01/31/12

 

The other night as I was doing my devotions, Mikayla came into my room.  It was late, but she wanted to talk.  I remember having thoughts I wanted to talk about right before I went to bed, too.  I wonder if it is because as we get ready to settle down, things that we have thought of all day will not let us get to sleep unless we talk about them.

Nevertheless, I was happy to stop what I was doing and listen.

She is going through the typical things of an eleven year old girl.  There are friends that seem to leave, new friends that come, she is trying to find out who she is in this world without turning into what she sees around her.  She is at an age where the talking needs to become more frequent and the listening needs to happen with understanding.

I remember being eleven.  I remember how catty the girls could be.  I remember wanting to be a part of a certain group of girls or wanting to act like someone "cool" because then other people would like me more.

I could say to her that she doesn't need to worry about all of this stuff and she will get past it in time.  I could say she's young and doesn't need to be concerned with all of this.

BUT.

She is eleven.

This is her real life right now.

I need to be there so that she will come to me every time she is concerned or just wants to talk.

The words I tried to keep repeating to her were "I understand."

I do want to understand and just not put her feelings aside.  I want her to know that I have faced the same fears or worries and that her best way to get through it is to talk it over with the Lord.  I also told her to always stand up for what is right whether those around her are or not.

Being a kid in this world is not an easy thing.  I think it is harder now than it was when I was growing up.  

It did my Mom's Heart good when she left my room telling me thank you for the advice.

I do pray she will always come to me and feel that way.  I pray she will trust me enough.

01/30/12

 

This past week/weekend our Senior class at school performed The Sound of Music.  I saw a portion of it at school, but didn't get to see the entire performance at night because of other plans we had.  The portion I saw was wonderful and I have heard that the entire program was just terrific.  

In honor of their hard work, we decided to watch the movie this past weekend  It is one of my most favorite movies of all time.  I sang along with it and enjoyed the story immensely... as I do each time I see it.

However, a year or so ago, I decided to look up the actual story of the Von Trapp Family and was a bit disenchanted by their real life.  In other words, the movie was made a bit fanciful.  

That stinks!

It is still interesting to learn about these facts I found so I thought I'd share them on here today.  I took these facts from this website.

While The Sound of Music was generally based on the first section of Maria's book The Story of the Trapp Family Singers (published in 1949), there were many alterations and omissions.

• Maria came to the von Trapp family in 1926 as a tutor for one of the children, Maria, who was recovering from scarlet fever, not as governess to all the children.
  
• Maria and Georg married in 1927, 11 years before the family left Austria, not right before the Nazi takeover of Austria.
  
• Maria did not marry Georg von Trapp because she was in love with him. As she said in her autobiography Maria, she fell in love with the children at first sight, not their father. When he asked her to marry him, she was not sure if she should abandon her religious calling but was advised by the nuns to do God's will and marry Georg. "I really and truly was not in love. I liked him but didn't love him. However, I loved the children, so in a way I really married the children.  . . . [B]y and by I learned to love him more than I have ever loved before or after."
  
• There were 10, not 7 von Trapp children.
  
• The names, ages, and sexes of the children were changed.
  
• The family was musically inclined before Maria arrived, but she did teach them to sing madrigals.
  
• Georg, far from being the detached, cold-blooded patriarch of the family who disapproved of music, as portrayed in the first half of The Sound of Music, was actually a gentle, warmhearted parent who enjoyed musical activities with his family. While this change in his character might have made for a better story in emphasizing Maria's healing effect on the von Trapps, it distressed his family greatly.
  
• The family did not secretly escape over the Alps to freedom in Switzerland, carrying their suitcases and musical instruments. As daughter Maria said in a 2003 interview printed in Opera News, "We did tell people that we were going to America to sing. And we did not climb over mountains with all our heavy suitcases and instruments. We left by train, pretending nothing."
  
  
• The von Trapps traveled to Italy, not Switzerland. Georg was born in Zadar (now in Croatia), which at that time was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Zadar became part of Italy in 1920, and Georg was thus an Italian citizen, and his wife and children as well. The family had a contract with an American booking agent when they left Austria. They contacted the agent from Italy and requested fare to America.
  
• Instead of the fictional Max Detweiler, pushy music promoter, the von Trapps' priest, the Reverend Franz Wasner, acted as their musical director for over 20 years.
  
  
• Though she was a caring and loving person, Maria wasn't always as sweet as the fictional Maria. She tended to erupt in angry outbursts consisting of yelling, throwing things, and slamming doors. Her feelings would immediately be relieved and good humor restored, while other family members, particularly her husband, found it less easy to recover. In her 2003 interview, the younger Maria confirmed that her stepmother "had a terrible temper. . . . And from one moment to the next, you didn't know what hit her. We were not used to this. But we took it like a thunderstorm that would pass, because the next minute she could be very nice."

