In about an hour my boys and I are going to sit down here in our living room. We gather together every night for family prayer. However, tonight I have to sit and explain to them something I don't quite understand myself.
Last night, we piled in our car and went up to Big Guy's best friend's house. We stood in his front yard with his family and friends from our church. We poured out our hearts to God in prayer on behalf of Cade. Cade was scheduled for tests this morning to see how he was doing in this journey called cancer. He has been on Plan B of his treatment regiment. It has been so brutal on his body.
I couldn't sleep last night. I literally prayed Scriptures over Cade all night long. I walked, prayed, cried and literally just begged God to give Cade some answers... some relief.
This morning Cade went in for his scans. This afternoon the doctors called. The MRI of the brain showed no cancer. However, the CT scans showed that those tumors had not changed and to further evaluate means biopsy. The prostate tumor seems larger. The doctors will meet tomorrow to talk about Plan C.
What? Why? I am not ashamed to admit it. I stomped around the house this afternoon. I literally threw a temper tantrum asking God "Why? Why? Why?" I was just so mad. Then I sat down and cried buckets of tears.
While talking with Cade's mom I told her, "If faith is knowing God can do something whether He does it or not then we have a LOT of faith." We all have no doubt God CAN heal Cade. We just don't know why He isn't choosing to right now.
So here I am. Wondering. Pondering. How am I going to explain all this to my boys when we sit down in just a little while when I don't understand it myself?
I feel a little shaken, but thankfully I have no doubt I am still standing on the Solid Rock.
(If you want to follow Cade's journey: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/cadeainsworth)
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Monday, May 30, 2011
Freedom Isn't Free
American Casualties of War....
American Revolution...217,000
War of 1812...286,730
Indian War...106,000
Mexican War...78,718
Civil War...2,213,363
Spanish American...306,760
WW1...4,743,991
WW2...16,112,566
Korean War...5,720,000
Vietnam...8,744,000
Gulf War...2,225,000
and still counting on the current conflict!
That is a lot of reasons to pause and thank the Lord for our freedom today.
Happy Memorial Day!
That is a lot of reasons to pause and thank the Lord for our freedom today.
Happy Memorial Day!
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Safe Swimming
It was another chlorine soaked day at the pool. The boys and I woke up early and decided that we were going to beat the heat by swimming. Big Guy was practicing his skills on his skim board while Little Guy and I were throwing the football. Little Guy throwing the football farther and farther. I noticed he was drifting closer and closer to the rope which separated the shallow and deep end. I would tell him to move over. He would. We had been playing football for about 15 minutes when he threw the football a long way. I went to get it and when I turned around I saw him standing there kind of bouncing up and down. He was really close to the rope. I motioned him to move, but he didn't. I went to him and grabbed him up. He immediately started crying and said, "I thought I was going to drown, Mom." I pulled him into my arms and shed some tears of my own.
Drowning doesn't look like it does on television. It isn't splashing, screaming and flailing around. It is very quiet and scary.
Mario Vittone wrote a wonderful article called Drowning Doesn't Look Like Drowning. My friend, Beth, originally posted it on Facebook and I wanted to share it with you. If you have children 18 and younger you owe it to yourself and their safety to read this article!
Have a happy summer and safe swimming!
Drowning doesn't look like it does on television. It isn't splashing, screaming and flailing around. It is very quiet and scary.
Mario Vittone wrote a wonderful article called Drowning Doesn't Look Like Drowning. My friend, Beth, originally posted it on Facebook and I wanted to share it with you. If you have children 18 and younger you owe it to yourself and their safety to read this article!
Have a happy summer and safe swimming!
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Celebrating Daddy's 70th
When your Daddy is having a 70th birthday you have to do something special. So our family crammed our cars with coolers, fishing poles, bicycles, and anything else we could think of and headed out to Roosevelt State Park for the day. Despite it being a very hot day, we were in a covered pavillion under a lot of trees. There was a great breeze and it felt wonderful.
Since fishing was what Daddy wanted to do, we spent a great part of the day out on the pier. They say there are two types of fisherman -- those who fish for sport and those who fish for fish. We must have been fishing for sport, because we sure didn't catch anything. We didn't feel too badly because no one else on the lake seemed to be catching anything either. My sister bought the twins matching Dora fishing poles. They had big stars on the end instead of hooks. They would cast those out into the water and then pull them back in. They had so much fun catching stars and I had so much fun helping them!!
Fishing really makes you hungry. Grill Master T (aka my brother-in-law) did an excellent job cooking up lunch for us. My boys are convinced that he can grill anything to perfection. I am sure that Grill Master T wouldn't argue with that.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Happy Birthday, Daddy!
Because of my Daddy's example, I knew what to look for when I started looking for a husband. He set the standard high which was good. I believe I married the most incredible man out there.
And of course, among the many things my Daddy taught me, he taught me about the finer things in life. Which is why I was raised an Alabama Roll Tide fan! You can't get any better than that, can you, Daddy??
The pic above was taken at the birthday party we gave Daddy (note the Alabama cap) this past weekend. I will show more pics from that party.... tomorrow!
