08/31/11

I am so realizing that I have posted the same pictures again.  I loaded them this past weekend and am not on the main computer.  Just think of it as revisiting beauty at Monticello.

I am so thankful to say that life has gotten a little calmer in the last day or so.  Things are beginning to settle down.  I still came home today and had good intentions of getting something done, but when I sat down to rest a minute, I fell asleep pretty much immediately.  :)  Nothing like a 10 minute power nap to get you jump started and groggy all at the same time!

Found this quote today and thought it was great.  Hope it gives you food for thought today!

"Faith is a sounder guide than reason. Reason can go only so far, but faith has no limits."

-Blaise Pascal

08/30/11

I think I may have already posted this picture.

So sorry if it is a repeat. 

My life is crazy right now.

In my devotions last night the Lord gave me verses I have needed lately. 

I love how He does that.

Here are the verses I read last night:

Psalm 61:1-2

Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.

From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed.  Lead me to the rock that is higher than I;

That would be me... the overwhelmed one.

I know I have spoken about this a lot recently.

Those first weeks of school can just be so overwhelming getting back into the swing of things.  Add on the fact that I am in Powerpoint mode trying to help my kids at school and then added things going on in my personal life, overwhelmed for me would be an understatement.  :)

Yesterday morning it was quite insane... we needed to remember that Wesley had band and needed his trumpet.  Mikayla had viola and needed to take it to school.  She had piano yesterday afternoon... and forgot her piano books.  Steve had to come bring them to school.  This on top of their regular needs to remember for school.

My day was crazy.  I had much to do and had to remember all things that needed to be done.  Even with sticky notes my brain was still in overdrive!

I am just so thankful that on days I feel SO overwhelmed, I can cry to the Lord and He hears me.  I can be lead to the ROCK that is higher than me. 

I don't have to do it alone.

08/29/11

I have a confession to make.

I seemed to have an "attitude" yesterday regarding something.

While I was in the middle of typing out my blog about trials and keeping our eyes on the Lord, we had one of our neighbors come by and share with Steve that one of the trees on our property that we share with her was going to have to come down.  It had been hit by lightning last year and was slowing losing limbs and causing a mess in our neighbors yard.

Steve came in to tell me that the tree had to come down.

The tree that has been here all of my life.

The tree that was so beautiful on our property.

And all I heard was that the tree needed to come down.

I became irritated.

I didn't want to believe that it had to happen now.

Since things have been quite tight around here we don't have the funds lying around for removing a tree!!!

That is all I was thinking about.  The selfish reasons.

As I sat there on the computer the Lord spoke so softly to me.

He said "Be a witness to your neighbor with a servant's heart."  Basically, I needed the right heart attitude!!

Oh.

You mean, Lord, I can't think of myself?  I can't think that this tree was on the farm and losing it would be another thing lost from my childhood?

That is right.

God made the tree.  He made the lightning that hit the tree.  He knows exactly when it hit the tree and how it died.

He knows how He can use this tree for His glory.

We will get to have contact with a neighbor that, before now, we haven't even known.  We don't live in a subdivision so sometimes it makes getting to know people more challenging.  Of course, we could have gotten out of our comfort zone, but we didn't.  Now, the Lord is moving us to do so.

I felt so humbled.  I felt so sorry for the way my attitude immediately went to only thoughts of ME.

I thank the Lord for His still small voice that didn't condemn, but quietly rebuked me to say this is time to show love and a servants heart to someone who may not know Him.

It is time to put into practice ....  "love thy neighbor as thyself."

08/28/11

Romans 8:18, 26

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

...the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;

Trials come.

They come in all shapes and sizes.

We all have them.

I am writing this post for myself... but also for any others who may be "at the end of their rope."

This past week a sweet friend found out her husband lost his job... again... and it feels as if it is the fortieth time in the last few years.

There were no words I, or anyone, could say to comfort them.

These are the times we come before the Father and say "I just don't understand."

