Our 10th Anniversary Celebration

Hello everybody!
I just wanted to write and tell you that I will be leaving for San Antonio tomorrow. My husband and I are going to be spending two days and one night in the beautiful home of the River Walk!! I am really excited about it! We haven't been alone overnight in 7 years!
I will be taking my camera, so I hope to have some photos to share with you on Friday or Saturday.
I would appreciate your prayers for us as we travel, and that we will be able to enjoy our time alone to the fullest! By the time I get used to it being just the two of us, we'll be back home again! But that's okay. I will be glad to get away for a while, and I'll be glad to get back home! I am looking forward to a time of refreshment!
Oh, and please pray for my Mom, as she will be caring for the little Bashams while we are away!
Thank you for your support, prayers and friendship.

Your servant in the hill country ~

Valerie

My Love Story - Ten Years Later

Terry and Valerie in Florida 2004

Terry and Valerie 2007

It was all I could do to walk away that cold January night. I headed for my car, staring at the dark concrete as I walked, tears stinging my eyes, wanting to turn back, but refusing. I knew that those first steps would be the hardest. I was walking away from a one year relationship with a guy that I thought consciously - but knew better subconsciously - would be my future husband. I did not admit to myself that I had "pushed" the relationship along the entire year. I had suggested that we go do "so and so". I had asked if he would call. I had done almost everything for both of us. Deep down, I knew I didn't want that. I wanted a guy that wanted me. But who would want me? Finally, the day came when I had to admit he wasn't the one. He had been drinking. He had another girlfriend in another town. He was doing drugs. This relationship was turning into a nightmare. It was over. I knew I deserved better, but truthfully, I had zero faith that I would get anyone, much less anyone better. After our break up, he left our small college and headed for the hills, where he could party undisturbed by my "ideas" for another date.

I spent my teen years in an active youth group. We had several guys in our church, and they dated every girl in church, well every girl except me. I had only had a few long-distance relationships. When would some guy -that lived around there- want to date me? All my friends were not only seriously dating someone, but two were married!

Then, I met Terry. Well, I met him at teen camp when we were 15, but at 18, he came to my church's college. He had also dated every girl in church - but me! (Do we see a pattern here?) He had been living a worldly life shortly before I broke it off with that guy. Terry came forward in church one night, crying and asking our church to forgive him. We did. That was that. He stayed in college. He kept going. That guy, didn't. He quit.

Terry came to me one night after church and told me he was "crazy about me". Okay. Right. I may be blond, people, but I'm not dumb. I had seen all the broken hearts he had left behind, and I had just been through that myself - I wasn't about to do it again. I was preparing to leave for a Bible college in northern Indiana. I had had it with small churches and my hometown. I was moving on to bigger and better things...I thought.

Terry sent me a rose to work the next day with a note that read "Since you don't believe me, I'll convince you." It was unsigned, but I knew who had sent it. I was reeling. This was what I wanted! Someone who wasn't afraid to win me. That was the end of February,1997. And let me tell you, convince me he did! He had his work cut out as I am very stubborn! He had to win my Dad over, as well as me! Dad wasn't too fond of any guys at our church after what that guy had done. Terry prayed and worked very hard at winning me. Our first date was April 25,1997. We got lost! We finally made it to the restaurant. It was, well, it was exactly how I envisioned a date to be. After all, this was my first date! Well, the first date that I hadn't organized! ;o) We dated "steadily" from then on. We were soul mates. It was obvious to us, but I will admit that at 19, you're still very immature!!!

He purposed marriage to me on Sept. 11, 1997. We were married January 2, 1998. He has not been perfect, but then, neither have I. We have our ups, and our downs. Life has hurled many trials our way. Some trials our closest friends don't even know about. But through it all, God's love has led us. And through all my faults and failures, Terry's love has been there - waiting for me, and winning me all over again! He's a wonderful husband, he's my best friend. He's a great leader. He's a tender hearted soul winner. He's an honorable man and loving father. Every quality I looked for in a husband, he has it and more!

I love you, Terry. Thank you for wanting me. Thank you for convincing me. Thank you for 10 exciting years.

Terry and Lauren with her new doll, Christmas 2007

(She named the doll Elsa)

Terry and Mitchell shooting his BB gun.

Terry and Leslie with her broken arm. :(

Terry with Leslie and Laci

A New Year, a New Me!

I absolutely love the New Year! I hope all of you had a fun New Year's Eve. I did. I was reading in bed when the new year was rung in by millions the world over...it was perfect! Of course, if you read my post from yesterday, you know that I had a root canal done on the last day of 2007. I thought it was great. I am sore today though, but I'm not complaining! :o)
I want to share with you some of my goals for 2008. Do you set goals or make resolutions? I should set up a poll asking that question. I love doing that every year. Even when I don't come close to achieving my goals, I feel better because I tried!
This is the month that fitness clubs, Weight Watchers, Slim-Fast and the like push to get people to join and/or buy their weight loss products. Their motto is usually "A New Year, A New You!" or something along those lines. Now, I was made a "new creature" when I was saved on June 12, 1993. I will not be really "new" until I get to Heaven and get my glorified body. If you are not sure of your salvation, then start 2008 as a child of God. Here's the four step plan:
1. Realize that all are sinners. Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
2. Realize that your sin demands a price. Romans 6:23a For the wages of sin is death;
3. Realize that Jesus paid that price for YOU!! Romans 6:23b but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
4. Realize that you must receive Him. Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
If you believe what the Bible says, and believe that Jesus truly did die to save you, then you can call upon Him today and He will save you. And it's not just a salvation for today, it's for eternity. Remember, it isn't works plus Jesus, or being good plus Jesus, it's all Jesus! Won't you trust in Him alone to save you today? It will be the best decision you make all year.