Monday, May 16, 2011
My Hometown is Flooding
The corp of engineers and city workers are doing everything they can to minimize the damage, but it is called the Mighty Mississippi for a reason. |
I wish I could find it, but a friend of mine posted a picture of Al Roker doing his weather forecast standing waist deep in the middle of the flood waters. He was right in front of a flooded business down on the river front. We all talked for hours that he must get paid a bundle to do that because none of us would have stood in those waters. We know what is in that water: alligators, snakes, electrical lines, and all types of nasty stuff! Makes us shiver just to think about it!
Pray for all the people who are being affected by the flooding.
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Fibromyalgia Awareness Day
Today is fibromyalgia awareness day. I guess it is a day set aside for people who do not know anything about fibromyalgia because if you have it, you are definitely "aware". As a matter of fact, it is pretty hard to forget. Just last night at church I was chatting with a friend whom I have known for a while and she mentioned a health problem she was dealing with and asked if that sounded silly. I told her that wasn't silly because I dealt with it because of my fibromyalgia. She got tears in her eyes, grabbed me up and said, "Oh my goodness. I didn't know anyone else had this."
Fibromyalgia is a weird illness. It affects every person differently and no two people experience the same symptoms, levels of pain, levels of fatigue, or even the same physical challenges. However, there are some symptoms and challenges that each of us have in common.
Have you ever had the flu? I mean a really bad case of the flu. Imagine if the only symptom you had was the incredibly awful body aches and pains, the chills and the nausea. Imagine that you felt feverish, but it didn't register on a thermometer. Your muscles and bones ache, but your skin cool to the touch.
Now imagine that you went out the day before you came down with the flu and were working in the yard. Your muscles are really sore. You even managed to get a bad bruise or several all over your body and it hurts to even touch it.
To top all of this off, you are having a hard time sleeping and you have been up for about the last 48 hours. You can't seem to put together a rational thought and concentrating is a dream in and of itself. You are soooo tired, you can’t make sense of things sometimes, you can’t keep your eyes open, you feel dizzy and strange, and all you want to do is lie down and sleep for as long as you can. Imagine you get the opportunity to take that nap that you’ve been craving to take all day long and when you lay down all of a sudden you can’t get to sleep to save your life. You can’t figure out why, because your body and brain feel like they’re going to drop at any moment. Why wouldn’t you be able to sleep??? You get frustrated and angry because all you want to do is drift off and rest.
Since you can't sleep you decide you might as well "do" something, but you just can’t hold onto objects very well and you seem to be dropping a lot of things for no reason that you can determine. Imagine a time when you were really nervous and your legs and arms felt like spaghetti. You trip over things and can’t seem to feel sure of your footing.
Now…add all of those together and you get what most people with fibromyalgia feel 24 hours and day, 7 days a week.
Unfortunately, those are just SOME of the symptoms we live with. Some of us also experience irritable bowel syndrome, migraine or stress headaches, blurred vision, weight gain (oh man have I experienced this one!), and much more.
I was diagnosed in 1994 after a year of going from doctor to doctor. My diagnosis was very official. My doctor walked in and handed me a pamphlet and said, "This is what you have. You won't die, but you will wish you were dead." Hmmm... that sounded encouraging.
Trying to explain it to my family and friends was pretty weird too since I looked completely normal. If I had money for all the people who said, "You don't look sick." I could pay my bills.
I have been more than blessed because I have an incredible husband who has believed in me and stood by me since the moment I got sick. He was the one who set up our method of communication regarding this fibromyalgia. Instead of letting this sickness become a focal point, he set up a 10 point scale with 1 being awesome and 10 being I have to go to bed. We still use this scale. If he is worried about me of if I need to let him know it is going to be a bad day, I just let him know my number on the scale.
Has fibromyalgia been frustrating to us? Yes! Has it affected our lives? Yes! There have been many times when we have had to cancel plans or rearrange our schedule all because of fibro. We have both had to learn to let some things go that used to be important to us. "Live in the moment" is our thought process.
While we "live in the moment", we also have become great at planning. We both have calendars and we use them. I know his schedule and he knows mine. Being able to keep track allows us to plan in the rest periods that I know I am going to need. He knows that I am not going to be able to handle four days in a row of all day events. Planning ahead is great, but we plan with the thought that plans change. Making that decision has allowed us to avoid a lot of stress, disappointment, and resentment.
When I first was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, I wasn't sure how I was going to live the rest of my life feeling like this. However, God showed me that I truly can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13) I have discovered that I can control this instead of it controlling me most days. There are some days when it gets the upper hand, but I realize that that is part of the process.
I have drawn closer to my God, my husband and my sweet boys through this illness. Because of that I consider it a gift instead of a curse.
Every good and perfect gift is from above,
coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,
who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Take me Out to The Ball Game
Saturday morning was a gorgeous day for baseball. We were excited to go to Little Guy's game after so many rain outs. Both sets of grandparents have driven over at different times to watch him play only to have his game cancelled because of rain. What a disappointment!
Hubs had to fly out of town unexpectedly to attend a funeral so Little Guy was super excited when he found out that his Uncle Tay, Aunt Krisa, and twin cousins, LK and MM were coming to watch him.