He then lovingly reminds us that He is seeing the entire picture.

He sees what will bring Him glory.

He sends His Spirit to speak for us...to speak those words of sorrow or helplessness that cannot be put into words.

There are others who are going through a trial today that may be only felt in the heart.. no one knows.

GOD DOES.

I have to be continually reminded that God IS in control even when I feel my world is spinning rapidly OUT of control.

He holds the future.

He does provide.

He will never let us go.

It is during those times that we must hold fast to Him and look to Him.

He may not reveal His reasonings behind the trial right now, but one day... we will know.

These are the times that we rejoice in praise to God knowing He knows all.

I Peter 1:7

that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

08/25/11

In regards to my post yesterday, I have thoroughly enjoyed this song from my new Selah album.  It says what I felt yesterday.  Hope you enjoy.

08/24/11

Wow.

I cannot believe how crazy busy I have been the last three weeks.

I got in bed last night and realized just how much I am missing my moments of quiet thinking time with the Lord.

I am doing my daily devotions.

But, I miss learning deeply. 

I miss pouring over the Scriptures.

Life has just gotten too busy.

The Lord had something waiting for me last night in my devotions.

I needed it.

I thought I would share with you.

The depth of your spiritual life is up to you.  If you don't have time to read the Word and pray, it's not your spouse's fault, not your children's fault, not your boss's fault.  It's your responsibility.  It is up to you to keep from being so busy that you don't have time to worship God personally.  Your spiritual life will flourish if you talk to God meaningfully in prayer.

After reading the words of Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892), I knew that God wanted my prayers to be genuine and heartfelt, not rushed and mechanical.

If prayer is a coming before the throne of God, it ought to always be conducted with the deepest sincerity and in the spirit that makes everything real.... If anywhere you dare repeat holy words without heart, let it not be in Jehovah's palace.  If I am called upon to pray in public, I must not dare use words that are intended to please the ears of my fellow-worshipers, but I must realize that I am speaking to God Himself and that I have business to transact with the great Lord.  And, in my private prayer, if I rise from my bed in the morning and bow my knee and repeat certain words, or if I go through the same regular form when I retire to rest at night, I.... sin.... unless my very soul speaks unto the Most High.  Do you think that the King of heaven is delighted to hear you pronounce words with a frivolous tongue and thoughtless mind?  You know Him not. 

The summary of all our remarks is just this:  prayer is no trifle.  It is an eminent and elevated act.  It is a high and wondrous privilege.... Let us not forget that it is no light thing to be a courtier in the courts of heaven and earth, to worship Him who made us and sustains us in being.  (Spurgeon, Charles. The Power in Prayer.  New Kensington, PA:  Whitaker House, n.d.)

~Dwell Devotional

08/23/11

"I feel the earth, move.. under my feet..."

That is what I was a thinkin' today at school.

We had us an honest to goodness earthquake in these parts.

It was weird.

I was thankful ours was minor.

It made me think of others who have gone through much more.

Speaking of natural disasters... we have a hurricane on the horizon.

I seem to be relating everything to old songs... remember that song from 25 or so years ago "Come on, Irene!".... I have been singing it to myself since I found out the name. 

Are you singing now?

You know... I had to think to myself when I felt the tremors today and knew the hurricane was coming... it isn't going to be long.  Jesus is coming soon.

Do you know Him?

There are lots of people who know OF Him.

There are plenty of people that think they are *just fine* living life like they have been.

But, do they really KNOW Him?

The Bible says today is the day of salvation.

If you're not sure... don't wait!

Talk to someone who can help.

The Lord wants us to be ready for His return!

08/21/11

The Love of God.

It is profound.

It is more than we can imagine.

Even when we are at our worst, God loves us... and even still likes us.

This was sung at church today.  Here is the story behind the song.