01/29/12

This picture goes well with what I have been doing with my class lately.... sewing.  :)

 

What a comfort to know this.  We had this in Sunday School today:

Revelation 1:17c, 18

Fear not; I am the first and the last:

I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore.  Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

01/28/12

 

Hello?

Anyone out there?

I have been talking to myself again recently, it seems.

Today is Mikayla Girl's piano recital.  I know she will do great.  

I am thankful she is growing in her God-given talent.

01/27/12

 

We will visit more randomness in my life today.

Ruby and I are getting along great.  She has helped me make two layer cakes and the frostings for each.  However, I am learning that Ruby is a lot more powerful that Bessie ever dared to be.  I have flung flour and powdered sugar out of her more times than I care to count.  Mikayla even asked me when I was going to learn that I need to start her out slow. :)  I didn't realize whipping frosting on high speeds will cause air to get into it.  Hello?  Where have I been?

Yes, as you can see, all of life is a continual learning moment for Kellie.

The squirrel hunting is not going as well as two men in my household had hoped.  Tree stands have been included now in the needs to capture a squirrel.  The funny thing is.... this past weekend's hunting escapade was a hunt for where one of my Sweet ones put his tree stand instead of hunting a squirrel.  They have been rained upon and walked through a lot of mud, and Wesley hasn't killed his first squirrel yet, but the memories they are making are worth more than anything... even if they hunt for tree stands.

The kids have been working on their next project at school.  They had to read a book and then, instead of a book report paper, they had to use cereal boxes and create a cereal in the name of their book... or kind of like their book.  Mikayla read The Wizard of Oz and her cereal is called "The Wizard of Fiber." Wesley read Around the World in 80 Days and his cereal is "Around the World in Fibrous Days."  They have to finish them up this weekend, but we got most of them done last weekend.  Thankfully.

Yes, I eat Fiber One cereal if you can't tell from those names. 

I have loved the month of January.  Some people do not like it because it seems slow and boring compared to the last few months of October-December.  However, I LOVE the slower pace.  I love that I am not crazy busy.  I love re-charging my batteries.  

Sampson has become my sweet lap cat.  He used to not want to sleep in our room, either, but he has begun doing that a little bit.  Our cat Ashes, that died three years ago, used to sleep with me every night.  It was hard when we first got the kittens to realize our Isabelle and Sammy wanted to spend more time with Wes and Mikayla.  BUT... Sammy has begun enjoying being my boy.  If I am on the couch reading, he is usually there with me.  When I get home from school he can't wait for me to sit down so he can get some lovin' from his Mama.  Isabelle is pretty much attached to Mikayla and will sleep with her like another person.  Sammy just loves everybody... but it is becoming more and more evident he loves his MAMA the most.  :)

I haven't photographed anything in a while.  NOT good.  I must remedy that soon.

How is that for jumping all over the place?

01/26/12

 

This past Sunday our pastor spoke about commitment. 

Commitment is a dying thing these days.

He spoke of commitment in many areas of our lives, but the commitment in marriage was one he discussed at more length. 

He said that he has read where a place had wedding rings for rent.

This is the era of the pre-nup.

People "fall out of love" and find someone new.

He said people have changed the wedding vows not to say "as long as we both shall live", but "as long as we both shall love."

The feeling of love can come and go.

There are times that Sweet Man drives me crazy and there are just as many times (if not more!) that I do the same to him.  That is how life is with living with someone else.

However, I am committed to him.

When the feelings of love get irritated, I constantly remember what I promised before God on that wonderful day in May 1993.... "as long as we both shall live..."

When we got home from church that day, Sweet Man grabbed me to hug me and said he meant what he said the day we got married... he was committed to me and always would be. He truly is a SWEET Man.

Life throws a lot of curves, and Sweet Man and I have had some curve balls come our way, but through it all, the commitment is what keeps our love getting stronger.

This song came to my mind that day.  I had just seen it posted on Facebook by a friend who was saying it was for her husband.  I kind of think it fits me and Sweet Man, too.  :)

01/25/12

 

Last week I was in a discussion with other people regarding how certain programs or people are "condoning" certain behaviors in our society.  Whether it is drugs, drinking, teen pregnancy, divorce, or any other behavior that the Lord would not want us to follow, it is reality in this fallen world in which we live.  It is important for us as Christians to be careful not to get up high on our pedestals and view these behaviors from a pious point of view.  We also can't make the statement that "My child would never do that!"  There are no guarantees that mistakes will not be made.  There are no guarantees that just because you are a Christian you would never have any of these problems.

