Saturday Singing - The Face of Christ

Love this one by Chris Rice, "The Face of Christ".

This song reminds me not to be haughty or proud. I'm no better than the person next to me. I'm also challenged to reach out to those in need. If Christians won't, who else can be expected to?




Matthew 25:34-40
"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'"


For more Then Sings My Soul Saturdays, go here.

Flowers for Alger-Mom

You won't understand that title unless you had to read Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes in school like I had to. Good book. Interesting.

I am not a big flower person. I love them in a garden. But I am not a fan of someone thrusting a bouquet in my face and saying, "My bad," expecting instant forgiveness.

That scenario has never happened to me though. Because I told my husband a long time ago that it wouldn't work. I believe the phrase "Save your money" came up in that conversation.

In any case, I can count on one hand the times Bruce has given me flowers purchased from a florist. He chose times when the flowers meant something. Our first anniversary. The first day he went to work, leaving me alone in our new home, in a new town a state away from our families, after our first move once he finished college. And twice in the hospital following the births of our children.

I'm not complaining. Bruce knows me. He knows that I'd rather have a potted plant for Mother's Day or a birthday or anniversary. Something alive. Something without that cliche attached... forgiveness without remorse just because someone shelled money out.

Still, I am not a woman who does not receive fine flowers regularly.

I get the best kind. The kind picked by our children.



The kind that most people would call "weeds" but that I just call "love".

Today is Clay's birthday party. A slew of soon-to-be-third grade boys running around on a sugar high. Pray for us! Seriously, this is supposed to be a party largely held outdoors and the weather is supposed to be kind of iffy today.

I'll post pictures when I can. For now, feast your eyes on this baby.



We decided to do things a bit differently this birthday. A choice mainly made for fiscal reasons, but Clay was okay with it so we're running with it.

I usuallly order a cake from Food City every birthday, because they have THE BEST whipped cream icing. But I shell out over $30 each time. I thought we'd save a few bucks and get a giant birthday cookie instead. I went a step further and thought, "I'm going to try to make it myself. If I mess up, I'll run to the mall and pick up a new one last minute."

I think I did A-Okay!

And eating a handheld piece of cookie will be neater than eating cake. I'm all about less mess today.

I even bought the individual tubs of ice cream so I wouldn't have to take the time to scoop out ice cream. I'll burn a few nickels for the sake of ease.

Fun Times

We had the best time yesterday visiting at the home of Nathan, a friend of Clay's from school. They have been good friends all through second grade. Nathan's mom, Valerie, and I tried all school year to get our boys together for some play time, but yesterday is the first time it worked out.

Nathan and all the other boys from Clay's class have been invited to Clay's birthday party this Saturday.

I made Clay invite every one of those boys because it stinks to be the one kid left out. They had a new boy join the class near the very end of the school year, and though Clay does not know him well, he was also invited. Some of the boys will certainly decide not to come, because I know from things Clay has said that they are not great friends. That's their choice. I felt it was the right thing for Clay to invite each of them. That part was our choice.

Just a little side issue... that choice comes because I have major issues with cliques. I hate 'em. They are horribly divisive and usually the result of one person (or a few) with power issues.

I've been on the outside of cliques all my life, and it used to tear me up. But I have come to the conclusion that those times have been God's protection over me. He has always provided me with friends I can trust, and that outweighs a "friend" that is only friendly to my face any day.

For now, I'm just trying to guard my kids from being the ones who ostracize others. To me, being in a clique is another form of bullying, and my kids are not going to be raised to become bullies.

I'll be stepping down now.



Turns out that Nathan and Clay are just a few days apart in age, too. So Clay received a reciprocal invite to Nathan's birthday party, which is in about a week. Funny thing: those boys picked the very same invitation, too... Star Wars stuff.

Nathan has a younger sister, Jordan, who is the same age as Spencer and Allison. That was perfect, too. Allison gets very little time to play with girls, so she cherishes every moment. The Barbies were plentiful!

Before we went to their home, Clay asked me to drop him off and leave. Can you believe that? He didn't want Spencer playing with his friend. That's the trouble with my boys... Big Brother does not want to share his buddies, and Little Brother just wants to do whatever Big Brother is doing. They'll get it all figured out one of these days.

I wasn't going to drop Clay off and leave. Nathan's mom, Valerie, and I have talked a few times on the phone during the school year, but we really didn't know each other well.

There have been a few parents who have dropped their children at my home, not knowing me from Adam. I am not that kind of parent.

I had the neatest time talking with Valerie. We talked about our faith, our children, our dogs, Biker Week at Myrtle Beach and camping. I was blessed to enjoy a little mommy time amidst all the laughter and rambunctiousness of our kids.

Let's Get Political

Here is a perfect illustration of why I am an overprotective parent... and not one bit ashamed of it. God entrusted me with our precious three, knowing well my nature. I'm pretty positive He's okay with me being overly protective.

I was listening to a Focus on the Family broadcast Wednesday evening as I drove home from registering the kids for the summer reading program. Go here to read a story that explains what it's about.

I am not an overly political person, but I think I ought to be. Especially after hearing this. This is happening in Colorado, but we are being ostriches with our heads in the sand if we think other states are exempt. Maybe for now, but not likely permanently.

You can also go here to listen. (After about three and a half minutes, the news switches to a pretty tough report to hear. Don't listen to any of this with your kids around.)

Back to the legislation that will likely pass in Colorado. Dr. James Dobson said something that I thought was so good, but it's not in either of the links I put up. I'll very loosely paraphrase about an incident that happened to him to get across his point.

Have you ever accidentally walked into a bathroom of the gender opposite from yours? Dr. Dobson shared about a time when he, as a young teen, walked into a girl's bathroom on accident. He said as he walked out, red-faced and embarrassed, the girls in the bathroom were saying, "You are going to get in trouble."

That's a normal response. But this legislation, if it passes, will rob our children of that normalcy. Because, for them, there will be no black and white in a matter as simple as what bathroom belongs to whom.

And how challenging will it be for us parents, whose charge it is to keep our children as pure as possible in this corrupt world, to explain to our six-year-old daughter why a man in a dress is in the women's bathroom?

Here is my challenge to you. If you, as a Christian, are not a registered voter, change that right now. Because those who are anti-Christianity are bold. If we don't match them in our boldness, what kind of society do we expect to hand to our children?

These are vile issues. But we can't ignore them.

We've already tried that approach. It's obviously not really working for the cause of Christ.

Thankful Thursday - VBS

Our church's Vacation Bible School starts this Sunday.

VBS is like a week of Christmas to me. I just love the excitement everyone has about our Lord for our kids.

This year, I'll be teaching second graders with friends Cindy and JoElla. We all three have second graders, so pray that the mother-child bond will be secondary each evening for those precious few hours that ALL the kids need to hear the message.



By next Thursday, I'll be posting about how thankful I am that it's nearly over, and I will be. Because, if you've ever worked in VBS, you know how draining it can be.

But it's a good draining. It's a dumping out of self while pouring in more of Him. It's the most gratifying week of service to God that I have all year.

Please pray with me, not just for the kids that come to our church's VBS, but for the children who will be attending various churches VBS throughout the country this summer. It's an awesome evangelistic tool.

According to a page on the Lifeway website, "as many as one fourth of all baptisms in Southern Baptist churches can be tied directly to VBS conversion experiences. In a 2003 study by the Barna Group, data from churches showed the probability of someone accepting Christ after age 12 dramatically drops. (George Barna, Transforming Children into Spiritual Champions, 34)"

It's not about baptisms. It's not about church memberships. It's about Jesus... introducing Him to a kid in a way that's tangible, alive and real. And fun. Let's not forget fun. Because who wants to be a stodgy Christian? Certainly not a little eight-year-old.

