Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful for...
-cool, crisp autumn mornings (finally)
-caramel apple cider from Starbucks
-my CD player in my car is fixed
-friends who love me even on bad days (and today was one)
-candles to make my apartment smell like home
-healthy children
-my husband who makes me laugh
-cream cheese (I can't think of anything with cream cheese that I don't like)
-mechanical pencils (I hate pencil sharpeners!)
-digital cameras (so much fun to play with pics)
-friends that you don't talk to for months, then you call them up, you pick up where you left off and they never ask why you called

What faith looks like...

My kids are so cool! I love to see their faith growing and developing. To coin a phrase from our 252 curriculum, "here's what faith looks like at our house..."
Last week, we were at Stone Mountain, and Asher had gone through the ropes course over and over for about an hour. One of the workers stopped me and said, "You know what I like about Asher? He wants to do everything by himself!" Asher looked up at the worker and said, "I can do anything with God's help!" (4 years old)
Colton is praying nightly for God to speak to his heart because he feels like God and Satan are fighting for his heart. Our virtue this month is respect, and Colton is really wrestling with this at home. He prays for God to win and capture his heart because he's tired of being sent to his room : ). (7 years old)
Kenzie is experiencing real brokenness in her sin. She has never struggled with outward disobedience; she's more the passive defiance type. She is quiet and thoughtful, definitely the peacemaker, but she has really begun to see sin as sin and be broken over it. It consumes my heart when I see this brokenness. She is quite burdened about her friend Abby, and prays daily for Abby to be healed. (8 years old)
God is so amazing when He reveals Himself to a child and through a child.
They teach me every day. God, give me the kind of faith that will draw my children nearer to you!

Abby's Baptism

Wow! Today was an incredible day! I just couldn't go to bed without sharing!
A very special friend of ours, Abby Wilson, celebrated her life in Christ with a baptism at Lake Tobosofkee. It was one of the most beautiful baptisms that I've been a part of. I just had to share.
One of the things that made it so special is that her family was celebrating her life and her victory in Christ no matter what this year may bring. Last April, the Wilsons received news that rocked their world when they were told that their precious Abby had cancer, but they have been faithful and trusted God each step of the way. Jerry reminded all of us that Abby is victorious because of her faith in Christ and the giving of her life to Him, no matter what they will face as they begin treatment this week.
So, I ask you to please join me in praying for the Wilsons this week, especially for Abby.
Enjoy the slide show of her baptism...

Funny Asher

Asher is four! I can't believe it...it truly feels like we just brought him home from the hospital! He brings our life such joy. We have a whole file folder in our pictures section of our computer that is titled "funny asher" just for funny pics of him and silly things he does.

Life is a party for him and he wakes up every morning and asks what we're going to do today. He always says, "I wanna do something fun!"

Today, I stopped by a friend's house for a few minutes and heard him hollering my name, I looked over and he was hanging from the magnolia tree he had climbed up, waving and smiling so proud of himself. He pretty much has fun wherever he goes, whatever he does. We should all try to enjoy life as much as he does...

Super Saturday

This Saturday, we had nothing we HAD to do. It was wonderful. We all snuggled in the morning, then cleaned house and cleaned out the cars, then we ESCAPED!

We took off and went to Dausett Trails and had the best day...doing nothing...here are some pics.

It is amazing how some family time really restores my soul. It refreshes me. I love Saturdays!

The Battle

"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle"

Someone sent me this quote at the end of an e-mail today. I don't know why, but it struck me. It seems as if this week has been an especially draining one. I don't know why...
Well, that's not exactly true. A year ago today, we received some news that was devastating for our family. A year later, I can tell you that what some intended for evil, God intended for good, and where we are now is exactly where we are supposed to be. The pain has been unbearable at times, but now there is joy. However, I do have to say that most every day I have to put my anger and bitterness at His feet and say God it's Your battle, not mine.
In my brokenness, I have become keenly aware of the brokenness all around me.

The battle is raging in almost everyone I meet. Some are fighting for peace. Some are fighting for freedom from addiction. Some are fighting for their child's life. Some are fighting for their marriage. Some are battling themselves. The only victory in all of this is in Christ alone, in Him alone.
Chew on that. It may be in finally giving something up to Him, it may be standing up and fighting for something, it may be giving up and letting Him fight for you, it may be in Him taking someone home. But in Him is freedom, in Him is victory. So, whatever your battle is, stop and taste the mercy, the grace, the respite for your soul that only He can give.

Everybody Poops

Everyone Poops...that is a title of a book that I have read to all of my children during that all important potty training time. I have always done the "potty training in a day" technique, or as Jerry affectionately refers to it "potty boot camp". Both my older children potty trained rather easily. No major hiccups....

Then there's Asher.

He doesn't want to poop.

He refuses to poop.

We potty trained in the summer of 2006. But I don't think we succeeded. He always struggled with the pooping part. In his defense, we have had a turbulent year; we've moved 3 times this year. He finally seemed to get it this summer, then, guess what?

Yep, we moved again. So, we are back to the issue again. He's holding, squirming, then finally pooping...in his pants.

This blog is totally purposeless, but it's what's consuming my days. You moms understand.

Flashback Friday

Funny story...just remembered it the other day when we were reminiscing about funny things our children had said.

Kenzie was three years old and was in the bathtub, Jerry was supervising bathtime and he was sitting on a stool with his feet propped on the edge of the tub. Kenzie was splashing and playing around trying to get her Daddy to play. She splashed his feet.

Jerry said, "Kenzie, I've got a great idea! You can wash Daddy's feet."

She stopped giggling and playing, looked straight at him and replied, "I'm not Jesus."

We have laughed at that more times than I can tell you and thought it was worth sharing...

Ten on Tuesday

Ten Reasons why I don't mind turning 40 today:
1. I am loved.
2. I have a wonderful husband who is my best friend. I don't have to impress him. He knows me and loves me anyway.
3. I have three fabulous kids who think I'm the best mom ever.
4. I'm much more comfortable in my skin than I was at 20.
5. I don't feel the need to impress my friends. They are my friends.
6. I'm happy with who I've become, but I know that I haven't arrived.
7. Sure I'm forgetful, but most of what I forget probably wasn't that good anyway.
8. I did then what I knew then, now I know better so I do better. (a favorite Maya Angelou quote)
9. Everyone tells me life begins at 40 (I'll let ya know on that one).
10. It's been a heck of a year, and frankly I'm glad to have just survived.

Funny Asher

Asher cracks us up.

The other day, I walked into his room and it smelled awful. I said, "Something stinks in here!" He looked up at me and said, "That would be me."

Later that day, his daddy walked into his room and there were puzzles everywhere (his latest craze). His daddy said, "Somebody has a mess to clean up!" Asher looked up at him and said, "That would be you."

What would we do without him?