Even though I'll never be truly "new" on this earth, I do strive to start fresh and new every year. I set goals for the year, and then I set goals for the month and smaller goals for the week, and so forth. I love making lists and checking them off!! I'll list my resolutions here and, Lord willing, I can let you know on December 31st, 2008 (If I'm not getting another root canal!) how I did on reaching my goals.

1. Read and study my Bible more this year than ever before.
2. Read at least 10 books.
3. Exercise at least 3 times a week. (Maybe even lose 10 lbs.!)
4. Lead at least one person to the Lord, but as many as God will allow me to. Be more faithful at my soul winning efforts.
5. Be more long-suffering with my children. (This is a sugar coated way of saying "CONTROL MY TEMPER!")
6. Work at being creative at home, with school and with Super Church.
7. Go to God for my needs or desires, before concocting my own plan to achieve them.
8. Take my worries to Christ, instead of my husband.
9. Find ways to ease my husband's ministry or work load. Be a better help- meet to him.
10. Be a more loving wife, mother, daughter, daughter-in-law, sister, aunt, niece, teacher and friend. I want to find unique ways to show my love for the above relationships.

Whether or not you make resoultions, you have been given another year. You made it through 2007! Praise the Lord! 2008 stretches out before us, fresh and empty. How will we fill the pages of this year's calendar? Will we waste soul winning opportunities? Will we fight and bicker with our loved ones? Will we let another year go without really seeing any change in our walk with God? (and no one has arrived in this area!) Let's not let 2008 go by without giving it our all!

I wish you all a happy and productive 2008!!

I Love Dr. James!! (In a wholesome way, of course!)

Okay. I'm back. Yes, it is 9:52PM and I'm just now sitting down at the computer. For those of you who faithfully check in on me here at my little blogspot, I apologize for the delay. I'm sorry I didn't even get on to update my Proverbs for the day! What can I say? It's been rough! Thank you so much for your prayers for my tooth! As you can see by my heading, I have Dr. Brian James to thank for it! I wish he had a website so I could link you to him, but it's still in the works, so my words will have to suffice.
He is an endodontist (specialist in root canals) who has opened his practice fairly recently. He graduated from Hendrix college in Conway, Arkansas - the same school my Aunt Kathleen attended. My Dad also went there for a short time! What a small world! Anyway, he did root canal #1 on tooth #31 (for those of you who know anything about dentistry...I'm finding out that I'm learning quite a bit through all of this...) on Dec. 27th. I go home, I feel better but still hurting. I called him on Sunday and told him the pain was still bad. He said - okay, here's the great part - he said that he would come in today, Dec. 31st, to see me, even though his office is closed!!!!! Is that great or what? My Mom arrived on Sunday afternoon, so she stayed with the kids today, and Terry drove me the one hour-ish drive to Lakeway and there was my hero- Dr. James and his wife! They were great! He did root canal #2 on #30 for me today on his day off. And let me tell you, it cost a fortune, but WHO CARES!! The pain is gone!!!!!!
Now, for those of you that might be thinking "Valerie, what do you do? Eat candy and drink cokes all day long? Chew on rocks for fun? Do you never brush???" I'll tell you that no, I do none of the above, well, I mean, I don't eat candy and drink cokes all day, and I do brush! On Dec. 17th I went to my regular dentist, who is very good, and had a crown on #30 and a filling in #31. However, I've been known to have very "tall" nerves in my teeth. These nerves extended up too close to the said crown and/or filling therefore causing immense pain for me! So, please, put aside any ill thoughts of my diet or dental hygiene. I do my best, but ya can't help the way you were made!
Laci is better, but still on the fussy side. I'm extremely numb. I told Dr. James (whom I now have on speed dial) that the worst part about dental work is not being able to talk during the procedure! For those of you who know me, you know that I speak the truth! :o) It's hard for me not to talk!
I hope you all have a very happy New Year's Day!! I'll be posting tomorrow, Lord willing, on my New Year's resolutions. (I just LOVE the New Year!! I love the idea of starting anew!) Hope to hear from you soon!
Oh, and if you're ever in the blessed hill country and need a root canal, I can hook you up! ;o)

A Prayer Request

Sorry I've not been posting lately. It's been a rough week for me. Last Sunday I was in terrible pain from a toothache. Naturally, being the week of Christmas, I could not get in to see a doctor until Thursday. He did however, call in an antibiotic and a prescription for Vicadin!!! I've been feeling so bad, and all this from a toothache, that I've done only what has been necessary to survive: Food, clothes and path. Food for my family, clean clothes and a path to walk through the house! I had a root canal on Thursday, and now another tooth (two were bad and the dr. had a hard time telling which one was worse!) is bothering me. On Christmas night, Laci was up screaming all night. We took her to the doctor and she has an ear infection!!!
Laci is doing much better now, but I'm not. Anyway, I know this sounds so silly, so minor, but could you please pray for my tooth? I don't know if I can bear the thought of another root canal, and my budget is telling me the same thing!
Thanks so much for your prayers.