The two cutest fans ever watching to cheer their cousin!! If Little Guy wasn't on the field they were asking where he was.
Baseball is a very slow game for a two year old when you are only there to watch one person. ha!
When Little Guy wasn't on the field they kept themselves enteretained by exploring my purse. I am not sure why, but my purse always seems to be a source of intrique and entertainment. Maybe because I hide fun stuff in there. It is my right as their aunt. Ha!
Of course, at this game they had even more fun because Little Guy's best friend was there and she played baseball with them. So sweet. It won't be long and we will be going to see these two cuties at their own softball, soccer or gymnastic events.
Hubs had to fly out of town unexpectedly to attend a funeral so Little Guy was super excited when he found out that his Uncle Tay, Aunt Krisa, and twin cousins, LK and MM were coming to watch him.
The two cutest fans ever watching to cheer their cousin!! If Little Guy wasn't on the field they were asking where he was.
Baseball is a very slow game for a two year old when you are only there to watch one person. ha!
When Little Guy wasn't on the field they kept themselves enteretained by exploring my purse. I am not sure why, but my purse always seems to be a source of intrique and entertainment. Maybe because I hide fun stuff in there. It is my right as their aunt. Ha!
Of course, at this game they had even more fun because Little Guy's best friend was there and she played baseball with them. So sweet. It won't be long and we will be going to see these two cuties at their own softball, soccer or gymnastic events.
Monday, May 9, 2011
My Sweet Boys
After not taking any photos of my boys on Easter, I told the boys I was going to take a quick pick of them after church yesterday when we got home from church. We were all tired after a long, packed week and weekend.
I can't believe my precious boys are so grown. Big Guy is taller than I am and Little Guy is up to my shoulder. I am so in love with these amazing guys.
The questions they ask. Their heart for God. The ways they are willing to do for others. It humbles me that God allowed me to be their mom.
My life verse for my boys continues to be...
"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth."
3 John 1:4
I love you my sweet boys.
3 John 1:4
I love you my sweet boys.
You are truly the greatest gift I could ever receive...
on Mother's Day or any day.
on Mother's Day or any day.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Mother of Pearl - Sunday
AND ... do enter the contest for a chance to win a beautiful hand crafted pearl necklace. To enter, just {CLICK THIS LINK} and fill out the short form. Contest runs 5/1-5/8 and the winner will on 5/11. Contest is only open to US and Canadian residents.
If you are unfamiliar with Pearl Girls™, please visit www.pearlgirls.info and see what we're all about. In short, we exist to support the work of charities that help women and children in the US and around the globe. Consider purchasing a copy of Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace or one of the Pearl Girls™ products (all GREAT Mother's Day gifts!) to help support Pearl Girls.
And to all you MOMS out there! Happy Mother's Day!
“God’s divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. II Peter 1.3 (NIV)
Moms, God wants you to know that He has given you everything you need for life --- your unique life. He does not plan to give you what you might need to live the life of your best friend, or your neighbor, or even your favorite mother-model. No, God has called you to the life that He planned. I suspect that for most of us, it didn’t turn out to be the life we thought it might be… so long ago when we were young and dreaming of ‘growing up.’
On Mother’s Day I often recall my own dreams to one day be a mother. I grew up playing with dolls and looking to my own Mama as a model for that particular role in life. However, by the time I reached my thirties I was still not a mother! God did, however, have a plan. It just wasn’t what I imagined.
My own unique life would find me becoming a mother through the adoption of my first three children who were ages 9, 7 and 4; and then much later giving birth to our fourth child. Of course I was shocked when God revealed this to me, but I was ecstatic as well. It’s as though I could hear Him saying, “Well, you’re not getting any younger so I’m just going to just give you a jump start with three at one time!”
A huge blessing! A huge adjustment! A joy and a struggle. Change is often like that, isn’t it? We finally get what we want then we have to deal with it. May I just offer a bit of advice if you just got a great answer to prayer, but perhaps not in the way or form you imagined? Just receive it. Embrace it. And be willing to move forward into a new paradigm for your life. So what if you’re not like all the other mothers you know? So what if you’re not like your own mother? So what if your family unit is different? I guarantee God has a plan.
Not only did he want me to embrace my own story, but He called me as a mother to do perhaps one of the most important tasks of all --- to nurture my children to live their own unique lives. Not for me to try and squeeze them into what I hoped and dreamed they would be. Not for me to try and live my life through them. But to recognize how God made them, gifted them, and called them to their own special place.
All of my 4 kids are different from one another. Let’s take sports, for instance: I have one child who wins gold medals in international tennis competition, one who is a born equestrian, another who competes nationally in obstacle course shooting matches, and yet another who manages to dance onstage in 3 inch heels, do cartwheels and splits while singing at the same time. Now, honestly, I do none of these things. And yet they do.
I don’t remember placing my order with God for these things. But I do remember when that tennis player turned 9 years old and I enrolled him in Special Olympics for the first time and how it changed his life… and ours. I remember getting a counselor job at an exclusive summer camp so that my daughter could take English riding classes. I remember being a Cub Scout leader (even though I knew nothing about boys) so that son could one day become an Eagle scout and pursue his love of the great outdoors. And yes, I remember enrolling my preschooler in dance lessons. Later when all the little girls were scared to go on stage for the recital, she exclaimed that she had endured a whole year of lessons just so she could go on stage.