There are many programs and people in our churches and local cities who help children/teens/adults who go through these types of behaviors/problems.  It is not a statement of condoning what the person is doing.  It is a statement of showing the grace of God.  The day after we had the discussion of needing to show the grace of God to people who are going through these situations, one of my best friends read this in her devotions and then shared it with me.  It was exactly about what she and I had talked the day before.  Everybody needs to be shown God's grace.

Extending Grace

Matthew 9:12 - Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.

In the mid-1970's, divorce filings and final decrees appeared in the Public Records section of our local newspaper.  Rev. Bill Flanagan, a pastor at our church, read those names week after week and began to picture people, not statistics.  So he created a Divorce Recovery Workshop to offer help and healing in Christ to hurting people during a difficult time.  When concerned church members told Bill he was condoning divorce, he softly replied that he was simply extending God's grace to folks in need.

When Jesus invited Matthew the tax collector to follow Him, he accepted.  Matthew then invited Jesus to dinner at his house.  After the religious leaders criticized Him for eating with tax collectors and sinners, Jesus said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.  But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice.' For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance" (Matt. 9:12-13).  Jesus, the Great Physician, wants  to meet each of us at our point of need, offering forgiveness, healing, and hope.  What we don't deserve, He freely gives.

By reaching out to people in need, we can extend to others this grace of God in Christ - guiding them to His healing touch. 

~David McCasland - Our Daily Bread - January 20, 2012

There's advantage in our weakness, 

There is blessing in our pain;

It is when we're feeling helpless

That God's grace and strength sustain. 

~Fitzhugh

When you know God's grace,

you'll want to show God's grace.

01/24/12

 

I want to visit the topic of Children of Israel one more time.  

When the Israelites left Egypt, God guided them by a cloud during the day and a column of fire at night.  This was a wonderful symbol of how God was always going to lead them throughout their lives.  They just couldn't see that at the time.

When the Egyptians were coming and they began to complain that they should have just stayed in Egypt, remember how Moses told them to be quiet and let the Lord fight their battle for them?

When Moses put out his rod over the Red Sea and the Lord parted it, the cloud that had been leading them moved.  At first, the Israelites may have thought God was leaving them, but He wasn't.  I love how Scripture describes it:

Exodus 14:19-20

And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:

And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.

The Lord was protecting them from behind.  He was giving millions of people time to cross over the Red Sea... on dry ground... and that would have taken a while.  The Egyptians could see nothing from their vantage point because God had darkened their area.

I was reminded of this verse when reading this portion of Scripture to my students.  

Isaiah 58:8

Then your light will break out like the dawn,

And your recovery will speedily break forth;

And your righteousness will go before you;

The glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.

I am thankful that God still does that for us today.  In our spiritual battles, sometimes He has to come in behind us to protect us from the enemy.  

What a comfort to know that God "has my back!"

01/23/12

Here is a funny, yet short, video on vacuuming.  I saw it on a friend's blog the other day and I could definitely relate.  In fact, this past week when I was cleaning I did what he described.  It made me laugh ... and then when I was cleaning I thought about it and laughed more.   Let me know if you are like me.  :)

01/22/12

 

II Peter 3:9

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

01/21/12

 

Today I want to share what the Lord has taught me through the children of Israel.

Two men have come in to the land saying they were sent from the one true God and the Israelites are going to be released from their bondage.

The Israelites were uncertain.

They didn't like their bondage, but they didn't know what to think of these two men who are making water into blood, doing other plagues, and telling things that Yahweh had told them.

The problem was that for so long the children of Israel had become so used to the Egyptian way of life that they forgot that wasn't their home.  

The Promised Land was where they were to be.

They began to understand more of God when they saw all of his plagues and they did what God commanded when he told them to be ready for the night of Passover, but they still had a lot to learn about trust.

As they leave Egypt, I am sure there was a lot of excitement over finally leaving, but a few days into their journey and they are stopped at the Red Sea.  God didn't take them the easy way to the Promised Land.  He knew they had a lot to learn and He was going to have to show them His power, too.  They have the Red Sea in front of them, mountains on each side of them, and then the Egyptians are now coming in to take them back.  

They begin to complain and say it was better when they were in the bondage because at least then they could live and not die in the wilderness.  Can you imagine over a million people murmur?  I can't take it when some of my students or my own children begin to whine and complain.  Imagine what Moses and Aaron felt.  

Imagine what God thought.

I love how Moses tells them "... fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord.... the Lord shall fight for you and ye shall hold your peace."

He basically told them to be quiet!  He said they needed to just trust that God was going to do what He said He was going to do.  (This is what Moses has also had to learn, remember?)

