Good Gifts

We have a surprise planned for our children this weekend.  An opportunity caught my eye, I looked into the details, and God provided.  Jimmy and I were talking earlier today about how excited we are to surprise them tomorrow.  Why?  Because they are our children and we love them!  And it's a joy to spend time with them and do something special for them, because they are special to us!

This morning's Bible study took me to Matthew 7:11 where Jesus says, 

"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!"

The other afternoon I was driving to school to pick up Madi and Trev and my heart felt full to overflowing.  I was talking to God out loud in the van, just thanking Him for all the gifts He has blessed us with.  I was struck by so many little details that reflect His love and intimate concern for us.  When I read that passage from Matthew this morning, I realized that He delights in blessing us, just as we get so much joy from blessing our children.  Why?  Because we are His children and He loves us!

One of the passages I put around my relationship with Jimmy when we first started dating was James 1:17...

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning."

I am so thankful for the good and perfect gifts from my Father in heaven.  I am blessed to know He delights in giving good gifts to His children.  I delight in blessing my own children, hopefully being a reflection to them of His love and care.  I look forward to this weekend, knowing the surprise we have for them is ultimately from Him.  He is the giver of all good things.  And oh, how I thank Him!

These Things He Says

He's growing up on me, but he still says the most precious things.  He's always had a unique way with words, and often the adorable or profound will come out of nowhere.

Like two weeks ago when we were driving home from youth group.  Jimmy was in his car and the kids and I were making our way around the lake in our old van when out of the blue my son says, "I just love Daddy.  Mommy, you picked a good husband."

I had to agree.  I am ever so thankful for the man who leads our family on this journey. I appreciate more than ever his kindness, integrity, faithfulness, and unwavering love and commitment to God and our family.  I am beyond grateful for the godly husband and father his little eyes are watching.  I sure am glad I "picked" him ~ and that he picked me!  God has been so gracious.

Several weeks ago we had tucked in covers and said prayers and I had barely left the room when my little guy called me back in.  "What do you need?" I asked.  
"I just need to snuggle you because you're my mom.  And I want to snuggle
 God in my heart."

What he doesn't know is how tightly I want to hold on.  Or how thankful I am that he is in the grip of Grace.  Or how much I pray he will always cling to God with all his might, and "snuggle Him" forever in his heart.

I want to remember these things he says because no one says them quite like him.
He has a view of God and life and love all his own ~ it is unfiltered and pure and a breath of fresh air to my soul.

Super Tired ~ Greetings From The Month Of May

I was subbing in 2nd grade last week when I saw a mom wearing a t-shirt that read...

Super Wife

Super Mom

Super Tired

It made me laugh out loud right then and there!

Because it's the very merry busy month of May and I know most of us can relate! Okay, it's merry too.  It really is. But I go into May each year knowing it's going to be a whirlwind as we make our way down the home stretch of the school year.  It's a busy time not only at school, but at church and within the community.  We've had a dance program, art fair, music concert, volunteer breakfast, youth group gathering, and two reading ceremonies.  We still have field day and water day and a biography project to finish and a planet project to start and a pool party and senior breakfast and senior awards and a ladies meeting and this Sunday my husband speaks at the baccalaureate ceremony for the local high school.

I'm sure I'm missing something.

Oh yes, that field trip.

These are the weeks I am thankful for frozen pizza and stir fry, Subway sandwiches and parents who run down emergency toilet paper when it gets desperate over here, grace upon grace and finding clean socks for Trev, even if they are mismatched.

It's a season.

A wonderful, full, exhausting one.

I am watching my kids grow and flourish right before my eyes.  It is unbelievable.

I am ending my days feeling like I can hardly keep my eyes open (though this terrible sinus infection I've been fighting is not helping).

I am snapping photos so we can look back and remember these celebrations and ceremonies one day when they grow up and our calendar has more empty spaces.

Amidst this full calendar my husband and I carved out a day to sit side by side, talk face to face, and breathe. Intentional marriage takes planning, and sometimes flexibility (our original date day was changed as we were needed at a funeral).  God gave us an exquisite day at the beach, not a cloud in the sky!  He so generously and graciously restores our souls.

