Valerie Write Now

10 Things You May Not Know About Your Pastor

2012-01-24T08:07:00.001-06:00

1. Preparing a single sermon takes 8-12 hours or more. So, you see, he really does "work"! :-)

2. Unless he grew up in the town in which he pastors, he doesn't know your great Aunt Roberta's sister-in-law from her first marriage who now lives in Florida with her cat, Muffin. Likewise, he probably doesn't know where the Oak tree is that you used to climb on as a child, which is beside the road where he should turn to get to John Doe's house. (Names are fictional, please don't sue me.)

3. He isn't psychic. If you know someone who is sick or in the hospital, a phone call would be appreciated.

4. If he is a true man of God, he doesn't use his pulpit as a place to "get even". If he preaches on lying, it's because it's in the Bible, not because he knows you're doing it. To think such is to be paranoid. And under conviction by the Holy Spirit, who, by the way, knows you've been lying.

5. When he doesn't take one of your suggestions, it could be because he knows something about a particular situation that you do not know. Trust him.

6. He would be thrilled if you go forward during the invitation and get saved or get right with God (if you need to). He won't be angry, judgmental or condescending. Seeing people get saved or get right with the Lord is what he lives for. Do it. You'll be happy, he'll be happy. See? It's a win-win! :)

7. He wants people to come to church even more than you do.

8. Gossip hurts.

9. Gossip hurts.

10.Gossip hurts.

The Winners Are...

2012-01-23T18:57:00.006-06:00

{image credit}

Thank you for entering my recent "Cleaning off the Shelves" book giveaway! I used Random.org to select the winners. So, here they are!

More Hours in My Day - Ava

The Pastor's Wife CD - Theo-Ann

Pocketful of Pinecones - Ava

Say Goodbye to Stress - Melanie Wilson

Kathryn's Secret - Stephanie A.

Teachers of Good Things - Misty D.

How to Hook your Kids on Books - Jackie's Journal (Only entry)

My First 300 Babies - Cassandra Mc. (Only entry)

Congratulations to each of you! Thank you so much for reading, entering and sharing my blog. Please email me (see my contact page) your mailing address. Thanks again!

Updated Giveaway

2012-01-22T07:45:00.003-06:00

If you've known me for long, you know I'm not too bright. It's true. I got to thinking about my giveaway, how I want to clean off the shelves, make room, etc. Then, I realized that giving away only one of the items on my list won't give me much space! Sooooo I've decided to hold a separate giveaway for EACH item listed! And you can enter in as many items as you'd like! Leave a separate comment for each item. Only one extra entry added to one item for sharing this on a social network (Twitter, Facebook, etc.)

The giveaway will still end on Monday, so here's your heads up!Go HERE and enter now! :)

Courage Personified

2012-01-20T11:52:00.001-06:00

We just had the pleasure of watching the movie, Courageous, produced by Sherwood Pictures. First of all, I have thoroughly enjoyed the movies I've seen from this company. The list includes: Flywheel, Facing the Giants and Fireproof. It is such a blessing to have access to good quality Christian films.

Courageous is one of the best films they have made to date. My only complaint is that there were not many times in the film where I could stop crying! It is a heart rending, beautiful film.

If you haven't yet watched this movie, it is now available on DVD and is well worth your dollar-and-ten-cents or your wait on Netflix, if there is one. The story is about five men and their commitment to be better fathers. Four of the men are police officers, one is a construction worker, all are Christians. Through a series of events, the men realize how important the roll of a father is in the lives of their children. In a fancy ceremony, they sign a resolution stating they will be better dads, better men, better Christians and that they will hold each other accountable for this commitment. There is much action, many tearful moments and a few laughs in this excellent movie.

Hollywood would have us believe that courage is running into a burning building, pulling someone from a train track or fighting in a war. And, those certainly are forms of courage. However, it is also courageous to stand against evil when it could cost you your job. It takes courage to stand up and say that the restaurant, "H**ters" is a wicked place for Christians to be. It takes courage to face false accusations that your marriage is bad or that you have hard feelings against another preacher. It takes courage to stand before people, week after week, and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The devil hates the name of Jesus, he wriggles and writhes and is enraged when this name is proclaimed. He hates the preachers of such truths and uses "Christians" (who may or may not be such) to attack him.

If I sound like I've witnessed the above, I have. These courageous men are my father and my husband. When I was twelve years old, I watched my dad lose a very well paying job because he didn't "socialize" with the right people over a glass of whatever. He lost. We'd like to believe that standing for what's right will pay off, that we'll come out on top, but that didn't happen for my Dad. He struggled to find work for many months after he lost his job. He finally found a good job, but it was never the same for him. He never found a job that he enjoyed as much as that one he lost. I don't know, however, if he knew that his young daughter was watching. I watched him as he filled out 3x5 cards with Isaiah 41:10 on them. I saw how he would pull one copy out of his shirt pocket and read it, then try to say it to himself without looking. I saw another taped to his bathroom mirror, and on the dash of his car. I saw how he faithfully attended church, how he continued to tithe and give to the Lord when the funds were at an all time low. I saw his courage. While he never recouped his losses here, I'm pretty sure that my Savior was waiting for him on July 29, 2004, around 2 AM with the words, "Well done, Ron. You did it. You were faithful till the end, and that wasn't easy. Well done."

My husband stood for right, and it wasn't pretty. He didn't "come out on top". People didn't show up outside the church by the droves to show support for his stand. In fact, people left by the droves. Other "Christians" claimed that by his naming sin, he was "casting a stone". When the false accusations were hurled, I wanted to hurl back a few choice words myself, but God's grace restrained me. My husband didn't even seem tempted to lash out. He never once used his pulpit as a whipping post, or as a place to explain the truth. He took the emotional beating and got up. He went back to the battle and kept fighting. And, once again, I witnessed courage. While droves of people were not supporting him, I know that a heavenly host was standing, honoring his courage. Had God opened our eyes, as He did for Elisha and the young man in 2 Kings 6:17, we would have seen them.

