Just A Word...or Two!

I just wanted to check in here and say hello! To those of you who may stop by while surfing, I want to say thank you for clicking in!
I have a new blog located at http://www.valerieshopechest.blogspot.com/
I do hope you'll check in there. I have posted over 160 times on this blog, so feel free to look around. Also, you can comment here if you like. I still check in to see if anyone has said hello.

Thanks again, and have a great day!

I've Moved!!

I've moved folks! Thanks for checking in here, but why not come on over and visit me at my new site? I'd love to have you! You can bring your coffee, or cappuccino, and sit back and relax. Oh, and don't forget to say hi!

I hope to see you there! :)

Well Guys, What Can I Say?

The only thing that comes to mind to say is "Thank you". Thank you for reading, commenting and at times, enduring, my life in the hill country. It's been great.

My life here has been wonderful. God has blessed us in so many ways. When I was lonely, He gave me blogging, and many faithful readers. I can never thank you enough for being there in cyberspace for me to fellowship with. I send you my heartfelt thanks.

My blogging days began on a slow day in September of '07. I did for fun, for a thrill. I was bored. I never dreamed it would become a passion, something I looked forward to everyday. I've enjoyed spilling my guts online. I figure, why try to hide it? Maybe by sharing my spiritual struggles I can help someone who's facing the same thing. This way, you'll know you're not alone. Every devotional or spiritual entry I've made has been something the Lord has worked me over with. Maybe my next blog, if there is one, should be called "Getting Real with Valerie". (Haha!) At this point, I'm not sure about a future blog. I can only hope. (Pun intended)

Please keep praying for us, and please keep in touch.

Thanks again, and I hope to see you soon! (Man, am I on a roll or what?)

~Valerie

Some Final Photos

Here are some photos of the party the church gave us after church:

The cake has us on it!! How neat!
Some of our people. Yes, that's my back to you there. I'm stuffing my face. It was hard not to! We had BBQ Brisket (Bristow-style) mashed potatoes, Watergate Salad by Lynn, and the list goes on!! It was so very good!
The church presented Terry a granite plague with a heartfelt message on it. Very touching. :[ We will miss them!
Here's Terry with the plaque. Sorry about the glare.
Thought I'd throw this one in too. It was such a beautiful sunset.

Now that you've waded through all those other photos, here's what we did for the Mom's today. Every lady got her picture taken this way. It was a hoot.

Ahhh. This is the life.

See ya soon...

Happy Mother's Day!

I just wanted to wish all of you, my friends, a very happy Mother's Day!
I also wanted to wish the world's best Mom, Carolyn Courtney, a very happy Mother's Day. We can't wait to see you!!
Mom, you make the word "Mother" that much sweeter to me. Thank you for all you have done to rear me for the Lord, and thanks for all you do to help me keep my eyes on Him.
Thank you for taking an interest in my interests by faithfully reading my blog, and commenting, in a way that only a Mom can!

I love you.

~Valerie

PS Check back later to see a photo of how our church honored Moms today!

Saturday Snap Shots: A Tribute

Well, this will be my last Saturday Snap Shots from this blog. I thought it appropriate to dedicate this last edition (here) to the people who made my life in the hill country possible.
I went down to the church last night to gather my materials for Super Church, and it hit me: this would be my last time to do Super Church here! We had just had a thunderstorm and the air was heavy. Lightning sparkled across the distant sky and the smell of rain was very strong. I stepped off the porch of the church and a wave of emotion washed over me. I remembered how we felt on September 11, 2005, the night we were voted in unanimously. How we envisioned being here forever. My children have grown so much since we first unloaded and introduced ourselves to these dear people. And now, while they are not completely grown, they certainly have grown and changed so much. The childhood memories they've made will stay locked away down here for many years, at the least, and maybe forever.
It's time for change, and oh, how I dislike change. I long for security!! But, with security comes laziness (at times) and perhaps I was getting lazy here! I know God is leading us away, and I gladly obey. Yet, I am human. I don't mind telling you I will miss these kind faces. I hope they will miss me, too.
Before I start crying, again, I had better proceed! These photos were taken on Old-Fashioned Day, April 27, 2008.
Scotty and Ann Bristow(pictured with grandkids, Micah and Aspen): The people who make the world's best BBQ brisket! Miss Ann has taught Mitch's Sunday School class the entire time. They are both hard working, faithful and giving people.
Caroline Sanders: One of the sweetest ladies I know! She has baked us everything from homemade rolls to kolaches to cupcakes. She has written us notes of encouragement and given us money every time we go on trips. She prays for us and she loves us. You know what? We love her, too.
Doris Hinds: Lauren's Sunday School teacher the entire time we've been here. She is a great artist! She has drawn our cover for our bulletin and painted a mural for the wall, as well as for the baptistery. She has shown love for Lauren as she faithfully studies and prepares for her class, even though Lauren is her only student.
Randy and Teresa Sanders: Again, these are two faithful, hard working people. Teresa is always offering to help out any way possible. She works in the nursery a lot! Randy is faithful to all our soul winning efforts.
Lynn Nelson (pictured with grandson, Jordan): This lady makes the best Watergate Salad in the world! She made me a whole bowl full at the end of February for no reason!! Well, I guess the reason was she wanted to thrill me, and she did! She is a blessing!

Everyone of these dear people will be missed by my family. It tears my heart out. I will be so glad when the trumpet sounds and we can all be together forever. No more goodbyes. Won't that be wonderful?

Thank you, Northside Baptist Church, for treating me like I was a Texan! ;]

I will miss you.

Something for My "Partner"

I had wanted to post something special in honor of my "partner", my Dad, on his birthday or another special date. However, because I'm not sure as to what my blogging status will be on his birthday, July 2nd, I decided to go ahead with it now. As I was packing up, I came across several cards and notes that friends had sent after his death. I keep them in a box which I avoid. I don't look at them very often, for they cause sadness deep within my soul. The tears start as a gentle trickle and then rapidly increase from there. I decided today, however, I would go through the box again. It's been a while since I've looked through it. Even though I miss him terribly, and it causes sorrow, it's good for me to remember the wonderful Dad I had here- and who is waiting for me on the other shore. I just wanted to share some things with you about my parents while I had the chance.
First let me tell you about my relationship with my parents. To sum it up, it was, and still is, wonderful. My parents were, in my opinion, strict. This said to me, "We love you, Valerie". My parents were giving. This said to me, "We love you, Valerie." My parents enjoyed having a good time and laughing. This said to me, "We love you, Valerie." My parents were forgiving. After being disciplined, I would repent. They forgave me and never brought it up again. This said to me "We love you, Valerie." My parents never humiliated me publicly. This said to me, "We love you, Valerie." My parents read their Bibles daily, lived according to the Scriptures, and backed our preacher. This said to me, "We love the Lord, Valerie." My parents led balanced and disciplined lives themselves. This said to me "Live this way for happiness, Valerie. Follow us as we follow Christ, Valerie." My parents whole heartedly invested in my interests. Whether this was shown by giving of their time, money or by simply listening, they cared about what I cared about. This said to me "You matter to us, Valerie."
My Dad and I had a unique bond. He often referred to me as his "partner". We had similar personalities. We enjoyed doing the same things. We biked together many summer nights. We would lie on the bed with the windows open in the summer and he would tell me all about his childhood...okay, I asked him a lot of questions! He picked me up from school and often bought us milkshakes. (I told you we enjoyed the same things!) Sometimes, I'd go to work with him. He would give me a map of Arkansas with all the counties and some colored pencils. What fun!! We once drew a map of the USA to hang on our mantle at home.(I would give pretend weather forecasts using it.) He read books to me in the summer about the Presidents. We enjoyed being together. This was true of my Mom, as well. We all liked being with each other.
Here are some things I wanted to share with you about my Dad. These were written on 3x5 cards that were handed out at my home church soon after my Dad's homegoing. I hope it will give you a glimpse into the life of this remarkable man.

