Together

A sweet friend has said to me many times, "Looking around, you just never know the struggles and pains people and families are going through. This should make us want to get in each one another's lives even more and take the risk to share our hearts and pray for one another on deeper levels."

A dear friend is struggling with secondary infertility and is frustrated, sad, hurt, and angry - yet, she praises God for his goodness.

Many of our friends are in the Army and are moving all the time (thanks to living near one of the largest military installations in the U.S.). I'm tempted to think of the heart havoc these moves do on my heart but I want to remember that pain, excitement, sadness, and joy are also in the hearts of my friends who leave "home" every two years. They leave each time giving praise to God for his goodness.

Many friends are struggling in their marriages yet they are committed to reconciling and pursuing one another and the church. It's encouraging to see them give praise to God for his goodness in their marriage, despite their trials.

The sadness of orphaned children brings the joy of adoption to others. There are several families in our church who are seeking adoption and it is such a beautiful thing of which to be a part. Our families are seeking this by praying together, praying for each other, and praying for the child/ren that will no longer be fatherless.

Death - although tragic, we spoke in small group last week of how we live as a people who don't long for "home". A church member lost her husband a few weeks ago, another friend lost her daughter last week in an accidental fall, and a close friend lost her daughter years ago in a tragic accident....they still give all the praise to God for his goodness.

What frustration and worry finances can bring! Just today, however, I taught my preschoolers of the provision of God.

• Luke 12:7 - Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.

I love being with the people of Christ everyday but I especially look forward to Sundays when we can join together as a large body and worship together. Community has always been special to me and something that I will hopefully always treasure.

We are truly in this together and it just keeps getting sweeter and sweeter.

HT: Kelly

Gospel Centered Friendship

C. S. Lewis:

Lovers are always talking to one another about their love;

Friends hardly ever about their Friendship.

Lovers are normally face to face, absorbed in each other;

Friends, side by side, absorbed in some common interest.

—The Four Loves

Bumper stickers

I saw two bumper stickers today that I just had to share with you.

"Drive it like you stole it!" - The truck I saw bearing this statement was a new Ford 150, driving past the speed limit on the highway as we crossed over the river from Georgia to Alabama. I laughed so hard that I text'd my brother about it, after I parked, of course.

"Jesus has good news for you! You don't have to sin!" - This sticker made me smirk, shake my head in disgust, and then call my husband to share the stupidity with him. .....wait, wait, wait.....I get the meaning of the sticker....I really do. But, when you know that the nature of man is inherently evil, you realize that one will ALWAYS choose his own way. The good news is that Jesus changes hearts and HE is the ONLY reason we may choose the narrow way, his way.

Ok....enough preaching for now.

Good night.

Oh, how I love them!

7 Quick Takes

1. My boys are growing up. We are now staying at the baseball field one night a week until 8:30ish. I feel that it will only get later once they play in more advanced leagues. Watching Andrew play hard with passion and laugh with his teammates is encouraging. So, I'm excited about their love for the game, and I can see their skills are improving - but this mama doesn't like battling the bath and teeth routine at 9PM.

2. Yesterday, I went to the spring consignment sale with a friend and we stayed for 2 hours roaming the racks and tables, laughing and cutting up. Then, I found a reason to go to her house later that night so we could sit and talk for another fun session. Happy birthday, Jennie!

3. Our children are now attempting to explain the Trinity. I wish I had Luke on video telling his Daddy tonight all about his thoughts on the ONE TRUE GOD and the three persons that make up the Trinity. I'm gonna work on getting that recorded, for sure!

4. Abigail keeps defying me when I tell her, "You must never grow up." She responds with a smirk and says, "No, Mama.....I have to. That's how God want it to happen." I guess she's right and I need to submit to God's plan.

5. I was a counselor at an amazing camp back in my summer days of college. Even though many little girls came through my cabin that summer, two campers really kept in touch and allowed me the opportunity to even spend some time with their families outside of camp property. What a blessing! I learned last week that one of those campers (who just turned 22 years of age) died in an accidental fall down a flight of stairs - and I am heartbroken for her family. Death came to them three years ago when the father passed away from cancer and left the mother to care for their seven children. That mother has just, in the past few months, begun reuniting with her church family and living in the hope of Jesus. Now, with her daughter's passing, I pray that she will cling to the cross and hold on to the hope of heaven.