Don’t compare yourself to someone else. And don’t live vicariously through your favorite reality show star. Live your own story. And Moms, raise your kids to embrace the unique life God has for them.
Remember, He has given us everything we need for life!
Lucinda Secrest McDowell, a graduate of Gordon-Conwell Seminary, is the author of 10 books including “Role of a Lifetime,” “Amazed by Grace,” “Spa for the Soul” and the new Bible Study “Fit and Healthy Summer.” She is an international conference speaker and enjoys being a Pearl Girl from “Sunnyside” – her home in a New England village. Visit Cindy at www.EncouragingWords.net
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Mother of Pearl - Saturday
AND ... do enter the contest for a chance to win a beautiful hand crafted pearl necklace. To enter, just {CLICK THIS LINK} and fill out the short form. Contest runs 5/1-5/8 and the winner will on 5/11. Contest is only open to US and Canadian residents.
If you are unfamiliar with Pearl Girls™, please visit www.pearlgirls.info and see what we're all about. In short, we exist to support the work of charities that help women and children in the US and around the globe. Consider purchasing a copy of Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace or one of the Pearl Girls™ products (all GREAT Mother's Day gifts!) to help support Pearl Girls.
And to all you MOMS out there! Happy Mother's Day!
What is a Grandmother? by Suzanne Woods Fisher
“A grandmother is a little bit parent, a little bit teacher, and a little bit best friend.”
Amish proverb
I arrived late in the night in Rhode Island, anxious to meet my two-day-old grandson, Blake, after a full day of flying. My daughter and son-in-law had just returned home from the hospital and felt like they had been in a train wreck. There was stuff everywhere. Already, the needs of this little eight-pound bundle of joy were enormous: an all-terrain stroller, plenty of diapers, onesies, spit-up rags, an assortment of pacifiers to try out until he found the ideal one.
And he was perfect.
I know, I know. “Every mother crow thinks her own little crow is the blackest.” But this little dark eyed, dark haired boy really was perfect.
I spent the next seven days (and nights) getting to know this little guy. His schedule (he had none), his hunger cries (very similar to his every other cry). His pirate look--one eye open, one eye squeezed shut, as if he was still surprised by all that had taken place to him in a week’s time.
I felt surprised, too. How could my baby possibly have had a baby? How could I be a grandmother? I had just turned fifty-one. Shockingly young! How could a kid like me give up playing tennis three times a week to settle into knitting and crocheting and Friday night bingo? And shouldn’t I alter my appearance to fit this new label? Give up my jeans? Switch over to below knee-length calico dresses, thick black socks, practical shoes, gray hair pinned in a topknot. Think…Aunt Bee on Mayberry R.F.D.
As soon as people knew my daughter was expecting, I was bombarded with advice from my well meaning friends—even those who weren’t yet grandparents. “The best way to avoid getting on the nerves of your daughter and son-in-law is to not say anything. Ever.” Or “You’d better pick your nickname or you’ll be stuck with something hideous, like MooMoo Cow.”
What should I be called? Granny? No…reminded me of The Beverly Hillbillies. Grandma? No…sounded like The Waltons. Grammy? No…it was already taken by the in-laws.
But no one really explained what it meant to be a grandmother. I didn’t know myself, not until I held baby Blake in my arms. In that moment, I realized that he was one of mine. He belongs to me. He will be on my mind and in my prayers, every day, for the rest of my life. There’s a bond between us that can’t be broken. He has altered my life forevermore.
I had become a grandmother.
Suzanne Woods Fisher is the bestselling author of The Choice, The Waiting, and The Search, as well as nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace. Her interest in the Anabaptist cultures can be directly traced to her grandfather, W. D. Benedict, who was raised in the Old Order German Baptist Brethren Church in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Benedict eventually became publisher of Christianity Today magazine. Suzanne is the host of a radio show called Amish Wisdom and her work has appeared in many magazines. She lives in California. www.suzannewoodsfisher.com
Friday, May 6, 2011
Mother of Pearl - Friday
AND ... do enter the contest for a chance to win a beautiful hand crafted pearl necklace. To enter, just {CLICK THIS LINK} and fill out the short form. Contest runs 5/1-5/8 and the winner will on 5/11. Contest is only open to US and Canadian residents.
If you are unfamiliar with Pearl Girls™, please visit www.pearlgirls.info and see what we're all about. In short, we exist to support the work of charities that help women and children in the US and around the globe. Consider purchasing a copy of Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace or one of the Pearl Girls™ products (all GREAT Mother's Day gifts!) to help support Pearl Girls.
And to all you MOMS out there! Happy Mother's Day!
When Mother's Day is Difficult by Holley Gerth
I have a confession (anyone surprised?). I have mixed feelings about Mother’s Day.
On one hand, I love celebrating all the women who have made a difference in my life (thanks, Mom!).
On the other hand, a long journey of infertility has left my heart with some tender places.
