02/28/11

My version of the last hurrah for winter. I realize we have been known to get snow in March, but I am choosing to move on from icicles and snow. I know some of you are probably very happy. Namely... well, she knows who she is. (Right, K?)

I "stole" this from my friend Wendy who finds the neatest things like this. I have been wanting to find one and when I read her blog the other day I did not have to look any further!

Here is "me" today:

listening to classical music.

eating reduced fat Triscuits.

drinking water.

wearing khaki pants and a blue shirt.

feeling hungry.

wanting to stop feeling congested.

needing to stop itching... I have itched for two days now. Not sure if I am allergic to myself!

thinking that I really would enjoy an iced mocha frappe.

enjoying the temperature of high 70's today.

wondering why I am itching.

admiring my husband for all he does for me.

creating a mess in my house with the NC projects and clothes getting ready for a clothing sale this next weekend.

procrastinating on cleaning off my desk at home.... it is a mess.

pondering some decisions Steve and I have to make.

loving how spring is beginning to show its colors.

anticipating spring break in a week!

your turn.

02/27/11

James 1:2-3
Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,
knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

James 5:11
Behold, we count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord's dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.

Imagine you are in your car headed on a main freeway. You are cruising along when suddenly you begin to see brake lights up ahead. Traffic slows to a crawl and the road turns into one lane. You look ahead and realize the DOT is working on the road.... tearing up the old road and re-paving. You are going to be late for what you were intending to do! You look to the other lanes of traffic going the opposite direction and that traffic is moving freely. You begin to grumble and complain that this road construction is putting you behind in what YOU want to do. You try to find detours to get out of all the "mess." You wish you had gone another way.

Trials in life are like that.

Trials come out of nowhere sometimes. Trials can be burdensome and overwhelming.

When we remember to look to the Lord through those trials, and realize they are for our own good to make us more like Christ, they can be put into better perspective.

When you go through the construction zone some time later and the pavement is smooth and the way is clear, you realize that all of that burden was for good. You realize it was worth it in the end.

This was our sermon today from our Youth Pastor. I will never look at road construction in the same way without seeing the analogy of a trial.

How do you respond in the midst of the trials in your life? Do you grumble and complain and want a way out, or do you sit back, take each moment as it comes and allow the Lord to guide you through knowing you are learning in the process?

I have said many times that a trial I have gone through recently was a hard journey and one I wouldn't wish to repeat, however, what I learned through that trial brought me closer to the Lord. For that I am so thankful for what He put me through.... and for what He is still teaching me today. I am now able to feel the smoother pavement beneath my feet.

Here is a song we sang today at church - Rejoice in the Lord by Ron Hamilton:




Here is another great one ~ When Trials Come by Keith and Kristyn Getty



Here are the words for When Trials Come. This YouTube version didn't have the words.

When trials come no longer fear

For in the pain our God draws near

To fire a faith worth more than gold

And there His faithfulness is told

And there His faithfulness is told

Within the night I know Your peace

The breath of God brings strength to me

And new each morning mercy flows

As treasures of the darkness grow

As treasures of the darkness grow

I turn to Wisdom not my own

For every battle You have known

My confidence will rest in You

Your love endures Your ways are good

Your love endures Your ways are good

When I am weary with the cost

I see the triumph of the cross

So in it's shadow I shall run

Till He completes the work begun

Till He completes the work begun

One day all things will be made new

I'll see the hope You called me to

And in your kingdom paved with gold

I'll praise your faithfulness of old

I'll praise your faithfulness of old

02/26/11

I am thinking of thankfulness today.

I have discussed thankfulness on here many times before. In the last week I have encountered episodes of lack of thankfulness that has caused me to revisit this subject.

We live in a society where thankfulness has become more and more a thing of the past.

Everything seems to be expected and no appreciation given when something is done for someone else. It also applies to things we own. In our society as a whole, we are too consumed with what we want instead of taking care of and being thankful for what we already have.

However, I am thinking today more on the small acts of thankfulness.

When someone does something for you, do you always say "Thank you?"

I have encountered individuals in the past week who have lacked in that area. It is frustrating when something is done for someone and no thanks is given. It is not that I am expecting an all out trumpet blaring, huge thank you, but those two small words mean a lot.

