Knocking down Walls

Life happens. And it continues to happen, whether you want it to or not. The day my dad passed away, it seemed very surreal to me to look around and see "life" still happening all around me. I wanted to shout out the window, "Hey, don't you all know my dad just died. Why are you just out there mowing your lawn?" I know that sounds weird, and it was to me, too. Weird and real all at the same time. Well, part of our lives that has continued is what comes next for my mom. She has decided to remodel the studio and move back in as her home. Last Friday, Travis, Jennifer (my sister), and I took it upon ourselves to remove a few walls. We are very good at knocking down, and not so good at putting back up. But, we did feel like we accomplished something that day. I gotta tell you, it was hard seeing those walls come down that my dad worked so hard to put up. But we know that's what had to happen to move on to the next step. Continue to pray for my mom and the rest of us as we deal with the "life" that continues to happen.

A few months ago, Travis asked me if I would be interested in going out somewhere with him that evening. I was a little skeptical. I hadn't been having the best time, then, but I was willing to go. That evening, he took me to see a preview of the movie "Fireproof". I hadn't even heard of it, but he said that it was by the same people who did "Facing the Giants" and I love that movie! Anyway, we watched it and loved it. We left there wanting to bring all of our friends! Well, tonight is opening night. Springfield is hosting it at the Campbell 16 Theaters. We are taking a group of friends, and I can't wait for them to see it! Go to http://www.fireproofthemovie.com/ to see a trailer. You will not be sorry!

Another Good Night!

Another good night! We had new kids tonight for our second night of M*A*S*H. Tonight was "A" night so we were talking about how to be an army. Our verse for army night is 2 Timothy 2:15. We are starting a study of the Armor of God and this first night was about the belt of truth. They seemed to have a great time acting out the lesson and really getting involved! The cupcakes with strawberry icing didn't hurt, either! There were a few loud moments, but nothing that didn't quickly calm down. It's just great to see the kids having a good time! Next week.....SURGICAL! Note: the pic of Alesha and all the "lies" on her pants. It's a good thing she was wearing her "Belt of Truth"!

And So it Begins....

I just finished watching the season premiere of Heroes. I love that show! We have been watching it since it began, and it is so addicting! Sometimes I like it better when there is nothing on TV that I want to watch because I will just find something better to do. But, if the rest of the season was as good as the first episode, I know where I will be every Monday at 8pm....or at least taping them! If you haven't had a chance to catch any, just go to http://www.nbc.com/ and they have full episodes on there! Enjoy!

HELP!

Help!!! My 11yr old son just asked me why we (the church) sacrifice what is right in order to save the opinions of people. I KNOW what the answer is...kinda, but aren't there some gray lines. Like not hurting people, saving face with the wiser, dedicated parishoners, or maybe there is a cut dry answer??? Help! It seems like he is really questioning some things about the church and its function. Some input, please!!!

Let Me Have Your Lunch

I was listening to the radio this past week and I heard a woman speaking. She was on Focus on the Family, and I didn't catch the beginning, so I don't know her name. Well, she was telling about the story of the boy and the 2 loaves and 3 fish. She went on to talk about the boy's reaction to the Lord's request. He could have easily said that this was HIS lunch and not about to give it up. (She also pointed out that this was a poor boy's lunch because barley was a poor man's bread). Well, we all know what the boy did. He gave up his lunch. She went on to talk about how we go to God and wonder how things are going to get done, what should we do, how can we fix this. And God responds, "Give me your lunch." We tend to rely on our own abilities and resources when all God wants is our lunch. The boy that day wasn't ABLE, he was AVAILABLE. If we are going to expect God-sized things in our life, we need to turn our lunch over to the one who fed the thousands.

Flooding from Hurrican Ike

Just a few pictures that I found on the KY3 website from the recent Hurricane Ike effects. Can you believe that it can reach all the way up here??? These are at the park in Ozark.