On May 8th, we’ll celebrate Mother’s Day once again. For many, it’s a time of appreciation and joy. For others, it can be one of the most difficult days of the year. This is often true for women facing infertility, families who have recently experienced the loss of a mother, and many other painful situations.
At one point in my life it seemed as if I couldn’t take another step. In addition to infertility, I was facing several other losses. I felt as if I were in a dark cave. But then I sensed the Lord gently and lovingly speak to my heart, “You may be in a cave, but you still have a choice. You can sit in despair or you can diamond-mine your difficulties.” I decided I was not leaving that time in my life empty-handed. I was taking every hidden blessing I could find. Of course, I still had difficult days. But choosing hope made a difference.
As a reminder, I now wear two rings. The one on the fourth finger of my left hand represents my commitment to my husband. The one on the fourth finger of my right hand is a simple silver band inscribed with the word “hope” and it represents the commitment I have made to God and myself to hold onto hope no matter what happens.
The story of an inspiring woman named Terrie also reminds me to hold onto hope. She endured the loss of four pregnancies and waited seventeen years before adopting a little girl. She told me, “I think one of the most important parts of this journey is learning to trust God. I don’t mean the flippant kind of trust. It’s easy for people to say, ‘You just need to trust God.’ It’s much harder when you’re in the middle of all this pain. But he is trustworthy. Through it all, God has given us an amazing story. I wouldn’t have chosen this road, but he has been with us. I can look back and truly say every step was worth it.”
I don’t know how my journey will end and you probably don’t know how yours will either. I also don’t know how many of you will be silently grieving your losses as we sit in church together on May 8th. But I do know that God sees each one of us. He knows how many hairs are on our heads and how many cares our in our hearts. Whatever you’re going through this Mother’s Day, you’re not facing it alone. As King David, a man who experienced many losses in his life, expressed in Psalm 34:18 NIV, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” May God surround you with love, fill you with hope, and give you strength for each moment—especially this Mother’s Day.
Excerpted from When Mother’s Day is Difficult.
Holley Gerth is an award-winning writer for DaySpring, a cofounder of the popular web site (in)courage, and licensed counselor. Holley loves chocolate, coffee, Jesus and connecting with the hearts of women through words. Her next book, a devotional titled God's Heart for You: Embracing Your True Worth as a Woman (Harvest House) will release this July. You can find Holley online through her blog Heart to Heart with Holley.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Mother of Pearl - Thursday
AND ... do enter the contest for a chance to win a beautiful hand crafted pearl necklace. To enter, just {CLICK THIS LINK} and fill out the short form. Contest runs 5/1-5/8 and the winner will on 5/11. Contest is only open to US and Canadian residents.
If you are unfamiliar with Pearl Girls™, please visit www.pearlgirls.info and see what we're all about. In short, we exist to support the work of charities that help women and children in the US and around the globe. Consider purchasing a copy of Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace or one of the Pearl Girls™ products (all GREAT Mother's Day gifts!) to help support Pearl Girls.
And to all you MOMS out there! Happy Mother's Day!
A Mother's Day Wish by Shellie Rushing Tomlinson
Heads up: Margaret McSweeney deserves a medal, or at least a commendation for giving everyone a much deserved Mother’s Day rest. Okay, y’all can be seated. I’m glad you agree, but you’re supposed to be taking a load off, remember? Oh, and full disclosure—Margaret didn’t know I was going to say that so I hope she leaves it in, and no, I didn’t do it just because I’m ridiculously nostalgic about the theme of her community, although I am. As the Belle of All Things Southern, one who is southern to the bone, I have a thing about pearls.
When I was a teenager, add-a-pearl necklaces were all the rage. They may not be as wildly popular anymore as they were back in the day but I still say they’ll always be a classic concept: a gift of a single pearl on a dainty chain given with the intentions of adding other pearls on important holidays and special occasions. Today, I see add-a-pearls as a beautiful reminder of the accumulated wisdom we learn from our mamas. Oh, sure, we snicker as young girls because not all of their advice strikes us as useful and some of it seems positively fossilized, but hopefully, over time and with the Father’s blessing, we gain enough perspective to see that these mama-isms—the important values and the silly little lagniappe— are all increasing in value with the years. By the way, that’s my Mother’s Day wish for each of you, that we’d each take the time and the responsibility to thread these precious heirlooms into treasures worthy of bequeathing to the next generation. Mother’s Day...
May I be honest? I’m looking ahead to the annual celebration with somewhat mixed emotions. I’m not feeling very Mother of the Year. Instead of cooking dinner for my most deserving mama and enjoying her company, instead of reveling in the love of my husband, kids, and grands, (known as the Baby Czars of All Things Southern), I’ll be on the road, touring with my latest book “Sue Ellen’s Girl Ain’t Fat, She Just Weighs Heavy.” I’ve got Mama’s gift bought, wrapped, and ready to be delivered by my beloved hubby, and my grown kids understand that I didn’t choose the release date, but the facts remain: I won’t be there. (Shameless plugs time, anyone? My daughter blogs at Kitchen Belleicious and is raising funds to build an orphanage in Rwanda at Shelter a Child http://www.shelterachild.com/ and my daughter-in-law celebrates the daily details of getting to know the Holy One at Providence, http://providence-carey.blogspot.com). I won’t get to enjoy Mama tickling the ivory from the piano bench of Melbourne Baptist Church and I won’t be overdosing on baby sugah. Sigh.
