Check out the future football player

Sorry it's so dark. This was last night and, yes, they're wearing shorts. (The only reason he has a shirt on is because of the blasted mosquitos.) This is his favorite pastime. Check out the second catch. LOL Also, can you see the white lines on the grass? Scott painted yardlines in the backyard for Reagan's football birthday party.

help

Does anyone know how to upload my own videos on here?

#4

I know it's a month away but...IT'S ONLY A MONTH AWAY.
No, not Christmas. For some reason, I'm really NOT in the spirit this year.
REAGAN'S FOURTH BIRTHDAY.
FOUR!
A month from tomorrow.
I'm not ready. I swear I was in labor just a few days ago.
Please tell me I'm not the only psycho mom out there who's going to cry that day because he doesn't need "pappies" anymore and because he didn't want a "baby" birthday party. He wanted all of Tyler's friends to come play football with him. And because he doesn't want to wear longalls and jon-jons and saddle oxfords anymore. And because he calls me "Mom" most of the time, instead of Mommy. And because he doesn't say "yight" [light] and "yeft" [left]and "heh-yo"[hello] anymore.

It's just that it's going by so fast. Granted, some days don't go by fast enough (those days when T&T say Reagan's being "a trial and a tribulation to the whole valley" LOL) but overall, it's going by way too fast.
T&T were younger than Reagan is now when I became Mommy. Now they're NINE-AND-A-HALF! She lost her lisp ("pep-thee" [Pepsi] and "THEE what happenth!" [see what happens!]) He doesn't say ele-phan-unt or "arial" cookies [Oreo] anymore. What happened?! I didn't enjoy them enough and now it's gone.

It's going by with another one now, too.

I guess we'll just do what T&T suggest: quit having fun. They say, "If time flies when you're having fun, let's just not have any fun."

Firsts

Tyler and Taylor's first piano recital...

And Reagan's first dentist appt.

Not huge things but I'm not really a dog person and having two pictures of three dogs as the first thing you three people see on my blog just didn't fit me.

The Spring Willow Court Zoo

This is the zoo that was my house last week during dog-sitting. (Among other exciting moments in their stay was the moment the piano teacher brought me her shoe after she stepped in poo with which one of the dogs christened the living room. LOL)

MY CRAZY CHILD

On top of selling Kelly's Kids sale items, putting together two baskets for a school auction tomorrow and trying to pick up since being out of town, we are dog-sitting two of our dog-cousins. Reagan is going to end up killing this little one. I found him in here today trying to coax her out of her crate.

IS THERE A BAH-HUMBUG equivalent for HALLOWEEN?

We ended up having fun but it's pretty bad when you have to spank a child to get him to have his picture made.

Noonday Sun

What is this, like four in one week? Just wanted to quote Psalm 37:3-7, 23-25, mostly for myself. :)

"Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.
"Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.
"Commit everything you do to the Lord.
"Trust him, and he will help you.
"He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.
"Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act.
"The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.
"Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.
"Once I was young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned or their children begging for bread."

Answered Prayer

I think it's important to share answered prayers when they are so obvious.

Sunday was a hard day. Our small group study on Sunday nights, though, was about "honest expression" and truly opening up to God. That night, I truly poured out my heart to God and got "raw" as our leader said, maybe for the first time truly INTENDING to do that. My main prayer was for peace and joy in the circumstances.

I realized when I went to bed last night and wrote in my prayer journal that I had a better day yesterday than I can remember in a long time, despite the fact that my people are somewhat shutting me out right now (emotionally and otherwise). I realized I had been unusually peppy on Monday and that the word JOY was written really big in my journal from the day before.

Bear in mind this is NOT a pat on my back as much as it is NOT a blog for sympathy. Only a blog to share God's blessings and showcase his glory. (Remember that blog awhile back with my face under the covers?!)

Another book question

Has anyone read Reversed Thunder, by Eugene Peterson? Publisher's note: "Peterson's eloquent meditation on the Revelation of St. John engages the imagination and awakens the intellect to the vitality and relevance of the last words on scripture, Christ, church, worship, evil, prayer, witness, politics, judgment, salvation, and heaven."

We are having a sermon series right now and a lot of the info comes from this book. IT IS A WHOLE NEW APPROACH TO REVELATION FOR ME and I find it FASCINATING. No offense but Kenny Barfield's class on Revelation IT IS NOT!

Check out some notes from this morning's sermon from Rev 6 & 7.

