Are you kidding me?

I have a new friend that I met 20 years ago.  I was reading the Baylor Line a few months ago and  saw that a girl from my graduating class had recently moved to Richmond.  I had a vague recollection of a tall girl with curly hair, so I emailed her and told her we were moving her way.  She had no idea who I was, but was nice enough to welcome me into her circle of friends when I arrived.  Today she invited me to attend a fancy Junior League-type market that was benefitting  kids with cancer.  Before she came to pick me up, I made sure that the pillows were on the couch; I picked up the shoes by the door; I put the breakfast dishes in the dishwasher; I even swept the back porch.  When she walked in, the first thing she asked was, "Can I use your bathroom?"  ARE YOU KIDDING ME?  My choices were to let her go upstairs and see my messy bed, or let her use the kids bathroom.  I chose to let her think my kids were slobs instead of letting her think I was a slob.  Next time I want to impress someone I will not forget to wipe down the bathroom!

We enjoyed "just looking" at all of the jewelry, bags, clothes and fancy dog collars at the Ivy Market.  On the way out I stopped and asked about the organization that was benefitting from the fund raiser.  It's a group that works to "improve the lives of children battling cancer."  They told me about all of their activities and it sounded a lot like Ally's House.  Then I asked the volunteer, "Do you have any services for the families of the children who die?"  The woman stared back at me with a blank look on her face, "Uh, no.  I don't know of anything..."  I wanted to say, "Some of them do die you know."

Raccoons and Bun-gee Cords

We have raccoons.  No, they are not pets, but apparently we are feeding them.  Two nights ago I heard them so I sent Richard out to investigate.  The lid was off one of the trash cans.  When he went to put it back on, there were two raccoons staring back at him from the bottom of the can.  They didn't scamper off and Richard didn't want to trap them in the can so he just left them there.  The next day we moved all of the trash to one can and put a bun-gee cord over the top to hold the lid on.  This morning the empty can was still covered, but the other lid was laying in the grass with the bun-gee cord right next to it.  I guess  bun-gee cords are no match for little raccoon hands and to tell you the truth,  I've always wanted a pet raccoon.

Servant-hood

I have reached the "I quit my job 13 years ago when I started having kids and now my kids are in school  so what do I do?" stage of life.  I have two degrees, but I have been feeling NOT SMART and NOT ABLE to do anything "important" or "professional".  This all came to a head Friday night when I burned the pizza.  I know burned pizza had NOTHING to do with how I was feeling, but it sent me over the edge and all sorts of emotions came spilling out--including grief which is always lurking beneath the surface.  (Yuck!--and surprise for Richard!)
THE NEXT MORNING during my quiet time I was reading in Isaiah chapter 49....

3"You are my servant... in whom I will display my splendor."
4"But I said, 'I have labored to no purpose; I have spent my strength in vain and for nothing...
(But God, my resume isn't  impressive in the eyes of the world.  My experiences don't qualify me to do anything.  What was it all for?  What have you prepared me to do?)
"Yet what is due me is in the Lord's hand, and my reward is with my God."

Then God asked me the question,
"Is it too small a thing for you to be my servant?"

"Why... labor on what does not satisfy?  Listen to me... and your soul  will delight in the richest of fare.  For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways... As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts."  (Is. 55:2)

No Lord, it is not too small a thing for me to be your servant.  Speak for your servant is listening.

Happy Birthday Will

Last night I was sad as I kissed my eight-year-old goodnight and realized that I would never have another eight-year-old.  It's hard when your kids grow up!
But today was a day to celebrate being nine.  Will got up early to make the most of his day.  He opened his nine presents and his cards at breakfast.  Then we had fun Skyping our friends and family in Oklahoma.  (Video conferencing on the computer for those of you who have never tried it.  It's great and it's FREE.)  The best quote was from Will's buddy Nate who asked, "Is it Saturday there?"
At ten o'clock his new VA friend arrived for four hours of fun.  We took them to the park then came back home for spaghetti and more play.  Tonight we went to see "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs".  We liked the movie, but it would have been just as good without paying extra for the 3D showing.  I'm pretty sure Will had a good day.  He has decided that now that he is nine, he is too old for a booster seat.  I reluctantly agreed, but I will miss having a car seat in my car.

Will likes cookies better than cake and ice-cream better than anything

Making ice-cream sundaes

I Will Carry You

"I have made you and I will carry you." (Isaiah 46:4)

What an incredible verse! Don't we all want to be carried sometimes? Aren't we like little children who get tired and long to be swept up in their Father's arms? God says He will carry us. We're not too heavy!

I found a German proverb yesterday in one of my library books. It says "Aller Anfang is schwer, " which means: "Every new beginning is hard." It's true! New beginnings are hard. But, I know from experience that endings are hard too. So if you are in one of those days between a beginning and an end--rejoice! And if you are facing an end, or plodding through a beginning, rest in your Father's arms and let Him carry you.

