1/31/13

I just love a flamingo.... how about you?

Since my week has been a bit like this, I thought it fitting to show you this YouTube today that a friend showed me a week or so ago.  It made me laugh.... and think of how my kiddos just LOVE running errands after school with their Mom.  Just imagine me doing what the Mom does.... haha.  Have a good laugh today.  :)

01/25/13

Here is our "Golden Chariot", affectionately known as "The GC".  I wrote about her here on her 10th birthday in 2010. 

Let me explain why she is the topic of my blog today.  Sit back and relax with your favorite drink as this may be a long post today/tonight... whenever you are reading this.

I have been content with her.  I have been thankful for her.  She knows me and I know her quite well.  I tell Steve to drive her nicely when he is speeding down the road on her.  My friends tell me I am a "Granny Driver."

We knew she was getting to the point where certain things were not working correctly.

• She has lost her ability to tell the correct temperature outside.  Not a biggy, but it is quite comical when you are having a 101 degree high humidity day here in NC and she reads "63 degrees"... The kiddos and I have had lots of laughs with that.
• She has had to get serviced with some engine problems.  Nothing that should shock us as we know that happens in all vehicles, but it is still disheartening at times.
• Her headlights are just not quite bright.  In fact, they are downright dim... and we have gotten new headlight covers for her thinking that was the problem.  Not so much.  Even on bright I don't think I could blind anyone.
• Her electric slide door can get stuck sometimes.  
• And more recently.... her gas tank indicator likes to play tricks on us.  You can fill her up and within a hundred miles or so, you can be at a stop sign/light or just driving down the road and she can go from FULL to EMPTY.... and you HEAR the needle plunging.  Thankfully, it is just the indicator has problems but until I decided to start using the Trip Button each time I filled up (thanks to a friend suggesting to do so....) I was uncertain as to whether or not I was able to believe what I saw!!

That being said, Steve and I have talked in the last couple of years about what I would want if we ever got around to replacing her.  Some other things were more priority to get paid off so we just waited.

I wasn't concerned... I was content.

The kids, however, ESPECIALLY MY DAUGHTER, began calling her the "Granny Chariot."  She didn't like her.... not one bit.

::::rolling my eyes here::::

Fast forward to the last week.

We realized it was now time to move from thinking to really considering what to do about another vehicle.

In our early years, Steve and I would go buy something big a lot of times without really praying about it.  We would jump into it and then "ask God to bless what we had done."

I have learned so much from the Lord and trusting HIM in all things in recent years that when Steve mentioned now is the time to start looking, I just started praying.

I prayed first that God would show us what to do.  He knows our budget.

We began looking on autotrader.com to get some ideas of what was out there.  I wanted another van because I feel comfortable in them and they have lots of room.  After having room I can't go back to cramped.  I also knew I couldn't handle one of those Suburban type SUV's because I would take off half the house trying to get her in the garage or take a few cars from a parking lot if trying to park her.  I've just had TOO MANY instances, people....

Unfortunately, what we were finding were that all of the ones we could afford were very high mileage. 

In the middle of it all I kept praying.  Steve kept praying. 

I kept putting it back to the Lord and obeying  HIS timing.  I began to read a book called Waiting on God and it is so good... still working my way through it but it was what I had needed.

Steve and I kept looking online for possible ones to go see.  He had called about one that had high mileage but was in excellent condition.... the Lord closed the door on it.  It just wasn't right.

On Monday night he and I had a "snuggle date" while perusing more choices.  I wrote down a few and he was going to go check them out on Tuesday.

Tuesday was a crazy day for him at work.  He couldn't go see any of them.

I still prayed.  He still prayed.  I wanted to be patient.

On Wednesday, Steve went to visit those that we wrote down.  During his whole time of checking out those we thought were huge possibilities, they all turned out to be dirty and not taken care of.  We realized that it was going to be a long shot to find what we needed, but still we trusted. 

He called me to tell me the four we had hoped would work out were "junk."  He said he was just going to ride around in a local autopark to see what he could find.  He had one more to check out that he had seen online.

