Spring Break with Metamorphosis

Go here to check out renting this cabin.

Over Spring Break we took our Metamorphosis group to a beautiful cabin just south of Chattanooga for a retreat.   If you have never heard me talk about Metamorphosis it is a confidential group for teens where they can share their struggles.   We meet once a week, but wanted to have a retreat where we could address some things more in depth.    Thanks to some very generous people who support our group through prayers and donations we were able to take our group on this retreat.  

We spent four days studying David Platt's "Follow Me".  I hope they learned as much as I did.  Wow!

"I am convinced that when we take a serious look at what Jesus really meant when he said, “Follow me,” we will discover that there is far more pleasure to be experienced in him, indescribably greater power to be realized with him, and a much higher purpose to be accomplished for him than anything else this world has to offer. And as a result, we will all—every single Christian—eagerly, willingly, and gladly lose our lives to know and proclaim Christ, for this is simply what it means to follow him."

We didn't just study.  We had a lot of fun.   How can you not have fun when you are with a huge group of teens?    We ate a lot of delicious food,  played games (have you ever played Egyptian Rat Slap?), got in the hot tub, took a polar bear plunge in the swimming pool, made s'mores around the outdoor fireplace, explored the abandoned house, went to Lookout Mountain, Rock City and hiked to a waterfall.  Am I missing something?    Needless to say we packed a LOT into our retreat over Spring Break.  

Let's go again!!

Why Do I Hesitate?

I was in such a hurry.   I was reciting my list over and over in my head, "bath rug, hair dryer, and washcloths".   That is what I do when I walk into any store without my list written down.   But this wasn't just any store.   This was Wal-Mart.   I despise shopping in Wal-Mart.   Wal-Mart without a list?   A nightmare of the worst kind, but a necessity since I had to make the best use of my time.    Little Guy was in class and I only had an hour until I had to pick him up and turn our one and only car over to Big Guy for the rest of the day.    So my goal was to hurry and focus.   But...

I kept running into this one lady.   She didn't speak to me.   She didn't even make eye contact.   She just seemed to be on every aisle that I walked down.    She was very well dressed for 7:45 in the morning.   Her buggy was completely empty with the exception of one thing: a stack of books.   I am not sure how to describe them except "romantic/smut" books.  

I very clearly felt the Lord tell me that she was lonely.   I sat there thinking, "How do I start a conversation?  What do I say?"

We wound up in the same check out line.   She and her books.  Me and my bath rug, hair dryer and washcloths.   Again I feel the Lord nudge me.    Again I am asking, "What do you want me to say?"  I am SO clueless and my doubts are shouting so much louder than anything else in my head.

As we start walking out to the car I am begging, "Lord, I am sorry.  I said I didn't want any regrets and I don't, but please tell me what to do."  

Immediately I knew.  I read!   I read lots of wonderful books.   I pulled every book out of my car that I had.  Even some books that had just come in from my publisher yesterday and I haven't even read yet.   I walked over to her car and said, "Hey!  I saw that you liked to read as much as I do.   I love passing books on after I finish reading so if you are interested I would love to share these with you."   

We had a short conversation about our love of books and I stood there praying over her and her life.   When I walked away I knew that I had planted the seed that God intended this morning.   I also walked away knowing that I almost let my insecurities and doubts prevent me from sharing Jesus with someone.   It is also another lesson of how I "always need to be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks me for a reason for the hope that is in me."  (1 Peter 3:15)

Family Discipleship

At least once a month if not once a week someone asks me this question: "Why do you homeschool?"   That is not a simple question to answer.   After all, the reason we homeschool today is not the same reason we started homeschooling six years ago.   Each year we reevaluate and pray and make decisions all over again about homeschooling.   So far this is what has been God's will for our family.  

But for right now?   It is all about family discipleship.   I know the days with my boys are getting shorter and shorter.    The urgency I feel to invest in them and plant the seeds that God has for each of them grows every day.

