Friday, February 27, 2009

Park!


Sam and I had a park adventure today. The cool thing was that NO ONE else was there!




One of his favorite things to do is to hop on into Park Cafe' and make me a variety of delectable treats. Today it was brownies and chicken...but it still resembled mulch just a tad.


Thursday, February 26, 2009

The Post You Have ALL Been Waiting For...Well, OK, All You Female Readers Out There!

Here ya go, girls! You asked for the outfit...and here it is. It was the most rockin' thing I could come up with. I don't have a 2 inch mini skirt (praise God), stilettos, or painted-on-tight-jeans, so here it is. I probably look more like a school teacher than a head-banging rocker, but that is OK.


So, the story behind us going to see Mister Cook all together is that we are all in community group and last season, we all cheered David on together instead of actually studying the Bible. We felt that the concert would be a great way to break out of our heathen mindset and get refocused on the Word of God. (Or something like that.)

Michelle had the flu only 2 days prior to the Big Day...but that didn't stop her from indulging in salsa and later cheering on her favorite idol.



Ahhh, the REAL pictures you wanted to see! Let me just say that I am a legalist and when the ticket says "no cameras," I abide by the rules. (I did not want my camera to be confiscated!) But, I am all about having friends who don't care a lick about the rules...the pictures are compliments of one such friend.

I was quite disappointed to see my rock star sporting a hat. But, the music, sideways grin, and screaming girlie fun did the trick! I will say that Anna swears he winked at us, but I didn't catch that...she is either delusional or God knew I couldn't be tempted beyond what I could handle. Just teasing!


Our seats were AMAZING! 3rd row! I think he was looking right at us at some points...kinda fun!
In conclusion, I had the best time ever. But, I have decided I am not a rocker. I like to head bang every once in awhile for the fun of it, but it would drive me nuts to have to listen to such loudness all the time! The opening act (Ryan Star??) was hi-lar-ious. Not because he couldn't sing, but because he was soooooo dramatic. I loved it...high comedy!
Thanks for the time of my life!! (PS--Anna and I had to reorient ourselves back to reality by listening to old school "Aaron Jeffrey" on the way home...please tell me someone out there remembers this Father/Son Christian duo?!)

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Check!!

Concert is in 3.25 hours.

Smoky Eye: check
Satiny dress with leggings: check
20 minute scheduled nap that turned into 1 hour: check
Poofy hair: check
Bare shiny lips: check
Cravings for Mexican: check
Frozen pizza for the boys: check
Tunes learned to lots of songs: check
A night out with friends and good music: priceless!

Back in the Day...

While reconnecting with elementary friends on Facebook today, I came across these...1st, 3rd, and 5th grade pictures. Kinda funny, since my boys went to get their school class pictures made today. Anyway, I thought my in-laws might have fun trying to find me...it isn't too hard...just look for Cade or Eli's face. Ha. You should be able to click on each picture to make it bigger.





Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Raisin Donuts and a 31 year old wanna-be

In an attempt to get my kids to chow down on their raisin english muffins this morning, I told them they were raisin donuts. Cade took a bite and said it tasted like a bagel. Eli took a bite and said it tasted like a bun. "What kind of bun?" He replied with "just a bun." He enjoyed his bun so much, he asked for seconds. Maybe he is growing. He is constantly hungry...even more than usual.

Tomorrow is the big day! The day I get to act like a foolish college girl. I am going to see David Cook in concert! It is such a dilemma to be 31 and prepare for this. "Do I wear heels and be cute or will my feet be angry with me?" "Should I take a nap prior to the 8 pm concert, since 9 pm is my bedtime?" "Will I be so tired in the morning that I can't get the kids off to school?" "Will all the college girls think I am a dope wanna-be for showing up?" "Will it be OK to sing 'watermelon, watermelon' since I don't know the words to many of his songs?" Whew, I am getting worked up over this! The good news is that we girls are eating Mexican prior to the big event. Or maybe the Mexican will be the big event. Priorities: Mexican or David Cook? I just don't know. I am 31 and I just don't know anymore. I wish Amelia was in town; she could at least tell me what to wear (and not to sing "watermelon, watermelon!!")

I will tell ya how it goes...

Friday, February 20, 2009

It's Friday!

My headache just left and my Mom and sista are coming to see me! It is shaping up to be a great weekend!

I have 5002 pictures that need developing. I have been postponing this since prior to Christmas. Now, I don't think I can afford to catch up. Oh, the joys and yet frustrations of digital photography...especially when your multiple cards hold like 500 pics each.

Will someone please tell me how this American Idol voting thing is working? I can't get 3 people from 3 groups to equal 12. What is going on that I am missing??

Did I say the sun was out? Ahhh.

I am doing the "Esther" Bible study by Beth Moore. I really feel sorry for her...Esther...not Beth Moore.

Can you believe my husband wanted a frozen pizza over homemade chili last night?

Yarnell's strawberry ice cream is tasty.

I have been in card-making mood.

I should go. Maybe dear husband will let us go to Walmart and develop all 5002 pictures!

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Ribbers and Chests

Sam has been going around singing this:
I've got peace like a ribber
I've got peace like a ribber
I 've got peace like a ribber in my soul
(repeat.)

I just now looked through Cade's valentines and came across one that had me in stitches:
Dear Cade,
You are a good chest player. You are a good sport. You are thankful and humble.

Hmmmm, what is going on in that "christian" school???

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Altar of Remembrance



When I pulled up by myself to visit Kiley's grave last Thursday afternoon, I didn't really know what to expect. I had cried my eyes out the previous few days, so I didn't think I was about to embark on having a breakdown. The sun was out, but the wind was very cold. I wrapped myself in my coat, grabbed my camera and Bible, and headed to see "her." She has the most beautiful graveside location...it is under a tree that overlooks a pond full of ducks and turtles. (Not that she really cares, since her eyes have since beheld things we can only imagine.)