As he got to the dealership, he saw the one we wanted to check out... and it was already being handed over to the new owners.

He was so disappointed. 

As he was driving out of that area, he drove by another dealership in that autopark and saw a van like we had been looking for on their back lot.  He decided he would go in and ask about it.

When he walked in the dealership he saw NO salesmen.  In fact, his whole day of looking he only encountered one earlier in the day and just for a short time.  I realize it was cold outside, but usually those who sell cars are waiting and ready.

He decided to use the restroom and then see who he could find.  When he walked back into the main area, there was one man there and he walked up to him.  This man was a salesman and he said he would be glad to help Steve.  When Steve asked him about the van in the back, the salesman had no idea what he was talking about.  Steve had to go show him!!

Come to find out, this van had JUST been traded in 2 days prior.  It was not even listed in the computer system yet.  It was not online.

When Steve began to talk with the salesman about the van, he found out it only has 46,000 and some change miles on it.... and it is a 2006.  It had been bought by two grandparents who were just using it to take around their grandchildren when they had them.  When these older people traded it in, they said their ages were 77.  It was in immaculate condition on the inside and out.  It looked brand new!!!  The salesman told Steve that there were NONE like this out there... this was a "cream puff."  haha!  The mechanic even came out and shared all he knew about the motor on this van and he told Steve it was in perfect condition.  He said if he needed another vehicle he would have already snatched it up! 

Steve was in shock!!!  He told the salesman that he and I had been praying for the Lord to lead us to the right van.  The salesman was in shock over that, too!  He said.... "I think your prayer is answered!"  Come to find out... this salesman is a believer in Christ, too.  

Steve test drove it and loved it. 

He called me but the kids and I were helping with a ministry at the time and I didn't have my phone.  When I called him back he was like.... "You gotta get here... you aren't going to believe this!" 

I drove immediately to the dealership and found Steve.  I have never seen Steve so eager about a vehicle in my life.  He is usually the one with the stone face and tough demeanor when we have bought a vehicle before.  In fact, he has told me in the past not to get too giddy over something because he wanted to keep it cool in front of the salesman.  lol

The Steve I saw as I drove up was NOT that same Steve.  :)

The salesman met me and allowed me to test drive the van.  He even let us go as a family alone to drive around and see what we thought as a family. 

I fell in love with it.  It just felt RIGHT.

When we got back into the dealership, Steve made a counter offer on the already lower price than what they were listing the van.  He became a bit nervous and I just looked at him and said... "God has gotten us this far... He has it taken care of..."

And I was correct, because the salesman came back with our offer accepted.  There was no counter-offer of "meet in the middle."

It was in our budget!

It was the easiest major purchase of a vehicle that we have EVER had.

We finished signing the papers last night.  I got to drive her home.  Wanna see her?

Meet....  GLORY.  

(with ice on her from our wintry day here...)

Why, "Glory" you ask?

Because God's handiwork was all over this purchase.  Could you not see how He guided our steps throughout the whole "story?"  What other name would be fitting than "Glory" because we give GLORY to GOD for what He has done for us. 

I kept remembering that this year my word(s) for the year were "Magnify the Lord".... and this is a huge way to do so.  What a way to glorify Him but praising Him for how He worked in this situation for us.  We truly give Him ALL of the glory for this!!!!

None of this happened by chance.  There are too many "coincidences" that are just God-appointed times.  I can't praise Him enough!!

Oh, and, if you are wondering about the "GC".. don't.  She is still with us.  Steve has decided to drive her to work to help with saving gas.  No one would love the "GC" like we do, anyway.  She is still precious.  :)

01/21/13

Coffee.

Why do I need to talk about this today?

I have drank it for years.

However, beforehand, I never really NEEDED coffee.

It was more of a "I am finally a grown up so let's try this" kind of a thing.

I never drank caffeinated coffee if I could help it because it would give me the shakes and I would be up all night even if I had just drank a small cup at breakfast.  Decaf was the flavor of the day, always, for me!