M*A*S*H report

Here's the first report from Troop 4:12. We have started M*A*S*H, and we had 18 people at my house last night! It was so awesome to see the kids excited about getting together! They weren't all kids, though. Alesha Jones had volunteered to help out, and Jeff, Alesha and Kaden Moore also showed up to help. So, this being our first week was a MOBILE week. This means we put "feet on our faith" based on Mark 9:35, and get out there and serve people. We started in our own neighborhood by picking up trash around the apartments. I thought I was going to get a lot of moaning and groaning from the kids, but they were awesome! They ran around saying, Yea, let's pick up trash! Whatever!!! God is so awesome, and He surprises me all the time! I really enjoy doing this. It's a very rewarding experience. Just knowing that the kids like to get together is good, and I love having them in my home. I'm excited to see what else God has planned for this group. Next week is ARMY, which means we are going to gather together and get equipped (study) to get out there and do what God wants us to do!

Are you ready for some Football?!

Tonight was Tyler's first football game for this year. We love this time of year and I really enjoy getting to go and watch him play. Football season is so nice because they practice for a couple of weeks, play for a few more, and then it's over. Just enough to leave you wanting more and ready for the next year. It's kinda sad though, because this will be his last year to play for Mighty Mites. Next year it will be school ball, which I am sure will be more intense! Well, we wound up losing tonight, but I'm sure they'll get better as we go along! Notice the pics of Abby and Tucker. They, on the other hand, are not nearly as enthused about it! Way to go, Tyler!!!

The Circle of Life

Talk about life coming full circle! These pics are of Tyler and children of kids who were in our youth group in Mtn Grove! I could probably find similar pics, if I had time, of those girls (now moms) holding Tyler when he was that age. But don't get me wrong, I love these girls and couldn't be more proud of them! They are great moms and now good friends!.....am I getting old???

My Journey

So, recently I have started this journey to find out who I really am, and what I am all about. I think for the most part, I have just kinda floated around, agreeing with everyone, and trying my best not to hurt anyone's feelings or go against the grain. I just thought I was being easy to get along with, but now I don't know. There are some things that I just don't really have an opinion about, so it's ok to go with the flow, but....there are also times when I feel otherwise and choose to not speak up, trying to protect the others involved, but in the meantime, suppressing my own feelings. I am on a mission to find a happy medium. I was bragging to my dad once that I had this wonderful blood pressure. It is never high! Attributing it to my even keeled good nature! Good right? But then, my dad said something that I will never forget and now I understand. He said, "That's great, but every once in a while you gotta get excited about SOMETHING!" He's right. So my journey begins, and the first thing that I want to admit is this....I like to watch Beverly Hills, 90210 and Dawson's Creek. Sorry, guilty pleasure. I guess I have a weakness for High School drama! I could sit and watch multiple episodes. There I said it, and it's in print. No going back now!

Jackson

Please pray for some friends of ours. Their son, Jackson, was being a normal, inquisitive 2yr old, and took some medicine he wasn't suppose to. They have admitted him to the hopital so that they can watch him. If your child has ever been in the hospital, you know how unnerving that can be!

Car Trouble....Always!

ok...this is how my life has been going lately. We were just out, doing Saturday kind of stuff. Innocent enough, right? Well, as we were leaving Culver's, our car wouldn't start! It wouldn't be that big a deal if we have not been hobbling along ever since we have had this car! What a pain in the rear it has been. Not to mention that we JUST got it back from being worked on. We've only been enjoying it for about a month! Anyway, pray that Travis and Mike have the patience and the knowledge to fix it so we can get it home!

...and Travis makes 5!

I just realized as I am looking over my info and stuff that so far there is no pic of my dearest hubby on here! I am not trying to disclude him, I just hadn't had opportunity to put him in,yet. So, here he is! This is Travis and we have been married for 14 years. Most of the time we are pretty good friends, too, but we have our days! I am sure you will be seeing him more in the future!