The Love of God

F.M. Lehman

This hymn was written in a citrus packing house in Pasadena, California, by a German-born Christian named Frederick M. Lehman.  At age four, Frederick and his family had immigrated to America, settling down in Iowa.  Converted to Christ at age eleven while walking through a crabapple orchard, Frederick eventually entered the ministry and pastored churches in the Midwest.  But his greatest love was gospel music, and he compiled five songbooks and published hundreds of songs.

By 1917, his finances had gone sour, and he found himself working in a packing factory in Pasadena, moving thirty tons of lemons and oranges a day.  One morning as he arrived at work, a song was forming in his mind.  He had been thinking about the limitlessness of God's love, and during breaks he sat on an empty lemon crate and jotted down words with a stuffy pencil.

Arriving at home that evening, he went to the old upright piano and began putting notes to his words.  He finally had a melody and two stanzas, but almost all gospel songs of that era had at least three stanzas.  At length, he thought of some lines he had recently heard in a sermon.

That verse [he had heard] perfectly formed the third stanza, but who had written it?  As Frederick heard the story, it was composed on the wall of an insane asylum by an unknown inmate.  Perhaps someone did find it there, but we now know the words originally came from the pen of an eleventh-century Jewish poet in Germany named Meir Ben Isaac Nehorai.  

Frederick lived the rest of his life in California, writing a number of hymns before his death in 1953.  

~Then Sings My Soul by Robert J. Morgan

Here is the first and third stanza to that song.  Oh, how true it is!

The love of God is greater far,

Than tongue or pen can ever tell,

It goes beyond the highest star

And reaches to the lowest hell;

The guilty pair, bowed down with care,

God gave His Son to win;

His erring child He reconciled

And pardoned from his sin.

Could we with ink the ocean fill

And were the skies of parchment made,

Were every stalk on earth a quill

And every man a scribe by trade.

To write the love of God above

Would drain the ocean dry,

Nor could the scroll contain the whole

Tho stretched from sky to sky.

08/20/11

I pre-ordered this CD.

I got it yesterday... before the actual release date.

I love it.

Selah is one of my favorite Christian groups out there.

This one doesn't have as much piano in it... more guitar.  It has a lot of new songs but they still put in a hymn from my childhood which I love.

I highly recommend this CD.

It officially comes out August 23.

So, you may take that hint that I am telling you that you might want to go get it.

I'm good like that.  :)

08/19/11

I can now finally give you all a glimpse into Siler City... the Carolina Stockyards... where we love to go and get cheeseburgers.  This place has been talked about on this blog many times and you have seen pictures of the cheeseburgers... now you can see them being cooked and view what it is like to go there.  Our local news was there with our "Tarheel Traveler" a couple of weeks ago.  We were there for our last hurrah before I went back to school and we talked to the reporter off camera. 

This is my childhood.

This is what I am sharing with my own babies.

It is so exciting to see this shown.  :) 

Enjoy the clip!

08/18/11

Randomness today.

Total randomness.

I did not take a nap when I got home.  I had too much cleaning to do.  It is Thursday, you know.

My students learned what "catywampus" and "chil'ren" mean today.  They looked confused at first.

I haven't had time to put any life altering, mind-boggling, inspirational posts on here lately.  I think you can understand.

I have felt busier than a one-armed paper hanger lately.

We are having homemade spaghetti tonight... with tomatoes from our garden.

No, I did not make the sauce.  That would be Steve who gets all of that credit.  He's my Superman.

I found out the other day that I am possibly related to one of the students I am teaching this year.  Had no idea.  I might just be teaching a cousin!  We have to gather all of the genealogical records before I can make that statement with entire truth.  Forgive me for jumping the gun a bit.  I just think it is kind of neat because the person I am quite possibly related to married someone with which I went to highschool.  Small world, eh?

My students are telling their parents I am silly.  I don't know where they are getting that.  If you ever hear that, please disregard.  They know I am only serious always.  Silly kids.

I have to get clothes ready for a clothing sale I am doing next week.  Tonight is the only available time for me to get them put on hangers and tagged.  Nothing like a little more added stress to make your nerves happy.