Viva VBS!

Bed Shopping

My grand plans to scrub the house from top to bottom were sidetracked yesterday by a relapse with Spencer. Pool little guy is just sick of being sick.

Today is going to be a better day, though. You know how I know? Because I had chocolate cake for breakfast. (I waited until the kids were done eating and had gone upstairs to play, because I didn't want to model poor food choices.) You can't have a bad day when it starts with chocolate cake.

I truly believe Spencer is done now.

But I get to re-bleach one bathroom, re-change out his toothbrush (I'm waiting one more day for that!), and wash another load of laundry. But on the bright side... he got sick that final time before I ever mopped the kitchen floor, so I won't be repeating that little chore when I get to it in a minute.

I'm still keeping him home today though, so we haven't registered for our summer reading program at the library yet. After supper tonight when Bruce is on daddy duty I'll run out and get that done.

It just so happens that on the way to the library is a furniture store that is going out of business. I'm so hoping I can help them clear out some of their stock. Actually, just one bit of stock. I'm looking for a solid oak bed for Clay. Something like this, but in a twin size:

A couple years ago we tried to have our boys share Clay's bedroom and turn Spencer's room into a play room, so we got bunk beds. That just had "silly parent mistake" written all over it.

I have a great many additional gray hairs thanks to all the near mishaps of our kids falling off the top bunk, which they weren't even supposed to be on. Clay was the only one technically allowed up there and that was supposed to be only at bedtime. Hey, you may think I'm crazy (Bruce did), but when the manufacturers suggest that kids 6 and under could be at risk, I take them seriously.

My kids took them less seriously. Spencer in particular enjoyed the top bunk a little too much.

I had bought him one of those wooden popper guns at a craft fair... the kind where a cork pops out of the end when you fire it. Very nice little piece of someone's handiwork. The craftsman even had painted the butt and the tip of the gun a shiny fire-engine red.

One morning, Spencer spent a few moments standing on the top bunk while shooting the ceiling, trying his best to kill it and put it out of its misery. With each shot, a little bit more of our popcorn ceiling came off and landed on the bed (this would later be called "evidence"). When it became obvious that his foe was hardier than he expected, he took to beating it with the butt of the gun. And with each hit, a bit of the red paint from the gun rubbed off onto the ceiling.

Clay's ceiling over his bed now looks naked in spots. And it has a bad case of the measles.

We are slow parents though. It's probably just one more side effect from being sleep deprived. That's my hope.

Because within two weeks, those kids had pulled a blade off of Clay's ceiling fan. I never heard the real story. The steam coming from the top of my head and the fire shooting out of my eyeballs effectively shut my children's mouths to all truth. I'm guessing they tried to hang from the fan.

Evidently, you cannot match a blade from a 15-year-old ceiling fan at Lowe's or Home Depot, or even online for that matter.

The shared-room experiment ended. The bunks became simply two twin beds, divorced and sitting a room apart. Spencer went back to his own bedroom again. There was a doggone good reason that God blessed us with a four-bedroom home long before our twins were born, back when we planned to have only two kids.

But before I could replace Clay's ceiling fan, those little stinkers broke the ceiling fan over the bed in our bedroom. They habitually pulled the little metal link chain to start and stop and speed up our fan, and I think it just died. I feel like dying, too, when they constantly yank my chain.

We replaced our fan within a few weeks. Clay's waited for about a year.

All that was a couple years ago. Since then, we bought a large desk for Clay from my neighbor when she began the process of moving. Clay's room is crowded. And he needs a large bookshelf, which I'm hoping Santa Peepaw will make him for Christmas this year. So the bunks need to be bounced out of there and replaced with a single twin bed.

Don't you find it amazing that I can go from talking about my sick little guy to discussing shopping for a new bed? I'm talented that way. Maybe I'm a tad bipolar? I'll try to make it work for me.

You think if I hit the housecleaning while a manic stage kicks in, I'll get way more done? I'll let you know.

Bleach Mama

Today, I'm taking a break from blogging.

Because I'll be bleaching. Not my hair, but the house.

Isn't that what all good moms do following the scourge of illness in the home?

I think Spencer getting sick was God's way of reminding me that it has been awhile since I mopped. Because, you know, cleanliness is next to godliness.

It's time.

A Friend Indeed

Want to know who your real friends are? Just ask them to pray for you when you have a need.

Thanks to everyone who prayed for Spencer. He is much better... I think it was a combination of prayers and popsicles. God can use those red, white and blue Rocket Pops in a mighty way with a sick kiddo.

Here's another mark of a great friend. She'll speak the truth in love.

I'm thinking of a specific friend. And she'll string me up for writing this, but I'm brave.

We had big plans to head to Dollywood Sunday right after Sunday school with our friends the Duncans: Danny, Carolyn, Taylor and Tyler.

Carolyn's Sunday school class of older teen girls has combined with the younger teen girls in the class that JoElla and I teach for the next couple of months. I had bought doughnuts and Carolyn had bought OJ to celebrate some birthdays in our classes on Sunday, including JoElla's.

However, Saturday night is when Spencer started getting sick. I called and got Danny on the phone bright and early Sunday morning to tell him the news and ask if they could swing by our house on the way to church to pick up the doughnuts. I stayed home with Spencer and Bruce went on to church after sleeping in and skipping Sunday school following our sleepless night.

No problems. Carolyn even called later that evening to check on us. She's good like that.

This morning when Spencer was still very ill, I called her to ask her to pray for him. She knows he's a real light-weight and viral stuff hits him hard. I told her I'd call her later in the day to let her know how he was. We again had plans for tomorrow to sign up our kids at the library for the summer reading program.

After noon it was pretty certain Spencer had turned the corner and was doing so much better. I even let him go outside to play for a bit.

I called Carolyn to update her. While talking, I said something along the lines of what time we'd meet the next day to go to the library.

And without pausing one bit, she said, "Well, um, how about we wait until Wednesday?"

I said that wouldn't be a problem. But I wasn't getting it.

I went on, talking in oblivion, "We don't have anything going on that day, so that'd be fine. That'll give Spencer another day to rest up before we get him out."

And she paused only one second before saying, "Well, and he won't spread it to my kids... you know, if he's contagious."

DUH!

I'm normally the mom who over-reacts on the side of caution. I was just so excited to get some summer time fun with my friend that I forgot all about how my recovering Barf Boy could possibly share the cooties.

Sorry, Carolyn, for my short-sightedness.

After we got off the phone, I started laughing while thinking about it.

While my child's illness set her children up for the disappointment of not going to Dollywood together, she was the person I called this morning to pray for him.

And when I didn't even think of passing the gunk on to her children, she responded nicely, instead of shrieking, "Lady... are you nuts?! We don't want what you got. Stay away... for awhile. Please!"

What a friend!


"A friend loves at all times." Proverbs 17:17

Spencer is Sick Again

Please say a prayer for Spencer. He has some kind of stomach bug again and has been vomiting since about midnight Saturday.

He's pitiful. Crying for food, but crackers aren't staying down. Neither has water, ginger ale or Gatorade.

If this continues throughout the day, we may end up taking him to the doctor/hospital.

I'm not hyper stressed... yet. But it won't take much more.

The last time he went this long we had to hospitalize him overnight for IV fluids. For now, he's still hydrated enough to produce tears.

Thanks for your prayers!

Big Boy

...and I'm not talking about Shoney's.

Get it?? Huh? Huh?

