Happy Birthday to a Mentor

I am so very thankful to have been blessed in my life with a mentor like Nena Smith. She teacher her students much more than dance, she teaches us about life. She also teaches us the lost art of card writing, whether it be thank you notes or notes of encouragement. She firmly believes in the hand-written letter. So, for her birthday, I made her a small set of cards since that is one of her pleasures in life. Happy birthday, Miss Nena. You are a blessing to us all.

For the Scrappers

For this project I used the Top Stitch paper kit from Close to My Heart with Crystal Blue and Cocoa Exclusive Inks. The stamping came from Simple Stitches, Priceless Love Word Puzzle, and Cheerful Thoughs (retired). The pink cardstock was left over from a paper packet purchased at Sam's. This was simple project that can be done for any occassion. It is always nice to receive a handmade gift rather than something bought at a store. Handmade gifts come with much more thought and love.

That Face

One of our "littlest" praises is Cooper. His face can light up a room. I decided to scrapbook some photos that I took one night after his bath. It was hard to choose which pics to use because they were all so precious. Cooper was born while we were at seminary in New Orleans. He brings joy to all our lives and to all who meet him because of his warm smile and loving eyes. After having two beautiful girls, Coop is a change of pace for us. He is on-the-go constantly, but he will take a moment or two to give you an "000hhhhh-weeeeee" (aka a kiss). Thank you, Lord, for our Cooper.

For the Scrappers

I used the Close to My Heart Sweet Home paper kit to complete this 12x12 layout. I thought it complimented the black and white photos. For the title, I did a embossed resist using CTMH clear embossing powder and cranberry Exclusive Inks. I stamped some sentiments from a retired CTMH stamp set but I also used Priceless Love Word Puzzle. The ribbon was leftover from a previous scrap project.

Spiritual Priorities

So, lately I've been involved in a LOT of discussions about the priorities parents place on spiritual matters. The topic seems to come up quite frequently. The matter is heavy on my heart because young people is "what I do". I see with my own eyes the priorities that parents place on church. I'm talking about "church" parents, too, not the unchurched. How can we expect the lost to do any better when the "Christian" parents can't even get it right? That's a whole other blog.

I find it sad that parents can get their children to soccer practice, dance, tennis, or whatever the extra-curricular may be, but yet they can't get their children to any "extra" church activities. For that matter, five days a week they can get their children to school pretty much on time but can't seem to get up early enough to make to Sunday school on time. If Sunday school starts at 9:30, most parents will try to show up for coffee at 9:45, maybe. I've seen some walk in at 10:00.

Why is that we think we need to have the most well-rounded children? Or does it matter more that our children know, really know, God and what He is all about? While I understand the importance of teaching your child a sport some with the hopes of scholarships for college one day, very few actually make it that far. Shouldn't we be investing in things that will last for an eternity?

I've been one of those parents whose children had something every night of the week. We would rarely get home before 7:00 or 7:30. leaving very little time to eat a decent dinner, much less have any quality time together. We were all so worn out and cranky that all we wanted to do was go to bed. And as much as I am ashamed to admit it, church was just one more thing on our to-do list and usually involved complaining.

Church should be THE THING on our to-do list as parents. Everything else that is scheduled should, must, revolve around church and the things that will disciple our children so they have roots and are grounded in faith, so that when they leave our nests, they will be able to function in this world and make wise, Godly decisions.

I try so hard as a parent to make the best choices for my children, I am by no means the model parent, but I do try to make sure that they are getting what they need, and also that I am optimizing every teachable moment that is provided to me. I pray that when I have to make choices for them that matter for the rest of their lives, that I will always choose God and not the world.

Label me as a fanatic or whatever you want. Choosing to live for God means to LIVE for God in ALL aspects, not just on Sunday mornings, maybe Sunday evenings and an occasional Wednesday night. I want my children to understand that God is the highest priority in their lives. In order to do that, I must model that EVEN WHEN I DON'T FEEL LIKE AND I AM DOG TIRED FROM JUST BEING A PARENT!!!!! I must make them go to church when they complain about being too tired or whatever the excuse may be!!!! I must be the one to teach them scriptures!!!! I must be the one . . . . . .Why? Because I am the parent!!!!!!!!