When someone holds the door for you... no matter where it may be.... do you say "Thank you?"

Wesley and Mikayla have noticed things like this, too. When they hold the door for someone and no thanks is given, they have always commented about that.

When someone does something for you... no matter how big or small.... do you say "Thank you?"

Do you ever just say "Thank you" so someone who is in your house for things that are done.... like your children when they do their expected chores.... or your husband when he does something around the house? Think of things today that your family does and THANK them for what they do.

I guess I am overly concerned about making sure someone knows how thankful I am for anything done for me.

Take the time to say "Thank you" today when something is done for you.... no matter how big or small.

Those are words of affirmation that everyone needs to hear.

02/25/11

I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.

~C. S. Lewis

02/24/11

A bit of ice on a branch....

Proverbs 17:27-28

He who restrains his words has knowledge,And he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.

Have you ever been around people who talk a lot?

I know, I know... those who know me in person know I can talk with the best of them if I get on a roll... especially if I have had caffeine! Spend a day with me in the classroom and you know that happens. However, at the end of the day I honestly don't talk much because that is all I have done all day.

But I digress.... I am actually meaning people who talk for talking sake.... and you haven't gained anything from the conversation.

There are those who never really think about what they are saying before it comes out.

I used to be one of those people. I used to say what I thought pretty quickly. I used to talk and talk and talk.... about nothing.

Over my years of maturing in the Lord He has taught me to be quiet... or as my Mom would say jokingly "QWIRET"...

I do not want to be known as the type of person that talks so much people get a headache just seeing me walk in the door.

I want to guard my mouth.

I want what I say to mean something and not just be a bunch of gibberish.

If you are around me now, you will probably find that I sit back and listen more than talk. I don't even do "small talk" very well in new situations because I am learning to be like an owl in the tree that is observing instead of the mockingbird that never hushes.

As I told my students today, it is so important to THINK before you SPEAK.

I like this quote from Abraham Lincoln:

"It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt."

If only we all could learn to do just that.

Psalm 141:3
Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth;
Keep watch over the door of my lips.

02/23/11

This set of pictures show icicles that were by the waterfall. They shimmered like diamonds in the sunlight. The pictures do not do them justice. It was neat watching the running water flow by the icicles hanging there.

I like to make lists.

I like to use sticky notes.

I have even started emailing myself so that I will remember things just in case my sticky note gets lost!

Are you a list maker?

Here is a devotion my best friend sent me the other day. It deals with making lists.... you might be a list maker yourself and not even realize it. Sometimes lists can do more harm than good. I didn't realize just how much until I read this.

Enjoy:

Are You a List Maker?
- Melanie Chitwood

"We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him."
1 John 4:16 (NAS)

I'm a list maker. At my house you'll see a magnetic notepad on my refrigerator where I keep a running grocery list. By my bedside is a notepad for jotting down writing ideas. I have a notebook where I keep a daily to-do list and a long-term to-do list. And of course the best part of a list is checking something off when completed!

For years I kept another list. It wasn't written down. Instead it was a mental running list I didn't even realize I was keeping, until I experienced a perspective-shifting situation.

After my second son, Tyler, was born, I went through severe post-partum depression. It wasn't just the baby blues. It was days and days of crying, anxiety and no sleep. I had a newborn baby, a four year-old son, and a pilot husband who would soon go back to work. I was completely overwhelmed with everything. Finally, I called my doctor who prescribed medicine, but it would take a couple of weeks to work. Meanwhile, I had to figure out how to get through each day.

Every morning I woke up early, prayed, and begged God to take the depression away. But the depression didn't go away. In fact it deepened as I listened to the lies depression shouted: You're a failure. What's wrong with you? Why can't you do this? You only have two children and you don't even have to work full-time. Other people go through much harder things and you can't even do this.

One day when I just got sick and tired of being in such a miserable state, I yelled at God, What is this about, God? You're God. You could make this depression go away with the snap of Your fingers if You wanted to. Why won't You?

