AWESOME weekend!!!

Am I tired!!!

What a weekend!

It was an AWESOME, FUN, TIRING, CRAZY, EYE-OPENING, CHALLENGING, SOMETIMES OVERWHELMING, BUT INCREDIBLE WEEKEND.

We had our Disciple Now.

One of those crazy weekends filled with fun, friends and God.

So although I am plum wore out, it is the good kind of tired. My feet ache and I feel like I could nap forever, yet I loved seeing kids praying, singing , learning. I loved seeing new friendships being made, bonds being formed and our youth group grow closer together. It was music to my ears to hear young voices sing praises, with hands held high. It made me laugh to see them dance and have fun together, even getting my hubby to do a jig or two. It made me weep to be able to pray for my daughter at the alter this morning and then get up and see countless other parents praying over their own kiddos.

God showed His face this weekend. He spoke LOUD and CLEAR.

We have been challenged. We have been chastised. We have been blessed.

God is faithful.

Me and my baby girl. I LOVE helping hubby with events like this, not just to be there for other kids, but to be there for my own.

LOVE praise and worship time.

Having Hope...(Please Pray!)

Picture taken last August at my in-law's 50th anniversary.

My father-in-law is battling cancer.



He is 79 years old and there is no cure except for a miracle. He is going through chemo to fight the spread of the cancer and to prolong his life.



This weekend he is in Dallas undergoing a new treatment. It is not a cure, but hopefully it will prolong and increase the quality of the life he has. We are hopeful.



However, just as there are many side affects to chemo and other drugs, this treatment comes with its own list.

Please pray...

... that the side affects will be minimal if any.

... for his strength during this time, with all the traveling and treatments. He will be going to Dallas every 2 to 3 weeks. Not an easy journey from our town for me, much less him.



...for my hubby and his brother, as they are having to travel back and forth, his brother from Houston and Kevin from southeast Arkansas, with him and staying with him during treatments. It is a burden they are gladly willing to bear out of love for the man they call "Dad."

...for my mother-in-law as she has to just "wait" and see how her companion of 50 years fairs through all of this.

...Kevin's uncles have also helped get their brother to different treatments and to meeting points to help us out. We are blessed with a family that truly loves and cares about each other.

...traveling safety for everyone involved.

...a miracle or at the very least that this treatment will help Papa feel stronger and have more energy.

...for our family, that we will never lose hope, that we will keep the faith in the Great Healer and have peace.



"Papa" is a treasure. He is a man that loves the Lord, his family and serving others. We have hope that these treatments will help him feel good and be able to go and do like he longs to. My hubby and son are just like him, they are "going and doing" kind of folks.



Thank you for your prayers.

Opposites Attract...

Today, my lovely state of Arkansas was warned that there would be trouble brewing in the skies. Watches and warnings everywhere.

HOWEVER,

while I was watching this;

and this (I HATE STORMS!!!);

my hubby and son went to do some of this;

Picture taken last summer.

Even after almost 18 years of marriage, it still goes in my "I don't get it" file! They are CRAZY!!! (Yet insists that moments before a storm is the best time to fish.) Heaven help my heart!!!

Gotta love them!

They didn't catch a thing. The storm came up on them too quick. I am sure there will probably be a next time, if Kevin has anything to do with it.

Scrapbook Therapy...

Tonight was my "Girl's Night Out." Once a month I get to go and hang out with a great group of fun ladies and participate in a hobby I love.

Scrapbooking.

Not only is it good to have a night away from the worries of motherhood for a few hours, but I find that being creative, is therapeutic. I love cutting, gluing and putting a whole jumble of different textures together and then at the end have a personal masterpiece.

The last few years, I haven't had as much time, but I am trying to get back into it at home as well as club. After I moved a few years ago, I got behind on my kiddos albums. With the new year, I am determined to stay on top of things a little better. Instead of stressing out and going way back when, I am working on the last two years, randomly.

At "Club" our hostess comes up with a cute layout for us to do each month. Even though we are learning new techniques and skills together and have the same supplies, the pages all turn out slightly different, with our own creative stamp on them. It is a lot of fun. Even more relaxing is I don't have to be super creative, I can just follow her layout.

