Well, I thought I would go ahead and post an update for those who care to read.
I woke up this morning and my first thought was, "I need to go delete that blog post." I couldn't believe I had posted such negative thoughts for others to read. Yet, I thought that perhaps it might just help someone. I have read of others' struggles and it has actually encouraged me to know that others were just as frail as I. So....I left it.
When I awoke, I was filled with a strong desire to pray and spend some time with the Lord. I knelt beside my bed and just talked to Him. It was such a sweet time. I found myself with a song in my heart, and picked up a hymn book to find the song that was in my heart. Then I began to just sing. Each page I turned had another song that fit exactly what I needed this morning.
Earlier today I told someone very close to me that I refuse to doubt what I know to be true. Just as sure as I know the sky is blue because I've seen it; and a baby's skin is soft because I've felt it; I KNOW that God is present with me in my life. I know that He is faithful and true. I know that He will never leave me or forsake me. I know He has a plan for my life. I know that I am HIS! I know this because I have seen Him work in my life. I have felt His divine presence. I have seen and felt His power and peace. Nothing in this world can compare to the peace that I feel when I am trusting Jesus.
Regardless of who is with me on this pilgrimage, I will follow Jesus. Everywhere He leads me, I will follow on.
I will have difficult days and the struggles I face will not just disappear, but I don't have to carry the burden alone. When days like yesterday come, I can recognize what it is. It is such a mix of physical, emotional and spiritual chaos. And yesterday didn't just pop up out of the blue. The struggle I had yesterday had been building for several days. But I was weak and unprepared for battle. Even though I had seen it coming...I was still unprepared.
I am so grateful for the prayers that were lifted up for me. Thank you! I felt them. Sometimes I am just awed at the power of prayer. Interceding for others, lifting them up when they are weak, is such an incredible ministry. Helping a fellow pilgrim fight the enemy and press on in this journey is what we are called to do. God sends help just when we need it. I have witnessed this over and over again in my life and the lives of those around me.
It is this evidence of God that convinces me to keep pressing on. True joy comes to me and fills my heart when I am completely surrendered to Jesus. This is where I want to stay.
He truly does give his servants rest. There is fulness of joy in His presence.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Weary Pilgrim...Stumbling Soldier
WARNING: This blog post contains content unlike my usual posts. It is me being open and honest about the real me. Continue on at your own risk.
Some days and weeks are just full of spiritual battles....and quite honestly, today I am just really sick of trying to fight. Today has been mix of really bad and really good. It started really bad, got better and then this evening pretty much just stinks again. I know that others are fighting battles that seem so much more intense and are literally life threatening....but each battle faced is real and gets very tiresome.
I cannot post on here all that I am dealing with, but for anyone who reads this and cares to pray for me....I could really use the spiritual support. This pilgrim is just frustrated and confused. I am battling the demons of doubt and fear, and I don't want them to win. My armor feels like it has taken a beating and needs some repair. Or maybe I'm just not wearing it properly. I know I need to spend some serious time with the King.
I also feel like a soldier who is only willing to fight if someone I love is willing to be in the army with me, and right now that someone doesn't want to commit to joining me. I know that being in this "army" is the right thing to do, but I don't want to fight without this someone.
I am finding myself wanting to pull away from church and all things related to the church. Yet at the same time, I want so badly to feel a part of it. (Mind you, I said the church...not God.) I have some spiritual wounds that are need of the healing touch that comes only from the Holy Spirit. Yet I am keeping myself so busy that I haven't taken the time to sit and receive that healing. WHY? Why do I do this? Today I sat and cried out on the church steps instead of sitting in the church service where I could have been a part of the service and been fed. I sat outside and fought demons....more like had the snot beat out of me by them....instead of retreating to the One who could help me. What kept me where I was??? Pride. Plain and simple. I finally did cry out to God....and He helped like He always does. He is always faithful. I got past that part of the path today, but the stretch of road I'm on is still plagued by demons trying to get me to doubt my faith in God. I know I need to fight and I feel stronger than I did earlier today, but I need some other Believing Soldiers to, in prayer, walk this stretch with me.
In case you are reading this and wonder about my "pilgrim" and "soldier" references, I would suggest you read "Little Pilgrim's Progress" by Helen L. Taylor(I know, it's a children's version!) and "The Shining Sword" by Charles G. Coleman. :) Two of my all time favorite books.
I rarely let too many people see this side of me....but here it is. I, too, battle with anger, depression, doubt, fear, etc. Maybe you realize that everyone does....but I don't like to admit that I do. I'd rather keep up the "stained glass masquerade". Though, it hurts to do that for too long; I know from experience. Some times it's good to let others see your weaknesses. I don't plan to do it too often, but just felt I needed to let it show tonight. This "warrior" really is a child who just wants to "lay the sword down and cry for just a while". Sorry, the song references keep coming to mind and they fit well. LOL
Well, I guess that's enough honesty for one night. I'm going to go drop to my knees and pray fervently before sleeping tonight. The joy of the Lord is my strength. I will press on. I know that I can rest peacefully when my trust is in Jehovah. I will hold onto His promises!!
Some days and weeks are just full of spiritual battles....and quite honestly, today I am just really sick of trying to fight. Today has been mix of really bad and really good. It started really bad, got better and then this evening pretty much just stinks again. I know that others are fighting battles that seem so much more intense and are literally life threatening....but each battle faced is real and gets very tiresome.
I cannot post on here all that I am dealing with, but for anyone who reads this and cares to pray for me....I could really use the spiritual support. This pilgrim is just frustrated and confused. I am battling the demons of doubt and fear, and I don't want them to win. My armor feels like it has taken a beating and needs some repair. Or maybe I'm just not wearing it properly. I know I need to spend some serious time with the King.
I also feel like a soldier who is only willing to fight if someone I love is willing to be in the army with me, and right now that someone doesn't want to commit to joining me. I know that being in this "army" is the right thing to do, but I don't want to fight without this someone.
I am finding myself wanting to pull away from church and all things related to the church. Yet at the same time, I want so badly to feel a part of it. (Mind you, I said the church...not God.) I have some spiritual wounds that are need of the healing touch that comes only from the Holy Spirit. Yet I am keeping myself so busy that I haven't taken the time to sit and receive that healing. WHY? Why do I do this? Today I sat and cried out on the church steps instead of sitting in the church service where I could have been a part of the service and been fed. I sat outside and fought demons....more like had the snot beat out of me by them....instead of retreating to the One who could help me. What kept me where I was??? Pride. Plain and simple. I finally did cry out to God....and He helped like He always does. He is always faithful. I got past that part of the path today, but the stretch of road I'm on is still plagued by demons trying to get me to doubt my faith in God. I know I need to fight and I feel stronger than I did earlier today, but I need some other Believing Soldiers to, in prayer, walk this stretch with me.
In case you are reading this and wonder about my "pilgrim" and "soldier" references, I would suggest you read "Little Pilgrim's Progress" by Helen L. Taylor(I know, it's a children's version!) and "The Shining Sword" by Charles G. Coleman. :) Two of my all time favorite books.
