Gracious

I needed this one...

Gracious...Now I like that word. Not a Terrell Owens or Randy Moss word. No, this word is reserved for people who recognize that they are privileged to receive what they have been given. A gracious person is wonderful just to be around. So what is a gracious person?
A gracious person is slow to take credit and quick to lavish praise.
A gracious person never seeks to embarrass another. Humiliating another is not in this person's vocabulary. (And please...don't say something that humiliates another and then try to escape responsibility by saying, "I was only joking.")
A gracious person is always thanking others. Do you go through an entire day without thanking another?
A gracious person doesn't monopolize the conversation. Someone else has something to offer.
A gracious person doesn't try to play "one up-manship". ("That's nothing, you should have seen what I did!").
A gracious person pays attention to people. Sometimes people come away from such conversations saying, "He made me feel like I was the most important person at that moment."
A gracious person desires to say what is appropriate. He doesn't just say what is on his mind or whatever he might be thinking. (There is no redeeming value in emptying one's mind of whatever fleeting thought has happened to land at the moment).
A gracious person looks out for the comfort of others. "Would you like a cup of coffee? What about a coke? Can I get you a newspaper while I'm out?" etc.
A gracious person understands that she is not indispensable. You've seen this person. She desires constant attention. She has a way of constantly focusing most any conversation back on herself. There is a humility in realizing that you are dispensable.
A gracious person constantly points out the good that he sees. Maybe you are visiting a friend who lives in another place. Instead of pointing out the inadequacies of your friend's community, you are constantly finding things that are good. "This cafe has outstanding peach pie! That was delicious." "I just love the way you have planted your garden. It is beautiful!" Gracious people look for the good.

Jim Martin
Preacher of Crestview Church of Christ

WE HAVE ANOTHER NEW NIECE!

Hailey Fay Osborne was born last night around 8:10!!!

She weighs 8 lbs, 9 oz, and is 21" long.

Congratulations, Chris and Lindsey! Thanks for making us an uncle, and aunt, and cousins again!

carley's first worship experience, TT&R update and praise report

she couldn't have done better. :) yeah!!

she slept all the way through the service, even when she had to go up onto the stage with mr. eddie--and reagan--for mr. george to pray over her and ask the congregation to love her and be a support system for us as we raise her. (they do that with all the babies their first time to church and it's wonderful and so special.) i woke her up to feed her during class and she was bright-eyed and bushy-tailed (even smiling at people) until lunch, when she fell asleep again.

thank you, Lord, for happy babies and loving church families.

updates on the other crazies: tyler and taylor have started basketball. it's fun and not always fun. their teams haven't had much practice and the school can't afford a coach yet so they're not learning too terribly much. this makes scott almost spontaneously combust but he's being patient and we know they're only in the sixth grade. they're both really quick, though (should we credit their dad or their papa?), and will be good ballers in the end. you wouldn't believe what scrappers they are. tyler has gotten a lot more aggressive than in baseball, which is great. taylor is a little stealer and she's so fun to watch.

reagan got into the communion bread and juice at church last week. ask him about it sometime. no wonder he kept saying he had to go to the bathroom. he's the crazy one. he got a new football friday night and i said, "another football? that makes about 17." he said, "mom, i haven't had a new one since 1983!"

and now for a praise report! bear with me. it's worth the read. (at least it will be to will and mel.)

i have been praying and have asked others to pray about our going home to alabama for christmas this year. it's not our year to go but we have a new baby, emily has a new baby, and my cousin has new twins. scott said friday that we can go (yippee!!) BUT airfare is really high right now (even southwest is almost three times what we usually pay) and driving uses up two days (and way too much energy and patience). so, we keep praying.

well, mom calls today and tells me that she has just received a free rapid rewards award that we can use. YEAH! that's a free ticket. thank you, Lord.

i know that we have a free one coming because of our american express points so i log on just now to get the points transferred over and we only lack 7 points. YEAH!!! that's free ticket #2. thank you, Lord.

next, however, when i log on to scott's southwest account, i see that he already has a free ticket that i didn't know about...BUT it expires on november 25!! i was just sick.

THEN i do a little more research and find the words"reinstate award."

come to find out, for a $50 fee, you can have them extend the expiration date another 12 months!!!

YEAH!! that's "free" (well, technically $50) ticket #3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THANK YOU, LORD!!!

so, now we only have to pay for two tickets!

i think i'll hold out for two more free ones.

as beth moore would say, "Lord, please show up and BE BIG!"

Just some new pics

My crazy little man...

Our sweet baby girl...

Believe it or not, these children all belong to only two familes! Ella (3, with her Disney Princess hair from Magic Kingdom), Taylor, Carley, Emma (12, who was three the last time I saw her), Britton (9, for whose birth I spent all night at the hospital), Brayden (6, who doesn't like butter but "loves sour cream"), Reagan and Tyler

Thank you, Callan, for letting us borrow this sweet outfit!

Look how fun!

Scott's sister has a baby shower at work tomorrow so Mom and I made this diaper cake for her tonight. I'm just a little bit excited about it. lol (Just ask Mel. I made her pause ER to look at pictures.)

Goings on...

Yes, I'm blogging when I should be cleaning my house!


For the month of October, Reagan was chosen as the student who most exhibited the month's studied character trait: kind. He might not face the front like he should and he might be too rough on the playground sometimes and he might actually hit someone on the head with a block accidentally, but he's apparently kind. :) They gave out the award in chapel today.

Happy Halloween!

Darth Vader was in full effect on Halloween. He had to get a flu shot but the rest of the day was great because he got a good report at school and got to wear his costume everywhere, including to the doctor (for said shot) and to Smokey Bones for BBQ! :) Carley's bear costume was so huge and she just wanted to eat it so she ended up smiling and sleeping in the stroller while Darth Vader begged for candy (and lamented all the chocolate donations). Tyler and Taylor are in Alabama. We are so excited that they got to be with Nana and Papa during the Storytelling Festival but we missed them terribly. Before they left, we made a Gingerbread Haunted House. Not pretty but lots of fun.

And last, but not least...