Aww, forget it. If you don't remember the days when Shoney's had the Big Boy out front... you're too young. Or I'm too old. Or I'm just warped for mentioning it.

Yeah, I'm thinking the last one, too.

Right now, I'm thinking about my oldest son. Hence the Big Boy intro. I always drive Clay to school, but he usually rides the bus home. But I picked him up from school Friday... his last day before summer.

By now, we're already thick into our summer plans. Finishing up baseball games for the season, preparing for Vacation Bible School, making sure we have plenty of sunscreen for our upcoming swimming lessons, getting excited about Clay's approaching birthday party and picnicking in the park to celebrate Bruce's birthday yesterday.

I have to sidetrack here, because yesterday at the park, I ran into one of my favorite neighbors. I saw her from behind first, and didn't realize it was her. I was too busy admiring her haircut. Then she turned around and I realized it was Jennifer.

She cracked me up when she told me she's been reading this blog. I had to ask her how she even knew I blogged. She was blog surfing from one friend's blog to another and came across mine and didn't make the neighbor connection at first.

How crazy is that? (Hi, Jennifer. This is the blog entry I warned you about.)

Okay, back on track now.

As I drove Clay to school that last day of second grade, I asked him, "Are you excited about summer?"

He said yes. And I'm so impressed because I didn't even get the "DUH!" look that I think I might have earned by even asking such a rhetorical question.

But I chanced asking one more question. Because I like to push things that way.

"Are you a little excited already about third grade, too?"

And that sweet boy didn't hesitate before nodding and saying, "Yes."

I just love his thirst for knowledge and that he still finds school fun. I work very hard to make learning fun for our kids... and to keep them excited about the process. I think it's working. Spencer and Allison ask me every other day how many days until kindergarten starts.

But this post is about my big boy. When I picked up Clay on Friday, he jumped in the truck and his first comment was, "Mom, Mom! I got a 1 on self control!"

A 1 is a good thing. A 2 is a bad thing. He's had some 1-.

But he has worked so hard this year to overcome his impulsiveness, which leads to things like talking out in class when he should raise his hand. We've been encouraging him all year to step up to the plate and act more maturely. (Yes, I know he's only seven. But I constantly think back to the youth conference I chaperoned months ago where the speaker told the teenagers that they needed to be mature and stop being childish. We do our kids a disservice to allow too much silliness in places where maturity should be... I'm done now.)

I am so proud that his efforts have paid off in a way that he can see visibly. We knew he could do it.

Academically, he's great. He's reading on the level of a sixth grader in the first month of school.

His teacher sent home the following awards (this is for the grandparents, folks. Hit your snooze button otherwise):

-Best All Around Student
-Excellence in Reading, Math and Spelling
-Most Beautiful Handwriting
-Most Creative
-Best Paper Constructions & Creations
-Best Sense of Humor

That handwriting one... he worked for that! At the beginning of the year, he was throwing down some chicken scratch for writing. I told him if his teacher can't read it, she was going to mark it wrong, even if he had the right answer. Well, that bugged him. He likes to be right. And when he's right, he wants people to know it. (He is Bruce made over!)

Then the class started working on cursive... which he learned in kindergarten when we homeschooled. All of a sudden, he was kicking out these beautiful loops and slants.

His teacher, Mrs. Smith, sent home the following note on the last day:

"Dear Clay,
I have really enjoyed having you in my class this year. You are so much fun Clay, and I really loved your creativity in the classroom. I believe you could make something out of anything. I appreciated you always doing your very best and being a good leader. You were such a great helper to me, too. You were one of our top AR readers. Keep reading. I hope you will read some BIG books this summer, full of adventure. I love you very much and I will miss you. I know I will hear great things about you in the future. Come and give me a hug anytime. Have a wonderful summer."

Now, how could you not love a woman who writes that about your kid? Well, no problemo there. We love her!

And while my Clay is more like me about handing out hugs, I know she'll get one probably the first day of the school year next fall. I may even have to hunt her down myself!

Multiplication tables... here we come!!

Baseball Love

I am hoarse.

From cheering at today's baseball games. I lost all self control. One notch higher and I might have embarrassed my kids. Bruce even told me to tone it down a bit, because I was distracting Clay.

He mentioned that more than once. Probably because I didn't listen to him.

You have to know the history. And I'm not talking about all the smack talk I've given the sport of baseball in the last few weeks on this very blog. (That's not history. I'm sure I'll repeat it again next year.)

No, I mean immediate history. After Clay's game Friday night, as we were walking to the truck, he told me, "Tomorrow we play the Rockies. That's Parker's team. They're the only team to beat us this year."

Parker used to go to our church. He and Clay go to the same school and were born one day apart nearly eight years ago.

Parker is athletic.

Very. Athletic.

And his parents are rabid baseball fans. His grandparents are, too. (I'm writing that knowing that they'll see it. They can't deny it! Daddy Don coaches the Rockies, and I heard Momma Amie cheering louder than me. And I'm pretty sure I've seen those grandparents at every game... so there!)

This is a word picture of Clay. Taken from today's game. During three different times that he was in the outfield, he spoke directly to me. (Spencer was also playing today, so I stood in my spot between the fields so I could cheer for both boys.)

Here's Clay's first statement: "Mom, I heard June bugs. They're coming back."

His second statement: "There is a nest in the dugout."

His third statement was also not remotely related to baseball. By this time of the game, he was hot and sweaty and had taken his hat off his head. "Mom, I think I have head lice."

He scratched his head for emphasis.

I'm sure every other parent on his team who overheard was thrilled that my son was sharing batting helmets with their son.

He does not have head lice.

He does have issues with focus. A lack thereof.

It was a great game. That is the highest praise you'll get from me about baseball. Each team's score went back and forth the whole time. For a bit the Rockies would be winning, and then the Rangers would pull ahead for awhile.

The teams were well matched. Both teams are coached by men who love the sport, teach the sport, and love the kids. Both teams as a group know what to do and when to do it. The Rockies are the only other team that I've noticed this season stealing bases, aside from Clay's team.

Finally, the last inning. Clay came up to bat with two other players on bases. The Rockies' score was 9; the Rangers had 8. There was already one out, and all I could think was, "Thank you, Jesus, that my son does not have this whole game on his shoulders right now."

Because he has consistently struck out every time he's been at bat the last several times.

And he did it again at that moment. Again, I was crushed for him.

I rebounded quickly as his teammate came up to bat. All pressure was on that child, a great kid. He is, however, several pounds overweight and runs slowly because of it. He has struggled all season long to make it to first base after he hits the ball. But he does hit the ball. And with other boys on base, who cares if he can make it to first base? He just needed to hit the ball.

He went up to bat and quickly got two strikes. I think he was just milking the crowd, but what do I know?

Next, he hit the ball. And he did make it to first base. And he also got his other teammates to home.

The final score was Rangers - 10, Rockies - 9. I've never seen Clay's team so excited.

On the way back to the truck, I noticed a Rockies player giving Clay a really dirty look. I felt bad for him. Because they played great! So I told him so. His look didn't soften any, but his mother's did.

Now, for a bit on my other two children.

Spencer has taken to sliding into home base. Only his timing is off. He runs over the base, is technically home, and then starts his slide a couple feet past the base. It's a riot.

He picks himself up from the dust, checks the damage to his uniform, sports a self-satisfied smile and struts back to the dugout. He dusts himself off only after he is in the dugout.

That kid is crazy funny.

Allison has an admirer.

Bruce walked over to Clay's team's dugout at one point in the game, and Allison followed him. A teammate of Clay's piped up with, "How old is she?" Clay told him five. Then Mr.-Eight-Year-Old said, "She's pretty."