I rarely let too many people see this side of me....but here it is. I, too, battle with anger, depression, doubt, fear, etc. Maybe you realize that everyone does....but I don't like to admit that I do. I'd rather keep up the "stained glass masquerade". Though, it hurts to do that for too long; I know from experience. Some times it's good to let others see your weaknesses. I don't plan to do it too often, but just felt I needed to let it show tonight. This "warrior" really is a child who just wants to "lay the sword down and cry for just a while". Sorry, the song references keep coming to mind and they fit well. LOL
Well, I guess that's enough honesty for one night. I'm going to go drop to my knees and pray fervently before sleeping tonight. The joy of the Lord is my strength. I will press on. I know that I can rest peacefully when my trust is in Jehovah. I will hold onto His promises!!
Saturday, July 2, 2011
It's A Miracle......He's Still Working on Me!
It's A Miracle He's Still Working on Me!
Both of those are titles to songs that David has sung for competition. The first is the song he sang this year.
The second is the name of a wonderful song that My sister, Lisa and I sang when we were kids. David sang it last year at competition. It says...
He's still working on me, to make me what I ought to be. It took Him just a week to make the moon and the stars, the sun and Earth and Jupiter and Mars. How loving and patient He must be, He's still working on me.
There really ought to be a sign upon my heart...Don't judge him yet, there's an unfinished part. But I'll be perfect just according to His plan. Fashioned by the Master's loving hand.
In the mirror of His Word, reflections that I see make me wonder why He never gave up on me. But He loves me as I am, and helps me when I pray. Remember He's the potter, I'm the clay.
Sometimes things happen that really stink. Sometimes these "stinky" life happenings occur right in the middle of what starts out to be a really great time. We then struggle with how to respond. In years past, I rarely responded well to the difficult things in life. I have in the past been a very selfish, ugly, and angry person. I can look back and see those times, and I pray that I never go back to those ways.
There are times that in spite of what we really, really want, we need to surrender our desires and our will to accept what God has planned instead of what we have planned. As Christians we are expected to prefer others before ourselves. Thinking of others can be much easier said than done. But it can be done when we are completely surrendered to the Holy Spirit and the will of God. Thankfully God keeps working on us and someday He will complete the work that He has begun.
For the last several months, I have worked with David on a song for him to sing at the FWB MO State Youth Competition on June 5. I spent many many hours learning to play a song that was way out of my comfort zone of playing so he could compete. He spent much time learning to sing the song and improving on his vocal skills.
He is so gifted and I am so blessed to be his mama! There were many times of pushing him to practice when he didn't want to practice. The practice paid off and he did an excellent job at the state competition. So well that he scored very high! There was a bit of human blunder though and we were not informed of all the specific guidelines and at the competition there were some issues with the scoring. This resulted in another competitor being announced as the first place winner. Later in the evening we were told that without the scoring mishap, David technically had the highest score. We were then told that both David and the other competitor who received the 1st place trophy would be allowed to sing at the National competition in NC later this month. We went from very disappointed to very very excited! The other young competitor happens to be the daughter of some wonderful people with whom I have been delighted to have a budding friendship.
When we arrived home from the state competition, David & I were so very excited. Although he did not have the trophy, we knew that without the mishaps, he would have had the highest score. He was delighted! He also had won 1st place in the Bible Sword Drill category that he competed in.
Our disappointment came a few days later when, after I had already registered us online for the National Convention, Michael informed me that we were not going to be able to go. The cost was just too much for just David and me to travel that far and he was concerned about us traveling that distance alone. I was heart broken. I knew I had to respect his decision, but I cried many tears that night and the next morning as I prayed and tried to keep a right spirit toward my husband and God. After all, this was what David & I had worked so long and hard for. People can say that it's not about winning, that it's all about honoring God and sharpening your skills, building on experience for future things in life; but deep down we all just really want to win. We want the glory of saying "I'm #1!" Even me. I wanted to know in my heart that I helped my son reach that goal. Trying to keep this stuff balanced in my heart and mind can get really tough sometimes. I know the right things to say and how I'm supposed to act. I know what I need to teach my children, and that they will learn most by my example. Lots of praying is what it takes to keep me where I need to be!
I had a talk with David and explained to him why we could not go. He was understandably very upset. Because God had already been working in my heart about being submissive with my heart and my will, I could honestly tell David that this what was we had to do. I could, from my heart, tell him that it is best to honor Daddy and God and trust that they have our best interest in mind. We had discussions about why we sometimes have to surrender something that we so badly desire when there is nothing "wrong" with that particular desire. If we love and trust God completely, we can more easily let go of our desires and accept His perfect plan for us. I have learned in the last few weeks that my response to situations greatly impacts how my children respond. They are watching me and will mimic what they see in me. Oh, how I pray that I will respond wisely to life so they will do the same. I do not want to be cause for any further shortcomings and struggles in their lives. David cried a little and then we prayed. There have been several times lately where we have prayed together over specific situations. What a difference it makes in our attitudes! I don't hesitate to let my children hear me confessing my faults to God in prayer and voicing my struggles to the One who can help me.
I decided to wait a few days to cancel our registration with the National Convention in hopes that somehow Michael would change his mind or I might find a way to pay for the trip. Finally, on Monday, June13 I called the FWB office in Nashville and cancelled our registration and asked for a refund. The next day I received a confirmation email that our registration was cancelled. Emotions took a sudden turn that evening when I was informed that David & I could travel to NC for the National Competition in the church van with our youth pastor, and that the church would help pay for our hotel room. They were trying to help all of the families who had competitors going to Nationals. I believe we have 4 or 5 families going for the competition. After speaking to Michael, I was so excited that we were going to get to go after all! I let Michael be the one to tell David. On Wednesday I was able to call the office in Nashville again and get our registration back in order.
Fast forward about 9 days....we just returned home from a very exhausting week at church camp. Everyone is bone tired and teetering on the edge of cranky. All I really wanted was to get home, crawl in my bed and sleep. That was not to be. We stayed at the church longer than expected after unloading the van and loading my car. Then, just as we were getting ready to leave, I found an email on my phone. The email was from someone involved with the National Competition. It stated that there would have to be a decision made about the entry for David's vocal solo. They could only accept one entry. The person who told us they could send both children was mistaken. WOW!! How quickly these emotions can plunge!
I went back into the church and showed the email to our youth pastor and pastor. Much more discussion took place. At this point I'm really trying to keep from breaking down. Our wise pastor commented, "you all really need to go home and get some rest." LOL I did end up crying a little there in front of them. I got it together and went back out to my car....only to discover my car would not start. Dead battery. I'm not going to explain how that happened. Anyway, the tears came. LOL I'm laughing now, but I was not seeing any humor in the situation at that moment. We finally made it home and later that evening Michael said what I had feared he would say when hearing about the email.
He stated that if David didn't get to sing, we were not going to make the trip just for Bible Sword Drill. UGH!!! This was one crazy emotional roller coaster I was on. I did not want to say anything to David yet about the fact that he may not get to sing in NC. So.....I prayed. The next morning, Michael told me he had thought it through and no matter what decision was made about the vocal solo, we could go to Nationals for Bible Sword Drill. He did not want David to be hurt anymore. Now we were left waiting and wondering when the decision would be made and who would get to go. If the other competitor had been a stranger to us, it probably would have been easier. But knowing that the other competitor was a friend made this much more emotional. I was so concerned with how the other child would feel if David were allowed to sing at the Nationals.