"Bro. Courtney was such a blessing. He always greeted you with a smile, always had something encouraging to say. I guess the biggest thing that I'll remember about Bro. Courtney is listening to him pray. He will always be in my heart." - Laura Herndon

"I always loved to sit near Bro. Courtney during church because he was always so enthusiastic during the preaching. You could tell by the way he would "amen" the preacher that he lived and believed what he said. I also loved to hear him pray. You could tell he had a close walk with God. He left a wonderful legacy!" - Alisha Samples

"Bro. Ron Courtney - A godly man and great example for the younger fathers in our church. We will greatly miss him at Victory Baptist Church." - Mary Thomas

"When I think of Bro. Ron, I think about his love for his children and grandchildren - but even more, his love for souls. I always loved to hear him play the trumpet."
- Sheila Herndon

"It was very hot outside and we were sitting in the church. [Note: At the time the church met in the gym while they were building their new building.] Bro. Ron got my attention and said "Don't you wish you were in Greenland?" Bro. Ron was an encouragement to us." - Bro. Marty Arnold, Missionary to Greenland

And there were many more! There are so many loving people in my home church. These notes have been such a comfort to me over the past 3 - almost four years.
My Dad was tall, 6'2", and many people thought he resembled Ronald Reagan, especially when Reagan was in office. He would get so tired of complete strangers telling him this. He did not share this opinion! ;]

Here's a poem that a faithful friend of our family wrote. The Payte family, Reggie, Debbie, Jenceson, Jim and Reuben, have been friends of ours for years. We grew in the Lord together first at Hot Springs Baptist Temple under Pastor Glenn Riggs, and later at Victory Baptist. I hope you don't mind this long post, I just wanted to share what Jim wrote.

His wavy white hair
His finely honed wit,
The strength of his handshake
His encouragement to never quit.

The height of his stature
Is just but a mite,
Compared to his example
Of a man who lived right.

And, oh, to hear him pray
That's what I loved most
He seemed as though he were best friends
With the Lord of hosts.

No thee's and thou's
No strain of thought,
Plain spoken words
Not rehearsed or taught.

His head tilted back
As he uttered his prayer
I peeked I suppose
It seemed the Lord was standing there.

The words that he spoke
Still ring in my ear
I want to pray like that
And feel the Lord so near.

Into God's presence
Now he'll abide.
For today he went home
Leaving his children and sweet wife by their side.

But don't worry, don't mourn, fret or despair.
Ron Courtney left a heritage...
He was a man of prayer

Now you can see him in Heaven
As he talks with the Lord.
I picture it quite the same
As it was here before.

His head tilted back
Now Glory in his eye,
Face to face praying and waiting,
For you and me to arrive. - Jim Payte

I sure hope I didn't bore you with all of this. Since I've had a blog, I've written about everyone in my family. Everyone except my Dad. I've said a few things here and there, but I hadn't really told you about him. And to think, I could continue to write about him, and my Mom, for hours! None of my feelings for my parents are a shock to them. I have no regrets about my relationship with my Dad and Mom. To God be the glory!
I'll close with a little quote from my Mom's favorite show, The Andy Griffith Show. (Here's a brief synopsis) This is the episode where Aunt Bea wants a bed jacket for her birthday, but Andy doesn't get it for her. He instead gets her two dozen preserve jars. Aunt Bea is crushed. When he realizes his error, he goes to get the bed jacket, but it's been sold...to the Mayor! Andy agrees to trade the Mayor his prize fishin' rod, Eagle-Eye Annie, for the bed jacket. At the end, when Opie asks his Pa where the rod went, Andy replies to Opie:
"No, I didn't say that [I'd never get rid of it], I said I kept it because it brought me so much pleasure. And ol' Eagle-Eye Annie's doin' just what she's always done. Even right now she's bringin' me pleasure. Real heart-warmin' pleasure."

Pleasure, that's what my family brings to me. Real heart warmin' pleasure.

Fitness Friday: One Final Bit of Fun

For my final "Fitness Friday" on this blog, I wanted to post a cartoon that explains exactly how I feel about my workouts and weight loss efforts lately. My life has been crazy - no schedule, no routine. Allow me to sum it up: I feel rotten!! I'm sluggish again and just blah.
I saw this and just HAD to share it! I hope all of you are doing better at reaching your goals than I've been lately.
Have a great weekend!

Seven Days To Go

The Countdown is On...
Hi everyone! I just wanted to give you a little update on the progress here. We move one week from today! I can't believe it! We are doing well on getting packed up but I'm not doing well at living in a state of chaos! Things are boxed and stacked and there is clutter everywhere. When I think about loading all of my stuff onto a truck and moving it for the 8th time, I cringe! I take comfort in the fact that the Lord is behind this 100%, and He will help me move again. (But it is still no fun!)
Please pray for Northside. We are praying God will send them a good man to pick up the mantle here and go forward. The people are starting to perk up a little and think about the future, so that's a blessing. They are such sweet people! Whomever God does send is one blessed family! I am really getting excited about our move. I have been setting goals and making plans. It is fun to think about starting over fresh. I have made mistakes here, and I hope to have learned from those mistakes. It's nice to think about having a "clean slate." I know I will make mistakes there, but I hope not the same ones!

As for our move, this is the order in which I do things every time I move: (I've highlighted the step I'm at now)
1. Sort items in drawers, closets, etc. - Here are my categories: give away, throw away, yard sale and storage. After eight moves, I'm very hard-hearted. My throw away, yard sale or give away piles are huge! You wanna know if you should keep something or not? Ask yourself, "Would I be willing to move this eight times?" And you'll have your answer! (Haha!)
2. Pack all items for storage.
3. Clean and pack away items such as fans, seasonal decorations, etc.
4. Remove all items from walls, dust/clean and pack.
5. Pack items from closets. (Blankets, clothes we don't wear a lot, etc.)
6. I save the kitchen and bathrooms for last.
Since about three-four moves ago, I've been buying bubble wrap for the fragile items. It costs more than newspaper, but it's worth it! Things are safer and my dishes do not need to be washed upon unpacking when I use bubble wrap.
I leave these areas for my husband: Garage and Yard. He takes sole ownership of these and I have no say. I'd just like to say that I enjoy having no say over this. I have my hands full with the other 3,200 square feet! (3,800 square feet total)
Another update, we did some checking on local Internet access in Hope. There is a company that offers it, but it is way out of our price range. AT&T, our local phone company there, doesn't even offer dial-up!! We are going to do more checking after we get settled. We may try going wireless to see if that works. Or, we may not have it. :[ If not, that's okay. I know I'll make it. I will miss all of you though! You all have been so great to me to read my blog and comment or email me. Thank you so much.

