Superheroes In My House

2011-06-30T14:28:00.000-05:00

Ever feel like you're facing one BIG WAVE after another in life?

Stay strong, keep your head up, face the challenge, God is with you - and with HIM, anything is possible!
"The Lord will fight for you, you need only to be still." Ex.14:14

Waiting...

2011-06-26T08:11:00.001-05:00

For those who wait...for a child, for a spouse, for healing, for a job, for provision, for the restoring of a broken relationship, or for whatever it is that concerns you...be encouraged! God knows your way, He has a plan, He cares, and He has not forgotten you!
"The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him." Lam.3:25
"I will wait for the Lord...I will put my trust in HIM." Is.8:17

Round Up VBS Cypress Campus

2011-06-24T15:20:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone!

Gather up all your friends & join the Sheriff, Angry Molasses Jones & the Rootin' Tootin' Renegade for a week of FUN! Sign up now to be a part of the best five days of the summer - "ROUND UP VBS/VBX!" It's coming soon, July 11-15th, 9am-noon, to the Second Baptist Cypress Campus at the Berry Center!

Your kids won't want to miss out - it'll be a BLAST & it's FREE - see you there!

Click here to register online today! Round Up VBS Cypress Campus

SUPERDOG!

2011-06-23T17:06:00.006-05:00

Faster than a speeding bullet as she dashes out the back gate whenever it's left open...

Stronger than a locamotive as she chews thru every flip flop she can find in the house...

Able to leap in just a single bound upon a poor, unsuspecting, sleeping cat...

Always eager to try to dig her way to China in the backyard, as she searches for that bone...

Ever ready to pour out a ton of wet, slobbery dog kisses on 3 sweet kiddos at any given moment...

It's a bird, it's a plane, no - it's SUPER Bailey!

We love that dog. (:

Ten Blessings for Your Home

2011-06-22T19:04:00.005-05:00

Have had this hanging in our kitchen for a long time, wanted to share it with you, such great words of LIFE to pray over our those we love each day!

Together Again!

2011-06-18T15:54:00.003-05:00

We're all back together now, life is good! My way too quiet, clean house from this week has quickly become loud, crazy & messy once again - ahhh...I LOVE IT!

Noah & Gracie decorated for Daws & Daddy's "Welcome Home."(: So enjoyed hearing camp stories, an evening bike ride, & having everyone hanging in the kitchen with me again!

Blackberries!

2011-06-04T09:18:00.000-05:00

Ahhh, nothing like big, fresh, juicy blackberries! Summer's here & we had such a great time picking berries at Atkinson Farms. This is a great blackberry cobbler recipe:

http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/blackberry-cobbler/97b86fd2-7588-497b-866d-8a1bd8b2e491?sr=2&st=7#/?term=blackberry+cobbler&pi=1&mr=10

It's a New Year...Fresh Start...READ!

2011-01-01T10:15:00.000-06:00

This New Year, dig in & read THE best selling book of all time, the Bible! So much to read about & there's real life here - love, romance, sex, war, betrayal, adventure, battles, family conflict, passion, disaster, financial principles, miracles, wisdom for life, power struggles, and a whole lot of grace & hope that is LASTING. It's never too late to start, it'll change your life...forever...God's love letter sent directly to you!
http://www.ewordtoday.com/year
If you want to read along with us chronologically, how biblical events actually happened in real time, I'll be posting each week's reading right here. Check it out!

Aramco 1/2 Marathon, Houston 2010!

2010-01-18T07:30:00.003-06:00

There's something about a finish line that I just LOVE, especially on days like this!

Ready to roll!

We had such a great day. Wendy, our dear friend & neighbor, ran the FULL marathon. She did great & and I loved part of her story, that at mile 18, she shook hands & was cheered on by none other than President George Bush, Sr.! How cool is that??? Her boys, Conner & Hadyn, even got to run the last 1/4 mile in with her & cross that finish line with their mom - wow! You know that's a memory they will never forget, what a special moment!

Just an early morning run with a few thousand of our good running buddies!

As we gathered in the early morning hours with literally thousands of other runners to run the Amaco Houston 1/2 Marathon, I thought, "wow, these people are as crazy as we are, and some much more!" (: It was really fun to run into a number of other friends from our neighborhood & church who were gearing up to run too. Saw & heard others we know in that great cheering along the way. The weather was perfect, nice & cool in the pre-dawn hours, then the sun came out, but never got too hot. We pounded the pavement & felt strong for most all of the race, few aches & pains along the way, but nothing serious, thank the LORD! My legs are most definitely reminding me today what they "endured" yesterday, ouch.

The Beginning...

Loved running with my favorite running buddy, in fact, love doing life with him too! My husband kept the pace for us & encouraged me onward in my weak moments. You know, it's quite the bonding moment to cross that finish mark hand in hand with the love of your life. It's such a clear picture, that you can pace together, race together, thru the roughest of moments of life & and celebrate the victories as you cross each mile marker & ultimately, that great finish at the end! And, as most of us know very well, when you've journeyed thru struggle & pain along the way, as tough as it is to endure it, the victories you share are ALWAYS more meaningful.

The end...for now...until the next one. (:

Let's Do It!

2010-01-16T19:04:00.001-06:00

One 1/2 marathon looming in the distance, one awesome husband who's willing to run it with me, one sweet sister who's taking care of our kiddos, one sore knee, one big dose of Motrin, one GREAT God who gives strength to the weary - O.K., ready or not, let's do this thing!!!

Thoughts From Jan. 4 - 11th Bible Readings, Job 1 - 31

2010-01-11T09:02:00.007-06:00

Why do bad things happen to good people???
Thoughts on the book of Job:

O.K., I admit it, this is a tough book to swallow. I mean, most all of the story of Job is about pain, suffering, hard things, not understanding where God is & what He's up to! But there's so much to glean from these chapters along the way. It certainly doesn't seem to offer any pat answers as to why bad things happen to good people & may actually leave MORE questions for us to ponder. But it does ultimately challenge many of our "religious," sometimes even critical or judgmental type thoughts & easy answers for those who suffer in this life, which, last time I checked, seems to be almost all of us at one point or another in this world!
I love what Euguene Peterson writes in, "Job, Led by Suffering to the Heart of God," from the Message Bible, "Real faith cannot be reduced to spiritual bromides & merchandised in success stories. It is refined in the fires and the storms of pain...When people go through suffering, their lives are often transformed, deepened, marked with beauty and holiness, in remarkable ways that could never have been anticipated before the suffering." Definitely true for the life of Job, hopefully true for our lives as well.

Here's some thoughts, facts, ideas I thought were interesting as we read through Job these past few weeks...would love to hear what you've been thinking too!

Did you know that...