I began to really feel that the right thing for us to do would be to step down. But I battled with whether or not I should do that to David. After all, what if they decided to let him sing. We would be giving up his opportunity to compete at the National competition. I had some talks with David. Michael & I talked with David. Michael and I didn't exactly see eye to eye on what to do. So.....I prayed and prayed. Trying to find out what God wanted us to do. By the time I was finally convinced about what we needed to do, I ended up not having to make that call. I found out that the decision was made to allow our friend's daughter to compete. I was relieved and very disappointed at the same time. I spoke to my friend this week and it's amazing how God works in our lives when we allow Him to. We both had been very concerned for the other's child. We had a wonderful visit over the phone and I know that this is just a little something that will be used to build our friendship.
Then came the final talk with David. This poor child has been through the emotional wringer as well in regards to this year's competition. He didn't win. He did win. He gets to go to NC. He doesn't get to go. He gets to go. He may not get to sing. He might get to sing. And now....sorry Sweety, you don't get to sing. I tried to get him back around to the point where he had been several days ago, where he was willing to step down. This was a struggle for him. As it obviously would be for most children and even most adults. I finally just told him the decision was not his to make and he would not be singing. I really don't know if he thinks I made the decision or if the youth board made the decision. Either way, he knows he is not singing at the national competition. We focused on the fact that he gets to do Bible Sword Drill and all the fun we will have on our trip. I told him that regardless of how we feel, as Christians, we need to obey God and we should always prefer others before ourselves(Phil.2). This is not how our society usually works, even within the church many times. I was pleased to see that after a few tears and angry words, we were able to pray and let go of the struggle. He was fine after that. I believe he will follow our example and respond to this as he sees us respond to it.
Through all of this, there have been so many teaching moments. I hope and pray that I caught all of them. I told David that when we go through difficult things we must be able to look back and have learned something. If we learn nothing from the trials we go through we are foolish and may very well face similar trials in the future until we learn what God wants us to learn. Much of what I feel I learned was not new to me, but rather just putting into action what I have known in my head. I feel like God was proving me through this. I hope I passed the test! I also hope that David will look back and see that God was working in his life as well. God is always working all around us. We just don't always see it.
He is only 10 years old and, Lord willing, will have many more opportunities to sing at competition. I can't wait for the trip. Although, honestly, 12 hours in the church van doesn't sound all that great! But I'm sure we will enjoy the fellowship with Ryan, Lindsey and Eleanor.
I am working hard at keeping everything here at home caught up and prepared ahead if possible. We will return home from the Nationals just 2 days before going to church camp again. I am going to be teaching a class at church camp so those lessons need to be prepared. We are planning to start school just 2 weeks after returning from church camp, so those lessons need to be in the computer. I feel like everything is just spinning so fast, and I am trying to hang on. Add to this mix my normal emotional ups and downs and trying to be good wife and mama...and whew! It's exhausting just to think about! LOL
I am so grateful that Nehemiah 8:10 tells us that "the joy of the Lord is our strength." I find my joy for life in Jesus. He is my Lord, my Savior, my Rock, my Shelter, my Everything. Because of Jesus I am blessed beyond measure and I can face anything as long as I am His.
Both of those are titles to songs that David has sung for competition. The first is the song he sang this year.
The second is the name of a wonderful song that My sister, Lisa and I sang when we were kids. David sang it last year at competition. It says...
He's still working on me, to make me what I ought to be. It took Him just a week to make the moon and the stars, the sun and Earth and Jupiter and Mars. How loving and patient He must be, He's still working on me.
There really ought to be a sign upon my heart...Don't judge him yet, there's an unfinished part. But I'll be perfect just according to His plan. Fashioned by the Master's loving hand.
In the mirror of His Word, reflections that I see make me wonder why He never gave up on me. But He loves me as I am, and helps me when I pray. Remember He's the potter, I'm the clay.
Sometimes things happen that really stink. Sometimes these "stinky" life happenings occur right in the middle of what starts out to be a really great time. We then struggle with how to respond. In years past, I rarely responded well to the difficult things in life. I have in the past been a very selfish, ugly, and angry person. I can look back and see those times, and I pray that I never go back to those ways.
There are times that in spite of what we really, really want, we need to surrender our desires and our will to accept what God has planned instead of what we have planned. As Christians we are expected to prefer others before ourselves. Thinking of others can be much easier said than done. But it can be done when we are completely surrendered to the Holy Spirit and the will of God. Thankfully God keeps working on us and someday He will complete the work that He has begun.
For the last several months, I have worked with David on a song for him to sing at the FWB MO State Youth Competition on June 5. I spent many many hours learning to play a song that was way out of my comfort zone of playing so he could compete. He spent much time learning to sing the song and improving on his vocal skills.
He is so gifted and I am so blessed to be his mama! There were many times of pushing him to practice when he didn't want to practice. The practice paid off and he did an excellent job at the state competition. So well that he scored very high! There was a bit of human blunder though and we were not informed of all the specific guidelines and at the competition there were some issues with the scoring. This resulted in another competitor being announced as the first place winner. Later in the evening we were told that without the scoring mishap, David technically had the highest score. We were then told that both David and the other competitor who received the 1st place trophy would be allowed to sing at the National competition in NC later this month. We went from very disappointed to very very excited! The other young competitor happens to be the daughter of some wonderful people with whom I have been delighted to have a budding friendship.
When we arrived home from the state competition, David & I were so very excited. Although he did not have the trophy, we knew that without the mishaps, he would have had the highest score. He was delighted! He also had won 1st place in the Bible Sword Drill category that he competed in.
Our disappointment came a few days later when, after I had already registered us online for the National Convention, Michael informed me that we were not going to be able to go. The cost was just too much for just David and me to travel that far and he was concerned about us traveling that distance alone. I was heart broken. I knew I had to respect his decision, but I cried many tears that night and the next morning as I prayed and tried to keep a right spirit toward my husband and God. After all, this was what David & I had worked so long and hard for. People can say that it's not about winning, that it's all about honoring God and sharpening your skills, building on experience for future things in life; but deep down we all just really want to win. We want the glory of saying "I'm #1!" Even me. I wanted to know in my heart that I helped my son reach that goal. Trying to keep this stuff balanced in my heart and mind can get really tough sometimes. I know the right things to say and how I'm supposed to act. I know what I need to teach my children, and that they will learn most by my example. Lots of praying is what it takes to keep me where I need to be!
I had a talk with David and explained to him why we could not go. He was understandably very upset. Because God had already been working in my heart about being submissive with my heart and my will, I could honestly tell David that this what was we had to do. I could, from my heart, tell him that it is best to honor Daddy and God and trust that they have our best interest in mind. We had discussions about why we sometimes have to surrender something that we so badly desire when there is nothing "wrong" with that particular desire. If we love and trust God completely, we can more easily let go of our desires and accept His perfect plan for us. I have learned in the last few weeks that my response to situations greatly impacts how my children respond. They are watching me and will mimic what they see in me. Oh, how I pray that I will respond wisely to life so they will do the same. I do not want to be cause for any further shortcomings and struggles in their lives. David cried a little and then we prayed. There have been several times lately where we have prayed together over specific situations. What a difference it makes in our attitudes! I don't hesitate to let my children hear me confessing my faults to God in prayer and voicing my struggles to the One who can help me.