6. The college students are coming over for dinner this week. I'll be posting pictures of that event later because I'm sure the guys will cause us all to laugh 'til we wet our pants. I've requested that they bring their instruments and perform a diddy for us (they are all music majors). If that's the case, a video will be in order. They are a crazy group of 20-somethings.

7. Only one more week until Spring Break. THE END.

Thunder in the Valley Airshow 2011

Thanks to a church friend, our family received free tickets to the Thunder In the Valley Airshow on Saturday. We left the house prepared with our wet wipes, sunblock, sunglasses, and earplugs. It was a beautiful day and the planes were amazing! I am still amazed that God gifted humans with the skills to make an object that flies in the air and transports people to spots around the world, over oceans, mountains, and long distance. Unfathomable!

I think Andrew enjoyed the airshow most - at least seeing the actual aerobatic shows and aircraft cockpits. Luke and Abigail enjoyed the souvenirs and face painting more than anything. We lasted four hours at the airshow and I was thankful the children didn't tire or complain (well, at least not until the last 30 min. or so).

Wait, I need to correct myself....the shuttle bus ride back to the parking deck was BY FAR their favorite part of our outing. Who knew?

Outside snack

It was 85 degrees today! Beautiful!

After school Friday, we went home and ate Popsicles outside and then rode bikes, hit the tennis ball in the cul-de-sac, skateboarded, flew on roller blades, and practiced throwing & catching the baseball.

There was a slight breeze in the air at about 4 miles per hour. I can almost smell spring.

"Mercy!"

Mitch and I sat in front of the computer tonight, laughing together until it hurt. What made us giggle and cry tears of fun? Mercy Me (the band) has recorded a lot of old cover songs, some of which they don't know the lyrics - such as this one.

But, our favorite video of them all is the one below - The Eye of the Tiger.



Even though the videos are silly, it's still encouraging to see a group of grown men have such happy friendship with one another. It's all about God - even in the fun.

Other GRAB BAG tunes you can watch:

Thriller
Stayin' Alive
Hard To Say Goodbye
Footloose
Obladi Oblada (Fantastic!)
Hey Ya
I Feel Fine
Dead or Alive (Bon Jovi)
Crazy
Wanna Be Like You (Jungle Book)
I Will Survive
Jump
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
It's the End of the World
Hold Me Now (Funny!)
Shout
New Sensation
More Than Words
Never Gonna Give You Up (bad dancing - you've been warned)
Jesus Is Still Alright
Take On Me

He's hilarious!

He ASKED for me to take this picture, I kid you not. He's our future graduate of Georgia Tech - that will make his daddy proud!

Because he's mine and I can.

Andrew plays and works so hard during the day that he's at complete empty and full of exhaustion by bedtime. He is always hungry, eating us out of house and home. Thank goodness he's not a picky food eater!


I look at this picture and my heart melts. I love this little guy...well, he's not so little anymore because he'll be seven next month. Last night, I asked him if I could pick him up and carry him. He said yes so I asked him to jump high as to get a good grip and bounce. He laughed, smiled and said, "You ready?". I remember that sweet small trek from the couch to his bedroom and how I took in every moment to hold him in my arms, on my hip, close to my hair, skin, and nose. His hair was still wet from his evening bath but I loved having his head next to my ear. I don't know if I'll be able to hold him like that much longer - but I will try.

God has given us a precious gift and I only hope we can show Andrew how much we love him and that Jesus loves him far more than we ever could.

This is another canvas that will adorn one of our living room walls!

Valentine tulips

I'm not a fan of receiving flowers....especially on special occasions. However, Mitch knows that my favorite flower is a tulip and he arrived home on Valentine's Day, 2010, with a surprise bouquet of the beautiful flowers. Although it was a bit late to plant the bulbs (once the flower wilted and died), I saved them and remembered to plant them this past fall.

They are sprouting and have buds. I'm excited to see them once they bloom!

Free Bruster's

Yep, the first Saturday in March is always "PJ Day" at Bruster's.

We never fail to make a visit, albeit a dark & blurry one (eve of DST).

Just a week in review of the massive cuteness

They love her - You, Meme!

Mitch's mother, Meme (also known as Cheryl), joined us for dinner out tonight. It was good to simply sit around the table and chat while munching on food. We had her all to ourselves and it bought me joy to watch my children swarm to her with arms open wide for a hug and kiss (especially Abigail).