We are just like the children of Israel.  We get so caught up in the ways of the world and become in bondage to sin.  The Lord wants to free us from that bondage.  He wants us to grow in Him daily so that we are more like Him.  He wants us to be more ready for Heaven.  In the process of freeing us from that sin or that bondage, it isn't always easy.  There are hard roads.  There are obstacles along the way.

We worry.

We complain.

We wish we could go back to "the way things used to be" when life seemed "easier" even though we were in bondage.  We can't see what God is wanting to teach us along the way.

We need to remember a paraphrase of what Moses said when we get in those moments:

Stop worrying and don't be afraid. Stop trying to figure it out yourself.  Be still because the Lord is going to fight for you.  

Just be quiet and let Him!

01/20/12

 

I will explore Pharoah today.

It struck me more this year than in years past just how much our society is like Pharoah.

Have you ever known people who were in a hard time and wanted people to pray for them, yet when things got better they forgot all about God and went back to living as if God didn't exist?

I have seen that a lot.

When God sent the plagues on Egypt, He did so to prove He was the one TRUE God.  Egypt worshiped many idols and God sent each plague against each one of the gods that the Egyptians worshiped.

The first two plagues, water to blood and frogs, Pharoah's wisemen were also able to re-create.  However, from the third plague of lice all the way to the tenth plague of the first-born child being killed, Pharoah's wisemen were not able to be re-create them.  God was showing He was in control.

I have found it interesting how Pharoah hardened his own heart during the first few plagues.  As the plagues continued to come he asked Moses and Aaron to pray to the Lord for the plague to stop.  As soon as the plague stopped his heart was hardened again and he didn't let the Israelites go.  

There are many people out there today that are just like Pharoah.  They want the "bad" things to end and ask for people to pray, but when it is over and the "pain" of their circumstance is gone, their hearts are hardened and they forget what God has done.  Some people only want the prayers to get out of the trouble, but don't want the daily relationship with the Lord to live a life pleasing to Him.

01/19/12

 

Let's do a study on Moses, Pharoah and the children of Israel.  This will take a few days.

I have been teaching this Biblical time to my children since we have come back from Christmas break.

These chapters in Exodus are ones that I continue to learn a lot from every time I teach them.

God had a purpose for Moses from the time he was born.  He was saved from Pharoah's ruling of all Israelite baby boys being killed.  He was raised in the palace.  He made some mistakes in Egypt and had to run for his life.  He became a shepherd in Midian.

Moses was on the mountainside doing what he had done everyday for years - watching over sheep.  The Bible doesn't say exactly how long he had been doing this, but it had been long enough where I feel he had forgotten his old life in Egypt and was enjoying the quietness of shepherding.

Then God appeared to Moses in a way he never would have imagined.  God was a fire in the bush, but the bush was not being consumed by that fire.

God was asking Moses to do something huge - lead His people out of Egypt.  God was in control of it all, but He was going to use Moses as his "person" on earth to do His will.

Moses was quite scared.  Moses didn't think he was ready.  He made a lot of excuses.  

God had been preparing Moses to lead for a long time, but Moses didn't see it.  He had to learn to trust.

This was actually something important because God was asking Moses to lead a lot of people (over a million!) who also needed to learn to trust.  

Sometimes in our lives God asks us to do something, or we may face a trial that we don't understand.  We also make excuses and say we can't get through it.  However, God knows that there are others out there who will also need the same help and will need someone to "come alongside" them and help through their tough times.  

It is important for us to see our hard times as a way to someday help someone else who is facing the same problem.  It is a way to help others grow in their trust of the Lord.

01/18/12

I know I talked about my cross-stitching yesterday.

I have to talk about it again today.

One of my little guys was more anxious over the cross-stitching than some of my other students.

He continued to tell me that he didn't think he could do it. 

He kept making mistakes.

I calmly kept reassuring him that everything was going to be OK.

When he made another mistake he started to tear up and say he really couldn't do it, he couldn't finish.  He said his mistake would never be fixed.

My heart went out to this little guy because I heard myself in those words.  They were words I have said to the Lord at times in my life that I didn't see a way out of the messes I had made.

The Lord gave me words for this little guy that were a reminder for me, too.

As I was taking out his thread I was reminded that his mistake was nothing I couldn't handle.

I shared with the little guy that it is the same with God.  Our mistakes are never too big for God.  He can take our mistakes and change them into something beautiful that will complete the entire picture of our life.

I love teaching my kids cross-stitching for the historical sense.  But each year I am learning the value of the spiritual sense that cross-stitch continues to teach me so that I may teach that to my students.  I hope those spiritual connections are part of the lesson they continue to retain long after the project is finished.

01/17/12

 

I had to share this classroom funny from the other day in school.  I have laughed much over this in the last few days.

