heartsjoy

Anniversary

To my precious hubby of 16 years!

You are the one who loved me from the beginning
You can make me smile by just giving me a look
One of the things I love about our relationship is
Our enjoyment of each other, great trust and lots of laughter
You make me laugh so hard my side hurts, I cry or have to make a run. :)
You have always encouraged me to be who I want to be
You do not hold me back from exploring things I love
You have always let me soar
You cherish friends I cherish
You encourage my time with them
and have always allowed my closeness with family to continue
You see my many faults and continue to love me through them all
You are not jealous or mean spirited
But rather a wonderful gentle strength
You have always been a leader to me and to our family
Whether we agreed or not you helped us move forward
I have always admired your ability to go where you felt led
Regardless of the results or what anyone said
You want to be where the Lord would lead
When we argue we both want to resolve
You I am angry you know how to soften with with a smile
You've done acts of service from the beginning
At first it was not so appreciated by me
but as the years progress Your gifts of love I see
When we shared our first birth I saw you look at me with such love
Your eyes watered as we rejoiced in our first child
and in the labor you were by precious rock
you told me what a good job I'd done
Then when blessed with our second child
You told me at first sight how beautiful she was
You have been a hands on Dad from the beginning
We work as a team and God has given us so many dreams
I have enjoyed our walk together
Through the highs and through the lows
We are comitted to each other and we both know
I knew from our first date that you were a galiant knight
And God has blessed me with the one that was right
We have so much to look forward to in years to come
And I look forward to sharing it with my chosen one.
I love you so much and am happy to say "Happy 16th Anniversary!"

Last night of VBS

Well, it was our last night of VBS! It was fun but I was glad to see the end. It is amazing how just having something every night can affect your week.

My kids are both spending the night with a family tomorrow night. This is a HUGE step for me. I am so not okay with this usually but God has been growing me in trust in Him and they seem pretty excited. It is actually our anniversary tomorrow. I can't believe it has been 16 years!

Well, it is late so that is all for now.

Inappropriate Laughter!

you feel it creeping up inside

it is the wrong time

totally inappropriate

can't help it, feel the tickle
lips curling, gonna loose it

yep, I've done it. My son knows I have this tendency and just the other day he tripped and almost fell.

Watching his long legs and arm flailing through the air did it for me. He quickly turned and looked right at me. He had seen the squint in my eyes, the creasing in my lips and he knew...
Then it came, that big loud laughter. I apologized as I did it.
I'm...so....sorry....know..it's.. not funny.

It was contagious, he couldn't keep frowning at me as I belly laughed his misfortune.
Pretty soon we were both bellowing and I was so glad he was understanding of my inappropriate laughter.

Other times it has not been so easy.
You know you shouldn't but can't contain it.

My friends and I were at the hotel and needed help connecting a dvd.
The guy that came kept talking to himself. I mean it wasn't a whisper, he was having some full on conversations with himself.

I finally started to quickly shake. My friends saw me and were trying not to get tickled and mouthed at me to STOP.

I tried, I really did. They wouldn't look at me but could feel me shaking with laughter and again it was contagious. Bad bad

My husband, who was a full time vocational minister for many years also knew my short coming.
One time in service, I was close to the back and he was sitting at the Lord's supper table. I couldn't see him very well and another man was talking. My husband slowly etched his head over to the side to see me.

All I could see was his little pin head moving to see me through all the little other heads.
It totally cracked me up.
A time when I should have been fully reflecting and meditating and I almost snorted.

I shut my eyes so quickly as to think that if I could sqeeze them tight enough, my lips would continue to stay sealed.

You know you can relate! I am sure (in an insecure, hopeful way) that I am not the only inappropriate laugher.
Can anything be done?! :)

Back from a long break from blogging

Well, my kids had a very busy year at their school. They learned so much and I probably learned more. It was a lot of driving back and forth on those days and we are looking to homeschool again in the fall. WHOO HOOO!!

