Day 30- Ways you believe you have grown over the past thirty days.

During the last 30 days, once again my "deep water" faith has been challenged.     It is something that we have talked about in our middle school ministry Sunday School class.    I have had the Casting crowns song ‘Somewhere in the middle’ running through my mind a lot.   In that song there is a line, “Deep water faith in the shallow end”.    

Do you remember learning to swim?    You start out on the side of the pool in the shallow end.    Maybe even with those blow up floaties.     Pretty soon you have a little more confidence and take off those floaties.    Soon you may even trust yourself to swim to an adult in the middle.       But eventually you know that you want to venture out to the deep end.

Faith is kind of like that.    We all start out in the shallow end of the pool.    But our skills grow as we test our faith.     However, sometimes it is easy to get stuck in the shallow in of the pool.   You are just far enough end to be wet and somewhat swimming, but not quite out of your safety zone.     Your feet are still tiptoeing to touch the bottom, but you aren't quite willing to take that step over the edge and go to the place where you have to completely trust.

This year has been a year of deep water faith to me.     I don't really think that I have had a lot of chance to slowly tiptoe my way into the deep end as much as it has been the "sink or swim" approach.    I feel like I have been thrown into the deep end with all the circumstances in our family.

This past month we have been dealing with some health struggles for Big Guy.     He has been sick since June and we have been working with doctors at Blair Batson Children's Hospital for the past month running a ton of tests trying to find answers for him.      You are moms.   You know.    You would much rather be sick than see your child sick.      When you are going through tests and doctor appointments and day after day of watching your child in pain, it requires a lot of faith, prayer and pure trust.

I am learning that being thrown into the deep end means one of two things... panic and drown in our circumstances OR swim using the faith skills we have.   My "swimming" might not be pretty, but I know that I am being watched by the best Lifeguard ever.    

Day 29- What you live for.

This is my desire to honor you

Lord with all my heart I worship you.

All I have within me I give you praise.
And all that I adore is in You.

Lord I give you my heart.  I give you my soul.

I live for you alone.
Every breath that I take.
Every moment I am awake.
Lord have your way in me.

Day 28- A moment you remember being completely happy in and a description of why you believe you were. What is your definition of happiness?

I can immediately think of three...

The day I married my sweet hubs. I seriously could not quit smiling. Right before they opened the doors for my Daddy and I to walk down the aisle I told him, "Walk slow. I want to remember this forever." But, when I saw my handsome hubs standing at the end of the aisle I couldn't wait to get down there to him. My Daddy teased I nearly dragged him down the aisle. Hubs' Uncle Phil officiated our wedding and told my Daddy he had never seen a happier bride. I can't imagine anyone being happier than I was on my wedding day.

The day I gave birth to Big Guy. We had waited seven years for our first precious baby to be born. We were so excited. I will never forget that moment when they put Big Guy in my arms. He looked up at me and I looked at him. We stared into each other's eyes for what seemed like forever. Anytime I would lay him on my shoulder he would lift his little head to look directly in my eyes. We have always shared such a bond.

The birth of our Little Guy was a true miracle from God.   God added Little Guy as a "punctuation mark" to our family.     The day he arrived was so amazing.    The memory of seeing his sweet little face turn and look at hubs at us when we said, "Hello" still brings tears to my eyes.    My doctor said, "He definitely knows his parents voice!"     No matter where they took Little Guy in that room he always turned his head towards our voices so we just kept talking to him.     When they put him in my arms he didn't want me to quit talking because he just seemed to drink in the sound of our voices.   

Looking back I realize that those first moments were a huge cue to my boys' learning personalities, but I was too deliriously happy to do anything but absorb the smells and faces of our precious boys.  

Day 27- Your definition of the meaning of life.

The meaning of life is found within the cross.     Jesus' death on the cross and our acceptance of His amazing and beautiful gift is what gives my life meaning.   

