It's crazy how there seems to be so many weather anomolies lately. We have record tornado activity in the south, massive flooding and complications from that flooding, finally, a tornado of destructive proportions in Joplin, MO. It's so weird to think we were just there!
The day before the tornado hit, we were in Joplin at Ozark Christian College for Austin's graduation! 2 days before, we ate on Rangeline.
More about Austin's graduation later. For now, my heart cries out to the people of Joplin. I pray they all will find comfort in our Lord today. I pray that more people will be found alive. I pray that they will recover quickly.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Monday, May 9, 2011
TO DO LIST!
Related to Graduations
1. Make Cream Cheese Mints
2. Finish Sr. Portfolio
3. Start and Finish Graduation Video (which means scanning a lot of photos)
4. Plan menu for the weekend
5. Clean Bedrooms
6. Prep. Bedrooms for guests
7. (While I'm at it, I ought to clean my own bedroom :-/ )
8. Print the few pictures I forgot to print
9. Find 2 more frames
Not related to Graduations
1. Clean house and prep it for small group on Tuesday Night
2. Clean house and prep it for small group on Thursday Night
3. Write 11 Youth Group Lessons so I am through the summer schedule
4. Finish filling the binder for swimming lesson Instructors
5. Go into work on Wednesday and finish laying dri-deck
6. Laundry
7. Pack for Austin's graduation from Ozark CC
8. Clean house and prep it for Jed (person who is house-sitting our fish)
9. Pull weeds one more time before we leave
10. I know I'm forgetting something
The best part of all of this? Realizing that in the grand scheme of things...I'm blessed to need to do every one of these things!
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Today is Mother's Day. After church today we ate a sack lunch and headed out to a neighborhood that was about 3 miles from our old Kimberly Ln. neighborhood. Trees laid like toothpicks all over that neighborhood. Houses were destroyed by falling logs. I always thought one of the most beautiful parts of Alabama is the trees. They are like giants! HUGE! Trees you cannot put your arms around. They are so tall they almost touch the sky! When they fall.... Shear destruction!
The blessing in this? After stopping at several homes where noone was home, (I'm sure they were all celebrating Mother's Day) we finally had an opportunity to help. I think several are becoming skeptical about help. We watch *warnings* all over the tv. Be careful they say, make sure you know who is offering to help. Watch out for scam artists.
A gentelman and his children were going from their home to his neighbors homes cleaning up debris. He allowed us to help him. So, a group of maybe 10 (us included) began working with a resident going from his neighbor to neighbor. In the end, it turned out, they homeschool their children through CCA. Their son is Alex's friend from drama. In the process, we made a connection with him, and we helped at least 3 of his neighbors, 1 of which was a single mother and one an elderly couple. All this, on Mother's Day.
The blessing in this? After stopping at several homes where noone was home, (I'm sure they were all celebrating Mother's Day) we finally had an opportunity to help. I think several are becoming skeptical about help. We watch *warnings* all over the tv. Be careful they say, make sure you know who is offering to help. Watch out for scam artists.
A gentelman and his children were going from their home to his neighbors homes cleaning up debris. He allowed us to help him. So, a group of maybe 10 (us included) began working with a resident going from his neighbor to neighbor. In the end, it turned out, they homeschool their children through CCA. Their son is Alex's friend from drama. In the process, we made a connection with him, and we helped at least 3 of his neighbors, 1 of which was a single mother and one an elderly couple. All this, on Mother's Day.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
The Silence Ends Here!
For the last several months I've avoided looking at my own blog. Why you ask? The answer is simple. Fear! LOL! I know it has been nearly a year since I've written anything. A year of Silence. And what a year it has been. My last post recognized the growing I knew would come. This post represents the faithfulness of my Lord! It represents His love, comfort and guidance. I write amazed at what He has done in me, and in my family. God is Good!
I am happy to say, we are settled and serving. This is huge if you could understand where I've come from. My heart has slowly worked through anger, bitterness, selfishness, frustration, acceptance, forgiveness and renewal. I think over the last year and I can't believe how far we have come. So many things have changed about who we are and how we do life. One thing remains the same...we still know WHOSE we are.