The most precious time of our day is when we come together at night to share about our day, talk and then have our family prayers.   Just counting the time that we have spent since Big Guy was born in family prayer, we have spent about 2,900 hours in prayer.   How do we put a price on that?    There is just no way.    We have prayed days, weeks and even months over things.   We have seen God answer our prayers in miraculous ways.   We have even had God answer our prayers in ways that we didn't understand.   Our faith has been stretched and pulled and grown.   We have held each other up during times of grief and cheered each other during times of victory.  

Memorizing Scripture has always been something we have tried to do, but we haven't been as disciplined as we wanted.    Last year we put up a chalkboard and changed the verse each week to reflect something that was challenging one of us.

For 2014 we have committed to memorize a larger more exact piece of Scripture.   We have decided to memorize the Sermon on the Mount.   Yes.  All 111 verses of Matthew 5, 6 and 7.   *Gulp*  It seems overwhelming when I type it out like that.

However, I came across this idea while reading this blog.   I have printed out her memorization plan and know that memorizing a few verses each week will make this not only manageable, but meaningful.  

New Year 2014: No Regrets

Every year when I think back on the previous year I realize the same thing:  if I had known what the year was going to hold I would have been scared to death.   That is probably why I don't make resolutions.   I know that each day of the year will hold enough challenges on its own without adding anymore to it.   I have been reading a few blogs while watching football with my husband over the past few days and noticed that many people are adopting a word for the coming year.

While we were in Fort Worth, one of the pastors preached a sermon on living the coming year to its fullest so that we had no regrets.   Something about that sermon just resonated with me.   

No regrets.  

Living each day to the fullest.  

That is not one word is it?   But it is definitely how I feel about 2014.   That and this Bible verse...

"He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and followed completely the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left."  2 Kings 22:2

 I can't think of any better way for someone to describe me:  that I did right in the eyes of the Lord?   What an awesome testimony.   That is definitely my prayer for 2014!

Happy New Year, my friends!

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

“And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.

So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” 

So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.

And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.”

Luke 2:1 – 20

Merry Christmas!

Holding On Loosely

Another year has flown by so quickly.   The two little boys are no longer so little.  They are changing into young men right before my eyes.   The older they get the more I pray for them.   The closer the time comes for them to go out into the world.   That knowledge is why I have not blogged so much this year.   Time with these two sweet young men is so precious.   I am trying to hold on to to every single second while learning to let go.

68 Kids On A Bus to the Beach

Every fall we take our student choir to the beach for a retreat.   It is a great time of bonding and worshiping in a community church.   One thing which we did differently this year was go on Labor Day.  Whew!  That was a BIG mistake.    As I am sure you can guess, everybody and their brother goes to the beach on Labor Day.    It was crowded which didn't seem to bother the kids, but it did make things a little hectic when we went out to eat.   Restaurants seem to freak out just a little when you show up with 68 people on one of their busiest weekends of the year.    The craziest part was trying to get home.   Leaving early in the morning and not driving into the church parking lot until 10:00 at night... not a fan.

However, these are the things that make memories.   Things that the youth laugh about and talk about for years to come.   That is why we take these trips.    To have a chance to build relationships and show them how much we love them.   

I think we accomplished our goal!

Today I Am...

Outside my window... is my sister's backyard.  She has graciously let Big Guy and I stay here while my house is being repaired and repainted from all of our foundation work.

I am thinking... that I am so ready for Little Guy and Hubs to be home.   They have been in Fort Worth, Texas, this week volunteering at a homeless mission.  

I am thankful for... a husband who works hard to provide for our family.

From the kitchen... not much has been happening in our kitchen this week, but it was fun to buy ingredients and let my nieces make supper for their Mom and Dad.  They thought it was so fun to make supper.

I am wearing... black t-shirt and white jeans, but I am so ready for some comfy pajamas!

I am creating... a list of things that need to be done next in our house before they come to put down the new floors.