I really enjoyed my job working with children in the church but I was able to let that go as well and come back to the homefront and can I say WHOO HOO!! I LOVE LOVE being back home with my family. I can actually think again about meal prep,cleaning out home etc. I can plan. It has been heaven. Not to mention that I just spent the last month and a half after quitting getting to go to 3 family graduations, help with wedding preparations (so fun, my brother and fiance), celebrate b-days, get to spend time taking care of Memaw, getting with family, getting to visit sister!! (sooo nice, we used to get to do it all the time but have so missed that time with her!)

So, now I am back home and a little more settled but it has just been so wonderful to have the freedom to do all of those things. Tonight was the start of VBS for our church that I was children's leader for. I hadn't seen so many of the people since I had left. I cannot tell you the great pleasure when I walked out and the kids all began running to me for hugs and say "Miss C! Miss C!! It was priceless!!

I was just suppose to be helping out with registration but it turned out to be very confusing, not ready and you know, how the first night usually goes but worse. I felt ownership because I had picked this VBS but I was no longer in charge of it. However, each time you go through stuff you learn for the next year and that is what our director did. The decor. was amazing and once we finally got everyone where they needed to go it was wonderful. I felt like people were genuinely happy to see me and seemed to have really missed me. That is always a good feeling.

Oh! I also got to have a sleepover at a hotel with 3 of my other close friends. We have been planning it for 5 years. lol Actually, that is when we first started talking about it but you know, time, business and all. It was HEAVENLY!! Getting away and talking for hours on end, sharing our hearts and also just being goofy. We got to eat out, plan school, talk about sooo much with everyone, paint, soak in hot tub! Glorious! I got a full 24 hours off. Not to mention that my dear hubby was at home on Sat. with the kids cleaning out the garage. It just doesn't get better than that! :)

After I got home another friend called and was free and wanted me to go with her. I hadn't had much sleep but my hubby thought I should go since I hadn't seen her in a while. Is that not the sweetest? After I just got back and he was encouraging me to go again? He and the kids were into the star wars trilogy so I was good to go.

It was so fun catching up with her as well.

I tell ya, I definitely have some sweet friends on here that live in Texas that I would love to meet and catch up with some day And some in Ks!

Hope you guys have a refreshing week as I had over the weekend. I can't believe how much that encouraged and energized me!

Kid's Best Day!

I got so tickled the other day when the I picked the kids up from school and asked how it went that day. They both jumped in with excitement and told me it was the Best Day Ever!! I couldn't wait to hear why and here is what they said.

both - We got to play at recess together!!
sister - "Mom! I saw Noah across the grass and I just ran to him and hugged and hugged him real tight! He tried to run away when I started running after him but then I got him and hugged and hugged him."
brother - "Yea, and THEN we got to play with each other until I had to go! We don't usually get to see each other when we are at school Mom so when I saw her I thought...is that really her? It was, and it was so cool. I think we may get to do that more now days!

Okay, what Mother wouldn't blubber a bit at this? ;)

Happy birthday Little Girl!

My precious little girl has her birthday this month and I can't believe how time is flying. She is so full of energy and always willing to be a helper. She has a joy and fun sense of humor that all enjoy. She has the best cuddles and hugs. She loves to play pretend and she has so many journals filled with all kinds of terrific drawings. I love you my little girl! I love to hear you laugh, sing, tell me a story. I enjoy watching you pretend to be a baby or take care of the babies you have. I love looking at your sweet cheeks and bright eyes as you give expressions. God is molding you to follow Him and be faithful to His plans. You are eager to follow and are self-disciplined in what you set out to do. You have a way of knowing what to do without even being told and you have a sweet servants heart. You have blessed our lives and I am sooo glad God gave you to us! Happy Birthday!

1st Day of School away from home

Today was their first day to head away from home to school. They woke with great enthusiasm and couldn't wait to get there. We were up in time to see Daddy and he had a great breakfast waiting for us. We had done a dry run to the school the day before to check out the back way and the traffic. It helped Mommy release sad feelings a day early. As we approached school they both told me they felt a bit tingly. I encouraged them that you usually feel a little nervous when starting something new. We parked, took pictures and then headed down the hill to the school lobby. I dropped son off first and he went right in and then he got a seat right next to another boy. I met the teacher and visited with her shortly, trying not to loose it when she was being so nice. Sweet son was off and going and gave me a quick goodbye. The night before he had asked me "Mooomm, you're not going to cry are you?" We teased and laughed about that. Anyway, I promised I would try to hold it until I left him....maybe he was helping me with the quick bye.