Austin will soon finish his Associates Degree at Ozark Christian College. The next phase of life for him will be figuring out what he wants to do next. His current plan is to get a certificate for a sergical technician. With the plan of moving forward in the medical field. He is coming home for a time. I am thankful. I pray daily for his future. I pray he will not have struggles, although without them, how will his character be built? So, I will settle for being the most supportive parent I know how to be and I will lift him before my Lord.
Alex will soon graduate from highschool. This is a big one! He has already worked through so many struggles. He plans to begin classes at Calhoun Community College. His intention is to transfer to UAH after a couple years. Currently, his plan is Engineering. God has truly blessed us with children who love Him. We are thankful. Alex has come through the last year with flying colors. He is serving again. He is active in youth group. And he once again is full of joy. It's been rough for him, but he has remained faithful. What more could I possibly ask for.
Aaron has struggled as well through the last year. He has watched good friends move away. He's had a shake up in his church family. I'm happy to say, he is in recovery as well. He has figured out how to keep in touch with his closest friends. Plus, he's started getting active! Baseball, Soccer, Classes at CCA, Youth Group, Serving opportunities! He once again is all smiles and joy! I'm so proud of him for not complaining and for hanging tough!
Adam and I are plugging in. We've joined a small group within our new family! We are excited about where the leadership is leading our church family! They have been so welcoming! I am already serving in the youth ministry and using my talents there. I didn't know how much I missed it until I started getting involved again. In March I was invited to a church in Indiana to speak at and lead the leaders through a girls purity retreat along with providing a teacher training workshop for them. That process began last November and really woke me up to what I was missing. It was amazing to see God work through all of the little details in planning it. It was like He used everything I've ever done (and loved) with youth and youth leaders to put together an event that I believe touched a lot of lives. Youth and Adults! I am excited and prepared to take that retreat and workshop wherever God asks me to take it! Many people prayed for us through that whole process! What a blessing in a time of darkness!
Currently I am working with the leaders at Summit Crossing Community Church! I have a small group of High School girls who I call my own! What a blast and right up my alley! I am also writing the small group curriculum. It's really just discussion questions taking the students through the book of John. Again, right up my alley! I feel like God has plucked me up out of a struggling situation and dropped my right into a place where exactly what I have to offer is exactly what is needed! Only God could do that!
So as you can see, I am back on the grid. There are still areas that need improvement. I'm still working on some of the remnants of bitterness and unforgiveness. However, I feel like that gets better every day. It is easier to speak certain names and not feel sick. Mostly, I pray for those that I think about. I know in my heart that God is with them. I can say that I love them and will continue to pray for my brothers and sister in Christ!
On to another year. You see, this is a turning point. We - I have grown a ton over the last year! I'm so thankful for God's faithfulness! I am thankful to be able to have Him to lean on! I am thankful for my husband, and my family! I will continue to serve Him with my life. I am determined to hear the words "Well done, good and faithful servant"! So with all my heart I will love Him and His people!
All of this on the wake of terrible tornadoes that destroyed a good chunk of Alabama. This has been a wake-up call to all the things in life that we put importance on. I believe we are missing the mark. We - I have to do better! You will hear more from me. You will hear how these storms have impacted my community. You will hear stories of those who are reaching out to the hurting. You will hear stories of thankfulness. The things that were important to me even 10 days ago, no longer matter, they don't even register. So, pray for them with me. Tomorrow our family will be serving them. Monday, I will be serving them.
Stay in touch. I can't wait to share what God does next!
I am happy to say, we are settled and serving. This is huge if you could understand where I've come from. My heart has slowly worked through anger, bitterness, selfishness, frustration, acceptance, forgiveness and renewal. I think over the last year and I can't believe how far we have come. So many things have changed about who we are and how we do life. One thing remains the same...we still know WHOSE we are.
Austin will soon finish his Associates Degree at Ozark Christian College. The next phase of life for him will be figuring out what he wants to do next. His current plan is to get a certificate for a sergical technician. With the plan of moving forward in the medical field. He is coming home for a time. I am thankful. I pray daily for his future. I pray he will not have struggles, although without them, how will his character be built? So, I will settle for being the most supportive parent I know how to be and I will lift him before my Lord.
Alex will soon graduate from highschool. This is a big one! He has already worked through so many struggles. He plans to begin classes at Calhoun Community College. His intention is to transfer to UAH after a couple years. Currently, his plan is Engineering. God has truly blessed us with children who love Him. We are thankful. Alex has come through the last year with flying colors. He is serving again. He is active in youth group. And he once again is full of joy. It's been rough for him, but he has remained faithful. What more could I possibly ask for.
