Life in Christ....

The White Stuff

“The first fall of snow is not only an event, it is a magical event” ~Anonymous

“When it snows, you have two choices: shovel or make snow angels” ~Anonymous


Even in winter an isolated patch of snow has a special quality. ~Andy Goldsworthy

Oh! the snow, the beautiful snow, Filling the sky and earth below, Over the housetops, over the street, Over the heads of the people you meet. Dancing, Flirting, Skimming along. ~ J.W. Watson

“Cats are smarter than dogs. You can't get eight cats to pull a sled through snow." ~Jeff Valdez

“Kindness is like snow - it beautifies everything it covers” ~Anonymous

Lesson of the Day

There has been a continuous theme during Luke's elementary years so far......
The things that run through my mind every year?

"I wonder how bad the teacher thinks my parenting skills must be?!
"If they just knew how many books I've read and prayers I've said!"
"Oh gosh, what will he do next?"

The "moment of truth" happens from about 3:32 to 3:33, as I learn what excitement he brought the classroom on that particular day.

On Wednesday, he told me about their Lesson of the Day, synonyms. I had not really seen him this excited about actual classroom content before. He began explaining what synonyms are and how he had provided several examples of synonyms to the class. Ah, finally a proud parent moment. I listened intently as he told me his examples.....

Bottom - Butt
Toot - Fart
Poop - Turd

I should have seen this one coming. Truly. I am guessing the teacher has a sense of humor because I didn't get a note or phone call.

Other lesson of the day? Boys will be boys and God isn't finished with mine yet.

The Power of a Hug

This is just an eye opening and true moment that happened in our lives yesterday.

While trying to keep this person anonymous, I wanted to share how the little things we do for people can make an enormous difference in their lives.

Yesterday, Ellie saw a person outside our window. Being the Princess of Hearts that she is, she sensed that person needed a hug.

Today, the message below was posted on this person's Facebook. I, being somewhat oblivious to the depth of this person's pain, was blown away when I saw this person's Facebook status today...

Yesterday I felt pretty hopeless, alone and beaten up. I decided to take the dog for a walk. As I walked down the street, I was greeted by a smile and a wave from a neighbor's front window. I smiled and waved back. This smile came from a sweet little girl. She had no knowledge of the things I am going through. It was cold and raining outside. This little girl did not care. Without even thinking she ran out of her house. Not grabbing a coat to keep warm. Not grabbing an umbrella to shelter herself from the rain. She did not even put shoes or socks on. She just jumped up and ran outside to me. I asked her what she was doing outside like that. She said "I just want to give you a hug," and so she did and turned around and ran back inside. This little girl touched my heart and let me know that God is still with me, around me and giving me the things I need. I thank God for the children of this world, and for him being in my life.I am truly bless by God's grace and by this sweet angel Ellie. Just waited to share. Have a great day friends and count your blessings. God does love you.

Funky Jesus Music

If there was ever a night I wished this white girl could pop and lock, snap n roll and do the stanky legg, this was the night..... the night Toby Mac came to town.

I feel like down deep I've got some soul blood in me cause that music makes me wanna get up and dance like noone's ever danced before.

But I know if I did, I would look like a dying mongoose. I have faced the fact that my pale booty just doesn't have the rhythm or the cool.

However, I do think that in heaven I would love to be one of God's backup dancers... dancing like a fool on the streets of gold... oh yeah. Baby. Now that would be chill. That would be ON POINT. That would be 1 thousand. That would be hot. (Thanks to my soul sista Nicole for a little help with the lingo).

Dare I say it? Cause I've seen lots of concerts.... James Taylor, Carrie Underwood, Garth Brooks, ZZ Top, Michael W. Smith, The Bee Gees, Third Day, Justin Beiber, Club Nouveau, Hall and Oates, (omigosh can you believe that list... that list is hilarious),

but Toby Mac.....

Best. Concert. EVER.

A close second? Garth Brooks.

My kids LOVED it. Tom even tapped his foot a little. And did some arm waving. Toby Mac is a true showstopper, and has God to call as his King. If he comes to an area near you, GO SEE HIM. That would be Legit!

Perfect Pairings - Isaiah 11:6

Our dog Wilson and one of his favorite toys.....

She's off this week, but you can usually see That's Baloney for more Perfect Pairings, and that ain't no baloney!

SAVED

Romans 1:16 am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.

Here We Have the BCS Championship....

in Legos..... !!!
This Luke and Ellie's football field creation....complete with yard lines, goal posts and bleachers.Here is the ultra-competitive coach....
.... the raucous crowd....