I am going... to the coast with my hubs overnight next week for a business meeting.   We just celebrated a 23rd anniversary, but we did not have any money or time to really do anything.   When he found out he was going away for the night for this meeting he asked if I wanted to go.  He did not have to ask me twice!

I am reading... "An Open Heart" by Harry Kraus

I am hoping... that these last two years of Big Guy's high school will go really slow!

I am hearing... the sounds of Jack breathing really hard.  Jack is my sister and brother-in-law's dog.   He is 13 years old and has been so sick.   Everyone in our family loves Jack.   When the day comes that we have to say goodbye is going to be a heart breaker for all of us.

Around the house... everything is covered with a thick coating of sheet rock dust.  It is SO nasty!

One of my favorite things... vanilla caramel coffee made in my Keurig coffee maker.   I never knew how much I would enjoy a Keurig, but my boys gave me one for my birthday.  It has been such a great thing to just grab a quick cup of coffee anytime I want one.

A few plans for the rest of the week:  Cleaning the sheet rock dust off every inch of the house.   Emptying the bedrooms so the carpet installers can come.  

Here is a picture thought I am sharing... (My son playing Four Square at "The Feet")

Who Is This?

Big Guy and I were out getting him some swim trunks for his youth camp next week when his cell phone rang.

"Mom, do you recognize this number?"

"Not really.  Let me look in my phone and see if a name pops up."

After typing it in and realizing nothing was in my phone, Big Guy decides to dial the number.   Here is the conversation I heard.

"Hello?  Who is this?"

"Yes."

"No."

"You have the wrong number."

"Bye."


After a second, I asked, "Big Guy, do you realized you just called a phone number and asked the person who they were and then told them they had the wrong number?"  

He grinned and said, "I guess so."

Currently....

Listening... to an episode of "Perception" that my husband is watching.  I really don't think he is watching it either since he is scheduling his meetings for the week.  I guess we both need a little background noise while we are getting a little detail work done.   The only other sounds are the clothes tumbling in the dryer and the occasional meow of our cat when we don't pet her as often as she thinks we should.

Loving... that tomorrow morning I do not have to set an alarm.   I plan to get up and drink one two cups of coffee and just read a book in complete silence before the boys get up.  

Thinking... about the girls in my Sunday School class.   I adore them.   I never know what they are going to ask or say on Sunday mornings, but that is part of what I love about them and our class.   They keep me on my toes.   I wish they could see themselves the way I see them.   More than that I wish they could see themselves the way God see them.  

Wanting... to snap my fingers, blink my eyes, twitch my nose or whatever it takes to magically have my house all put back together.   Walls repaired and repainted.   New floors installed.   Doors replaced.    This is like the foundation repair project that will never end.    

Needing... a money tree.  

Best. Week. Ever. 2013

WinShape Camps for 2013 is in the books.    It is almost impossible to describe a week of WinShape without experiencing it.   It is an incredible camp hosted by Chick-Fil-A and offers the highest quality of events for kids in grades 1st through 6th.  

Here are some pictures from our week.  The first photo is the amazing WinShape staff: 23 young men and women who gave up their summer to travel to nine different communities to conduct these camps and share God's love with kids!  AWESOME!

Church vs Boy Scouts: A Sad Battle

When I think of the  Boy Scout organization I think of amazing young men like Stephen, Cade and Wil.   All three of these young men grew up in scouting and achieved the highest ranking that the Boy Scouts offers - Eagle Scout.   They each had to earn at least 21 merit badges and stay true to demonstrating what is called the "Scout Spirit" through the Boy Scout Oath and Law, service, and leadership.   The final step to achieving Eagle is planning, organizing, leading, executing and managing an extensive project which benefits the community.  

All of those details have faded in the shadow of the current debate which is now prominent in our news.   The Boy Scouts have made the decision to allow gay members.   The Southern Baptist Convention issued a statement saying that homosexual conduct is contrary to a scout's oath to do his duty to God.   It  approved a non-binding resolution opposing the Boy Scout policy at its annual convention in Houston. The resolution requires no action by member churches but leaves them to decide individually whether to stop sponsoring scout troops.   