Aaron has struggled as well through the last year. He has watched good friends move away. He's had a shake up in his church family. I'm happy to say, he is in recovery as well. He has figured out how to keep in touch with his closest friends. Plus, he's started getting active! Baseball, Soccer, Classes at CCA, Youth Group, Serving opportunities! He once again is all smiles and joy! I'm so proud of him for not complaining and for hanging tough!
Adam and I are plugging in. We've joined a small group within our new family! We are excited about where the leadership is leading our church family! They have been so welcoming! I am already serving in the youth ministry and using my talents there. I didn't know how much I missed it until I started getting involved again. In March I was invited to a church in Indiana to speak at and lead the leaders through a girls purity retreat along with providing a teacher training workshop for them. That process began last November and really woke me up to what I was missing. It was amazing to see God work through all of the little details in planning it. It was like He used everything I've ever done (and loved) with youth and youth leaders to put together an event that I believe touched a lot of lives. Youth and Adults! I am excited and prepared to take that retreat and workshop wherever God asks me to take it! Many people prayed for us through that whole process! What a blessing in a time of darkness!
Currently I am working with the leaders at Summit Crossing Community Church! I have a small group of High School girls who I call my own! What a blast and right up my alley! I am also writing the small group curriculum. It's really just discussion questions taking the students through the book of John. Again, right up my alley! I feel like God has plucked me up out of a struggling situation and dropped my right into a place where exactly what I have to offer is exactly what is needed! Only God could do that!
So as you can see, I am back on the grid. There are still areas that need improvement. I'm still working on some of the remnants of bitterness and unforgiveness. However, I feel like that gets better every day. It is easier to speak certain names and not feel sick. Mostly, I pray for those that I think about. I know in my heart that God is with them. I can say that I love them and will continue to pray for my brothers and sister in Christ!
On to another year. You see, this is a turning point. We - I have grown a ton over the last year! I'm so thankful for God's faithfulness! I am thankful to be able to have Him to lean on! I am thankful for my husband, and my family! I will continue to serve Him with my life. I am determined to hear the words "Well done, good and faithful servant"! So with all my heart I will love Him and His people!
All of this on the wake of terrible tornadoes that destroyed a good chunk of Alabama. This has been a wake-up call to all the things in life that we put importance on. I believe we are missing the mark. We - I have to do better! You will hear more from me. You will hear how these storms have impacted my community. You will hear stories of those who are reaching out to the hurting. You will hear stories of thankfulness. The things that were important to me even 10 days ago, no longer matter, they don't even register. So, pray for them with me. Tomorrow our family will be serving them. Monday, I will be serving them.
Stay in touch. I can't wait to share what God does next!
Saturday, May 15, 2010
The Bible Really is Relevant!
My last post was the turning point in a small life of a small piece of God's story (Louie Giglio "I Am Not But I Know I AM"). Now it's time to move on and try to figure out how to digest where God is working. We are faced with a new dillema. A church family is something that we've learned to depend on. How exactly do we go about looking for a new one? Where does God want to see us serving? What direction is he leading us in? And, what do we do in the meantime?
I hate the idea of "trying out" churches. I know God is moving and growing us...but how do I know exactly where we are supposed to go? This week I decided to turn to Acts. The disciples were faced with many of the same questions. Jesus had died and rose and according to ch 1:3 spent 40 days with them "speaking about the Kingdom of God". Then he was taken up in a cloud.
In chapter 1:4 Jesus tells the disciples what is to happen next: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about." That gift was the Holy Spirit which would allow them to do miraculous things in the name of Jesus.
The disciples were faced with the realization the everything was changed. Through no control of their own, their leader was gone and they had to decide what they would do with that. I can't imagine what they must have felt before Jesus rose from the dead. Jesus tells them to "wait" for a gift from His Father. I wonder what they thought that gift was! I wonder where God will take us next.
Moral of the story? The disciples went to Jeruselem. They waited where they were told to wait and they joined together with Mary, Jesus' mother and "the women" and they prayed, constantly. (vs. 14) And so, this is what we will do. We will pray constantly, and wait on God to give us the discernment to know what to do next.