I decided to wait a few days to cancel our registration with the National Convention in hopes that somehow Michael would change his mind or I might find a way to pay for the trip. Finally, on Monday, June13 I called the FWB office in Nashville and cancelled our registration and asked for a refund. The next day I received a confirmation email that our registration was cancelled. Emotions took a sudden turn that evening when I was informed that David & I could travel to NC for the National Competition in the church van with our youth pastor, and that the church would help pay for our hotel room. They were trying to help all of the families who had competitors going to Nationals. I believe we have 4 or 5 families going for the competition. After speaking to Michael, I was so excited that we were going to get to go after all! I let Michael be the one to tell David. On Wednesday I was able to call the office in Nashville again and get our registration back in order.
Fast forward about 9 days....we just returned home from a very exhausting week at church camp. Everyone is bone tired and teetering on the edge of cranky. All I really wanted was to get home, crawl in my bed and sleep. That was not to be. We stayed at the church longer than expected after unloading the van and loading my car. Then, just as we were getting ready to leave, I found an email on my phone. The email was from someone involved with the National Competition. It stated that there would have to be a decision made about the entry for David's vocal solo. They could only accept one entry. The person who told us they could send both children was mistaken. WOW!! How quickly these emotions can plunge!
I went back into the church and showed the email to our youth pastor and pastor. Much more discussion took place. At this point I'm really trying to keep from breaking down. Our wise pastor commented, "you all really need to go home and get some rest." LOL I did end up crying a little there in front of them. I got it together and went back out to my car....only to discover my car would not start. Dead battery. I'm not going to explain how that happened. Anyway, the tears came. LOL I'm laughing now, but I was not seeing any humor in the situation at that moment. We finally made it home and later that evening Michael said what I had feared he would say when hearing about the email.
He stated that if David didn't get to sing, we were not going to make the trip just for Bible Sword Drill. UGH!!! This was one crazy emotional roller coaster I was on. I did not want to say anything to David yet about the fact that he may not get to sing in NC. So.....I prayed. The next morning, Michael told me he had thought it through and no matter what decision was made about the vocal solo, we could go to Nationals for Bible Sword Drill. He did not want David to be hurt anymore. Now we were left waiting and wondering when the decision would be made and who would get to go. If the other competitor had been a stranger to us, it probably would have been easier. But knowing that the other competitor was a friend made this much more emotional. I was so concerned with how the other child would feel if David were allowed to sing at the Nationals.
I began to really feel that the right thing for us to do would be to step down. But I battled with whether or not I should do that to David. After all, what if they decided to let him sing. We would be giving up his opportunity to compete at the National competition. I had some talks with David. Michael & I talked with David. Michael and I didn't exactly see eye to eye on what to do. So.....I prayed and prayed. Trying to find out what God wanted us to do. By the time I was finally convinced about what we needed to do, I ended up not having to make that call. I found out that the decision was made to allow our friend's daughter to compete. I was relieved and very disappointed at the same time. I spoke to my friend this week and it's amazing how God works in our lives when we allow Him to. We both had been very concerned for the other's child. We had a wonderful visit over the phone and I know that this is just a little something that will be used to build our friendship.
Then came the final talk with David. This poor child has been through the emotional wringer as well in regards to this year's competition. He didn't win. He did win. He gets to go to NC. He doesn't get to go. He gets to go. He may not get to sing. He might get to sing. And now....sorry Sweety, you don't get to sing. I tried to get him back around to the point where he had been several days ago, where he was willing to step down. This was a struggle for him. As it obviously would be for most children and even most adults. I finally just told him the decision was not his to make and he would not be singing. I really don't know if he thinks I made the decision or if the youth board made the decision. Either way, he knows he is not singing at the national competition. We focused on the fact that he gets to do Bible Sword Drill and all the fun we will have on our trip. I told him that regardless of how we feel, as Christians, we need to obey God and we should always prefer others before ourselves(Phil.2). This is not how our society usually works, even within the church many times. I was pleased to see that after a few tears and angry words, we were able to pray and let go of the struggle. He was fine after that. I believe he will follow our example and respond to this as he sees us respond to it.
Through all of this, there have been so many teaching moments. I hope and pray that I caught all of them. I told David that when we go through difficult things we must be able to look back and have learned something. If we learn nothing from the trials we go through we are foolish and may very well face similar trials in the future until we learn what God wants us to learn. Much of what I feel I learned was not new to me, but rather just putting into action what I have known in my head. I feel like God was proving me through this. I hope I passed the test! I also hope that David will look back and see that God was working in his life as well. God is always working all around us. We just don't always see it.
He is only 10 years old and, Lord willing, will have many more opportunities to sing at competition. I can't wait for the trip. Although, honestly, 12 hours in the church van doesn't sound all that great! But I'm sure we will enjoy the fellowship with Ryan, Lindsey and Eleanor.
I am working hard at keeping everything here at home caught up and prepared ahead if possible. We will return home from the Nationals just 2 days before going to church camp again. I am going to be teaching a class at church camp so those lessons need to be prepared. We are planning to start school just 2 weeks after returning from church camp, so those lessons need to be in the computer. I feel like everything is just spinning so fast, and I am trying to hang on. Add to this mix my normal emotional ups and downs and trying to be good wife and mama...and whew! It's exhausting just to think about! LOL
I am so grateful that Nehemiah 8:10 tells us that "the joy of the Lord is our strength." I find my joy for life in Jesus. He is my Lord, my Savior, my Rock, my Shelter, my Everything. Because of Jesus I am blessed beyond measure and I can face anything as long as I am His.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Lessons from a Rose Bush
Recently I woke up early in the morning and decided to trim my one and only, precious rose bush. It's the only plant I've been able to keep alive.(Instead of a "green thumb", I've got a "black thumb"!) We planted this bush in front of our house about 3 years ago and it is flourishing. It is so very pretty and I try to take good care of it. As I was trimming it, I began to think about how my life is like that rose bush. I realize this thought is not an original thought to me....I've heard it mentioned over the years by others how our lives can be likened to various plants/trees. But.....as I was working and began thinking, I realized that even still, after so many years of being planted here in this life, God is still trimming and pruning my branches. My little bush is only 3 years old, and it produces SO many roses all over it. Last year it bloomed from late spring to late fall. It actually had unopened buds that froze when the temperature dropped to freezing in the late fall months. It just kept on blooming as long as it could.
I want to be like that rose bush. I want to bloom and bloom, and grow and grow. Yet, I only want to reach as far as God wants me to reach. I want to grow and bloom where God knows I'll be the best blessing I can be.
