Colors

We could all learn a lot from crayons:

some are sharp, some are pretty, some are dull,

some have weird names, and all are different colors -

but they all have to learn to live in the same box."

- author unknown

Embracing the Morning

Our bathroom is not a big room. It works for two people but often it’s more than two people that in end up getting ready in the morning before school.

While I start out having a quiet shower, usually before I can get fully dressed, someone joins for some reason or another. This morning I had one that decided to brush her teeth while the other was borrowing my hairspray, (didn’t I just buy her own bottle for her?) and then I feel a little push as someone squeezes by me…..is my husband really taking out the trash in the bathroom at the same time three females are trying to get ready? Seriously?

Just as I realize that I am getting really hot, I am getting claustrophobic and need MY space, I feel a sweet little pat on my bottom and I turn around and watch all three walk out….which hand it belonged to, I don’t know, but I do know I stinkin LOVE my family and would never trade a crowded bathroom full of morning chatter, and a pat on the behind for 5 large bathrooms.

I know I could lock my door which would force them to use their own bathroom, but then I wouldn’t be EMBRACING the moment, now would I?

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

Another day of dress-up....fashinista Haley!

LENT and Holy Week

LENT begins tomorrow and although I have heard about and studied Lent (sort of) my whole life, I have never given up something for the seven weeks prior to Easter….HOLY WEEK. Many people view Lent as an old law, one in which we no longer need to observe. But my heart's cry has been to be changed and to experience true intimacy with HIM and what a perfect time to give up something, to set my mind on HIM as we begin to focus on the crucifixion and RESURRECTION. So, I’m still not sure what the Lord would want me to give up but I am confident HE will show me by tomorrow…(if it’s coffee, it’s not going to be pretty… ; )

So if you're serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that's where the action is. See things from his perspective. Col. 3:1-2

Here is section of an article I read, by Dennis Bratcher:

Ash Wednesday, the seventh Wednesday before Easter Sunday, is the first day of
the Season of Lent. Its name comes from the ancient practice of placing ashes on
worshippers’ heads or foreheads as a sign of humility before God, a symbol of
mourning and sorrow at the death that sin brings into the world. It not only
prefigures the mourning at the death of Jesus, but also places the worshipper in
a position to realize the consequences of sin. (See Reflections on Ash
Wednesday). Ash Wednesday is a somber day of reflection on what needs to
change in our lives if we are to be fully Christian.

What are you doing for LENT? How is your church observing LENT?

Never-Ending Celebrations

Celebrating another birthday!
Happy Birthday, Robin

The birthday girl...and me


Kim and Tracy

Kim and Laurie


The girls and I are always looking for a reason to celebrate

but the biggest countdown each year is celebrating

Robin. There won't be a quick coffee date

and a piece of cake, with a pat on the back

with this woman....she demands and deserves more!! ( love ya girl)

There are four of us that have been celebrating together for at

least 7-8 years now and everytime February rolls around,

we debate, discuss and pray and fast over how to celebrate ROBANN!

If we could.......

We would write her name in the sky,

we would take her to see

Celine,

take her on a cruise

and buy her creme brule'

if we could....that is what this

friend would LOVE and what we sure wish

we could bless her with.....

Instead, we had a wonderful day of shopping and

hours and hours at a perfect restaurant

with great steak, chicken and crusted salmon! (thanks Laurie)

ROBIN is a "die-hard" Girlfriend!

A faithful woman,

a strong tower and a fierce

fighter for what she loves...which is most of all ME...

I mean most of all JESUS...

she is a passionate LOVER OF JESUS and

I am blessed to call her friend!

Finally....A Good Read

I have loved reading flowerdust's blog. Her blog is one of the top ranked blogs in Christian leadership right now. I have read so much about this book and a few friends have already read it. ...FINALLY, I have been able to order it and can't wait to get my hot little hands on this thing!! Here is a little bit about the book......I highly encourage you to put this on your reading list!

From the Back Cover:

Growing up the daughter of a pastor, Anne Jackson experienced firsthand the conflict, stress, and struggle church leaders often face. She vowed her life in ministry would be different.Yet, years later, as a church leader, she was hospitalized because stress began wreaking havoc on her body. After being released from the hospital, an associate pastor asked her, "Does working at this church interfere with your communion with Christ?" The question was paramount in turning her life around.Thinking she wasn’t alone, Anne developed a website that allowed church leaders to share their struggles. Within a few days, she was flooded with over a thousand responses from people pouring out their stories of burnout. Using anecdotal parallels between Mad Cow Disease and leadership trends in the church, she writes not only to help us realize what church leaders are facing, but also to provide practical and positive treatment plans.Mad Church Disease is a lively, informative, and potentially life-saving resource for anyone in ministry—vocational or volunteer—who would like to understand, prevent, or treat the epidemic of burnout in church culture.

WOW! Being in our 18th year of ministry, having a father as a pastor and just being apart of a church, period...makes me want to read this!

**Get more info check it out on amazon or better yet, check out

this good deal here**

Still Celebrating!

Guess who had a birthday?

Look who has hair!

This is my 21st time I have

celebrated this

man's life!

Yep, he was 19, when we met!

It's been fun!

My FAVORITE PERSON!

Isn't he cute!??

My Strength, Fortress and Much More!

