God Still Speaks

A few weeks back I had to teach in the Ladies Jail Ministry on short notice. I had no idea what I was going to teach, but got up that morning seeking direction. I could have not gone that day, but it was the last day for two weeks and did not want to leave them without any encouragement. God gave me a lesson on how He speaks.

It is hard to distinguish His voice from all the others that whisper, shout, sneak around the corner, or tap on my shoulder in any given day. I find that teaching Scripture truths speaks to me as I prepare it in probably a greater way than it does to those listening. God has really been speaking to me...and I have been really trying to listen.

My daughter is on an amazing ride right now. I have been praying for her for so long, as I have all my children. They start off my prayer list...my children by birth, those who have married into our family, and those who have become such a part of our lives that we count them among us. My heart lifts them up daily, and often hourly. To see God do the work in their lives I am crying out to Him for is an amazing thing. (I often fall into a deceived mentality that God is not listening and isn't working, but in truth, He is working, in His time, and in His way).

We sat, my daughter and I, chatting last night about her heart. God has revealed to her the necessity of giving up her life to Him, and letting Him direct and provide for her. He is proving He is able to do that in amazing ways...Jon has joined in with us, after much prayer for him and her. It is hard not to love Jon. He is faithful, full of laughter, comfortable being himself and letting everyone be themselves around him. We laugh so much when he is here, and I haven't heard Kat laugh this much in years and years and years. As amazing as that story is, the greater work is the work of the heart. Because she sees what God is doing for her and in her, she wants to share that with those she loves. She has a renewed burden for her friends and the direction of their lives. She sees for the first time, the struggles and burdens we have had for her in the direction she wanted to go. She understands the difference in real love for someone and the need for accountability in our lives.

God is speaking to her...He is speaking to me....as I listen, make decisions-even the hard ones-based on obedience to Him, He gives great peace and comfort. I had to make one of those unpopular decisions this week, and I know there will be repercussions from those who want me to do something different, but I am not here to please men...I am here to please God. The whole process made me think of the tshirt "I can only please one person today, and today is not your day." Today is God's Day...today, as He speaks, Lord, help me listen and obey!

Big Gainer?

Here it is...the long awaited...STRATEGIES FOR GAINING WEIGHT! When I first saw this, I absolutely cracked up....don't know too many people who need to gain weight. I read through the techniques and amazingly enough, the reverse is true for those of us who want to lose instead of gain!

To Gain: Eat frequently, eat larger, add lots of extras, eat higher calories, drink high calorie beverages instead of water and coffee, maintain exercise (well except for that one which is apparently needed for both losing and gaining....)

Nearing Half Way

My birthday is right around the corner, and as that day closes in, I am reminded of how much of my life has already been lived...wonder how much more there is to go? My husband and I talk alot about what is going on in the world around us, in our immediate family, situations which arise and need "analyzing," and just where we have been and where we are going. He has always been my greatest fan, but also my balance.

I spend what leisure time I have reading...I am always on the lookout for books that have the potential to change my thinking-bring life into perspective. After all there is always someone who has experienced what I have, and there really is nothing new under the sun. I just finished reading about grace and have picked up one by the Pearl family called Jumping Ship. The book is about kids raised in Christian homes who jump ship ie...leave their families and faith. Interestingly enough, I read a statistic just recently that stated 70% of Christian kids abandon their faith after attending secular colleges. We have witnessed the truth of that statement way too many times now. That is why my daughter, who does attend a secular college, is remaining at home with her friends and family around her to hold her accountable to truth.

The book-which I am already half way done with-brings many things to light, one of which really hits home with me. In our attempt to protect our kids from the ugliness of the world we live in, we did not adequately provide them with the tools to deal with that world. I didn't share with them what all had happened to me, because I wanted to protect their innocence, and I was afraid of what they would think of me. That lack of preparation leads to curiosity and vulnerability to what is being said outside our faith community. I am guilty of not sharing truth with them. I was so afraid for my kids...I so wanted them to have freedom to grow up and explore life without the peer pressure...I so wanted my kids to be innocent and just kids...and they were...till they became adult age, and then I couldn't protect them anymore.