• First, chapters 4 & 5 are full of praise...
• Chapter 6 starts out with the four horsement of the apocalypse - destroying peace, civil war, upsetting balance and prosperity, disease, decay, etc. In verse 10, the martyrs cry out, "How long until you avenge our blood?" That is quoted in Psalm and Habakkuk, as well. How many times have we asked God, "How long will this last?"
• Chapter 7 shows a shift. The 144,000 are sealed. Power and victory of believers, etc. All believers will be persecuted. People go through horrible things. Psalm 137, "How can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a foreign land?" God never said he would take away our troubles and those who are faithful may ask, "How long," but will still KNOW who's in control and who is taking care of them. In Rev. 7:9-14 - praise, adoration, robes washed white in blood because they came through struggles and trials and can sing the song of protection in verses 15-17.
• Chapters 4/5 and chapter 7 (three chapters of praise), "bracket" chapter 6 (chapter about evil). Rev 7:12, "Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever." Evil cannot stand up during praise.
• Praising God helps us see our center with the sense that there's something so powerful that EVERYTHING ELSE is weak before that power and that praise.
• Evil cannot last when bracketed between prayer and praise.

Phenomenal approach to Revelation.

New Book Recommendation: John Ortberg

I haven't read it YET but our Sunday school class has been studying it and the points thus far are outstanding. If you've read it, let me know what you think.

Too Close To Home

The first is my dream from last night. The second is Scott's.

Facing the Giants

I don't recommend movies often but go see this. Go see it today. Bear in mind that there are NO professional actors in it. It takes a few minutes to get used to that but it's worth it. We all laughed and cried. Even Reagan loved it. Go see it. Support it and tell Hollywood we want more like it. God bless Sherwood Baptist Church for the effort.

If You Want Me To

If You Want Me To
The pathway is broken
The signs are unclear
I can't find the reason why You led me here
But just because You love me the way that You do
I will go through the valley
If You want me to
Now I'm not who I was
When I took my first step
And I'm clinging to the promise
You're not through with me yet
And if all of these trials can make me like You
I will go through the fire
If You want me to
It may not be the way I would have chosen
'Cause it leads me through a world that's not my home
But You never said it would be easy
Only that I'll never go alone
When the whole world turns against me
And I'm all by myself
And I can't hear You answer my cries for help
I'll remember the suffering Your love put You through
And I will go through the valley
If You want me to

What is happening?

"Joe Beam, as he introduces to the reader his motivation for conducting the above in-depth study, has specified that many within, and even outside of, our fellowship in Churches of Christ are 'struggling to understand the dynamics that are causing increasing isolation between brethren and churches. This is indeed a huge concern with many of us who are witnessing this 'movement (motion) within a movement.' There is an observable drifting apart; a polarization of God's people; a fragmentation of the family of God. In the fascinating field of psychological research and analysis, such a phenomenon would generate a quest among experts to determine the dynamics of such a drift. Bro. Beam correctly stated, 'We need a clear picture and common vocabulary so that we can understand the current dynamics of our brotherhood tension.' It was his belief that 'there may be a model for understanding the uneasiness plaguing our fellowship. Thus, he set about preparing such a model, and the fruit of his labor," complete with detailed explanations can be found at this link. A VERY interesting article. Check it out and let me know what you think!!
http://www.gracecentered.com/what_is_happening_to_churches_of_Christ.htm

Weekend to Remember?

I HOPE I'll remember it. To help with that, here are some of the main points I brought home.