My plan was to take some pictures and then sit and read the Word. I couldn't think of a way to feel closer to her since she is in THE Word's presence very tangibly. I had planned on sitting, but the ground was wet. So, I sat on my haunches, hands shaking from the unreality of it all and the bitter chill. I had no agenda.

God did.

I like to employ the "flip" method when studying my Bible. I digress. I am a flipper. When seeking to hear from the Holy Spirit, I randomly choose a passage, praying that God might speak to me. I was so cold, and my nerves were so raw, I assure you that I wasn't really looking for God to speak to me. But, I had planned on reading the Bible, so I started flipping.

My first "random" flip landed on 2 Chronicles 20. God used this chapter powerfully last year in my life. King Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah are about to be obliterated by their enemies. God instructs them that they will not have to fight this battle. He will do it for them. They are simply to have faith, sing, and praise. After three days of carrying off the enemies' plunder, they gathered in the Valley of Beracah "Blessing" and God gave the Kingdom rest on every side.

I thought God was pretty cool to remind me of a passage so sweet on my tongue. A passage where He later on, fulfilled in my own life...giving me rest on every side.

My second "random" flip took me to Micah 4:12-13. God led me through intense study last year on the significance of the threshing floor. He showed me that through my sorrow, I was being threshed and refined. I was slowly being made into a "people invincible." He showed me that the threshing floor is where He meets with his people...and it is often very painful.

Now God was becoming not just cool, but amazing and unexpected, too.

The third "random" flip landed me at Jeremiah 29:11-14. This flip had me in tears because it was what (I knew) to be Kiley's favorite verses. She may have had many other "favorite" verses, but God knew that I knew these to be dear to her. "For I know the plans I have for you...plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." God showed me that He had brought her favorite verse to fruition and completion. Nothing can harm her now. She has nothing around her to steal her hope. Her future is everlasting.

Now, God was not only cool, amazing and unexpected; He was Holy and Sovereign. He was Good.

It took me a while for all of this to soak in. When it finally started to, I began to realize the significance of what had happened that afternoon. God was reminding me to build an altar of remembrance for how He carried me through the previous year. As His children, we should keep records of His goodness and faithfulness which become markers in our walk with Him. These records point to our spiritual growth and to Jesus, Himself. These remembrances of His visitations allow us to not only praise Him for His goodness, but to also remind Him of His Promises.

I know this is getting insanely long, but I wanted to share one more thing about Jacob in the Bible. His story is in Genesis. I thought of him because I remember him setting up altars and giving them names based on what God was doing in his life. The first time I think he does this is when he has the vision of the ladder/stairway resting on the earth and reaching into heaven. Jesus is this ladder...the only way, truth and life. The only way into heaven. He names the place Bethel, "House of God."

Later on in his life, (after much hardship and wrestling with God), Jacob returns to Bethel. Genesis 35: 3 says, "Then come, let us go up to Bethel, where I will build an altar to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and who has been with me wherever I have gone." He renames Bethel "El Bethel" which means "the God of the House of God."

Maybe this is a stretch, but I feel like it is what God is wanting me to see. As believers, people see us as a temple of the Holy God. After much "wrestling with God", refining and threshing, people start to see God Himself in our lives....not just His House.

My prayer before making the trip to see Kiley and my precious family was that somehow, my eyes would be fixed on Him and His Glory. I hope this post reveals a piece of His faithfulness to that prayer.

Thank you so much for your prayers for us all.


"We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!

But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love. (1 Corinthians 13:12-13...the message)







Thursday, February 12, 2009

Peace!

I got the devotional, "Jesus Calling" for Christmas. I flipped ahead to day "February 13" to see if God was going to have anything special to say to me (year after year) on this (awful to me) day. He did!

"Peace be with you! Ever since the resurrection, this has been My watchword to those who yearn for Me. As you sit quietly, let My peace settle over you and enfold you in My loving Presence. To provide this radiant Peace for you, I died a criminal's death. Receive My Peace abundantly and thankfully. It is a rare treasure, dazzling in delicate beauty yet strong enough to withstand all onslaughts. Wear My Peace with regal dignity. It will keep your heart and mind close to Mine."

Lord, help my focus be on You tomorrow. Your sacrifice on the cross (criminal's death) not only grants me peace, but also hope in knowing my sister was redeemed and that I will see her again. Grant us some joy in your truth...this world is not all there is and you are even now preparing a place for us! Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!

Clinging to truth...
"Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture: They kill us in cold blood because they hate you. We're sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one. None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I'm absolutely convinced that nothing--nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable--absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us." Romans 8:35-39 (The Message)

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Hey Sir and Mim!

Hi Sir and Mim! This is Eli! I wanted to tell you Happy Valentine's Day. I also wanted you to see my new scooter. Oh, and Sam wanted you to see his crazy hair. Everytime he wakes up from nighttime or naptime, it looks like that! Funny, huh? See you soon! Gotta go watch American Idol now.




Tuesday, February 10, 2009

2008 Winners

I did it! I picked my favorite photos of 2008! Last February, when I took a photography class, I had no idea I would enjoy it so much! It is amazing that I learned anything, since most classes were spent in a daze, mourning my sister. God graciously allowed me the avenue of photography to express myself last year. Most of these photos were taken with my old non-dslr camera and without any help from Photoshop. I am excited to see what I am capable of learning this year...with the help of a nicer camera, photoshop, and an external flash (hopefully coming soon!) If you allowed me to take your pictures in 2008, then I thank you from the bottom of my heart! It was very therapeutic for me and I promise you I had the time of my life! Thanks!
PS--I am dying to know what your favorite one is!!