I hate the idea of being a statistic....from my earliest days I can remember turning my rebellion against the "norm" to fight NOT to be a statistic. I thought maybe that fight was inherent, but now I wonder if God didn't give me what I needed to survive my life. I wouldn't have survived without that inner fight...I would have succumbed to the craziness that enveloped my life and thinking. I don't even know how I got from there to here, except by God's grace. I fought for my marriage, I fought for my education, I fight against the inevitable crippling affects of arthritis, I fight daily to live a life of faith...and so far I have beat the odds. I am not a statistic. I am still married after 25 years. I was the first in my family history to get a bachelor's degree, and so far I am not crippled, but living a life of faith-much harder. Resolve won't get me there, only grace, only God's provision. And...looking back-none of it was about my ability, my strength, my resolve, it was ALL about God's grace or I too would be a statistic.

My life is about half over. I can't undo anything in the first half. I can't raise my kids differently. If I could, I would do some things much differently, others, I would do just the same. We did many things wrong-the downside of being imperfect and not having all the answers. We also did many things right. Hindsight really is 20/20. We can learn from where we have been and not go there anymore...so as I embark on the rest of my life-looking back just for a sec to remember-I am going to spend the years ahead of me looking forward, praying more, trusting more in Christ and less in me, growing in grace, searching for His will and living it!

What's in a name?

I woke up this morning swimming in thoughts...usually that is the case on Sunday, because I am getting ready for Sunday School. I am not teaching this Sunday, but nonetheless...thoughts dancing around. I was thinking about "grace" which led down a bunch of other roads...one was peoples' names. I always find it interesting how and why people name their kids what they do.

My name is quite unusual which meant growing up no one could pronounce it, teachers stumbled over it, getting called over intercoms was confusing, and forget finding it printed on anything! I asked my parents about it and the only thing they agree on is that it is indian (as in American indian). My dad says it means morning star, mom says it means running water...I am going with morning star! LOL

Anyway...when it came time for me to name my own children, my own experiences definitely weighed that decision. I wanted names which could easily be pronounced and spelled, names which were definitely boy or girl (didn't want any one looking at a roll and not knowing), and which carried a specific meaning...out came the baby name book!

I have three children. The oldest has a name which means "God is judge," the middle one "illustrious one," and the youngest "pure." Do we grow into our names? It seems that people do for the most part, at least I hope so, in most cases! Then I wonder about parents who name their children things like: Hope, Faith, Charity, Prudence, Grace, Christian....significant Christian names with powerful meanings...Does a child with a name like "Grace" grow into the definition thereof: According to Strong's Concordance comes from a root word which means "to bend or stoop in kindness to an inferior, to favor, to bestow." In John 1:17 it means graciousness of manner or act especially the divine influence upon the heart and its reflection in the life." Hmmm....

Consider Charity- God's divine love, agape love, unconditional love...or Faith-comes from a word which means credence and in Matthew 9:22 means "moral conviction of the truthfulness of God, especially reliance upon Christ for salvation."

Will these children come to understand their names and live it? Will mine? Will mine grow into an understanding of theirs, God is the judge, a righteous judge, illustrious-lighting up the world with truth, and purity of heart and life? Well if mine means "morning star," I haven't grown into yet, because I am certainly not shining bright early in the morning!

Living a Life of Compromise

After last night's-searching for the right word-fiasco (not the right one, but strong enough), I open my email this morning and scan through it, landing on this devotion from Charles Stanley. How easy it is to compromise our values for the sake of peace, how many times we have found ourselves in that very place, and how we have wrestled with the idea of how to live our life according to the truth of God's Word AND peaceably with all men??? It becomes increasingly apparent that just isn't possible. Our values are going to be offensive to others, and although we do seek to let them live their lives with just a covering of prayer from us, they often force their values on us. Isn't that the way it is in our world? Christians are accused of trying to force our belief on everyone, but in reality it is the world forcing theirs on us while trying to silent us. The devotion encouraged and reminded me to to "walk in his [God's] ways" (Psalm 119:3b) and to "seek him with the whole heart." (Psalm 119:2b)

November 5, 2008
The Landmine of CompromisePsalm 119:1-8

Compromise injures a believer's spiritual life as surely as landmines wreak havoc upon the body. Our testimony is damaged or destroyed when we bend God's principles.