My rose bush is planted just outside my dining room windows. It's grown so tall I can see it with no problem when I look out my windows. I'm even having to trim it back a little because it is reaching out into areas I don't want it to reach. So, I wonder....Are there times in my life that as I'm growing and blooming, I may start reaching out into areas that God doesn't want me to be? I believe I've experienced that in my life and God had to trim me back a little. Sometimes we may be doing just what God called us to do, and we may be growing and blooming, experiencing God's blessings in our lives, and then all of a sudden, things change. Life changes. Many times, this appears to be something bad happening to us. Maybe even unfair and undeserved in our eyes. But if we allow ourselves to be pruned and trimmed and cared for by our Father God in those times, we will look back and see that He is doing what is necessary either for our growth or for His purpose in a greater plan that we do not understand yet.
My precious rose bush has the prettiest pink blossoms. I love to see the roses at every stage.
The buds, wrapped up so neatly and tightly, so delicately, are just waiting to pop open. You can not see these from far away, yet there are so many on my bush I can hardly count all of them. I've noticed in trimming, that many times these buds are hidden from sight by the blossoms that are already in full bloom. These are the big full pink flowers that are so visible from a distance. These blossoms are so many and so full that they are often touching each other, overlapping each other. These are not a permanent fixture on my rose bush. They are there only for a time. They open, they serve their purpose and then....they begin to fade.
I see this as the many things that fill my life. Not material things, but activities, duties, friendships, jobs, etc. God has allowed me to experience many of these things in my life. I've never traveled the world or achieved lofty goals worthy of great acclaim, but my life has been and is very fulfilling to me. There have been many changes in my life over the years. Some changes have been abrupt and difficult while others have been rather gradual and easier to accept. Some changes happen so subtly, they seem to take me by surprise when I finally notice them, but then I realize one day that it has happened and when I look closely, I see that it's been that way for a while. I can look back and see that there have been definite times in my life when God has done some pruning in my life. Some of those times have been rather painful at the moment of trimming, but I can see from this side that I experienced much growth because of it. I can look back and see that there were times I was doing just what God had planted me to do, but when the branches reached a place He didn't want me to be, He had to trim and take those things out of my life. This could be for my own sake or the sake of others. Only He knows. I choose to love my God and trust Him to make my life what He wants it to be. I pray that the blossoms in my life will be as pleasant to those around me as my rose bush is to me. I pray that as I live each day, my words and my actions will bring out a sweet aroma to bless those who know me. This is my desire.
A very important thing I noted while trimming, was that as the blossoms faded and the petals fell, it left an empty stem that needed to be trimmed off. These will, in time, dry up and break off easily, but it is healthy for the bush if I trim these off right away. In this process, I noticed that there were many flowers that I looked at and thought "Those still look pretty good." Yet, as I began to work with the bush, I would bump those flowers that at first glance looked good, and the petals would begin to fall so easily. I began to just gently shake the branches of the bush. Those petals that were weak and spent, and ready to fall, would do just that. They were not strong at all. How many times in my life, does God gently "shake" things up a bit to find out where I need to be trimmed? As the petals fell, I would sometimes keep shaking and other times just gently pull off several petals at a time to expose the stem that needed trimmed off.
This trimming of my rose bush took much longer than I originally thought. The more I trimmed, the more I found that needed trimming. Sometimes I would see a cluster of roses that still looked so pretty, but when shaken, they would begin to fall. As the weak, dying petals fell, it would either expose several other stems in need of trimming or, in many cases, brand new buds that were hidden from sight. It was then that I thought, "How many times have I been upset because God took away something that I thought was still "pretty" and after surrendering to Him, realized that He just exposed new buds waiting to open in my life?" How many other times has God removed dead "petals" from my life and exposed even more dead stems that needed to be removed so I could continue to grow and blossom for Him?
I am so grateful that God is patient and keeps caring for me. I hope and pray that you, too, will desire to grow and bloom for God. Allow Him to trim and prune when needed. Trust Him with your life. There is no greater joy in life than to belong to Jesus, and to feel His peace and joy.
I look forward to many more lessons like this one. The Holy Spirit is a great Teacher! :) I just wish he didn't start class so early in the morning! ;) LOL It seems that my most memorable times of personal worship and hearing from God have been early in the morning. I guess that's why the Bible says in Proverbs 8:17 "...those that seek me early shall find me."
The LORD is faithful! I pray you find Him so in your life.
I want to be like that rose bush. I want to bloom and bloom, and grow and grow. Yet, I only want to reach as far as God wants me to reach. I want to grow and bloom where God knows I'll be the best blessing I can be.
My rose bush is planted just outside my dining room windows. It's grown so tall I can see it with no problem when I look out my windows. I'm even having to trim it back a little because it is reaching out into areas I don't want it to reach. So, I wonder....Are there times in my life that as I'm growing and blooming, I may start reaching out into areas that God doesn't want me to be? I believe I've experienced that in my life and God had to trim me back a little. Sometimes we may be doing just what God called us to do, and we may be growing and blooming, experiencing God's blessings in our lives, and then all of a sudden, things change. Life changes. Many times, this appears to be something bad happening to us. Maybe even unfair and undeserved in our eyes. But if we allow ourselves to be pruned and trimmed and cared for by our Father God in those times, we will look back and see that He is doing what is necessary either for our growth or for His purpose in a greater plan that we do not understand yet.
My precious rose bush has the prettiest pink blossoms. I love to see the roses at every stage.
The buds, wrapped up so neatly and tightly, so delicately, are just waiting to pop open. You can not see these from far away, yet there are so many on my bush I can hardly count all of them. I've noticed in trimming, that many times these buds are hidden from sight by the blossoms that are already in full bloom. These are the big full pink flowers that are so visible from a distance. These blossoms are so many and so full that they are often touching each other, overlapping each other. These are not a permanent fixture on my rose bush. They are there only for a time. They open, they serve their purpose and then....they begin to fade.
I see this as the many things that fill my life. Not material things, but activities, duties, friendships, jobs, etc. God has allowed me to experience many of these things in my life. I've never traveled the world or achieved lofty goals worthy of great acclaim, but my life has been and is very fulfilling to me. There have been many changes in my life over the years. Some changes have been abrupt and difficult while others have been rather gradual and easier to accept. Some changes happen so subtly, they seem to take me by surprise when I finally notice them, but then I realize one day that it has happened and when I look closely, I see that it's been that way for a while. I can look back and see that there have been definite times in my life when God has done some pruning in my life. Some of those times have been rather painful at the moment of trimming, but I can see from this side that I experienced much growth because of it. I can look back and see that there were times I was doing just what God had planted me to do, but when the branches reached a place He didn't want me to be, He had to trim and take those things out of my life. This could be for my own sake or the sake of others. Only He knows. I choose to love my God and trust Him to make my life what He wants it to be. I pray that the blossoms in my life will be as pleasant to those around me as my rose bush is to me. I pray that as I live each day, my words and my actions will bring out a sweet aroma to bless those who know me. This is my desire.
A very important thing I noted while trimming, was that as the blossoms faded and the petals fell, it left an empty stem that needed to be trimmed off. These will, in time, dry up and break off easily, but it is healthy for the bush if I trim these off right away. In this process, I noticed that there were many flowers that I looked at and thought "Those still look pretty good." Yet, as I began to work with the bush, I would bump those flowers that at first glance looked good, and the petals would begin to fall so easily. I began to just gently shake the branches of the bush. Those petals that were weak and spent, and ready to fall, would do just that. They were not strong at all. How many times in my life, does God gently "shake" things up a bit to find out where I need to be trimmed? As the petals fell, I would sometimes keep shaking and other times just gently pull off several petals at a time to expose the stem that needed trimmed off.
