NEW KID ON THE BLOCK

Miss T has found herself a wonderful young man. He has been on the scene now for about 3 months and he is proving to be a genuinely godly man with a great personality ....and a gorgeous smile. Don't you think??

BOUND FOR BETH !!!

This is Miss T and I on Friday night before we left for our Beth Moore Simulcast. We were so excited. Beth is THE BEST AND MOST ANNOINTED bible teacher we have ever encountered.
http://www.lproof.org/ and http://livingproofministries.blogspot.com/

The simulcast ended on Saturday afternoon and needless to say we came home inspired and revived. It was such a blessing that over 90,000 people in 516 different locations received the live feed from Green Bay, Wisconsin. The lesson was awesome and the praise and worship was phenomenal. I could not get the songs out of my head and I hummed them so much that Beans and Binks were humming them by bedtime that night. Travis Cottrell is a great praise and worship leader. Check out his new CD-Travis Cottrell Live!! http://www.traviscottrell.com/

I will post more about the message preached but I want to study it, meditate on it and fully receive all that God has for me before I relay it.

Miss T and I are going to Orlando on Sept. 18 and 19th for the Deeper Still Conference with Beth Moore, Priscilla Shirer and Kay Arthur. We are anxiously awaiting the weekend and expect that it will be an event we never forget!

FIRST DAY!!!!

I sent my two baby girls to the first day of school yesterday and although that is noteworthy...what is more absolutely unbelievable is that I sent them on the....BUS!!!! I have been taking care of these chickadees 24/7 since they weighed less than 10 lbs.. How in the world did I work up the courage to watch them drive away with no child safety seat-no seat belt-no one to make sure they keep their wits about them-no one to worry about their every move? I cried when the bus pulled away. I couldn't help it. It just happened. A mother's love is the most indescribable thing and I feel privileged to have gotten to experience it.

Needless to say it all worked out. They had a great day and couldn't wait to go back. I had a hard time explaining to Binks that she had to stay home for the next four days while Beans went to school. The stagger start theory is wonderful but try explaining it to a 5 yr. old who loves her teacher and her new found indepence. Oh well!

I had a lovely day today with Binks. I woke up dying to spend time with her since I would be losing her for good come Friday. We did household chores together and then we went to the library. My patience was inexhaustable. I was just loving being with her. We spent the rest of the day reading books and playing around the house.

I treasure my children and although they do not need me as much anymore, in the physical sense, I know that in the coming years I will be needed ten times more to aid in shaping their inner character and world view. I am preparing for these years because I know I have to be up to this huge responsibility.

Glad to know I'm not unemployed........yet!

DEFCON- H1N1

Does anyone get the title of my post? It was my attempt at being humourous...personally it made me giggle when I thought of it.
So when there is a security threat against our country, and the alert status is heightend to DEFCON-1, our country might begin to mobilize weaponry such as this:

BUT when a school superintendant calls and leaves a message on a Mom's voice mail explaining the threat of the new H1N1 virus (aka....swine flu) a Mom's paranoia status is raised to "DEFCON-H1N1"...and she begins to mobilize weaponry such as this:

Anyway, I bought these little germ blasters just last week, and seeing as I have already used half the bottle I am thinking that I am going to first buy stock in the company...and second, find a way to dip my little darlings in a vat of this stuff before sending them into the war zone (aka.....school). I have come to hate the phrase...."should your child begin to exhibit flu-like symptoms". My kids have learned to dart away from my hand as it reaches for their forehead. I can't help it...how else will I know if they are "exhibiting flu-like symptoms"?????? I am just going to have to go ahead and pray for their protection but in addition I think I might make a suggestion about an addition to the school's curriculum....such as Coughing and Sneezing Into the Crook of Your Arm or Hand Washing 101. What do you think? Anyone?