Last Friday I began my cross-stitching project with my students.  I always start the first day with parents coming in to help with small groups to get lots of help starting off the cross-stitching.  

I had three little guys in my group and the conversations from them went from "Oh, this is easy! I like this!" to tears of "I'm never going to get this done!" and "I don't think I like this."

One of the conversations both shocked me and made me laugh hysterically.... on the inside.  Here goes the replay:

A sudden pungent odor begins to creep into my nose.  It is one of a gaseous nature.

Boy #1 - "I think "Boy #2" just farted!

Boy #2 - "No, I didn't."

Boy #1 - "Somebody did.  Mrs. Fowler did YOU fart?!"

Me - "That would be NO."

Boy #3 - "Girls don't fart!  They TOOT!"

The conversation continued from there, but I didn't really hear it.  I was too busy trying to help whomever with the problem they had on the cross-stitch and was laughing hysterically on the inside.

I think Boy #3 was trying to take up for me.

I think.

Either way, that conversation will forever make me laugh.

01/16/12

 

Today we celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. 

He had a dream.

His dream was one that has made it to reality moreso today, but it still has a ways to go.

On this day, I thought I would explore some of my own dreams.  These are not in any particular order as I am going to talk about them as I think of them.  They may never become reality, but that is what dreams are.... dreams.

1.  Debt free - this one seems like a definite dream.  I realize that is the dream of a lot of people today.  However, I would love to have "extra" money so that I could just give to others when there is need without having to think about it.

2.  Travel all over the world - this is not a dream of Sweet Man's, but it would be mine.  There are so many places I want to experience.  You can see pictures all you want, but the experience of being somewhere is what takes you back to that place and fills you with the joy of seeing it even if it has been a long time.  I would have to have #1 happen before this could happen, I believe.  

3.  Have a natural light photography studio area in my backyard - I would love to have an indoor setup where I could do different backdrops and such to photograph people when the weather is not cooperating or for just having something different. 

4.  Have our family farm back - I realize this will only remain a dream.  That dream was taken long ago, but it is still a dream nonetheless.  I want to have those memories come alive again.  I want to hear the sounds of the cows in the pasture; I want to go out in the pasture on the golf cart with my brother to get the cows to come in for milking; I want to smell the smells of growing up on a farm.  I want my children to experience that life.  Again, I know this is only a dream.

In writing this post, I realized that I have not ever dreamed very much.  These four "dreams" are the main things that came to my mind.  It is good to dream, but I think I have never given myself over to that.  I will say, overall I have learned, with the Lord's help, to live a content life.  Our dreams can get in the way and become the idols that we focus so much upon that we forget the reality of what God's will is for our lives.  Dreams aren't bad.  That isn't what I am saying. Some of what I mentioned above may come true, but I have to admit that what I have learned in contentment is worth more than the dreams I hold.  

It is amazing what the Lord can teach you even when you are writing a blog post.

Thank you, Lord.

01/15/12

 

II Peter 3:18

But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  To him be glory both now and forever.

01/14/12

 

Read this blog today and it spoke to me. 

This is the family who lost their precious baby girl, Lydia, last fall to a brain tumor.

Enjoy her words today.

01/13/12

 

I recently noticed on one of Mikayla's clothing tags that it says "Believe in yourself."

That may seem harmless enough, but if you really think about it, that is another way Satan wants to put the wrong thinking in our children's minds... as well as our own. 

I don't know about you, but when I have "believed in myself" I have always messed up.

In slyly teaching "believe in yourself", we are being fed the false sense that we are in control and if we believe in ourselves enough we can control it all.  These are the things our children are seeing all around them.  These are statements that we face as well.

The Lord wants us to to believe in HIM.

This is another reason that we have to constantly be on guard against Satan's wiles.  I am sure most people wouldn't see this as a big deal, but it hit me as I was hanging up her shirt to dry a few days ago. It is a small, seemingly innocent statement that can desensitize us to Satan's agenda of doing everything he can to draw us further and further away from the Lord. 

Do you have your armor on?  We are in a spiritual battle daily... even when we don't even realize it!!

01/12/12

 

I guess you have noticed by now that I didn't make "New Year's Resolutions."

I learned a few years back not to shoot for those because I always seemed to fail.

However, this past Sunday our pastor mentioned that we should at least make goals for the year.  Something to strive for, yet understand if it isn't fully accomplished at the end of the year.  Goals can continue into another year.

I will say that last year one of my goals I made for myself was to make jelly from "scratch" for the first time and I did it.  I was most excited that I did it all by myself.  My brother has been my cheerleader for years so to do this and to "surprise" him was pretty fun and special.

Having said that, I am thinking of a few goals for this year.