Then, I waited with dear daughter for her teacher to come get her. We followed to her class and saw them get seated...her teacher thanked parents for coming and said bye to us. DD looked like she was ready to go and still excited.

I had to go to a new mom's meeting and hoped I could make it without crying. Amazingly, I did. After that I headed to the see hubby and then the hospital to see my grandmother, who had taken a fall just this morning and broken her hip. (please keep her in your prayers, she will have to have surgery and it is just a long process of recovery she is facing...we love her so much)

When I went to pick them up they were so excited! We called Daddy so we could all hear at the same time about the day. Dd said "That was so fun I want to go back tomorrow!!" Ss said "He really liked it and already made 3 guy friends." They told me many stories such as how fun and nice their teachers were, how they neither liked outdoor play because of the heat today, Ss-confronted a girl that was catty by asking her to read a sticker which read "do unto others as you would have them do to you", (I about lost it laughing on that one), dd - said she really liked Art and ss liked math.

When we made it home they looked with me into their folders and wanted to start on homework right away. I was so impressed with their excitement and dedication to get it all done. Whew, we made it and now they are tucked safe in their beds. Thank you Lord for a sweet day.

School

I feel that God is working to grow me in many ways. My hubby approached me with wanting us to consider a new school. It is a school that does 2 days school and 3 days homeschool. It is a university model and a classical approach. I like all that I have read and I am enticed by the fact that lesson plans would be done for me for the most part. However, it is still so different from what we have done. I hate giving up time with my kids but with my part-time job I have given up some of that time anyway. I wish I didn't have to but I have to trust that God can lead my kids and me and that possibly it is for growth for us all.

Anyway, they have rules as far as who you are and your family being involved. They ask that only one parent work full time and the other only up to part time due to the homeschooling involved. They had us fill out a detailed application including our testimony. Then they gave us a family interview and tested the kids. The testing part about gave me a hernia. Why is it that we feel so exposed and vulnerable when someone else is evaluating our work our most precious children. I stressed needlessly because the kids did good. But regardless God showed me that He is the one I should be seeking as to whether I am doing what I need to, not the system. However, it was refreshing that they did well.

My kids both seem pretty excited especially my eldest. It is neat watching them relate to others and I am already praying for sweet God seeking friends.

Friends

We had some dear friends from our short time in south Texas come to visit us on Monday evening and it was a lot of fun to see them and visit as though we had never left. I love those times, just picking up where you've left off and enjoying the fellowship all over again.

Tonight my kids both have a friend staying over with them. It is a brother and sister similar ages to Noah and Faith. They have been wonderful. Faith has never done a sleep over other than with cousins. The boys have played ninentendo and pretend and the girls have played with pet shop and are now watching a movie. I have issues with letting my kids go to spend the night but watching them tonight with these sweet kids (at our house) has been a delight. I love listening to them play and talk. Interesting to hear what they come up with as far as stories and relating to each other.

Sweet friends!

New Job/ Chicken Pox

My job is turning out to be a joy. It is taking a little adjusting to a new position and learning curve but so far I really enjoy it. Fun to feel all professional.

My kids both were vaccinated for chicken pox but just two days ago I noticed spots. Yep, they got em. Poor kids, have to be locked here at home for a while. They are great sports though and we are trying to have fun in spite of it. It is a mild case and they seem to feel okay except for some itching. We keep em on itch free med.'s Anyway, pray that they heal quickly. Thanks.

My Boy's Birthday this month

I can't even believe my baby boy is in double digits!! We did some things different this year. Instead of a big friend party we did a family party and then just invited a couple of his friends to go to fun stuff one evening. He had a great time. He was elated with his gifts from friends and family and just seemed more grown up. I love that I can still pull him close and smooch those precious cheeks. His humor is keeping me laughing so much, reminds me of his fun Dad. ;)

My sweet son, you are such a joy and delight to us. We can't believe you are so much older and we celebrate each year we have with you. God has given you a wonderful heart of gold that wants to share God with others, as well as a mind of questions to seek out truth. You are a true treasure and we adore and love you!

