Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Refreshed!

How funny to me that I had just earlier written about my life verse that focuses on WAITING. Just now as I was sitting at the school table with my boys, wading through schoolwork...and feeling a bit weary. I glanced down at my Busy Mom's Prayer Journal and saw one of my favorite scriptures and I just smiled and felt REFRESHED. For there, right before my eyes I saw Isaiah 40:31 "Those who WAIT on the Lord shall renew their strength." It just amazes me how God encourages us and give us what we need. When we need it!

Waiting.....

Psalms 27:14 is the first verse I remember committing to memory as a new Christian at Auburn University. This verse is indeed, my life verse:) "Wait for the Lord. Be strong and take heart. Yes, Wait for the Lord." Waiting is not my strong point, I must say, but I am learning each day to wait on Him. "Though is tarries, wait for it...." Again, I'm reminded to wait.

Last night I did something I have not done in 11 years. I went to a tanning bed. In my younger years I spent way too much time in those things. Oh the damage I did without understanding what I was doing ( or maybe at the time of my life, I didn't even care). Anyway, In five weeks I am taking a trip with my mom to St Thomas (Virgin Islands). Normally a tan doesn't really matter to me. Really, it just doesn't. But I do want to enjoy the water and the beach without totally roasting (not to mention the fact that I do not want to blind innocent people either). So therefore, I will go the tanning bed....but only for these five weeks...then I'm DONE.

Chuck's dad had been doing really good. He still has the drainage tube and hopes for it to come out when he goes back in Feb. But for now, he's doing really good.

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Making progress....

Back to our routine...if we have one, that is. The kids and I got back to school on Monday and so far, so good. Just today I FINALLY got the snow village down from the mantle and the Christmas tree is STILL up (the decorations are off and in boxes sitting in the floor). This is the first time since I got married that Christmas things are still sitting around my house. I'm the type that the day after Christmas, I start packing up and cleaning up. Not this year, I guess with age I am mellowing and learning that I just can't do it all. Oh, and it's okay! Eventually, I will get to most of the things that need to be done around here. I failed to mention the 2000 Legos that are in the floor in front of me as I write. Yep, the Star Wars Sandcrawler lies before me...partially put together. I remind myself that oneday these boys are going to be grown and I will miss this mess.
Our new treadmill came in yesterday! Yes, I've given up on making to the gym at 5:15. Just doesn't happen anymore....and you can tell by looking at me:) Chuck put the new treadmill together last night and I hopped on it at 10:30pm. The start of a new thing and my determination to get these extra few pounds off! Tolar even had a good walk this morning. I think we are all going to enjoy it. It will not become a clothes hanger....No way! Lord Willing, I will be traveling with my mom to St Thomas early March. Only 8 weeks from now! Oh boy, I have to get busy to get this body beach ready!
Chuck's dad has been home from the hospital for a week now after being in there for a month after his surgery to remove cancer from his colon and kidney. Today he had a doctor's appointment and they are running another CT scan. If they do find a new abcess, more surgery will be required. We are praying that the colon is healing and that will not be needed. Hopefully, I will hear from them soon and I will update when we know what will happen.

Friday, January 2, 2009

Happy New Year

It's hard to believe it's 2009. Just yesterday we were all scurrying around to save water and food in preparation for Y2K and Tolar was not yet a year old. Now here we are 10 years later. Where did the time go?
Reflecting on 2008. It was a good year. God, again, blessed our family and did amazing things in our lives. For me, some are very personal. God's Word for me at the beginning of 2008 was that I was to forget the past because He was doing a NEW THING. And HE did! That is a personal process, but God showed me through His word in Isaiah 55 that "Where once there were thorns, cypress trees will grow. WHere briers grew mytles will sprout up. This miracle will bring great honor to the Lord's name; it will be an everlasting sign of His power and love." I have seen God work this verse in my life. He has healed me and changed me, thus allowing him to work in other areas of my life as learned to truly forgive others and understand my identity in Christ.
In 2008 we saw God provide every penny we needed for Chuck and I to travel with a missions team to Central Asia. That was AMAZING...that fact that God provided and He sent us together. If He calls you.....He will provide and enable. He is faithful. So many times I hear people say they can't afford to go on mission trips. Well, we didn't have the money either, but we trusted that if God wanted us to go, He would make a way. And He did! Chris Powell, an amazing servant in our Sunday School class, sent Chuck last year. He has already presented Chuck with another check funding a trip for this next year. Chris realizes how important his part in missions is, he can't be the one to travel, but he can be the one to make it possible for some one else to travel. Chris is on misson! We are so thankful for his obedience to God and willingness to GIVE. It just blows us away! God is amazing. We are praying now for the team Chuck will take with him in April, Lord Willing.
In 2008 God blessed us with the opportunity to start camping. That has been so much fun for our family and we look forward to more family fun this next year. We already have 3 trips on the calendar. Grandaddy has been so wonderful to let us use his RV. He said he bought it for his kids to enjoy (since he does not camp). We are loving it and are thankful.
In 2008 we took lots of trips to Grandaddy's place at the beach. The older boys both started swimming this past year. We, also, visited all of our friends with pools over the summer so that they could be in the water often. Tolar has become the best swimmer. Trace is still learning, but had made great progress. Both of the boys also started tubbing on our lake trips. That makes mom so proud. I love the water and love seeing the boys enjoy it, too. Turner, likes to play in the lake water and shallow swimming pools. He's still afraid of deep water.
Overall, it's been a wonderful year and God has blessed our family. I know that I've seen God do new things in my life as I've chosen to forget the past and look to Him!

Starting out 2009.......So far in His word God has shown me Isaiah 46. In verse 9 he says, " And do not forget the things I have done throughout history. For I am GOD-I alone!" Reading on in that same chapter, God has more to say about what He WILL do....and what, I believe the future holds for America (Babylon, as I see it). We are not sure what the future holds, but we do know who holds the future. God's word lays out what will come, and He will do what He says He will do, and we need to be ready. Don't be surprised when disaster comes. God words promises that it WILL come as a result of our nation and world rejecting HIM as Lord and God. Remember what God has done throughout history (Is 46:9). That is our call from God for this time, REMEMBER..... He will fulfill His promises and Jesus WILL come back to take those who belong to him HOME. I'm ready, are you?