This movie exemplifies courage in a dynamic way; it is very inspiring! But, it is, after all, just a movie. Being courageous in real life is less glamorous and much, much harder. There is no audience wiping tears from their eyes, rooting for you. There's no stirring orchestra score in the background.

It is lonely. It is quiet. It is hard. But it is definitely worth it.

Putting Fun in the Schedule

2012-01-19T15:53:00.003-06:00

Last year, I posted a question on my Facebook page asking if any moms out there knew of a good kids' cookbook. I didn't receive many responses, but the majority that I did receive, mentioned the Pampered Chef kids' cookbook. Naturally, it was out of print.

Well, a few months later, I stumbled upon that very cookbook on homeschoolclassifieds.com for $3! I ordered it, wrapped it up for Christmas and presented it to all of the kids! For over a year now, I've had a routine of taking one child with me each week to buy groceries. It's a fun thing for them, and for me. We get to visit, just the two of us. They can help select which cereal to buy, flavor of ice cream, etc. They get to pick up a free cookie at the store's bakery, and they really love that. (Yes, all children get a free cookie!) They can even take a few dollars of their own money along and buy a candy bar at the checkout. Upon purchasing this new cookbook, I added a new tradition to this one. Each week, the child who goes with me to the store also gets to pick out a recipe from the cookbook to make with me! Today, Laci made her selection: Banana Cream Pie!

The crust is finished, with a layer of Bananas! Next, is the filling! :)

Laci did a fine job stirring up the pudding for the filling.

Tada! All done! We can't wait to taste it after supper tonight.

I am truly a chart-type personality. I love lists and schedules. Sometimes, I get so focused on what must get done, that I forget to have fun! I have so much laundry every day, homeschooling, cleaning, over-seeing of chores, cooking, more cleaning, grading, and on and on! It's easy to forget to smile, to laugh, to enjoy a good book with little ones, or to have fun in the kitchen. I know, some may think that by "scheduling" time with each child, I'm taking away some of the fun. "Why not be spontaneous?" they wonder. Well, I guess that's just not me. But Laci enjoyed it, scheduled or not, and so did I.

Giveaway! {Closed}

2012-01-16T19:42:00.002-06:00

In one week, I'll be giving away the winner's choice of one of the following items: (Yes, doing a bit of spring...winter cleaning and hoping to a blessing, too!) Please note that items are used, but in excellent condition.

The Pastor's Wife CD by Mrs. Clarence Sexton

More Hours in My Day by Emilie Barnes

Say Goodbye to Stress by Kevin Leman

Katheryn's Secret (Novel) by Linda Hall

Pocketful of Pinecones (Fictional story about doing nature study with your children) by Karen Andreola

Teachers of Good Things by Francy Taylor

My First 300 Babies by Gladys W. Hendrick

How to Hook Your Kids on Books by Karen O'Connor

How to Enter:
Leave a comment telling me which item you are interested in (you can change your mind if you win). If you spread the word via a social networking site, I'll throw in an extra entry for you! Just let me know that information in a comment, also. The winner will be announced by 6 PM on Monday, January 23, 2012. Thanks for reading!

End of a Long Week

2012-01-14T10:10:00.002-06:00

We began the week last Saturday (Don't worry, I know the week really begins on Sunday. Just giving you a little back story.) with a wonderful missionary family joining us for an informal meal of pizza and salad. The Karamitros family have been in China for ten years. They have five grown children. And they were such a blessing! Mrs. Karamitros was especially encouraging to me in the area of homeschooling. She was a mechanical engineer for Lockheed Martin before she and her husband began deputation. She commented that she has a personal mission of encouraging girls not to be intimidated by math and science. She gave me some sound advice regarding science curricula. It was so nice to chat with them. They were with us for the morning service at church, but had to scoot on over to another nearby church for the evening service.

Sunday afternoon, just as I was stumbling toward the coffee pot after a short nap, I noticed that a van was parked down at the church. Two very well dressed people, a man and a woman, were inside the building. I figured they were missionaries or passers-by who were looking for a church to attend while they were in town. I ran to where my husband was lying on the floor, reading. I whispered to him so as not to waken the girls sleeping nearby, "There's someone at the CHURCH." He hopped up, flipped on the light in the kitchen and stood in font of the window to see who it was. I was next to him. The two people were now beside their vehicle, they looked up at us! They saw us through the window! EEK! At this point, I was very embarrassed. They waved at us and Terry said, "That's Brian and Dixie Wagahoff." I ran out the door, down the sidewalk in my sock feet and embraced my childhood friend. I hadn't laid eyes on her in almost three years! I hadn't seen her kids in over nine! She had a daughter I'd never met (and the ones I had met were too young to remember me) and I'd had three children she'd never met. It was so wonderful to see her, to catch up, to meet her children. It had been too long.

They went to church with us that night and spent the night in our church's missions house. They sang a special for us that blessed my heart. They ate supper at our house and we stayed up visiting - and the children playing - until the wee hours of the morning. We rose late on Monday morning and visited with them that day. We caught up on people we knew and most interestingly, they told us in vivid detail about the Joplin tornado. They survived it in the basement of their church. They showed us photos from their phones, described the wind, the fear, the noise, the damage...I just can't thank the Lord enough for keeping my friends safe! It also helps me know how to pray for them as they heal emotionally, and they are still healing. It was devastating for them, especially for the kids. I have a new respect for tornadoes after hearing their story.

They pulled away from our house to head back to Missouri at 4:30. I was sad to see them go, but so grateful at the same time. They had come down to see Dixie's dying grandfather before he left this world of sorrow. They had to drive a bit further to see us; they had to go out of their way, and I'm so glad they did. Terry said after they left that their visit refreshed his soul. I agree. And the kids? Well, they had a marvelous time playing together! There aren't many kids around here, so having four extra kids to play with was truly a gift from the Lord.