I used to laugh at the people who said they just couldn't get going until they had their coffee or caffeine.  I used to think "That will never be me!"

(Why I have continued to used the word 'never' in my vocabulary is beyond me.)

In the last few weeks I have begun to see caffeinated coffee in a new light.

It seems in my 40's my body is telling me other things.  Or maybe it is a combination of things....

• My body seems realllly slow to wake up in the morning.  
• I have found myself falling asleep on the way to work (not good, mind you) after having a full night's sleep.
• I have also found myself wanting so badly to knock everything off of my desk and crawl up there for a nap.  The kids can teach themselves, right?

In order to fully wake up... to embrace the day... the show the energy that I used to show without it....

I have now become a CAFFEINE COFFEE DRINKER in the morning.  

In fact, I get giddy about it each night as I am preparing my little percolator to be ready for the next morning's percolating good time!

I now have coffee breath.... something that for years I prided myself that I did NOT have.
(Pride goeth before a fall.....)


I now get my body engine revved up and ready to go.

With what caffeine does to me I am certain that my students are not quite sure what has come over me as of late. 

For those of you out there wondering "What took you so long???"....

Well, I have always been a slow learner. 

01/19/13

I have felt like this frog lately....

The snake has been sickness.

It has creeped up on me and been sitting back waiting to capture me in its grips.

Since November I have had the "crud" off and on.

I have become really good at picking out cold medicine.

I have even had a round of antibiotics finally but after being off of them a week, I had the joy of two viruses hit me at once.

TWO.

NICE.

This last one doesn't seem to be wanting to leave me, either.

I think another trip to the doctor is in order for the week ahead, but I must admit I fear hearing "It is just a virus and there is nothing we can really do"... AGAIN.

What is it this year?

I have heard of so many people having respiratory infections and really bad colds/bronchitis/pneumonia this year. 

Several of my fellow teachers have been battling this crud, too.  We normally don't get that sick because our immune systems have been exposed to most everything under the sun.

Could it be stress?  Crazy schedules?  Lack of rest?

OF COURSE NOT.

I have tried recently to be better about these things.  It can be difficult at times.

Let's just pray that things get turned around and we become more sick free around here.  Wes has now come down with the same virus I had this past week....  great.  I don't like feeling crummy and I don't like seeing my family like that, either. 

OK.  Enough whining.

Turn that whine into thankfulness......

Thank you, Lord, for medicine and the ability to have our bodies heal.  You are in control, and I know that.  Thank you for teaching me patience in this "sick storm."

01/08/13

Have you seen this yet?


 

If not, you are missing out!!!

Kevin and I have seen it on the stage for four or five times.

For Christmas, he gave me a ticket to go see the movie on its opening day, which was Christmas Day!  We had never gone to a movie on its opening day.  It was awesome, but we got there so late we had to sit in the seats that are right at the screen and you could look up the people's noses.

This past weekend I went back to see it with a friend... it is THAT good.

There is no comparison between the play and the movie... they are both fabulous in their own right.

If you have never seen the play or the movie, I don't want to spoil anything for you.

There is no way I can truly discuss this movie/play on here... my words just aren't enough.  What I feel in my heart when I see this movie/play is such a reminder of God's grace, love, and mercy for us.  The main characters were pictures of what God's grace can do and what a strict keeper of the law can become. 

The law cannot fathom grace. 

The law only condemns. 

What a picture of how Christ came to show that the law is a boundary, yes, but it cannot save and it never will. 
Only by Christ's love for us in providing us grace and mercy can we start anew in any part of our lives.

I would go again to the theaters to see this movie... and I usually don't do that.  I look forward to seeing it again on stage some day as well.

Hugh Jackman... amazing.

Russell Crowe.. didn't know the man could sing!

The entire movie... beyond words..... you gotta go see it!

Here is the trailer for the movie:

 

01/07/13

I shared the biggie that the kids got for Christmas.

Let me share what I received from Sweet Man:

A Kindle Fire HD....

I am amazed at how much I love using a Kindle to read.  

I used to be totally against one.  I love the feel of a book in your hands and the ability to use an actual bookmark.  