But, then, I mentioned mixed emotions earlier, didn’t I? Well, before some sweet soul cues the violin music, perhaps I should lighten up and come clean on what Mr. Harvey would call “the rest of the story.” It so happens that while the 8th of May will find me miles from home, it’ll also find me in Savannah, Georgia where I’ve secured myself a little reservation at that famous establishment belonging to Mrs. Paula Deen, the Queen of Southern Cooking. Indeed, y’all, I’ll be suffering for Jesus at The Lady and Sons. I know. It’s a dirty job, but someone has to do it.
Regardless of where you spend it, I wish you each a Happy Mother’s Day. I’d love to think that everyone reading my words had a mother like mine, a woman of faith who taught me from childhood of the Risen Savior who saves souls and anchors lives. But, dear reader, if that’s not your past, I hope you know it can be your future. I pray you’ll be the one that begins such a legacy, and that you’ll be moved to start building that heritage today.
I’d love to see y’all on the road somewhere. Watch for me, and I’ll watch for you. I’ll be the one with an empty glass of sweet tea looking, always looking, for a refill.
Hugs,
Shellie
Shellie Rushing Tomlinson, known as the Belle of All Things Southern is a radio host, columnist, author, speaker and founder of the All Things Southern online community, www.allthingssouthern.com. She loves meeting, greeting, laughing and learning with the whole wide world or as many who wander her way. Shellie once dreamed of writing great important things that changed the world, only once she started writing the world grinned and christened her a humorist. Shellie saw this as a problem at first, until she discovered that the laughter softens hearts, builds relationships, and invites her into people’s hurting hearts where she can share her own, which is exactly where she wanted to be all along. Look for Shellie’s latest book, Sue Ellen’s Girl Ain’t Fat, She Just Weighs Heavy wherever fine books are sold.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Mother of Pearl - Wednesday
AND ... do enter the contest for a chance to win a beautiful hand crafted pearl necklace. To enter, just {CLICK THIS LINK} and fill out the short form. Contest runs 5/1-5/8 and the winner will on 5/11. Contest is only open to US and Canadian residents.
If you are unfamiliar with Pearl Girls™, please visit www.pearlgirls.info and see what we're all about. In short, we exist to support the work of charities that help women and children in the US and around the globe. Consider purchasing a copy of Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace or one of the Pearl Girls™ products (all GREAT Mother's Day gifts!) to help support Pearl Girls.
And to all you MOMS out there! Happy Mother's Day!
Adoption, a Mother's Greatest Gift by Tricia Goyer
I held the small baby in my arms, wrapped up in a receiving blanket to keep her warm from the chill of the delivery room, and a voice spoke to me. "Congratulations, Mom."
The congratulations came from an unlikely source--the grandmother of this child, the mother of the sweet birth mother who chose adoption for her baby girl.
To say I was overwhelmed is an understatement. Thankfulness filled my heart--to God who'd answered my prayers and to the birth mom who'd chosen our family for her daughter. I also ached that my joy would be another's heartache. Working with teen moms for ten years, I was often an advocate for the young mother. I knew that while the weeks and months ahead would be a time of celebration for our family, they would be ones of heartache and grieving for this woman.
Adoption is a wonder and the beauty, and the sacrifice of it is never so clear as on Mother's Day. My new daughter is one-years-old now and she huge is a part of my heart. Her life is a gift to my days and her smile can make even the most dreary afternoon bright. I can honestly say there is no difference in the love I feel between her and my three other children. If anything the love feels even more special because she was an unexpected gift. John and I learned about her life just 2 ½ months prior to her being born. The years of prayers to expand our family were answered quickly and beautifully.
The sacrifice of adoption makes my heart ache, for I know on this Mother's Day another woman will be thinking about my daughter—her daughter. As I rejoice, I'll be crying tears for her. I'll also be sending up prayers that God will wrap His arms around her in a special way.
This Mother's Day I cannot help to think about Christ's sacrifice to make our adoption into God's family possible. Maybe it's because just a few weeks ago we were celebrating Easter, but I'm reminded anew that my gain required His loss, His pain. The greatest love, it seems, is not shown with flowers, chocolate or a diamond bracelet. The greatest love is shown when, because of your love for another, your desires and comfort are laid down for the greater good of someone else.
As Ephesians 1:3 says, “How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He's the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son” (The Message).
Perhaps you know an adoptive mother. Take time this Mother's Day to let her know that the beauty of her gift is not missed by you. Also, take time to thank God for adopting you into His forever family, thanking Jesus Christ for His sacrifice. I wouldn't be the mother I am without this Gift of Love.