I really need to get off of here and work on said clothes.... 

... after I take these contacts out of my eyes that are glued to my corneas.

Are you happy and fulfilled now that you read my randomness today?

08/17/11

Y'all.

I am beyond exhausted.

I have forgotten, apparently, just how mind-numbing the first of school is for a teacher.

It isn't that things are bad!  The kids are doing great! 

I am amazed at  how quickly that rested feeling from summer goes away. :) 

It is just that I am non-stop, talking, reminding, helping, walking, moving, remembering, etc.... and that is from 5:00AM.

My body couldn't take more of it this afternoon.

Instead of a walk... I took a nap.

I needed a longer one.

I know I would have fallen asleep tonight with no problem.

I found this quote in one of my books a student gave me last year and it made me laugh... and it is fitting for how my body feels today!

"Teachers can be found after school - taking aspirin, washing blackboards (white boards today!), rehearsing plays, sewing costumes for Christmas pageants - and just sitting at a desk waiting for the strength to go home."  - Dan Valentine

08/16/11

 On this first day of school I felt it only right to post a devotional about the brain that I received in an email a few weeks back.  We are definitely using our brains today!  Enjoy.  :)

 Psalm 25:4 - "Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths."

Not only is the human brain the most complex structure in the universe, it is also one of the busiest. In fact, during intense concentration, your brain can burn as many calories as your muscles do during exercise! Intense thinking can literally be as exhausting as a physical workout! More than 100,000 chemical reactions go on in your brain every second.

Among the brain's many jobs is chemist. The brain produces more than 50 psychoactive drugs. Some of these are associated with memory, others with intelligence, still others are sedatives. Endorphin is the brain's painkiller and it's three times more potent than morphine. Serotonin is produced by the brain to help keep our moods under control. The brain also makes dopamine. Dopamine makes people more talkative and excitable. Another hormone regulates hunger.

The brain is also a radio transmitter that sends out measurable electrical wave signals. In fact, the brain continues to send these signals for as long as 37 hours after death!

Our tiny knowledge of the brain is enough to show us that this incredible organ is no accident. The brain is much more than a powerful testimony to our Creator. Its incredible powers convince us that there is much more to existence than this material life. However, we can learn only from the Word of God about eternal life through the forgiveness of sins in Jesus Christ.

Put your brain together with the Word of God today!

- from CreationMoments.com

08/15/11

Whew... school is in full swing tomorrow and I have been busy, busy, busy!

I haven't the time to do my normal musings, so bear with me for a bit.

Here is another great quote:

When it seems as if God is far away, remind yourself that He is near. Nearness is not a matter of geography. God is everywhere. Nearness is likeness. The more we become like the Lord, the nearer He is to us. 

- Warren Wiersbe

  

08/14/11

Habakkuk 3:17-19

Though the fig tree should not blossom, and there be no fruit on the vines,

Though the yield of the olive should fail, and the field produce no food,

Though the flock should be cut off from the fold, and there be no cattle in the stalls,

Yet I will exult in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.

The Lord God is my strength, 

And He has made my feet like hinds' feet,

And makes me walk on my high places.

08/13/11

"God often uses other people as the chisel to carve true integrity into our rough personalities."  - Beth Moore

08/12/11

Interesting critters.... these caterpillars.  Not sure what kind they are, but they really enjoyed spending close, quality time together.

I read this in my devotions the other night and wanted to share the entire devotion.  It made me think of those in our military, but also our lives in general.

Psalm 18:1-2

I will love thee, O Lord, my strength.

The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

I know we've all had bad days, and some have been worse than others.  How have you felt during those times when life throws all that it can at you?

God still wants us to trust Him even in those horrible, dreadful days.  I received this email from my friend, Deanna Hoover.  {Kellie's insert here: This is just part of it... the entire week discusses the different parts of the email.}  She had experienced more than her share of heartache in one day.  She prefaced her email with her firm belief in Christ and said she felt led by the Holy Spirit to tell her story.