Here are a few photos I snapped right before they left.

The boys: Mitchell, Brice & Bret

Carrie, Leslie & Laci

Brian and Terry

The whole gang! L-R (back row) Brice, Carrie, Bret, Lauren, Mitchell, (front row) Leslie, Carrie & Laci. Matthew was asleep.

Courtney (who, by the way, was named after ME! My maiden name is Courtney!) and Lauren. These girls are less than a month apart in age! Dixie and I used to dream about our daughters playing together. I always pictured it being more than once, though. Oh well, I'm glad it at least happened once! Maybe the Lord will allow our paths to cross again.

Dixie and me. We've known each other since I was 4 and she was 5! We became very close friends when I was 11 and she was 12 and have been ever since. I am so blessed!

All of that was on Monday. It made the rest of the week rather dull. No surprise visits, nothing spectacular going on. In fact, we had to start school up this past week. We had intended to start back the week of New Year's, but many of us were sick. Lauren had a cold, I was getting over one, and Mitchell had a cough. I just postponed everything for one more week.

We started back on Tuesday. Each day has been long, like walking in slow motion. None of us are too eager to start back on....math!!! I hate math. No, I despise math. Math is my nemesis, and I refuse to let it defeat me! But I still hate it. We trudged through each day, somehow, and came out alive at the end. I am hoping that now that we're back in our school routine, next week will go smoother.

I hope.

Other than just dragging, the week was blissfully uneventful. We read books, we played, we worked. No injuries, no illnesses, no devastating news. For this, I'd like to praise the Lord. Each day we are in His hands and we need His help whether the sun is shining or a tornado is blowing.

A few more photos from the week:

Mitchell said, "Look Mom, we're gangsta brothers!"

Laci's hair was in her eyes, so, *ahem* she fixed the problem. When Lauren did this, I hit the roof. I've either mellowed a lot since then, or grown in the Lord. I scolded her for this, but I didn't hit the roof. Confucius say, "Hair grow back, but damage from high blood pressure is fo-eva."

The girls had fun with the water colors! :)

As I was reading Thursday night, I heard Leslie say, "I'm being like Momma." I turned to see her rocking her baby brother beside me. He willingly let her and she loved every minute. Ah, yes, I'm bronzing this moment for those quiet, empty nest days yet to come.

I hope you have all had a wonderful week, whether busy or not, eventful or boring, God is faithful and true. This, we can count on.

Matthew's Signs

2012-01-12T21:29:00.000-06:00

I was so excited to capture a short video of Matthew tonight! I know, I know, I'm completely and utterly prejudiced! I think he is the cutest 18 month old alive! I got him to do a few of the signs we're teaching him. I hope you enjoy watching, even if you're not related to us. :)

A Whole New World

2012-01-12T14:42:00.002-06:00

Okay, maybe "world" is too strong a word. What you are reading now is, at least, a whole new site. I have a new "dot com",valeriewritenow.com, as a matter of fact. For years I've been blogging. For years I've been looking for my own online presence. I found it...I mean, me...you know what I mean. Why do I always make things so complicated? (Don't answer that.) I am Valerie. (Shocker.) I am a writer, even if my words are limited to this blog. I am living. Now. Let me say, "Thank you, Lord!" to that! So, as the father on My Big, Fat Greek Wedding said, "Dere you go!" My blog! Valerie (me) Write (what I do) Now (present tense).

I started blogging way back in 2007. I blogged about my "Life in the Hill Country" of Texas. Then, I moved. I wasn't in the "hill country" anymore. (Great blogging foresight, ay?) I just couldn't imagine leaving Texas. I loved it. I miss it still. Now, I'm in southwest Arkansas. Home to nothing spectacular. Oh, well, there's Bill Clinton and Mike Huckabee. And they're politicians. Like I said, nothing spectacular. There I was, with a problem: what to do about the blog? I decided to start another one, this time called "Valerie's Hope Chest"...get it? I live in "Hope"? Anyway, I didn't like it after a while. I started to worry that someone would think I was referring to the front of a torso or something. I changed the title to "Joy in the Journey". Nah. Didn't dig that, either. I mean, I want to have joy in this journey of life, but the blog wasn't about that all the time. Or even most of the time. Let's face it, I'm not that joyful. Most days, I'm smiling through the pain. And one thing I must do, wherever I am, is be real. I'm not "Joy". I'm...Valerie. (Yes, this blog is packed with profound truths! Keep reading! )

Around that time, a man who used to be in our church, (and one of the few who have left that still like us), started calling my hubby "The Bishop". It follows that he called me "the Bishop's wife". I liked that name. I'm a pastor's wife, wherever I go, whatever I do, that is what I am. So it worked.

I'm still a pastor's wife, and Lord willing, I'll always be. But I noticed that the title implies that this blog will have a ministry focus. It doesn't always. I often write about homeschooling, day-to-day life, poetry and some days, I share photos and videos. Most of my life has very little to do with being a PW. The one constant, however, is me. Here, you will always find my words, my thoughts, my heart, my beliefs, my life. You will see what's happening in my life right now...well, I mean write now.

My old blogspot address automatically redirects to the new URL. I have a new design, but that will probably change as the days go by. The feeds should still work. If you experience a problem, please contact me and I'll do my best to figure it all out. I have a new blog button, so, please pick it up before you go. Oh, and, one more thing: I've started a new Facebook page, so please hop over and "Like" me.

It's a new day, and a new "world", the online kind, anyway. I'm enjoying each and every moment! Thank you so much for being here, for being part of my world.

Satan's Day Off

2012-01-05T00:00:00.000-06:00

"Did you hear about Bro. Smith?" whispers Mrs. Know-it-All to a small group of ladies. "I heard he dropped a missionary just because he didn't think he was working hard enough over on the field."

"Oh? I heard that he got bullied by his deacons and was forced to drop him!" replied Mrs. Busy-Body.