Finally, I was just still. As I sat there, I realized God wanted me to learn a life-changing truth. I had kept a mental running list of all the reasons God couldn't love me. I wasn't a good enough wife, a good enough Christian, and certainly not a good enough mother. When I was struggling with postpartum depression, I didn't feel like a good anything. So I sure didn't believe God loved me unconditionally. I believed God loved me – but I believed He'd love me more if I could get my act together.

I wonder if you're like me, keeping a running list of the reasons you mistakenly think disqualify you from God's unconditional love. Maybe like me you don't feel good enough at anything or you've struggled with depression. Maybe you have a secret that makes you feel ashamed – you've had an abortion, you've been unfaithful, you drink too much, you scream at your kids or husband. Maybe you've been divorced and that makes you feel unworthy of God's unconditional love.

When I gave God my list of reasons why He couldn't love me, I finally heard God's gentle answer in reply. Well, it's a good thing My love doesn't depend on you, My child. It's a good thing My love doesn't depend on you.

You can scratch all those reasons off the list. In fact you can tear up the list. I did that when I died on the cross for you.

Are you ready for a change today? Are you ready to stop beating yourself up for your flaws, shortcomings, or sins? God is not keeping a list of your mistakes, and you don't need to either. Tear up your list and don't start a new one. Choose to believe today God loves you. There is nothing you can do or not do to change His love for you.

Dear Lord, thank You for not keeping a running list of my mistakes, shortcomings or sins. Help me truly believe, to the core of my being, that You love me through and through, for now and always. I don't have to help You love me by being perfect. Let today be a defining moment where I tear up my running list and receive Your unconditional love. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

02/22/11

These pictures are so "picturesque" of a snowfall in the country. I absolutely love them both.

Wes loves this one the most. Anyone care to respond WHY?

Randomness today.

It was 75 here yesterday and 55 today. SHOCK to the system.

In the past two weekend we have seen the movies Nanny McPhee and Nanny McPhee Returns. Have any of you seen those? If not, you ought to... they are SO cute. I wish I had a stick like hers. ha!

We worked on the North Carolina project all weekend. I sat on the floor of my office for most of the 6 hours I helped them on Saturday. (I helped Wesley for 3 hours and then Mikayla for 3 hours.) I can't sit on the floor like I used to... my body will not allow it for long. We got a lot accomplished... we still have a lot more to do.

Did you know that Charlotte, NC was named after King George III's wife? Yep... and Mecklenburg County (which is where Charlotte is located) was named after her, too.

Cary, NC was named after an Ohio Congressman who was for prohibition. His name was Samuel Fenton Cary.

I'm learning right along with my children.

Today is George Washington's Birthday.

It is only Tuesday.

Is it spring yet?

02/21/11

So..... this is what I have been craving recently.....

A spoonful of peanut butter and some chocolate Hershey bar and I am happy. I have also done this with chocolate chip morsels when I have been really desperate.

Have you ever had a craving for something and didn't have the exact ingredients on hand so you "improvised?" Tell me about it. :)

02/20/11

Romans 14:10-12

But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

We heard this at church this morning and it was beautiful. May you always remember God is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.... and we will ALL bow the knee one day......

02/19/11

Yesterday we went to Siler City to the Carolina Stockyards with Mom and Dad.

This is one of the main reasons why we love to go:

You just have to experience a freshly made Carolina Stockyard Restaurant cheeseburger to understand.

The kids absolutely love them... and are carrying on the tradition started so long ago when Daddy was in dairy business.

Wes is following in his Poppy's footsteps and loves the onions they put on it. He chooses to take his off and eat them like fries. He enjoyed mine, too.

My first bite.... ahh. Wonderful.

As it was when I was growing up, it still is today. We walk the boardwalk above the cows. This side shows the cows that are waiting to be sold. The other side has the cows that have already been bought.

This walk brings back so many memories from when I was a child coming with Mom and Dad.

Wesley had the best time checking out the cows. He still wants one of his own. Maybe one day we will be able to make that happen.

This is the cow Wes was pointing at in the previous pic.... she had some huge horns!

This bull was not so nice... high strung or dangerous bulls are put into "confinement" and are always sold last. Any wonder why?