My thoughts?



Wrong game obviously, but it's apparent to me that Clay is not the only person on his team who lacks focus.

So I gave our sons a talk about their sister when we got home.

Because this is what I heard after dropping Clay off at school one morning this week. (Listen to it. It's short.)

Great stuff!

I told my sons that as Allison gets older, any boy who shows an interest in her should know they have to get through three men to have a chance to date her... her brothers and her daddy.

She already thinks she is a princess. A boy should be ready to treat her that way.

I'm just saying.

Saturday Singing - For the Chapman Family

I had another song picked for this week's Sings My Soul Saturday, but the family of Steven Curtis Chapman has been so much on my heart, I'm switching. Please continue to pray for the family after the loss of their young daughter in such a tragic manner.

Just a few of his songs that have ministered to me throughout the years, and their meanings to me.

This first one is one of the first SCC songs I remember from my years as a newborn Christian. It was wonderful to me to hear someone sounding like it was fun to be saved. I never hear this one without jacking up the volume and making some noise along with it.




This one was sang at our wedding 14 years ago. I'm positive we're the only ones in American to ever have this sung for our nuptials. Because we are so original that way.




This one I included in a lesson that my great friend JoElla and I taught in our Sunday school class of 7th-8th grade girls. The lesson came from Vicki Courtney's study "His Girl" and that week we were discussing self worth. This song fit perfectly.




This one is my all-time favorite SCC song. We are free. We aren't slaves to sin anymore. Jesus came to give us life... in its most abundant, filled-to-the-rim-of-the-cup kind of way.



There are so many other Steven Curtis Chapman songs that have meant something to me at some point in my life. I just wanted to share these because they are so personal to me.

Successful Completion

On Tuesday, Bruce led the final Financial Peace University class at our church. I missed again, to take Clay to ballgame.

It has been a huge sacrifice for Bruce and me for him to teach this class. He already is MIA on Thursdays while he works toward his master's degree, so one more night away from home has been hard on him. And while I originally attended each session, this last month has been more about baseball for me and the kids than finances. And taking all three to the ball fields without Bruce is not always a joy.

Bruce was so excited after coming home Tuesday evening. He told me the numbers. The whole class had dropped an average of nearly $20,000 of debt. One couple from our church is completely out of debt... and I anticipate for this couple that their next step will be toward purchasing a home since they've been apartment dwellers for years.

Two other couples from church are working the FPU system with a vengeance. I know personally because I've seen it in action. I told Bruce the other night that the Hite and Allen women put me to serious shame when we went to the women's conference together a few weeks ago. Cash only, at every meal. (Way to go, girls!) I shamefully whipped out our debit card a couple times.

There are two other couples from our church who, in my mind, are newlyweds still because they've been married less than or nearly five years. When Dave Ramsey talks about gazelle-like intensity, it fits these two couples to a tee. I think about the legacy they'll pass on to their kids, which is another thing Dave points out early in the lessons.

The past 13 weeks have been worth it. For them and for us.

It's made an impression on our family, too. And I don't mean simply a financial one.

The other day, Spencer told me he was going to be a policeman when he grows up. Because "they know so much" (tell Kevin that one, Christy!). And in his spare time, Spencer plans to go to the swimming pool a lot.

And he wants to teach Financial Peace on the side.

If they can just get an understanding of money and its proper place early in life, what a blessing that will be.

Prayers Please

My mother-in-law just called to tell me about the following, which I took off of Steven Curtis Chapman's official site.


MARIA SUE CHAPMAN, DAUGHTER OF STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN, DIES IN ACCIDENT AT FAMILY HOME
NASHVILLE, TN...5/21/08... At approximately 5pm on the afternoon of Wednesday May 21st, Maria Sue Chapman, 5 years old and the youngest daughter to Steven and Mary Beth Chapman was struck in the driveway of the Chapman home in Franklin, TN. Maria was rushed to Vanderbilt Childrens Hospital in Nashville, transported by LifeFlight, but died of her injuries there. Maria is one of the close knit family’s six children and one of their three adopted daughters.


Please be in prayer for this family, especially for the Chapman's teenage son, who was driving the vehicle that struck his little sister, according to our local newspaper.

Thankful Thursday - Birthdays

This week is special to me because three of my favorite people have birthdays back-to-back.



My grandpa turns 90 tomorrow. He's had a hard time with his health in the last couple of months, but he's on the mend. And I'm quite sure that "The Widow Woman" down the street will probably be making him a white cake with white icing sprinkled with coconut. It's his favorite, and The Widow Woman, as my grandpa lovingly refers to our family friend, has made them for him nearly every year since my grandma died 15 years ago.

My husband will be 35 on Saturday. I always love it after Bruce turns a year older each year. Because I'm older than him. And from May to October it sounds like I'm only three years older and not four. It's selfish vanity, but those five months are always a good time to ask me how old we are. We don't have big plans for his birthday, because he has already received his gifts over the last couple of months. But he will certainly have a homemade devil's food cake with cream cheese frosting after supper.

And on Sunday, my dear friend JoElla turns 40. She might not like me broadcasting that, but she shouldn't care, because she doesn't look old. In fact, she's gorgeous. So all you church buddies... wish her a happy birthday on Sunday and really freak her out that her secret is out.

The year I turned 30 I lamented the age increase. Until one very wise co-worker said of growing older, "It's better than the alternative." Why, yes. Yes it is.

I'm thankful for another year with these special people.


Job 14:5
"Man's days are determined; you have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed." (NIV)

Psalm 90:12
"Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." (NIV)

Woo-Hoo!

Last night, we had us some excitement. And it was good. And it centered around the baseball field.

I think my disdain for baseball is slowly fading. It's amazing how that happens the second your kid does well.

Clay continues to strike out at bat. I hate it for him, but we don't discuss it at length. He's a sensitive boy, and I'd rather he beat himself up over grades or behavioral issues than a ball game, if he's going to beat himself up about anything. And he will. He knows without me telling him when he's done well and when he hasn't.

Last night he did well. In fact, he won the game ball. He strutted off that field like a peacock with its colorful garb in full bloom. I thought it was for my benefit, but I was wrong.

"Where's Spencer?" he asked.

Realization dawned quickly. It was important to him to show his younger brother, who won a game ball last week, that he could do it, too.

The play that won him the game ball came when a slugger got up to bat and hit that ball hard and fast toward the outfield, where Clay has consistently played all season. He held his glove in the air and stretched his body as long as it would go and the ball practically fell into Clay's glove. In a split second I saw him look into his glove to double check that he had, in fact, caught the ball. Still there!

I am normally a very reserved parent at the fields. And it doesn't matter if my kid is doing great in the sport he loves or if he has more interest in the dirt and grass on the field than the game. It's not my style to bellow and draw attention to myself. However...

I jumped up and yelled, "That's my boy!" I felt a few tears, too.

Stupid game. How dare the game I disliked so much a few weeks ago nearly bring me to tears in public. Stupid game.

Aww, but that's my boy!

To celebrate, we got some fast food on the way home. But not just any fast food. We got Burger King.

And that holds absolutely no significance for your average person, but for me, it was a monumental occasion. I had not eaten at Burger King for about nine years. In that time, if I was really hungry but BK was the only fast food restaurant around, I had been known to remain hungry and pass it by.

I got an awful case of food poisoning from a Burger King in Texas a long time ago. No gory details will be served up here, except to say that I've had bouts of strep throat and the flu that were more pleasant. And when it comes to food and illnesses, I have a memory like an elephant (for all other important matters, my memory serves more like a sieve.).