Carrabba's goodbye

I didn't expect anything on my last night. I had seen many go before me and nothing was done. They suprised me at the end of the night with singing, cards, big cookies and flowers. It was really sweet and made me tear up. They also insisted that we do one more night at Denny's, it was a great goodbye....can't say I will miss the job but I will miss the people.

Director of Children's Ministry

I was stopped a while back while walking with my kids and a neighbor asked about hubby and I and our present jobs. She encouraged us to apply for the children's ministry position at her church even though the job opportunity wasn't official yet. She later came to our home to give us the chairman's number. She came by another day to get our number. We have been praying about our situation and what to do. I wondered if this was an answer.

To make a long story short, the chairman called to remind me about the date for resume's to be in and so I sent one. They chose me to come back for an interview...I was pretty nervous. I am used to going to these with my hubby not for me. It went pretty good and they wanted to bring me before the church if I was willing. I was.

The night they presented me they escorted our family out and it seemed like an eternity before they came back. Hubby and I both were thinking separately (while visiting with the lady who took us out) that I hadn't got the job. However, I did!! :) They just were discussing something else that had nothing to do with me. :) I am really excited! They gave us financially what we had decided we wanted. God really blessed!! I was able to quit Carrabba's and have started my new job. I have an office! cool! It is part time so it is also very flexible and so far I am very excited. Please pray for us in this ministry and church.

Praxis 2 School and Guidance counseling

I can't believe it! I took this in March and I actually passed it! PTL!

Happy Birthday to my little Butterfly!

I love your name because I feel it represents you
When you were young you found yourself struggling on
Trying to cope with things that were so huge
You were a little catipillar crawling through life
Trying to find the answers
As you grew you went into a cocoon
Struggling through darkness and feeling alone
But alone you were not though you didn't know
A Savior loved you a lot
You've had questions and sought answers
You've felt anger and fear
You have so much love to give
And to us you're so dear!
Now my heart jumps with joy
as I see you breaking through
Understanding through struggle and sorrow
You can grow and He will lead
Your eyes begin to see the light
And even though you don't know it yet
You truly are a beautiful butterfly
You will fly and you will soar
I love you beautiful butterfly
A dear friend you are!

Happy Birthday!

First Basketball Game

Our kids Love Upward basketball!! This past week was their first game of the season and they did great! Brother did awesome in defense and dribbling and even taking a shot that hit the rim. It was our Princess very first basketball game!! She did great listening to the coach, blocking, dribbling, and getting open for the ball!! She made a BASKET and scored points for the team!! It was a blast to watch and Meme and Poppa were there taking these lovely pics and video. I will try to get more out later of the game but these are pics of princess first B-ball game!

Brackets

This has been a year of teeth work. My little kiddos started out with expanders in the fall around October. Then they let us know Noah would need some brackets for this phase as well.
So, Monday we went in and in about 30 minutes he came out with his brackets. He is excited aobut them and the opportunity to change out colors each time he goes. :) My wittle kids are growing up! whaa.

May I have the pleasure of brushing your Hair?

This story touched me years ago when I heard her tell it. It touched me again today when My Dad sent it to me.



BETH MOORE AT THE AIRPORT
For those of you who don't know Beth Moore, she is an outstanding Bible teacher, writer of Bible studies, and is a married mother of two daughters. This is one of her experiences: April 20, 2005.
At the Airport in Knoxville waiting to board the plane, I had the Bible on my lap and was very intent upon what I was doing. I'd had a marvelous morning with the Lord. I say this because I want to tell you it is a scary thing to have the Spirit of God really working in you. You could end up doing some things you never would have done otherwise. Life in the Spirit can be dangerous for a thousand reasons not the least of which is your ego.