Most scholars seem to agree that Job is the oldest book in the Bible written somewhere around 1500 BC. The author is still unknown, but most believe the writer of Job was an Israelite, and the book's profound insights & literary structures make it a work of art as one of the biblical books of "wisdom literature."
Job lived in the land of Uz (always reminds me of the land of Oz, as in Wizard of Oz, crazy I know), which many locate as part of Edom, Arabia, or Syria.
Job lived a blameless, righteous life before God, even in the midst of all the temptations that go along with great wealth. He also had incredible concern & protection over his children, he seemed to desire that they too follow in his footsteps of living uprightly before God.
There is a real enemy in the world. His name is Satan & though we cannot see the invisible forces that surround us in this world, the Bible states that he is like a "roaring lion, prowling around looking for someone to devour," 1 Peter 5:8. Though we see this in the book of Job, we also clearly see that he is NOT all powerful & that God is ultimately in control of what Satan is "allowed" to do.
It's so interesting that we often hear the cliche, "the patience of Job." While Job may have indeed been a patient man in many ways, I think he also seems quite bold, protesting his sufferings even before God Himself! He refused to accept "pat, easy" answers from his friends, he was passionate, he got angry, he had great feelings about what he endured! He actually even called himself "impatient" in Chap. 21:4. Maybe the more true cliche of Job's character, should be "the passion of Job."
Job was greatly tested by losing 3 main things in life that most all of us hold dear, his fortune, his family, & his health. That's HUGE! Many of us may lose one of those things here & there throughout our lives, but all at one time? Wow!
Some Bible scholars wonder if Job's illness was actually leprosy or maybe elephantitis, since he speaks of the "ashes" or ash heap which was generally located outside of a city for those who were determined "unclean." Whatever it was, it brought much physical pain, mental anguish, and a lot of questions for God.
Up to Chapter 32, the book of Job has told his story, and of the 3 debates between Job & 3 friends who came from a distance to "console" him.
Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar were considered "wise men," and were friends of Job who obviously once held great respect for him. That's noted in the fact that they were willing to travel such a great distance to be with him, they cried when they saw him, and they sat & mourned with him in silence for 7 days, wow! The problem began when they opened their mouths...hmmm...THAT still seems to be a problem for many of us today. (: They indeed seemed to fear God & said many things that may have been true, but they did NOT understand the full reason of why Job was suffering, even though they spoke as though they knew. It was because God had allowed it, not because he had sinned. They spoke with the assumption that Job must have done something to deserve this, that he needed to come clean, confess, repent, etc... That same generality is often pressed upon many people today who face hard circumstances. Sure, sometimes the hard trial we walk through is indeed because of our own bad decisions, our own sin issues or weaknesses, but sometimes it's for a purpose that we, nor those around us, can fully understand. We simply do not see the big picture as God does.
One big theme of Job seems to be this - TRUST. Job is struggling with the fact that he must simply TRUST God when he can't understand & get all the answers he's looking for. On the flip side of that, God trusted Job enough to allow this to happen to him for a greater purpose in our world. In some ways it seems that God was willing to put His own "reputation on the line"when it came to Job, He greatly believed in Job's character & integrity, that's big!
We must never have the perception that following God means all of our troubles will go away...sometimes, at certain periods of our lives, they actually seem to increase. But we can be fully assured that God does not "waste" our suffering, He uses it to build greater character, wisdom, and purpose into & through our lives. He truly is the ONLY One who is able to do that!
So what can we see of God's character from this story that unfolded literally years ago? Even today, He is still the God Who Is In Control, He is our Redeemer, He is Trustworthy, He is With Us in what we suffer in this world, He is our Creator, He Has the Big Picture in Mind, He Has All the Answers, He is All-Seeing, All-Knowing, He is Just, He is Wise, He is Powerful, He is our Savior. Through this story, we are reminded that, amazingly, He is never intimidated by our questions of Him, especially when we feel He is silent, distant, or not responding as we'd like. Through it all, He is forever Loving, Patient, and Gracious.

Let's see how the story ends...10 more chapters of Job to go!

Thoughts From Jan. 1st - 3rd Bible Readings, Genesis 1 - 11

2010-01-03T17:05:00.018-06:00

In the Beginning...
Did You Know???

As we've started this journey of reading thru the Bible this year, here's just a few things I'm looking at with fresh eyes, questions to think about, interesting thoughts & facts. It's certainly not an exhastive list, wow, there's just so much packed in every chapter!

Would love to hear what you're thinking as you read, or maybe what you're seeing for the first time. Please be sure to share your comments, questions, or thoughts as you journey through the Word of God!

There's such depth, amazing richness, to the Bible, no matter how little or how much you've read before, there are ALWAYS new things to learn. Praying that the Spirit of God will enlighten our hearts this year, like never before, as we dig into His truth.

Thoughts from the first few days, from Zondervan Bible study notes & a few internet searches -

Although everything else in the world had a beginning, God has always "been."
Days 1 - 3 were "forming" days, days 4 - 6 were "filling" days, and on day 7, God rested, not because He was "tired" but because His work was complete!
The present day Garden of Eden is possibly somewhere near Iraq, and there is a belief among some scholars that the Garden of Eden presently lies under the waters of the Persian Gulf. According to http://www.gotquestions.org/garden-of-Eden-location.html , "if oil is, as most scientists believe, primarily decayed vegetation and animal matter that has decomposed, then this is the area where we might expect the greatest deposits of the substance we call oil. Since the Garden was the epitome of perfection, it stands to reason that the decomposition of the earth’s most perfect and lush organic materials would produce vast stores of the earth’s best oil." Hmmm...
God put Adam in the garden to care for it, to work, He gave him specific tasks to do, He never intended for us to be "idle" & without work, though many of us probably picture the garden that way. Just the same, we may tend to picture heaven that way too, but I do believe God might have something for us to do there, using our abilities & gifts to bring honor to him.
Remains of Noah's ark were actually found in present day Turkey / Armenia areas in the mountains of Ararat, according to http://www.noahsarksearch.com/ararat.htm . The flood really did happen, it's not just a cute preschool story, it's an amazing event in our world's history!
The flood waters rose to 20 feet OVER the tallest mountains of the earth. Wow, that's a lot of water!
Noah & his family spent about 1 yr. exactly living on the ark, um, whew!
Bible scholars are still not in agreement with just who the Nephilim were, Gen. 6:4, but it is a very interesting google search.
The descendants of Ham, Noah's youngest son, included many long term enemies to Israel from the land of Canaan, and although many have read the curse of Ham to include former slavery, the truth is that Canaanites historically were of Caucasian descent (as shown by ancient paintings discovered in Egypt).
Noah's judgment of Ham might seem rather harsh at first, but he was at fault for "broadcasting" rather than "covering" his father's immodesty. Shem & Japheth were given a blessing for covering Noah & not disgracing their father.
Ever wonder how people inhabited the entire earth, how they got there? The Tower of Babel story specifically says that "God scattered them around the world." Just how did specific people groups arrive to every continent around the world???
I see so much about the character of God in just these first few chapters of the Bible, He is truly amazing - Perfect Creator, Skilled Artist, Breath of Life, The Beginning, Light Giver, Resting Place, Holy God, Provider for all our needs, Just, Righteous, One who seeks to have fellowship with us, Promise Keeper, Giver of all good things, Safe Place in the storm, One who blesses His people.