THINGS

So, yesterday at Bible study as we got into small groups I just happened to have noticed all the Coach bags that were on our table. Not that it matters, but it did get me to thinking about the "things" I own, which are not much to say the least. When I got home I looked in my clothes closet and determined that there is NOTHING in my closet that costs me over $20 bucks, with the exception of my Nike tennis shoes which I bought over four years ago for $40, so averaged out they shouldn't count. Everything in my closet has mostly come from $3 sales racks at Wal-Mart or clearance racks at other stores with an average of about $10 (maybe).
So after I checked out my closet I then took a gander at the rest of my house and its furnishings. Again, I found nothing of great expense. My bedroom suit is the most expensive thing that we have purchased as far as furniture goes, and it was a DEAL. There is no fine china. My dishes came from Wal-Mart. My kids have never had video games or atv's to play with and are clothed with hand-me-downs from good friends. Our big TV was given to us not long ago which replaced the other TV that was given to us while we were at seminary. We have just the one compact Chevy Cobalt car that we share. Just not many "things" to brag about.
Why am I pointing all this out? Don't know other than it just struck me that we, my family, spend very, very little to exist in this world as compared to others. Would I love to be able to go shopping each season? Oh, you better believe it. To shop for fun is not something I think I have ever been able to do, and honestly, not sure if it will ever happen.
Early in our marriage we didn't have a clue on how to handle money, as we were never taught. Then, when we did start making money, the alcohol was in control and money disappeared as fast as it appeared. After the alcohol and the life turn-around for Keith, we then entered the ministry where we sold almost everything when we went to seminary. And yes, we are still paying dearly for financial mistakes made in the past.
I guess it just strikes me how "things" can control you if you let them. "Things", or the lack thereof, can easily control me if I think about them for too long, or if I let myself compare my lifestyle to those around me. Flesh can take over in a flash, and then envy sets it. I admit wholeheartedly that this is a daily battle that I fight over and over. I pray hard each day that I don't let myself get caught up in "things". I'm not by any means saying that I believe having things are wrong. I am saying that it is not necessary to have expensive things to exist in this world, because we do it daily.
I'm not sure we will ever own our home again, have a car that fits all of us comfortably, or be able to go shopping and take vacations just for fun. But I am sure that God has made sure that we have EVERYTHING we NEED. We have not gone hungry or naked, ever! I firmly believe as long as we are seeking God and seeking to obey what He has in store for us, we are going to be fine.
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air, they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you? O you of little faith? So do not worry saying, "What shall we eat?" or "What shall we drink?" or "What shall we wear?" For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his rightousness, and all these things shall be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 25-34
This I know: I am a child of God and he promises to take care of me so long as I seek HIM first. This also I know: my eternal home is one of splendor and great majesty and is next door to a King, the King of Kings.
Finally, I have my family, all together, and we are trying with all our might to serve our God faithfully.
Just my thoughts. Hope you are able to get something out of it.

Happy New Year! Hope all is well with you and yours.
Today has been a day of reflection for me. We have begun a new decade. I can look back at the past decade and see how much my life has changed. It amazes me at how much can happen in one life in such a relatively short time.
At the beginning of the millennium, we already had Shelli. She was four at the time. In August of 2000, Marli came into our family. I graduated from college with my paralegal degree. When Marli turned one, I went to work in the crazy law world. In 2002, Keith and I began having marital problems mostly because of his drinking, but the faults are not laid entirely on his shoulders. We reconciled thankfully. However, in 2006, the drinking was more than I could take. I, along with Shelli and Marli, decided it was best for us to leave. This brings me to the most awesome turn of events of the decade.
In March the girls and I moved out and I filed for divorce. Keith at this point was beginning his decline to his rock bottom. The girls and I rented a house in town and Keith stayed at our home, the home where we were to grow old. Anyway, as his drinking got worse, the finances were not where he could maintain the house so it went into foreclosure. He had no where to turn so he moved in with us. Yeah, I know.
The divorce was to be final on Monday, June 5, 2006. I was fired from my job on Friday, June 3, 2006. A total shock entirely out of the blue. Devastated does not touch what I felt like. However, it started the chain of events that has changed our lives. I often joke with God that I had been praying for a miracle but getting fired was not exactly what I had in mind.
Any who, Keith and I talked the entire weekend. He refused to give me a divorce while I had no job. I agreed. I called the attorney and told him to hold off on the final judgment, so he did. Of course, by Monday afternoon I had three job offers. We never called the attorney back to go forward with the divorce.
Well, after THE WORST Fourth of July I have ever experienced with Keith, on July 7th at 2:30 a.m. Keith came to me and said, "I need help!" My first reaction was "Am I dreaming?" My second reaction was "Are you kidding me? After all my kicking, begging, screaming, praying and whatever else, you mean you couldn't have picked a better time to tell me this?" God does have a sense of humor.
Since that crazy morning, Keith has been sober. A year after his sobriety anniversary date we went on our first mission trip and Keith was bitten by the bug. He answered the call to ministry after our second family mission in July 2008 which led us to New Orleans so he could attend seminary. Now, we are back in Brookhaven looking to begin our ministry and tell our testimony for 2010. And, we have our new addition, Cooper, who is now two months old and precious.
God has blessed my family tremendously. The story is much longer and I would love to share more details. And I will in the future. I am so extremely excited to see what God has planned for us next. Stay tuned.