And next weekend we have a surprise planned for the kids. I've been holding it in for weeks now and can hardly stand it!  There are more fun memories to be made and I cannot wait!  Don't you just love surprises?!  I know Madi does - she let me know on Mother's Day.  The famous Miss Sandi at church made these with her students on Mother's Day morning.  It was one of the nicest gifts I have ever received!  Very interesting to see through the eyes of your child what they love and appreciate about you.

So to all you other super moms super tired moms (or teachers) out there making your way through May, I have three words of encouragement to leave you with...

Summer is coming!!!

On Grounding Your Sister And Staying Married

Tonight after church my kids were in this hilariously silly mood where they were cracking themselves and each other up!  We had a snack before bed and our kitchen was filled with uncontrollable belly laughs. They were enjoying each other so much I wished it wasn't a school night so I could have let them stay up and giggle some more! I love moments like those.

It was a far cry from last Wednesday night, though I have to admit I was secretly laughing then.  They had gotten into a ridiculous disagreement about something. Apparently Madi had the upper hand in this skirmish, and Trevor had just had enough. From the other room I heard him say in complete and total frustration, "That's it, Madi. NO ELECTRONICS UNTIL MONDAY!!!"

I'll let you guess who normally gets grounded from electronics around here.  :)

(I happened to have documented a fight Trevor lost over a Cubbies book a few years ago and the frustration that followed. Classic.)

Here's the thing about doing life together.  You're going to have wonderful, idyllic moments that make life and relationships incredibly meaningful; and you're going to have moments where the people you love most frustrate you to the point of grasping for the worst possible punishment you can think of to put them in their place!

My kids are figuring out how to do life together.  They are learning how to get along.
To be honest, most days they are the sweetest little pair! But they also have their less than stellar moments.

Just like all of us.

My parents will be celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary on Saturday.  That just amazes me!  40 years of life together, a happy life at that!

(For the record, they may try to ground me from electronics for posting this old photo but seriously, who could resist?!)

Regarding the issue of marriage, I've often heard my dad (who has not only been married for 40 years but has been doing pastoral counseling for nearly as long) say this...

It would be so helpful if people would simply learn to get along with each other! Husbands and wives and families need to figure out how to get along, not spend their time arguing and fighting, but enjoying life and enjoying each other!  

It is so, so basic, but isn't that how most profound truth is?

Sometime we need to get back to the basics!

We need to go back to the Biblical principles of being nice and kind and working things out with one another that we were taught as children.

Just as I want my kindergartner and second grader to learn to get along as we navigate through life and share this home together, I want that for us as a family.

And for your family.

And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Ephesians 4:32

Let's all work on this in our homes!

I have a feeling it could make a huge difference in our relationships.

Enjoy your life!  Enjoy your marriage!  Enjoy your kids! 

Make an extra effort this week to simply get along with the people you love.

Man, I Feel Like A Woman {And Starfish}

There is this new Ariel ride at Disney, and a few months ago in the midst of an incredibly busy season, a couple girlfriends and I rode it during a preview day while our kids were in school.

When we entered the room where the sea creatures dance under the sea, there were all these colorful starfish with super happy, smiling faces on the walls. And these starfish, they would just spin round and round and round and round, never stopping, just spinning.  I sort of laughed to myself and made the comment to my friend that these days I feel like those starfish, spinning and spinning from one thing to another. She looked at them and said, "Hey, at least you're still smiling!"

(Photo credit: Google images)

But really, it's the rhythm of womanhood, this constant spinning from role to role, and honestly it can be exhausting but sometimes it's just plain amazing and you have to laugh when you think of all a day can hold for a woman.

Last night I chuckled as I reflected on my day, a day not nearly as busy as some, a day that wasn't as packed minute to minute as tomorrow promises to be, yet still my 
roles constantly changed throughout it.  I have a feeling it will look familiar to most of you...

It started as usual, getting up in the dark, packing lunches, making breakfast, making sure backpacks were packed and kids were dressed and sent off to school with a kiss and a prayer. 

I've been working quite a bit but the plan was to have a day at home, so I settled in for coffee and time with God, then hit the trail with two friends for exercise and conversation.  We walked four miles and talked nonstop as women do and need to do. We were almost back where we started when my phone rang.  It was the school asking if I could be there in an hour to work a half day.