I want to continue to learn more about the Lord through studying His Word.  I will do another Bible study this summer, but in the meantime I want to take the devotions that I have and read them deeper... see more from His Word than I have seen before.  

I want "Ruby" and I to make some wonderful creations this year.  I want to continue to learn how I can improve in my baking and such.  I love making things from scratch as my brother has taught me.  I will say there is a higher joy when serving something when it has been fully made from scratch.  (Don't worry, though.... there are times I still have to use the "box" to accomplish some baking.)

I want my photography to continue to grow and mature.  I still have lots to learn and I want this to be another growing year.  I want my photography to be what God wants it to be.  

I would like to lose some pounds this year.... or, as a friend recently put on her blog.... be content where my weight is right now as it hasn't gone anywhere lately.  Not be content in a bad way, but be content that the Lord is also in control of that and as long as I am watching what I eat and getting some exercise I need to not obsess over not being what I was a year ago.  Life happens.... and life over 40 with a slower metabolism is what seems to be happening.  

I would like to go see another historical site this year that I have not seen previously.  I love history and love learning more about it!

I want to continue to blog in a way that will be encouraging, thoughtful or funny.  I don't ever want to become "boring."

So, there you have it.  These are just a few, but they are goals nonetheless.  I'll see where the Lord takes me on the journey of 2012.

01/11/12

 

Let's have some randomness today.

I have yet to try out "Ruby"... but I will remedy that this weekend.  I am making a cake for a friend who has been away from school after having surgery.  I am going to try out a new recipe that I found on Pinterest.  I so feel like Betty Crocker.

I realized the other day that I have made over 100 Powerpoints for school since late last summer.  I think I could do them in my sleep because I am so not finished with what I have planned.

Are you tired of hearing about my Powerpoints?

I am not normally a huge sports fan.  I follow whatever Steve follows simply because I just want to be in the room with him.  However, this past Sunday he watched the Denver Broncos/Pittsburgh Steelers game.  He watched it because of Tim Tebow.  (He is actually a Redskins fan. I do know, though, that the Redskins didn't even make it to the playoffs.... I do listen sometimes.)  Tim Tebow.... I have so much respect for that guy.  He is so young but is so willing to take a strong stand for the Lord.  If only more of us (including myself!) would do so.... I think our world would be a different place.  I loved hearing his press conference after the game.  Steve said so many of the reporters were trying to bait him, but he never fell for it.  He consistently complimented others and, most of all, gave praise to the Lord no matter how many times people have said things against him for that.  I hope and pray they beat everyone now and win the Superbowl.  Whatever happens, though, I know the Lord is with that young man!

This winter is seriously spoiling many of us.  The temps are more spring-like instead of winter.  I honestly don't want a lot of snow, but colder weather and a little bit of snow would be nice.  I am feeling the need to photograph icicles.

I am reading the book Rift in Time by Michael Phillips.  This is not a book you can casually read while watching TV.... it takes serious concentration.  It is good... but I fear it will take me a while to get through it.  Michael Phillips' books are always thought-provoking.  Have any of you ever read his books?  I have read him for years.  My dear brother got me hooked on his books.

Last but not least.... Have I mentioned lately how much Sweet Man does for me?  Have I mentioned how much I appreciate him?  If not, I hope I just remedied that.  He is such a blessing in my life.

01/10/12

I love this picture.... have loved it since the day I photographed it last fall.  With us not having cold temperatures around here my winter shots are not here.  I am just relishing the beauty of a different season.  Hope you all are enjoying it, too.

 

Words.

Some are good.

Some are bad.

This past week Wes asked me what a word meant.  He heard it from someone calling one of his friends this word.  This word was not one that I want my child to know about just yet.  I realize it is going to happen.  I know they have been exposed to other words already that we have had to explain, but this one kind of hit me out of nowhere.

I was so thankful he asked me.  I will say that I did not give him the full understanding of the word just yet because I was so taken back that I was not ready to explain it.  If you have ever had your child ask you something out of the blue like that, I think you know what I mean by that statement.

However, I did tell him it was inappropriate and not a word to call someone or say to someone.  

I want so badly to cover my children from being exposed to the wrong things, but I also know that they are in the world and it will come to them eventually.  What I want is for them to always come to us instead of ask their friends and get the wrong information.  I want our kids to know that no matter what we are there for them to help them understand things in this world through a Biblical perspective.  I may not always handle it perfectly, as I do feel I didn't handle this one as well as I could have, but keeping those lines of communication open for them to know we are "safe" is one of the most important things we can give our kids.

01/09/12

 

This past weekend Sweet Man and Wes went hunting again for the first time this winter.  

They hunt squirrels.

Remember last year when Wes got his .22 rifle?  

This year he has gotten more camo stuff because, well, he has to have them.  Gotta blend in to kill those boogers, you know.