Tricia Goyer is the author of twenty-six books including Beside Still Waters, The Swiss Courier, and the mommy memoir, Blue Like Play Dough. She won Historical Novel of the Year in 2005 and 2006 from ACFW, and was honored with the Writer of the Year award from Mt. Hermon Writer's Conference in 2003. Tricia's book Life Interrupted was a finalist for the Gold Medallion in 2005. In addition to her novels, Tricia writes non-fiction books and magazine articles for publications like MomSense and Thriving Family. Tricia is a regular speaker at conventions and conferences, and has been a workshop presenter at the MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) International Conventions. She and her family make their home in Little Rock, Arkansas where they are part of the ministry of FamilyLife. www.triciagoyer.com
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Mother's Day Gift? FREE Kindle Books
If you are considering getting Mom a Kindle for Mother's Day, don't forget to load it up with some books too! There are quite a few great FREE Kindle books out there right now on Amazon.
I Love FREE books!
I Love FREE books!
Mother of Pearl - Tuesday
AND ... do enter the contest for a chance to win a beautiful hand crafted pearl necklace. To enter, just {CLICK THIS LINK} and fill out the short form. Contest runs 5/1-5/8 and the winner will on 5/11. Contest is only open to US and Canadian residents.
If you are unfamiliar with Pearl Girls™, please visit www.pearlgirls.info and see what we're all about. In short, we exist to support the work of charities that help women and children in the US and around the globe. Consider purchasing a copy of Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace or one of the Pearl Girls™ products (all GREAT Mother's Day gifts!) to help support Pearl Girls.
And to all you MOMS out there! Happy Mother's Day!
Sometimes family is really all you need. This was reinforced to me when my Mother shared a story a few days ago about her mother, my Grandma. You see, when my Grandma was a very young girl, around age 10, she was diagnosed with polio. This meant long hospital stays, extremely limited interaction with children her own age and lonely days staring out the window from her hospital bed. In those days, with polio, they felt keeping the children very subdued and quiet was best, and this particular hospital was as drab as can be. It was also during the time of the Depression, which meant money was tight and life was tough. Day in and day out, she was given the best medicine and treatment, but she wasn’t thriving and recovering. Daily visits from adult doctors and specialists is not exactly stimulating for a young girl. Her health was so poor, at one point, a Catholic Priest had administered the "last rites" at her bedside.
One day, her older brother and sister decided to sneak some brand new baby kittens into her hospital room. Their cat Fitzy had just had babies, and the cute kittens were small enough to put in a basket. Upon entering her room, my mother says they quietly took off the lid and showed my Grandma the sweet little kittens and let her cuddle with them. Her mother, my Great Grandmother, observed my Grandma’s mood instantly lift. Her eyes sparkled and she squealed with delight at the cute kitties! Her whole demeanor changed and she came to life.
My Great Grandma took all this in and made a decision that day. She decided that my Grandma would heal much better at home. She promptly checked my Grandma out of the hospital and brought her home with her family. My Grandma did gradually recover, among the love and warmth of her family. You know what Proverbs 17 says “ A merry heart does good like a medicine.” Also, I can imagine that she healed emotionally and physically and spiritually as well and that combined strength wouldn't have been possible in the hospital alone.
When they left that day, the hospital instructed my Great Grandmother to massage my Grandma’s legs everyday, something she promised the hospital she would do, and she did. My Grandma was one of the few people we know who did not have a limp or shortened leg due to polio. And perhaps most importantly, the entire family was always praying for my Grandma.
I’m not saying that medicine is bad or not necessary. But there is no cure quite like the warmth of your family. Its like milk, it simply does a body good. As a pregnant Mom about to give birth to a baby boy, I am inspired to provide this same love to my child. May he feel the same warm love from his family that my Grandma felt from her’s.
And in this same way, we are called sons and daughters of God. Galatians 4:1-7
“Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”
God claims you and I as his children. This is a wonderful gift and identity that is good for our heart and soul, and something that is more powerful than all the medicine in the world.
Megan Alexander can be seen nightly as a television correspondent for the top rated news magazine show “Inside Edition”. She also appears on the CNN program “Showbiz Tonight”. She especially enjoys reporting on stories with a heart. She graduated from Westmont College with a degree in Political Science. She loves speaking to youth and works with Girls Inc and National American Miss. She and her husband reside in the New York City area and attend Redeemer Church of Manhattan. For more on Megan, go to www.meganalexander.com. Megan’s mother, Mary, resides in Seattle and provided insight into this essay.
Monday, May 2, 2011
State 4H Shooting Competition
After months and months and hours and hours of practice, Big Guy and Little Guy competed in the State 4H Shooting Competition last Saturday. We were up before the chickens to get ready so we could make the drive down to the FBI shooting range by 7:30. Our van was loaded with guns, ammo, bow and arrows, picnic basket, chairs, sunscreen, sunglasses and a cooler full of drinks.
After checking in our weapons and getting range passes, the day of competition began. You have to realize that there are nearly 500 youth competing in a multitude of events all at the same time. Air rifle, air pistol, muzzleloader, skeet shooting, .22 rifle, archery, pistol shooting... some shooting 5 meter, some 10 meter, etc.... It is unbelievable.
Each student can only participate in a maximum of three events. Both our boys participated in three events each.
At the end of the day when the results were announced, our boys did awesome. Little Guy placed first in two of his events and second in one of his events. Big Guy placed first in one of his events. A lot of people stopped to congratulate them on not only placing, but getting first place in their first competition.