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful,

I know that full well.
Psalm 139:14

It is such a simple answer, but with such amazingly complex ramifications.    When I look around at those in my life who try to live each day without Jesus I wonder.    Why?    How?   
God's arms are what hold me tight when the unknown threatens to grip me with fear.    His shoulders are what I cry on when I am scared or afraid.    His ears are what I whisper, laugh, cry, and talk into about everything.     His hand is the one I reach for first thing in the morning.     His footsteps are the ones that I am searching for as I walk along each day.      His voice is the one I am listening for in the midst of the noises of day to day life.

It is knowing that He loved me enough to send His only Son to die for my sins that gives my life meaning.

Day 26- Your definition of love.

Love is more than those butterfly feelings you get in your stomach or the way your heart leaps when you hear the keys in the door or your kids feet running across the floor.
Love is solidity of knowing that "til death do you part" means that the word divorce was erased from your vocabulary the day you said, "I do".
Love is sobbing in each other's arms when better turns to worse and you feel like an earthquake has shattered your entire world.
Love is the freedom to express anger and frustration, but knowing you won't go to bed with that anger unresolved.
Love is receiving a loving kiss after days of sickness and you are feeling or looking unlovely.
Love is sacrificing personal comfort to ensure the success of their goals and dreams.
Love is watching a piece of your heart walk across the floor each morning to go to work and school.
Love is finally understanding a glimpse of how much God loves me.
Love isn't a feeling.   It is definitely a choice.

Day 25- Something you would do if no one stopped you or if you knew you wouldn’t fail.

Go back to college.     There are so many reasons why I didn't finish college to begin with, but in the end it doesn't matter.     I didn't and I would love to go and finish and get my degree.  

I love working with kids.    I have found that my heart truly beats for students in the 5th-8th grade range.    It is such a critical stage in life.     

Friendship for Grown-Ups

Former Facts of Life star Lisa Whelchel shares her experiences of growing up without true friends and how she learned to find and develop them as an adult through God's grace.

Not many people can say they lived their most crucial developmental years on the sound stage of a wildly popular TV show. But that's exactly what happened in Lisa Whelchel's life. As a child, she learned to guard her heart so tightly to avoid true hurt that she found herself unable to form lasting friendships as an adult.

Friendship for Grown-Ups details her experiences of learning to come out of her shell, to trust, risk, and become vulnerable by God's grace and find meaningful friendships. Readers encounter her captivating story and refreshing perspective on life's most precious gift—and they find practical tips for their own friendships along the way.

Book Review

Having read a few of Lisa Whelchel's books, I was already familiar with her easy and enjoyable writing style.     However, in this book Lisa truly opens up and allows readers to become more than that and see into her heart.     Coming to a point in her life where she could share more openly has not only been a long road, it has been a struggle.    

Being a child star may seem fun and glamorous to those viewing it from the other side of the television screen, but for Lisa it caused her to build up walls which would protect her heart and what little self-esteem she had.    

For a lot of people there is nothing like facing those years with good friends by your side.    That is what Lisa discovered that she was missing.     She had become so walled up that she hadn't allowed herself to have good or even best friends.     She had plenty of acquaintance friends, but none close enough to truly know her.     

It took one friend who was willing to painstakingly chip away at the wall and be patient until Lisa was willing to show some vulnerability.      Lisa shares what she learned on this path to finding true friendships.  

She realizes that this is a journey that we must each take for ourselves, but she hopes to make it just a little less bumpy by giving us some advice.   

Such an easy friend from someone we have all considered a friend since watching "Facts of Life"!

Thomas Nelson gave me five copies to give away to readers.      Typically I would give these away as part of a giveaway, but this time I did things a little differently.    

The winners of these copies are...

Sheri - because you are my best friend
Emily - because you inspire me with all you manage to do for others
Shelby - because you are in a new chapter of your life and I pray that friendships will help guide you through the grief you are experiencing
Vicki - because every girl needs a friend as a hairdresser
Shera - because we both loved "Facts of Life"

Day 24- Something you did as a child that other people remember you for.

Isn't this an unfair question?     This has definitely been one of the hardest posts for me because I don't know what other people remember me for as a child.