We really should do this more often, MeMe. You are the best mother-in-law in the world. I mean that.

4 years & I'm finally "decorating"

We've lived in our house for four years. I've always hated the wallpaper that adorns the bathroom, dining room, and top of the kitchen walls. So, a few weeks ago, I removed the wallpaper border in the kitchen and painted it gossamer blue and the living room in sea star (the true colors are darker on the walls than the online sample). My house feels cozier and warmer but all the walls are still bare. A friend is helping me use what I have to make the room "work" but I still like creating things and adding that personal touch.

At a wedding this past weekend, the couple gave Jelly Belly beans as a party favor in these boxes:


This afternoon I emptied the beans into a Ziploc bag and started for the trash can - that's when I couldn't bear to throw those cute little brown cardboard boxes away! I knew I could use them for something so I started racking my brain to start and finish a project immediately - TODAY! I'm terrible at saving things like this with the intention of "doing something creative" but then forgetting about it and adding it to a "later" pile.

Big Lots is a great place to find discounted scrapbook paper. The colors in my living room went great with a new pad of paper I had just purchased. So, I chose my designs, measured the squares, bordered them with black, glued 'em on, and....DONE!



The five cute boxes now sit atop my mantle. Also, I had a great coupon last week and just ordered this canvas in a size 24 x 20 to hang somewhere in the room (I'll post finished pictures when the time comes....if it ever comes):

To be continued....

A good marriage

Well, I don't drink these together (yuck!) but I do like both of these beverages. Even though they are BAD BAD BAD for me, they are my "happy place".

On a different note, Mitch loves (did I say "love"?) McDonald's sweet tea, even if he does dilute it a little bit with a tad of unsweet. I, however, love Diet Coke out of a cold can.

Both make a good marriage.

Needing a cut

As I was drying my hair this morning, I thought, "Why do I not seem to think about my hair that often?". Then, I felt weird for even thinking about my hair. There's nothing that really prompts me to consider a haircut other than an occasional battle with a hair appliance. I tried to remember the last time I got my hair cut but I couldn't recall. I know it's been cut once since my friend left me (b/c that's the calendar I'm still using in my head), so I guess it's due time for a trim to keep from looking homely.

Have I let myself "go"?

I promise my toenails stay trimmed. Ewwwwww.....

The wedding was amazing

God was glorified.
Two flesh became one.
We all partied 'til the sun set.

Now it's time to get busy editing the over 1000 pictures that I took.

It's wedding time & they are acting crazy!

The bride in the middle
& her crazy sisters surrounding.

It's gonna be a fun day!
GO AWAY RAIN!

In what time period does he think?

Medieval is the answer (for now). This post might seem morbid but I promise Luke isn't fascinated by anything bloody. It's just part of the time period momentarily in his mind.

Luke's pirate ship of medieval times.

Luke's own version of the book we just read,
The Knight and the Dragon, by Tomie DePaola.

Luke's illustration of The Rack medieval torture device.
Believe me, he's not that into it.
Just a fact.

7 Quick Takes (kind of like FB status updates)

Just me rambling.....

1. Andrew just got out of bed and told me his teeth hurt (they are loose b/c he's been wiggling them all day). I wrapped my arms around him and said, "I remember the wonderful day you were born!", and he responded, "Yeah, that was a day I had no teeth!".

2. I'm photographing my first wedding this weekend as the lead shooter. I'm scared! I'll be busy taking pictures, my husband will officiate, my daughter will throw flower petals, and my boys will bear the rings. Needless to say, my mother and sister are coming into town this weekend.

3. My brother and sister-in-law just joined a wonderful church in the Atlanta area. I am thrilled for them!

4. My living room is newly painted, my kitchen is newly painted, and my foyer if primed (it was red and needed three coats, hence the delay). My children are helping me strip the wallpaper in the hall bathroom. Making progress!

5. When I was sick with the flu for two solid weeks, I apparently slept on my sides evenly for long periods of time. Now, I have two large bruises on each of my outer thighs - WEIRD!

6. Today, I was sneezed on (again) by two of my five year old students. The Kleenex, Purell, and Influenza lecture didn't work.

7. The city wide consignment sale is approaching and I've got lots of work to do. There's far too much JUNK in this house. You might see me on Hoarders - just joking....kind of.