I only have a pic of Little Guy to show you. We tried to take a pic of Big Guy, but he said, "Maybe later." That is OK. We are proud of them both.
All those hours of practicing really paid off! We are SO proud of all your hard work, guys.
After checking in our weapons and getting range passes, the day of competition began. You have to realize that there are nearly 500 youth competing in a multitude of events all at the same time. Air rifle, air pistol, muzzleloader, skeet shooting, .22 rifle, archery, pistol shooting... some shooting 5 meter, some 10 meter, etc.... It is unbelievable.
Each student can only participate in a maximum of three events. Both our boys participated in three events each.
At the end of the day when the results were announced, our boys did awesome. Little Guy placed first in two of his events and second in one of his events. Big Guy placed first in one of his events. A lot of people stopped to congratulate them on not only placing, but getting first place in their first competition.
I only have a pic of Little Guy to show you. We tried to take a pic of Big Guy, but he said, "Maybe later." That is OK. We are proud of them both.
All those hours of practicing really paid off! We are SO proud of all your hard work, guys.
Mother of Pearl - Monday
AND ... do enter the contest for a chance to win a beautiful hand crafted pearl necklace. To enter, just {CLICK THIS LINK} and fill out the short form. Contest runs 5/1-5/8 and the winner will on 5/11. Contest is only open to US and Canadian residents.
If you are unfamiliar with Pearl Girls™, please visit www.pearlgirls.info and see what we're all about. In short, we exist to support the work of charities that help women and children in the US and around the globe. Consider purchasing a copy of Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace or one of the Pearl Girls™ products (all GREAT Mother's Day gifts!) to help support Pearl Girls.
And to all you MOMS out there! Happy Mother's Day!
3 DIY Mother’s Day Gifts that Celebrate Family By Beth Engelman
This Mother’s Day, celebrate family with this crafty games the whole family can enjoy.
Block Photo Puzzle
Not only does this 6-sided photo puzzle provide hours of family fun, but it’s also a great way to reuse favorite family photos.
Materials:
• 9 - Wooden Blocks (Use old alphabet blocks)
• 6 - 8 x 10 Photograph Prints or Colored Copies
• Ruler
• Scissors
• Mod Podge and Paintbrush
Directions:
1. Arrange blocks in a square and measure the length and width of the square.
2. Measure and cut print to the exact same size as the 9-block square.
3. Place blocks in a square on top of print. Position blocks so they’re lined up neatly and as close together as possible.
4. Trace and cut the outline of each block.
5. Glue print pieces to blocks using Mod Podge. Set aside to dry and then seal with 1-2 top layers of Mod Podge.
6. Repeat process until all 6 sides of the blocks are covered with different photographs.
Thank you to the creative folks at www.photojojo.com for sharing this idea!
“Go Fish with the Family” Card Game
This gift is perfect for Moms who like card games. Another bonus? There’s always room to “grow” the deck.
Materials:
• Camera
• Double stick tape, or a glue stick
• Several pieces of cardstock (one color)
• Scissors
Directions:
1. Take pictures of each family member and develop the pictures in duplicates (3x5 or 4x6 is fine, just make sure all the pictures are the same size).
2. Turn the pictures into playing cards by gluing or taping a piece of card-stock to the backside of each picture.
3. Game ideas include “Go Fishing with the Family” which is similar to “Go Fish” but, instead of matching numbers, the object is to collect matching pairs of photos. “Memory” is another fun game to play. Place the cards face down in a grid and try to find matching pairs of photos.
Family Bingo
In my house, Bingo is always a big hit because regardless of age or skill level, everyone has the same chance to win. However this version is extra special because the playing boards are populated with pictures of family members.
Materials:
• Color Coordinated Game Boards (download here)
• Images of Family Members (use photographs, drawings or clip art)
• Bingo Markers (pennies, pebbles or buttons)
• Glue and Scissors
Directions:
1. Create the game boards: Download and print desired number of game-boards. Remember each player gets a different game board.
2. Color-copy and paste images of family members onto each game board. Remember to paste one person per square and make each board slightly different.
3. Make “call-out cards” by writing the name of each family member in yellow, green, blue, purple and pink (which coordinates with the colors on the board)
4. To Play: Game play is similar to traditional Bingo except the caller will randomly select a call-out card and then read the color and person. For example, “Blue, Grandma Mary” means there is a picture of Grandma Mary in a blue square. Just like Bingo, the first person to get 5 in a row (horizontally, vertically or diagonally) wins!
Beth Engelman is a columnist for the Sun Times News Group’s Pioneer Press. Her column “Mommy on a Shoestring,” appears in over 30 local papers around Chicago area as well as on the Sun-times website where you can also view her Mommy on a Shoestring video series. She is also a regular on “You and Me this Morning” on WCIU and is frequent contributor for WGN America’s Midday News at Noon. Recently, Beth was chosen by a celebrity panel from NBC Universal and iVillage to become one of 15 national “mom” correspondents for NBC’s popular website, www.ivillage.com (over 3 million visitors a day) where she reports on issues that affect moms, families and communities such as bullying, divorce and weight loss. For more information visit Beth at www.mommyonashoestring.com
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