For example, suppose a young Christian woman meets an attractive man who doesn't share her beliefs. For years, she has known Paul's caution, "Do not be bound together with unbelievers" and recognizes the apostle's intention to protect Christians from worldly influences (2 Cor. 6:14). But she rationalizes that one date won't hurt her. Actually, she is probably right. However, a first date leads to a second and third and then to a relationship. He offers marriage, she accepts, and the bent principle becomes a broken rule.

To navigate a spiritual minefield, we must look a few steps ahead for possible danger. Even choices that seem trivial may have far-reaching consequences. But the Lord equips us with a "divine GPS" (God's Positioning System): the Holy Spirit sounds an alarm in our spirit if we veer into dangerous territory.
For us to hear these warnings, our heart must be tuned to the Holy Spirit's wavelength through Scripture study. Relying on our own understanding can lead to trouble. But those who trust the Lord and apply His principles will find straight paths through potentially explosive situations (Prov. 3:5-6).

The young woman in the above example knew Scripture and felt the Spirit's cautionary nudge, but she ignored it. For safe travel through this dangerous world, decide to obey His initial warning so you can steer clear of compromise.

In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley
http://www.intouch.org/site/apps/nlnet/content.aspx?c=dhKHIXPKIuE&b=2336199&content_id={0C8662C3-B7F0-48C6-8D09-9003D70CEDCB}&notoc=1

So unmotivated!

When life is soooo busy all the time, it sure is hard to stay motivated and moving at high speed! I am ready to crawl into bed and stay there, but....so much that needs to be done! The hardest thing about this train I am on is there isn't one day that is completely down...that I am at home ALL day..the kind of days you can stay in your pj's, curl up under a blanket, maybe read a little, that kind of thing...

Well who am I to complain? It is after 10 am and I AM still in my pjs! No blanket or book at the moment, but 2 out of 3 isn't bad! I am a Florida girl so I like it warm...this winter weather that has blown definitely robs me of any motivation to get out there and do anything....cuz....I am cold! Maybe it will warm up enough that I can go over my door trim today!

As I write this, I am listening to Klove and they are talking about us being so busy being busy! LOL...

Stop and Smell the Roses

Every once in awhile, not often enough for sure, we stop just because. The American Rose Center in Greenwood, LA hosted a fall moonlight stroll through the gardens this past Friday night. We hadn't been out there in years, so decided to take the night off, go to dinner and out to the garden. It was very quiet and serene. Amazingly enough...there were still roses on some of the bushes! We did stop and smell them!


We took a few pix, walked hand in hand, had a complimentary glass of soda (wine was offered, but.....), listened to the mini orchestra playing under one of the gazebos, and talked about just stuff! Empty nest...not quite...but...don't think we are going to have a big problem with the syndrome...maybe...have had some time to kind of ease into it! Sure do like being able to stop and smell the roses!

Staying Connected

Keeping in touch with people and sharing their lives takes time and effort...sometimes I need a reminder of that. I am also learning that relationships are give and take. You can't build a relationship with someone who doesn't contribute anything to it. I can minister, I can share once in awhile, make a phone call, send a note, but relationships can't be forced. When I do try to force them, I end up on the end of a very short stick-giving and being used to meet someone else's need while my needs go totally unnoticed. I am often disappointed when I realize how powerless I am to do anything about anyone else, especially when I had hoped to build a relationship, sustain a relationship, or mend one.

