A Little Bit of This and That

Going Back in Time

We're in the "dog days" of summer here in the South. Not a whole lot going on so I am finding myself looking at pictures of my children and thinking back to those very physically tiring days of being a mom to two young ones. These were emotional days also as we left the United States and went to Costa Rica to language school in preparation for missionary life in Guatemala.
We flew to San Jose, Costa Rica in December, 1986. It was right after Christmas and was even more emotionally wrenching leaving our families and home at that time of year. But we were very excited and knew this was the right thing to do...obeying the Lord to be used for a purpose. There are many images that come to mind when I think about Costa Rica. The buses that we rode on (we had no car), the taxis when we couldn't find a bus. The fact that there were no addresses...we just told the drivers where the destination was near (a store, gas station, plaza) etc. I remember having to adjust to the altitude there and having ear infection after ear infection as did our baby girl. The sights and smells of the market are there in my memory also as we'd go do our "barefoot" learning...going out into the marketplace where no one spoke English and doing our shopping. One had to speak Spanish whether it was correct or not. There are memories of getaways to the rainforest, to the beaches, to nice hotels to get some gringo food. The churches there were so welcoming to us and we funded nursery equipment several times. We wanted the children there to have what they needed but, believe me, it was for my sake also.
Our children were well cared for in the "kinder" as we went to Spanish classes daily. I can still feel the floor and bed shake and the gates rattle as we would barely wake up during the temblores (earthquake tremors)during the nights.
Costa Rica was beautiful...beaches, valleys, mountains, rainforest, orchids that grew wild everywhere, friendly people, and a wonderful beginning to our years as missionaries.

Bradley!

Just wanted to write about my son-in-law, Brad. Or Bratley, depending on his behavior at times! I first met him on January 23, 2004. He and Erin had met at Compton Elementary's ASP program and he'd gotten up the nerve to call her and ask her out. Of course, the date was to a hockey game. He's obsessed with hockey and, by the way, is a good hockey player himself. Anyway, he showed up at the door at 8:30 that evening to take Erin to a KSU hockey game. All I saw was this tall blonde guy with a cap on. I thought,"hmm, quite cute. Erin may like this one." It all took off from there. Now he's our daughter's husband and our sweet Maddie's father. We love him like he's our own. Of course, I knew he was "the one for us" when he told me that he had always loved school and that, in fact, he went to bed with his school clothes on the night before the first day of school when he was growing up! That just touched this teacher's heart! He's a true Southern boy and we have to discipline him at times in his craziness but we are very proud of him and his accomplishments, his support and love for our daughter, and his daddy skills. He's the best at rocking that baby to sleep. We thank the Lord for bringing him into our lives.
So,yeah, enough of this mushy stuff. Bradley, settle down, boy, and quit talking about those bodily functions.

John and Me

Thirty, 30, yes, THIRTY years ago this week John and I were formally engaged. Our wedding was planned for December. So, yes, this is our big anniversary year. Amazing.
I met John the very first day of my freshman year in college at Truett-McConnell in Cleveland, Georgia. We were at the first chapel meeting of the year. He became a friend quickly...at the time I was dating another boy. We'd been dating for about 2 years. That relationship ended around Christmas of that year and John and I picked up our friendship. I was quite fascinated with him. He was very easy to talk to, pretty cute, too! He spoke Spanish fluently and was just night and day different from me. He was a fairly recent Christian whereas I'd been a believer since age 10. He had a Cuban mother and was from Miami. I was a born and bred Atlanta girl. We began dating in September of 1977, broke up in July 1978, and then I came to my senses in April, 1979, after dating several guys that were either heart-breakers, boring, or crazy. I called John and told him I wanted him back. He proceeded to tell me that Jesus was first in his life and he'd have to pray about it. HA! Well, I really was glad about that though. Anyway, we did begin seeing each other again and quickly decided we would get married. We'd had enough of "dating around". So here we are, celebrating 30 years this December. Never boring! My true love!

You are Everything!