Wow, that's just the first few chapters...there's so much to know about Him...let's keep on reading!

Time to Move Forward

2010-01-03T05:17:00.007-06:00

Happy New Year 2010!!!

"Forget the former things, do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up, do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland."

Isaiah 43:18-19

I love these verses, especially for the New Year - they seem to shout off the page - MOVE ON, move forward, get going, forget the past, don't stay stuck there, there's more ahead! The Message Bible says it so clearly, "Forget about what's happened, don't keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I'm about to do something brand-new."

One thing I see so often about God in His Word is this, He's the God of fresh starts. He's the God who loves to make things "new." He's the God of redemption, the God of grace, the God of forgiveness, the God who doesn't repay us what we deserve from our mistakes, but instead, is able to use all of the difficult circumstances we've experienced thru life for a greater purpose, a greater good.

Don't believe me? Reflect on the many characters of the Bible who, like us, were far from perfect. Many had made some pretty bad choices in life, but they also had one thing in common, they were able to move "past their past" and keep going on their journey with God. Just think about some -David...Moses...Jacob...Paul...Peter...Rahab...the list goes on...yep, there were some poor choices alright, murder, adultery, betrayal, among others.

So, if you're still stuck in the past, beating yourself up for previous mistakes, come on, do what His word says, "forget about it already!" It doesn't mean that all the pain from poor decisions will automatically disappear unfortunately, it does mean that Jesus Christ is able to offer forgiveness & to cleanse us from ANYTHING we've done. He will wipe the slate clean, offer healing from the past, give power to set us free, and bring new life & hope for the future!

If you haven't yet, take the opportunity this New Year 2010 to talk to God. Let Him know that you are ready for a fresh start in your own life. He is with you, He is for you! There's more ahead...keep moving!

Celebrating my man today!!!

2009-12-31T07:48:00.000-06:00

Happy Birthday honey, WE LOVE YOU! You are truly a man of integrity & wisdom in so many ways, our family is BLESSED because of you, or as our kids say, "YOU ROCK!"
You never confess to being perfect, but you always confess to believing in a perfect God & He is MIGHTY in you! Psalm 1:1-6

Feeling incredibly blessed to be on this journey thru life with you!

Weeds - Pull 'Em - Quick!

2009-06-24T06:42:00.009-05:00

Weeds.
Some days, I take a look around me and lo & behold, they're everywhere. It always seems so sudden, like they've just completely taken over the garden in a matter of seconds, I mean, why didn't I notice them there before? How did my yard actually get that way? Where did they come from? How do they spring up so fast & spread so viciously? Why do they come back, even after I pull them? How do I get rid of them - forever??? UGH, I hate weeds!!! Even when you say the word slowly, weeeedddd, it just "sounds" sneaky to me.

Webster's describes it as this: "weed - n. a plant held to have no value, esp. one growing plentifully and detrimentally in a garden, lawn, etc... - v. 1. to remove or rid of weeds. 2. to get rid of as undesirable or unfit."

Funny thing about weeds, sometimes you can go for days & not really notice them. Until they start to take over. Then they begin to multiply and things are suddenly spinning wildly out of control. Kind of sounds like - LIFE, huh?
Now, I'm not much of a gardener, but here's a few things I have noticed in my occasional green thumb moments:

- You don't even have to water weeds much, they'll still grow.
- If left untended, weeds will not only zap & drain the life away from the beautiful plants & green grass you intend to grow, their goal is to completely take over.
- Weeds will spread quickly - we must be quick to act.
- Sometimes you must pluck them, again, and again, and again. And it's really better if you get them by the roots, so they don't come back. Ever.
- Sometimes you just need weed KILLER.

As I was working hard yesterday, plucking out those "enemies," I thought of the enemies in my own heart - my selfishness, gulp...my pride, big gulp...my impatience, yuck...my jealousy, ugh...the list could go on & on, but I'll spare you the ugly details. The truth is this, if left to "grow on their own," my goodness, there's enough WEEDS there in my own life for a monster to be unfolded!
God reminded me right then, with my hands in the dirt, down on my knees, sweat dripping on my brow - I must be ruthless with issues of sin in my life. They can't be left "alone." If we choose to ignore, we can also be assured, those nasty weeds will most definitely "take over" and zap the LIFE & beauty that God intends to bring THROUGH our lives.
I admit, at times, it's just hard. You might feel as I do, there are some things that just seem to be life long struggles & issues, you've got to "pluck" the weed over & over again. You just get tired of the battle. Wouldn't it be easier to just let it grow, just a little? Like, let it have it's own little garden or space in your life?
NOPE.
Grab that weed by the ROOT & pull!
And, I've found the best weed KILLER to be this - God's Word.
Got a problem with anger?
Can't seem to forgive?
Feeling sorry for yourself?
Stuck in a pit of fear & anxiety?
Whatever weeds are there - none are too strong to be ZAPPED by the Power & Truth of what God says in His Word. Look up your "weed," there in the Bible, memorize every verse you can about it, focus on His truth, ask God to help you.
So here I go again... another day on this journey...I'm plucking weeds.

"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers." Psalm 1:1-2

The SON has risen...Have a BLESSED Easter!

2009-04-09T08:41:00.001-05:00

I'm an addict...I admit it..I am totally & unashamedly addicted to sunrises! I LOVE them, with a passion! I'll wake up at any hour necessary to get the coffee brewed & find a comfortable spot with my bible, pen & paper where the view is set before me. Many times my husband is right there beside me (if he's not already down at the ocean fishing). I just love the fact that he loves a great sunrise too. There's just something magical about watching the day "awaken," watching this great breathtaking event unfold before your very eyes. I mean, have you ever really thought about what a complete "miracle" it is for the sun to rise & set every day? God is AMAZING!

I feel like He smiles over us when we get so excited, passionate, about something He has created. I love the sunrise the most when we're at the beach, my 2 favorite things in His creation! Your fav's might be different - the mountains, huge trees, wildflowers, the sunset, calm lakes, or running rivers - but whatever it is, sometimes I think about how God must feel when we truly enjoy & "take in" all the He has made.

It's often in those early morning quiet moments, as I sit to watch this incredible sight, I sense God whisper to me, "Watch this...this one's just for you..." This one was on my birthday a few weeks ago. Thanks God, I love pink. (:

He's so good that way, isn't He? Loving us, singing over us, as if we were the only ones alive on planet earth to love.

But yet, amazingly, that very same love is far-reaching, all encompassing, stretching across continents, extending to all cultures, seeking all peoples, never bound by social classes, economic levels, or other distinctions set up by man.

This week, I'm so thankful, that at a very early morning moment before sunrise many years ago, 2 women went to look for the body of their dear friend, Jesus Christ. But they never found him in the grave. HE WAS RISEN!

AND HE'S ALIVE TODAY!

Have a wonderful Easter weekend family & friends! May you be reminded of how very much He loves you.