Just a thought...
We recently found out that a local pastor has resigned his church and left his wife. It is heart breaking. We just saw them at a restaurant recently. She is such a sweet lady and they have two kids. I am reminded of some important things:
1. I need to keep a close walk with the Lord at all times.
2. I need to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit's nudging and/or screaming. A good rule of thumb is, when in doubt, DON'T!
3. I need to help and encourage my husband in his walk with the Lord in every way I can.
4. I need to pray for my husband and our marriage.
5. I need to be on guard against "the adulteress who hunts for the precious life".
6. I need to be sure that I am not portraying any of the characteristics of the adulteress myself!
This is a wake up call. I think of 1 Cor. 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. I want to take heed now before it's too late!

Blessings of the Past

One thing you cannot avoid while packing and sorting, is coming across old scrapbooks, photo albums, notebooks and journals. I have been pretty good about not stopping to peruse each one as I've been packing, but I found one that I couldn't resist glancing through. It was a small notebook, so I knew it wouldn't take long to read through it.
I wanted to share a journal entry that I found in that notebook dated April 4, 2003. It was good that I read it, as it brought back memories of past blessings that God had graciously bestowed upon me. The Bible says in Romans 5:3-4 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: Recalling the trials and subsequent blessings from the past gives me hope. (I didn't know it would mean I'd literally be going to Hope! ;] )
Here's the entry:

Fri. April 4, 2003
I haven't written in a while because I've been getting to bed so late. But I wanted to record some blessings God has given us during this time of testing*.
1. Terry had a suit and sport coat cleaned at Comet Cleaners and we only had to pay $.85! The total was $10.85, but we had a $10.00 credit!
2. Kathy Basham found 3 packages of diapers for Mitchell left at the college property.
3. Terry got paid $70.00 from BHBC (Blessed Hope Baptist College in Benton, AR) for teaching Kevin's Old Testament Survey class for two weeks while Kevin was away.
4. Terry repaired a guy's brakes for $50.00 today!
5. Mitch has an ear infection, but we got him to the doctor and on antibiotics. He will be much better by the time we leave for Texas*!
I was up late with him last night, (almost all night) so I am turning in.
Thank you, Lord, for all of these blessings!

* This time of testing was when we were facing many battles at the church where we were youth pastor/associate pastor at the time.
* This reference to Texas was when were preparing to go to Alice, Texas to preach in view of a call. They called us 100%, but we did not have peace about it, so we did not take it.

I was encouraged by reading about some of the large, and even the small blessings that God gave me during a time of trial. It indeed gives me hope, just as the Bible says it will! It also convicts me about writing down all of the blessings He gives me. I'm too good at forgetting what He does to not take time to record it on paper, or on screen! ;]
I've read the saying "God is good all the time" and that's true. More specifically, He's good when everything else is bad. Even during times of trial, His presence surrounds and refreshes me like a cool breeze on hot day. Yes, He is good. So very good to me.

What Really Matters

While working on my weekly Bible Study lesson from the book Be Patient - I'm Not Perfect Yet by Juanita Purcell, I read the following poem. It sums up how brief life is, and what really matters.

Through this toilsome world, alas!

Once and only once I pass;

If a kindness I may show,

If a good deed I may do

To a suffering fellow man,

Let me do it while I can.

No delay, for it is plain

I shall not pass this way again. - By Gail Harvey

Oh yeah, and One More Thing...

I just wanted to tell you about Terry's new blog. I have link to him in the sidebar. It's hilarious. If you need a good laugh, then go on over and check it out. Oh, and one more thing, could you leave him a comment? I know he'd love it!

Have a great day, everybody! :]

It's Not Really Over

As I go through my Bible each year, or as I teach through it in Super Church, I grieve when we "bury" a Bible character. I recently saw Samuel go to Heaven, and today, I opened up and started reading about the last words of David.
II Sam. 23:1 Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said,
When I read that these were the last words of David, it made me sad. "You mean I've already finished his life? We just started!" I thought to myself. I remember being sad when I finished teaching about Moses in Super church. We'd had about 7 weeks of lessons about him. I hated to see him go. Fortunately, I can resurrect both David and Moses by simply flipping back a few pages. That's the beauty of any book, but especially the Bible. You can enjoy it over and over. With the Bible, you can get something brand new even though you've read it ten times! It's a living book.
I'm so thankful that I can enjoy the lives of great Bible characters over and over on Earth, and meet them face to face someday in Heaven!

Saturday Snap Shots

Hello, everybody! This week I wanted to share a few photos of our trip to Arkansas.

A view from the Mountain Tower in Hot Springs. I had never been there before!! The view was cloudy, and there were puffs of pollen constantly floating up from the pine trees. My sinuses thanked me for staying inside the enclosure!! :)
This is where Terry and I lived in Hot Springs...307 Richard Street. The house used to be a medium blue color, and the yard wasn't so full of plant life. I think it's too crowded looking, but maybe that's just me.
Here's Nana and the grandkids!! Oh yeah, and me too!

Lauren and Mitchell at the Mid-America Science Museum. The machine in the background was on display here when I was a youngster. It brought back memories.
This is a 500 lb. Quartz!
It was mined in Jessieville, Arkansas. This is the small town where my Mom used to be the Elementary Special Ed. teacher, and later the Elementary Principal. How neat!
This is little waterfall at the science museum. Arkansas does have lots of natural beauty.
The Sunday after we returned home, the church surprised Terry with this cake and a love offering for his 30th birthday! It was so thoughtful of them!

Here's Terry cutting his cake. (I'm talking in the background...as usual!! :] )Laci was trying to write like Daddy and Leslie. I thought it was sweet.Here it really does look like she's writing, but the pen isn't out so she can't really make marks. Didn't seem to bother her though! *sigh* Children are such a joy!

I best get back to packing. See you Monday, everyone!

Fitness Fridays: Moving is a Workout!

I have begun the packing process. I have started going through things for a yard sale, and I have packed up the school room. (Okay, not everything in the school room. My computer is in here!) The first thing I packed yesterday was my stability ball. The kids love rolling around on it, and I just knew it was gonna pop. So, I deflated it and packed it. I also conveniently packed my other weights and exercise videos. Hmmm, wonder why I packed those first? I know! Now I can say "I haven't been able to work out because I'm packing up!"
Nah, really. I am here to testify that packing up your entire house is a workout in and of itself. Not to mention the loss of appetite that accompanies having to say goodbye to friends that you have worked with, cried with, prayed with, etc. for over two years. And the loss of appetite that accompanies the nerves of starting over again in a new place. Thoughts like "What if they don't like me? What if I blow it somehow?" have a way of making you, well, not very hungry. So all of this contributes to weight loss!

But, after 5 hours of nothing put sorting and packing, the stomach has a way of letting you know that it's time to eat!!! My little chicklets have a way letting me know that, too!

Even if I weren't getting any physical exercise, the comic strip below brought me comfort that even working at a computer leads to some weight loss.

Have a great weekend!

Lauren's Prayers Are Answered!