You Are Everything (Matthew West)

I'm the one with two left feet
Standing on a lonely street
I can't even walk a straight line
And every time you look at me
I'm spinning like an autumn leaf
Bound to hit bottom sometime
Where would I be without someone to save me
Someone who won't let me fall

I'm the one with big mistakes
Big regrets and bigger breaks
Than I ever care to confess
Oh but, You're the one who looks at me
And sees what I was meant to be
More than just a beautiful mess

You're everything good in my life
Everything honest and true
And all of those stars hanging up in the sky
Could never shine brighter than You

You are everything that I live for
Everything that I can't believe is happening
You're standing right in front of me
With arms wide open
All I know is
Every day is filled with hope
You are everything that I believe for
And I can't help but breathe you in
Breathe again
Feeling all this life within
Every single beat of my heart
You are
You are
Jesus, You are

You are everything

(This song says it all for me.)

Maddie's Eyes

23 Years Ago Today!

Erin was born to us 23 years ago today in New Orleans. We were in the middle of a heat wave and it was 102 or so that day. Back in the day, we didn't find out the sex of the baby so we were totally surprised and excited when the doc said "How 'bout a girl?" I already had a boy so I figured I'd have another, especially when this baby was so strong and big and kicked me so hard that she tore the cartilage in my ribcage. Ha! But we had a beautiful red-haired, blue-eyed almost 9 lb. baby girl. Later that year her hair turned blonde and her eyes brown and she has grown now into a beautiful woman/wife/mom who loves Jesus. I'm thankful every day to the Lord for blessing me with her. Happy Birthday, Erin!

Madison is FOUR MONTHS OLD!

So Many Needs

It's amazing how many prayer requests that I pray about daily. So many things have happened lately. I daily pray for the "D" ladies. Their names all start with D. One who is a recent widow and still so young. Another 2 who are in the midst of very bitter divorces...long-time faithful church members. Another who has had 2 miscarriages in the last year. Now a new request. A couple who meant a lot to me through college years (I was in their wedding). Always had such a wonderful outlook and family. Their children were true blessings. One has strayed terribly and now is in jail and is looking at probably the next 25 years in prison. They are devastated, of course. So these are all just reminders to me that I am so blessed. I have NO problems in comparison to these. I know that problems are just around the corner however. I am not an exception. I pray I will be able to handle things that happen and will depend on Him as I've prayed for others to do.

Devotional Thoughts

Today my reading was Luke 7:50. Jesus told a woman, "your faith has saved you, go in peace". This just touched me quickly. I've read this verse many times. But I read some commentary on it by Beth Moore that made me see some things more clearly. My sins have been forgiven, are forgiven today, and will be forgiven tomorrow and every day. My faith has saved me from hell, condemnation, from myself, from a world that has no hope except in Him. I can, because of this gift, go in peace. I can have peace in my daily life knowing that I have a secure eternity with God and my precious family and friends. I have peace available to me in life's small joys, big blessings, hard problems, and little irritations. I just have to remember it's there deep within me just like the joy I have deep within me because of Him. I'm so unconscious sometimes of my blessings, the way the Lord works in me and around me. I pray I may be more aware daily of His presence, love, forgiveness, and peace.

Celebrating 75

My father turned 75 years young in Siesta Key this past week. He celebrated with a cannonball into the pool. Wow.

Siesta Key

When I see the words SIESTA KEY many memories come to mind. Our family started out going there when I was 18, my brother 15, and my sister, 2. Our grandmother also came. That was back in 1976, right after I graduated from high school. We have come every other year since then, even going when we were on the mission field in Guatemala. We may have missed a few through the years, but not many. When I think of this place I think of beautiful sunsets first of all. The whole family gathered together walking and watching. We are now up to 17 people with spouses, grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. I think of going into town and shopping and getting ice cream at Big Olaf's. Many years we drove to St. Armand's Key and shopped and even went to Marina Jack's for special meals like Erin's birthday one year. I think of wiping out in the waves whenever a storm has passed or just floating on the ocean when it was like a lake. We were there a few years ago after a hurricane had passed and the wind was wild. It's amazing that I was there last week with my granddaughter. So much time has passed. So many blessings. I thank the Lord that we are all still here. I cherish the time I have with my folks.