"The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17

"The heavens declare the glory of God, the skies proclaim the work of his hands." Psalm 19:1

"...He has risen!" Luke24:6

Easter Cookies

2009-04-08T07:30:00.006-05:00

This was passed on to me from my dear friend Michelle Bowles. I love the idea & plan to do this over the weekend with our children. You may have heard of it before, but just in case, thought I'd share it with you too. Thanks Michelle!

A while back I found this on the internet and thought it looked really neat. I’m always looking for fun and exciting ways to teach my children in a way that gives them both hands on experience and is something they will remember. This recipe is a fun and meaningful way to teach children the real meaning of Easter and share the truth of God’s word. If I tagged you in this note it's because I knew you had young children as well and thought you might enjoy this too! Because He Lives!
Michelle

Easter Story Cookies

Ingredients:
1 cup whole pecans
1 tsp. vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch of salt
1 cup sugar
zipper baggie
wooden spoon
tape
Bible

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested, He was beaten by the Romans soldiers.
Read John 19:1-3.
Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink.
Read John 19:28-30.
Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life.
Read John 10:10-11.
Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin.
Read Luke 23:27.
So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup sugar.
Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him.
Read Ps. 34:8 and John 3:16.
Beat with a mixer on high speed for about 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus.
Read Isa. 1:18 and John 3:1-3.
Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid.
Read Matt. 27:57-60.
Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed.
Read Matt. 27:65-66.
GO TO BED!
Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the Oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed.
Read John 16:20 and 22.
On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow!
On the first Easter, Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty.
Read Matt. 28:1-9.

Happy Easter everyone!

What I've Been Reading About Reading...

2009-04-07T08:38:00.001-05:00

Do you just love to read??? If you're anything like me, who does LOVE to read, as much as you enjoy those times of peace & quiet, curling up with a great book in your favorite chair, and absorbing yourself in a story that takes you a million miles away from present day reality, those moments are just hard to find in life. You might feel you do pretty well taking the time to read to your kids everyday, or listening to them read, but come on, who's got the time to just sit down with a book anymore? Who's got the time to even sit down, much less read?! And why not just listen to everything on your Ipod or CD's? Better yet, why not just watch it all on DVD?

Believe me, I can so relate! And many others can too! In fact, I learned that 1 in 4 people don't even read a book in a YEAR, wow, amazing, but I can certainly understand how that can be true. I've found in my own life the huge struggle to actually find time to read & I consider myself a "reader!" So many other things seek to pull at our time, family, work, kids, activities, friends, home responsibilities, school, etc..., just fill in the blank, the list could go on & on. So often after a long day, when we're just exhausted, it's probably more common to find ourselves plopped down in front of the TV, instead of absorbed in a good book. We want to catch up on the news, current events, learn how the stock market did for the day, find out what the weather will be for tomorrow, see who left American Idol, try to guess what Jack Bauer will do next, and watch anything else our DVR has ever so kindly recorded for us.

But lately, I've been reading alot ABOUT reading, about the real benefits, the positive effects of this, somewhat "lost" skill. When we hear of the benefits of reading, most of us probably first think of the benefits for our children. And, of course there are soooo many great gains that come from reading with your kids!
It's a wonderful bonding time, it helps build vocabulary, increases listening skills, it widens their world to learn so much about other places & peoples, it builds creativity & a love for adventure, oh wow, the list could go on & on with how children are positively affected by the art of reading.

But here, I'm focusing more on the benefits for us, adults, parents. I've been freshly reminded of how very important it is to build this habit, this "routine of reading" into our lives also, not only into the lives of our children. For most of us, it probably won't "just happen." We have to make it happen. And, I realize that as much as we "say" we want our children to learn to love to read, if they never see us reading or talking about great books or things we've learned from stories we've read, unless you have just a natural born avid reader, chances are slim that they will actually incorporate a pattern of reading into their own lives as they grow up.

Want to know some of those benefits I read about? Want to know how important the skill of "reading" can be in our lives?
I found these advantages to be really encouraging & challenging too. (Here's just a few taken from the website www.persistenceunlimited.com, there's many more!)

1. Reading is an active mental process - it stimulates the right side of your brain, it increases creativity & imagination. Plain & simple, you get smarter & more interesting!

2. It improves memory. Studies have shown, if you don't use your memory, eventually you lose it. I need mine to stay around as long as possible! I'm sure you feel the same way. (:

3. It builds expertise. Did you know that the average millionaire reads at least 1 non-fiction book per month? Author Brian Tracy has said that one way to become an expert in your chosen field is to read 100 books on that subject. He also said by continuing the same for 5 years you'll become an international expert. With the Internet & blogs, you could hone that time down to 2-3 yrs. if you follow through.
Interesting, huh???

4. Reading reduces stress. And who doesn't need a good stress reliever in life?! Many people unwind by reading. Compared to TV with loud commercials & constant fast moving images, reading can actually be "relaxing."

5. It improves your discipline. Adding a book to your daily schedule, and sticking to it, is definitely a way to increase your own self-discipline in life!

So, where to start? Here's a few suggestions that we've found to be helpful:

- Turn off the digital distraction at times...turn off the computer, turn off the TV, turn off the cell, the Blackberry, whatever it is, just turn off the things that might steal that precious time away from actual READING.

- Establish a set routine, decide ahead of time when are you going to read for that day, for how long, what book? Start in small segments, maybe 20 minutes before you go to bed, or 15 minutes at your lunch break, or 2 chapters in a book, etc...

- Keep books out, available, at your fingertips. This helped me just to stay consistent. It also helped me with my "ADD" tendencies, because I usually find myself reading about 5 different books during any given week.(:
If you walk in our house, you'll find them everywhere, on the nightstand, in the kitchen, in the bathroom, in the living room, even in the car for when I find myself waiting in carpool line or on that rare moment out for a cup of coffee on my own. Of course our kids rooms are filled with their books too...your house is probably much the same!

Over to the top right of our blog here, we've listed some books we've either recently read or are working through now. There's so many great ones out there! So much to read, so little time! We would love to hear what you recommend too, many of the books we actually do make time to read, came first with the recommendation from a friend.

Blessings to you all today & HAPPY READING!

Watch Out! Big Hole Ahead!

2009-04-06T14:00:00.015-05:00

Holes. Sometimes they just seem to get in the way of our lives, don't they?
I was reminded of the damage that one simple "hole" can cause this past weekend in, what our family lovingly calls, another one of my "Lucy moments." You know what I mean, the moments in life that you know will be funny "someday," but are rarely funny, to you at least, at the time?
Our family had gone to the drive-in movie Friday evening, we love the drive in, especially when the weather's great & we can sit outside & open up the windows, it's just so fun & the kids love it! As the movie began, I ventured off on my mission to get the popcorn & drinks for Troy & I, plus 4 kiddos. I was quite proud of myself for even being able to get back to the car without spilling even one single drop of coke or one kernel of popcorn! "Wow," I thought to myself, "I've become really great at handling alot of items at one time, what a mom, what a multi-tasker!" Ha! I thought I'd set the drinks down first & then get the popcorn passed out to everyone, but lo & behold, just as I went to set the drink holder full of drinks on the mini-van rooftop, I realized, all too late, that the sunroof was open. A BIG load of coke dropped right through the sunroof hole as quickly as I'd set it down! SPLASH!!! A flood of Coke & Sprite went flying everywhere, a sticky mess throughout the back seats & covering the floor mats, & even a bit on my dear husband too, sorry honey, UGH!!!
You see, sometimes we can't even "see" the holes ahead of time, but they're there alright, all around us, we just don't recognize them in enough time, until the damage has been done.