Tonight, the theme at scrapbook club, was "Love." I chose a picture from last year's Valentine's day, to go in Jordan's album. As I was scrapbooking around the pictures, I realized how much my little man has changed in the last year. WOW! Time really does fly by...

Here is the finished project of the night.

Isn't it cute?

I had a good time making it. I love taking pictures and I love to scrapbook, both go together nicely.

Do you have a hobby?

Reliving fear...

I was in 9th grade.

We had just learned a song on a mission trip I had gone on. Three girls were chosen to sing the praise song for our church when we returned home. I was one of the three.

I remember being nervous. I didn't really want to do it, but the leaders insisted. I had done a few skits, readings, sang in the choir before and although it was never my favorite thing to do, I tolerated it. When your dad is the minister, there is often a little more pressure put on you. And then came that moment.

I sang my part alright. I was on key and I remembered the words, so everything should have been fine, right?

WRONG!

Leave it to that one boy, that one boy who I always, for some reason wanted to impress at the time. Leave it to him to open his BIG FAT MOUTH.

"Mich, you sounded like a little girl."

I know it could have been a lot worse, but for some reason that one sentence literally "shut me up." I can't tell you why, just that it affected me. But afterall, I was 15. Does anything a 15 year old do, make sense?

Oh I still sang in choir, because that is what good church girls did when I was growing up, but I was always "worried" about how I sounded. I refused to sing a solo anymore.

Until the summer before my senior year of high school.

My best friend talked me into singing a duet with her at our yearly mission meeting (my parents were missionaries at the time). I remember being sick with nerves. I was scared to death.

I totally psyched myself out. I got off key somewhere and never could find my way back. And I never did sing a solo again. This time there were tears that followed my song. The only highlight of the day, was that one of the missionaries came up to me and said my voice reminded him of Olivia Newton- John (who I loved!!!). At least I graduated from sounding like a little girl to a young off key version of Olivia.

I never really liked the stage. It was way out of my comfort zone to begin with. I never really had a soloist voice either. So, these two moments, mixed with a few others through the years, kept me as far from a stage and microphone as I can get. It gave me an excuse to hang up a hat, I truly never enjoyed wearing in the first place.

My comfort zone has become more of a behind the scenes kind of gal. Through the years I have been blessed in other areas that God has chosen me to serve Him in. Every once in a while He will take me out of that comfort zone, but for the most part He continues to show me the road that will take me to being the best me I can be for Him. We are all a work in progress...

I guess you have been wondering where I am going with all of this...?

My baby girl.

She sang her first solo in the kindergarten Christmas program. She became involved in church programs with AWANA. She sang solos, read scripture, played parts in dramas...until 3rd grade.

She had a part in a musical, a speaking role. The two boys with her, messed up, therefore she messed up. She was really hard on herself (it wasn't that bad) and after that gave up any speaking or singing parts in church or school programs. Sound familiar? I was scared. I was afraid that she was going down the same road as her mom and I felt helpless. She was using me as an excuse, a reason to quit.

Yet, what made it worse, is that there has always been this spark in her. Deep inside she really wanted to sing. Something I never felt. I loved music, but I never desired to sing in front of others. I just love to worship, something I am happy doing from my pew or while washing dishes. Kayla sings everywhere, all the time, just like her dad.

My hubby is known for his singing voice. When he was younger I would tease him about being the "wedding singer." He has sung at more weddings and funerals than I can count. God graced him with a Beautiful gift. He is also a big ham on stage...fearless.

My daughter's personality falls in the middle. Torn. As a baby, she was all daddy, wanting to be the star of the show, then she changed, becoming more shy and reserved like her mom.

Until this week.

Wednesday night after youth group, our music minister comes and asks her to sing with five other teenagers, Sunday morning in church. She would be part of a praise team, on stage, holding her own microphone. To my surprise she said "YES."

When I asked her about it, she said, "Mom, deep down, something is pulling me to sing, but the other part of me just wants to go throw up."

I can understand that. I wanted to throw up. I kept replaying my own memories. Here my baby girl is only a year younger than I was when my fears grabbed hold. I started to worry. I became afraid that someone, somewhere would say the wrong thing or that Kay would mess up or...

And then God got a hold of me and said "My child, Kayla is not YOU. I have great plans for her, her own plans. Let me worry about her journey getting there."