I've been eagerly awaiting the day when I could make this important announcement. Terry has resigned as Pastor here at Northside Baptist Church and has accepted the pastorate of Grace Baptist Church in Hope, Arkansas. We are taking a church that not only has children, but teenagers as well! Lauren's prayers have been answered! That's right, God heard, and indeed answered, an eight year old girl's prayers! What a mighty God we serve, and how wonderful He is to us!
We usually take our annual trip to Arkansas around the first part of May, but when Terry was asked to preach in view of a call in Hope on April 20th, we moved our vacation up a wee bit.We were not looking for a place to go. In fact, the Lord has really been blessing our work here - oh, not by giving us huge numbers or large offerings, but in baby steps. Here a little, there a little. We have been anticipating great things in 2008 - and trust me, a move was not one of them. Here are a few interesting things about all of this that really meant nothing until we received the call to Grace Baptist Church:
1. As stated before, we were not looking to leave. This was all done in God's timing. An evangelist friend felt he should put our name in at this church, and it was of the Lord. They phoned Terry on April 2nd, and he drove to Hope to meet them on April 4th. They asked him to preach on April 20th. He preached there and we were called, unanimously, on April 27, 2008. That can only be the Lord!
2. We have had a real peace that God would bless our efforts to serve Him here, even when the battles were great. I've been using Hebrews 11:6 as my strength. It says: But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Again, I was expecting the rewards to be given here in Burnet, but God had other plans.
3. We did not notice until after we were asked to go in view of a call that the stationary Terry had printed (at a costly amount) back in February did not have his name as Pastor on it! He did not do this intentionally, but I do not believe it was a coincidence. The church can continue to use this stationary after we are gone.
4. We are almost through with school for the year. This is a blessing! The children will not be uprooted from a school and friends because we home school...another benefit.
5. Terry had just discontinued our website (biblewaytexas.com) in mid March! (Although, as of now, it may still be going.) He simply felt he should end it. Again, it was of the Lord.
6. I have been unable to decide what theme to go with for a Mother/Daughter banquet. The Lord seemed silent on this subject, so I had decided to not have one this year.
7. I had just discontinued my monthly ladies newsletter due to financial and time constraints.
None of the above seemed very extraordinary at the time, but now, it seems clear it was God guiding us all along the way.

We make our move on May 15th! Grace Baptist Church is full of loving people. We had a feeling of being at home from the moment we walked through the door. The thought of packing and moving doesn't exactly thrill me, but at least I've got experience. :o) This will be my 8th move in 10 years of marriage. Yes, please pray for me.The church has a parsonage. I am unsure of the address as of this time, but I'll be posting my new information soon.
I praise the Lord for the success He's granted us here at Northside. We have not accrued any debt in the church's name. We have not seen the church split over something minute. We have seen souls saved on soul winning, and one saved in church. We have conducted a successful VBS (with only a few workers) and saw 7 girls saved. We've held Bible Institute classes, and a Ladies Bible Study. We have started Super Church. We have taken on five new missionaries for a total of 14. We have done a lot of work on the church building and parsonage. We are thankful to be able to say that we are leaving it better than we found it.
It will not be easy to say goodbye. We are dreading it. Please pray for us, the people here, and for the church to find a pastor quickly.I suppose my "Life in the Hill Country" is about to come to a close. I'm thankful that my life hasn't yet! :o) I am not sure if we will have Internet access in Hope. If so, I'll be starting a new blog. If not, well, I guess this will be it for a while.
Thanks for staying with me, guys. I hope we can keep in touch. Until then, I'll be keeping you posted on the joys of packing, moving and starting over...again!

Full Circle

The following is a little something I wrote on March 5, 2008. I love to write, and pour out my feelings on paper...or on a screen! ;o) The Lord brought this to mind again, and I wanted to share it with you. It was a lesson that I really needed!

Job 40:2 Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.

Most of you know that my church is small. My husband is the Pastor and we have four kids. My kids are the only ones in the church. My eight year old daughter is often discouraged because she doesn't have any friends. At least once a week she goes forward during the invitation, (and is often the only one there) and asks Terry to pray with her that God will send her friends. As a Mom, this touches my heart.
I was recently explaining to the Lord myself that Lauren really needed friends; I told Him that it was very hard for a girl to not have friends. It was then that Lord said to me that He knew exactly what He was doing, and was I doubting Him? He then brought to my mind a fellow that my husband was friends with when his Dad pastored a small church in Virginia. From what Terry had said about him he wasn't a great influence - but he was all he had! I asked my husband if his life was made better or worse by his one friend and he said "Definitely worse. That guy tried to get me and my brother (a year younger) to do things that could have killed us (i.e. stunts that were dangerous. The Lord graciously protected him during these years). He tried to get me to sneak out of the house one night when he stayed over at our house...my Dad caught us just in time."
It was at that moment that I looked toward Heaven with a tear in my eye and thanked Him for NOT giving my daughter friends. I apologized for questioning His wisdom. I saw clearly that having no friends is better than having one bad friend. The Lord had brought me full circle. I went from being unhappy about a situation, to actually thanking Him for it!
God loves me, and He does know best.

The Dump Truck at my Door

I awoke to the loud beeping of a reverse alarm and an engine noise near my house. This truck sounded strangely close. It wasn't trash day. There was no construction going on in my area. What could this be? I reached for my bathrobe on the bedpost, and without even stopping by a mirror to comb my hair, I went to the front window. Before my eyes, and my front door, was a large dump truck. My heart started pounding. What in the world was this?! I heard the hydraulic lift raising the bed of the dump truck. Just then, a knock on my door. I ran to open the door, despite my "sleepy head" appearance. A man stood before me in cover-alls to guard against the nippy start to the day. "Hi ya, lady. Where do want the load today?" The man had a kind of northern accent, and was chewing gum. (I thought this to be quite odd at 6 AM. I hadn't even had a cup of coffee yet!) Pushing these thoughts aside, I stared at him rather blankly. "Load?" I asked. "Yeah." he replied. "Ya know, your load of benefits for the day? Just tell me where ya want 'em and sign here." He said, shoving a clipboard with an attached pen in my face.
"Oh. Of course!" I said, looking down at the paper before me. It read:
Psalm 68:19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.
This was my daily load of benefits from my Father! I hastily signed my name and smiled. "I'll take them right here." I said pointing at my office, where I read my Bible every day, and talked to my Father. "Okey dokey!" the man said to me while smacking his gum. He released the back of the truck and I watched in amazement as the benefits poured into my home! There was good health for the day. I saw "love, joy, peace, gentleness, long-suffering, meekness, goodness, faith and temperance". There was the Holy Spirit! I saw "good husband, Mother, children, sister, brother, and in-laws" pass by me. I smiled at "godly and praying friends" as it rolled past me. I had a tear to my eye when I watched "a goodly heritage" come inside my home. It was a blessing to my heart to open a small package that contained "God's compassion for the day. Lamentations 3:22-23" There were so many more, that I haven't time to tell you all of them! I did not earn any of these benefits! They are all just perks to the Christian life.
How could I forget that these benefits would be arriving? This was something that the Lord gave me everyday! Probably because, like all of us, I tend to take things for granted. Nevertheless, the Lord is there everyday, with His "dump truck" load of benefits and blessings. Today, however, I was reminded to thank Him for them.

