Saturday, August 30, 2008
It's football time!!!
That's all I really know to yell since it's all I ever heard during football season at my house growing up. So when my team is running down the field I yell, "Go! Go! Go!" and when my team needs to make a tackle I yell, "Get 'em!" and if I really mean business I yell, "GET HIM!" (over emphasizing the H-I-M.) Sometimes they listen and sometimes they don't.
Most of the day today has been spent watching football. We went to the mall for a little bit this afternoon to buy Ivey some new shoes - yes, we have to spend a fortune at Stride Rite because she still wears an EXTRA WIDE shoe! Those of you moms out there whose children have feet that are abnormally wide or narrow know what I'm talking about! It's absolutely rediciulous how much those children's shoes cost! However, there's not much guess work in it because they usually only carry ONE black dress shoe and ONE tennis shoe in XW. Anyway, they were having a buy one, get the 2nd 50% off, so we took advantage of it. I mentioned to Chris when we left that the mall isn't as busy now that football season has started. I kind of like it. I guess most people are at their own children's football games or at home watching there favorite college team play. Anyway, today kicked off a great football season. So, GO GET 'EM TIGERS! WAAAAAAARRR EAGLE, HEY!
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Catching up
I'm super excited about this weekend because college football season starts. The other night I was reading off to Chris what teams were playingon TV this weekend and next weekend and then I found myself continuing on...and on...as if he really cares who's playing on TV in October! I was just so excited I couldn't help myself!
Anyway, we have gotten some really good rain here and I hope that has helped our drought situation. I know it's been good for my plants and flowers.
Lastly, I have started taking a class on Sunday nights about parenting. It is specifically a study on a book called The Blessing. It is a really good book - a few things are questionable - but overall it's the only book out there that approaches the idea of giving your children, spouse, family members and friends "the blessing" like in biblical times. The five "steps" are:
1. Meaningful touch
2. A spoken message
3. Attaching high value
4.Picturing a special future
5. An active commitment
This class has truly been a God-send for me because it has really made me aware of making sure that I bless my children as they grow. This has become especially important to me with Morgan since he's the oldest, but of course it's very helpful for Ivey and Gavin as well. Two Sunday nights ago we talked about "Meaningful Touch" so I decided that I would try something with Morgan that night. I have to admit that it was a bit awkward and I had to just decide to humble myself and do it. As he was laying in bed and we were talking, I put my hands on both sides of his face and said, "You are very special to me. Did you know that you are special to me?" He said, "Yeah. I think it's like a kid instinct." Yeah, I guess so. Even though I parent much like my own mother did, there are certainly a few things I knew that I wanted to do differently with my children. One of them is to ALWAYS tell them I love them. "I love you" just wasn't something that was said in my house growing up. Not that we didn't love each other, but it was just assumed that we knew, but, unfortunately, sometimes it wasn't. So, I am always telling my kids that I love them. Another thing that I have changed is praying with my kids. Chris or I try to pray with Morgan every night and now we have prayer time with Ivey. We really try to model praying - adoration, confession, thanksgiving and supplication - and not just offer some sort of general, thrown-out-there prayer. Taking the class has really opened my eyes to the importance of the words we speak - in love or in anger. This week we are studying "Attaching High Value" so I'm excited to learn more about that. Just wanted to share a little bit about what I've been learning...
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Gavin is armed with the Endust, Ivey with the Windex and Morgan gets ready to vacuum. They look excited, don't they??
Monday, August 18, 2008
Where's Gavin?
