A really good reason not to miss a ladies meeting...

my friend Sarah's homemade, ooey-gooey, fresh from the oven cinnamon rolls! Those clever girls baked them during the last part of our meeting! My only complaint...the little voice in my head that kept telling me to practice self-control! Thanks, ladies, for a lovely time!

What is my example before others?

I watch your life

from day to day,

I hear the words

you have to say.

You live the life

you talk about,

that is why you do

not have to shout.

It is so important for me to guard my heart..."for out of it are the issues of life." Proverbs 4:23 I can say whatever I want to say, but I can destroy it in an instant with my actions! Most of us know the "Christian lingo"...we have learned it well. But what we haven't learned...our actions speak louder than our words! How do I know? We have a shop full of workers who are watching our family each and every day. They notice our words and they match them up to our daily walk. I am tempted...purely for our sake...to put a notice over the door to warn people..."If you are a Christian, keep your mouth shut about it...unless your actions, what is in your vehicle, what is being played in your vehicle, your interaction with our employees...is Spirit led!" We are to be reaching the lost and making disciples...starting in our own families, people around us, and beyond. In the last few weeks, our employees have held our family accountable for our trust and faith in God. In one visit, we have seen that all destroyed by people that announce loudly that "they are Christians and go to church". Why would anyone want to "come to church" or "get religion" after they have "seen" what that "Christian" did out in the world during the week? We looked nice on Sunday. Nodded our head in agreement with the preacher. Sang the hymns by heart. But the other six days...we didn't look nice, speak truthfully or kindly, or even sing the same songs...and it was displayed for the world to see!
How would you answer someone who asked that question of you? Ted had to! "It is not religion! It is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ...that is what makes the difference!" Granted, I am not saying all Christians act that way...but it should make us stop and think! What kind of an example of Christ's redeeming love am I?
If we do not nurture that relationship, we will be weak and not led by the Spirit. It is sad...but many Christians, myself being one of them, do not always take time to study God's Word and allow His Spirit to fill us. There are so many passages of Scripture that instruct us how to live...the problem is...we just aren't reading them!
God knew we would struggle each and every day with "the little things of life" and "the big things" too. He gave us "...all things that pertain unto life and godliness," II Peter 1:3 We have been hearing this for the last few weeks from our pulpit. Pastor preached Sunday night that we are to give diligence to add to our faith...virtue...knowledge...temperance...patience...godliness...brotherly kindness...charity. Not just going through the motions like the Pharisees did, but obeying from the heart as I read God's Word on a daily basis. Yesterday, I read this passage...

Galatians 5:17-25
"For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law...But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit."

"...in my flesh dwelleth no good thing!" As one that is to be living under the control of the Spirit, I can't put that sign up over the door for "everyone else to read", I need to make sure that I continually let the Holy Spirit have control of me!. I need to continue to add to my faith...and practice II Peter 1.

It is coming...

with the help of many people. This poster was put up to start letting the ladies know what is coming. It also included the date...April 25 is not that far away! I am excited to see what the Lord wants to do this year! The spring calendar is filling up with all kinds of fun! Happy cold March 1st!

What would you do for caffine?

Hey, Mari, how fast can you eat a bag of Robin's Eggs?

Mine lasted a day...see what happens when you have to share! I will admit...half of them were gone before the kids got home! The first signs of spring...stocked on Walmart's shelves!

This and That

It is that time of year again...ladies banquet! Can you guess our theme?

This is for my friend, Sarah. She will appreciate this! When Daddies have a gathering they get the good food...we clean out the fridge! Let's count how many carbs we can ingest! Tortillas-1, toast-1, chips-1, noodles-1, and dessert x4!

They are born with it, I tell you! My little buddy is rolling and scooting around and is finding all sorts of things to play with! Here is handle...you pull on it...look at it...pull again...hmmmm, what does it do?

He has now moved on to "big boy toys"! He was pushing it back and forth...no one taught him...I just set it on the floor by him. It is a "gene" they are born with as little boys...wanting to make things go fast and try to find out how they work! He is only 6 months!

On Wednesday, Teddy told me he had "a list of things to do". He put on his sailor hat (like Uncle James...when he swabs the deck!?) and got busy. He asked to vaccum and then mop the floor! I looked at him with a shocked expression and agreed! Don't pinch me...yet...I know this desire probably won't last...but I will take him up on it when he offers!