Sometimes the holes are what we fall "into." You know the kind...you're walking along, having just a pleasant kind of day, humming a little song, & all of a sudden...Bam! "AHHHHHH!" You fall right smack into one big dark HOLE! Maybe some of us have fallen into a big financial hole these days, or a hole that would seek to steal our health away, or maybe it's more of an emotional or spiritual type of hole, but whatever it is, you just can't seem to climb out easily & really don't even quite remember how you got there in the first place. Sometimes the pathway is more subtle, just a stumble across a hole set right in your path, but hey, a stubbed toe hurts worse than anything, doesn't it? All kinds of temptations can be like that simple "stumble." One here, another there, but they can set us on a course that ultimately leads us to a deeper, darker place, that seems too difficult to attempt to get out of anymore. These particular holes in our lives have the potential to cause complete havoc! They may first only cause a little stumble, a distraction, but may quickly lead to a gigantic fall, and inevitably, they are most certain to cause alot of "pain" along the way.

Sometimes the holes are "around" us, like the holes in our marriages, or in our parenting, or in our workplace, or the holes in various other relationships in our lives. We just never really get around to "patching things up" like we say we intend to someday. But just like a leaky roof, or a leaky boat, holes that are never tended to, never patched up, can cause a MESS in our lives & in the lives of those around us. It's so much easier to patch a leaky rooftop, than to clean up after a flood, isn't it? Easier to fix a hole in the boat than to watch it sink?

Sometimes the holes are actually "in" us, or a part of us, like the holes in our pockets. Just can't ever seem to keep the money in there long enough, know what I mean? You find your life in that vicious cycle of money in - money out. Or, maybe someone once told you, that you had holes in your head. You just can't seem to follow through with the choices you know would be best for you or for your family. Sometimes the hole that often gets us in the most trouble in life is the one called the great, big mouth. We just keep seeming to say things we really didn't mean to say, after all, they just "came out," right? Didn't mean it the way it "sounded?" Or maybe, very sadly, you find yourself in a place in life where there are huge needs, big holes, in your innermost being - at the very core of your heart. Now those are the holes we can often "pretend" are not even there. We can even get pretty good at keeping those holes a "secret." We'd hate for others to know how deep those hurts go, how much those holes are actually affecting our lives. I mean, what would they say? What would they think? Isn't it better just to keep all that inside?

Yep, trying to cover the holes in & around our lives, pretending like they're not really there, or denying that those little "stumbles" are really all that bad, can become our best coping mechanisms against the very pain we find ourselves in. We get so good at filling those things up with all kinds of activities, busyness, & pleasures from this world, trying to make everyone think, or to even make our own selves think, that we're, well, "O.K." We all just want to be "O.K.," don't we? When people ask us how we're doing, we really do want to be "fine, good, doing just great," exactly like the way we normally respond!
But the truth is, if we were really honest, most of us either have had, do have, or will have, big needs in this journey called life...big spaces, gaps, that only God Himself is able to fill.

Years ago, when I traveled through Europe, every time I rode a subway or train, I'd hear those repetive, loud words, "Mind the gap." Many of you international friends or those who travel alot know what I'm talking about. It's that firm, commanding, warning type of voice, reminding awaiting passengers to BE AWARE! WAKE UP! WATCH OUT for the "hole," the gap between the platform & the train as they prepare to step on.

Maybe that's kind of like God's words over us in today's world, yet His voice is much more loving, reassuring, protective as He speaks wisdom & caution to us - MIND THE GAP. Watch out for those holes that might cause you to fall, patch the ones that will help bring healing to relationships in your life, & don't ignore the ones you find deep in your own life. Mind it, take care of it, let God reach down, fill your needs, heal your wounds & set you free from whatever would seek to hold you down in life. Our God is a GREAT REDEEMER!

"I waited patiently for the Lord, he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire, he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God...Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust..." Psalm 40:1-4

Beach Retreat at the Cottage

2009-04-05T09:38:00.003-05:00

Cottage. I love that word. Webster's defines a "cottage" as "a small house." To me, the word "cottage" signifies something much larger though. Lots & lots of BIG memories through the years! You see, we've been coming to this particular little cottage at Amelia Island for the past 8 years now, amazing. So many memories wrapped up in this quiet little house on the northeast coast of FL. WE LOVE IT!

Troy & I first came here in 2001...our hearts were breaking, we were walking through the grief of a failed adoption after waiting for 6 years to have a child. Some dear friends offered us the opportunity to retreat here a few days in solitude. As much as the pain was raw, it was an incredibly special time that we had together with one another and with our God. Whew, lots of tears were poured out on that first trip to the cottage.

Since that year, things have changed...

Now 3 precious children later, we're always thrilled to come back, again & again. Always more fun waiting to be had.

We love the simplicity here. The quietness of the beach.

We treasure ALL of these amazing moments we have together as FAMILY. God is so good!

When I think of going anywhere in the world to "retreat," THIS is the place I long for. It's "comfortable," kind of like your favorite chair, or favorite pair of running shoes. Peaceful, calm, beautiful.

And always alot of fun, with new adventures around every corner!

Lots of prayers are prayed here, lots of thoughts reflected upon, lots of encouragement drawn from God...

I've realized something about myself over the years as we've come to this particular spot in the world. I find I don't really wish for fancy, expensive, exotic vacations anymore (but not that I wouldn't love them occasionally, ha!). What I really LOVE are these type of moments. Little cute cottage, right on a quiet beach, with my favorite people, THAT is pure luxury to me!

PRICELESS MOMENTS! Oh there's just got to be beaches in heaven! (:

"Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, 'The Lord has done great things for them.'

The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with JOY." Psalm 126:2-3

"The voice of the Lord is over the waters..." Psalm 29:3

A Parent's World - Never Pain Free!

2009-04-02T10:00:00.011-05:00

Have you ever hurt for your child? I mean really, really hurt? Now, I'm not talking about being a little sad that your son made a B on his report card, or hurting for your daughter who didn't make it for cheerleader this year...even though of course, those things can be tough too! But, I'm talking deeper than that. Have you ever found yourself in a place where you have desperately grieved for them, over them, cried out to God on behalf of them, felt intense pain & sadness for something they were experiencing, suffering, or having to walk through in life?

Have you ever awakened in the middle of the night thinking of them, found yourself praying in the wee hours of the morning? Have you consistently found yourself on your face before God, bringing their name, needs, before Him once again? Have you wondered how life can seem to go on "joyfully" around you, when inside, there's such turmoil, uncertainty, & deep hurt? Has it been hard to watch when others don't seem to have to "struggle" as much through life? Does life seem unfair at times? Does God seem to be distant? Or have you ever felt His closeness, His loving whispers over you, over your child, through those most difficult of times?

