! I was asked to share my testimony on how MOPS affected my life to the girls, along with my friends Nancy, Kristina, and Jen. It was amazing to me how the Lord moved in all our lives through MOPS. I was especially thankful that my sister-in-law came to her first MOPS meeting with me last night. The Lord had been laying on her heart to start a group for her church, and she felt last night's meeting was made by the Lord just for her. She left more excited than ever about starting a group! As I had been frantically working on my testimony the last few weeks, the Lord again used my experience with MOPS to do a work in me. As when I took over as Coordinator for MOPS and felt completely over my head and out of control (not good for a type-A person like me), I today am feeling that way - only on a lesser level. Not knowing what the future may bring, and feeling a little cramped in this apartment, along with other everyday stresses have left me feeling hopeless some days. I again turned to my normal comfort zones for happiness: food, wine, chocolate, vegging out in front of the tv, etc. It has not been good for me and my mental health on most days. But as I was writing my testimony that I would speak to these ladies, the Lord whispered in my ear "why aren't you turning to me now like you did back then?" I couldn't read the words "I know I can do anything through Christ who strengthens me" without feeling a pang in my heart that I wasn't really living it. Did I really believe what I was writing? I did back then, when I felt to desperate for his help and his love and his comfort. But what about now? Somewhere between last May when I "retired" from my position, to today, I had lost the intimate connection I had with my loving Father. The only answer I have for that loss is that I didn't need him as much. I was back to the day in, day out of everyday life and I said to myself "thanks Lord. You were really there for me in my time of need, but I can take it from here. This is boring, easy stuff. You can have a seat over there for now." I still had my quiet time, but not the on-my-knees, "please help me Lord" desperation I had back then. I suppose it's human nature to only cry out to the Lord in desperate times, but why? Why do I ever presume I can carry on with my life without his presence? The Lord has shown me once again this week that I can do nothing apart from him. If I try to do the basic things without his help, I will fail. My marriage will suffer; my family will suffer; I will suffer - and I have. He has shown me, through my own written testimony, that he wants to be the center of my life. He wants me to come to him with everything - life altering or not. I am grateful once again that he used MOPS to draw me closer to him and show me the way.

Weekend Wrap Up

What a glorious weekend to celebrate the resurrection of our Savior! We attended the Tenebrae service at our church Friday night and it was very moving. We then spent Saturday looking for shoes for me (no fun!). My poor husband and sons - what great troopers they were! We did baskets for our boys this year - after saying all month we weren't going to do it. My husband said "why don't we buy them Target gift cards and draw bunny ears on top?" Nice try honey. We really were going to do the gift cards, but then the boys kept talking about all they stuff they were going to get in their baskets and Mommy felt guilty. So I ran out Saturday to Target and bought baskets (ours are still in storage somewhere) and some candy. We did do gift cards, but at least they were in a basket full of goodies. What a sucker I am! One day I am going to hold fast to taking the easy way out! Sunday was a beautiful day to spend with family after church. The kids looked for Easter eggs at Grandmas and then we all hung out and went through old photos my mom had brought back from my grandmothers house in Oklahoma. Here are a few pictures.

Here is "Uncle Rick" helping to open the Easter eggs. Jason, the family clown, goofing off outside! What a great day for baseball - which is always a must when my family gets together. 5 boys and 2 men - sports is what they live for! Check out my nephews in their white t-shirts! My sister-in-law had taken off their dress shirts to play. My kids never wear t-shirts, but my nephews look so cute in them! Here's our newest addition - all girly! Elliana Grace is getting cuter by the minute!

House hunters be alert!

We have been hunting for a house for a while and came across a shady little plan some realtors are using to sell homes. We found a house that we loved and tried to negotiate a deal, but were duped by the sellers and their agents. Prudential used a "range" of prices the seller would "entertain". We gave them two offers in this price range and they rejected it. Not only did they reject it, but they were very unprofessional to our agent. They have yet to sell this home. Our realtor, TJ Larsen, wrote a great article on Value Range Marketing based on our experience, and Allen Norwood of the Charlotte Observer interviewed him. This article was published in Saturday's paper of The Charlotte Observer and you read it here http://www.charlotteobserver.com/222/story/654622.html

23 years ago today.....

My husband took me out on our first date 23 years ago today. Our first date a week before was foiled somehow. We were supposed to meet to go bowling and one of us got the wrong place. As I was in high school at the time and didn't have a car, my mom had to take me to the bowling alley. We somehow missed each other that night, but on April 11th, 1986, we tried it again went on our first date - bowling.

There have been many bowling trips since then and our family has changed a lot, but my love for him has only grown deeper. He is the best gift God could have ever given me. I mean, what other man would spend the Saturday before Easter shopping for shoes with his wife?

Thanks, honey, for asking me out 23 years ago, and all the things you have done for me and our family since then. I love you!

(This wasn't our first date - it was our second prom together a year later. Gotta love the hair!)

Baseball's opening day!

Yesterday was our son's opening day of baseball. I love this team and all the parents involved. The team is the Muckdogs, of all things! It was an awesome game and we won! David made all 3 outs in the first inning for his team while playing 2nd base. He even turned a double play! His friend Hunter did an awesome job pitching. This is the first time we are all playing kid-pitch instead of coach-pitch. I am amazed at the speed and accuracy 9 year olds have. I swear if I were pitching I would have taken a few heads off!

David's best friend Keegan drove in the winning runs. It was an awesome day and perfect weather. I look forward to this year with them.

Of course, Jason had his best friend Riley there to cheer them on.....when they weren't killing ants on the hill of course. Awesome day!

Why now?

I've been hearing that question a lot. I've also been asking that question a lot. Our church is going through a change that a lot of people are struggling with - expansion to a new area in uncertain times. "Why now" is the question that seems to be on everyone's mind. Why, when things are so tight and there are so many changes within our church, do we have to add this on top of it? It doesn't make sense. We also have been struggling to find a house. We found one, then lost it. Found a couple of others that we were sure we could make a decision on. We couldn't. The only reason we have for not buying either one is that we don't have a peace about either. They both are great houses; they both are within our price range; they both fit our family perfectly. Yet, we let them go. It doesn't make sense. I think about Mary, the virgin mother of Jesus. How she must have asked those same questions to God. "I've been faithful to you Lord and am engaged to be married Why now?" It doesn't make sense. I think about the disciples as they watched Jesus being crucified. Why now? He has so much to do; he's only just started. It doesn't make sense. Things don't always make sense to us. The elders of our church have been praying about this for years. Doors were closed over and over again - and then they were opened wide. I believe there is a peace among those that are starting this journey. It may not make sense to me, but it makes sense to God. I don't know why we can't get comfortable with these houses. All I know is that Rick and I both feel this way and are continuing to pray about it. God knows the future. It may not make sense to me, but it makes sense to God. Jesus being born of a virgin and suffering so horribly at such a young age. It didn't make any sense to those of the time, but it does to us now, doesn't it? I thank God for all of those "untimely" things that happened centuries ago so that I might have a relationship with the One who created me and loves me. The path of convenience isn't always the road the Lord wants us to take. As a matter of fact, when you look at the people who made the biggest impact on the Kingdom, they took the path of MOST resistance. Their reward on earth was little, if any. But their reward in heaven is great. I don't like to think that the Lord wants me on a rough path. I like my smooth little paved road with white lines and directional signs. It makes me happy. It makes me feel safe. But when that road - no matter how beautiful it may seem ahead, gives me an unsettling feeling, it's time to get off and regroup. For the Lord's peace is our directional sign when everything else seems foggy. "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27