My day started early yesterday with my daily phone call with my very best friend, Kathy to discuss a book that we're reading to increase our passion for Christ.  About five minutes into our conversation the phone call dropped.  I didn't think much of it because it's happened in the past.  I briefly thought she may have been in a car accident, but then I though, no, maybe it was just her phone battery.  I quickly called her and left her a voicemail message.

She called an hour later to tell me she was in a car accident and had to be cut out of the car and taken to the hospital.  She later called me to say that she went to see the car and was amazed - it was truly a miracle that she survived, let alone come out uninjured!  This was truly the protection of Jesus Christ who kept her safe.  I thanked God that she was unharmed; I thanked Him for protecting her and keeping her safe.

Our sovereign God protected Kathy; He "preserved" her.  This reminds me of Psalm 16:1, "Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust."  The Lord kept Kathy safe.  Think of all the people who praised God for her safety - her husband, children, friends.

I pictured the Lord covering her "with his feathers," and hiding her "under his wings" as it states in Psalm 91:4.  Maybe you have a son or daughter in the military and they need the Lord's protection.  You may have a loved one that is far from home and needs to be kept safe.  Pray for them and thank God that He is their sun (provision) and shield (protection) (Psalm 84:11-12).

08/11/11

Ahh.... the beautiful beach. 

I know most people absolutely love the beach.

And I do love the beach.... but not as much as the mountains.  

Don't hate me for saying that.

Something about all that sand that gets everywhere kind of drives me crazy.  I do, however, love the ocean and the sounds there. 

 We went to the beach for the day with my bestie and her girls.  This is an annual tradition that we just love to do.

 Loved how the waves were coming in that day.  It was more calm.

 Mikayla Girl in the water.  She was loving the swimming.

 Wesley was walking around with his net most of the day.... trying to catch fish.  He caught a few.

 Walking and swimming.  We went on a two hour walk up and down the beach.  It was so nice.

 If you click on this picture you can see the house on the left side.  That is the house where Sleeping with the Enemy, the movie from 1991 with Julia Roberts, was filmed.  Kind of cool, huh?

 Shell Island.  Just beautiful.

 Poor Morgy dragging all her peeps behind her.

 There were actually a lot of jellyfish on the beach that day.

 Me with my sweet ones.

 The besties.

 The traditional beach pic of the kiddos.

 My sweeties toes in the sand.

Looking all gross from the day we always go out to eat before heading home.  Most every year we eat at Elijah's Restaurant in downtown Wilmington on the waterfront.  It was just as scrumptious this year as it has been in the past.

All in all a wonderful day and special memories made... 

Ok.. so the beach isn't THAT bad... just wish I didn't bring all that sand home.

08/10/11

 Here is a cute Anole that we saw at Raven Rock.  Wesley would have loved to have grabbed him but he was too far away.  That is probably good for the Anole.

May I just say I am missing my early morning walks?  That has probably been the hardest thing about getting back into school as of yet because I could get a good walk in, while spending some quiet time with the Lord, and get going with my day.  I have been working on my Bible study before school this week, so that has been good.  Afternoon isn't a bad time to walk... just a new routine.  Just thought I'd share that tidbit of information.

Another good day at school.  :)  Learned about the newest version of Powerpoint and some things I can do on it.  It is amazing what can make someone pure giddy.

Here is an excerpt from one of my devotions last week that I thought was so good.  (Be ready because the Lord has been giving me much this past week that I want to share with you all.)  Hope it gives you food for thought today!

"The one thing we know that restricts the healing, life-altering flow of divine power is our unbelief.  And the one thing that releases it is faith.  Miracles are done in places and among people who believe.