As I was trying to think only two things stuck out to me as being talked about:

My Mom told me that was I was really little my Pappaw was in the hospital and she took me to visit him.    She used to put me my hair up in two little ponytails.    She said that my Pappaw loved my hair like that and said that I reminded him of Buffy from the television show.     Not the vampire slayer, but the OLD television show with the little girl.    I know you are all too young to remember so here is a picture of Buffy with her ponytails...

The other thing that popped into my mind was a night when our family was out to supper.     We were eating at The Top of the River (much like Cock of the Walk here in our area).     It was a catfish restaurant in Vicksburg where we loved to eat.     The waiter brought our drinks and within about 30 seconds of delivering them I spilled mine... straight into my Mom's lap.     It was a complete accident.     We cleaned it up and the waiter brought me another one.     Two minutes later, again I spilled my drink and somehow it rain straight onto Mom.    As you can imagine my Mom was not happy about two drinks landing in her lap.    Once again we cleaned it up and they brought me another one.    What happened?   Yes.   You guessed it.   It spilled.    I am naturally clumsy but this was out of even my range.     Unbelievably, I got a fourth drink but every time I moved everyone said, "Don't spill."    

Day 23- Most awkward first impression you feel you’ve ever given.

Oh this is so easy.     And very awkward.     Before I met my amazing husband, I dated a guy who was in seminary studying to be a pastor.     After we had been dating for quite a while he asked how I would feel about going on a double date with another couple that were friends of his.     

What he didn't tell me was that this couple was his professor and wife.     What he also didn't tell me was that he had told them (who had NEVER met me) that he intended to ask me to marry him that night while on this double date.    

When they picked us up, they told us we were driving to Vicksburg.      That hour drive was filled with 100 questions.    About my life.   My values.  My beliefs.   My goals for the future.    How I felt about everything in general.        I thought I was going to have a panic attack.

After having supper we drove around Vicksburg for a little while.     My boyfriend thought it would be romantic to propose to me in my hometown.    I guess he somehow didn't consider the fact that inviting another interrogating couple along kind of brought down the romance factor a LOT!    

At one point during the night he pulled me aside and proposed.     I was very stunned and said yes.    We crawled back into the car and he told the couple who said, "Ready to go home?"

It was the most awkward night of my life.       

To prove the awkwardness, it didn't take for me and that guy to figure out that a life together was not in our future.      We broke off our engagement and God led me to my happily everafter.

Love's First Bloom

She must conceal her past, her identity. What hope can there be for love?

Life changes drastically for Ruth Livingstone the day her father puts a young child in her arms and sends her under an assumed name to a small village in New Jersey. There she dutifully awaits his acquittal, certain that her father, Reverend Livingstone, soon will be cleared of the outrageous accusations against him.

When tragic events transpire, Ruth finds solace tending a garden along the banks of the Toms River—a place where she can find a measure of peace amid her growing heartache. It is also here that she meets Jake Spencer, a man who both frustrates and intrigues her. Fearful of the newspapermen intent on tracking her down and unsure of whom to trust, Ruth knows she must carefully maintain her identity as Widow Malloy. But as love begins to slowly bloom, can the tenuous affection growing between Ruth and Jake withstand the secrets that separate them?

Book Review

Day 22- Someone you would give your life up for without question.

My boys.    No question.

Wow.   That was an easy post.

Day 21- Your favorite medium of art.

I love to paint!   Am I good at it?   I am so-so.   But what really matters is the fact that it is so relaxing and it is something like my boys like to do with me.        

Day 20- A band that you immediately liked and the song that made you like them.

Maybe this band should have fallen under the guilty pleasure category.      I love Huey Lewis and the News.    I loved them in high school.     They made me want to *gasp* dance.     Which was strictly forbidden in the church I grew up in!   

But how can you listen to Huey Lewis and not want to dance?      I loved them so much I even went to New Orleans to see them in concert.    I admit it.   I really did.     And I loved every minute of it.


Hey!   This isn't called the "month of insight" for nothing, girlfriends!!!  Ha!