... the "impartial" refs

I didn't get a picture of the concession stand in back of the bleachers or the skittles for sale. No kidding.

Still in the works, a scoreboard!

I hope it shows AUBURN and Cam Newton as the winner. Go Tigers!

Top Ten Pics of Our Two Thousand Ten

~Ellie performing in Babes in Toyland~

~The possum and her babies on our back fence~~Luke and his faux hawk~

~Farm dog~ ~OKC Memorial~

~Rope swing in Kerrville, Texas~~Sunset on the farm~

~Falling in love with Football~

~Our Angel Ida~~We Love Wilson~

What's Wrong With This Picture?

Isn't the human supposed to have her head on the pillow, not the dog.........

Technical Support

People: I love my husband. He is a man with many a great quality. He's loyal and kind. He's a hard worker. He is strong and silent. He supports me. He doesn't miss a Sunday of church. He's great at folding laundry and unloading the dishwasher. I so love him for that.

But there's one thing he is not, and that is good at the jobs that require you to read directions and/or think deeply. Putting together and/or hooking up things is just not his strength. To say the least.

When the kids were little he assembled their Little Tykes wagon with the wheels on
backwards. They stayed that way for seven years. It never really rolled quite right. I have quit asking him to hang things on the wall because bless his my heart, they usually end up falling down at some point. I tutor him in all things computer. So ya see, it's just not his specialty. Even though in his younger days he did get a job as a maintenance man for a bank down in Texas. Now that's funny stuff. He had his own workshop and everything. And I can say all this about him because he doesn't read my blog either, Baloney.

Anyway, things have changed for the better in our house. I now have my own little Technical Support, known as Luke. Completely of his own initiative, he decided that the XBox that we got on Christmas morning and that was gathering dust in the corner, needed to be set up. So he got up, opened up the boxes, read the directions and SET UP the XBox. Bam. Just like that. People, do you know how much easier my life just became? I envision myself sitting in my easy chair eating bonbons, shoving owner's manuals at Luke and having him hook up everything from our surround sound to changing the oil in my car. ;-) Oh Happy Day!

It is Well....

....with our souls!

We said goodbye to Granny today at her funeral celebration.

It was another hallelujah moment, and the program said as much.

There it was in big letters at the top of the program: "It's A Hallelujah Moment."

And we could hardly even muster a tear.

Oh, we miss her right down to our foot bones,

but it was the happiest, most inspirational service I have ever been to.

We sang lots of old hyms, the ones I learned in that very church.

"Because He Lives" "When We All Get to Heaven" "Victory in Jesus" and "Sweet Sweet Spirit" to name a few.

My dear uncle and the pastor both talked about Granny for awhile.

The memories made us smile, and they pushed us on to be a little more like her.

Giving, loving, never angry (my uncle talked about the two times we remember her being mad), sweet, kind, God-fearing, God-seeking, faithful, steadfast, a true believer.

At the very end, as she requested, her family gathered together at the front of the church and sang "How Great Thou Art."

It was an awesome service. Awesome. I was thinking that even people who didn't know her would come away inspired by her life and her legacy.

The luncheon afterwards was fun because we had granny's favorite foods. Brown beans and cornbread at one station, Chik-Fil-A on the other side of the dining hall, and since coneys were granny's favorite, we had Coney I-Land come out and set up a coney line. It was so fun! Everyone seemed to enjoy it.

Later at the burial, Uncle Jim read Psalm 91, the Psalm that she clung to when her son Fred was in Vietnam. We are clinging to it now!

The joy we had in our hearts seemed to patch the big hole we have there. I know as the days pass, I will sorely miss her, just not being able to call her and hear her voice. Smell her house. See her smile.

But remembering this day will help....
and singing this helps a little bit too...

When We All Get to Heaven...

What a day of rejoicing that will be!

When we all see Jesus, ---- and Grandma Ida! ;-)

We’ll sing and shout the victory!

A Little More Hope

I tell ya what, God just doesn't stop putting sweet, little bows on this week.
As hard as it's been to lose Granny, God has given us little blessings along the way to ease the pain a bit.

My blogging friend Roxx who I have gotten to know over the last couple of years took a little trip over Christmas to, guess where?

Unbelievably, granny's birthplace, Hope, Idaho. population, 79. (according to Wikipedia)

Here is the title of Roxx's recent blog entry:

Loving Hope Idaho:
I may be in the middle of no where geographically,
but it's moments like this my heart centers.

Isn't that the coolest? You can see here why her family was in Hope and look here for more of the awesome pictures she posted just for me!

Thanks Roxx! (and God, thanks to you too. That was a nice touch).