This trimming of my rose bush took much longer than I originally thought. The more I trimmed, the more I found that needed trimming. Sometimes I would see a cluster of roses that still looked so pretty, but when shaken, they would begin to fall. As the weak, dying petals fell, it would either expose several other stems in need of trimming or, in many cases, brand new buds that were hidden from sight. It was then that I thought, "How many times have I been upset because God took away something that I thought was still "pretty" and after surrendering to Him, realized that He just exposed new buds waiting to open in my life?" How many other times has God removed dead "petals" from my life and exposed even more dead stems that needed to be removed so I could continue to grow and blossom for Him?
I am so grateful that God is patient and keeps caring for me. I hope and pray that you, too, will desire to grow and bloom for God. Allow Him to trim and prune when needed. Trust Him with your life. There is no greater joy in life than to belong to Jesus, and to feel His peace and joy.
I look forward to many more lessons like this one. The Holy Spirit is a great Teacher! :) I just wish he didn't start class so early in the morning! ;) LOL It seems that my most memorable times of personal worship and hearing from God have been early in the morning. I guess that's why the Bible says in Proverbs 8:17 "...those that seek me early shall find me."
The LORD is faithful! I pray you find Him so in your life.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Marking Time
I can't believe we are already 10 days into June. Seems like just yesterday I was posting about our vacation. Not only has the past month just flown by, but the last 10 years. Michael and I were recently discussing how fast the years are passing, and I commented that maybe it was because with the kids, the years are chopped up into such small segments. We are always marking time from one game to the next, one holiday to the next, etc. For the kids, time may seem to creep by, but for us it seems to be whizzing by like a jet plane!
May was a busy month. Alahna graduated from Kindergarten. It was a very brief, yet sweet evening shared with friends from ARCHE. Michael and I presented her with her diploma in front of our parents and several other homeschool families. She looked so cute in her cap and gown!
Between our vacation and Alahna's graduation we celebrated Mother's Day and Mom's birthday. We enjoyed a fun afternoon at Crystal City park. Our family games of volleyball have quickly become a favorite! (We've only played twice!) LOL
The week following Alahna's graduation, David took the Stanford Achievement Test for the first time. He seemed to do well, but we have not yet received the results. We are not required to have this testing done, but chose to for various reasons. We thought it would be good experience for him.
I got to spend two different days with Dad while taking him to doctor appointments. That was a pleasant time that doesn't happen often. We had lunch together and I enjoyed hearing a few stories from when he was younger.
We then ended the month with my Mom & siblings at West City Park on Memorial Day. It was a very long, but fun filled day. It was quite warm, but the little ones cooled off with the water pump! We played softball this time. I only got to play for a little bit before needing to go check on our pavilion and food. But the "boys"(my brothers,hubby, & brothers-in-law) and Carla and Ronni played for quite a while.
Karin(my step-sister) and her family joined us for the first time in several years. Her husband had not yet met most of our family. It was great to have them there. I am sure that Warren would be so pleased to see them together with all of us.
In the midst of all of this busy activity for the month, we were trying to finish our school year. We are still working on that! David was preparing for the State Youth Competition, so we spent much time practicing his song and working on his Bible Sword Drill. I'll tell more about that in the next post.
I must go for now. There are things to be done and I am planning to take a few hours to myself this evening while Michael keeps the kiddos! I think I'll go to the mall and get some good smellies at Bath & Body Works! Then maybe some cinnamon pretzel bites with icing!!! MMM!!
May was a busy month. Alahna graduated from Kindergarten. It was a very brief, yet sweet evening shared with friends from ARCHE. Michael and I presented her with her diploma in front of our parents and several other homeschool families. She looked so cute in her cap and gown!
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| WOW! They all look so happy! LOL |
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| Mom - the Birthday girl! |
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| Me & Jesse |
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| Jason and Chloe |
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| David |
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| Warren, Kynzie, Alahna, Tyler, Kylie |
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| Ronni |
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| Alahna & Chloe |
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| Justin, Josh & my kids |
The week following Alahna's graduation, David took the Stanford Achievement Test for the first time. He seemed to do well, but we have not yet received the results. We are not required to have this testing done, but chose to for various reasons. We thought it would be good experience for him.
I got to spend two different days with Dad while taking him to doctor appointments. That was a pleasant time that doesn't happen often. We had lunch together and I enjoyed hearing a few stories from when he was younger.
We then ended the month with my Mom & siblings at West City Park on Memorial Day. It was a very long, but fun filled day. It was quite warm, but the little ones cooled off with the water pump! We played softball this time. I only got to play for a little bit before needing to go check on our pavilion and food. But the "boys"(my brothers,hubby, & brothers-in-law) and Carla and Ronni played for quite a while.
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| Peyton, Harrison, Tyler, Alahna, David |
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| Peyton, Harrison, Tyler, Alahna, Kynzie, Warren, David |
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| Chef Michael |
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| The water was SO cold! |
In the midst of all of this busy activity for the month, we were trying to finish our school year. We are still working on that! David was preparing for the State Youth Competition, so we spent much time practicing his song and working on his Bible Sword Drill. I'll tell more about that in the next post.
I must go for now. There are things to be done and I am planning to take a few hours to myself this evening while Michael keeps the kiddos! I think I'll go to the mall and get some good smellies at Bath & Body Works! Then maybe some cinnamon pretzel bites with icing!!! MMM!!
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Vacation to Remember!
For the last several years, we have taken our family vacation in Branson at Silver Dollar City. We love spending a few days there. The atmosphere is so family friendly and since we usually go at the end of April, the weather is pretty good. We like taking our family vacations in the late spring to avoid the summer crowds.
The kids & I have been wanting to go to the ocean for the last couple years. Michael does not like swimming or getting wet too much so he really had no desire to spend much time at the ocean. He loves the view and the sights/sounds of nature, but not the swimming part. He was concerned that the kids would get bored too quickly without the constant busyness of an amusement park. But....he really wanted the kids and me to get to see the ocean while we knew we could, so here we are!
Day 1 - (Sat): We left home a little before 4am on Saturday. We arrived at our rented condo in Pensacola Beach, FL at 5pm. The trip down went surprisingly quick. David & Alahna were incredibly well behaved. We saw several areas in southern MO and Northern MS that were flooded. As we drove further south through MS we saw several areas of tree damage that appeared to be from the many severe thunderstorms/tornadoes that have hit in recent weeks. Thanks to books, drawing pads and the wonder of technology, we did not hear the age-old -every 20 minutes -trip questions of "Are we there yet?" or "How much longer til we get there?" I think Alahna asked a couple times if we were almost there. Instead we were entertained by Alahna singing with her mp3 player. She played a song by Christian band Mercy Me about 6 times and sang with it so passionately! LOL She was really getting into it.
Meanwhile, David was playing with his new iPod Touch that he just bought with his Christmas and birthday money. He was able to take pictures along the way, listen to his own music and play games! He also spent some time drawing.