Some of you reading this right now have experienced these things to a much greater degree than I could ever imagine at this point in life. Some of you reading this might be saying, "Huh?" Maybe your journey just hasn't taken you to those places at this point, that's O.K. Maybe many of us find ourselves somewhere in between those extremes, but whatever the case...here's one thing I'm learning this year...being a mom, a parent, is the hardest thing I've ever done in my life! It just plain HURTS sometimes. I realized something about myself recently that God is still continuing to help me to work through. I honestly don't have a strong need or desire to have "perfect" children, I realize how imperfect my own life is, & how imperfect they are too, but I do struggle immensely in another way. I have felt such an extreme need to protect them, maybe even over-protect at times, from having to experience any "pain" in life. I admit it. I don't want them to have to hurt, as foolish & unrealistic as that sounds, it hurts me intensely to watch our children suffer through anything! And, maybe that's what it really boils down to as well..."I" don't want to have to hurt either. Maybe that can be even more of a challenge for those of us parents who have experienced extreme disappointment in our own lives, we know how "raw" that hurt can be, we know that process of grief, the obstacles that must be overcome to come through even stronger with God's help, we know from our own experiences, it's just tough to face pain!

So through all that "fresh" realization, God has been reminding me of something that, quite honestly, I didn't really care to be reminded of, but I know I need to be...it's this...we all must & will experience pain at times throughout life. I mean, come on, who really GROWS stronger spiritually, emotionally, physically when life is always easy??? NOONE! We just don't! We have such opportunity for growth, for deep roots to be firmly planted, for strong character to develop, during those times in life that are just plain HARD! Ugh! My flesh wants to cry, "please, tell me it isn't so!" But it is, it is so. And deep inside, we probably all know that.

A friend recently commented something about this photo here. I didn't even notice it when I looked at it initially, but she said to me, "Wow, did you see what's above your heads? Make - Man - Must." I looked, I gulped, hard. When I saw it there staring me in the face, I just had a really "unsettled" feeling, but I knew deep inside it was God speaking to me. He was once again saying to me in His incredible & yet gentle way, that "He" is in the business of building strong men & women out of our children whom He has so graciously blessed us with & given us the enormous responsibility to raise. You see, as much as we like to think that our children are "ours" & "BELONG" to us, it's just not true! Our children are God's & they belong to Him, "we" are responsible to love them, care for them, parent them, & raise to them to know His incredible love, purposes & power.

He's just not "into" making life always "easy" for us & making sure everyone is always "happy" in this world. Nope, you just won't find that about God anywhere in the Bible & really, even if you look around you, or in your own family, you probably won't find it there! Now, let me be clear on this, GOD IS LOVING, GOD IS CARING, HE DOES LOVE TO GIVE GOOD GIFTS TO HIS CHILDREN, but His love & His goodness sometimes finds deeper purposes revealed through the most difficult of circumstances life takes us through. Life isn't always fair. We live in a place, planet earth, well, it's just not heaven, it's not a perfect place, & it's not our final home if we have faith in Jesus Christ. It's fallen, it's imperfect, it has disease, it's full of addictions, it's full of temptations, it's full of challenges, it's full of us - people - who often just make poor choices that unfortunately affect others too.

So, I continue on this journey of motherhood. It will never be pain free, I know. I'm continuing to grow...I'm realizing that God cares more for the good of our children than I ever could...I'm remembering that He is with them ALL the time, even the times that I can't be...I'm learning that yes, pain hurts, but it's not always "bad," sometimes it's for a greater purpose...I'm learning that I can release my own "need" for control to a loving God who is MIGHTY, POWERFUL, & GOOD...I find comfort in His words, in being able to bring every thought, fear, & challenge before Him in prayer.

Bless you my dear friends who have suffered much in walking through heartaches beside your children or in your families. YOU are an inspiration to me!
Many of you continue to persevere through the challenges of autism, Down's Syndrome, developmental & learning disabilities, disease, cancer, & other chronic conditions. Many of you know the heartache of watching your child run through seasons of rebellion & addictions. Many of you know the feeling of having no control or the ability to make things better. Many of you know the pain of watching your teenager or adult child continue to choose to live in spiritual darkness. Many of you understand the hurt of watching your "healthy" child suffer hurt on behalf of a sibling they love so deeply. Many of you have watched as your child grieves along with you through the death of a loved one or through a divorce that has literally shaken your family's very core.

Some of you grieve silently, continually, the journey has been long. For some of you, the pain in your own life has begun to find a "voice" that is now able to encourage & challenge others onward who also suffer.

Be assured - God will use our lives, any hurt we may face, for greater purposes in this world as we allow Him to - that is just the amazing ability only HE has! Maybe some of those purposes & plans we'll never even see completely unfold in our lifetime. BUT HE IS ABLE.
Ah yes, there is pain in parenting, isn't there? But I wouldn't trade it for the world...and I know you wouldn't either.

"Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you...All your sons will be taught by the Lord, and great will be your children's peace." Isaiah 54:10,13

Moments of "Flash-Aheads"

2009-04-01T08:34:00.007-05:00

A Flash-Ahead.
What is it you ask? You probably know but just have never called it that before. It can happen ever so quickly, when you least expect it, without a moment's notice. But most every parent knows the feeling - one quick glance into the future, you don't even "ask" for it, it just comes, WHAM! It can literally send your mind spinning - fast - out of control - I simply call it, a "flash-ahead."
We've all heard of "flashbacks," you've probably had many yourself throughout life, and many things admittedly, we may not even want to "choose" to remember! But they often seem to linger on there in our minds for days, even years, coming to our thoughts when we least expect it, especially when we see, hear, or even smell, something "familiar."
A flash-ahead is similiar, but it usually involves many emotions that can well up literally within seconds! It's one of those rare moments when you, all of sudden, can see with amazing clarity, "your child all grown up." It can cause a feeling of sheer joy, or maybe even a brief moment of sadness causing huge crocodile tears to well up instantly in your eyes, or to be quite honest, it can often cause some big feelings of near panic! I mean, come on, some things, we're just not ready to think about yet!