I was reliving my fears through her and God wasn't going to allow it. I let it go and gave the whole situation to Him. It made me think, how many times do we put our fears out there, reliving them through our kids? How many times have I said "no" to little things that might not cause them harm, but I was just afraid they might get hurt, because I did once upon a time?

I can't do that. My job is to protect my kiddos, yes. But when my fears keep them from following God's plan for them, then I need to back off and let God. I just might be surprised at the outcome.

You know what? She did GREAT. She stood up there smiling, singing her heart out and I was so very proud.

I told her later, that there are some gifts and talents she can take after me, but I truly hope in this area she takes after her dad. I want to see her sparkle on that stage some more.

Thank you, Lord for teaching my heart another lesson. Thank you for walking this parenting journey with me, for I know I couldn't do it without you.

Jorboy, #21

Last night ended our basketball season.

It is bittersweet.

Our church sponsors the Upward Basketball program. It is a faith based program that mixes ball with sharing the Gospel. My hubby has been the minister in charge, the last few years. He and the director of the program, at our church, have spent three nights a week for the past few months up at the church gym. A lot of planning, organizing and time has been spent. And it has been well worth the efforts put forth. It was an exciting season and we grew in numbers from last year. Not to mention that kids and parents heard about the love of Christ during every practice and game. Can't go wrong there.

Yet, we are tired.

It is bittersweet for me, because although I am ready for the season to be over, this was my baby's last season to play with Upward. (It is for kindergarten through 6Th grade) One more reminder that my boy is growing up. Last night I took my camera one more time, for some last game shots. You will have to forgive my photography. I still can't figure out how to get great action shots in our gym, with my camera...

Jordan had hurt his knee the night before at AWANA at church, during rec time. He insisted on playing the last game anyway. I don't think anyone else could tell it hurt him at times, except mom and dad. Then he jammed his finger. It was a tough game for him, but he was determined and ended up having a lot of fun anyway. He is one tough kid!


The games start with prayer and they ended with prayer last night. I could not pass up this photo memory. My favorite picture of the night, seeing young hearts praying before a game.

Jordan had a great season. They practiced hard and played hard. His team was undefeated.

Way to go #21! Mom and Dad are very proud of how you played this year.

A Lesson Learned Over a Candy Bar...

I got my feelings hurt today.

One of the mom's brought in a whole sack filled with treat bags, for kids and teachers, today at work. When the candy was all passed out, it was clear that I had been forgotten. It really doesn't matter that I can't eat chocolate (allergic), it doesn't really matter that deep in my heart I know the mom would be upset if she knew. What mattered to me all stinkin' morning was the fact that I had been left out. I felt like I was in grade school again.

No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't shake that feeling we have all felt at one time or another. The feeling of being picked last. The feeling of being the only one not asked to the dance. The feeling of not being asked to a certain party or fellowship. Feelings that muddle our brains and pour down the insecurity. Even when deep inside, we know better, some days it is just so hard to shake those yucky feelings. For whatever reason, this morning it hit me hard. Probably because the mom responsible, would be the last one I would expect, to forget me.

When you hit age 40, do you start feeling like you are 13 again?



I tried all morning not to let it bother me. I mean, I didn't make a big deal about it, in fact nobody at work knew I was upset. I just couldn't let that train of thought go. It haunted me all morning. I would reason over and over in my head, but it just plain HURT. I know deep down, that she would be upset if she realized her mistake, but my human heart wanted to cry out "It is not about the candy bar!!! It is about the thought. I want to be thought of. I want to be affirmed. I want to be thanked too!"



During my lunch break, I got in my car and VENTED. I said "Lord, it just plain HURTS to be left out, no matter how little or big the circumstances are. Just want a little acknowledgement here, for a job well done."



And He replied as clear as day;



"I understand."



OUCH!



It hit me hard. He really does know doesn't HE?



How many times have I forgot to say "thank you" to the Blessing Maker of the World? How many times have I been too tired or busy to have a little one on one time with the Savior? How many times have I paid bills, selfishly bought something I wanted and then had NOTHING left for the offering plate? How many times have I just forgotten..?



Too many to count.



After my little cry fest over a little candy bar, I found myself wondering if I should write a thank you card to the mom. Her oversight, actually ended up giving me the gift I really needed today...time with my Savior.