Since then I have seen article after article in the news about churches who are not allowing Boy Scouts to meet in their church.   

There is something sadly ironic about this decision to me.   A church is supposed to be a hospital.  A place to find help and healing.   Every Sunday our pews are filled with people who are sinners.   It is no secret that a lot of time people hide their hurting because they feel like they have to be "perfect" to be at church.

Do these decisions by churches to push out the Boy Scouts further reinforce this feeling?  Are we missing a prime opportunity to minister and show God's love?    

When I think about this decision and all it means, my heart thinks about all the young men and women we work with on Tuesday evenings.    Young adults struggling with homosexuality, drug addiction, alcoholism, rejection from their families, anger -- you name it.    So many of them are scared of the church and "Christians" because they have felt judged by them because they did not feel good enough. 

I love Jesus' words in Matthew 11:28...


"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." 

Our churches need to return to being a place where a weary and burdened world can come and get help.   Not a battle ground that tells them that we have drawn a line in the sand.   

Demolition Zone

While we were in South Carolina for the wedding, our house was a demolition zone.   If you live in Mississippi you know where I am going with this... foundation work.  It just seems to go with home ownership when you live in this area of Mississippi where the Yazoo clay runs.  Eventually, you are going to have to do some sort of foundation work.    Of course, if you are me then you are going to have to do a LOT of foundation work.   The kind that requires you to pack your entire house and move out.  With one end of our house six inches lower than the other we didn't have any other choice.   We had to rip up all of our floors so they could dig giant holes inside and make it look like this...



























































I don't mind telling you that when my husband started texting me pictures of my house piled up with dirt, I was really glad that I was a LONG way from home.    Two weeks of them digging 20 feet holes into the ground was a messy and loud project.   Well, I am guessing it was loud since one of our neighbors called the police on our foundation workers complaining about the noise.   Fortunately, the police told them that we had all of our permits and permissions from the city so they were just going to have to deal with the noise since it was being done during work hours.   When this is over I will bake them a cake if I can ever find my kitchen again!!

The "lifting" process brought a lot of unexpected surprises.   Our roof buckled.  Our french doors collapsed.   Our skylight in the bathroom separated so when it rained it flooded the bathroom and it has to be completely repaired.     I am starting to feel like I need to tiptoe or something else is going to fall apart!

I will say that our foundation company did a great job with their clean up as they went.  You could never tell there were four foot piles of dirt in the house.  












These are not even the finished pictures.   I can't find the final pictures, but obviously concrete was poured over the dirt.   Now we wait for a minimum of two months for everything to "settle" before we can put floors back down or start to pain.  

The positive side.... when you have concrete floors and only have your beds set up and a couch in the living room there is very little to clean! 

So Happy Together

My nephew married his dream girl this past weekend.   It was a beautiful wedding although the weather did not exactly match.   If rain can be considered a blessing, then their wedding day was VERY blessed as it rained buckets and buckets the entire day.    J and J planned an outdoor wedding and they had a tent on stand by in case of rain.   We hated they had to use it, but there was no choice.    As you can see from the photos below, they were so happy they did not care about the rain.  They only cared about their special day.

My SIL did an amazing job planning a majority of the decorations.   Everything was so gorgeous!    She is really so gracious and volunteered to help the bride's family do so much.   I hope one day they will truly appreciate all she did to lighten their load.  

The wedding was held at the Bleckley Inn in Anderson, South Carolina.   It is a beautiful venue and the staff there is amazing.  I highly recommend you staying there is you are ever in the area.   The rooms are luxurious and they have thought of everything you could ever want in a guest room.   

Congratulations, J and J!   Your wedding day was beautiful.  We hope you have a wonderful life together.   Hope you are having an amazing honeymoon in Jamaica!