Birthday Boys

Between Christmas and the first week of January, we have 3 birthdays in our house...all the boys!!

*Cliff turned 46. He's always looked older than he is and has gotten automatic "senior" discounts for years!

*Joshua, the oldest turned 23. He's got a big semester of school ahead of him. Several concerts and trips. One of his highlights will be performing the lead in his school's musical, "Light in the Piazza."

*As mentioned in my previous post, our youngest son turned 16. I always have thought of Jacob & Emily as "the little kids" so to think that they are both teenagers is a bit mind boggling!!

Happy Birthday to the Boys!!

My Baby Boy's New Hobby

I can hardly believe that my youngest son is 16!! Where has the time gone??
This past year in school, Jacob has taken an interest in fitness and weight training. It's been really good for him as it has caused him to think about what he eats and how to take care of his body. He is built like his dad....strong and broad. He is a big, strong boy and working with weights has made him all the more stronger! I've been hard at work teaching him that with power and strength comes responsibility.

He went to his 2nd power lifting meet last weekend. I was so hoping he'd do well. Being the 3rd child and having to follow in the footsteps of very out-going, performing siblings has been a bit of a challenge for Jake. He battles a bit with self-esteem. I just wanted him to do his best. He did. He stayed steady through the entire meet. His dad went with him. I didn't go but thanks to a very good friend, I have some pictures.

*Waiting to receive the First Overall medal in his weight class.

*Receiving a Second Place medal for an event

*Various lifting events

Yep, that's my big baby boy and is mom is proud of him...medals or not!!!

Sundays

Have you ever heard this song by Craig Morgan,
"That's What I Love About Sunday"?
Here's part of the lyrics...

Raymond's in his Sunday best,
He's usually up to his chest in oil an' grease.
There's the Martin's walkin' in,
With that mean little freckle-faced kid,
Who broke a window last week.
Sweet Miss Betty likes to sing off key in the pew behind me.

That's what I love about Sunday:
Sing along as the choir sways;
Every verse of Amazin' Grace,
An' then we shake the Preacher's hand.
Go home, into your blue jeans;
Have some chicken an' some baked beans.
Pick a back yard football team,
Not do much of anything:
That's what I love about Sunday.

I love this song because it reminds me of simple times and speaks to the tradition of Sunday Morning church going.

My dad has been a pastor since I was born. When you live in the preacher's house, you don't have a choice...you go to church. For me, that was never a problem. I liked going to church. (Let me say, though, that we also went to alot of "extra" church....various meetings, etc and that I did have a problem with from time to time :-) But as for regular Sunday church, I always enjoyed it and it's always been a part of my life.

These days, I begin my Sundays by getting up a bit earlier so I can watch the "Hour of Power" at the Crystal Cathedral. At this point in my life, I have found watching this church service to be extremely inspiring and encouraging and gets me ready to do ministry in my own church.

On Sundays, I work primarily with the group of people responsible for the Sunday morning service. As each of these people entered the auditorium yesterday morning, they came eager to serve and give of themselves. They also came ready to meet with God and receive the spoken Word. I can't begin to tell you what a blessing it is to work with such great people. That attitude of servant hood is not limited to the auditorium, however, there are people who come in ready to minister by making sure the heat is turned on, a simple breakfast meal is cooked and offered, that our children are ministered to, that there is assistance offered in the parking lot. In these days when the news casts offer not much good news, it is such a comfort to enter into a community where you can find comfort and encouragement.

I love Sundays. I love the tradition of going to church. I love coming together and as a Body, worshiping our God and learning more about Him.

****Oh, and by the way, as the song says, we usually do have fried chicken on Sundays too because my dad loves KFC and its become another tradition to have Sunday lunch with my parents at our local KFC!!!

Prayer

Never underestimate the power of prayer!
I believe in that power so much, I meet with a group of women each Thursday morning with no other agenda than to share our lives and to pray.

Personally, we had an answer to prayer this week regarding my dad's health. He's been having physical battles for at least 6 months and it was becoming more noticeable the toll it was taking on him not only physically but also mentally and emotionally. He had some tests this past week and although his situation is pretty bad, it is treatable and will require no hospitalization or surgery. I told him last Sunday that whatever the diagnosis was, we would all deal with it. Not only as a family but as a church body as well.

One of the women in our group is Baby Gabrielle's grandma, Carla. I posted Gabrielle's story here. I cannot tell you how many times Carla has said that knowing that people are upholding them in prayer is what gets them through.

Over these past few weeks, God has once again affirmed in my heart that He is still GOD! I have seen his power more this past year than any other time in my life. Maybe it's my age, maybe it is where I am in my walk with him....probably its a combination of both. I do know, however, that when you pray...when you enter into fervent intercessory prayer, God does something to you. I don't know how it works but because of this prayer group, I have been witness to lives that are radically different than they were a year ago. And not just the lives of the women but their families as well.

I hope in some ways this can be an encouragement to you not to give up! God hears our prayers. He will answer them in His time and in His way. I don't always like or understand the answers but when He allows certain things to come full circle, I am once again reminded that His ways are always best.

Isaiah 55:8 (The Message)

8-11"I don't think the way you think.
The way you work isn't the way I work."
God's Decree.
"For as the sky soars high above earth,
so the way I work surpasses the way you work,
and the way I think is beyond the way you think.

Under the Weather

I've been somewhat under the weather for the past couple weeks! It all actually started as I was working on my last post. By the time I was done, I didn't think I felt so well. A few hours later I thought I had the flu...fever, chills, achy. Two days later, I realized I had more than the flu and went to the dr. where I was told I had ear, throat, and sinus infections along with bronchitis.

I'm glad to say that except for a lingering cough, I am finally starting to feel like myself again!

A Comforting Treat

When it comes to our children, parents find such joy and delight in simple things. A fistful of freshly picked dandelions, a smile, excitement on Christmas morning, or a simple, "I love you, mommy."

As my children are growing and moving out and forward with their lives, I still find much to delight in...such as phone calls, opportunities to spend time with them, hugs, and help carrying in grocery bags.

It was such a joy to have all four of my kids home over the Christmas holidays. To sit down and enjoy a meal together is a wonderfully rare treat these days. I tried to spend as much time as possible over the two weeks we had to enjoy the presence of one another. It worked most of the time, I mean, occasionally someone would get on someone else's nerves but for the most part, we had a wonderful holiday.

Josh came home with a cold and cough and didn't feel up to singing in our church. Ok. I LOVE to hear my kids sing and hearing him has become something special since I don't get it on a daily basis anymore. On his last Sunday at home, he felt well enough to sing. He chose a wonderful, uplifting, encouraging song.
"He's Been Faithful." I always try not to embarrass my kids but I did record this particular song. I will try to post it eventually. I believe the file is rather large :-)