Once again, I am learning that change is OK in this and that I can enjoy reading a book and carry it with me... along with other things to do on the Kindle.

I have already read several books, and have downloaded others that are just waiting for me to tap their pages.  I have downloaded several Bible study books, one set on the Fruit of the Spirit, and others on Psalms and understanding God's Ways.  I am really enjoying the Fruit of the Spirit ones right now along with my daily devotions.

I have downloaded many Apps.  

I love the free ones, but I have also broken down and ordered a few that were inexpensive.  

I have gotten Our Daily Bread and love it.... we used to have that at church but then changed to a different one.  I was excited to be able to enjoy that each day.

I have chosen to find game Apps that will make my brain think.  I still don't want to be vegging out with electronics, you know.

Words with Friends is one I downloaded so I could play it with Mikayla.  

I am not doing so very well with this game... in fact, I have no clue as to what I am doing.  I realize this is basically the game of Scrabble.  I have never been good with words... and especially not so since I have taught 2nd grade now for 18 years.  You begin to lose some of your vocabulary when you speak in simple language to help kids understand.  haha!  I'll keep trying, but if anyone out there has any suggestions to help me play this game, I am open.

 

One of my MOST FAVORITES is the word search.  I have this on my phone, too, and love trying to beat my time.  I have always loved word searches anyway, so having one at my fingertips anytime is quite nice.

I found this one last week.... and became addicted.  It is called Cubistry and is actually a logic game.  You have to match up cubes that are alike and do it in a certain amount of time.  There are other levels to the game but I am still all about figuring them out quickly and beating my time.  I got below 5 minutes this past weekend.... I was stoked.  haha!

One I have been introduced to by a wonderful friend (who I blame for another addiction) is Flow.  It is yet another one that makes you think "outside of the box" and get these dots to match up.  You can't always use the straight path to the dot!!  You have to figure it out in as little of moves as you can.  The higher up you go in levels the MORE DIFFICULT they become. 

So there you have it... I have to work on balance myself.  If I could I would play Cubistry many times during the day but that can't be and work/live/do home stuff.  

I must say... I am thankful for the ability to know what is going on in the technology world so that I can have a handle on what our kids are doing.  They need someone who can guard them from seeing or doing things that are inappropriate.  

It is very important for parents to be aware of and know how to handle these new gadgets.  Kids must have boundaries and if there is no knowledge in something to give a boundary, that is where we fail our children.  

BE PROACTIVE in technology as a parent.  

Your children will be better for it.

1/06/13

I never mentioned some things we got for Christmas...

You know I have never been one for our children to become obsessed with video games and such.  I have always wanted to increase their imagination by them playing outside or inside with things instead of being mesmerized and controlled by something electronic.

By my own admission, I do love my computer, the internet, and my smartphone.  I have had to learn how to balance that, though.  These are things that can easily become idols in my life and I have to ask the Lord daily to help me with that!  :)

If you have read my blog for a while, you know that last summer I went to a workshop on technology.  This workshop changed my thinking of some of our electronic devices and how they can help in our education of children.  Plus the fact.... technology is not going anywhere!!

There have been many adults (I used to be one of them) who would always frown upon seeing something electronic accompany a child in any place.  

As my thoughts have changed, I see it as no different than the word search books, reading books, car games, etc... that my Mom used to have us take with us to keep us entertained and "giving us something to do."  (Although, I know there are some that are just plain mind numbing and I still don't agree with that.)

It is just different.  It is all together in one device!  

 Different doesn't necessarily mean bad. 

Balance is important... as it is with anything.

SO... after experiencing one semester of Middle School with a slightly unorganized-but tries to be organized-losing things-more loss of interest in reading- son, I knew we had to work on something to help.  Having had that workshop this summer, the Lord prepared me for a different outlook.  