"No, no, that's not it. They got into a knock-down-drag-out and the pastor let him go." chirrped Mrs. I'm-Always-Right.

"Actually, you are all wrong," chimed in Mrs. Verbose, "that pastor ran everyone off from his church and they just didn't have the money to support that missionary anymore."

I've heard, and sadly been privy to, conversations much like the above. Word gets around about a Pastor and his ministry, his relationships with his family, evangelists and other pastors or missionaries. Some of it might be true, but nine times out of ten, none of it is.

With the internet at everyone's fingertips these days, lies and half-truths are spreading like wildfire. As a pastor's wife, it's irksome to hear a story re-told over and over and each time hearing something new! It's been very interesting to hear a story that I was involved in directly, come back around to me completely wrong!

We often think of gossip as something that only church members struggle with, but the truth is everyone struggles with it! Including those in ministry! If we look closely, we can find preachers talking about other preachers/evangelists/missionaries and their petty disagreements, un-spiritual preachers spreading lies or gossip just to tear other men down and make themselves look better, pastor's wives who struggle with insecurity spreading rumors...the list could go on. Much of this takes place on Facebook or blogs...like mine! {Yikes! Doing a quick mental check of blog content. All clear. Phew.} Here are some thoughts on how to know if you can trust online information:

1. Do you personally know the blog author? If not, be careful!
2. Is the person being written about violating a scripture? It's not worth your time arguing about passing the offering plate or putting a box at the back of the auditorium. If you disagree with a person, so what? Don't ruin their lives because they disagree with you on some silly thing. If they are violating God's law and you're reading it online, WARNING! It could be an attempt to soil a good man by spreading lies. The internet is not a good court in which to try a person. Best leave it to the Lord and His judgment. His ways are best.(2 Sam. 22:31)
3. Is the spirit of the blog one that seeks to destroy or build up? If the posts are always negative and bleak, then consider their point of view. Chances are, they will find the bad in all things! And it's there if you look for it.
4. Are they trying to increase hits for their website? Many moons ago, a friend of mine posted an article on his blog regarding two well known preachers and their debate. That post received thousands of hits. Thousands. And he didn't even have an opinion. It was all a test! Newsworthy names receive hits. Hits mean visitors to that blogger's ads. That means money for the blogger. So be careful little eyes what you read. Especially online.

Let me say that there are "wolves in sheep's clothing" who need to be called out, no doubt about it. Pastor's who steal from the church, commit adultery or lie need to be named. Paul did this in 2 Tim. 4:14. But idle conversation about how "Bro. or Mrs. So-and-So" disagrees with me on some minor issue is unnecessary and painful. Satan wants to destroy God's work and the best way to do that is by turning men of God and their wives on each other. They will attack and destroy the work of the Lord and Satan won't have to lift a finger. It sort of gives the devil a day off!

Let's not give him that helping hand this year. Please pray for your pastor and your church!

A Fresh Start

2012-01-03T20:05:00.000-06:00

Well, I started a challenge back on December first and...it didn't go very well. Do the words "crash" and "burn" mean anything to you? Yeah. It was bad. So, off with the old and on with the new, right? Yes! I'm starting fresh now. The holidays are over, my anniversary is behind me and there are 12 weeks until the next birthday in my family (which happens to be my own! *yippee!*). This seems to be the perfect time to start a new habit! I'm not necessarily taking that same challenge, but I am going to do my best not to eat out or eat dessert. But, let's face it, real life is real life, sometimes you can't avoid eating out. Or chocolate. My keys will be choosing carefully at restaurants and moderation with chocolate. Hey, chocolate is not the enemy. I purchased a food diary at a bookstore over the holidays. It's a nice way to record what I'm eating. I don't have a set number of calories/fat grams/ Points that I'm shooting for. I think (read: hope) that just writing down what I eat everyday will be a good thing. I already exercise three or more times a week, so surely if I watch my intake I can lose this 20 pounds that won't budge...surely.

I hope...{biting lip}

Moving on. I am also working harder at writing. I've ordered two books on the subject and I hope to read them this year. They include exercises, so it will take longer to work through them, but I'm hopeful. I have also made a list of books on my shelf that I need to read this year. Books I purchased...a long time ago, but have not yet read. I want to buy a Kindle, but I cannot justify spending $200 on an e-reader when I still have old fashioned books eyeing me from the shelf across the room...big, sad eyes. Eyes that say, "Why, oh why haven't you read me? You know I will be a help to you, you know you will find enjoyment in me...why?" I must give in and read my dear friends who have been neglected. I've also made a list of books that I'm giving away. I've posted them on Paperbackswap.com and hope to free up shelf space soon for ahem... more books.

On the homeschooling front, I've decided to begin new grammar and math books with my oldest kids. Mitchell was falling behind in math and Lauren was bored. Saxon math is our new program and guess what? I don't think they'll be bored anymore! heh heh! We are starting Easy Grammar this semester as well. Why this change in grammar? Because, my friends, I'm sick and tired of the groaning and the moaning. Because I'm a writer, and while I enjoy spotting split infinitives and finding grammar mistakes on signs, I know better than anyone that not knowing a direct object from a predicate nominative will not ruin my child's life. I'm seeking peace, harmony and joy. If a new grammar workbook brings that to me, then small price to pay! I've done my research and Easy Grammar seems to have a building block approach which doesn't take the hours a day that our current grammar work does. (Mostly because they are bogged down.) We are also going to begin using Story Starters for writing assignments. I got that book for free, so what can I lose? I'll let you know how it all goes.

The New Year provides a time to restart, refresh and renew. I'm looking forward to doing all of those and more!

Oh, and if I get really hungry or have a chocolate craving at night (my weakest time of day), I may do some writing therapy. That means I'll be posting more. That means you need to be there to cheer me on. Please? :)

Fourteen Years

2012-01-02T06:00:00.000-06:00

For Terry. I pray that God allows us to grow old together. Happy anniversary.