Like Noah - and driving. Nope, just can't go there yet in my mind. But there he stood before me one day, asking me for the keys to the car. "Mom, can I have your keys, pleeeeaaaasee???" My mind raced ahead, seeing him standing there as a 16 yr. old, blond hair & dazzling blue eyes, in an old worn T-shirt, back pack over one shoulder, football under his other arm, asking me for the keys to our car. Or quite possibly even driving his "own" car! Help! My mind raced through safety issues, insurance & car costs, sleepless nights, curfew times, I unfortunately also "flashbacked" & remembered my own "drag racing" days when I was a teenager, OH NO!!!! My mind could have easily continued to spiral out of control right then, but I quickly shook myself back to reality, "wait," I told myself, "he's only 3, we still have time for the safety talks & the lectures about no drag racing down the streets, whew!" I focused on the fact that he only drives his bike now, & the battery operated Hummer, still somewhat safe, & I can usually be close by, what a relief! A firm, "NO, you can't have the keys," temporarily silenced the stark reality that someday - indeed - he will drive - his own car. (:

And then, there was another time, Gracie came to me asking me for her cell phone. "Mommy, where'd my cell phone go???" she asked, play make-up lipstick still lingering on her cute little face, one hand on her hip, talking with the other hand, like she was ready to rule the world & tell everyone what to do in life. Now, I have to say, I'm incredibly glad that for the present time, Gracie's cell phone is cute & pink, only cost a one time low price of $7.99 & only calls princess friends, like Cinderella & Snow White. But seeing her stand there with her hand on one hip asking, with some "attitude," about her cell phone, instantly took me to a flash-ahead into the future. I could see her, right in front of me, there she was...age 17, beautiful as ever, long dark hair & huge brown eyes, talking on her little phone, maybe still cute & pink, but probably more expensive than $7.99, and quite possibly talking to a "prince" instead of a "princess." UGH! Not ready for that yet either.

And then it happened to me again just a few weeks ago...there he stood before me, that precious little boy looking so handsome in a tux, green eyes sparkling up at me, a smile that never seems to end. Dawson had been asked to be in a friend's wedding, wow, what an honor & a fun experience. Though he wasn't too "keen" on the idea initially, having to wear a real "suit" & all, once someone told him he looked like James Bond in that cool looking black tux, he quite thouroughly enjoyed the whole day's adventure! The "suit" had taken on a whole new meaning!
But when I looked at him that day, in one brief moment, tears began to well up in my eyes...my mind instantly flashed ahead...I could see him standing there in a tux, years into the future, on his own wedding day. I could see that same sweet smile, those same sparkling green eyes...and I knew in my heart, there would come a day, that he would stand at that altar with the girl of his dreams & that his life would carry on into a whole new adventure. I felt my heart wanting to hold onto these moments of childhood...not wanting them to go too quickly. I felt the reality emerge again, that I would need to begin to "let go" little by little through these growing up years...I breathed a quick prayer, "God, give me wisdom, to know when to hold close & when to let go, I don't know if I can do it alone."

That's hard sometimes, isn't it? The reality of letting go, bit by bit, ever so slowly, as our children grow up? When I look into the future, I realize that alot of what we, as parents, are doing right now for our children, in the present day to day routine of life, is quite simply to prepare them to live - independent of us. Gulp. That reality was, frankly, hard for me to swallow at one time, but I have indeed "swallowed it" now, & I can't wait to see all that unfolds through life as our children grow up & move on into the journey that God has prepared for them.

It's still hard sometimes when I have those "flash-ahead" moments. But it does help me to cherish the time more deeply, the long days, and yes, the short years too, they truly are flying by. Each stage is so unique, so different, many of you have told me to TREASURE each phase, thank you for those great words of wisdom!
One of my favorite verses is from Proverbs 31...I may not be able to ever keep up with all that the Proverbs 31 woman did in that chapter, wow, nor do I think we're really intended to, I believe it's more a "model" of a godly woman & what we can look towards in this life, but nevertheless, one verse I do love & try my best to choose to live by is this...

"...she can LAUGH the days to come." Prov. 31:25

Isn't that just GREAT??? God desires for us to have fun in life, He wants us to find joy & laughter in the future, about the days to come!
We can have HOPE, we can have JOY, we can look forward with excitement to all that God has in store for the future of our children! It may not mean that life will always be "rosy" & easy, it probably won't, but it does mean, that we can have a deep & consistent "knowing" inside that HE is always with us, and with our children, that He will never leave us.
That is such good news & always helps to put my "flash-ahead" moments in wonderful perspective.

So go ahead - LAUGH - enjoy each day of the present & when you have those few, brief moments of "flashing ahead" - don't panic, know that we can find true hope & joy in our great God! He has many incredible gifts He's just waiting to unfold before us & in the lives of our children!
Now, THAT is exciting. (:

Dear Aunt Becky...

2009-02-16T14:00:00.003-06:00

Dear Aunt Becky,
Remember that make up you bought me for Christmas? Well, I really, really like it & I'm not sure how it happened so fast, but I've almost completely run out! Do you think you could buy me some more because I don't think my mom will. She said not until I'm 16, whatever that means. I like to put on lots of it, especially right before we're getting ready to walk out the door to go somewhere, like today, I put it on right before I was leaving for my class. (: I thought I looked FABULOUS! You would have thought so too. I even put some on Noah one day, he didn't like it as much as me, & I put some on my mom when she was sick one day & trying to take a nap. I tried to put some on Minnie too, but she kept running away, and Dawson won't even let me come near him with my make up, I can't understand why.

I LOVE MY MAKE UP! I can always find it even when my mommy tries to hide it from me for awhile, I'm a really good finder. And, I can always reach it, even when my mom puts it up somewhere high, I'm a really good climber too. My mom keeps saying she's going to buy Zack & Tobey something really LOUD or messy for their next gift. I'm not sure what she means by that, but she said you would probably understand. Thank you Aunt Becky for my make up & I would like to come visit you so we can do make up together. I love you very much!
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO!!!
Gracie (:
P.S. Do you think you could buy me some hair cutting scissors too?

The Beverly Ulmer Cancer Fund

2009-02-04T05:37:00.002-06:00

For those of you who know Beverly & Dwayne Ulmer & the fight they currently face against Beverly's 3rd time reoccurence of breast cancer, and for others who personally know the pain & struggle of walking with a loved one through the journey of battling cancer...I'm so glad to let you know, The Beverly Ulmer Cancer Fund has been established.

If you or a loved one have been there, you know what a toll all of the "extras" related to treatment can have on a family during an already stressful time. If you're a mom, you probably know how difficult it is just to get dinner on the table some nights, and that's when you're feeling well! Think about going through chemo & still trying to keep things as normal & functioning as possible for the sake of your children & family. In light of those things, this fund has simply been set up to help the Ulmer family with continued medical & travel expenses related to cancer treatment, to help with meals, etc...really just to be able to physically "walk beside them" through some of the stress & strain that cancer treatments can bring on a family. If you are interested in contributing a gift, checks can be made out directly to " The Beverly Ulmer Cancer Fund" & deposited at any Bank of America location throughout the U.S. (If you need more info or have any questions, please contact Troy & I at troyanddebbie@aol.com). Thank you so much for your consideration in helping this dear family!

The Ulmers continue to remain hopeful in pursuing treatment against this disease, but it has been a long 3 years in the battle. I know they so appreciate your prayers & thoughts on their behalf during this time. Beverly's chemo treatments are underway again & they continue to hope for a new treatment option in San Antonio.

Please pray for Beverly today. Please pray for Dwayne. Please pray for their 3 sweet boys, Eric, Kyle, & Kevin who are walking through more "unknowns" & "questions about the future" than kids their age should have to endure. Pray for healing, for God's peace that passes all of our understanding to cover them, for His sustaining power to hold them up when they're weary, for His amazing joy to shine through them even in the midst of struggle, pray for hope, for encouragement for their spirits today.