God has opened doors in such expected ways lately! Many people I have given to-those one sided relationships-have dropped out of sight. I am tempted to keep trying...but they aren't really interested so I am filing them away in the ministry folder...pray when God brings them to mind, call if He lays them on my heart, maybe send a note. Others have appeared through doors that I could never have opened myself! I am loving sharing my life with Shelly and Natalie. Shelly just walked into my life and began to share in this remodel with me. The time I have spent with her is priceless! I love her! Natalie was just someone I knew in church, then she came over...those moments spent with her have opened up a myriad of other doors-Facebook for example. Natalie wanted me to get a Facebook account...hmmmm I thought. (Not a big fan of all of that stuff) She sent a request and next thing I knew, my box was flooded with friend requests. As a result I have renewed connections with people I haven't seen or heard from in awhile, and have begun a new friendship with Natalie. :)

There are so many things important in life and so many that aren't.

Living in Grace

Thought:

"...if you do not appropriate in faith God's all-sufficient grace in the trials of life, it will affect your service for God. Without appropriating His grace, your trials can overwhelm you or consume your thoughts, thereby distracting you from God's calling upon your life...it's one thing to have access to the grace of God but another to appropriate it..." (p 177)

-Arthur, Kay. Lord, I Need Grace to Make It Today. Waterbrook Press. 2000

"Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:" Hebrews 12:28

Not a Youth Anymore

"We do not stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing."

The call in topic on the radio yesterday was growing old. Someone was having a "40" birthday. That one has already come and gone here...it really wasn't that big of a deal..really...in Bible days, 40 was the age that middle age began. You were considered a youth until the age of 40. 40-60 is the middle ages, and then 60 is a transition into older "wiser" adulthood. I liked being a youth until age 40, but really, having a childlike faith, a childlike innocence, a childlike outlook on life is something to aspire to at any age. Innocence is gone way too early in the days we live in. Our ability to see the beauty and wonder of life is stolen away long before we reach the end of our youth. Being able to laugh, to play, to see wonder and beauty in God's creation, to love through His eyes and in His power are certainly factors in maintaining a youthful heart (at least in my opinion). On the other side of the coin is the idea of growing old gracefully. One of the callers on the radio was discussing wrinkles, other affects of aging, and the privilege it is to grow old-Not everyone gets that opportunity. Many die before they experience the affects of aging. This caller's brother died in his 30's, in the days of his youth.

It has been a busy week this week-we are in our mission conference. Kat had an appointment in Arkansas, and I have to take my Praxis tomorrow morning. In the middle of all that, God has burdened my heart for several people. I don't always listen when God speaks, but this time, my heart was so heavy, not to respond would have been way too much to carry. I made some calls, made some visits, prayed, and set aside my life for others. Doing that has given me such a boost. I have felt so alive this week! My devotions were on the power and action of grace. Real grace, an understanding of what God has done and given to us is lived out in service to others. I don't serve naturally; it is a work of grace; it is an answer to prayer. I have asked God to make me a see-through-servant so that all anyone sees is Jesus, but sometimes I get jealous when I don't get the recognition I think I deserve. Too much of the time, "I" get in the way, but this week, I have stepped back and let God have His way! It has been such a powerful week-to see God and experience Him working in peoples' lives. No words describe it except AWESOME!

Last night the physical demands did catch up to me. The arthritis kicked in and started acting up; I couldn't use my right arm. My wrist started swelling, my fingers were stuck, it ached all the way up to my elbow, and I had absolutely no strength in my hand. It still hurt this morning when I got up. I was quickly reminded that the body doesn't live forever-it has limitations-it is aging and wearing out. I am also reminded that life is good, but eternal life is better! Being active, sharing my life, playing a little with my friends and family does indeed make me feel more like a youth and less "middle aged." Who knows how much more time any of us have, but I do know God is busy all around me, and it is sure a privilege to join Him in the work He is doing!