You

When life hands me lemons,

And the sun stops shining,

When my heart is so heavy

That my mouth starts whining,

You bring me flowers

In the form of your smile.

You buy me a milkshake

And sit for a while.

You hold my hand

In life's darkest hours

You sing me a song

That is only ours.

You brighten each day

With a grin or a wink,

Wrap your arms around me

When I stand by the sink.

You lead me with strength,

You hold me with care,

You pray with your heart,

You're always there.

You're part of me now,

You were all along,

You're the mate to my soul,

You're the words to my song.

I just want to say that

The Lord only knows,

How I'm thankful for you...

My heart overflows.

~by Valerie Basham

Read Your Bible, Pray Every Day!

2012-01-01T17:19:00.001-06:00

Do you remember that song? "Read your Bible, pray everyday, pray everyday, pray everyday. Read your Bible pray every day and you'll grow, grow, grow!" As you say "grow", you inch up taller and taller. Well, I don't go around singing that song (much) anymore, but it's true. You might not actually get taller by reading God's Word, but you certainly do grow - spiritually! In fact, the song also says, "Don't read your Bible forget to pray and you'll shrink, shrink, shrink." That's true, too! Reading God's word everyday keeps it fresh in our minds, easy to recall and readily available to claim in a tough situation.

How 'bout starting this year off with a goal to read your Bible and pray everyday? Here is a link to my Christian Helps page - it has a variety of online resources that can help you in your daily walk with God. And, here are some new Bible reading schedules I just found!

Read at your pace and check it off as you go!
Read your Bible in a year
Read your Bible in 60 days
Read your Bible in 30 days

Happy New Year! May we begin the year, and each day therein, with the precious Word of God.

So Long

2011-12-31T16:54:00.001-06:00

I'm so very happy to see the year ending. Okay, it wasn't that bad of a year. I mean, every year has its unwanted hardships, but I've had many blessings this year, too. The fact is, I'm just a "fresh start" kind of person. I enjoy the beginning of a new year, a new month, why, even a new day brings limitless possibilities of hope and excitement! Even if 2011 had been the best year ever, I'd still be happy to see it end, just so a new one could begin. I like new beginnings. I like making lists and goals. I like shooting for the stars.

I'm looking forward to 2012. I can't control what happens in this new year, but I can control my reactions to those happenings. I want to do better at "reacting". I want to have more faith and less panic when things go awry. (Don't you love that word?) I want to read more, write more, and love more. I want to laugh more, relax more and work more. I want to worry less, eat less and doubt less.

How 'bout you? Got any New Year's hopes and dreams?

Whatever the New Year brings, I pray that this is the year that we live for God more than ever.

Happy New Year!

From Our Home to Yours

2011-12-24T10:58:00.004-06:00

Thank you for your support and encouragement. May God bless you richly in the New Year.

Happy Birthday, Jesus

2011-12-22T09:06:00.000-06:00

I try to make a birthday cake for Jesus each year. Years ago, I chose a special cake for the purpose, one that I make only at Christmas. As a child, this was my favorite Christmas dessert. In 8th grade, I was really excited to serve it at a Christmas party I was hosting for my friends. I spent the night before the party with my best friend, who lived in an RV trailer at our church. (Her parents traveled in evangelism.) We got permission to sleep in the church nursery that night, and almost never awoke. Because of the situation, my party got postponed. The next week, however, the party went on and this cake was on the menu.

This year, I realized that this cake is also a great lesson about Jesus! I love object lessons!

1. The cake uses a white cake mix and Cool Whip frosting - both are white and pure. This symbolizes the sinless Son of God.
2. It looks like an ordinary cake, until you cut it! Once sliced, you can see the surprise! Jesus looked like a man, but He was God in the flesh.
3. The red Jello reminds us of the reason He came - to die for our sins.
4. The green Jello reminds us that through His sacrifice, we live forever, and we can grow in grace.
5. Singing "Happy Birthday" to Jesus helps focus little minds on the One we live for.

We had our birthday celebration for Jesus last night, ahead of the hub-bub of the actual day. We are also planning on opening gifts after our Sunday morning services, another way of putting Christ first.

Each year I fight the urge to get caught up in the "commercialism" of Christmas. I feel ashamed that I worry so much about food coming out okay, about having enough money to buy gifts for everyone, about whether or not people will like my gifts, and on and on. This day is for the Lord! The greatest gift we can give Him is the re-dedicating of our lives to His service. He died for us, we should live for Him. And while that doesn't cost a penny, it's the most expensive thing we can give.

Happy birthday, Jesus!

Just Saying Thanks

2011-12-19T21:40:00.000-06:00

I wanted to drop in and say thank you for praying for my friends, Donna and Audrey. They are recovering well so far. Donna has a long road to go, as her body adjusts to the new kidney. Please continue to pray that her body will not reject it in the future. Audrey posted on Facebook how grateful she is to be able to give part of herself to her sister. What a wonderful earthly demonstration of Christ's love!

Also, thank you for the input regarding the photo of my youngest girl. I have ordered a print of the original photo, to see how it looks with the individual shots of my other kids. A friend of mine sent me an edited version. I will be getting it printed if the original looks too bad.

I am happy to report that my Christmas shopping is done! This the earliest this has ever happened. I usually end up doing a lot of shopping on Christmas Eve! I am now wrapping, cleaning and planning the menu for Christmas. My in-laws will be joining us, as well as my husband's grandmother. We haven't had company at Christmas in at least four years. I hope and pray your Christmas planning and celebrations are going well. May we not forget the Greatest Gift of all, the Lord Jesus Christ!

Moments that Changed My Life

2011-12-17T13:08:00.001-06:00

I've heard it said, "We do not remember days, we remember moments." It got me thinking, "What would be the top ten most life changing moments I've experienced?" I thought it was a good question. So, here they are. As of this moment, anyway. :)

10. The moment that one of my teachers told me I should consider writing for a career. When I start to think, You're a terrible writer, stop doing it. I recall her words. Her confidence in me gives me confidence. No, I'm not making my living that way...or am I? I don't get money for it, but writing is my life. It's one of the things God created me to do. My goal is to always glorify Him by my words, both written and spoken. (Yes, I fail often, but I'm still trying!)