Realizations

I find myself struggling more and more with the different personalities around me. I formerly tried to ignore my irritation and blame myself and let it go. More my problem than theirs. But, lately, I have no patience and it's quite amazing the thoughts and reactions I have that I try to keep private and out of my facial expressions. Really sometimes comical. But I read today in my devotional time about the fact that God really values more my heart and my thoughts than He does my actions. I can sit and be outwardly sweet and "Christian" in my reactions to people but He knows my heart, soul, and mind. Hmm.
Another thing...I have had a problem with pride...I don't do this or that questionable or unchristian thing and try my best to keep my life clean but I also DON'T do the things that I should..like have a compassionate heart and jumping quickly to serve others.
Yeah, today's devotional took care of some of my pride.

One of My Favorite Poems

Barter
by Sara Teasdale

Life has loveliness to sell,
All beautiful and splendid things,
Blue waves whitened on a cliff,
Soaring fire that sways and sings,
And children's faces looking up,
Holding wonder like a cup.

Life has loveliness to sell,
Music like the curve of gold,
Scent of pine trees in the rain,
Eyes that love you, arms that hold,
And for your spirit's still delight,
Holy thoughts that star the night.

Spend all you have for loveliness,
Buy it and never count the cost;
For one white singing hour of peace
Count many a year of strife well lost,
And for a breath of ecstasy
Give all you have been, or could be.

Random But Precious Moments for Our Family

The Mystery

I'm reading an interesting book called Castles in the Sand. It's about a woman, a pastor's wife, who finally lets herself be genuine, imperfect, and forgiven. There's a line in the book that I really like and which totally explains how I've felt for years. I've never understood why God loved us so much to send His Son to show us how to live and to die for us. But I have to "accept the mystery...that GOD is real and yet unexplainable." Thank goodness. I don't need to understand everything...what a peace that gives me. I'm so uptight sometimes and feel the need to be as perfect as I can be. But it's just not possible. Do I hear another Thank Goodness? Ha. Like Rose in the cartoon Rose is Rose, I just need a let things be tree. Gotta find me one.

Goin' Through the Motions

I like this song by Matthew West. I consider it in a different manner than perhaps the reason it was written. Christ is my reason for living and I know I couldn't survive without Him. But I tend to be very unobservant and am not sensitive to the needs around me, nor the beauty and blessings that come from the Lord. I pray to become more aware of what the Lord sends into my path and not just "go through the motions" of daily life.


This might hurt, it's not safe
But I know that I've gotta make a change
I don't care if I break,
At least I'll be feeling something
'Cause just okay is not enough
Help me fight through the nothingness of life

I don't wanna go through the motions
I don't wanna go one more day
without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don't wanna spend my whole life asking,
"What if I had given everything,
instead of going through the motions?"

No regrets, not this time
I'm gonna let my heart defeat my mind
Let Your love make me whole
I think I'm finally feeling something
'Cause just okay is not enough
Help me fight through the nothingness of this life

'Cause I don't wanna go through the motions
I don't wanna go one more day
without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don't wanna spend my whole life asking,
"What if I had given everything,
instead of going through the motions?"

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Just the Usual

I love these photos of the kid! She is getting such personality. The one with her mommy is pretty appropriate as she is smug about her mom. We are loving getting to know her and just lately has she started trying to roll over, she is laughing loud and long, just a lot of fun when she's not fussing.
We had a little trip to Illinois and St. Louis for Brad to be in his best friend's wedding. That went well except that Erin came home pretty sick with mastitis. She's better now. I was very happy to babysit for them but I was so tired when we got back.
Now, tonight, I am having the solitude that I crave so often...silence. I love it. I'm so sleepy...could sleep for days I feel.
Still praying for my boy...for God to place his feet on the path that the Lord would have him take. I miss him.

May Days

I love this picture of my baby Madison. I'm so enjoying my Fridays off now that the office has our new schedule. Erin and I go shopping at the Avenue and stroll with Maddie in the sunshine. We stop and shop or eat at a little bakery there. I enjoy Erin's company so much and I feel like I'm useful to her when I go over and she gets some extra sleep or does the errands she needs to do while I handle Madison.
We had a nice Mother's Day...I gave her a Willow Tree figurine called "Our Gift" with a daddy, mom, and baby. So pretty. We had lunch at their house with the family, including Stephen.