If you'd like to send a personal message, the Ulmer family can be reached at dwaynebeverlyulmer@sbcglobal.net or, for my facebook friends, through my friend's list.

The older I get, the more I realize how very much I NEED family - dear friends in my life - close connections. I certainly couldn't do this life thing without you! And I know that Beverly feels the same way. We need each other in this journey! God is so good to allow us to share both burdens & joys along the way, and to walk through the struggles TOGETHER, sometimes literally holding one another up. If you've been there yourself, you know what I'm talking about, & I'm sure you're grateful too. It's really what this life is all about, isn't it? Loving...Connecting...Sharing...Walking together...Bless you all today, thanks for taking a moment to read this & pray. I'm so grateful to have you in my life! Beverly, we're with you friend, love you so much!

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." 2 Cor. 4:7

Someday...may come more quickly than I'd like...

2009-01-20T16:18:00.000-06:00

Someday...my house will be clean. No messy fingerprints or works of crayon art on the walls, no crushed up Goldfish all over the carpet, no muddy footprints through the house, no laundry strewn about, still waiting to be put away in the "right" spot, no toys thrown everywhere seeming to fight for a place in the clutter, no unorganized kitchen counters filled with school papers, homework & half eaten lunches. No play dough particles on the floor or "washable markers" in the grout. No rocks, air soft gun bullets, or Star Wars guys found washed & still lingering in my dryer. No spills on the floors, no bugs in a cup, no forts & tents made out of all & every pillow & blanket from our bed & living room couch. No bathtub toys & rubber duckies left remaining in the bathtubs, no dirty clothes left on the floor, no toothpaste "finger painted" in the sinks, no toilet seats left up - again.

Someday...my yard will be well manicured & neat. No mass assortment of sports equipment & bikes left laying around, no worn paths from football playing, running, or hide & seek games in the flower beds. No dump trucks filled up with dirt from my garden, no play places or trampolines in the yard, no riding toys of every kind filling up places in the garage, no sand boxes on the patio leading trails & buckets of sand into the house. No sidewalk art filling up the driveway, no water balloon pieces & Popsicle sticks found littering the grass.

Someday...I'll get more sleep. No late nights finishing homework or projects that should have been done "yesterday," no long bedtime adventure story or "please just one more" Dr. Seuss kind of book, no extended bedtime routines involving more trips to the bathroom, another drink of water, & prayers with 3 sweet children being tucked into bed, along with 10 little baby dolls & 2 stuffed doggies also needing to "go night-night." No little ones waking up in the middle of the night with the stomach virus, a bad dream, loud thunderstorm, or simply needing to be rocked a few minutes more. No early risers in the house battling against my desire to "sleep in because it's Saturday."

Someday...life will not seem so chaotic. No interruptions while making dinner from busy, little toddlers who just want to "help," or crack the egg, no filled up family calendars begging for just a little more quiet time on the page, no long "to do" lists staring me in the face - still undone & transferred over yet again to the next day's "list of things to do," no moments of searching for a babysitter for that night out with Troy, no hours spent searching for the missing shoe. No running here & there to countless school events, birthday parties, play dates, music lessons, rehearsals, or sports practices & games.

Someday...I'll actually read that "One Minute Organizer" book I bought one day, with really good intentions.

Someday...I'll have more time on my hands (And maybe more money??? Maybe not.) More time to sit long & linger over scriptures with my Savior, more time to write & journal, more time for bible studies, more time to "sit & pray," rather than "pray & go." More time to volunteer in places other than schools & sport activities, more time ALONE in the bathroom to get ready for the day or to get my make-up on without a little princess insisting on her "powder," more time to run errands, shop at places other than Target, Walmart, or Costco, more time to busy myself with a wide assortment of arts, crafts & various projects that I've been intending to do yet putting off for years now. More time to read books with more than 25 pages, more time to talk on the phone again - when not in the car racing to get to the next destination of the day - more time for lunches with friends, spa days, or weekends away with my husband.

Someday...my car will shine...no scratches & dents from bikes & balls hitting it too frequently, no cheerios & McDonald's french fries lingering on the floorboard, no car seats fastened to almost every seat, no stroller in the back, no drifting smells from a bad milk spill, lingering cheese stick, or a Chik-fil-a nugget left too long. Someday...I may not even drive a minivan.

Someday...my refrigerator will be clean...it will beg to have little ABC magnets put back on the front, it will long to be opened a zillion trillion times a day by chubby hands just looking for another snack, it will ask for more art displays & pictures to be plastered across it's front & sides.

Someday...I might forget what channel Disney is on, or Noggin, or Nick Jr.

Someday...I may forget what it feels like to mix up endless cups of chocolate milk, or peanut butter & jelly sandwiches, mac & cheese, smiley face pancakes, or chocolate chip cookies.

Someday...we won't run out of milk - again - or out of pull-ups, or bread. My grocery list will look different. It will long to have baby wipes, lunchables, oreo cookies, & gogurts listed again. It will wonder why I'm not buying a ton of bananas, or that entire bag of apples, or stocking up on "mini" carrots, or the double sized multi grain cheerios, or family sized toilet paper & that extra big box of laundry detergent anymore.

Someday...it will be more quiet here. No constant chatter, questions, giggling, yelling, singing, playing, building, crashing, climbing, fighting, laughing, toddler melt downs, or childhood whining. No sounds of running through the house, jumping in the playroom, banging on the drums, racing down the stairs, clanging pots & pans, or tennis balls, baseballs, or basketballs being thrown against the house.

Someday...I'll get more "real" exercise, more than just pushing a loaded grocery cart with 2 hefty toddlers in the front, more than just chasing 3 kids around & up & down the stairs, more than attempting to retrieve a screaming child from the upper level tunnel of the McDonald's playplace because they're not "quite ready" to go home yet, more than throwing endless baseballs, footballs, & any vast assortment of balls around in the yard, more than sliding on slides or swinging on swings in the park, more than pushing strollers, or rollerblading, or running & holding onto a bike until that sweet little one will let me "let go." I'll get my nails done again. I'll go back to a "real" salon. My roots won't show anymore. I'll know what's "in style" for the season. My purse will match my shoes again. Most all of my wardrobe won't be only from Target. I might be able to actually READ that great magazine I brought along to pool, instead of constantly counting heads & teaching kiddos how to swim.

Sometimes...in quick, brief moments of certain, especially "more difficult" days...I think about "someday." And the sheer realization of all these wonderful things that I'll miss - someday - comes crashing down on me. It instantly changes my thinking. It makes me decide to CHERISH these moments of the here & now. It makes me desire to SOAK in the gift of the present day - remembering that it will pass all too quickly, never to come again.

Someday...will bring new gifts, new challenges, new adventures, a new phase of life. And, to be quite honest, reality tells me that "someday" may come more quickly than I'd like. Many friends have looked me square in the eye & said, "treasure it, the days may go by slowly, but the years go by way too fast."

So for now, in all of life's crazy, loud & busy moments, I CHOOSE TO LOVE TODAY!