Day 19- A passage from a book that has touched you

Reading is such a passion that I thought picking a single passage would be really tough.     However, every time I sat to write this post my mind kept popping back to one particular passage.    I learned it in high school in literature class.    Mr. Odom was my literature teacher and had to be one of the best teachers I had in my educational experience.      I enjoyed reading before I went into his class, but I truly loved reading and knew how to experience books after I left his class.

I fell in love with Robert Frost's poem, "The Road Less Traveled" while in his class.

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveller, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference

...Robert Frost

Reading this poem resonated with me because it reminded me of the Scriptures from Matthew 7, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

I was at a pivotal point in my spiritual life during that year of high school.     I had received my driver's license only to have it snatched away from me for two years after having a life threatening grand mal seizure.      I was being constantly teased by one of my teachers for being a Christian.    The "thing" to do was to keep a book with a record of the things you had done for guys on Friday nights.    I didn't have a book.

I loved Robert Frost's poem, because it so beautifully expressed the choices I had made.     To take the road less traveled.

Day 18- A picture that makes you feel.

How about pictureS that make me feel?

This photo reminds me just how much our God loves us from the MOMENT we are created.  We are truly fearfully and wonderfully made.

This photo reminds me of my sweet friends who are separate from their wives/mom and husbands/dads right now.    Makes my heart hurt for them.

Seeing a picture representing those moments that Jesus died on the cross for MY sins does more than make me feel.     It makes me hurt.   It makes me ache.

To know that in the midst of the beauty of creation, God already knew that He was going to send His Son to die for our sins makes me love and trust Him more.    How can you doubt a love like that?

Day 17- What you want to be remembered for.

"I've learned that people will forget what you said,
people will forget what you did,
but people will never forget how you made them feel."
-- Maya Angelou

I hope I make my husband, my boys, my family and friends feel the love that I have in my heart for them.    I also hope that they feel the love that I have for my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.     I hope they always know they have a safe place here at our home.    That I would do anything for them.

The Generals - Patton

General George Patton was known for carrying pistols with ivory handles and for his intemperate manner, but it’s his outspoken advocacy for tanks that carved his place in history, not only as a military pioneer, but as one of the most colorful and controversial American generals of the twentieth century.

Patton was impulsive, impatient, and would often disregard higher command when he felt his methods or tactics would achieve the desired result. He is remembered for his fierce determination and ability to lead soldiers. Unlike most generals, he wasn’t content to stay behind enemy lines and watch the battle from afar. He developed a system that allowed him to be on the frontlines and maintain communication with his rear command post by means of pigeons and a group of runners.

His uncompromising will and character were the basis of his successful crusade across Western Europe during World War II, forever defining him as one of the most successful field commanders of any war.

Book Review

It is very embarrassing to admit that the majority of what I knew about General Patton came from the movie about his life.     However, not nearly as embarrassing as reading in this biography that the source that they used for that movie was a man who did not like General Patton.    

What I am not embarrassed about is what I have shared with my boys following reading this amazing biography.    General Patton is a man that had qualities which my boys could learn from and carry with them throughout their own lives.    

First, General Patton believed in the Bible.    He also believed in it so much that he carried it with him at all times.     Secondly, General Patton believed that there was always new ways to improve yourself and things to learn.      

The General came from a long line of men who had a strong commitment to Country and military.   This committed history is why Patton naturally gravitated towards the military.    It seemed like the natural thing to do after the example that had been set forth to him.      Leading by example had been how he was taught and it was exactly how he believed in leading as well.

Although General Patton had failures and mistakes in his life, I guess you could say an unofficial motto for him was "Failure is an option.   Failing to start again is not."      General Patton did not let failure or mistakes stop him from going forward.     

After reading this book I think it is such a shame that the movie did not portray the true life of General Patton.    What a much better movie it would have been.   


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The Generals - Lee

A powerful, compact biography of Robert E. Lee, focusing on how his intrinsic goodness shaped everything from his battle tactics to his treatment of his troops.