This year, the rage for all kids was to get a Tablet for Christmas.  I was against this at first because I thought it was just something to cause their minds to turn to mush and be nothing but another distracting entertainment piece.  As the semester went on, I talked with the teachers and began to see other things that the kids could do with a Tablet.  I began to see how a Tablet would help Wesley stay a little more organized.   The school now has Wi-Fi so the students can look up things on the WorldBook site and also practice things on Quizlet, etc....

(I must admit that the thought of him taking around a tablet was also a bit unnerving... didn't want something expensive to be destroyed easily!)

Steve and I talked about it, and we realized this was where we needed to go and we bought the kids these for Christmas:  Samsung Galaxy Tablet 7 inch

Oh, goodness... they love them.  

I am finding it quite interesting to see what they can do on these and how they can take notes, find Apps to help with stuff at school, organize their day, record their homework, search for information, etc...  They also have Kindles on the Tablet which has been awesome because now Wes doesn't have to keep up with fifty books... everything can be on the Tablet.  I have had some fun searching for good books for them to download and read.  (Of course, some of it is discouraging with the choices of books for their age.  It seems a majority deal with witchcraft, sorcery, and dark magic.  I don't want my kids reading that.)

Overall they have done very well with them.  We are teaching them balance.  They can't just be glued to it all day and not communicate with others.  However, it has also caused them to have others gather around them as they figure out different parts of some games we have allowed them to download.  One of Wesley's favorites is "Minecraft" ... he and his friends are IN LOVE with this game.  It is like electronic Legos.

I have laughed at how the boys all come in my room or another friend's Mom's room after school and they are all playing this on their Tablets. 

Again, balance is what we desire.  If I can help my scattered child (and the non-scattered child) become less that way, then I am thankful for the technology and what it can do.  

01/01/13

It's a brand new year.

What are you going to do with it?

Something that keeps coming to my mind is taken from a sermon my pastor preached a couple of weeks ago.  What do I want to do this year?

Magnify the Lord.

In Luke 1, Mary was overwhelmed over the knowledge her cousin Elisabeth shared with her that her own baby (John the Baptist) leaped in the womb as soon as Mary greeted her. 

Elisabeth continued to say to her:
"And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord." (v. 45)

Elisabeth was reaffirming what the angel Gabriel had said to Mary just three months prior that she was going to be the mother of God's Son. 

What did Mary do?
She said: "My soul doth magnify the Lord."

She then began to worship the Lord in praise and thanksgiving for what He was about to do in her life.

Mary's life was not easy.  Her future was set.  Her future was that she was going to watch as her own Son died on the cross for her sins, as well as the sins of you and me.

Not a great way to view the future knowing that your child will die.

Yet, still she magnified the Lord.

I don't know what this year holds for us.  

It is a year of new beginnings, new challenges, new joys, new loves.

Throughout this year my desire is to magnify the Lord through all circumstances. 

I want to do as the Psalmist says: "O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together." (Psalm 34:3)

What exactly does magnify mean?  I found it for you.  :)

magnify

mag·ni·fy

[mag-nuh-fahy] Show IPA verb, mag·ni·fied, mag·ni·fy·ing. verb (used with object)

1.to increase the apparent size of, as a lens does.

2.to make greater in actual size; enlarge: to magnify a drawing in preparing for a fresco.

3.to cause to seem greater or more important; attribute too much importance to; exaggerate: to magnify one's difficulties.

4.to make more exciting; intensify; dramatize; heighten: The playwright magnified the conflict to get her point across.

5.Archaic. to extol; praise: to magnify the Lord.

Here is my take on those definitions:
 
1.  This year I want to continue to see God as the BIG God that He is.  Limitations are put on God's blessings for us when we put Him in a box.  I had Him in one for a majority of my life.  So thankful He broke through and showed me Who He really is.

2.  I want to magnify Him to others and elp them to see Him through me.

3.  I do not want to magnify my difficulties, but I want to magnify that the Lord knows what is best in all things for me.

4.  I want to show the world that being a follower of God is exciting!  I don't have to dramatize Him, but following the path God wants for me is far better than anything I can do on my own.

5.  Finally, just PRAISE HIM for all He will accomplish.

I welcome you to join me in magnifying the Lord in 2013.