Of course, this story is fictional, springing forth from my overly-active imagination! I thought that if I could literally receive a "load of benefits" at my front door everyday, then maybe I would be more grateful for that which I already do receive everyday! Because they aren't always visible, I often forget about the benefits and blessings that the Lord bestows upon me every single day of my life, and for eternity! Why, even during times of trial and testing, His "load of benefits" still arrives at my "door" every morning.
I thank the Lord for this unspeakable gift!

He Makes My Home Heaven on Earth

I was through with guys for quite some time, at least I thought so. Little did I know the man of my dreams, the man that I never thought I could get, would come along during a deep valley in my life and literally sweep me off me feet. No, he did not buy me a huge diamond. I don't drive an SUV. I don't get the latest fashions or live in a condo on the beach. Instead, I had a man pursue me with all that was in him. He never gave up on trying to win my heart. And he succeeded. Today, I live a home where I am loved and even adored. This love and admiration I know I do not deserve, yet Terry looks past my faults and sees the good. He is a wonderful picture of Christ. Christ loved me in spite of my faults. Christ loved me so much that He gave me a home in heaven someday, and a home that is heaven on Earth today. Terry is the reason for my heavenly abode!

I have a husband who is honest with me about myself. Yes, this sometimes hurts. But sometimes, love hurts. He is loving. He is thoughtful. He is hard working. He is wise beyond his years. He is faithful to the Lord first, to me second, our kids third, his parents fourth and to our church family fifth. He has his priorities in order. He fixes brakes for our church people for free. He takes me on dates to the Olive Garden!! (YES!) He takes the kids fishing. He cleans my Mom's gutters. He works on her car, in the hot sun. He bathes the kids when I am running late, or just to give me a break. He babysits our church kids so the ladies can attend our ladies fellowships or the Bible Study.

Terry doesn't go out and shake hands with the Mayor or the Chief of Police. He isn't trying to get in good with big name preachers. He isn't wanting a full page story in the newspaper. He is content with serving, working and loving behind the scenes.

Someday, I'll tell you all just how wonderful he is. I'll tell you how we met at 14 and couldn't stand each other!! I'll tell you about how his life took a detour from the Lord, and how the Lord righted his vessel. I'll tell you how he finally convinced me, and my Dad, to give him a chance. I'll tell you how he's weathered betrayal, disappointment, and even threats on his life for the cause of Christ. For now, I'll just tell you that I am so unworthy to be loved by such a wonderful man. He often tells me how he "married above himself in the caste system". The truth is, I'm the pauper in this relationship. I'm the beggar who married a prince.

Happy birthday, Terry.

I love you.

Happy Birthday To a Great Gal in Illinois

Misty, left, with her friend Melissa. I got this photo from her blog!!

Terry's cousin, (and my friend for many years prior to our marriage), Misty, had a birthday yesterday!! I'm still in Arkansas, and felt terrible yesterday when I remembered it was her birthday. I couldn't get on the computer to wish her a happy birthday then, so here is a belated birthday wish.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MISTY! So sorry I missed you yesterday. I hope you had a wonderful day. I hope you got to watch the fights, eat cake and ice cream, and get waited on hand and foot!!
Thanks for keeping in touch with me through the Internet and thanks for being a great cousin to all of us! I only wish we were closer to you so we could celebrate together!!!
We miss you!

Love from the whole gang:
Terry, Valerie, Lauren, Mitchell, Leslie and Laci

Saturday Snap Shots

I wanted to quickly share these photos before we left this morning. I came in to an empty play room and found Laci playing in the toy box! She was so happy and content, I snapped a few photos. Mitchell was the culprit responsible for her being inside the toy box!!
Have a great weekend everyone!!

Fitness Fridays: Pros and Cons of Weight Watchers

Today I wanted to share my experience with Weight Watchers. I was a member two different times in my life. The first was right after Mitchell's birth in 2003, the second after Laci's birth in 2006. Both times I lost weight. Overall, I give Weight Watchers a big thumbs up. There are a few things about it which I did not like.

The Pros:

1. Weight Watchers is a plan you can live with forever! You do not need to purchase special food, or expensive equipment.Each food is given a Points value based on calories, fiber and fat. You figure the points using the Points Finder that you recieve when you join. You recieve your daily Points goal based on your gender, activity level and weight. It is all very easy to do. They give you a ton of recipes, but I found it best to use my old standard recipes and just eat less of the food rather than adapt it. I wanted something I can live with forever!

2. Weight Watchers helps you set small goals. They encourage you to lose 10% of your weight at a time. This is a very reachable goal. Every time you lose 5 lbs. you get a huge cheer and a small reward, like a book mark or a sticker that says "I lost 5 lbs." This is great encouragement.

3. You want to attend meetings because if you miss a week, you still have to pay for that week. This keeps you accountable. I needed the accountability.

4. This plan allows you to eat out at any restaurant! By purchasing the "Dining Out Companion", you automatically have hundreds of Points Values of lots of various restaurants at your fingertips. You can pick out what you will eat ahead of time and not use up all your points in one meal...and when you eat out, that's easy to do!

5. You get to gain more Points to eat by exercising! This is great!

The Cons:

1. Attending meetings is better with a friend.I always felt very isolated and alone, even though I tried to talk to those around me. It was hard because everyone else had a friend with them.

2. It can get costly! There is a joining fee, plus a weekly fee. All the books cost extra as well. It is worth the cost, however, to be healthy. You must "weigh" the cost for yourself however! (Pun intended!;]) You'd hate to go bankrupt trying to lose weight!

3. Sometimes, figuring points can be tricky. If you have a lot of ingredients in a recipe, it can get confusing trying to figure out what the Points value is.

I hope this information is helpful. I enjoy Weight Watchers because of the accountability, and the ease of use. You don't have to deny yourself anything forever on WW. It is a very doable plan!

How I did this week...

Week two of the exercise regimen went well! Despite having to leave for the dentist at 7 AM on Wednesday, and being ill on Thursay, I managed to exercise three days this week! I will be out of state next week, but I hope to get in some walking while I'm gone. Terry has lost 4 lbs. and I have lost 7, and that's encouraging. But the best part is feeling stronger and more energetic!

Here's a little tip to help you at the weigh-in, should you decide to join Weight Watchers. I highly recommend this method! ;] Have a great week everyone!!

PS..Please read my comments for even more info on WW from readers. If you have anything to share, please, PLEASE, comment! You will be helping me out so much!

Thanks!!

Just Had To Share This...

Okay, most of you know that we, well okay, I am an "I Love Lucy" fan. My kids are also fans, and we are slowly winning Terry over to our side. It is funny because, really, I have lots "Lucy" moments. Anyway, we have all six seasons. Since we love the show, we spend hours (just kidding folks) teaching our children things like singing "Babalu" while pounding on a chair or table. Laci has mastered the technique of doing it on her belly! I just captured this on video and I had to share it with you. Hope you like it.

This next clip will be most appreciated by relatives, so non-relatives, feel free to skip this one! I just thought you would enjoy hearing some of Laci's new lingo.