It is so neat sitting in on the auction. We watched several people bid on the cows and it was fun to watch. I love that these people are just every day, ordinary folk. This is what it used to be like when I was growing up..... now, not so much in Raleigh.

Daddy was trying to show Wesley how the cows/bulls were bought. This is the area to check out when you are wanting to buy one.... or a few!

This may not be the high spot in a day for some of you, but it surely was for us. It was a great way to spend a day off from school!

02/18/11

I loved these huge icicles hanging off of the main wheel area at Yates Mill. I would have liked to have gotten closer, but that would have been a little death defying with the ice......

I know of several families who have dealt with a bunch of things. Flu has gone around school horribly... and we caught it, too. Our family has not been immune to sickness this year. The "drugs" on the left would be the kids' and the "drugs" on the right would be mine. Steve has thankfully been healthy.

Wesley got sick almost 3 weeks ago.... fever, overall crummy feeling, weak...we are now wondering if he had the flu because by the next week he had an ear infection. I have had people tell me that the flu has had "side effects" of sinus infections and ear infections once the original part of the flu has passed.

Mikayla got the flu last week. It was not so comforting to have the "Minute Clinic" people tell you your daughters fever was so high you should immediately go to the ER. I was afraid of pneumonia.... it turned out to be Type A flu. I am thankful for Tamiflu!!!

I have been sick for over a month and I think part of that has been due to my body still healing from surgery and didn't have the ability to fight off a cold that led to a sinus infection. I was tired of dealing with my head feeling like I was constantly in a tunnel and sounding like it, too. I have been very thankful for an antibiotic this week.

I have sprayed lots of Lysol. I have wiped up a lot of areas with some Clorox wipes. I have washed my hands so much they are in pitiful condition. So much so that for the last couple of nights I have gone to bed with petroleum jelly all over them and slept with socks on my hands.

Please do not think I am whining. I am thankful that the Lord gives us things to help with sickness - I am thankful for doctors, medicine and sleep!

I just have a statement:

I am now officially stating that I am ready for spring.

I honestly do try to enjoy the season I am in and not rush into the next season. This year I have been content with the coldness and warm fires in the fireplace.

Now.... it is time to let open the windows and bring in some fresh air to get rid of these germs!

Today it is to be in the upper 70's.

It smelled and sounded like spring/summer when I went outside on the deck last night.

Yes, I am ready!
Just don't let it reach 90 degrees by April.....

02/17/11

These are icicles that were forming with rushing water around them. They were beautiful in person. The picture does not do it justice!

Remember when our Molly was this size? This was taken not long after we got her right before Thanksgiving.

Now check her out!! She is now a little over 4 months.
It was quite challenging getting her to stay still!! She is a super active puppy!!!

How could you not love this!?

She stood still for a moment... She is learning to "sit" and "shake".... we just need to work with her on "stay" now. Her body and tail go ninety miles an hour.... she is hysterical to be with in the yard. When I was trying to photograph her she kept getting in my face and knocking me over to give me love.

Finally... we got her still by giving her treats when telling her to sit. She was too pre-occupied with chewing to move so we snapped a picture then.

We have affectionately nicknamed her "Molly Wompins".... don't ask.... Steve made it up. It fits, though!! She is going to be a big girl!!!!

02/16/11

Check out these icicles! They look like giant teeth in a monster's mouth!

Here are the flowers from my sweet Valentine.

Mikayla was pretty upset and even cried on Monday when she couldn't "give us love" for Valentine's Day. Wesley had made a card that day in Computer and she didn't get to since she was out sick. When she came to me with tears in her eyes, knowing we still couldn't hug on her like we normally do, I just told her she could make us one then.


Here is what our sweet Mikayla wrote us in her card. How sweet is it that she said she was glad God sent us to her and Wesley. :)
Click on it if you can't read it well.

The back of the card.

Here is Wes'.... he came to me saying "I love you, Mom" and gave it to me. I realize my boy still needs to work on his spelling. :)

This brought a smile to my face.... Steve started calling him "Wessie Woo" right after he was born and we still call him that at times. I am not sure when he will be too cool to hear that, but seeing it on the back of his card was something special.