Yesterday, I should have offered him a life vest. He wanted to push the water out of the low spot in the driveway..."we've got to keep the water out of the basement!" In mid push, he went down in the 6 inches of cold, rain water. He tried to be brave when he came to the door to tell me he was wet...but lost it after telling me he fell and he had water in his boots. He took a bath to warm up...while I emptied his boots (but found no socks! He was barefoot in his puddlejumpers!) and washed the muddy jacket, pants, and shirt.

Today, he got to chop the broom out of the middle of the pooled water...it was frozen! Then he stomped his way to the van...ice sounds like breaking glass! Maybe it was his way of getting even with the puddle!?

I learned something today...

if you have two short genes or two long genes...it determines whether you are an optimist or not. I should not have been chuckling through the report, because now I can't remember all the details...like which genes, how long this study took, who got paid to do this study, and why is it an important news item! It is ridiculous to me...I am sure there is a gene for that too!
As a Christian, I am to be controlled by the Holy Spirit and not by circumstances. Having a negative or critical view on life is not indicative of being Spirit led. As a child of God, all that does happen in my life is for His best and for His glory. How I respond to God's working in my life should not be excused or explained away by some scientific (or psychologic) terminology. There are so many verses in the Bible that talk about "God working all things for my good...to them that love God" Romans 8, "His ways are not my ways" Psalms and Isaiah, "He has specific plans for me" Jeremiah, "trusting in the Lord" Proverbs, and "thinking on things" the way God wants me to think, Philippians! If I choose not to respond the way God wants me to...it is a sin problem. Whether one gene is short or not! I wonder how we would operate and think if it were not for all the mamby-pamby, wishy-washy thoughts that intellectuals of our day have concocted to explain away human behavior!? God created me. He gave me His Word. God did not have "alternate terminology" for what He calls sin! It is a choice I make. No matter what my personality is...or what my mood is...or what gender I am...or how old I am...or...
The dictionary definition states: Optimism: n. the cheerful "doctrine" that everything happens for the best.
I could not find "optimism" in the Bible...anywhere!
Here is something that I think I forget somedays:
Bible Doctrine 101
Sovereignty: God knows and allows everything that happens in my life for my good and His glory..which brings peaceful assurance!
That my friends brings great joy and peace...and if that doesn't make me cheerful...then I have some soul-searching to do! It is not in the genes! It is in the heart!

Progress!

"Son, you did a good job reading that story!" I praised Teddy. "Now I can read to my kids when I'm a Dad!" he boasted. I surpressed a giggle...he still has quite a ways to go to perfect his technique! But I continued to encourage him, "You sure can! And look...you can take the last three reading sheets back because you got the 'sight words' right without Mom's help!" "SWEET! At least I don't have those sheets to worry about! They are stupid and I don't like them!" Teddy admitted quite strongly. Sigh...I am not sure he is making the connection..."practice makes perfect"! We are just glad to be making good progress!

A new yoga or pilates move...

by my little buddy...we'll call it...hmmm...the Object Stop...hold it, hold it, hold it...and release!

Breathe...feel your body relax...now moving slowly to the other side...and...

Hold it, hold it, hold it...and roll it out!

My husband is a wonderful man! And so smart!

I dropped this basket filled to over-flowing on the familyroom floor and prepared to fold while we talked. Ted employed the kids, then began folding and sending the kids to put clothes away. I am not kidding...three loads of laundry were folded and put away in record time! Five busy pairs of hands, chattering mouths, and running feet made an overwhelming task...fun! The kids always put their own clothes away, but it was different tonight...it was because Daddy did it with us! He just adds more fun!!! The job was completed in about 15 minutes! I was thankful for the extra help tonight...because it took the "stress" out of not having that job done and have it hanging over my head for today! Thank you, honey, for being the "fun Daddy"! You do more around here (in addition to your job!) than you give yourself credit for! You keep your wife grounded when she wants to "fly the coop"! I love you!

Happy Birthday, Cousins!

Guess what!?! Your gift is going to be belated! We didn't forget...we just weren't on the ball this go around! We love you! Thanks for sharing the pictures! Hugs and Kisses to you all!

More helpful wisdom from Teddy!

"If you don't wear diapers, pull-ups, undies, or panties...it just doesn't feel right!"