I tried to keep from staring, but he was such a strange sight. Humped over in a wheelchair, he was skin and bones, dressed in clothes that obviously fit when he was at least twenty pounds heavier. His knees protruded from his trousers, and his shoulders looked like the coat hanger was still in his shirt. His hands looked like tangled masses of veins and bones. The strangest part of him was his hair and nails. Stringy gray hair hung well over his shoulders and down part of his back. His fingernails were long, clean but strangely out of place on an old man. I looked down at my Bible as fast as I could, discomfort burning my face. As I tried to imagine what his story might have been, I found myself wondering if I'd just had a Howard Hughes sighting. Then, I remembered that he was dead. So this man in the airport...an impersonator maybe? Was a camera on us somewhere? There I sat, trying to concentrate on the Word to keep from being concerned about a thin slice of humanity served on a wheelchair only a few seats from me. All the while my heart was growing more and more overwhelmed with a feeling for him. Let's admit it. Curiosity is a heap more comfortable than true concern, and suddenly I was awash with aching emotion for this bizarre-looking old man.

I had walked with God long enough to see the handwriting on the wall. I've learned that when I begin to feel what God feels, something so contrary to my natural feelings, something dramatic is bound to happen. And it may be embarrassing. I immediately began to resist because I could feel God working on my spirit and I started arguing with God in my mind. "Oh, no, God, please, no." I looked up at the ceiling as if I could stare straight through it into heaven and said, "Don't make me witness to this man. Not right here and now. Please. I'll do anything. Put me on the same plane, but don't make me get up here and witness to this man in front of this gawking audience. Please, Lord!" There I sat in the blue vinyl chair begging His Highness, "Please don't make me witness to this man. Not now. I'll do it on the plane."

Then I heard it... "I don't want you to witness to him. I want you to brush his hair." The words were so clear, my heart leapt into my throat, and my thoughts spun like a top. Do I witness to the man or brush his hair? No-brainer. I looked straight back up at the ceiling and said, "God, as I live and breathe, I want you to know I am ready to witness to this man. I'm on this Lord. I'm you're girl! You've never seen a woman witness to a man faster in your life. What difference does it make if his hair is a mess if he is not redeemed? I am going to witness to this man."

Again as clearly as I've ever heard an audible word, God seemed to write this statement across the wall of my mind. "That is not what I said, Beth. I don't want you to witness to him. I want you to go brush his hair." I looked up at God and quipped, "I don't have a hairbrush. It's in my suitcase on the plane. How am I supposed to brush his hair without a hairbrush?" God was so insistent that I almost involuntarily began to walk toward him as these thoughts came to me from God's word: "I will thoroughly furnish you unto all good works." (2 Timothy 3:17)

I stumbled over to the wheelchair thinking I could use one myself. Even as I retell this story my pulse quickens and I feel those same butterflies. I knelt down in front of the man and asked as demurely as possible, "Sir, May I have the pleasure of brushing your hair?" He looked back at me and said, "What did you say?" "May I have the pleasure of brushing your hair?" To which he responded in volume ten, "Little lady, if you expect me to hear you, you're going to have to talk louder than that." At this point, I took a deep breath and blurted out, "SIR, MAY I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF BRUSHING YOUR HAIR?" At which point every eye in the place darted right at me. I was the only thing in the room looking more peculiar than old Mr. Longlocks.

Face crimson and forehead breaking out in a sweat, I watched him look up at me with absolute shock on his face, and say, "If you really want to." Are you kidding? Of course I didn't want to. But God didn't seem interested in my personal preference right about then. He pressed on my heart until I could utter the words, "Yes, sir, I would be pleased. But I have one little problem. I don't have a hairbrush." "I have one in my bag," he responded. I went around to the back of that wheelchair, and I got on my hands and knees and unzipped the stranger's old carry-on, hardly believing what I was doing. I stood up and started brushing the old man's hair. It was perfectly clean, but it was tangled and matted. I don't do many things well, but must admit I've had notable experience untangling knotted hair mothering two little girls. Like I'd done with either Amanda or Melissa in such a condition, I began brushing at the very bottom of the strands, remembering to take my time not to pull. A miraculous thing happened to me as I started brushing that old man's hair. Everybody else in the room disappeared. There was no one alive for those moments except that old man and me. I brushed and I brushed and I brushed until every tangle was out of that hair. I know this sounds so strange, but I've never felt that kind of love for another soul in my entire life. I believe with all my heart, I - for that few minutes - felt a portion of the very love of God. That He had overtaken my heart for a little while like someone renting a room and making Himself at home for a short while. The emotions were so strong and so pure that I knew they had to be God's.