It’s no surprise that Robert E. Lee graduated second in his class from West Point. His four years there were marked by exemplary conduct and nary a demerit. He went on to become one of the most successful generals of the Confederate army during the American Civil War, inspiring his troops with his unselfish character and devotion to duty. Lee’s string of victories earned him praise on both sides of the Mason-Dixon line. He was admired for his tactical success in battle, and even after surrendering to Ulysses S. Grant at the Appomatox court house, his example of conduct for thousands of ex-Confederates made him a legend. After the war, he assumed the presidency of Washington College and devoted the remainder of his life to setting an example of conduct. He remains one of the most distinguished military heroes of all time.

Book Review

I wish this book had been available last year when my boys had been studying the Civil War.     History books are so one dimensional in their presentation of General Lee.     John Perry presents General Lee from a broad panoramic view that allows you to see him as more than a General, but as a man who very much loved God and his country.      He loved the state which he was raised in and therefore ultimately went to war because of his love of that state instead of commitment to the south.

Your appreciation for this man will grow as you read about his years of growing up, going to West Point, getting married, serving his country and ultimately assuming the presidency of Washington College.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Day 16- Something that you want to do within the next five years.

The fact that Big Guy just turned 13 and is in 8th grade has brought home the reality of how little time we have left as a complete family under one roof.     I really want to do some traveling together as a family during the next couple of years.

I would love to go some places like here...

Or here..

Hubs wants to go here...

Little Guy really wants to go here...

 and

Big Guy has always talked about visiting...

and

Now if I could just find the money to make all this traveling happen!

Day 15 - A moment, phrase, or song that has changed your life the most

When I first wrote this post I actually typed out the words that changed my life.   However, when I started thinking about it I realized how ugly those words looked written down.    Hearing that words said out loud were so difficult to get over that I decided that I didn't want them posted on my blog.    Suffice it to say they were tough to get over.      Hearing those words from someone I love was not only tough, but crushing.      To say it was life changing is an understatement.     Just typing those words made my stomach twist in knots and my chest hurt which is why I ultimately deleted them.    

A long time after those words were spoken, I was sitting on my bed one day when God gave me this Scripture....

You intended to harm me, 

but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, 

the saving of many lives.
Genesis 50:20

On that day I promised Him that I would hand over all the hurt I was carrying if He would use me to accomplish something for Him.

On that day?    I was contacted by our youth pastor at church and asked to work in the middle school ministries.      If "the saving of many lives" is happening it has nothing to do with me.    I am just playing a small part in the middle school ministries, but I am so happy to be used for Him.       And the hurt that I was carrying for FAR too long?     It is gone!

Day 14- Best mashup you’ve ever heard.

Have you ever heard of the Apologetix?     They are our FAVORITES when it comes to mashups.    They do Christian versions of some of your favorite tunes.       We love them.

This is a group of guys who when they were new Christians started writing songs that would help them remember the Scripture they were studying.    What developed was epic music.

Here is two of the boy's favorites...

Day 13- A memory that never fails to make you laugh.

We lived in a tiny little house on Cooper Road in South Jackson.   You could hear anything in that house.    So as a new Mom with a 22 month old son when the house got very quiet I knew it couldn't be good.   

I was in the kitchen loading the dishwasher and Big Guy had been in his living room playing with his cars.    All the doors in the house were closed so there weren't many options of places for him to go.    

When his car sounds ceased from the living room, I called out to him, "Hey, Big Guy!    What are you doing?"

His answer?   "Ummmm.... well, I'm not coloring on the walls."

I had to stand in the kitchen and giggle for a good two minutes before I could put on my "Mom" face and go make him clean off part of that crayon and put him in his bed for time out.        

Still makes me giggle to think about that little voice. 

Day 12- Your favorite musical artist’s life story.

I love Jeremy Camp.    He has such a heart for worship and for God and it shows in his music.     I believe that the reason he writes such heart felt music is because that he has had to walk the depths of his music.     He doesn't just write about a relationship with God.    Jeremy has developed a relationship with God through hardships that few people have to endure.

Jeremy was leading worship at a Bible study when he met Melissa.     He was so in awe of her relationship with God.    They talked and started spending time together.   After four months of dating, Melissa said they needed to break up saying she felt like God was preparing her for something else in her life.    Jeremy was devastated, but respected Melissa's decision.   