After we arrived at the condo and unloaded the car, we took the kids across the road to the beach. Watching their excitement at seeing the ocean was one of my favorite moments of the whole trip. Here is one of my favorite pics:
We told the kids they had to wait til the next day to get in the water...well, it didn't quite work out that way. They were thorougly soaked by the time we walked back.
Day 2 (Sun): First thing after breakfast we went to Walmart for some groceries and miscellaneous items. We had to get extra dollar bills b/c we had to cross a partial toll bridge in order to get to Walmart and an area with more restaurants. It cost $1 each time we went back to the peninsula where our condo was. :) I think we went to Walmart at least 3 times during the week! LOL The rest of the day was spent at the pool and the beach. We did use sunscreen, but didn't reapply b/c of the sand at the beach....and well, we paid for it! Poor Michael suffered the most. David looked the worst because of the white patches on his face where the goggles were! LOL Alahna wasn't burned as bad as they were, but she whined more! :) We went through over half a bottle of After Sun Aloe gel throughout the week.
At some point during the week I made everyone line up so I could spray their sunburns with vinegar. It stinks like crazy but definitely helps cool the sunburn. Let me tell you, there is nothing on earth funnier than watching your husband gag while you are spraying vinegar on his sunburn! I laughed so hard! Poor Michael had a towel to cover his mouth and nose and he still gagged and choked from the smell and nearly jumped out of his skin from the cold spray on his burned skin. Alahna cried and threw a fit til Michael had to hold her still while I sprayed her back. She has issues with vinegar b/c I've made her taste it before for being unkind with her words. I promised her she wouldn't taste it, that it just had to go on her back, but she still screamed. David handled it pretty well, and I sprayed my sunburn as well.
Here's a really funny pic from Sunday.....It was so windy that David's blue swim ring blew away. He had to chase it so far up the beach! It just kept rolling and rolling. It finally rolled up and over the sand dune. I'm not sure if you can see the blue ring up in the grass, but that's what he is chasing! Michael and I could hardly stop laughing. Michael said it would slow down and start to wobble like it would fall and then the wind would catch it again and send it rolling away faster.
Day 3 (Mon): Michael spent a good portion of Monday sleeping. He was so uncomfortable and just physically drained. The kids and I did go to the pool for a little while, and we went to the beach in the early evening just for a walk and to search for sea shell treasures.
Day 4 (Tue): We rushed around to try to get to the Pensacola Naval Air Station in time for the 8:30am Blue Angels practice show. We were told this was great and that there was a free museum on the base a well. So our plans were to watch the air show and visit the museum , then go back to the condo. Well, we were running late (as always!) and after sitting in line to get onto the base we were concerned we would miss the show. Turns out it was some sort of week long Aviation celebration and there were air shows and coastguard demonstrations from 8:30am - 1:00pm!!!! This would explain the crowds that began showing up, and the soldiers selling water and soda! We saw the Blue Angels practice show as well as a Harrier demonstration, some coast guard rescue demonstrations, and a vintage aircraft flyover! Needless to say, we were in the sun much longer than anticipated! I did have the sunscreen with us and we did use it, but we got more burned than we already were! Our necks were burned because we spent so much time looking up in the sky at the aircraft.
After the air show and museum we stopped for dinner at Whataburger and collapsed back at the condo. We didn't bother going to the beach that day. I must say, the burger at Whataburger was good....but their chicken rated right up there with Chik-fil-A!! It was YUMMY!
Day 5 (Wed): This was a much cooler morning. We took an early morning stroll on the beach and found much more treasure. Here are a few pics from Wednesday:
This was the day we tried to build sand castles!
We didn't do too well, but it was fun trying!
Day 6 (Thu): Much more time spent just playing in the sand, watching the water and enjoying our time together. We rented a movie for the evening and had a family movie night. We watched the new Yogi Bear movie. It was so funny!
David & Alahna loved burying themselves in the sand.
This was such a memorable trip. It was such a blessing to enjoy our time together the way we did. No rushing around except for one morning. No set schedules for anything. Michael was surprised at how much he enjoyed the down time. I think it was good for all of us. David and Alahna played so well together all week. They actually play pretty well together at home most of the time.
The kids & I have been wanting to go to the ocean for the last couple years. Michael does not like swimming or getting wet too much so he really had no desire to spend much time at the ocean. He loves the view and the sights/sounds of nature, but not the swimming part. He was concerned that the kids would get bored too quickly without the constant busyness of an amusement park. But....he really wanted the kids and me to get to see the ocean while we knew we could, so here we are!
Day 1 - (Sat): We left home a little before 4am on Saturday. We arrived at our rented condo in Pensacola Beach, FL at 5pm. The trip down went surprisingly quick. David & Alahna were incredibly well behaved. We saw several areas in southern MO and Northern MS that were flooded. As we drove further south through MS we saw several areas of tree damage that appeared to be from the many severe thunderstorms/tornadoes that have hit in recent weeks. Thanks to books, drawing pads and the wonder of technology, we did not hear the age-old -every 20 minutes -trip questions of "Are we there yet?" or "How much longer til we get there?" I think Alahna asked a couple times if we were almost there. Instead we were entertained by Alahna singing with her mp3 player. She played a song by Christian band Mercy Me about 6 times and sang with it so passionately! LOL She was really getting into it.
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| Here she was reading a poetry book and listening to her music. |
After we arrived at the condo and unloaded the car, we took the kids across the road to the beach. Watching their excitement at seeing the ocean was one of my favorite moments of the whole trip. Here is one of my favorite pics:
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| We made it! |
Day 2 (Sun): First thing after breakfast we went to Walmart for some groceries and miscellaneous items. We had to get extra dollar bills b/c we had to cross a partial toll bridge in order to get to Walmart and an area with more restaurants. It cost $1 each time we went back to the peninsula where our condo was. :) I think we went to Walmart at least 3 times during the week! LOL The rest of the day was spent at the pool and the beach. We did use sunscreen, but didn't reapply b/c of the sand at the beach....and well, we paid for it! Poor Michael suffered the most. David looked the worst because of the white patches on his face where the goggles were! LOL Alahna wasn't burned as bad as they were, but she whined more! :) We went through over half a bottle of After Sun Aloe gel throughout the week.
At some point during the week I made everyone line up so I could spray their sunburns with vinegar. It stinks like crazy but definitely helps cool the sunburn. Let me tell you, there is nothing on earth funnier than watching your husband gag while you are spraying vinegar on his sunburn! I laughed so hard! Poor Michael had a towel to cover his mouth and nose and he still gagged and choked from the smell and nearly jumped out of his skin from the cold spray on his burned skin. Alahna cried and threw a fit til Michael had to hold her still while I sprayed her back. She has issues with vinegar b/c I've made her taste it before for being unkind with her words. I promised her she wouldn't taste it, that it just had to go on her back, but she still screamed. David handled it pretty well, and I sprayed my sunburn as well.
Here's a really funny pic from Sunday.....It was so windy that David's blue swim ring blew away. He had to chase it so far up the beach! It just kept rolling and rolling. It finally rolled up and over the sand dune. I'm not sure if you can see the blue ring up in the grass, but that's what he is chasing! Michael and I could hardly stop laughing. Michael said it would slow down and start to wobble like it would fall and then the wind would catch it again and send it rolling away faster.