I'm Gonna Miss This

Katherine and I went to Arkansas yesterday for her arthritis checkup. We go about every four or five months on this little road trip. Her and I have had the opportunity to take several road trips together. They are sweet times for us to get to know each other a little better and talk about stuff in our lives. I love those moments when it is just her and I. She channel surfs when she is driving which really annoys me, but also brings us to hysterical laughter quite often. Yesterday, we stumbled across songs which we turned up really loud and sang at the top of our lungs, songs which brought back funny, and sad, memories, songs which made us stop and ponder. Trace Adkins "You're Gonna Miss This" is one of those songs that really challenges me to reflect on how quickly life goes by. I miss the early days of our marriage, when our kids were tiny, demanding, fighting, running around all hours of the day and night, exploring, learning, and just experiencing the newness of life. They were in such a hurry to grow up, and at times I was in a hurry too, but...I miss those days. I look at Kat, who is so in a hurry to grow up, so in a hurry to find the right guy, get married, settle down with her own life, and I want to say with Adkins..Baby, just slow down, you are gonna miss this. These are some good times, and I know I am gonna miss this too!


She was starin out the window of their SUV
Complainin sayin I can't wait to turn 18
She said I'll make my own money
And I'll make my own rules
Momma put the car in park out there
in front of the school
And she kissed her head, and said 'I was just like you'

You're gonna' miss this
You're gonna' want this back
You're gonna' wish these days
Hadn't gone by so fast
These are some good times
take a good look around
You may not know it now
But you're gonna' miss this

Before she knows it she's a brand new bride
In her one bedroom apartment And her daddy stops by
He tells her it's a nice place
She says, 'It'll do for now'
Starts talkin' about babies, and buyin a house
Daddy shakes his head And says baby just slow down

Cuz' you're gonna' miss this
You're gonna' want this back
You're gonna' wish these days Hadn't gone by so fast
These are some good times
So take a good look around
You may not know it now
But you're gonna' miss this

Five years later there's a plumber
Workin' on the water heater
Dog's barkin', phone's ringin'
One kid's cryin' one kid's screamin'
And she keeps apologizin'
But he says they don't bother me
I've got two babies of my own
One's thirty- six, one's twenty- three
Huh, it's hard to believe

But you're gonna' miss this
You're gonna' want this back
You're gonna' wish these days
Hadn't gone by so fast
These are some good times
So take a good look around
You may not know it now
But you're gonna' miss this
You're gonna' miss this
Yeaahhhh... you're gonna' miss this...

Back in Prison

This round was actually my third trip, but...this time it was my turn to teach. One of the amazing things about being there is how open the ladies are, no pretense at all. They just talk, hug, smile, joke around, as if we have been friends our entire lives! The 22 year old is still there. I have learned her name now. She comes to Bible study. We met another one this time who was only 18. She was absolutely hysterical the entire time....to be 18...and in prison...very scared!

I wrestled over what to teach. What did these ladies need to hear....what was God already doing in their lives...would I stumble...would I say something totally irrelevant to them...not to mention...I usually teach 4th grade girls. I thought...we should all be kids once in awhile-with the innocence that comes from that so I included a crossword type puzzle on the back of my lesson outline. They absolutely loved it. I also asked Ms. Shirley about using my left over verse cards and activity sheets from Sunday School. I brought the verse cards which went very fast! So good to know those are going to good use! Next time I am going to bring the activity papers and see how they respond to those.

I began working on a lesson about David for Sunday School....and as it turns out...that was the Sunday I was out with Katherine. The lesson itself got my attention so I kept working on it. It was the one God used on this prison visit. It was such an amazing thing that words just can't capture it! I was soooo nervous...but had my outline typed with the verses I would be using (Ms. Shirley says she types up the lesson so the ladies had them for later to look over, study, share, and the Bibles we give out are tiny tiny print-very hard to read and follow in a Bible study).