Jeremy went on the road performing his music and nursing his broken heart.      His ministry was thriving as God was blessing him in many ways.

In the midst of this he received a phone call that changed his life.      Melissa asked him to come to the hospital.     She had just been diagnosed with ovarian cancer.


“I walked into the hospital and she was just beaming,” Jeremy recalls. “You could tell she wasn’t bummed out. She was just trusting the Lord. It was amazing.”

Jeremy was also overwhelmed that Melissa's perspective on the disease was that if she wound up leading one person to Christ then dying was worth it.

Driving home from the hospital, Jeremy did a lot of talking to God.    He told God he wanted to marry Melissa, but he needed to hear from Melissa that she loved him.      The next day, Melissa said she loved him.  Jeremy left the hospital to fast and pray.      When he went back to the hospital he told Melissa he wanted to marry her.

Five months later with Melissa feeling a little better, the couple married.    During their honeymoon Melissa began having problems.    When they returned to the hospital they were given the news that she only had months to live.     On February 5, 2001 she went to be with the Lord.     During her final moments, Jeremy stood with her family and sang the same worship songs that he had sung to her during her hospital stays.

Jeremy said, “Watching Melissa go to Heaven made me realize what’s important. Music is not my life. Christ is my life. The only thing that really matters is what we do for Jesus on this Earth, and as a result of what I’ve been through, I express even more the goodness of God and how faithful He is.”

The first song Jeremy wrote after Melissa's death was "I Still Believe".     (It is definitely one of my favorites.)


Now God has brought healing to Jeremy's life through a new wife, two beautiful little girls and nine back to back #1 singles.    

He is a man who has been to the bottom, but allowed God to bring him to the top.

Day 11 - Favorite Picture Ever Taken Of Yourself

To say I have a favorite picture would be a stretch, but I love this picture of my husband and I because it was taken by our son.   He took it when we were at the beach.      We had gone to supper and had been playing cards on the deck of our condo.      We were all laughing and just having such a great time.      I wanted to take the boys down to the beach for some pictures and he asked if he could take a picture of us.   

Hubs and I both agree that the reason turned out so well is because we love the photographer so much!

Day 10- A dream you had this past week described in detail.

Do you dream a lot?    I do.   All the time and it is awful.    I have always had a lot of dreams even since I was a little girl.     I have two particular dreams from my childhood that were so vivid that I can remember them in great detail right now.    I have told my boys about them and they make no sense when I say it out loud.

However, today's question asks about a dream I had this past week.     That is easy, but yet embarrassing all at the same time.   

I keep dreaming that I get out of my car/out of an elevator/leave my house (various scenarious -- you get the idea), but I am not completely dressed.     Sometimes I will not have my shirt on.    Sometimes I won't have any clothes on at all.      I will see clothes and grab them, but no matter what I do I can't manage to put them on.

See?   Totally embarrassing.

I don't know what dreams mean if anything, but I wish I could quit having THAT dream!

Big Ammo

Last night I was sitting on the couch reading a book when I heard one of the boys in the kitchen. I turned around and realized it was Little Guy who was up way past his bedtime.

"Little Guy, what are you doing?"

"Sorry, Mom, I am just getting one of Daddy's shoes."

"Umm... why do you need one of Daddy's shoes?"

"There is a bug in my room and I need big ammo."

I don't know how big the bug was, but after Little Guy squashed it with hubs' size 13s I don't think it was a problem anymore.

Day 9 - Five Things You Want to See Change

1.   To be totally honest, when I first saw this statement I thought:  my floors.     Isn't that awful?     When we bought this house one of the first things we kind of wanted to do was replace the floors, but we decided to put it off.     About the time we were thinking about replacing them we found out we were pregnant with our sweet Little Guy.    We then decided it was probably best to wait until he was out of the baby stage.     Two weeks after Little Guy was born?   September 11, 2001.     We all know happened after that.     So what is the next thing I would love to see change?.....  