Sweet Man said Wes had one in his scope.  

The squirrel was sitting on a log eating and Steve knew it wasn't going anywhere anytime soon.  They were about 35 yards away.

Sweet Man said it was becoming a special Father/Son memory for him.  Here he was sitting behind Wes, encouraging him and quietly telling him where to shoot.  It was a proud moment.

Then, Wes pulled the trigger.

The shot fired!

The bullet went between the squirrel's belly and the tree.

The squirrel jumped high and ran for cover.

The squirrel was lost and Wes didn't get his first kill.  Sweet Man said he felt badly for him.... I know he will get one eventually.  It isn't like he has hunted a lot - he just have to get more experience.

However, I am sure that squirrel surely was glad.

Sweet Man did manage to shoot a squirrel and brought it home.

Sweet Man fried it up for him and Wes last night and they ate it... and both said they enjoyed it.

I chose to sacrifice and let them eat it all.

I'm good like that.

01/08/12

 

We don't see a lot of growth in the winter.

Of course, this winter for us in NC we aren't seeing any colder weather or possible snow, either.

I know in seasons of "winter" in our lives sometimes there isn't spiritual growth.  God is trying to show us something, but we are too "cold" towards Him to learn from what we are going through.  We think that if we are going through a hard time He doesn't love us.  How far from the truth that is!

I was reminded in church this morning to grow spiritually.  

If you are not closer to the Lord now than you were a year ago, where have you backslidden?  What has caused you to fall away?  

It is us that falls away from the Lord, and not the Lord from us.  He is always there, always loving us, waiting for us to return to Him.

Here is one of my devotions from this past week.  It is one that hit me because I have thought it many times.... and done exactly what the devotion says is not what GOD says.  I think it will give us lots of food for thought for this new week as well as this new year:

Romans 8:32-39

Why is it difficult for some of us to believe that God really does love us?  Whenever I have talked with anyone who is having struggles in many areas of life, I always ask if he believes God loves him.  Nine times out of ten the answer is, "No."  Some have said they feel loved by God when they are following a self-imposed set of rules.  It makes them feel obedient, which then makes them feel that God loves them in a better way.  That's not what God's love is about!

For some people, the hardest thing to settle in their minds is the fact that God's love is not earned by their actions, but is given freely because of His character.  Some people view God as consistently critical of their imperfections and failings.  They see a God who is never pleased with less than perfection.

You can't earn God's love.  It's futile to attempt to "make" God love you.  You are not perfect, and never will be in this world.  Even with your new nature gained through the Spirit of God, you still battle the old nature, the world, and the devil, and succumb to their influences from time to time.  You may fail God's grace by falling into sin, but you can never forfeit God's love.  It is unconditional love, not dependent upon you.  If it were, then you are trusting in your performance rather than in God's Word.

You might not even "feel" God's love at times - that can happen.  But He loves you no matter what.  God has compassion on us and He loves us with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3).  God's love is tied in with His mercy; "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us" (Ephesians 2:4). 

~  Dwell Devotional:  Tuesday, January 3, 2012

01/05/12

 

Here are bowls that I have taken to lunch pretty much every day of school for 17 years.  I bought these not long after Steve and I got married and they have been awesome for my lunches each day.

Yes, they have some cracks, and the lids have issues sometimes.....

...but I LOVE these bowls.  

They are the right portion size for lunch.

They are lightweight, yet durable.  

(ok, ok... I know I just showed you a crack in the pic above, but for 17 years old, that is not bad!)

However, my family, apparently, did/does not love these bowls.

This is what I got for Christmas.... a set of these.

It seems my precious son, Wesley, found these as the kids were shopping with Sweet Man for my Christmas present and he said I had to have these. 

 

Don't get me wrong.  I love my new lunch "bowls."   

I am just not sure I can get rid of the ones that have been there at each lunchtime.

The ones that have seen me through days of fun class memories.

The ones that stood by me holding my food when my day was long or hard....

(Yes, I realize I am being melodramatic here, but work with me.)

I shall not forget my lovely, pink-topped bowls.  

In fact, they are still in the cabinet right next to the new ones.

I may have to use them every once in a while just so they know they are still loved.

01/04/12

 

I just had to show the picture Wesley drew of Rosco the other night.  He got a drawing set with charcoal pencils for Christmas and has enjoyed using them.  This was his inspiration the night before we headed back to school.

Last night, during our family devotions, Steve and I had the opportunity to talk with Wesley and Mikayla a little more about thankfulness.  When we went back to school yesterday we heard from others what they received for Christmas.  The kids came home sharing that some of the people they knew got Ipads, cell phones, Ipod Touches, etc...  There is nothing wrong with those things at all..... but Mikayla admitted to us that she was a bit jealous of some of the things other people had.  Now, we had a very blessed Christmas around here.  VERY. 