Selah has a new song called, "I Will Carry You." It was written when the lead singer and his wife were told that the baby girl she was carrying would not survive after birth. The doctors recommended terminating her pregnancy, but the mother said no "I will carry her."

It thrills my soul to think of God saying to me, "I will carry you, while your heart beats here-- long beyond Anna's empty bed, through the coming years. I will carry you all your life."

There were photographs I wanted to take
Things I wanted to show you
Sing sweet lullabies, wipe your teary eyes
Who could love you like this?

People say that I am brave but I’m not
Truth is I’m barely hanging on
But there’s a greater story
Written long before me
Because He loves you like this

So I will carry you
While your heart beats here
Long beyond the empty cradle
Through the coming years
I will carry you
All my life
And I will praise the One Who’s chosen me
To carry you

Such a short time
Such a long road
All this madness
But I know
That the silence
Has brought me to His voice
And He says…

I’ve shown her photographs of time beginning
Walked her through the parted seas
Angel lullabies, no more teary eyes
Who could love her like this?

I will carry you
While your heart beats here
Long beyond the empty cradle
Through the coming years
I will carry you
All your life
And I will praise the One Who’s chosen Me
To carry you

(I Will Carry You, by Todd and Angela Smith)

Finally Reached my Limit

I was the Mystery Reader for Will's class today. At his school they have the parents sign up to read to the class every other week. It is a surprise for the kids because they don't know who is coming. When I walked in, they were all sitting on the floor with their eyes closed. Of course none of them knew me except Will. We had a GREAT time. I loved every minute.

Before I went, I spent all morning trying to find the perfect book. I researched "read aloud books for third grade" on the internet then went to the library. I found several books on my list of possibilities, but the one I really wanted was checked out. They had a copy at a different library so I had to make another trip. Because the first library hadn't checked my books back in, I could only check out one more book before reaching my limit. I found the book I wanted and maxed out my library card--50 books! I guess I need to get the kids their own cards because only 3 of those books are mine.

A New Friend

I sent a note with Will to give to his friend to give to his mom. It's hard to invite someone over when you don't know their phone number, address, or last name. Finally tonight I had a message from new friend's mom saying that her son would love to come play on Saturday. She said I could call her back and then she said, "My phone number is..."BEEP Cut off by the answering machine! Hopefully she will call back tomorrow.

Thank you to those of you who are sending Will cards. I will let him be the one to check the mailbox the next few days :-)

Life's a Beach

We made the first of hopefully many beach trips Saturday. It was quite fun for a bunch of land-locked Oklahomans. At first Audra said that she was going to wait for the waves to die down before she got in. We told her that wasn't going to happen so she plunged right in and loved it. September is a great time to go to the beach if you don't mind a brisk north wind when you get out. Today I am washing the sheets because somehow the sand got in them even after our showers. Audra was still digging sand out of her ear during church yesterday!

Audra turned Jacob into a mermaid!

Will thought it was warmer under the sand.

Audra LOVED the beach!

Will's Special Day

Will's birthday is Saturday. We had a party before we left Oklahoma, but I would like for his "real" birthday to be special as well. I think he would love to get some cards in the mail. If you would like to send one, please email me and I will send you our address. He does have one new friend and I am hoping his mom will trust me enough to let her son come over and play. If not, it will just be the five of us celebrating. Will wants to have a whipped cream pie fight.....hmmm, not sure that's going to happen!

(Yea! I can add pictures now. Scroll down to see more pictures on previous posts.)

The new book covers are here! The new book covers are here!

That title is funny if you have seen the movie "The Jerk". If you haven't, then you probably just think I get excited about every little thing. But the new book covers ARE here. We received two packages of them in the mail yesterday so we should have plenty--and just in time. Audra's science book had to be covered by tomorrow. It is now sporting a sassy new Tinkerbell design. She thinks she might be too old for Tink, but right now she loves fairies. Lucky for her, if she outgrows Tink during the year, we have more bookcovers waiting to be used. Thank you Lauren and Grammy for meeting that need!

Something Bad

I am trying to get the kids to be positive thinkers. I want them to see the good and be thankful rather than just seeing the bad and being critical. This week we have been praying for something good to happen each day at school. On Monday I asked Audra if anything good had happened at school. She said, "No, but something bad happened."

(Oh no, did someone pick on my little girl? Was she shunned by the popular crowd? Did she give a wrong answer and everyone laughed? What????)

"Oh really, what happened?"

"We had PE today and it was hot and we had to play SOCCER!"

If that's the worst thing that has happened I think things are going pretty good.

Lord, open our eyes to see the good in our days and be thankful. Forgive us for focusing on the bad--especially when it's not so bad.