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Braves game
Watching the Georgia Tech band
Our family went to the Braves game this past Friday night to celebrate Chris' mom's birthday. Sandy's actual birthday was Friday, so we got tickets for the family (and her closest friends) for the Braves game. We took all three kids and the little ones actually did very well. They stayed in or near their seats the whole time, ate a bunch of junk food and had a great time. We stayed for the entire game and even watched the Friday Night Fireworks afterwards. The Braves lost to the Giants, but that's okay. Ivey actually got her picture on the big screen. They started playing the theme song to full house and then put up camera shots of look-alikes in the crowd. They compared Ivey to "Michelle". We had a good laugh and she loved seeing her picture up there. It was also Georgia Tech night at the game. Before the game, they interviewed some of the athletes just inside the main entrance and had the cheerleaders there. Then, the whole Georgia Tech marching band came out. When I hear the drums start playing, I just get so excited - it doesn't matter what school they're from. I absolutely LOVE the band and would almost rather watch them than the actual football game. I was in the band in high school (drumline, no doubt!) and had the best time ever! Unfortunately, I went to a universitythat didn't have a football team or band, so I didn't get to continue that experience in college. But, if I had it would have been AWESOME! Anyway, Morgan and I just love watching the band, especially the drummers, so we had a grea time with that. Just hearing them made me fired up for the upcoming football season - WAAAAAR EAGLE, HEY! (I just had to get that in!) Anyway, we got home around 11:45 PM and, of course, the kids had all fallen asleep in the car on the way. We had a great time and enjoyed spending time with the family.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
I also changed her dance day to Tuesday so that she'll be with other kids. She went again on Tuesday and had a great time with the other little girls. One day I'll get in there and take some pictures to post.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Catching up



Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Having a preteen in the house... Lord, help me
One minute we're laughing and cutting up, the next minute I'm repremanding Morgan for something that I can't help but ask, "What were you thinking?" He pushes the buttons of his little sister, a three-year-old for crying out loud, just to hear her scream. Then, when I can't take another minute I decide to get involved and, miraculously, no one did anything wrong! Absolutely amazing I tell you. How hard is it to make your bed? Apparently, too hard for a 6th grader. He's part child and part adolescent. He still wants smiley-face stickers on his chore chart and he can't seem to be the "bigger person" in arguments over whose balloon his whose, yet he wants to stay at home alone and get allowance. So, how does this whole parenting thing work? I have absolutely no idea. I feel like whatever I did, whatever choice I made, whatever discipline I implented - it was the wrong one. So many questions, so few answers. By the time I figure this parenting thing out, they'll all be grown and married. Will he actually grow up to be a decent human-being that can keep his room clean, brush his teeth and take a shower without being asked to? Probably. Will he love the Lord and understand His grace and mercy? Hopefully. But, how do I get him to that point? I have no idea.
Before I got married I had six theories about bringing up children; now I have six children, and no theories. ~John Wilmot
Friday, August 1, 2008
I have a "Youth"!!
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Back from India
Friday, July 18, 2008
One week down, one to go
A Muslim woman riding on the back of a motorcyle with her husband. Covered head to toe in a burka. The burka is on top of her normal, everyday clothing in 95 degree weather.
I thought this little girl was adorable and she wanted her picture taken so badly. They were precious and loved to sing!
Here a woman is knocking on the window of our van asking for money. Beggars are everywhere in India and many of them carry children with them, so that they will get more money. I don't know if this is really her baby or not - it's 50/50 chance. Begging is sometimes an industry in India, much like prostitution. People put beggars on the street and then take the money they are given at the end of the day. Of course, I gave her money hoping that she would keep it. The ones with the children just get to me. I don't know what the true situation is, but Jesus tells us to be generous and to take care of the needy.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Weakness
"This seemed reasonable, yet it was not right. He had not true zeal for the work. Burying the dead, especially a dead father, is a good work, but it is not thy work at this time. If Christ requires our service, affection even for the nearest and dearest relatives, and for things otherwise our duty, must give way."
So, that's why I go to India. People have wondered and asked me before, "Why do you go to India? It must be so hard to leave your family, especially having small children."
Believe me, it is.
I can't tell you how many moments that I'm on the verge of tears, feeling guilty about leaving my family. But, you know what, this is what God has called me to do... right here, right now. It's not convenient, it's not fun, it's not pretty, it's not comfortable, it's not gratifying, it's not my will. But, no matter the reason, no matter the cost, I will go. I'm not trying to sound righteous because I certainly don't feel that I am. Actually, I feel the least qualified, the least equipped, the least ready, the least... the least... the least... everything. But in my weakness, He will be glorified. In my weakness, He makes me strong. In my weakness, only He can do it. In my weakness, others will hear about his saving grace.
1 Corinthians 12: 9-10
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Thursday and Friday, The Peachtree Road Race
Me running - probably around mile 4.
Almost finished! These are the cameramen taking pictures at the end of mile 6.
Chris and I had a blast running the Peachtree this last Friday. First, we went down on Thursday night to the Peachtree Roadrace Expo and walked around for a while. We then went to a nice dinner and stayed in a hotel just down the street from the start of the race. It worked out really well because we woke up Friday morning, ate breakfast and literally walked about 2 blocks to the start of the race. We had to wait about an hour before our heat was allowed to start running. They stagger the heats so that everyone doesn't end up trampling each other. We were in heat 7, so it took a while to get to us. But, that was fine because it gave us time to get our nerves out and go potty. Chris and I ran the first three miles together. The idea was for us to stay together the whole time, but Chris starting getting leg cramps at mile 4 so he said it was okay for me to go on. He caught up with me and we finished the race about a minute apart. There were water stations at every mile marker, people cheering us on and a few bands playing. We really did have a great time and will probably do it again next year. And, yes, we got the coveted t-shirts!
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Nesting
One more day til Peachtree 10K... oh, no!
Monday, June 30, 2008
New favorite thing
Saturday, June 28, 2008
I'm back from Deeper Still
This was Philips Arena Friday night and Saturday. 19,000 women joining together to hear these phenomenal speakers and to worship our Savior
Kay Arthur, Priscilla Shirer, Beth Moore