9. The moment I accepted God's painful will for my life. That was a tough, but excellent moment. I have had to re-live it over and over, because I tend to be an Indian giver about stuff like that. I accept it, then I don't. Accept, don't accept...you get the idea.

8. The moment my husband stopped me from taking my own life. He then proceeded to relocate our family just because he loved me. We had nothing. What a beautiful picture of Christ, giving Himself for His bride! I was recently told by someone that if God wanted me to be treated like trash, so what? But, God doesn't want me to be treated like trash! He gave His only Son, Jesus, for me! That person probably wants me to be treated badly, but God doesn't. And you know, I deserve the worst treatment one could imagine: I deserve Hell. I'm so thankful that God isn't giving me what I deserve. Why, even the hardships of this life are for my good. (Rom.8:28) Praise the Lord, for this unspeakable gift.

7. The moment that God stopped me from going away to Bible college. It was amazing. I was headed there because it was a good place. But it wasn't the best for me.

6. The moment my one and only real boyfriend (besides my husband) betrayed me. I was truly naïve. On so many levels. {shudder} Let's not re-live that one. But, it changed me and my goals for my life, forever.

5. The moment I pledged to be pure until marriage. I was 12 years old. I had no idea that the moment I got up from making that vow, Satan would throw darts at me from every angle. By God's grace, I kept that vow. But twern't easy.

4. The moment my future husband started trying to win my heart. It was right out of the movies. For real.

3. The moment I became a mother. It set in motion so many wonderful and terrible experiences to follow. And I wouldn't change a thing.

2. The moment I became a child of God. June 12, 1993, to be exact. That actual day was ordinary, but the days since then have been right out of a novel. Or maybe I just dramatize everything. Or maybe not! The Christian life is the best life ever. Not the easiest life ever, but since when did "easy" and "best" become synonyms? The best is often hard. But it's the best.

1. The moment my dad died. I know. I you're thinking, this is number one? Above salvation? Well, actually, it's a close second, but everyone expects salvation to be number one. I thought I'd be different. What? I already am? oh. I also chose it because it is the event that has affected my walk with God the most so far. I know Him better and deeper than ever before. His grace envelops me, carries me and comforts me. He had been doing this before Dad's death, but I didn't really see it. I didn't know it. Dad's death changed so many things: my childhood died on that day, it was truly the day I grew up. Christmas will never be the same; my family will never be the same. It was the day that I learned as Job did, "I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee." (Job 42:5) I'd heard of the Lord before, I thought I'd seen Him, but I hadn't. He is more real to me now than ever.

Time is the stuff life is made of, and that time consists of moments. Each moment of my life I can either look for the good or focus on the bad; be thankful for what I have, or dwell on that which I do not; endure the drama, or enjoy His peace. It's up to me. I enjoy my life as a Christian, as a Pastor's wife, as a homeschooling mother of five, as a writer. It is the best life in the world, because it's the life God has chosen just for me.

As I look back on these moments, what a blessing it is to know that God was beside me for each and every one. A greater blessing is to know He'll be with me forever.

Matthew 28:20 ...lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen

Blessings from the Father

2011-12-17T10:50:00.000-06:00

I'm striving to keep Christ the focus of my life always, but especially this time of year. I can't help but feel the pressure: decorating, baking, traditions and memories, shopping, wrapping, making gifts for church and the mother of them all - financial stress!

Yesterday, I was rushing about getting things ready for our church Christmas party. I was tired. Cranky was just around the corner. I knew shopping on Saturday would be stupid, so I decided to just get it over with the day before. As I was leaving, my husband said, "Can you make a deposit?" Okay, sure. No problem. Then I get in the van - it was on E! Add "get gas" to the list. Walmart would be last.

My first stop was the gas station. I put in my card, my pin, selected the cheapest form of gas, put in the pump. Then, I became frustrated when it wouldn't work! I was just wanting to get out of there. I was thinking "Now what? This stinks. Everything just stinks." I rehearsed what I'd done, trying to see what was wrong. Then, I noticed the problem! I had grabbed the handle for the diesel fuel! I quickly switched and it worked fine. I thanked the Lord for keeping me from ruining our one and only vehicle with the wrong gasoline!

After that, I got worried I'd mess up at the bank. I got the checks ready for deposit while I waited at a red light. No use having a teller stare at me or someone beep their horn at me in line at the drive-through. All went fine there. *Phew*

Next, I headed to discount heaven. My husband had handed me a card to use at Walmart as I was leaving. I suddenly couldn't remember where I put it. I sat in the parking lot cleaning out my wallet, my purse and searching the front of the van. I prayed. If I'd left it in my lap, it might have fallen to the ground at the gas station! I had a feeling it wouldn't be there by the time I got back. I called my husband. I was talking to him and searching the front of the van again at the same time. Without really thinking (I can't talk and think at the same time you know), I got out, opened the passenger door on the driver's side. There, on the floorboard, was the card! Once again, I thanked my Father. I feel that He just led me to do that - to get out and open that passenger door - because I had no reason to do so. I had not been in that part of the van at all. The Lord answered my prayer!

Yet, there I was, getting all flustered and frustrated about food and gifts and money, while all along my goal is to do just the opposite. It reminds me of Mark 9:23-24. Jesus tells the father of a demon possessed man to believe and the impossible shall happen. The man replies, "Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief." My goal is to keep Christ the center of my life, all year long, but I can't do it alone. I'm too sinful. I say to the Lord, "I am putting You first, but you must help me put You first." I do what I can, but I still need Him just do what I can. Does that make sense? I dunno...sounds confusing. In other words, I need Him, all the time! He blesses me, even when I get mixed up and tired and distracted. He is so very good to me, and I am so grateful for His blessings.