But the kids were begging for Burger King. Because Bruce took them there a few weeks ago. I'm sure he knew it would come back to bite me later. He's a bad man!

I looked at Clay and said, "For you, buddy. I'll do it for you."

So far, so good. No signs of a meal replay in reverse. What goes down, thankfully, has not come back up.

I'm softening in my old age. Baseball and Burger King warm fuzzies all in one night. Times they are a changing in our household.

Ten on Tuesday - 10 Movies

Today's Ten on Tuesday list is "10 Movies You’re Excited to See".

This is not a great list for me. I used to be a big time movie-goer, but now I am far more selective about what I watch. And more often than not, any movies we watch are rented and not on the big screen in a theater.

I also generally go to Focus on the Family's movie review site here before seeing a movie, especially one I plan for my kids to watch. We've steered clear of a few thanks to those reviews.

Here are a few I'd like to see, although most are already on video.

10. 27 Dresses
9. Nim's Island (with the kids)
8. Night at the Museum (with the kids)
7. Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed (the documentary hosted by Ben Stein)
6. Thr3e (because I finally finished the book and wonder how Hollywood portrayed it)
5. The Last Sineater (also read the book and would like to compare the movie)
4. Baby Mama
3. The Bucket List (because I am a huge fan of Morgan Freeman's)
2. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (I bought it but have yet to watch it)
1. The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (although I don't understand why this one was made into a movie. The kids and I are currently listening on audio CDs to the fifth of the six chronicles, and Prince Caspian was my least favorite so far)


To see other people's lists, go here.

Comment here and tell me your 10. Or post your 10 and comment to tell me to check your blog out. Happy video viewing!

Hear Ye, Hear Ye!

I'll probably ramble a bit before I announce the winner of my blog giveaway for the Karen Kingsbury books. Hold on to your hats. It's going to be a bumpy ride!

Please say a quick prayer for my husband. He is traveling home from Bike Week in Myrtle Beach today. The weather is supposed to be a bit yucky in our corner of Tennessee. I'm not sure about the weather in the other states he'll pass through.

One mixed blessing from his trip... he took our point-and-shoot digital camera. And then didn't shut his storage bag properly. So somewhere on a road in South Carolina lies my camera. Actually, it probably got pilfered before it laid there long. Bruce said he went back to the road where he likely lost it and he and his crew searched for it to no avail. He said it was a rough area and they figured someone snatched it right up.

Well, a big HA-HA to them. That thing was on its last leg. For the last couple of weeks, every time I'd plug a new batch of batteries in, I'd get maybe four shots before it just croaked.

It's just proof that crime doesn't pay. I picture the prospective thief being every bit as frustrated with that camera as I was.

When Bruce gets home, he'll start surfing the net for a new camera... for me. The big, beefy camera is more Bruce's speed. I really thought I'd get into it, but I'm a more impulsive person. I need an impulsive camera. Anybody have one they love that they'd like to recommend?

Next topic. My favorite. Baseball. (I'm rolling my eyes. It's not my favorite topic. Not by a long shot!)

My boys have improved so much these last few weeks. Spencer's team does not keep score, but after every game he runs up to me and says, "Mom, my team won!" That's just typical Spencer.

I noticed a huge difference between him and Clay at yesterday's games. Clay was already on his field, and Spencer was eager to get to his, but I didn't see his coach yet. After a few other players on his team made their way over to the field, I told Spencer I'd walk him over there. We got about half way there and I said, "Go on, buddy. You can run the rest of the way to the dugout."

And he did. Without looking back. I saw him pause once he got in the middle of the field, wondering which dugout was his team's, but without ever looking my way, he shifted in the correct direction and skipped the rest of the way.

Clay would never have done that at that age. Maybe not even now.

No, he'd have made sure I walked with him all the way to the dugout. And forget being in the middle of a field and having to choose where to go from there. He'd have paused and then looked backwards, toward me, and waited for me to get there to point him in the right direction.

And it's not because he's not bright. He's a near genius (and I'm not just bragging. He scares me sometimes he's so smart!). Clay is just far more timid than Spencer. Spencer is all spit and vinegar. It always strikes me as funny that our younger son is more pluck than our older one. But Spencer wears off on Clay, too, and I notice that Clay gets more gumption when he sees that Spencer goes off half-cocked.

Enough about that.

My in-laws came to yesterday's games. Before the boys and I went to the ball fields, Roy and Sharon picked up Allison at our house and took her to breakfast at Cracker Barrel. Nice break for my girlie, who has certainly put in her fair share of time at the ball fields this year.

They arrived at the fields right as my boys' teams started their games. Good thing that their fields were side-by-side so I could watch both games at the same time. Well, that was the idea anyway. But I missed both boys in action because Allison needed two potty breaks.

And Clay actually hit the ball and ran all the way to third base. I realize that sounds like pitiful little to some of you with kids who've been playing forever, but remember... this is not Clay's sport of choice. And up until about two weeks ago, he fussed like crazy every time we went to a game. Since then, he's been practicing in our yard of his own volition with his daddy.

Batting has become something he fears thanks to a minor injury a couple of weeks ago. Still, I think he might actually be enjoying himself. And he might even want to do baseball again next year.

Doggone it!

Okay, now. The winner of the two Karen Kingsbury books ("Maggie's Miracle" and "Gideon's Gift") is...

Cheryl. My Miss Allison drew Cheryl's name from the bunch.

I wish I could climb right into the box I mail the books in so that I could visit with Cheryl in person. She has been a fun and insightful blessing to me in this wonderland of Bloggyville.

I hope you enjoy the books, Cheryl! Love ya!

Thanks to everyone who played and shared their woes of unfinished projects in their homes. I feel much better knowing I'm in good company.

Saturday Singing - Give It All Away

I love this song by Aaron Shust. It just reminds me that God loved me first. Before I claimed Jesus as Savior. When I was my most unlovable, He gave all for me.

To turn over my life to Him is an act of worship. All my plans, all my dreams, all my time, all that's mine... it's all really His.

"Give It All Away"

OCD Friends... Unite!

I had to do this quiz. Not because I think I'm all that obsessive, but I have friends who are.

I won't name you guys... you know who you are! But you owe it to yourselves to take the quiz and have a way to quantify your level of obsessiveness.

You Are 36% Obsessive

You tend to have a few obsessive thoughts, but you generally have them under control. Sometimes your worries keep you up at night, though they usually don't interfere with your life.

How Obsessive Are You?

Don't forget... time is running out to join my little blog giveaway. Go here to learn more.

Crackpot Kids

My children cracked me up yesterday. And that’s so nice, considering Bruce is gone on a manly-man trip with all his biker buds from work to Myrtle Beach for Bike Week.

I’ll just bask in the sunshine of my children’s humor, and blog it so that when Bruce gets home and reads it, he’ll be so jealous that he missed it. Nah, I’ll never last that long. The very next time he calls I’ll spill all.

Spencer started it off shortly after lunch. He claimed he was still hungry. Well, I’m of the mind that you eat ‘til you’re full at meal time and then you eat again at the next meal time. I’m not a complete dictator… I let my kids have one healthy snack every day, between lunch and supper. I reminded Spencer of his need to wait until snack time, now that lunch time was passed. And he said it.

“Mom, when it’s snack time, can I have like three or four snacks? Because I’m really hungry and I think I’m going into hibernation.”

Cha-ching. My first laugh of the day.

A couple hours later, Allison walked up to me with a pouty look on her face. She wasn’t happy about something and I was about to discover what had gotten her in that state. She hiked up her nightgown (Yeah, it was after lunch. So what? Some days I’m still in my PJs after lunch, too. I know there are others out there like me. Forget that freaky Fly Lady and her suggestion to get dressed down to your shoes each morning. What. Ever.).