Arkansas is Calling My Name

Yes, it's that time of year again! The changing of the seasons is barely noticeable here in Texas. Things look browner in winter and greener in spring, but that's about it. The weather is slowly getting warmer, and in winter it will slowly get cooler. With every changing season, I suppose I long for home! Not just the natural beauty of the natural state, but home. You know, seeing the smiling face of my Mom and enjoying the flood of happy memories that wrap their arms around me as I cross that threshold on 2811 Karen Street in Benton. My childhood greets me as I walk through the garage and remember coasting in on my bike and hopping off for a cold drink. And it just gets better as I enter the kitchen, the den, and of course, my room! It's as though I never grew up. (Okay, no comments please about my not having grown up in reality!)
Terry also longs for good ol' Arkansas. He loves fishing in the Saline River. He has decided this would be a good time of year to visit the River once again. We are all heading out on Saturday, April 19th, for home sweet home.
I can feel Arkansas, or home, calling my name. The Lord is graciously allowing me to answer!
Please pray for us as we travel. We've had another smaller bout with a stomach virus. I am praying we'll all be 100% for the trip on Saturday. We'll be coming home on Friday, April 25th. I'll be posting that day for sure. A very special guy has a birthday that day!! I'll give you a hint, he's the one who's wanting to go fishing in Arkansas. Yep, Terry will be the big 3-0 on Friday the 25th.
Thanks for your prayers and friendship.
See you tomorrow!!

The Lethal Combination

I Sam. 21:6 So the priest gave him hallowed bread: for there was no bread there but the showbread, that was taken from before the LORD, to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away.
I Sam. 21: 8-9 And David said unto Ahimelech, And is there not here under thine hand spear or sword? for I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste.9 And the priest said, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou slewest in the valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod: if thou wilt take that, take it: for there is no other save that here. And David said, There is none like that; give it me.

We see in the above verses that David is on the run from Saul. He has just been warned by his best friend, and Saul's own son, Jonathan, that he needs to "get out of Dodge". David heads to Nob, where the priest Ahimelech is. The priest is curious as to why the hero of Israel is alone. David tells him that the "king hath commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, Let no man know anything of the business whereabout I send thee, and what I have commanded thee..." (I Sam.21:2) This was the truth, for the King had sent him on a business. It wasn't King Saul, but the King of Kings! And his business was staying alive. David was being very discreet.
He continues to tell the priest that he needs bread. The priest offers him the shewbread, after he confirms that David is pure. David then asks for a weapon. Ahimelech tells him that all he has is Goliath's sword. David says (I like this part!)
"There is none like that; give it me." This sword was a token from the greatest battle in Israel. A battle that David himself had fought. God delivered a giant into the hand of a young man! What a boost to his spirit to be reminded of a great victory during a time of trial in his life. Isn't God good?
The thing that caught my eye was that David received food or nourishment for the journey from the priest, or at church. He also received a weapon there. When we go to church, we receive the food for our journey, from God's Word, as the Pastor preaches. We also receive a weapon to fight the spiritual battles in our lives at church. We get "ammunition" from the Bible, so to speak! Likewise, when we get in God's Word daily, we receive food from the Lord. When we go to God in prayer, we are using our greatest weapon against Satan.
There have been times that I have felt the enemy breathing down my neck. But just when I needed it, I received the "shewbread" to give me strength, I am reminded of a great victory that God wrought in my life and I remember to use the weapon needed to fight in spiritual warfare -God's Word! It isn't long before I see a victory!
Yes, any way you slice it, God's Word and prayer are a lethal combination.

Samuel's Heart

I Sam. 15:11 It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night.

I Sam. 16:1 And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.

I was so impressed with Samuel's tender heart in the above verses. He cared so deeply for Saul that he cried unto the LORD all night long. It grieved him that Saul disobeyed the Word of the Lord. I must admit, I don't cry to the Lord all night very often. And if I did, I'm afraid it would be over something much more personal. I don't know that I am compassionate and loving enough to cry for others all night.

I found it interesting that the Lord finally had to tell Samuel to stop crying for Saul. He told Samuel that He had rejected Saul, and chosen another. He wanted Samuel out of the dumps, and thinking of the future. I suppose I do often dwell on the negative and stay down when I need to pick up and move forward. I hope I will remember this the next time I face discouragement and disappointment.

It's Not For Pastors Only

Hey everyone. I couldn't sleep. It is 4 something in the morning and my mind was whirling. I couldn't seem to turn it off. I started remembering this story and thought I would share it with you. I don't know if you'll agree, but these are just my thoughts. If it doesn't make sense, it is because it so early and I am sooo hungry! ;]

I was once a member of the church where the Pastor said in a sermon that his daughter had done something wrong (I can't remember what, it wasn't huge, she was only about 8 years old) and he said to his daughter, "Why did you do that? You know you shouldn't have done that, you're the Pastor's daughter." This girl seemed to resent the fact that she was a preacher's daughter. May I say, I can see why! She didn't ask to be a preacher's kid. There wasn't a big push at church for all who wanted to be in the pastor's family to please "sign up". So, why did it matter? Aren't we all called to a higher standard as Christians? Jesus wants the world to see His reflection in us. Also, on the selfish side, living life His way brings innumerable blessings. This doesn't apply to pastors only. If you're His child, then you can get in on the blessings, too!
We try to live to a high standard, not because we are better than anyone else, not because we believe in a works salvation and not because we are the pastor's family, but because of one reason: we are Christians. We do right because of Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.

My husband and I were married for seven years before he entered full time paid ministry. But we were in full time unpaid ministry for seven years prior to receiving the salary. We do not do one thing differently now than before we were a "Pastor". We read our Bibles then, and now. We dressed modestly then, and now. We did not watch filthy TV then, or now. We attended church faithfully then, and now. We went out soul winning then, and now. We corrected our children for disobedience then, and now. We did not listen to wicked music then, or now. We did not use foul language or even crude language then, or now. We did not drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes then, or now. We were honest then, and now. We tithed and gave to missions then, and now. Why? Because as Christians, we read the Bible and found verses that instructed us to live this way. Not because we thought "Well, we're gonna be pastoring, so we better clean up our life for the job." We do not live this way because there is a contract that pastors must sign before they can get a church. We live this way because the Bible teaches it. We live this way because we try to obey the Lord. Jesus said If ye love me, keep my commandments. John 14:15 I love Him, and I want to obey Him. Oh, I need to do more. You all already know that. But, I'm trying.

When my daughter asks me why we do or don't do something, I say "Lauren, we live this way because we're Christians, and we try to do what the Bible says." When she or Mitch or Leslie does wrong, Terry says "Why did you do that? You know that ________is a sin. The Bible says..." and then he fills in the verse. We are hoping that if we teach them what the Bible says that there will be a good chance they will live by the Bible as an adult. My teaching is faulty. My example is frail at best. But the Bible's teaching is infallible. Jesus is the perfect example. I hope I can keep their eyes on Him!
As the song says:
The Bible stands, though the hills may tumble.
The Bible stands, though earth may shatter and crumble.
I will plant my feet on its firm foundation,
though all around is sinking sand, the Bible stands!

The church people watch us closely. So does the world. I hope I am pointing everyone to Him.