The study consisted of David being chosen as the second king of Israel, Saul being rejected, and the question why reject Saul over David? What made David a man after God's own heart? We answered that question with a definition of rebellion/disobedience, a look at David's repentance and Saul's excuses, and a peek at David's heart through his own words in the psalms. The challenge to us all was could God call "me" a woman after God's own heart? Could David's words be mine? I was challenged by it, and so were our ladies. Several cried and gave testimony. Ms. Shirley stepped right up and asked about their salvation. Many profess to be saved, but one came this time who hadn't come before. Ms. Shirley had been inviting her for months. She told us this was the first time she had come to a service that she wanted to. She was very open, knows she isn't saved, but wasn't ready to respond to that. Door is open-seed is planted-and amazingly, many of the ladies have been witnessing to her! Both pods (we do the lesson twice-also a first for me) ended in tears, testimony, and open forum. It was just awesome! I don't know what God has planned for any of them, but I am so thankful to be a small part of it! Will teach again in a few weeks, don't know what I am doing, but already Abraham is on my mind and the covenant in Genesis 15! How in need we are of grace!

Out With the Old: In With the New

I dont' know that I really appreciated how different a room looks with new windows! Our room didn't even have windows, now there are three of them! It is amazing what a difference the windows make in there! I usually go for the old over the new, but not in this case! We are putting new windows in in phases (17 windows in the house with a price tag of >7,000), so this round did our bedroom and the office (6 total). From the outside, it is quite obvious where the new ones are, and now I am impatient, want to get done with this phase so we can go on to the next one!

Our schedule is turned upside down a bit because we are juggling vehicles. That coming and going slows us down. Hard to get motivated when you have to keep going somewhere! Today I am off (yippee), so only have to take Kat to class, run a few errands and I am home for the day, at least until our daily Lowes trip. I am definitely going to take advantage of being home and get my room sanded. ( I stall on the sanding because it is so messy!) Shawna is coming on Thursday and I sooooooooo want to be ready to paint in there! (all that and working on the office so Kat can move in that room!) Whew....need B12 shots!

New Math

1 van plus 1 car plus 1 truck = 3 vehicles, but 3 vehicles- 1 van - 1 car =4: 2 trucks, 1 jeep, and 1 Saturn - 1 truck and 1 Saturn= 2 again. Hmmm?? Confused? Us too...Kat wrecked her Saturn which has now been totalled. We are waiting to hear what the insurance company is going to settle on so we will know what we owe. So we are back at two vehicles, three people, three jobs, and college. Well God always knows...Kat got a new job at Aafes. The job just opened up. She will be working from 2-9ish every day except her class night at the BX which is just a hop, skip, and jump from the education building. She gets out of class at 12ish every day which gives her time to walk over there, get something to eat and maybe do some homework (maybe?). It makes for a long day for her, but steady hours, no real transportation issues (she goes to class and gets off work at compatible times for me to take her and pick her up), and steady pay. Her hours at Kohl's has been so up and down, and she is not making enough to pay her way. Aafes has long term potential for her so who knows...God does!

Speaking of new math-I have been studying for my Praxis II tomorrow. I have been cramming so much information into my little brain that it is having trouble processing the smallest of requests! I couldn't do simple division last night at Sylvan! Decided a night off was in order so I could be fresher today in my review and practice tests. I am in no way ready for this test, but have to plunge in. Maybe with a little grace, the questions I know will be the ones on my test as opposed to the multitude of questions I have no clue on! I am so anxious about it that last night I had one of those high school dreams-the one where you show up late, can't find your class, your seat, your locker, don't have your supplies, pencils, paper, everyone is waiting on you, etc...(I wasn't naked-not the dream where you show up in your underwear). I woke up with a start this morning and then had to smile. That anxiousness over school never seems to go away, no matter how old we get! Tomorrow is the day...have a very full day today-plumber will be here any minute, Kat will be in and out with school and aafes paperwork, and...I needed her help today babysitting Caitlyn. I have no idea how I am going to study and take care of a baby (little out of practice on that one!), but I will sneak it in somehow! Tonight we are taking Todd and Kat out for a steak dinner-repayment to Todd for taking care of the house while we were in NC. I am sure dinner for me will be laced with visions of numbers/letters/symbols dancing in my head!

