Raining Roses!!!

My son gets up this morning, looks out the window and starts to pout.


"Mom, it is raining AGAIN! Doesn't God understand that recess and soccer games are important to a boy my age!!!"


Bless his little heart. Bless mine for having to put up with a cranky son, who is "BORED" constantly because his basketball goal and bike are temporally not usable due to the pouring rain. I'm beginning to think this family needs to build an ark.

So, since the weatherman calls for rain most of the week, although I have learned that they really don't know much these days...I think God likes to remind "know it all weather people" who is really calling the shots in this world, I have decided to find some cheer for the rainy day blues. In other words here is my list of ten things I choose to be thankful for today, things I am reminded of when it is wet and cold.

Care to join in the fun? If it is sunny at your house, I don't really want to hear about it...just shut up and play along.



Rainy Days remind me of...



1. A big bowl of potato soup with a yummy grilled cheese sandwich on the side. I can almost taste it. Hmmm...note to self...possible dinner idea?



2. My cuddly fleece blanket and a good book. I love to read. I love a good blanket.



3. Having my family around, even when they are stir crazy, because it is too wet for them to do anything. During busy schedules this is sometimes the only time I get to see them, except in the car!!!



4. Windows on my car. Saw a guy today with a trash bag taped on his window and thought "bless him, Lord. That has got to be a bummer, especially on a day like today." Made a note to self to be thankful for my "dirty" but solid, "closed"windows.



5. A good night's sleep. Nothing better than sleeping with the rain. I HATE storms with a passion, but when the rain just quietly falls.... better than a baby's lullaby.



6. Wearing jackets and sweaters. I love fall and winter clothes. Give me a comfy sweatshirt or sweater any day.



7. Pretty green yards. Usually about this time the yards are all turning brown, but our grass has certainly been fed this year. I love God's shade of nature green. Although I do like fall leaves too.



8. I am thankful for the makers of pain meds. Unfortunately the rainy weather puts a spell on my poor head and I live with headaches these days. I am thankful God made smart people who invent things to help a girl out.



9. I am always reminded of one of my favorite little lines from a poem I found while in high school. I don't know who wrote it, but here it goes...

It isn't raining rain for me...it is raining roses down.

In other words, find the blessings in the showers!!!

10. And then I simply like the fact that I can stay home...didn't you hear? Soccer games were cancelled. Woo! Hoo! Sorry, Jordan, I know you want to go and play, but mom would rather curl up in the recliner and watch "Dancing With The Stars" tonight.

OK, your turn. What do cold wet days make you thankful for?

Ode to Self...

Dear Self,

I want you to know you are beautiful, even when you wake up with "puffy" eyes, "stuck your finger in the plug" hair, and a "gorgeous, and perfectly round" zit on the end of your cute "ski slope " of a nose.

I want you know that the beautiful "lines" and "crow's feet" marking up your face are really just from years of memories and laughter, that you would never take back.

I want you to know that the "achy" back in the early morning is just reminding you of those precious times of carrying beautiful babies that are now growing up too darn fast.

I want you to know that "falling asleep in the chair" before 9:30p.m. and before your show is over, is perfectly normal and shows you are a "hard" worker, keeping your family straight, not a result of "laziness."

I want you to know that the "extra poundage" is just your body wanting to protect itself from damage. I mean it is always good to have a little "cushion" and "padding" to keep one safe from...let's see...ummm..oh, I know...starvation and falls. Yep! Always a good idea to carry a little "extra" in my book.

I want you to know that there is no need to "feel guilty" over not working out and exercising, after all, you wouldn't want to lose the "safety gear."

I want you to know that a few "gray" hairs are alright, because your hairstylist really needs the money as she is going back to school. It is important to help others at all times. Don't you think?

It is alright if you don't always dress like a "fashion model," for you wouldn't want to ever be
accused of showing up the teenage daughter. Plus, unfortunately the extra padding that is important to your well being, doesn't always allow for fashion cuteness. Get over it!

I want you to know, that it is totally OK to have a "BLAH" day every once in a while, as long as those days don't outnumber the joyful ones. Of course I know it is hard when there is pimple problems shining...on the end of your nose!!!

I want you to know that it is alright if there are dirty dishes left in the sink, if you spent time with the kids. Wait a minute, does watching a show together and falling asleep half way through count?!

I want you to know that it is alright that you are turning 39 at the end of the month, because "40" really is the new "30." I wonder how Sarah, of the Old Testament, felt in her hundreds?

And by the way, Self, I want you to know that you ARE beautiful, just the way you are,
even when you have
a bad hair day,
acne,
crow's feet around the eyes,
laugh lines,
a few extra pounds,
no energy,
nothing to wear,
a dirty house,
and the BLAHS!!!
BECAUSE...

God totally LOVES you! There is certainly no "blahness" in that!

Happy Friday Everyone!

Continued Prayers...

Just a quick update...two days ago I asked for prayer for our good friends who were traveling around the world to start their missionary journey. Well the great news is that they arrived safely and made it through customs in one piece. (Doing a happy dance!!!)

However, they ask for our continued prayers as they start adjusting to their new home and do the job God has called them to do. Thanks so much for praying with me for this dear family.

A special need for prayer... one of their children, upon arrival, has a fever and is throwing up. Unfortunately, in my neck of the woods, the flu and the stomach bug are both going around, so I'm afraid he caught something. Please pray for this young man. Going to another country, a third world country at that, is never easy, much less spending your first days sick...

Thanks friends, for joining me in prayer! (Where two or more are gathered...)