There went my plans to catch up on housework, pick up groceries, and wash the gray right out of my hair!  We quickly finished our workout and I drove home with just enough time to jump in the shower, eat an early lunch while simultaneously putting on makeup and getting dressed, and get to school to teach second grade.  

When the bell rang and school was over, I gave snacks to my two little loves then sent Madi to art club and took Trev to the library where we worked on his homework and reading.  At 4:15 we headed home where I made another snack and spent most of the next two hours working with Madi on classroom homework, vocabulary homework, and reading.  By the time we finished Jimmy was home from work and I was rushing to get the kids out the door with my parents so he and I could head out for an overdue dinner date, just the two of us.

But there was a student in our youth group who had a basketball game and Jimmy wanted to go out to support him, so first we headed off to the high school gymnasium and cheered him on and after they won the game we headed to Carrabba's for adult conversation over hot minestrone soup, fresh Caprese salad, and a shared steak.

However, since I ended up working and we had no milk, orange juice, cereal, etc., we had to stop at the store on the way home and ended our date night standing in the world's slowest checkout line.  (This is real life romance here!)  Since we hadn't ordered dessert, I picked up some frozen yogurt and was looking forward to enjoying some later, that is if didn't melt already while waiting in that crazy line.

It was late when we finally got home, and I got to work putting away the groceries and folding a gigantic pile of laundry that left me with about 10 missing socks.  Seriously. And if my day hadn't been reflective enough of a day in the life of a woman, I ended the night by accidentally singlehandedly eating that entire pint of frozen yogurt straight from the carton. Oops.

This stuff of being a woman.

It's a multi-faceted, often complicated journey.

It is no wonder we sometimes talk out loud to ourselves!

But we're in this thing together, girls.

And here's a reminder as we face the rest of this day, and the next and the next and all each one holds for us...in God's strength, we can do this. 

When the spinning becomes dizzying, He is the equilibrium that steadies us.

So spin on, smiling starfish, spin on!

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Philippians 4:13

Imparting Grace {2013}

Impart: to communicate, to bestow.

Synonyms: give - communicate - convey - transmit - inform.

Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace 

to the hearers.

Ephesians 4:29

Imparting grace.

I couldn't help but think that these two words would make a good goal for 2013.

I read that passage yesterday morning in a study relating to marriage.

Yikes.

Because honestly, isn't it all too easy to be the least grace-filled in our homes to the people we love the most?

I want my home to be a place where I impart grace.

I want my daily sphere of influence to be a space where I impart grace.

I want this little corner of the blog world to be 

a place where I impart grace.

It starts with the choosing.

And if there is anything I learned in 2012, it is that life is about choosing.

Choosing love over throwing my hands up and walking away, choosing faithfulness to serve when I'm a little (or a lot) exhausted, choosing kindness and compassion when I'd rather choose frustration and indifference, choosing holiness over sin even when it isolates, choosing excellence when mediocrity comes calling.

Choosing to let go and give things to God when I want to hold on too tightly.  Choosing to get up and face each day armed with the Word of God ready to put the needs of my family and the needs of others before my own, and let me tell you, it's not always easy.

But it is what pleases the heart of God and makes me more like Jesus. 

I am certainly still in process.  I don't always do this well.  My heart is not always that of a servant, and I am ashamed to say I sometimes I complain.

As we enter a new year,  I am going to try to make this a theme of my heart and life, the essence of my communication.

Choosing daily to impart grace.

It is sure to be a challenge, but a rewarding one.

2013, here we go.

Thankful For The Gift Of Him

He auditioned me for a band in college.

That's how we met.

I came into the classroom at Liberty University wearing my Gap jeans and sweater vest like a good 90's girl, and played the keyboard and sang for a couple of young college guys including one long-haired seminary student.

When I left the room that seminary student's friend told him these words...

I think you're going to marry that girl.

A little over three years later he did.

And over fourteen years from that very first meeting, here I sit, gratefully his wife.

As I ponder Thanksgiving, I can't help but give thanks for Jimmy.

I was thinking today that as blessed I am with some excellent friendship and relationships, there is no friendship so deep as the one I share with my husband.

He is my very best friend.  He knows my heart, the deepest places, and protects it. We've shared years of long talks into the night, deepening the intimacy that grows over time.  There is so much sacred between us. I have confidence and trust in him like no other.