02/15/11

These icicles were interesting because they were on top of the pine straw and water was rushing around them. Pretty neat. :)
I don't just have a Sweet Steve who was my Valentine yesterday... our son was also quite sweet yesterday.

Mikayla has been sick with the flu since Friday. (Although it took a fever of 103.8 and a visit to the ER on Sunday for us to realize that is what she had.... She is one tough cookie.) Since she has been sick she could not go to school. She was so sad that she missed out on all of the festivities of the day.

Wesley and I had to run to Walmart after school to pick up a few things before heading home. (Steve had stayed home with her. I told him I could not give a sub the day of Valentine's.... she would never want to come back!)

As we walked in, Wesley said he wanted to get something for Mikayla for Valentine's. We saw some flowers and from there his face brightened and he was set to find the *perfect* flowers for her.

He told me he wanted it to be a surprise for her but also wanted to write her a note. I told him to leave the flowers in the van, write the note in his room, then come back out and get them before he surprised her.

That is exactly what he did. His note said "I love you, Mikayla!"

Here is the pic of them right after he handed the flowers to her.

She was so excited.... Wesley really made her feel special.

Here they are in the vase.

Up close.... we picked out pink because that is her favorite color. She was thrilled.

That made our Valentine's even more special. I am so thankful my kids love each other.... even if they do fight sometimes. :)

02/14/11

Happy Valentine's Day!

Today my Valentine was quite sweet.

He tried to get into school last night and put flowers and a card on my desk so I would walk in and see them first thing.

He didn't realize until he got there that he had to have my badge. We don't lock the outside doors with keys anymore.

He kept them secret and in his truck all night.

He came to school at lunchtime knowing he could surprise me and put them on my desk while I was downstairs eating.

We were late getting downstairs today.

He was "caught" by some of my students. He walked in and made it halfway to my desk before I realized he was there.

I was trying to find the keys to lock my classroom door for lunch.

He surprised me. Big time.

He made me smile so big.

We kissed and hugged.

My students said "EWWWWW!"

That was quite a romantic thing for him to do.

He made my day.

I hope someone showed you some love today.

We should show that love everyday.

02/13/11

Romans 8:35, 38, 39
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

02/12/11

I have another sick one... Mikayla girl now has "the crud." I went to a Minute Clinic, er, 2 hour clinic, to find out I did indeed have a sinus infection. I have meds, and am thankful. We're just peachy here, but thankful for the majesty of God. It is a beautiful day because of Him.

Enjoy "Majesty" by Chris Tomlin

02/11/11

This past week I talked to my students about our freedoms. I shared with them how other countries view us as "spoiled" in America.

I have to agree. We are spoiled. We don't really know what it is like to go without what we really need. I do know there are many people in this nation who are on the streets. I realize there are those who are not overly wealthy, but for the most part, we are EXTREMELY blessed in this nation.

As I was teaching the children I knew in their minds they could not fully comprehend what other people do not have and what they DO have. I decided to do one of my "spur of the moment" homework assignments.

I told the kids they were to go home that night and write down everything they could see that their family had. I told them to write down that they had a closet and drawers full of clothes, a fridge, oven, microwave, dishwasher, beds, tables, chairs, dishes, toys, beds, etc..... so that they could really see how blessed they were. I also told them that the next time they wanted to complain about something they wanted and didn't get, they needed to remember this list that they made.

I had one parent email me about this assignment wanting to see what it was about. She said her daughter was walking around the house writing down everything and she had to make her go to bed because she kept writing. (I had to chuckle at that visualization.) I emailed her back what I just explained above. I got a response from her later that night and this is what it said:

Okay, thats about what I was thinking, and that talk must of got {my child} thinking, because she is bringing in about $18 of her change that she earned, for the class bucket :) She said it was for the kids that didn't have anything! Well thanks again and see you soon.

The day after I did this assignment, I asked the children to tell me what they had learned. Many of them told me they learned that they really had a lot of stuff and didn't need to complain but be thankful. One little guy said "We have too much stuff!" That did my teacher heart good to hear. Sometimes I wonder if what I teach really gets to the heart. Apparently it did for many of them. I pray they will always remember.