Happily Ever After...

"Belle" from "Beauty and the Beast" drawn by Kayla.

I have always LOVED the Disney cartoons, the fairy tales of "happily ever afters." Even as an adult, I can find myself caught up in the story lines of "true love," "good versus evil" and "good always winning in the end." We all want a "prince" to save the day.



Some of us in this world have been blessed to find that special man, we like to call our "prince charming," however, you can have the best relationship, and still not have the "dream." The reality is that the fairy tales don't exist. They are just fun little stories that send us off into dreamland, an escape to the cruelty that this world often dishes out. There will always be sickness, bills and hurt feelings...



There will always be sin in this world...



Until of course the one true PRINCE of PEACE decides to return, one day. I may not believe in fairy tales, but I do believe in a very happy ending one day. There are some days I may want to question, days I doubt, days I am even angry at God, yet at the end of the day I have a choice. To believe or not believe.



I choose to believe.



I have to, for FAITH is the only thing that sees me through on the rough days. It is the only thing that helps me celebrate on the good ones.



I may type little posts that make it sound like I have the perfect life. I have a blessed life, but it is far from perfect. My kids are considered good kids, yet they still have moments when they fight, talk back and totally embarrass me to death. The hubby, is known to be a man of God, with a great big heart, yet he can be forgetful, lazy and even selfish at times. As for me? I am about as imperfect as you can get. I can worry more than anyone I know, be selfish with my time and hold a grudge for like forever. There is a stack of bills sitting on my table as I type. I have a job that can be stressful. I have allergies like you would not believe. The laundry is piled high, there are dishes in the sink and I can't remember the last time doggie had a bath. By the smell of her, it has been too long. Oh, and there was that little white lie I told the other day...



We are an imperfect family, living in an imperfect world, moving along one day at a time. We just have something that many people, sadly, don't have...



The knowledge of how to get a fairytale ending after all.



We choose to have HOPE.



I choose to believe that my prince charming is none other than Jesus Christ himself. And He might not save me from today's grief, but He did save my heart. And that, my friends, is the true love story. A true Valentine message.

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall have eternal life."

John 3:16

So, I would like to wish all of you a very Happy Valentine's Day! May it be filled with blessings of LOVE and HOPE of a very "happily ever after."



Blessings!

Oh, and if you want to know more about my TRUE PRINCE, let me know. I would love to tell you about Him.

Ephesians 1:18-19

"I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened

in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you,

the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,

and his incomparably great power for us who believe."

At the end of the day...

Today, I held a baby at work, who melted my heart with his precious smiles.

Today, my son cleaned his room, which always makes my mommy heart smile, but his "I love you" meant more than a zillion clean rooms.

Today, the hubby ran some errands for me and called to check on me, showing me again and again how much he cares. I love how he always says "I love you" before he hangs up the phone.

Today, Kayla and I had girl's night. We ate carryout from the local Mexican restaurant, had a frosty from Wendy's (it was a calorie free night!!!) and watched an old movie called "Anna and the King" with Jodie Foster. It was a fun night and did my mommy heart some good. I love that she still loves to hang out with her momma!!!

I had a good day. I was blessed and constantly reminded how loved I am. But at the end of the day, it matters not how much I am loved, but rather how much I love and who...

"The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love."

Galatians 5:6

I am still plugging along through the Bible. I read and fell in love with this little treasure of a verse. I am humbled everyday, to know that I am graced with the Heavenly Father's love. I am challenged everyday to show my faith in Him, by sharing my love of Him with others. WE ARE CALLED TO LOVE.

Blessings!

Daddy/Daughter Time...

Isn't she cute decked out in daddy's camo?

I love both my kiddos dearly. For whatever reason, I was blessed with both a girl and a boy, in that order. When she was little, Kay was a daddy's girl. He was always the one of us doing something, and she always wanted to be going. Then along came Jordan, my baby boy.


Although he has stages of being a mama's boy, he loves to go and do, just like his dad. They love the great outdoors. In fact Jordan can't sit still, he always has to be doing something. And if there is something to be done outside, then all the better. Mix his active spirit, with Kayla growing up into a young woman and wanting her "space," and pretty soon, Jordan is the one hogging all of daddy's time.


Until yesterday.