School Year Officially Underway

You know school has officially started when it's Open House time. Tonight was Wilder's Open House. Tucker was so excited to be my "tour guide" and take me to all of his favorite places in the school. Abby was a part of the Wilder Fashion Show, and she had a great time. They are all doing great and seem to be adapting to their new roles so far! I guess once you get to be "big" you don't have Open House anymore because Tyler spent his evening at football practice! Travis also had to stay at home. He has been nursing his back since Monday. Hopefully, he will be up and functioning soon! This picture is from the first day of school.

Showing vs. Telling, The M*A*S*H perspective

We are starting a new group on Wednesday nights at my house called....M*A*S*H. We are basing it off of the hit series, but with a twist. We are taking each Wednesday night with a different theme. Mobile, Army, Surgical, Hospital. They all have their special purpose. The idea of this group is for kids to learn how to put feet on their faith. I think we spend too much time TELLING them how to be a Christian and not enough time SHOWING them what that means. So, part of this will be going out into the community, studying the Word, and then rejoicing in the fact that we serve a wonderful God! I think it's going to be a great time, the kids eat this stuff up. The only part I am worried about is that I am starting this out on my own. So, we will see how this goes. The first meeting is tonight, 7pm. Here we go..........

We'll be singing the Blues at our House!

Tonight we did a really cool thing. We went with Tyler up to his school to pick out an instrument for him. He seems really excited about this new thing that he is getting ready to start. He has always been a sports person so this is his first official dive into the musical side. Last year my dad started teaching him how to play the bass guitar. We performed a couple of times, but that has kinda been set aside for a while. This is a lot more structured, and you always are more committed when there is a grade involved! Anyway, he is going to play trombone, and my dad would have been so excited and proud!

Livin' on a Prayer

Keep praying, Albert. Looks like we are going to need all the help we can get!! We're still cheering for you, though.

Can anyone relate? Just came across this on another friends blog. I had read it before, but it just recently became more relevant to me. Read on.....

The Real Me by Natalie Grant

Foolish heart, looks like we're here again.
Same old game of plastic smile, Don't let anybody in.
Hiding my heartache, Will this glass house break?
How much will they take before I'm empty? Do I let it show? Does anybody know?
But You see the real me. Hiding in my skin, broken from within.
Unveil me completely. I'm loosening my grasp, There's no need to mask my frailty
Cause You see the real me.
Painted on, life is behind a mask, Self-inflicted circus clown.
I'm tired of the song and dance, Living a charade, always on parade.
What a mess I've made of my existence.
But You love me even now And still I see somehow...
Wonderful, beautiful is that you see
When You look at me.
You're turning the tattered fabric of my life Into a perfect tapestry.
Oh, I just wanna be me,I wanna be me.
and you love me just as I am.
wonderful, beautiful is what you see when you look at me.

House Rules!

Do you guys ever watch the Fox show's House? I love that show! He's this wonderful doctor, but yet has NO bedside manner whatsoever! I don't know if I would ever want him as one of my doctors, but it makes for a good show. Anyway, Dr House and I now have something in common. Today I had a wisdom tooth pulled that had been giving me some grief for a while now. The doctor had asked me if I was allergic to any medicine and I told him I didn't know. He just said that he was going to just give me his "drug of choice". As I was leaving, Travis asked me what it was and it was Vicodin. Dr House's "drug of choice" also. I'm not sure what it does for him....but I didn't really know anything was going on for over an hour this afternoon! I don't plan on making it a way of life, though, which is more than I can say for my beloved House!

Amateur!!!

ok, I've only had this blog for a few days, and I've already had to reset my password because I couldn't remember it! That's pretty sad!

I just sent out my email informing everyone of this new blog, and so if you are here because of that....WELCOME!

I know people get on others for spending too much time on the internet, but I have to confess....I love it! I love to get on here and look up people or information on things and feel instantly more connected than I did before! What did we ever do without it???

Well, as soon as I figure out all the ins and outs to this thing, I'm sure there will be pics and stuff on here too. You know how I love the pics!

Ok..much love to all!