P.S. This reminds me of how every member of the body is important, even something as small as a tooth! As a church body, every member is important from the oldest to the youngest, richest to the poorest. Well, maybe I should save this idea for a later post! Have a good weekend...and be sure you go for your regular dental checkups! :o)

To Find My Heroes, I Look No Further than My Breakfast Table

A man told my husband that he was wanting to write a book about three of his heroes. All three were preachers. I thought to myself "That is really wonderful! But, if I write a book about my heroes, I wouldn't need to look further than my breakfast table to find them."
My heroes as a child, were Ron and Carolyn Courtney, my Dad and Mom. They are not pioneers, or war veterans, but they made an ordinary life, extraordinary. They brought joy to the mundane happenings of life. They brought peace to a chaotic world. For this, they are my heroes.
My Dad never made it very far up the "ladder of success". He worked as Director of Field Services for the American Cancer Society, and later the American Heart Association. This meant that he traveled the state of Arkansas and organized local fund raising boards. He was a great speaker. He taught the boards how to organize and follow through with fund raising campaigns, such as, "Jump Rope for Heart" and many others. Once he and Mom came to know Christ, they no longer went to the parties that were hosted by the "big wigs" in these fund raising organizations. He quit doing this because they served alcohol, and Dad would not associate with that lifestyle in any way. This forced him into the shadows of the business world, and therefore, he never made it into the boss's chair. Because he said "no" when the world offered him success at a high price, he is my hero. He spent many hours reading to me about the Presidents. I loved history, and he did, too. He took me on walks in the summer. We each had our own "walking stick" and we enjoyed looking at our neighbors' well manicured lawns and noting their new riding mowers! We smelled the honeysuckle in the air and he told me stories of his childhood. He took me on long bike rides, and he would take my bike apart and lubricate it every year and then proudly stand back and say "She'll go like greased lightning, now Valerie!" And he was right. He took me to teen activities, the library, and to my monthly orthodontic appointments. He read the Bible aloud to my Mom every morning. He loved me when I would get a bad attitude, and he was so proud of me when I achieved a high score on a test. For all of this, he is my hero.
My mother was blessed to have the favor of men and women alike in her chosen field: education. A brilliant student herself, I am convinced that she could have become a college professor if she had desired. Instead, she taught special education. She was, and is, tenderhearted. Her heart broke when a mentally disabled or retarded person was laughed at, or made fun of. I am not as naturally tender hearted as she, but watching her tear up over seeing someone mistreated has made me much more sensitive to the feelings of others. We never called someone "a retard" as a joke in my house. We never made fun of those who were handicapped or poor or disabled. She taught me that it was by God's grace that we had the intelligence, money and abilities that we have. For this she is my hero. She taught me that "life and death are in the power of the tongue". (Prov. 18:21) She spent many hours explaining to me that words can help or hurt people, and that mine often hurt others. She worked long hours teaching, and often stayed after school to tutor students who were struggling. Then, she came home to cook supper, do laundry, write letters, lesson plans, and grade papers. She rose early, and went to bed late. It was a rare evening that she ever put her feet up to relax. She was always doing for others. She never missed her Tuesday night soul winning time. She worked hard at teaching her 3rd Grade Sundays School class. She made us eat breakfast - and supper - together. For all of this, she is my hero.
When I married at age nineteen, I had already been witnessing some amazing examples of character and integrity. I had no idea that I'd be witnessing even more of that in the life of my husband.
He got his first job at age fourteen because his bike was broken, and he needed to earn money to have it repaired. He could have asked his parents, or grandparents for the money, but he didn't. He got himself up every morning at 4:30 and delivered papers on foot. For this, he is my hero.
He watched his father face many battles in the ministry, yet he gave his life to serve in the ministry as well. He didn't get bitter. He is my hero.
In Bible college, he had to install his own lavatory in the dorm! He faced very primitive conditions as the college got on it's feet, yet, he didn't quit. He's been criticized and judged wrongly by others, but he doesn't get angry or quit. He keeps going. He is my hero.
He has many abilities and talents, yet he is humble. He gives his all when he could get by with less.
He studies God's Word, and tries to live it. He's honest. He's not a hypocrite. If we have a disagreement over something before services, or if he even just snaps at me, he will apologize before he preaches. He wants to be right with God, and with man, or in my case, woman! For all of this, he is my hero.
I am so thankful that my heroes are not just people I know about, but people I know.

Merry Christmas!

I'm so thankful that He came so long ago, and that I know Him now.
Merry Christmas Everybody!Have a great day, and a wonderful 2008!!I'm so glad we can "get together" through the wonderful world of technology. Thanks for stopping by.