Anniversary Weekend!!

15YEARS!!! On October 23rd we celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary. I can't even believe it! Time really does fly when you're having fun. We had a wedding to attend in Charleston so we left the boys with Mom and Dad and we stayed downtown at the Renaissance. It was WONDERFUL!!!

Fall Fun!!

We had such a nice weekend! Brandon's football game was cancelled because of rain that left the field too muddy. For the first time in months, that meant a Saturday with nowhere we had to go. Did you hear that? I said NOWHERE!!! I started the day off the best way I knew how...I slept until 11:00! I spent the rest of the day doing what I love...piddling. I did a little of this and a little of that and a lot of nothing.

Aside from feeling like we could just breath a little we had a blast watching the boys play. On Friday we took Miller to Dick's so that he could buy himself a "fire starter". You know the little piece of flint that you scrape to make a spark. They sell them in the camping section. Of course, we gave VERY strict instructions as to its use. "Only on the concrete or in the sandbox!!" The mother in me was really rebelling against the whole notion of my beloved ten-year-old starting his own fire. I knew this was more serious than the magnifying glass he usually weilded. But after 12 years with boys I've learned that they just have to do some things. (Although, even as I write this I'm wondering WHY? )

So, after assuring us that he would use caution, stay in the sandbox, and keep his 6-year-old brother out of the fire (roll of the eyes, because the 6-year-old has to be included!), he rushes off with visions of infernos dancing in his head.

I perched myself in my cozy chair and a half which is strategically positioned in front of the window facing the sandbox. What I witnessed over the course of the afternoon cannot be described in words. But what is it they say about pictures?....

These are the days we'll remember...

"Chick" This Out!

I'm so excited! My Bantam hens have been laying on their eggs for the last month and they hatched this week. We have 6 sweet little chicks. My hens were just chicks when I got them, but this is my first experience seeing how chickens mother. They're so nurturing and protective. In fact, when I first realized the chicks had hatched I thought there were only 2 because the other four were tucked underneath the hens. How cool is that!! The mamas just draw them close and close their wings around them. But the best part was last night when I was working on a bible study and I came across a verse in Psalms that just made me stop and say "Whoa!". Psalm 91:4 reads "He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart." Is God awesome or what!! He reminded me that just like those mother hens He has me under His wings. He is protecting me always. All I can say is Wow!!

Mission Reynosa!

We just arrived home last evening from our first mission trip as a family. What a wonderful experience! We went to Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico. There is a children's home located there called Children's Haven International. Our church has become associated with it because the new director is from Lincolnton.

We went along with our Pastor's family and stayed for about five days. We helped with some construction and painting projects. But the best part of the trip was, of course, the fellowship. Getting to know the children and the house parents at CHI was a blessing beyond words. Although there is a language barrier, as none of us speak Spanish and very few of them speak any English, it was amazing how well we were able to communicate and get to know one another.

Another treat was meeting Eliza Johnson, an intern from Minnesota. She is a Spanish major preparing for her second year of college and she was truly Heaven sent. Not only did she help us to communicate with everyone, but she was just a blessing to be around. She truly has a heart for the Lord and we told her often how she is wise beyond her 19 years. What a sweetheart!

I could go on and on listing the blessings of our trip, but suffice it to say we were not ready to come home when it was over. We really look forward to more trips and to growing relationships with our new friends in Mexico.

Life is hard....God is sovereign!

Sometimes God reminds you of what REALLY matters. Life just stinks sometimes, but when it does it always gives me peace to know that He is sovereign and ALWAYS in control. When we think of blessings the obvious things always come to mind first. Like family, health, food, shelter, and clothing. But more and more lately I am mindful of His spiritual blessings. He really is transforming me and molding me into His image. I'm so much more aware of His love for me and His Spirit within me. There is a new song out by Third Day..."Call My Name". One line in it says "Call my name, say it now, I want you to never doubt, the love I have for you is SO alive." That is the blessing I have been so aware of lately. HE LOVES ME!! His face lights up at the just the thought of me. His heart is broken when mine is.
When I do something that glorifies Him, He says "that's MY girl!". And knowing this is empowering !! I pray that my life will reflect this love and that when it is finished I will hear those blessed words "Well done good and faithful servant."

Life is Good!

Today is one of those days. You know the kind. The sun is shining, it's 75 degrees, the groceries are bought and put away, don't have to cook because we have a 6:00 baseball game, the kids are occupied AND getting along, the house is clean, the laundry's ALMOST caught up...ahhhhh! Makes me just want to sit and soak it all in. So I did. I went out to our two cherry trees, which are so full of bright red beauties that the branches are sagging, and I picked to my heart's content. Usually the birds get to them before I can, but for some reason they've given me a head start this year. Maybe it's because they see that I haven't got my vegetable garden in full swing like I normally do by this time and they feel sorry for me. Whatever the reason it was wonderful and so pretty that I had to snap a picture. If this isn't the epitomy of country life I don't know what is. Now if I can just finish that garden! ;)

Never enough hours!

Focus. That's my word for the week. Why do I have such a hard time with it? Sometimes being a creative person can be a detriment because I believe that with the creativity comes a certain amount of ADD. Can I get an amen? It's like I've got the normal responsibilities of a wife and mother in 2008...love the hubby, spend time with hubby, love and spend time with the children, cook for all, clean for all, laundry for all, taxi the children, keep up with homework , make it to church 3 times a week, keep the family calendar, attend all the activities on the family calendar, keep the family from killing eachother in between the activities on the calendar and, of course, put God before ALL of it! PHEW!! But here's where the ADD comes in. In the middle of all of these responsibilities I have this burning desire to CREATE!! Create anything, just something of permanence that will not have to be done again in 24 hours or less. Something I can hold in my hands and say "FINISHED! I made that!" And in the midst of all the other daily activities there is a constant buzz going on in my head of ideas, things that want to be created. And even when I squeeze out the time to do some creating I have to work very hard to focus on one thing. I've got so many ideas going at one time that I can't pick one to work on. I know people who are the exact opposite. They cannot begin anything new until they have finished what they'v e already started. NOT ME! I must have at least 15 different projects started somewhere around here and I have to force myself not to "start" more until I finish one. This trait has plagued me with guilt for years. But fortunately with age comes an "Oh well!!" attitude. God made me who I am and He loves me that way. By His grace I can become a more focused person, but in the process I will just strive to glorify Him in ALL of my MANY projects!!!


"My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him." Psalm 62:1