He thinks I'm beautiful.  No matter what.  I used to wonder what he saw certain days, but over time I realized that when he looks my way he simply sees me.  I've never once heard him utter a negative word about my appearance.  When he looks at me he sees from the inside out, into the heart of a girl he fell in love with.

His respectfulness runs deep and true.  He is committed to keeping his eyes and heart pure.  His integrity helps him lead our home well.  I trust him.

He gives up certain things.  I know he does.  There have been lots of material things he could have insisted upon through the years.  I know he is often the only guy in the room without various possessions.  But he sacrifices so we can give, so I can be home as much as I can with our children, so we can meet our shoestring budget, so that if there is extra we can enjoy a memory as a family or the kids can get something they need.  I don't tell him enough how much I admire him for not having to have the latest and greatest of everything that comes along, how he is making the greatest of investments into our family life.

I love that we have always had regular date nights and sometimes full date days.  I love that he sometimes surprises me by already lining up care for the kids and making plans.  I love that we have gotten away on overnight trips and mini vacations now and then, just the two of us.  I love that he takes Madi and Trev on dates.  I love all the places we've been and memories we've made together.

Jimmy loves God in a way you don't see too often anymore.  His faith is uncompromising; his walk is wise; his commitment clear.  He and his house will serve the Lord, even if they do so alone.

That is a strong foundation for a home.

I love our home.

I am so thankful.

This world is unsettled and the future is unclear, but my heart can rest knowing the man I love loves God and honors Him with each day.

We are not a perfect couple.  We have those days.  We have things we are still figuring out.

But what we share is special.

To be so intimately connected with someone spiritually, emotionally, physically, and relationally is a gift.

And that's easy to forget in the routine of day to day.

I don't want to forget.

It's easy not to see even the best gift when it is right in front of our eyes.

I don't want to miss the gift.  I want to thank the Giver.

God, you have so blessed us.  In the very best and even in the hardest times, we can see so evidently Your hand over us, Your blessing upon us.  You have grown us in so many ways since we met as college students.  Sometimes that growth has been exciting, other times it has been challenging.  But I praise you that as we've grown, we always end up having grown closer to You and to each other.  Thank You for meeting our needs, giving us strength, and giving us richly so much we have enjoyed. Thank You for our children.  Please help us to continue to make intentional investments into our marriage and family so this love will only grow richer and sweeter with time. Please help us remain unconditionally committed to You which will help us remain unconditionally committed to one another.  Marriage is such an amazing part of Your plan, a beautiful picture of Your love for us.  To enjoy marriage and family as we do is such a gift.  Thank you God for Jimmy.  May I honor and love him well.  Amen.

High Five For Friday!

1) Been shopping my closet for "Florida Fall Fashion"...more autumn-in-a-warm-climate inspired outfit ideas to come soon!

2) Totally challenged by this book.  Continuing on in the study.

3) Enjoyed a corn maze field trip with my little buddy and his class!  It was a nice breezy day on the farm, we had a sweet time together, and he came home with the cutest little pumpkin.  Not to mention he won a free snow cone because he hit a target with a high powered contraption that blasted tennis balls out at full force.  It was a good day to be five!

4) Received this fun little surprise (and a matching waist apron) from my mom!

5) Baked these by request.  Still need to frost them. We are feeding the cheerleading team at the church this afternoon and a few of the girls begged me to bake Funfetti Cookies again.  Have you ever made these?  They are the easiest treat to make and are soft and delicious!

Mix 3 boxes Funfetti Cake Mix (now 15.25 oz), 3/4 cup oil, and 5 eggs.  

Roll dough into balls and put on cookie sheet.  Press flat with a glass. 

 Bake 6-10 minutes in 375 degree oven.  

Will make good sized batch.  Frost lightly if desired.

Linking up with Lauren at From My Grey Desk.

Life Around Here As April Comes To A Close

I suppose it was inevitable.  I took care of a sick Trevor for 10 days.  Then Madi got a nasty cold.  So now it is my turn.  Been feeling under the weather with some sort of cold/virus/something yucky that keeps knocking me out.  My house needs major attention but I keep falling asleep which is not like me.  It is so strange, we had a pretty healthy winter but April has been rough on us - but not just us - there has been a lot of sickness among our friends and in our community.  And I keep seeing posts on facebook and different blogs about sickness all over the country.  So unusual for spring!  Praying for a healthier May.  May is going to be a super busy month, I'm going to need my energy!