Exercise for Life

2011-12-15T07:50:00.000-06:00

One habit I've tried to maintain since my school years is physical activity. To be clear, I am not a health nut. I eat too much chocolate and desserts. I used to be addicted to soda. I love juicy hamburgers. My Wii Fit character is, ahem, chubby. But, I do exercise and have regularly done so since my youth. I use 5 lb. weights in some of my workouts. I love aerobics that make me sweat. I love it when it's over.

There are so many health benefits in exercise:

It lowers blood pressure.
Helps you lose weight.
Creates muscle and builds stamina.
Gives you energy.
Releases stress. (Nothing like kickboxing when you're angry! Not that I really know...*cough cough*)
Releases endorphins - "the feel good" hormones.
Helps prevent back and posture problems.
Helps prevent osteoporosis.
And, my favorite: It enables you to eat chocolate with less guilt. :)

My goal is to exercise at least three times a week. Most weeks, I make this goal. When I want to lose weight and push myself (which is about once a year) I workout everyday of the week, except Saturday and Sunday, for three weeks.

I thought I'd share some of my favorite workout DVDs. I also enjoy using the Wii Fit, when I can get a turn. :)

Denise Austin is my favorite workout trainer. She is peppy and encouraging and the music is peppy without being too loud. I like her moves, too. She picks hard moves, but just when I'm about to pass out - she stops. Most of her newer DVD's give the option of having her instruction or just music.

Denise Austin's Get Fit Daily Dozen - 12 exercises in 12 minutes. Choose from five different workouts, two cardio, 2 strength training (one legs, one arms) and one yoga/Pilates. If you're short on time, just do your daily dozen! I love it! I often do two a day, which is still only 24 minutes and I get a great workout. I also like the variety.

Denise Austin's Blast Away 10 lbs. - One of her older DVDs, but does the job just fine. If you need to get into shape quickly, do this workout five days a week for three weeks! You will shed the sweat and inches. It's a kickboxing workout with lots of jacks, jogging, and plyometric exercises. I love the punches and kicks, but there is one part at the end that I dread. She has you jog really, really fast, barely moving your feet up and down for what feels like forever! When I'm done, I feel like a champ though! And I'm sweating. Profusely.

Denise Austin's 3 Week Boot Camp - My sister told me about this one, so I gave it a try. If you follow the plan the way she recommends on the DVD, you will see results! I've heard of people using P90X - which is an hour a day for 90 days. I cannot possibly devote that much time of my life to working out. This Boot Camp DVD is a nice "medium". It's an intense workout, but doable. You start with the first segment - 20 minutes a day of cardio - and do that four times that week. The next week you do the second segment - also 20 minutes, but it is a strength training/kettlebell inspired workout - four times. The third week, you do both segments (40 min.) four days that week. To maintain, she recommends doing the full 40 min. workout three times a week. I like variety, so I spice it up with other workouts. I have maintained the weight I lost doing this routine (we won't count Thanksgiving week). I need to lose more so maybe after the new year I'll give it another whirl.

I'm wanting to try her newest release, Sculpt & Burn Body Blitz, just for variety. I'll let you know what I think if I do it.

Before you exercise, remember to get your doctor's approval. Start slowly, building five minutes at a time till you reach 30 minutes a day. Walking is a great exercise! Start there! If you can do it with a friend, even better. I know that exercise doesn't guarantee a long and healthy life, but it doesn't hurt. Denise Austin often says, "God gave you one body, take care of it." I agree. This body is His temple and I want to care for it. No, I'm not going to ever be a super model, nor do I want to be. I may never even lose this last 20 lbs. I gained after my fifth baby. But I want to keep moving. If God sends an illness into my life, I want to be in good shape to fight it. This is a realistic goal. Being a size zero isn't.

Do you have a favorite exercise? I think everyone should choose to do something they enjoy! :)

Please Pray for Donna

2011-12-13T15:32:00.000-06:00

I've known Donna for most of my life. When we moved from our home in Hot Springs,we had to find a new church and Christian school. That's where we met this wonderful family. Donna was the same age as my sister. She also had younger sister the same age as I! It was perfect. Donna and Melanie worked in our church's bus ministry. She always had a heart to serve God, even as a young teenager. She was always kind.

Donna married a wonderful guy, named Jenceson. Jenceson was my bus driver when I was a teenager and, to be honest, I think of him as an older brother. He always made Sunday a fun day! It's hard to describe him, I suppose the best way is to say that whenever I felt the like the Christian life was a prison, (you know how teenagers are...) his way of looking at life unlocked the doors. He is genuine, just like his lovely wife. I like that, don't you?

When I was a young, insecure teenager, I stood up to testify at the end of a church service. Everyone was saying something, so I wanted to, also. I have an older brother and sister who are nearly perfect. I grew up often feeling quite inferior to them and their many abilities. I said in my testimony, "I know I'll never be like Kevin and Melanie, but I hope that God can use me in some way." (Or something like that.) After church, Donna stopped me and said, "Valerie, you don't need to feel like you're not as good as Kevin and Melanie. You're a wonderful person, just the way you are."

I was speechless. No one (outside of blood family) had ever been that kind to me. As you can see, these *cough cough* years later, I still remember it.

Donna's mother was a teacher at our small Christian school, and she was a hoot! She would often start helping a child with the question, "How now, brown cow?" She loved practical jokes and saw the bright side of life so easily. Well, a few years after Jenceson and Donna married, Donna lost a baby and her health. She had to have her kidneys removed. I watched as they buried their sweet girl, as Donna fought for her life, and as her mother joyfully gave her one of her kidneys. I watched as they stayed true to God and His Word in the darkest days of their lives. God was gracious to us, He allowed Donna and her mother to recover. We all breathed a sigh of relief.

That was many years ago. Today, Donna is needing another kidney. Her sister, Audrey, who is the same age as I am, is giving her one. I'm praying for safety as they undergo this serious operation. I'm praying Donna's body doesn't reject this organ, that Audrey will heal quickly, that we can all breathe another sigh of relief.