Saturday Snap Shots

Here are a few pictures that I thought you might enjoy. I have not taken the time to post photos very much lately. (That takes a little longer than just typing a post.) Anyway, I have more to add, so if you're interested, please stay tuned! Have a great weekend everyone! :o)

Lauren is reading to the kids. If only everyday was so peaceful!
Mitch had been out hunting with Dad. It took it's toll!
Dad and Leslie back during the cold season. (That's why her upper lip is so red, it's chapped!) :(

Laci put on her little bloomers for a hat...
...after she saw Leslie do it!"Can I help you?"

A photo of me snapped by Lauren.

Fitness Fridays: Smart Ways to Exercise

Welcome to my new journal on fitness! I will post it on Fridays. (I liked the alliteration of Fitness Fridays. If you know Bro. Graham, my home pastor, then you aren't surprised that I alliterate!) I also like the fact that I can report on my activities from the previous week by posting on Friday. This is one of my methods of accountability.
First of all, I praise the Lord that I have no serious medical condition that prevents me from engaging in nearly all types of physical activity. If you do have health concerns, but would like to be more physically fit, then please talk to your doctor. There are ways of getting fit without damaging your health. I have allergy induced asthma, and it often flairs up because of the cool morning air or from exercise. I remedy this by taking a shot of my rescue inhaler right before I begin my exercise. I don't do this every time, only when I am feeling tight in my chest. Also, I'm not prescribing this for you, this is just what I do. I am not a doctor! Please talk to your doctor before beginning an exercise regimen. Okay, now that my disclaimer is out of the way I can move on.
Today I wanted to tell you about a new workout that I have started. I purchased the Bell Express 15 workout kit from Gabrielle Reece, the volleyball player, at http://www.gotogabby.com/ and I highly recommend it. You receive everything you need for the workout at once, so there are no excuses. There are several DVDs to choose from. I chose the "30 Day Challenge". That DVD has three workouts: strength, core, and cardio. The kit includes a stability ball and pump, 2-4lb. weights, and a pedometer! It's great. Each workout is only 15 minutes. Come on, who doesn't have 15 minutes for their health?? We all do! The workouts are not intense. In fact, the trainer in the workouts tells you to work as hard as you can. On gotogabby.com, he recommends using the RPE scale. This stands for Rate of Perceived Exertion. If you don't feel the workout at all, your exertion is too low. If you can't say a complete sentence, then it is too high. If you push yourself, you will feel even a 15 minute workout. I have done it four days this week, and on the fifth day I did another workout. I really love it. You can choose to do the 15 minute workout only, or you can do the workout with a warm up before and a cool down after. If you do the entire thing, it is only 24 minutes total.
Now, you may not enjoy DVDs or video workouts. I do. I enjoy feeling like someone is working out along with me. I also have a treadmill. It's nice for when I need to do something different, or just want to walk and not think about choreography! ;] Whatever your favorite activity is, then do it. Gabrielle Reece (on gotogabby.com) recommends that you schedule your workouts daily just like any other appointment, and then show up! I've done this just this past week and it has helped me. I also enlisted my daughter and husband as my "workout partners". Terry and I rise at the same time. He goes for a 30 minute walk, and I do a video. (we can't both leave the house). Lauren and I try to take a walk in the afternoons. On days when he would like to roll over and go back to sleep, I say "Come and let's go get fit!" On days when I want to forget it, he says the same to me. So far, it has been really helpful. I'll keep you posted though. I hope I can last. I've heard it said that if you do something everyday for six weeks, then it becomes a habit. Okay, one down, five to go!
I also want to mention that I am not trying to lose a lot of weight or get into a size__ . I simply want to be strong and fit. Running or aerobics is good for the heart, but we also need to build our muscles by lifting weights. Muscle weighs more than fat, but it is always moving in our bodies, whereas fat just sits there. Therefore, when you have more muscle than fat, you will have a higher metabolism. This means you will burn more calories doing things like sitting and sleeping! Why? Because the muscle is always moving. Also, while the numbers on the scale may stay the same or barely move, your clothes will be looser because you will be losing inches! Muscle takes up less space than fat. All in all, lifting weights is a good idea. Using 2-5lbs is a perfect. (If you have your doctor's permission, of course.)

I must close by telling you that my favorite muscle to exercise would be...any guesses? You got it! My jaw muscle!! ;] I love to talk! (Big smile!)

Happy Friday everyone, and I hope you have a great workout!

Coming Next Friday: The pros and cons of Weight Watchers, as told by a former member...ME!

Something Brand New!

Hello friends and neighbors! I just wanted to tell you about the new blog that my friend Amanda has started. Amanda and her husband, Jeremy, are on deputation preparing to be missionaries to Brazil, South America. They also have three adorable boys! Our church began supporting them in January. I know you will enjoy her photos and her news of their travels to different churches. I appreciate all of our missionaries so much. It takes a lot of character and a close walk with the Lord to go out by faith, not just to a church somewhere in the US, but to a foreign field.

I hope you can stop by and say hello to her at www.tylerfamilytales.blogspot.com She is a very godly lady and I am blessed to call her my friend.

Thanks for visiting my little blogspot! Have a wonderful day!

A Letter From My Heavenly Father

I was thinking this morning about what a wonderful blessing it is to be saved. To know for sure that as soon as I close my eyes in death, I will open them in Heaven, is a very calming thought. I hate that so many in today's world do not know there is God who loved them so much, that He gave us His only Son, Jesus, to die for their sins. I want the whole world to hear about Him!
An even more saddening thought is that there are so many saved ladies who do not know how much God loves them. They have accepted Christ as their Saviour, but they have not walked with Him day by day. They do not feel His loving embrace each morning, they do not use His strong shoulder to lean on in the evening. It is a sad thing. Do you spend time each day reading God's love letter to you? Oh, believe me, there are days that I fail in this area! I have so many areas in which I need to grow. I do know that the Lord wants to hear from us, and talk to us.
He is waiting each day, in the shadows -for He never forces Himself upon us - for us to say hello and spend some time talking with Him, and crying to Him. I was thinking today that if the Lord could write us a personal letter, what would He say? I have no idea! After all, the Lord of the universe is perfect, and I am not. But maybe He would say something like this:

Dear Daughter,
Good morning! I hope you enjoyed the rest I gave you last night. I watched over you carefully. When you tossed and turned in despair over your burdens, I was waiting there, for you to call out to me. But you continued to toss and turn. I saw when sleep finally came to your wearied body.When you awoke in the night with your little ones, I was there beside you. I saw how you gently rocked your sweet baby. I thought about how I love it when you allow my peace to rock you to sleep.
I was hoping you might come to our place - our spot - this morning and have some coffee while you read My Word. I was disappointed when I saw you dash around the house and begin your day without me. I have so many things to tell you! I want you to know that I love you, I didn't just redeem your soul and forget about you, oh no! I have a blueprint for your life - for each day of it - if you'd only talk to me. I know you're struggling with your children, trying to rein in their wills, make them obey, and show love for them. I'd like to help you with that...but you haven't come to me. I know your facing financial pressures, and I have the answer for you, if you'd tell me about it. I'd like to hear your prayers. Yes, I know your burdens already, but I want to hear your voice. I miss you.
You have some areas in your life that you need to grow in. I have some corrections for you to make, but I will not chasten you and leave you. I will give you the strength and power to change!
If you only you would come to me. I love you more than any human ever could. I know you love me, but I wonder how much you love me, since I never hear from you.