His hair was finally as soft and smooth as an infant's. I slipped the brush back in the bag, went around the chair to face him. I got back down on my knees, put my hands on his knees, and said, "Sir, do you know my Jesus?" He said, "Yes, I do." Well, that figures, I thought. He explained, "I've known Him since I married my bride. She wouldn't marry me until I got to know the Savior." He said, "You see, the problem is, I haven't seen my bride in months. I've had open-heart surgery, and she's been too ill to come see me. I was sitting here thinking to myself, what a mess I must be for my bride." Only God knows how often He allows us to be part of a divine moment when we're completely unaware of the significance. This, on the other hand, was one of those rare encounters when I knew God had intervened in details only He could have known. It was a God moment, and I'll never forget it. Our time came to board, and we were not on the same plane. I was deeply ashamed of how I'd acted earlier and would have been so proud to have accompanied him on that aircraft. I still had a few minutes, and as I gathered my things to board, the airline hostess returned from the corridor, tears streaming down her cheeks. She said, "That old man's sitting on the plane, sobbing. Why did you do that? What made you do that?" I said, "Do you know Jesus? He can be the bossiest thing!" And we got to share.

I learned something about God that day. He knows if you're exhausted because you're hungry, you're serving in the wrong place or it is time to move on, but you feel too responsible to budge. He knows if you're hurting or feeling rejected. He knows if you're sick or drowning under a wave of temptation. Or He knows if you just need your hair brushed. He sees you as an individual. Tell Him your need!

I got on my own flight, sobs choking my throat, wondering how many opportunities just like that one had I missed along the way...all because I didn't want people to think I was strange. God didn't send me to that old man. He sent that old man to me.
John 1:14 "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." Life shouldn't be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather, to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly shouting, "Wow! What a ride! Thank You, Lord!"

Happy Birthday Brother/Joyful journey! Friends visit

I am belated by accident having planned my words but not publishing them at the right time.

My precious brother was born years later almost on my(and sister) birthday. He has been the one we loved on, smooched on, ruled over, talked with, laughed with and just enjoyed. He can tell stories that have me laughing so hard I cry. He is a strong leader and I have always wished I had his ability to lead and not look back yet he also has a very compassionate heart! As we get older I see more of his sweetness as he dotes on the nieces and nephews and is easy going like my Dad. One of my funny childhood memories are when my brother would spy on me and my date, or come in to get attention with a paper sack on his head and sit between me and friends or when he would ask for ice cream money only to later discover his stash of money in the drawer. He has always been a smart and funny little guy! Happy Birthday Brother! I love you!

My sweet friend Joyful journey has been in my life for many years. We have many memories that we share. She is one that is always interested in what others have to say and she had great input to give. She is loveable, easy going, and just down right sweet! One of my fondest memories with she and her hubby are when they went with us on a youth trip. It was an adventure with many interesting youth issues and singing and driving (wrecking) etc. I also loved our early morning walks and talks and sharing a duplex! I have always enjoyed and will always enjoy her friendship and am so happy we have re-connected in blog world! I look forward to a screamy reunion in person some day in the near future. Happy birthday my sweet friend!

I also forgot to mention that last week the day before my b-day a dear friend that shared the birth of my kids with me came to visit with her family. It was just like home week. I ran to hug her and we were screaming with joy over seeing each other! The kids looked at us like we were crazy. We haven't seen each other in 3 years but it feels like yesterday. I'm sure for kids it is hard to understand our special bond since we are not around each other right now but it is just like picking up where you take off. It really felt like fresh water renourishing you. What a treat!

Again, just sooo thankful for the priceless blessing in my life!