It's so hard to watch family suffer - and the people in my home church are my family. I want to do something, to get in there and fight for them, to serve them, to help in some way. I don't really know how many folks this blog reaches. I have Google stats, but I don't know how accurate that is. I've asked people to spread the word about my blog for myself in the past, just so I could have the pleasure of a larger readership. But today, I'm asking you to spread the word for a different reason. Would you please pray for Donna and Audrey as they undergo surgery this Thursday, December 15? Would you pray for Donna to accept the kidney easily? She will have to live near the hospital for two months, maybe more, and that will be a lot of added financial stress, as well as emotional stress. They were able to adopt a daughter, so this will be hard on her as well. Please pray for Paige, who is 12 years old.

This family is so precious and so amazing. Through all of their trials, they have stayed faithful to God and have served Him with joy. If there were a church full of people like them, that church could reach the world!

If you happen to be a millionaire and would feel led to make a donation to help with their expenses, please do so by clicking the "donation" button in the lower right hand corner of this blog. Just mark it "Donna". I will see that it gets safely to her. I also ask that you please share this post with others so that many will be in prayer for her in the days and weeks to come.

From the bottom of my heart, I thank you. Thank you for helping me pay back the love that I've been shown.

Remains of the Day

2011-12-12T12:31:00.001-06:00

I am constantly amazed at how God sees me through each day. I often begin my days heavy-hearted, full of care and woe. I pray and read my Bible, still not feeling an overwhelming burst of energy or joy. I end the day, however, hopeful and ready to see what tomorrow holds. I lie in bed, recalling the not-so-happy feeling I began the day with, and I am in awe of how I made it through another day! Some days, I do break down and cry for whatever reason. But I still end the day with a joy and peace that wasn't there before.

The grief washes over me, overtakes me, like a wave of the ocean sweeps away a layer of sand from beneath your feet. But the peace creeps up slowly, gently, gradually. Just the way that you feel after being out in the snow for an hour or more. You come in to the warm house and put on dry socks. You bundle up in a blanket or sip hot cocoa. You don't instantly feel warm, but rather, it grows on you. You begin to "feel" your feet again, then your legs, fingers, and so forth. Slowly, the pain that the chilly air caused is gone and you are warm and cozy once again. That's the peace of God. Gradually, slowly, He warms my heart until I am at rest in Him.

I was recently describing it to my husband in this way. When our infants have cried long and hard, complete with runny nose and splotchy face, it's often hard to sooth them. They can't seem to turn off the tears. Eventually, by rocking or patting or bouncing or singing, the crying winds down, gets softer, less frequent, and then, they are hushed. They are calm and quiet in the safety of their mother's embrace. That's how the Lord is to me, His desperate, hurting child. He soothes and rocks me, gradually calming me, giving me strength to rise and go forward. He walks with me throughout my day as I sweep, mop, vacuum, wash and fold laundry, cook, read, play, laugh, write, teach, train, love. He escorts me to my bed for rest and stands watch over me through the night. He is there when I rise, helping me up, to repeat the process again. He is an ever-faithful friend that will never leave me or forsake me.

I am excited about the Christmas season. I love the lights, decorations, the chill in the air, music, movies, scents, and spirit of this annual time. I even have a short, but not cheap, wish list. (Hey, I gotta be real.) But, with Jesus sitting here beside me, what more could I want?

Homeschooling Chuckles

2011-12-11T07:24:00.000-06:00

This was so funny - and also bears some truth. Hang with it till the end, it's great!

Have a great day!

Help Needed

2011-12-10T11:21:00.001-06:00

Last month, I decided to update the professional photos of my kids that adorn my walls by taking them myself. The ones I have are four years old! I have a point & shoot camera, nothing special, but it takes good photos (in my opinion). I saved a bundle of money doing it this way. BUT, I ran into a problem. One of the photos came out with kind of a reddish hue to it. I tried fixing it using Paint Shop Pro, but I'm not sure if my results were as good as it could get. I'm not even sure if I should fix it. If you have photography experience, could you give me your opinion in comments or by email? Pretty please?

The original photo...there's just something a bit off. The others came out fine. I'm baffled.

I tried to adjust it here. I think it looks even more red/pink.

Another adjustment...hmmm.

My last attempt. It looks rather washed out, doesn't it?

So, my questions for you are these:

1. Do you like any of the photos above?

2. Any ideas on what I should do to the original to get a balanced color that isn't washed out?

Thanks for your help!

10 Things I've Learned about Blogging in 2011

2011-12-09T06:06:00.001-06:00

1. How to create my own background and header. (Still needing improvement, but I'm on my way!)
2. How to add a post divider - a line of decoration between each post.
3. How to automatically add a signature to posts.
4. That I love Blogger's new dashboard and features, they make designing and writing so much faster and easier.
5. To appreciate reader's comments more than ever. They are truly a blessing!
6. That getting subscribers/followers is a lot of work. It takes a lot of "self-promotion" and I just don't feel comfortable with that.
7. That when I host a giveaway to get the word out about my blog, it really doesn't do the trick. Maybe I should try giving away a Mercedes next year? Nah. It would be hard to ship that.
8. I've learned that when a company contacts me about hosting a giveaway of their product, I must try the product first!
9. That I get really pumped when someone shares something from my site on their blog, Twitter or on Facebook. It doesn't happen very often, but when it does, I'm stoked! ;-)
10. That I don't think I could stop blogging even if I had zero readers. I learned this year, when I tried to stop blogging, that I write more for myself than anyone else. If it happens to help someone, and they subsequently share the link somewhere, (and I get giddy with glee) then that's a bonus. A huge bonus.

Hey! A reader! Thanks for being here! You make the blogging experience so much nicer. :) And to those who comment, I know it takes a bit more time. Thanks for doing it. I love hearing from you.