I honestly couldn't lecture her... I could understand.  We all have times where we look at someone else and think they "have it all."  I think as we get older and into adulthood this actually can become more problematic.  The things become bigger and more expensive and we all can have the" jealous bug" hit us at times.

It gave me time to think as we shared with them again how blessed we really are.  Sometimes when things aren't the way we would like them we compare ourselves to others and we wish we had their lives.

We wish life was "easier" like"so-and-so's."

What we fail to do is look around us and see what we have and how we have been blessed.  No, we may not have the latest and greatest things out there, but we are so rich in comparison to many people in this world.  I truly have no right to complain nor be jealous.  God has blessed me so very much and praise should be coming from my heart in the place of jealousy.

I am thankful for these talks with Wesley and Mikayla.  As we help them, we are continuing to learn from the Lord, too.  It was something I thought about long after they went to bed, and you can see I am now writing about it! 

Each day is blessing enough, even when times are hard, because somewhere in that day the Lord has shown you His presence.  You may be too caught up in yourself to see it, but He truly is there showing you. 

Take time today to listen to His still, small voice and count those blessings so you can truly see what God has done.

01/03/12

Meet the newest member of our family:

No, not Wesley, silly....

ROSCOE

Yes, we now have a green tree frog that calls us family.

 

My brother gave Wesley this fine specimen of a frog for Christmas.  Actually, he just gave him the tank and all that is needed for the frog along with a gift card so Wesley could go pick him out.

Wesley has wanted a pet frog for years.  Kevin felt he was now old enough to fully take care of the little guy.  Since he was sick right after Christmas he had to wait a couple of days to get him.  We helped Wes out with some names by throwing ones out at him to see if he liked them.  He chose Roscoe.  I love it.  :)

Roscoe eats small crickets and you have to spray water in his aquarium during the day to help with humidity.  In summer he shouldn't have to spray him as much since we are full of humidity around these parts.  Wes also has to keep a light on him to keep it warmer for him.

Roscoe has been doing well and has begun coming out more than he did the first few days of adjusting.  Wes just loves him and so do we.

01/02/12

Here are a couple of my favorite pics from Christmas.  The kids gave each other gifts this year with money they had or either earned.  It was fun to see their reactions when they opened their gifts from each other.

Mikayla gave Wesley a new nunchuck for his Wii games.

 Wesley found Mikayla the Food Network Wii game that she has been wanting for a LONG time.  Can we say she was a bit excited?

I guess I have a few questions to answer today.

My blogging friend, Rhonda, asked me how I make my headers.

 
I use Photoshop to design the header and add my pictures into it.  It is quite fun each time to think of a new way to make it.  I always ask Mikayla what she thinks and if she gives me the "thumbs up" I know I am good.  :)

My other blogging friend, Wendy, asked me why in the world I was doing so many Powerpoints for school and was it required.

Well, it isn't required, but we do have projectors in our rooms now and the administration wants us to use them.  Me being the visual learner that I am decided last summer to do all fifty states that I teach the kiddos on a Powerpoint.  I now begin learning countries and capitals with my kiddos in second semester so I had to start working on those.... and there are A LOT. 

My wonderful, kind, ever studious, love-to-research brother sortof volunteered to help me find the information/pictures I was needing to help me accomplish this overwhelming task I had laid out before myself.  It took me a week of steady work on the computer just to make the 50 states Powerpoints. 

He researched for me for two months.. yes, he loves me... and sent me the info. by email.  Now I have to download all of the pics and then he and I sit together and he reads off the info. from our laptop while I put it together in the Powerpoint on our desktop.  On a good day last week we were able to get 8 Powerpoints done.  On a slower day with more info. we got around 4 or 5. 

We accomplished 36 Powerpoints last week and now we're going to start working on one a day to get me finished with all of the countries of the world.  I can't tell you all enough how much I appreciate what my big brother has done for me.  :)  He loves this stuff, so I know it didn't bother him, but it still took him away from his own researching he so loves to do.

Last, but not least, I believe my friend "Jane" asked me about that Christmas present I was so giddy about.  The above mentioned paragraph should help you all understand why this was never discussed last week.  

So, without further ado, here it is:

Meet "RUBY"

 

It makes me giddy just looking at the picture.  I can't wait to try her out!  I'll have to check out Pinterest for some recipes to try with her.  I know I'll share with you what I make with her.  She's heavy, that is for sure, but I feel a long-lasting, loving relationship with Ruby!

So... anymore questions out there for me?

01/01/12

 

I think this is a great way to start off the new year:

Psalm 19:14

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.