Back to Allison pulling her nightgown up. She flashed me a view of her panties. Only they weren’t panties. They were Spencer’s underwear. Well, I just spewed the laughter straight out. I shouldn’t have. She was disturbed by the fact that she was wearing boy’s underwear. Well, I didn’t put them on her. The child dresses herself, which makes it even funnier.

So I asked.

“Allison, why are you wearing Spencer’s underwear?”

And she answered. Vehemently.

“Well, I guess Spencer put his underwear in my panty drawer.”

And then she stomped her foot.

Well, that cracked me up more because I thought, "He put his drawers in her drawers. I just can't make this stuff up." But I got a grip and shrugged and said, “Go change them if it bothers you.”

It didn’t bother me. I wear her daddy’s boxers all the time.

Clay capped the day off nicely once he got home from school. I have no idea what movies some of his peers are watching, but nothing he said rang any bells with me from movies I’ve let him watch.

He was gyrating around, doing some kind of fight scene that only a mutant Ninja could love. And then he said, “I’ll fight for our garbledeegook.”

Huh? I could have sworn he said, “I’ll fight for our clothes.”

I asked. “What did you say, Clay?”

“I’ll fight for our claws,” he replied.

Okay, that makes more sense. But not really. One more time, I had to ask, “What are you saying?”

And he said, “I don’t know. I think it’s some kind of Iraqi word.”

Iraqi word? How would he know any Iraqi words?

Finally, I realized he was trying to say, “I’ll fight for our cause.” So I explained the whole thing to him.

But he wasn’t finished tickling my funny bone.

His make-believe fight scene continued. And the next thing I heard did me in completely.

“Freeze, you gum bags.”

I didn’t tell him about scum bags. I was laughing too hard.

But I better explain it soon before he tries that phrase out on the school bus or something. That just begs for exploitation by the neighborhood bully.

Meme to Win Books

Here's a fun little meme that might win you some free books. Summer's coming up so you'll need some pool-side reading material. Join in the fun.

Three people will be selected at random to win Gourmet chocolate coins and all three books in the Chronicles of the Spanish Civil War series by Tricia Goyer. To enter all you have to do is answer the MEME on your blog and then leave a comment here.

Here's the front cover of one of the books for those of you who judge a book by its cover. (Just admit it. You know you do it!)

I've never read this author, but I have big plans this summer to read some new authors as well as to catch up on the newest releases from my favorite authors.

Here's the meme and my answers.


1. List three things you would do with a chest full of gold (assuming you got to keep it!) First off, I'd cash it in for paper moolah. Then I'd:

-pay off our camper,

-buy new living room furniture,

-and sock away the rest for a rainy day.

2. List three charities/missions/organizations you support (and why).

-World Vision, because I felt like we needed to be giving to someone who has far less than we do so we'd appreciate our blessings more.

-Also, I support our church's mission work with a town in Nicaragua, partly for the folks who live there, but also as a way to encourage the people in our church who have made it a very personal ministry by visiting the area several times.

-Finally, I support a couple who I have known for 16 years who I served on a mission team with in the states. They now do international missions with their family of five kids. I do it out of a love for the family. I'm a better person just knowing them.

3. List three ways you have volunteered your time/services.

-Teaching Sunday School or VBS,

-helping man the Nursery and Children's Church at church,

-being in the classroom at my son's school.

4. List three things you keep "hidden" when company comes over.

-The toddler wipes for our youngest kids, who have by now outgrown them. I should toss them, but my pack-rat tendencies won't let me.

-Our shoe and coat closet, because it's a mess.

-And the entire "living room" gets blocked by a tri-fold screen because it has never been a true living room, but lives to be a catch-all place where things are stored until they are needed or tossed.

5. List the last three things you've lost.

-My cool,

-my mind,

-and a $50 reimbursement check from our insurance company.

Ironically, all three losses occurred within the same hour.

6. List the last three things you've found.

-My daughter who ran off while we were on a recent camping trip.

-A library book that was overdue.

-Sunscreen, which I needed to find quickly before I sent my son to school on Field Day.


Your turn. Don't forget to post a comment on the author's site to be included in the drawing for free books.

Thankful Thursday - Sharing and Game Balls

Tuesday night, while I was at Spencer's t-ball game with the kids, Bruce led his second-to-the-last Financial Peace University class.

Afterwards, he went to his parent's house bearing gifts: A late Mother's Day card for my mother-in-law, because we didn't get to see her on Sunday. And a bag chock-full of creeping phlox I had dug out of one of the barrel containers in our front yard. (Those barrels are old and need to be trashed.)

I transplanted several bits of phlox into different places on a bank in our yard, but had so much leftover that I offered it to several friends. My father-in-law always gets first dibs on any garden pass-alongs I have though.

When Bruce got home, he had a few things for us from my in-laws. A loaf of Sharon's famous sourdough bread that we call simply "Meemaw Bread." We all love it, but Spencer is the most shameless in asking Sharon for a new loaf.

And... and... and...

Roy sent seven tomato plants that he had leftover from planting in his garden. My father-in-law is a great gardener. I want to be just like him that way. But I'm not. Every year he grows tomatoes from seed. I'm too impatient for that. Usually, we bum garden-fresh tomatoes from his overflow. But occasionally, he's passed on leftover plants to us. And that makes me and the kids very happy.



I think the tomato is the very best vegetable alive. I'm just partial that way. And the kids seem to be following in my footsteps. My father-in-law caters to their love of tomatoes, too.

So today I'm very thankful for shared Meemaw Bread and tomato plants.

Ahh, but there's more.

Our Spencer received the game ball at his t-ball game on Tuesday.



He is so proud. He wouldn't leave the field until they took his picture probably a dozen times. I don't really know the criteria for winning the game ball, and I don't care. Friends know that I'm not a huge t-ball or baseball fan. I am, however, a ginormous Spencer fan. And he is feeling mighty fine about his efforts on the field.

He hit a home run during the game his first time at bat. I have to admit I don't know how he did at his second time at bat because I was yakking and missed it entirely. But don't tell Spencer that. He told me in the van before the game that I needed to be cheering loudly for him.

Once he finally was escorted away from his picture taking with his new ball, he ran up to me and said, "Mom! Mom! I got the game ball! I earned it."

I love his coach. I'm not sure what he said to Spencer when he gave him the ball, but whatever it was made an impression on my boy. He earned that ball.

I'm so thankful that even though I do not care for t-ball, my younger son is giving it his all. And he loves it. And it has made him feel like a million bucks.

That's just good stuff.


If you like Karen Kingsbury books, go here to enter my giveaway contest. It's limited to residents of the U.S. I updated the original post to add that, but I'll include those first few who commented originally. But it applies from here on out. Thanks.

The End

Today has been an odd day. And it's only lunch time.

Today was the last day of Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) for this year. Next week is Sharing Day, a time when everyone comes together to share what they learned throughout the year. It's usually a very moving time and I enjoy the ones I've attended. But, because even the children's leaders join in, there is no childcare, so it's likely I won't go.

For all intents and purposes, today was my last day of the year for the Matthew study.

I always enjoy the last day, because of that sense of completion. I can look back and see where God has enlightened me throughout the year. Where previously unknown verses became meaningful because of something that was happening in my life at that point. I love that about the Bible... that it's alive and fresh... that it's applicable for today and tomorrow and every day after that.