Whenever you come to me, my sweet daughter, I will be here, waiting for you.

Love,
Your Heavenly Father

I'm so thankful for a loving and long-suffering Saviour! He is so good to me!

A Sister Is Forever ~

Happy Birthday, Melanie!!

Walter, Melanie, Stephen and me

Many friends may come and go, but a sister is forever. In honor of my sister's birthday today, I'd like to tell you a little about her. I often tell people that my sister is extremely good. And that defines her perfectly. I often desire to please myself, Melanie desires to please others. I often seek my own benefit along the way of life, Melanie seeks the benefit of others. If you need a babysitter, you can call upon her (but please don't...she's really busy these days). If someone is ill and needs a meal, she will be there. She sews. She cooks well. She sings. She plays the piano. She will gladly help you prepare a meal, or clean up after a meal. She will volunteer to pick up the dry cleaning or go to Wal-Mart for the one ingredient that you forgot to buy for supper. She homeschools, she is a soul winner, she teaches Sunday school, she is the mother to three active boys, she works in 4H, she's on her homeschool co-op board. Oh! She also recently organized the Master Club regional competition for her church, Gospel Light Baptist Church. That was no easy task. Her church runs around 3,000 people. She is amazing.
Somehow in the midst of this busy schedule, she still finds time to talk on the phone - for an hour or more at a time - to her sister in Texas. (That would be me! ;])

Besides "good", another word to describe her would be "Christlike". Yes, that's the right word. Melanie tries very hard to be like Christ.

Melanie, you have always been able to love everyone. It seems to come naturally to you, whereas I have to work so hard at loving people. I hope that today you will be the one who gets waited on hand and foot. I hope you can relax and enjoy today. It is your day.

Thank you for being the world's best sister. You have been, and still are, a wonderful example of Christ for me to follow.

I love you.

Just Embrace It!

Genesis 3:11 And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.13 And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

I know many people who play the "blame game" quite frequently. My children are champions of this particular game. They love to blame "each other" for the wrong committed. They love to blame the ever popular "I forgot" or "I didn't hear you" for their wrongs. I know many adults who blame "the church people" as their reason for quitting church, or another popular one (but an oldie) is "The Pastor", or you can fill in his name. I've found we can always blame the pastor for something. "The Pastor didn't tell me to do that." "The Pastor was so angry when he preached that sermon that it offended me." "The Pastor is too young or too old to listen to. He doesn't understand us!"

I had thought that this was just the way it was in the world in which we live. We live in a day and time where people just don't fear God. We can all find excuses for not doing whatever the Holy Spirit is nudging us to do. And by the way, if we are not feeling the Holy Spirit's nudging to do something, then why make excuses? We must be feeling some pressure that we should do something or should stop doing something, or we wouldn't be fighting it by way of excuses. Oh, wait! Let's not call them excuses, let's call them reasons. Whatever name we give them, they are not unique to our day and time as I recently noticed in the above passage of Scripture.

We can see how Adam and Eve blame someone else for their own disobedience. Why didn't one of them say "Yes. I did it. I ate the fruit and disobeyed You, Lord." I suppose it was the first evidence of their new sin nature. We have inherited our "excuse making" habits from way back: Adam and Eve. They too played the "blame game", just like my kids do, and yes, just like I do from time to time. Truth is, this game is as old as time itself! From the original sin to today, we have people blaming someone else for their problems and for their sin. One such person I see everytime I look in the mirror!

When I was a teenager, I worked on a bus that picked up kiddos for Sunday school. My bus driver, Jenceson Payte, used the phrase "embrace it" a lot. He loved to tease me about how much I talked. I used to get all flustered and embarrassed and try to make excuses for my verbosity. He would look at me with a big smile, shrug and say "Hey, Valerie, you're a talker, just embrace it." After that statement, I could only grin and, for once, sit quietly. He was right! I'm pretty good at making excuses too! He was telling me to just accept the truth about myself and quit making excuses for it! It's a good philosophy. In order to come to Christ for salvation, we have to admit - or embrace - the fact that we are sinners. We have to claim it before we can change it. It's true of everything. If we don't see a problem, then we won't fix it.

So, the next time someone says "Why didn't you help us set up for the worker's banquet last night?" (or whatever) you can smile and say "I didn't feel like it. I stayed home and watched TV instead." or, you could just lay aside your excuses and go help out. Whatever you decide to do, just embrace it and be happy! It's so much easier than trying to think of excuses.

Kindergarten Homeschooling Helps

I have been home schooling my children for the past four years. Lauren is in the third grade this year, and Mitch is in Kindergarten. I learned so much while teaching Lauren. I made some mental and written notes while teaching her that have come in very handy for teaching the same material to Mitchell.

Here are some of the things I learned while teaching my kids. These ideas are not just for home schooling parents; any mother can help her child get a step ahead, or work on a difficult concept using some of these nifty tools.

I found that using a clock that had "moving hands" was so important in teaching time. As the minute hand turns on this clock, the hour hand moves accordingly. Therefore, it simulates the movement of a real clock. I cannot tell you how easy this clock has made my life! :o) It only cost me $6.00 at a teacher supply store. (If you have a teacher supply store in your area DO go check it out! Ours is called Teacher Heaven, and that is exactly what it is!)

Abeka's home school curriculum includes ready made lesson plans (Let's all give Abeka a great big thank you for that!) In these plans, they tell you to use a flannel board and felt pieces to demonstrate various concepts. I ordered the felt objects for counting from Abeka during Lauren's Kindergarten year and they were very handy! We used them for counting, teaching patterns, story problems, and just plain old fun! If possible, try to make use of a flannel board and either purchased or home made felt pieces. Kids love 'em.

Abeka also encourages the purchase of felt numbers, but I made my own. I bought ready-cut letters at Teacher Heaven and cut some strips of felt. I then glued the pieces of felt onto the back of the numbers from my ready-cut letters packet and voila! These are used in conjunction with the felt objects. For example, you might place four flowers, three trees, five birds, etc. on the board. The student then counts the objects and places the correct number (with felt on the back) beside the corresponding number of objects.

This small marker board is ideal for demonstrating the correct formation of letters and numbers. One side is blank, and the other side is lined. Instead of standing at a board, the student can write on this board much like they will a piece of paper. Unfortunately, these were not around when Laure was in Kindergarten. They have been so nice to have! I highly recommend these! This one cost me about $7 at Wal-Mart.

If you are thinking about homeschooling, here are some great resources to get you started:

Slow and Steady Get Me Ready

So, You're Thinking about Home Schooling?

Help for the Harried Home Schooler

Educating the Whole Hearted Child

Things We Wish We'd Known

I also highly recommend Abeka, but I realize there are many good homeschooling options available these days! I'm sure they are all good. We use the Abeka DVD school, as well as the traditional "Mom taught" school.

Again, whether you home school or not, I hope you can use these ideas for your kids, grandkids, Sunday school kids, etc. Also, if you have any great teaching ideas, I'd love to hear from you! Please email me, or comment here. This was just something I thought I'd share.

Have a fabulous Friday, everyone!!