My book is sitting next to me, baby is stirring-eyes open-better make a bottle, someone is calling....

All about the details

Our doors have been sticking since the flood, hard to close, hard to open, keys won't work in the locks...etc...as of this past Saturday, have a new front door. It was one of our first purchases (before we had any idea what we were doing)! Nothing is really standard in this house, so of course the door was not a perfect fit. It was about four inches shorter than our original door.

Watching my husband process and work things out is an amazing thing! He sat down, thought and decided to build a header for the door. He got that done and then there was the leveling/squaring it. Of course the house isn't square anymore so anytime we need something level, a bit of a challenge presents itself. He did get it, got the door in, and it looks beautiful and works! It opens and shuts like it should, and the locks work! I can get in my front door with a key! (Small things)

I can hardly wait to put the back door in. We picked it out this weekend (with a little more knowledge under our belt). We went a little less decorative and more traditional, because it is our back door and the dogs tend to jump up on it. We have a beautiful glass door on the back now, and I hate to replace it, but it is sticking too. We have to keep it locked or it won't even stay closed. The one we chose will work well with a glass storm door which we plan to purchase later. We don't have storm doors or screen doors right now, and I would really like to add those at some point.

We have been adding details to the house which is definitely my favorite part of this process. For me, it is all about the details-those things that set it apart, individualize it, and make it just uniquely us! In the hall and living room I stenciled with wall mud a flower design on the wall. It is the coolest thing. It adds texture and an "old elegance" feeling. The living room design is spaced around the room half way up. The design is painted the same color as the wall except in a flat paint instead of semi-gloss. I have been trying to crackle it, but not working. Other things we are adding or have added: programmable thermostat, new easy open return vent (the old one had to be unscrewed every time you needed to change the filter-the new one has a switch to open it!), dimmer switches, motion controlled lights in the closet (now that is a sweet thing!), antique brass lever door handles (for design and function as we all get order!). We changed out the chandelier in the living room for a ceiling fan-doing alot of moving around lighting and fans. We have a new fan for our room too, but the ceiling isn't waiting...painted yet...can't wait to do that, but the room isn't quite ready for paint.

Speaking of waiting...I am off to a busy day. I have to take Kat to a doctor's appointment, to school, then study study study, and paint, and go to work, and...

Trying to finish the details in the office and get that floor down so my dear daughter can move out of the living room. Sleeping on an air mattress in the middle of the living room has not been fun for her!

Good Kitty

I was watching my hubbie ponder how to replace our front door yesterday when I our cat came walking up with a rat in his mouth. He startled us a bit, and likewise us him, so he dropped the rat. It scurried away, and he chased. A game of cat and mouse then ensued which we had a rare opportunity to witness. Long story short, Milton won. One less rat on the property. Good Kitty

A Stop By The Past

On our way back from Robert's house in Havelock, NC, we decided to stop by our first base together, Seymour Johnson, in G0ldsboro, Nc. It has been about 24 years since we have been there, and much has changed! We looked for our house-Steve remembered what street we lived on (I didn't). That part of housing no longer exists; a field is where our house once stood. We drove around a bit, and stopped in at the BX where we got t-shirts and Steve a coin. We loaded back up in the truck when a knock on the window startled us. Amazingly enough, Steve's first supervisor was standing there. Wow...we were there less than an hour, and he runs into his first supervisor-someone he first met over 25 years ago.

Shady J was the place where I grew up. I was only 17 when I got there, my first time away from home, not a little girl anymore, but a woman. I learned what "being married" meant, how to take care of my own home. I started college there. It was a time of turmoil and searching. Neither of us were saved and in church. God's grace-we made it through that time, and God took us in a new direction.

Visiting the past gave me a renewed appreciation for the present and the possibilities for the future. I am glad we aren't living that life anymore, but could stop to glimpse back for a minute before moving forward again. Our life has been nothing but change for so long that it is hard at times to find the constant! Of course that constant is Jesus and His abiding love and grace!