I'm a little sad today, too, though. This has been my fourth year of study with BSF. And I've always gone to the day classes. But next year I am switching to attend the night classes. Because my oldest son has practically begged me to change so that he can start going with me again. (During day classes, kids can go from age 2-5. Evening classes include groups for kids in first grade and beyond.)

Spencer and Allison have been with me three of the four years I've gone; Clay has been with me only one year.

I am more of a morning study person. I know these women from the day classes. I love these ladies. Many of them have shared much with me and have heard my challenges in exchange. It's an odd sort of friendship in that they know me spiritually better than most of the ladies at my church, but they may not remember the ages of my children. Or even their names. It's a true fellowship of the heart. And I'll miss them. Especially the ones that have ministered to my children.

I am not going to be a ship adrift in completely unfamiliar waters next fall when I start the evening classes. My husband's Aunt Jo attends BSF in the evening, and I think it'll be really special for her to see Clay each week. She's great with my kids.

My group leader from last year switched to evening classes this year. So when the school year starts again, I'll likely get to see Jennifer more than just every now and again in Wal-mart.

And another wonderful friend that was in my group a couple of years ago is switching to evenings next year as well; and Becky and I have shared a lot, so it will be a blessing to still have a constant fellowship with her.

Even though I won't be in the day classes... maybe ever again... God is so good to me.

I almost didn't get to make today's class. Allison woke up barking with a croup cough. No fever. No green snot. No red, hamburger-looking sore throat. But she sounded horrid, and I thought another mother would balk if she heard my girl coughing next to her child.

We got ready with the plan to go, get my notes and end-of-the-year magazine, and swing by and let the kids say "goodbye" to their teachers. But when we got to the kids' class, the teachers and the children's department director said to just stay. I could see Spencer and Allison really wanted to. So we did.

And it was so wonderful.

If you need a good, in-depth Bible study... non-denominational... with some female fellowship thrown in, check out BSF's site to find a study in your area. Men have classes, too.

Next year's study is going to focus on the life of Moses. That's a lot of ground to cover. I can't wait!

"For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."
-Romans 15:4

Ten on Tuesday - What Are You Good At?

Found this meme a few weeks back and planned to do it then, but never got to it. Click here for more info.

Today's topic is Ten Things You're Really Good At.

Of course, this is all subjective, so if you disagree... just keep it to yourself.

10. Sarcasm.

9. Empathy.

8. Loyalty.

7. Brutal honesty.

6. Being funny (but the mood has to be right).

5. Teaching (but only if it's something I'm passionate about).

4. Loving my peeps (that would be my family).

3. Being thankful to the Lord for His blessings.

2. Writing (I've been told).

1. Following directions (ever since I made my first Duncan Hines Devil's Food Cake all by myself. It was a huge step up from my Easy-Bake Oven cakes.).

Your turn. What are you really good at? Comment here if you decide to write about this so I can learn more about you.

Roan Mountain

Camping at Roan Mountain this weekend was wonderful. Simply the best way to spend Mother's Day.

We hiked... a lot. If this says anything, I lost a pound. And, trust me, that shouldn't have happened considering all the s'mores I ate. It was the hiking that saved me from myself.

We had a few mini-adventures. After we got set up Friday night, we sat around the campfire, roasting marshmallows until we heard the clatter of the metal lid from the trash can behind the camper. Where we had thrown away our McDonald's leftovers.

My first thought was... bear. Mostly because I recently read in the paper about the woman who lost her daughter last year after a bear mauling in Cherokee Forest. It was heartbreaking.

So I hopped up as fast as lightning and told the kids, "Get in the camper. Now!" They must have picked up on the note of hysteria, because all three of them ran to the camper, sticky little marshmallow fingers and all.

And Bruce went to be the man. While the rest of us scaredy cats hid. It struck me that he could really scar us all for life if he came back around the corner, screaming his head off, as a joke. But he knows me well, and how much I do not like to be scared, and he didn't. Even though he admitted he thought about it.

Our noisy beast was a raccoon. Realizing imminent danger was not at hand, we took the flashlight around the corner and watched him munch on our leftover french fries. We covered the trash can back up, but within 30 minutes, it clattered again. Henry was back. (Yep, we named him.)

After awhile, he rambled back into the woods. The next morning, Allison took it upon herself to solve the problem.



We never heard from Henry again.

Saturday, we went hiking around Elk River Falls. With Bruce's GPS in hand because he wanted to search for geocache treasure. I do not enjoy this past time... because we never find anything. We hiked one way for over an hour, watched Bruce tromp around in the woods for another 20 minutes and then dejectedly walked for another hour back down the hill.

And then we came across the snake. Spencer and Allison were leading the way when I noticed Allison stumble and fall down. She picked herself back up with no crying and continued. But a second later, Bruce saw a snake very near where she had fallen, unknowingly. But Bruce, Clay and I were knowingly watching that thing... very closely. Until he slithered away and we scurried away in the opposite direction.

At the end of our hike, Spencer fell down and scraped open a wound on the palm of his hand. I went to the truck looking for bandaids, while Bruce took the kids to some other supposed geocache site. And they actually found it! Which very nicely took Spencer's mind off of his ow-wee.

Until we got back to the camper and Drs. Mom and Dad had to hold him down and scrub that wound free of dirt and grime. Wore us all out.

After a late lunch, we got back on the trail here.



It was gorgeous!

We hiked until dinner time and called it an early night after eating hotdogs and s'mores.

Here's just one more picture of Clay being a cheeseball.



And now we're back home, back to the daily grind. But school is over so soon and we are looking forward to more camping adventures.

Happy Mother's Day

We are camping this weekend, but I've set this up to post this morning, even in my absence.

I am so blessed this Mother's Day. There were years that I did not think I'd ever be a mother, and now, nearly eight years later, we have three little pumpkins. I tell my "babies" (who have recently started telling me that they aren't babies) all the time that next to their daddy and Jesus, they are my greatest gifts from the Lord.

I have read a lot this last week about people and their mothers. And then I got the sweetest note from a dear friend of mine. She's my neighbor, Harriet. Actually, she just sold her house, so she isn't my neighbor anymore, but she remains my friend. And more... she's one of my mentors.

Here's what she wrote:

"To my friend, Tanja: (I know you have probably gotten the devotion below today as well, since you introduced me to the Proverbs31 site, but I just have to share this with you, too!) I have so enjoyed watching you from across the street these past several years as you have interacted with Clay, Spencer, and Allison. Your children are precious, and you two have provided a strong love and dedication as you have raised them. Tanja, you and I have talked - A LOT - about this 'child-rearing' thing, and despite your occasional lack of faith in yourself, believe me, you are a wonderful mother! These years will fly swiftly by, and soon you will be enjoying your grandchildren as well. You and Bruce are such strong Christian people, and you are truly raising your children in the fear, love, and admonition of the Lord. I love you both, and pray God’s blessing and guidance for you."

Harriet is a grandma. She's been one of the best examples of a person living out God's grace that I've ever seen when she faced the illness and imminent death of her sweet husband more than a year ago. She's told me their love story, and it's beautiful. And now she's been given another chance at a sweet love, and we talk about that, too. I pick her brain and spirit as often as I can, and intend to continue doing so with even more opportunities once all three kids are in school in the fall. I've already told her that I'll be calling her to "do lunch" often.

She included the following Proverbs 31 Ministry devotion, which I had received, but it's so great it's worth sharing. Here you go:

Mother of the Year
by Micca Monda Campbell

“Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.”
Proverbs 31:28 (NIV)

I long to be a godly wife and mother, but my efforts to become this "ideal" woman stated in Proverbs can leave me grieved and depressed. I felt especially defeated the year my youngest son started kindergarten. In Tennessee, kindergarteners follow a scattered schedule the first two weeks of school where half of the class attends one day and the rest comes the following day. It helps them adjust. For me it brought confusion.