2.    I would love to see a true change in the economy.   Of course this is going to be difficult with the continued bailouts, mismanagement of our money by our federal government and shipping jobs to other countries instead of investing in America.     If you have never adopted the motto, adopt it now:  BUY AMERICAN!!

3.   I want to see hearts changed for God.     Not just some, but many hearts.    God is a loving God and I know He wants it even more than I do.    I am going to keep praying over my list of people that I have committed to Him.

4.   My marriage.    Not that there is anything wrong with my marriage, but I think that your marriage has to change and grow.     If it stops changing and growing then it can get stale.   I want more for my husband and I than that.    I want our marriage to keep growing and changing as our lives change!

5.   My boys.    They are changing every day and I want to witness and appreciate everyone of those changes.       I will confess that some of my health problems over the past year have made me deal with some fears.     I worry I won't be around to witness my boys growing up and becoming the incredible young men that I know they will be.     So I guess I want that fear to change as well!

Day 8- Someone you think would make a good president.

When Little Guy was in second grade the presidential election was happening.     All the student were given the assignment to make campaign posters promoting themselves as "president".      They had to put reasons why people should vote for them on their posters.    All of the posters were hung in the hallways at school.       Little Guy wanted his to look like a real campaign poster so he used digital scrapbooking art and we printed it out at SAMS.        One of his teachers (who goes to church with us) started calling him the future president after that project and still calls him that today.

Would I want my Little Guy to be the president one day?     Only if that is what God wanted him to be.     I wouldn't wish that job on any person.      Being the president is really the ultimate peer pressure situation.    Everybody wants you to do things their way.    

I think someone who would make a good president is someone who will do things God's way.

Day 7- Favorite cover of your favorite song.

By far one of my favorite songs, "I Stand Amazed".    I have loved it since I was a little girl and we would sing it so often in church.     I had a routine of songs that I sang to my boys every night after I read their books to them and this was the first song I would sing to them.        Bart Millard included this song on his album "Hymned Again" and every time I hear it I have to play it at least twice.



If you have never read the words to "I Stand Amazed" I thought I would include them.  I couldn't write a better testimony if I tried.

I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene, and wonder how he could love me, a sinner, condemned, unclean.

 Chorus:

How marvelous! How wonderful! And my song shall ever be:

How marvelous! How wonderful is my Savior's love for me!

For me it was in the garden he prayed: "Not my will, but thine."

He had no tears for his own griefs, but sweat-drops of blood for mine.

In pity angels beheld him, and came from the world of light

to comfort him in the sorrows he bore for my soul that night.

He took my sins and my sorrows, he made them his very own;

he bore the burden to Calvary, and suffered and died alone.

When with the ransomed in glory his face I at last shall see,

'twill be my joy through the ages to sing of his love for me.

Day 6 - Earliest Thing You Can Remember

I have quite a few memories from my very early childhood, but trying to decide which is the earliest is the problem.

The first house we lived in was on Lee Street in Vicksburg.    There was a sweet lady who lived next door that we would go and visit.    She would always have snickerdoodle/sugar cookies.    I have memories of her living room and sitting at her coffee table eating cookies while she and my Mom would visit.    

However, more vivid than that memory is the day that my Dad's white Simca car drove up the big curve leading up to my Aunt Charlotte's house.      I can remember standing at her big front window waiting and waiting and waiting.     When they pulled up I ran outside because I knew that they had my new baby sister inside.      My Dad opened the front passenger door and inside was my mom holding my baby sister.    (Yes, that was back before car seats.)      Mom leaned over to let me see her and I remember being worried that she would fall out on the ground.     She was so tiny.     As excited as I was to see them drive up, I was just as sad and disappointed to see them drive away without me.    They wanted me to stay with my Aunt Charlotte for a few days while my Mom and baby sister went home to rest for a few days.     I remember crying and my big cousins playing Barbies with me to try to distract me.    

I am not sure which of those memories is the earliest, but I know that my sister was born when I was three years old.     

Isn't it crazy what you can remember from your childhood?

Day 5- A thank you letter to someone who has changed your life.