I guess I'm not really busy after all...

Let's see, today is Tuesday, so that means piano lessons, soccer practice for one kid, games for another, homework, and a 7th grade football game. Throw in laundry, Homecoming week, as well as the regular work load, and my family has had a full day. Tomorrow add church youth group and AWANA to the mix. On Thursday, there will be more soccer and football games... Friday is Homecoming, etc..etc...etc...

But wait, isn't there a rumor that the powers that be want to add hours to the school day? I'm trying to imagine our family schedule running an hour or two behind normal...

This mom is wondering if those families that have kids in public schools are being punished for something?! After all, when is anyone suppose to have any FAMILY time? Or is that not important?

This mom is wondering when her child gets to PLAY and have FUN and be a KID, without living out a marathon?

This mom is wondering where the concept of eating as a family, at the table has gone? Conversation? Do we even know what that is anymore?

Does anyone else already have a hard time getting the kids in bed before 10:00p.m.?

Hmmm... I am going to have to give this some thought. As a mom who already has a hard time juggling, I'm not looking forward to the possibility of my family life becoming a circus of chaos. (More than it already is at times!!!) Yet, I don't even begin to pretend to know all the answers about what would benefit my children the most!

I guess this mom will do the only thing she can do... PRAY!!!

Amb, could you move to my town and do your big sis a favor and teach my kids too?! Mom?!!!

Thank you...and I have a special prayer request.

First of all "THANKS!!!" everyone for the sweet words and comments left on my last post. I survived the 13th birthday and the party. I am pretty proud of my baby girl, so to hear all the compliments made my day extra special. Thanks friends!!! Although, I have to admit she had trouble with the part when everyone she came into contact with said she looked like me...but my feelings were not hurt. What 13 year old wants to look like their mom, anyway. Unless of course you were the daughter of Heidi Klum...

I also have a special prayer request...

My hubby grew up with a very sweet girl and her dear sister. They spent a lot of time together in youth group as teenagers, never knowing that all three of them would end up in the ministry somehow. Kevin became a minister, one married a minister and the other one has surrender to God's calling to the mission field.

I have had the pleasure through the years to get to know these dear friends of Kevin's.I keep up with what they and their families are doing, all of us praying for each other and our different ministries. Well, tomorrow is a hard day for their family, for the one sister and her precious family will board an airplane for unknown territory. I am not going to tell names or their destination, for now, but I am asking for prayer.

Maybe because I grew up on the mission field, I have an idea of what may lie ahead...great fun and adventure, as well as loneliness and lots of homesickness. This will not be easy for them, but I believe they will have great joy from knowing they are following God's calling for their lives.

I received an email from them today, with suggestions on how I could pray for them in the upcoming days. I thought I would share "pieces" of that email.

"Pray as we continue to say our goodbyes to family...we ask for prayer for the kids especially. They, too, know the calling, but today has been a really, really tough for them as they told aunts, uncles and cousins goodbye...

Please pray that the we will stay connected as a family...physically, emotionally and spiritually.

As we land, we are asking you to pray that our hearts would break even more for the people our Father has called us to reach.

Pray that daily, we will grow deeper in our faith... that often our knees will be bent and our hands will be raised. Pray also that as we begin walking on foreign soil in a few days, our faith will remain in the Father and not on our circumstances.

Pray for unity in our marriage as well as in our relationships with our children.

Pray for quick learning of the language so we can begin building relationships with our new friends.

Thank you, as always for speaking our names to the Father. We do not want to sensationalize our feelings on what is happening, but simply, our dream is coming true. It has been an incredible journey thus far, and it is truly surreal that the time has now come to go. You are each a part of the journey, some having been on board since the beginning... You have seen the ways He has worked to accomplish His will...not for us, but as Isiah 40 says, ' so that all mankind will see it.' We have said this before, but you cannot know the comfort that our family feels in knowing that as we go to bed each night, our friends "back home" will soon be getting up and speaking our names to the Father..."

Please pray for this dear family, that I have come to love and admire. And in honor of their family and the sacrifices they are making right now, pray that the Father will show you, your own little mission field.

Ask me what I did today...

Today was CRAZY!!! I am bone weary tired. I woke up this morning, did my Bible study, for I knew I would certainly need that added pep to survive today and then I was off and running. I just now stopped. Fixing to crash. But before I do, I felt the need to share about my day. It was crazy, but a lot of fun too.

After taking Jordan to soccer practice, Kayla and I went to the beauty shop. Four hours later, we understand the "price" of beautiful. Kayla has been begging me for some highlights and a new cut, so since I was in need of a little work myself, I agreed. Who knew it would take the both of us FOUR HOURS!!!

Then I came home and finished planning the big birthday party. It was all homemade. Kayla is not much of a cake person, so she asked me to make her a big cookie. And then we decided to make cupcakes, for all those people who think they must have cake with their ice cream at a birthday party. Kayla actually baked and iced the chocolate cupcakes herself. Another three and a half hours of baking together...fun...and we were ready to party.

We ended up with 17 guests, plus Grandma and Papa. We had it in our church youth room and they had a blast. There was Rock Band and Guitar Hero going, pool and ping pong, karaoke, and a pinata. Kayla insisted on having a pinata and believe it or not these kids loved it. You would have thought the candy was gold.

The best part is that my baby girl had a great time. That after all is why us moms go to the trouble in the first place, isn't it? So although I am exhausted, I am happy. It was a good day, spending time with my girl.

I think she is beautiful...