Every day presents new challenges and changes...Moving forward...after all we have already been to the past, and we got the tshirt!

Today is the day!

Today is the day we get ready to go to NC. Yea! This morning I have to run some errands, this afternoon I am doing some housework while Steve loads the trucks and gets vehicles ready, tonight we are renewing an old aquaintance-having dinner with a friend, and then to bed, up, and off. So basically we have a wake-up and we are on our way! It is going to be such a long drive, and we can't stay nearly as long as we would like, but we are excited about Aaron's birthday. It doesn't seem possible that he could be a year old already!

Hopefully, prayerfully, we will get some sleep tonight because we sure didn't get any last night. Kat wasn't feeling well so she slept in our room, and we spent the night on the air mattress in the living room. We were already fighting over the space, trying to get it inflated right so we were comfortable, dealing with the lights from outside, and then the police started patroling the neighborhood. Lights were flashing, spotlights piercing the darkness, and dogs barking. They were looking for someone for what seemed like hours. They parked in our driveway and searched our property, lots of places to hide here! Steve was nervous, but the police wouldn't let him be outside with them so he watched from the windows. I don't know if they found who they were looking for, but Pedro did his job, we lost lots of sleep, and Steve searched the property himself this morning just to be sure! I have to go into the shed this morning-taking Pedro with me. I have a new appreciation for my dogs...they are earning their keep!

Can't wait to wrap up this day...so I am off to get started!

Lasagna

Kat has been expanding her horizons, learning how to use power tools, rebuilding a house, and...cooking! (cooking being her least favorite!). She made lasagna last night-we are so proud! I got the sauce simmering for her, and left everything out with the instructions. She put it together and cooked it. I came home from work to dinner already done!

We were expecting some of the family to pop in which is why we cooked at all...they didn't...they missed out...we enjoyed the bounty!

What is Important?

Life is too short! This week an elderly lady, Ms. Orelle Maynor, went home to be with the Lord. She was 91. (Not pictured). I remember her as this perfect lady, always dressed in a skirt/suit, with "stockings" (as she called them), heels, hair and nails done, and make-up on. She was always dressed when she went out, still driving and taking care of herself at age 91. She lived a very active life, one I was only privileged to share in but for a moment.

Just a few months ago I was sitting in her kitchen visiting with her. She was telling me how she exercised every day (yes, at age 91). She was also telling me about her family, how she grew up, and how she likes to spend her days. She was an amazing woman, absolutely beautiful. Well...we had those few moments, and I went on with my life, got busy, and although the Holy Spirit laid her on my heart many times, I didn't make it back over there to see her. That makes me very sad-I missed an opportunity to talk with her again, and now I have to wait till I join her in eternity.

So many moments just like that have been lost. So many times the Holy Spirit reminds me of someone, and I think..I need to give them a call, but I don't. Ms. Willis, another elderly lady I knew was gone three weeks before I knew it. My heart was broken. I missed seeing her, and I missed her funeral. Then there is Ms. Davis (pictured).

She is nearly 94. She has been a big part of my life and my children's lives. I hadn't seen her since December, and I knew she had dementia. I listened this time and called. I went by to see her yesterday and am so glad I did. She didn't remember me. She has pictures of my kids in her room, but she couldn't remember their names. (She told me she had been trying to figure out who they were!) I had printed out some recent pictures of our trip to Daniel and Lauren's wedding, and of Katherine's graduation when everyone was here, and made her a photo album. When I showed her the pictures and reminded her about her family, her face lit up, and she remembered. I reminded her of the things we had done, and of course all the moments she had shared with the kids. She still wasn't convinced I was their mother...I really think she thought I was Katherine all grown up! I told her I would take lots of pictures while I was at Robert's and add to her photo album! We laughed and she cried a little. I told her no tears, but she told me she was crying because she was so happy to see me. How many moments like this have I sacrificed on the altar of "works"? Lord, ever remind me what is important and what is not!

Ms. Orelle Maynor (Sept. 11, 1916-Aug. 22, 2008)