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| David chasing his swim ring |
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| Such fun! |
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| Here comes a wave! |
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| Buried Treasure! |
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| More Buried Treasure!! |
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| Ouch! |
Day 4 (Tue): We rushed around to try to get to the Pensacola Naval Air Station in time for the 8:30am Blue Angels practice show. We were told this was great and that there was a free museum on the base a well. So our plans were to watch the air show and visit the museum , then go back to the condo. Well, we were running late (as always!) and after sitting in line to get onto the base we were concerned we would miss the show. Turns out it was some sort of week long Aviation celebration and there were air shows and coastguard demonstrations from 8:30am - 1:00pm!!!! This would explain the crowds that began showing up, and the soldiers selling water and soda! We saw the Blue Angels practice show as well as a Harrier demonstration, some coast guard rescue demonstrations, and a vintage aircraft flyover! Needless to say, we were in the sun much longer than anticipated! I did have the sunscreen with us and we did use it, but we got more burned than we already were! Our necks were burned because we spent so much time looking up in the sky at the aircraft.
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| Michael showing Alahna where to look. David taking pics! |
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| Sleepy girl...tired of waiting. |
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| Thankful for technology! He got tired of waiting too. |
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| The Blue Angels were so worth the wait! |
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| They were amazing! |
Day 5 (Wed): This was a much cooler morning. We took an early morning stroll on the beach and found much more treasure. Here are a few pics from Wednesday:
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| Looking for sea shells |
We didn't do too well, but it was fun trying!
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| We did use a beach umbrella one day. We were in need of the shade. |
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| Cleaned up and ready for dinner. |
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| Little Beach Princess |
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| I loved their water tower! |
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| Interesting house we saw while out for a drive |
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| Look at the small trees by driveway! Too funny! |
Day 6 (Thu): Much more time spent just playing in the sand, watching the water and enjoying our time together. We rented a movie for the evening and had a family movie night. We watched the new Yogi Bear movie. It was so funny!
Day 7 (Fri): This was probably one of the best days! All week it had been so windy and the waves were pretty active in the Gulf. The warning flag system they use at the beach was flying a yellow flag all week, which meant use caution when swimming. There was a chance for rip currents possible, so we kept the kids pretty close while in the water all week. We didn't go out very far on the Gulf side until Friday. The flag was green, which meant it was safe for swimming, and the water was so calm and so much fun! We went out much further. We were out over waist deep and could still see our feet the water was so clear. This was also the day we got to see dolphins! (well, their fins! LOL) I had been hoping all week for a sighting of dolphins. A couple times I thought I saw movement way out in the distance, but it was so quick I couldn't be sure. On Friday while we were at the beach we saw about 4 dolphin fins going past, quite a ways out from where we were, but much closer than we had seen before. From what I read about the difference between shark and dolphin fins, I'm pretty sure they were dolphins! :) Let's hope so anyway!
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| our dolphin sighting |
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| my Sweety & me |
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| David |
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| Add caption |
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| Alahna |
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| Life's greatest treasure.....My Family! |
This was such a memorable trip. It was such a blessing to enjoy our time together the way we did. No rushing around except for one morning. No set schedules for anything. Michael was surprised at how much he enjoyed the down time. I think it was good for all of us. David and Alahna played so well together all week. They actually play pretty well together at home most of the time.
One of the best parts.....I was able to do laundry while there and came home with suitcases full of CLEAN laundry! I was loving that!
We don't know what tomorrow will bring, so we will enjoy today and cherish each moment we have together.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Easter Sunday
We had a wonderful day today. I had breakfast ready at 7:30AM. WOW! It was delicious, if I do say so myself! Sausage gravy and biscuits. Mmm, Mmm!
We actually managed getting a family picture done before we went to church AND made it to church ON TIME!!! Miracles DO happen! LOL
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| Our Family |
We spent the afternoon at Mom's house. Her little apartment was pretty full, and it was pretty hectic for a while, but the time together was very enjoyable. I had a short sister time with Carla while we watched the kids play out on the sidewalk.
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| Carla, Ronni, Me |
I love you Joy & Lisa!
I really enjoyed the hour or so that I snuggled with my youngest niece Chloe. She is 3 months old and I think I was starting to feel some baby fever. LOL I'm sure it will be gone tomorrow. :-)
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| Chloe - my brother Jason's first child |
It was just one of those very brief moments in time that grab your attention and burn an imprint in your mind. That moment in itself was like a transition in my mind of who he is growing to be and that he really is not just a little boy any more. I know he is still a little boy, but not a preschool little boy. He is inching closer and closer to that big "A" word..... Adolescence! Again, I realize he just turned 10, but I see so many ways that he is maturing and changing. Life just keeps changing and I am trying to keep up.
Alahna spent the whole afternoon playing with Kynzie. They are so sweet to watch when they are together.
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| Kynzie & Alahna (just 6 months apart in age) |
I love that my children have cousins so close in age to them. I hope and pray they will always stay close. I remember playing with our cousins when we were children, but we have not stayed close over the years. I want my children to know their aunts, uncles and cousins and be close to them. We did not have that as children and now we really don't "know" our aunts & uncles or cousins. Well, except for a couple cousins who make it easy to get to know them online! ;-) I'm loving that! I'm finding that they are some fantastic young women. I can't believe I actually babysat them at one time and now they are all grown up, married and have children!
Somehow I ended up the family photographer today. Got some great photos of my siblings and their families and my mama! Here's some of my family:
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| Jessica & Justin |
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| My little Brothers "The Boys" - Jesse, Jason, Joshua, Justin |
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| Jesse, Ronni, Jason, Justin, Joshua |
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| Carla, Brent, Warren, Kynzie |
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| The Boys and Ronni |
What a gift these lives have been to our family! God does all things for a reason. He had a purpose for building our family the way He did. Let me tell you, there is never a dull moment when these guys are together. I try to refer to the boys as the "guys" or the "men", but it just always ends up being "the boys".
Looks like they really love their baby sister! LOL She adores her big brothers! Well... most of the time!
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| Melissa, Chloe, Jason Tyler, Kylie |
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| Ronni & Mom |
As I look at these photos I am reminded how very blessed my life has been. Some people never know the joy of having siblings. I am so glad that my parents listened to God's calling in their life to be foster parents. I admire my mom for all that she has given of herself over the years. Our home was always open to anyone who needed a place to call home. It was not always peachy; many times were quite trying and downright ugly. But God blesses our efforts and always provides. He definitely has blessed our family and has always been faithful. Even when things were so dark, the blessings were hard to see, He has blessed our family with His presence. I love to remember back to the first time I saw the faces of my brothers and sisters. I can remember each time with each child distinctly. With most of them I can remember where we were and how I felt meeting each one for the first time. They were all so little. Maybe I'll make a post about all that sometime.
This post has become long enough. I must get to sleep. We have an incredibly long and busy day tomorrow. David and Alahna will be in "The Wizard of Oz" tomorrow evening. David will be playing the part of the Wizard. Alahna will be a munchkin and a flying monkey! :)
Follow the yellow brick road. Follow the yellow brick road. Ready? We're off to see the Wizard, the wonderful Wizard of Oz!
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