I love you, O LORD, my strength.
The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.
He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Psalm 18:1-2

This is my verse I'm meditating on over the next few weeks. The Lord gave me this verse a few nights ago when HE woke me up to spend time with HIM. I had been very busy (and sick) the previous week and had not spent any time with the Lord. I was consumed with other things, distracted with my "to do" list and overwhelmed with "things" Although I desperately wanted to sleep, I was excited that I knew HE was gently nudging me to meet with HIM. I got some much needed journaling, prayer and scripture reading done in those wee hours of Saturday morning. That explains my "sleeping in" in the previous post : )

HE IS MY: Strength, ROCK, fortress, refuge, shield, salvation and stronghold of my life...what more do I need!

I Heart Pink Pancakes and Headbands!

Wow, where have 10 days gone...let me see, Flu, flu, and more flu, a Valentine's party at school, a 40th birthday for the husband, a Valentine's breakfast with the family and Sadie Hawkins for the high schooler....all in 10 days!

In 18 years of being together, Darren and I have never been sick at the same time. In fact, Darren rarely gets sick but this flu thing hit the two of us at the same time. We were pathetic, not able to help eachother in the least. So, thankful to have a son that drives. He stocked us up on Gatorade, crackers and all the other stuff two sick parents might need...so sweet. Luckily, the kids were able to go to my parent's house for dinner, so they didn't starve. We had several phone calls of dear friends willing to help us. We had grocery dropped off at our door and even laundry done for us! I LOVE MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS!


By the time we were all healthy, Haley and I began working on our Valentines cards, making cupcakes and getting things together for our class party. I love this time of year at school. The really dark, cold days of January are over, spring break is around the corner and spring is in sight. (a little)

That night, we had a fun party for Darren, who is now old...40! (shhh, I have 9 more months of being in my 30's) We had a huge group of great friends show up and celebrate my favorite man!

Darren's Party!

On Saturday, I slept in and woke to coffee, roses and a cute table set with a tablecloth and candles. Darren and I spent a lazy morning together making these cute pink pancakes and eggs together. After letting the kids sleep in, we woke up the kids and had a fun V-day breakfast together.

Molly had Sadie Hawkins that night. She went with the funnest group of kids. They all looked so cute.Molly had the cutest black dress and she had picked out the funnest, bright, pink headband. It was perfect for Valentine's Day! We all met for some crazy picture taking, dropped them off for their banquet and then a group of us headed to dinner. Afterwards, some of the mom's planned some super fun game, then they watched a movie, while the mom's hung out! Fun group and definitely blessed with dear friends!

Look, you can see her date was sweet enough to wear pink..to match her handband...ha!

I am so very thankful that all three of our kids are blessed with some really special friendships...February has been a great month!

Well, we have school tomorrow, President's Day, to make up for a snow day from December. This is a long stretch, as we look forward to spring break.

I Blinked

A few weeks ago we decided to make a trip to Olive Garden and use some gift certificates we got for Christmas. I love free food, a fun restaurant and going out with the family.

Our 10 year old was invited to go to grandma and grandpa’s house to spend the day with them, make cookies, go to Subway, eat lots of sugar and be told that the world revolves around her…we all need grandparents like that. So off she went With one less mouth to feed, we decided to let our two older kids bring friends along. I love hanging out with my kids and I love getting to know who they hang out with, as well. Needless to say, they both invited someone of the “opposite sex”…gasp! We call them “special friends” because I can’t bring myself to say that they have “a boyfriend” or a “girlfriend” I’m not in denial, their just too young….(is that denial?)

At one point in the evening, I had a surreal moment…..here we were taking our two high school kids, (wait, how did we get high schoolers?) with "dates," out to dinner. Wasn’t it just last year, we were loading up the car seats, strollers, diaper bags, extra outfits, sippy cups, pacifiers, “blankies” and everything else in the house, each time we went out? It WAS just yesterday but I decided to BLINK and here they are in high school AND hanging out with the “other gender” …..weird!~

I will say for a split moment, I felt sad that those days were gone.....the baby days of needing mommy for their every desire, for needing rocked to sleep, for needing their nose wiped, for needing every meal made for them, for needing to be held and for a split second, I missed those days when their biggest love and desire was MOMMY!! I WAS SAD…..for a split second.... Those days were precious and priceless but it didn’t take long for me to snap back into reality, grab only MY purse (and nothing else) yell, “Let’s go” and to watch 4 huge kids come running out the house, crazy “in like” with each other, laughing at everything and nothing! Those were sweet days with the babies but I wouldn’t change a thing or go back for a moment!

I love teenagers….especially mine!

Do Not Disturb

Disturb us, Lord, when
We are too well pleased with ourselves,
When our dreams have come true
Because we have dreamed too little,
When we arrived safely
Because we sailed too close to the shore.
Disturb us, Lord, when

With the abundance of things we possess
We have lost our thirst
For the waters of life;
Having fallen in love with life,
We have ceased to dream of eternity
And in our efforts to build a new earth,
We have allowed our vision
Of the new Heaven to dim.
Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly,
To venture on wider seas
Where storms will show your mastery;
Where losing sight of land,
We shall find the stars.
We ask You to push back
The horizons of our hopes;
And to push into the future
In strength, courage, hope and love.
Amen!

Sir Francis Drake 1577

Does God ever DISTURB your routine?

Interupt what you had planned?

I don't want to ever lose my longing for the Water of Life

or the desire to venture out on wider seas!