Jordan got an invite to a friend's house for the day( and night), which left Kev and Kayla finding things to do together. They went riding around in the snow on the four-wheeler and watched movies together. I had gone to take a nap (bad headache crushing my snow day spirit) and I could hear them laughing and talking together in the next room. A sweet snow day memory for this mom.


So although I miss my little man something crazy (did I just admit that?!), I am thankful that Kay and her dad had some daddy/daughter time yesterday.

Happy Snow Day!
Blessings!

Toto, We are not in Arkansas anymore...

The booted feet belong to Kayla and me. She thought it looked like there was a heart on the ground in between our feet.

Somewhere in the past month, I guess I moved up north and didn't realize it. It is snowing AGAIN. In case you are wondering what the big deal is, let me explain...AGAIN.

We here in south ARKANSAS don't get snow. Maybe ONE snow day every three years (and that is usually for ice, rather than snow), BUT NOTHING LIKE THIS. We don't even have snow days planned in the school calendar. At this rate my kiddos will be going to school all summer long.

Now don't get me wrong, I LOVE THE SNOW.

I love the beauty of it.

I love wearing cute sweaters, jackets and boots.

I love a hot drink when it is cold outside.

I love a big comfy blanket to snuggle under.

I love all the fun my kids have playing outside.

I love all the picture opportunities.

Nothing is better than a bowl of yummy soup on a cold day.

YET,

I don't like standing in line at the grocery store because you need that gallon of milk and loaf of bread, just like 5 zillion other people.

I don't like driving on slippery roads and feeling trapped 'cause I can't just get up and go.

I don't like my son going stir crazy. (Thanking the Lord, today, for the friend that asked him over today!)

I don't like it that my hubby has control of the flicker 24/7.

I don't like it that I will spend most of the snow day/holiday CLEANING, because I haven't had time to all week.

I don't like the water all over the kitchen floor from wet boots...

So, if you watched the news/weather, than you know that my little 'ol state is pretty much COVERED in a white blanket today. Tomorrow the temps are not to even begin getting high enough to melt it all off, so they say. Who knows what tomorrow will bring. Maybe if I work a little today, I can spend the day playing tomorrow.

Snow days! Gotta love them. In the meantime I keep thinking I will wake up and realize that I was just dreaming and went to Montana...

Hope you are having a beautiful day!

Blessings!

Flowers in snow...

This morning I woke up, went through my normal weekday morning routine. A trip to the little girl's room, splashed my face with a little cold water to wake up and I put my contacts in so I could see the world around me...and then I looked out the window.

AND THEN I went to turn the television on so I could check for school closings.

There was snow on the ground.

Wow! Two waves of snow in south Arkansas in one winter, and they are calling for more?! Has that ever happened before? My brother-in-law and his family in Houston have snow? It hardly ever, never snows in south Texas. CRAZY!!!

Let the chaos begin...

I know all my friends in the Northern States are laughing us, because this is a seasonal process for you. You all have the equipment to get by and continue day to day life as you know it. US?!!

We don't know how to drive in the scary stuff, we don't know what to do after the first wave of fun snow days. Everything gets cancelled or closed, because we simply don't know what to do.

As for the hubby?

He is a nervous wreck right now, striving for peace. We had our biggest fundraiser for youth camp and mission trip this weekend, starting tonight. It is cancelled. We are trying to make it work for Saturday, but...who knows what tomorrow will hold. We will be lucky if we even break even. The worry sets in, the responsibility is heavy and I feel myself breaking out in hives...

And then on the way out hubby simply says "Maybe we should stop worrying and let God do is thing, instead of doing it our way."

Words I pray we lean on for the weekend and time to come. This shouldn't be our motto, just on the CRAZY days, but everyday.

"...God is not a God of disorder but of PEACE..." 1 Corinthians 14:33

Praying for peace during a hectic, crazy weekend. We are going to try our hardest to not get in the way and "LET GOD" handle this. HE WILL SHOW UP AND DO HIS THING!!!

That being said, I made me a cup of hot tea, in my new favorite cup, to celebrate the snow. "Morning by morning, new mercies I see."

Spring is just around the corner! God can grow blessings even in the deepest pile of snow.

Have a beautiful peaceful weekend, friends!

Blessings!