Despite the colds that struck later in the week, we've had some neat moments lately.

Last Saturday morning, the ladies in our church spent the morning in "Paris" for brunch, fellowship, accessorizing advice, and spiritual encouragement.  My mom and a crew of ladies did an amazing job as usual putting everything together!  I gave a devotion and have had some requests to share it here, so I will try to do that in the near future.  I talked about the armor of God and other things the Bible tells us to "put on."  Look for that post soon!

Last Sunday afternoon we celebrated one of my best friends at her baby shower.  Heather is a dear friend and I am so excited for her to have a baby girl this summer!

Since we had all been stuck inside for so long with Trevor's pneumonia, we picked Madi up from school an hour early on Monday and took the kids to the Magic Kingdom for a few hours.  We were experiencing unseasonably chilly temperatures and the evening was cool and beautiful.  We rode a few rides, ate a picnic dinner I packed, and just enjoyed being together out in the fresh air.

The Barnstormer is back up and running, so we rode it.  It is the shortest roller coaster ever but definitely fun, especially for Trevor!  I heard his giggle behind me the whole 30 seconds we were on the ride.  :)

Trev kept asking for ice cream, and I got this look when I asked if he would share it with me.  I guess that's a no.

I discovered something new about my son...he is incredibly good at arcade games such as basketball and skee-ball!

Love these photos Jimmy took as we sat by the castle.  Want to remember these motherhood moments!

I sure do love this man.  God is teaching us new things and growing us in new ways lately.  Thankful.

The rest of the week was business as usual.  School, work, lessons, church, etc.  The colds struck and we tried to press on, though Madi did have to stay home from school Thursday because she was just wiped out.

Friday I was feeling rough but tried to mask the symptoms with some meds because we had special plans that evening.  For Christmas, Jimmy's mom had given us tickets to see the musical version of The Lion King and the night had arrived.  My parents were keeping the kids overnight and surprised me with a new dress, which was thoughtful.  My mom left it at the house for me while we were at church on Wednesday, and Madi thought it was from "Misses Skirts" because of what was written on the tag.  She and I got a good laugh at that one when she realized what it meant!  Friday afternoon arrived and armed with ibuprofen and decongestants, I donned my new dress and Jimmy and I had a memorable date.

The dress was soft and simple, with lace that made it seem vintage.  I absolutely loved it. I could live in dresses and this is a new favorite.  So fun to be a girl!

With my handsome date.

We stopped to fuel up on the way, and the song Can You Feel The Love Tonight from The Lion King was playing at the gas station.  How perfect!

The evening was beautiful and we enjoyed a slow pace, eating a simple and inexpensive dinner of sandwiches and salads at Downtown Disney and treating ourselves to a cupcake, which we ate outside in the sunshine.  When we got to the theatre, we had an hour until showtime so we sat outside on a park bench in the courtyard near the fountain and talked.

The show was wonderful!  At intermission, I saw someone with some sort of icy, chocolatey drink that I knew I had to have.  We managed to get a Frozen Mocha just in time to get back to our seats for the second act.  So yummy!

Saturday we had a birthday party to attend and some errands to run, but I was feeling pretty yucky.  I rested all evening and went to bed early.  This morning we went to church but I was so wiped out I left a little early and fell asleep immediately when I got home.  Whatever this stuff is, it is really wearing me down.  I have rested all day and evening, and am praying my energy will return soon.  One fun thing about today though was that Madi and I were matching this morning.  She is at a phase where she thinks matching Mommy is the coolest, and I am trying to enjoy that while it lasts!

Another fun thing is that Jimmy and the kids came home with this tonight...a Cranberry Limeade, flowers, and the cutest almost-rhyming poem I've ever read.

Well, that's all for now.  I need to turn in.  Tomorrow we have a breakfast for Trevor's Pre-K class and I have got to find the energy to catch up on cleaning and laundry, then May will be here Tuesday, ready or not!  Jimmy came home this evening saying he wasn't feeling so hot so I think we better get some rest.

Good night!  Sleep tight!