What amazes Jesus is not that He has the power to heal the sick and raise the dead and forgive the most conspicuous sinner.  What amazes Jesus is our chronic unbelief, our lack of faith, our reticence to acknowledge that with God all things are possible.  That's what amazes Jesus.  And I think that's worth paying attention to.  If Jesus marvels at our unbelief, maybe we should too."

- Dwell Devotional

08/09/11

So, I survived my first day back at school.  It was actually great seeing everyone again.  It is also nice that the room is so clean.... they get all crazy when school begins with the kids.  

:)

 So... I told you I was going to be remembering my summer this week.  Here are pictures from our trip to Raven Rock State Park about 45 minutes from home.  We went with my bestie and her girls.  (As a sweet courtesy to her, she is not in any of the pictures you see... we were a bit hot, humid and gross. lol)

This is one of her daughters affectionately known to me as "Sassy."  She is a hoot.  She worked so "hard" at holding up this rock.

 My sweet ones.... sweating.

 This is her other daughter affectionately called "Morgy" by most of us.

 Here we are walking through the forest on probably the most humid day we had experienced so far in the summer.  We were all wet.... except for Mikayla who literally only "glistens." 

 Mikayla and "Sassy" are quite the BFF's themselves.  I thought it was so sweet they were holding hands.

 Here is the Cape Fear River.  These were the "falls" of the river which are actually rapids.  We stopped here and had lunch.  Of course, this was our main destination and we were kind of tired when we got here so OF COURSE we would eat here.

 Enjoying our picnic lunch.

 This area was really neat.  Loved watching the water flow by.

 Me and Morgy

 More of the beautiful water.

 All of the kids before we headed back to the van.

 Here is a teeny tiny frog Wesley found.

We hiked around 6 miles that day!  It was great, but would have been nicer if it wasn't so humid.  We did manage to have a scare on the trail... we think it was a bunny.... that caused a few of us (who shall remain nameless) to jump around and cry out from fear.  Nothing like the joys of the outdoors.

No matter what, it was a great day just to spend with friends.  Memories were made and some are still laughed about to this moment.  Actually... many are still laughed about. :)

08/08/11

Here are some dead flowers.

You may wonder why I have captured dead flowers. 

Well, it is because I thought even in their dead state they still looked neat.

 

Here are what Mikayla Girl's flowers look like when they are alive and well sitting in my "new" vase... a white wine vinegar bottle.  I have used so much of that this summer with my jelly that I own stock in it.  Oh, wait... maybe not stock.  Not with how things are in the market these days.  I digress... these flowers brighten up the area by my sink.  Have I mentioned lately how much I love our new counter tops? 

 

So today was my last day of summer.

I am in denial... yet, not. 

I cannot complain about my summer.  It has been wonderful.  For the first month or so I just enjoyed each day as it came.  

As the time grew closer to school beginning I went in to overdrive.  Powerpoint presentations and surfing the information highway became a consuming fire in me.  It has still not been quenched as I begin to see other things I need to do.

I have spent a lot of quality time with my computer.

Today I have decided that I would have none of that.

I wanted it to be a day where I did some things I wanted to do and will not be able to do for a while now.

We went to the mall shopped around a bit. 

The Lego store is REALLY LOUD.

We searched for some things that we couldn't find.  

Typical of moments at the mall, huh?

We met Steve at lunch and ate popcorn.

Why did we have that for lunch?

We went to see a movie with the kids. 

We then ran a couple more errands and came back home.

I found what I had been looking for online and bought them there.

I laid on the couch and read... and had my children around me.

Wesley was creating a boat out of foam stuff and cardboard.

Mikayla was reading.

I fell asleep.

It was glorious.

As I begin the craziness of life tomorrow, my only desire is to keep everything balanced.  I have lots going on in my life right now and I don't want to miss out on my Lord or my family in the busyness.

When you hear from me again I'll be back in the throws of teaching excitement.  Don't be surprised if this week I take the time to remember my summer moments...... sigh.

Here is a song I just love.  Enjoy.... I think as you hear it you will understand my need for posting it today.  :)