On Tuesday, I took my son to school, kissed him good-bye, and headed home to work.
I was busy at the computer when the telephone interrupted my pace.

"Hello?"

"Mrs. Campbell, this is Parker's teacher. I was wondering who would be picking him up from school today."

Stunned that I had forgotten my child, I jumped in the car and raced to the school. He stood on the sidewalk holding his teacher's hand with tears in his eyes and REJECTION stamped across his heart. I took him home, apologized profusely, and made his favorite meal for dinner. I felt like the worst mother ever.

Thursday, we returned to school. All was going well until I was, once again, interrupted by the phone. I had forgotten to pick up my child not once, but twice in the same week!

I sped to school on two wheels. This time he was standing with the room mother, who was obviously a true Proverbs 31 Woman. As she helped him buckle his seatbelt, I tried explaining myself.

"You're not going to believe this, but I did the same thing earlier this week."

"Yeah, I know," she replied bluntly.

I felt I’d been labeled a "bad mother," and I felt like a complete failure.

Later that same year, God encouraged me as a mother when ParentLife magazine named me one of eight "Mothers of the Year!"

Parker's reaction to this surprising news was, "If they lived with us for a while, they'd probably reconsider."

Those were my thoughts exactly. In fact, I asked my husband how I could be given such a great and undeserving honor. With wisdom, he shared that maybe it was God's way of saying I'm doing better than I think. His wisdom helped me put things into perspective.

God never said I had to be perfect. That was my expectation. He never said that I wouldn't make mistakes or a wrong decision every now and then. Again, that was my hope. I had assumed that the Proverbs 31 lady did everything right and I was suppose to as well.

The problem was, with all her great accomplishments, I never considered her "not so good" side. Sometimes I let the bad out weigh the good. Perhaps the "Mother of the Year" award was God's way of saying, "Hang in there. You're doing better than you think, and I'm not the only one who notices." Despite my many mistakes, perhaps my children will some day arise and call me blessed.

The next time you need encouragement, let God whisper to your heart: "I hear when you pray for your children, and I'm there when you teach them about who I am. I watch you love, care, and sacrifice for them. You’re not perfect, but hang in there. You're doing better than you think."

Dear Lord, help me to be the mother my children deserve. Encourage my heart when I feel like a failure. Erase my errors from the hearts and minds of my children. Instead, help them to see Jesus in me, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Power Verses: Deuteronomy 11: 18-21, “Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land that the Lord swore to give your forefathers, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.” (NIV)


Isn't that wonderful? I've always felt really put out with that Proverbs 31 woman. But this perspective is so much more real to me.

Have a wonderful day, all you mothers, and would-be/could-be mothers. And all you other folks... go call your mom and tell her you love her! Being a mom is hard work. She deserves some recognition.

A Giveaway

I'm doing my first blog giveaway! I'm so excited.

I've pondered what to ask you to answer to get your name in the hat (the one I'll randomly pull a name out of). And I hit on the perfect question while vacuuming.

We have a central vacuum system, and the hose has a hole in it right near the part that connects to the metal, which in turn connects to all attachments. Either the hole gapes open and it doesn't suck, which in this case is a bad thing, or I'm turning the thing every which way to keep the hole pinched shut. And often I'm the one who ends up pinched.

Naturally, I'm vacuuming less and less these days. Of course that makes more sense than actually buying a new hose. Doesn't it?

My question for you: What is broken or unfinished in your home right now that is just really bugging you?

It could be an unfinished project (like say, a playroom in the basement that was built more than a year ago, but still lacks a banister going down the stairs).

It can be something simple (for instance, a bulb is burned out of your motion sensor light as you approach your garage doors so that when it's night, you are always in the dark).

Or it might be something you don't think about every day, but when you see it, you don't like it (hmmmm, maybe that hole in the ceiling in the laundry room that's there because your upstairs heat pump, which is located in your attic, leaked condensation. A lot of condensation.)

Oh, you want to know what you're playing for?

Books. These two babies by Karen Kingsbury.

Gideon's Gift and

Maggie's Miracle.



Both are "like new". I didn't read them. They were passed on to me and, before I got to them, I ended up listening to them on audio books on a recent solo road trip. They are both wonderful stories. But you know that already if you've ever read anything by Kingsbury.

So, whatever needs fixing in your home... please share. I have a real need to know I am not the only person living in a state of continual "unfinished-ness". Yeah, I made that word up.

I'll draw a name next Saturday and let you know who won.

UPDATED... I'm limiting the giveaway to those who live in the U.S. I forgot to add that originally, so I'll include those first few who commented, but from here on out it applies. Thanks.

Warfare

What is it about boys that no matter how well you try to shield them, they turn everything into a weapon?

For years we wouldn't let our boys play with guns. The toy kind. You know I didn't mean the real thing, right? But because so many toy guns can look authentic, I've even had a talk with my oldest about touching any gun at the homes of friends or other family members until he checks with an adult that it is a play thing. Bruce says I go overboard, but accidents happen, so eagerly overboard I go.

Still, somewhere along the way, the boys started pointing sticks found in the yard at each other and shouting "Bam, bam, bam. I gotcha!" They did that until I went overboard and said, "No pointing even pretend guns at people."

If they were stick poor that day, they'd just point their first finger and tuck the rest back and shoot stuff with their "hand" guns.

I've seen Tinkertoys turned into weapons. Legos as well. Even the empty, cardboard paper towel holder. In their warped little minds, with enough imagination, anyone can be the proud owner of a nice, shiny Uzi.

The other day, Spencer crossed into some spiritual warfare. But not the kind talked about in Ephesians where it says, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (6:12)

On second thought, maybe it was exactly that kind.

We were at the post office to mail Mother's Day cards. There was only one person in front of us, and nobody behind us while we waited our turn. But about four people walked in as our turn came. Because we always need an audience these days.

I stepped up to get the appropriate stamps for my cards to Germany, and Spencer points at Allison and says to the clerk, "She doesn't love Jesus."

My eyes nearly popped out of my head. But that precious boy was not finished.

"She doesn't love Jesus," he continued, "because she doesn't read her Bible."

Allison's eyes nearly popped out of her head. I was determined not to make a big deal out of this. Because of the audience. But Allison didn't see any reason to hold back.

"That's not true!" she shouted.

Yippee! Now we're really center stage. What I love most in the world.

And still, Spencer was loaded and cocked to fire off his next round.

"And Jesus doesn't love her either."

I was flabbergasted. And Spencer had that little smile on his face that he gets when he knows I'm cornered and can't spank him at that moment. He was obviously enjoying himself. I told him to hush and that "Jesus loves everyone."

I looked at the clerk, shrugged, and said, "No matter what you teach them..." I hoped that was enough of an explanation.

You know what the clerk did? He looked at Spencer and smiled and started singing, "Jesus Loves Me." Yep, he was slightly off key, a little warbly, but he got all the words right.

However, Spencer's right to terrorize could not be denied. He said, "But Jesus doesn't love her," and he pointed at his sister.

I could have throttled him. In Jesus name. (Thanks to Chonda Pierce for that little bit.)

Again, I looked at the clerk and said, "You think maybe we need to spend more time at church?" He laughed and we left.

After a good tongue lashing, Spencer apologized to Allison.

All this happened as we were on our way to Bible Study Fellowship. I think Jesus knew exactly where we all needed to be that morning.


"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it."
-Proverbs 22:6