How can I possibly ever thank you for all you have done for me?
Your patience with me knows no ends.
I will never forget our first conversation.
I talked and talked and talked. You just listened.
Eventually I realized that you probably had something to say too.
When I realized how much you had to say I realized how little I should have been saying to begin with.
We have laughed together, cried together, and sometimes you have just sat beside me in silence.
There have been moments of total frustration and anger. You even let me express that too.
With you I am free to be myself and be accepted completely.
It took me a long time to realize just how much you cared about me.
How could I have doubted that?
I guess it was because I was so stubborn in finally sitting down and reading that beautiful letter you wrote me.
If I read it a thousand times I don't think I will ever begin to comprehend all the love that is expressed in that one letter.
But if I didn't have that letter, I could never doubt your love for me because you were willing to send your precious Son to die on a cross for my sins.     Until my own precious sons were born I couldn't comprehend just how heart-wrenching a sacrifice that was.
But now, I know how precious sons are.    You blessed me with two of my own.   We talk about them constantly.
I love you, my precious Savior!
You have changed my life forever.
Thank you could never be enough.

Day 4 - What You Imagine Paradise To Be Like

When you say the word paradise my mind says heaven.      

Imagine heaven.   

Living with God.  

Forever.

When I look around at the beauty of this earth sometimes it is overwhelming.     God took seven days to create the incredible beauty of this earth.

When I think about the fact that when Jesus left this earth he said, "I go to prepare a place for you." and the time that has passed between that statement and now.      How could I possibly imagine the incredible beauty and paradise that will be heaven?

I feel MercyMe said it best in their song "I Can Only Imagine"...

Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel

Will I dance for you Jesus or in honour of you be still

Will I stand in your presence or to my knees will I fall

Will I sing hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all

I can only imagine

Day 3- The five songs you would have with you on a deserted island and why

Seriously?     I am on a deserted island and I am worried about music?     When I think about being on a deserted island separated from my boys it makes me a little crazy.     Wondering if bugs, snakes and rats are going to craw over me while I sleep makes my skin crawl.      However, now I am thinking that being on a deserted island may be the only way I can lose all this weight I need to lose.   

Top that off with having to listen to the same five songs over and over again..... AAAAAUUUUUGGGHHHHH!!!

Can you tell I could never think of five songs?     I hate questions like this.

Day 2 - Something That Inspires You

My boys... they inspire me.   
To be a better mom.
To be a better person.
To be a better Christian.
To be a better wife.
To be a better reflection of what Christ wants them to see on  a daily basis.

Day 1 - Guilty Pleasure

Things that are on my "guilty pleasure" list...

... closing the bedroom door with a cold Pepsi and reading a book without interruption.
... having a pedicure.
... a Seattle Drip Summit coffee
... having a Girl's Night Out with my sisters.
... an entire day shopping with my best friend, Sheri.




If you missed the original post, I am doing a Month of Insight.   Each day is a different subject/topic!    Feel free to join!

Museum Day 2010

Ahhh... FREE!   Isn't that the best word when it comes to your budget?    Mine too!

We love museums.    Anytime we visit a new city we always search to see what museums there are to visit.     I am already searching to see what new museum we might could visit on the Smithsonian magazine 6th annual FREE admission day.   

The Museum Day Ticket provides free admission to one person, plus a guest.

* • One ticket per household
* • A ticket will gain entry in only one museum and only participating museums
* • Only an official Museum Day ticket is eligible for free entry. Official tickets can be found here on the Museum Day website.

If you live in Mississippi like us, the museums on the FREE list are:   Lauren Rogers Museum of Art, MS Craft Center, MS Industrial Heritage Museum, MS Museum of Art, Tupelo Automobile Museum, and the Winterville Mounds


If we can work it out, we would really love to use our free admission tickets to go to New Orleans to the National World War II Museum.   The National World War II Museum tells the story of the American Experience in the war that changed the world – why it was fought, how it was won, and what it means today – so that all generations will understand the price of freedom and be inspired by what they learn.

To check out all the museums participating in FREE day, CLICK HERE!