Even the disciples would've liked to know what was coming (vs. 6). Jesus response was that it wasn't for them to know. We will continue to follow Christ, even though sometimes we follow not knowing what's next. I am anxious to see how God will work in my life next. I'm even more anxious to continue serving Him!
I hate the idea of "trying out" churches. I know God is moving and growing us...but how do I know exactly where we are supposed to go? This week I decided to turn to Acts. The disciples were faced with many of the same questions. Jesus had died and rose and according to ch 1:3 spent 40 days with them "speaking about the Kingdom of God". Then he was taken up in a cloud.
In chapter 1:4 Jesus tells the disciples what is to happen next: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about." That gift was the Holy Spirit which would allow them to do miraculous things in the name of Jesus.
The disciples were faced with the realization the everything was changed. Through no control of their own, their leader was gone and they had to decide what they would do with that. I can't imagine what they must have felt before Jesus rose from the dead. Jesus tells them to "wait" for a gift from His Father. I wonder what they thought that gift was! I wonder where God will take us next.
Moral of the story? The disciples went to Jeruselem. They waited where they were told to wait and they joined together with Mary, Jesus' mother and "the women" and they prayed, constantly. (vs. 14) And so, this is what we will do. We will pray constantly, and wait on God to give us the discernment to know what to do next.
Even the disciples would've liked to know what was coming (vs. 6). Jesus response was that it wasn't for them to know. We will continue to follow Christ, even though sometimes we follow not knowing what's next. I am anxious to see how God will work in my life next. I'm even more anxious to continue serving Him!
"It's All Gonna Be OK"!
Did you ever feel like you just couldn't catch your breath? I keep trying to get better at this blogging thing...but not so much, right?
I guess what I'm thinking about right now, is how comforting God can be. The last month has been a growing season for me. I guess you could say it's been a "shrinking" season, too! I've lost about 6 pounds pondering all the "growing" God has issued to me. The best part of God growing me is the understanding that He wants to grow Me! It is a comfort to know that God wants to use me enough to grow me.
I tend to want to look forward past the "hurting" part of that growth and into the "lesson" part. I'd much rather learn my lesson quickly regardless of the pain. Oftentimes, if we don't learn our lessons the first time God gives them to us to learn again. No thanks!
I've been drawing my strength from Paul. It is amazing to me how the Bible can be so relevant to everyday life. I've been reading Phillipians for the past month. Over and over again. It's like a bear hug from a loving parent reminding me that "It's all gonna be OK!".
So, off to a new beginning we go. God has a new ride for us. I feel like I'm waiting in a really long line for it to take off....hmmmm I wonder what this will be like! But, I draw my comfort from my Lord who provides and sustains me every minute of my life here on earth. So, in the Theresa paraphrase from Phillipians... Hang On..."It's all gonna be OK!"
I guess what I'm thinking about right now, is how comforting God can be. The last month has been a growing season for me. I guess you could say it's been a "shrinking" season, too! I've lost about 6 pounds pondering all the "growing" God has issued to me. The best part of God growing me is the understanding that He wants to grow Me! It is a comfort to know that God wants to use me enough to grow me.
I tend to want to look forward past the "hurting" part of that growth and into the "lesson" part. I'd much rather learn my lesson quickly regardless of the pain. Oftentimes, if we don't learn our lessons the first time God gives them to us to learn again. No thanks!
I've been drawing my strength from Paul. It is amazing to me how the Bible can be so relevant to everyday life. I've been reading Phillipians for the past month. Over and over again. It's like a bear hug from a loving parent reminding me that "It's all gonna be OK!".
So, off to a new beginning we go. God has a new ride for us. I feel like I'm waiting in a really long line for it to take off....hmmmm I wonder what this will be like! But, I draw my comfort from my Lord who provides and sustains me every minute of my life here on earth. So, in the Theresa paraphrase from Phillipians... Hang On..."It's all gonna be OK!"
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Technology is GREAT ...WHEN IT WORKS!
Another challenge...Alex is in the middle of Rosetta Stone and today I had to reload that program. So now the question is...how does he get back to where he was (at least I know where he was at)? I'll be making a phone call to Rosetta Stone tomorrow. There has to be a way for me to tell that program where he is ...right? Oh, to understand technology!
I'm looking forward to having all of this "updating" done soon. I still have to load all of my Video and Audio software. Also, I need to move all my files from the external hard drive back to my C: drive. Oh Brother!
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