GREAT READ

I know I am probably a latecomer to this book. I certainly have been hearing about it for a very long time...maybe even over a year....but there is a reason it is still on the bestseller list. It is an awesome book. Not a trivial trashy novel mind you. It takes some focus and brainpower but it is so worth it. By now anyone reading my blog knows I take introspection to the max and this book feeds right into my personality. It really was a very thought provoking and enlightening book. It is based on principles that I have know for many years but it gave my a new fresh perspective. I wanted to encourage...no...challenge anyone who has not read a book in a while to take a leap and read this one. If you're curiousity is peaked please stop by www.theshackbook.com and take a look.

P.S. The first four chapters are a bit disturbing but hang in there and the remainder will put your mind at ease! Happy reading!

FOREVER FRIENDS

I just had to post about a reunion I had with two of my best friends. Both of these girls were in my wedding party with one of them being a twenty year friend and my maid of honor. We have seen each other through so many phases in our lives. From silly college girls frequenting bars and dance clubs, to serious career women staying late at work. to recomitted Christians growing in our faith and finally wives and new mothers. It is incredible the depth of feelings I have for these friends.

They are kooky, gossipy, loving, practical, trustworthy gals who I have missed so much. We spent a girls only weekend in Orlando and we shopped like fiends, played games, hung out, tried each others clothes on and talked. And talked some more. And then talked some more. It was great!!!

Love you guys!

DO NOT BE JUDGEMENTAL

Easier said than done...am I right? The Lord has been speaking to me in this area lately. He has been urging me not to judge others for the choices they make or the sins they commit.

In the past couple of months I have encountered Christians who have chosen to divorce their spouse or look at pornography or even leave the scene of an accident. Appalling...right? Yet, when you can appreciate the fact that these people are no different than you and I, it put things into perspective.

Are you 100% sure that you are fully aware of what you are, or are not, capable of? Whether our sins are "small" or "big" or "seen" or "unseen", we ALL have areas that are not bathed in the light of Christ. We ALL are capable of making a snap decision while under pressure, or in a moment of panic, that we are deeply ashamed of.

Christians are all sinners saved by grace through the death of Jesus on the cross. Not that we have in any way earned this grace but that it is given to us as a free gift from the heart of our Saviour Jesus Christ. The penalty of sin is death but Jesus paid our penalty by dying on the cross. What greater act of love? Jesus chose to be the substitutionary sacrifice for our sins; therefore, God does not deal with us by making us feel guilt or by manipulating us. We are already justified in the eyes of God because of Jesus' death on the cross. God does not put labels on us but readily accepts us as we are.

We are therefore called to accept one another in love.

Matthew 7:1-3 says "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others you will be judged and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?"

ABSENCE MAKES THE HEART GROW FONDER

My blog...oh how I have missed thee. What have I been doing you ask? Well,let me see...I have been:
*teaching and reaching (Vacation Bible School)
*and swimming and socializing (Fourth of July at familyamericanstyle.blogspot.com)
*and wrapping and hiding and planning and celebrating(5th&6th b-days at Disney)
*and packing and unpacking
*and sunning and funning (Family Vacation in Fort Lauderdale)
*and snapping and scrapping
*and reading(www.paperbackswap.com)and studying(ladies summer bible study-Me, Myself and Lies by Jennifer Rothschild)
*and talking and laughing (girls weekend at the Gaylord Palms Hotel in Orlando!)
*and eating and trying not to eat
*and playing Scrabble and Sorry and Trivial Pursuit and Bananagrams and Rummicube
*and shopping and returning
*and cooking and cleaning
*and smiling and sighing
*and hugging and kissing
*and telling stories and tucking in
*and arguing and making up
*and praying and praising (sunday school and church)
*and picking and choosing (paint colors that is)
*and working and lounging
*and texting and typing (got a new iphone!)
*and dating (9th Anniversary)and babysitting(grandbaby came to visit!)
*and stressing and striving
*and thanking the Lord for each and every day!!

It has been a truly fun summer and I have enjoyed being "fully present" during all the times spent with my precious family....but alas SCHOOL IS STARTING!! and that just means one thing.."Hello blog..long time no see. Its great to be back! Let me tell you what I have been thinking.."