1. Women think of home as a place they GET to communicate. Men think of it as a place they do NOT HAVE to communicate.
2. A quote from the Incredibles. Mr. Incredible says, "I'm not strong enough." Elastigirl replies, "If we're together, you don't have to be."
3. Marriage reflects God's image on Earth.
4. Marriage is designed for a husband and wife to mutually complete each other.
5. Marriage is designed to multiply a godly legacy.
6. Marriage is taking place on a spiritual battlefield.
7. Our spouse is NOT our enemy.
8. Satan wants to sink the ship.
9. God chose to build a unique need into Adam that was not met by God's personal presence alone (Gen. 2:19-20). Adam's perception of Even was based on the way he viewed GOD, not on Eve's performance. Adam enthusiastically received Eve because he knew and trusted God, not because of Eve's performance. He had to believe that she was God's perfect provision for him and had to receive her based on who gave him the gift. Receiving spouse as God's gift leads to a oneness with spouse.
10. A result of leaving, cleaving and becoming one flesh is transparency with one another or oneness (naked and not ashamed).
11. Expressing oneself involves the risk of being emotionally intimate and begins by entrusting yourself to God, because He understands...opening yourself to your spouse for his/her understanding. God's power is available to us when we are risking vulnerability with another person.
12. God designated the husband as the head of the relationship. This is God's "divine placement as servant leader." God gave the wife to the man as his helper. "Helper" is a title of worth. God refers to HIMSELF in Scripture as our helper (Ps 54:4). Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit as another helper (Jn 14:16-17).
13. The wife's "role" is not to submit but her role is to be a helper. The response to the husband's leadership is submission.
14. The perfect wife is one who doesn't expect a perfect husband.
15. Eph. 5:33b, from the Amplified Bible says, "...let the wife see that she respects and reverence her husband-- that she notices him, regards him, honors him, prefers him, esteems him; and that she defers to him, praises him, and loves and admires him exceedingly." Wow. Any sore toes out there? Mine sure are.
16. Jane Hill said, "Wherever we are together, we are rich."
17. "Cleaning house is like stringing beads on a thread that has no knot in the end." :)
18. A child's security and self-worth are formed, and his/her future is shaped in the home. Children need to be a valued priority in a mother's heart.
19. Children need love the most when they deserve it the least.
20. If we do not seek to understand and accept each other's feelings and opinions, communication will be gridlocked. It doesn't mean we must agree.
21. The [conflict] discussion itself is not nearly as important as is the effect the discussion has on the relationship.
22. Unresolved conflict can multiply the intensity of future conflict. Unresolved anger can/will lead to depression.
23. When confronted, be open, not defensive, and remember the spouse is not the enemy. (Otherwise, it just seems like nagging.) Ask questions to get the truth out. You need not agree. Just make the spouse feel cared for.
24. When confronting, speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:29). Be sincerely honest about needs, feelings and wants in a way not intended to hurt.
25. Forgiveness is an obligation of the forgiven. Forgiveness is not about justice, fairness or blame. The offender needs to seek forgiveness (Mt. 5:23-24), and the offended needs to grant it.

The main point I needed to hear was, "Is God big enough to make the best out of our worst situations?"

Sorry for so much stuff - this was over a two-and-a-half day time period. It just did me good to read through it all again.

History

You've probably heard Matthew West's song "History." I had heard it but never listened until yesterday. Wow. From Matthew West's website:

Philippians 3:13-14, 1 Timothy 1:12-17
"Everyone’s past is filled with imperfections. The scriptures say, '…All have sinned…' But the second we recognize how much we need forgiveness and ask God for His grace to save us, it’s done. Now if you’re anything like me, that seems to be only half the battle. For me, the hardest part is forgiving myself. The mistakes I’ve made try to haunt me, follow me and remind me that I’m no good.

"The failures of yesterday become the regrets of today; the regrets of today become the discouragement of tomorrow, and before you know it, the future starts looking more and more like the past. The Bible speaks clearly to all of us sinners, 'Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—and I was the worst of them all (1 Timothy 1:15).' It’s that simple, we’re saved. All that stuff that we used to wear around our hearts like a two-ton weight, that’s all history now.

"But the story doesn’t end there. God’s love can make history of your past. He forgives and forgets. Now it’s time to move forward into a life of grace. Because, the truth is, God isn’t done with you yet. Your life from here on out, starting with the next breath you breathe, is history in the making! What if we lived every single second ready and willing for God to do something great with our lives?

"...for anyone who has ever made a mistake. God’s grace can forgive you. It’s up to you to forgive yourself. The crazy thing is, even as I write this, and even as you read this, history is in the making!"

Lyrics for the song:

"It's been a bad day
You've been looking back
And all you can see is everything you wish you could take back
All your mistakes A world of regrets
All of those moments you would rather forget
I know it's hard to believe
Let me refresh your memory
Yesterday is history And history is miles away
So, leave it all behind you
But let it always remind you of the day
The day that love made history

You know you can't stay right where you fell
The hardest part is forgiving yourself
But let's take a walk into today
And don't let your past get in the way
Would you believe that you are history in the making?

Every choice that you are making
Every step that you are taking
Every chain that you are breaking
History is in the making
Every word that you are saying
Every prayer that you are praying
Every chain that you are breaking
History is in the making"

It's Not About Me

I love these thoughts in It's Not About Me:

"Your pain has a purpose. Your problems, struggles, heartaches, and hassles cooperate toward one end--the glory of God. 'Trust me in your times of trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory' (Ps 51;15)...

"Why was the blind man on the side of the road blind? So 'the works of God might be displayed in him' Jn 9.

"'This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of Man may be glorified by it' (Jn 11:4).

"Is there any chance, any possibility, that you have been selected to struggle for God's glory? Have you 'been granted for Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for his sake' (Philippians 1:29)?

"Are people strengthened by your struggles? It's not about you. Your hospital room is a showcase for your Maker. Your faith in the face of suffering cranks up the volume of God's song.

"God will use whatever he wants to display his glory."

Our faith in the face of suffering may lead one person to seek a like faith. "Did God orchestrate...illness for that very reason? Knowing the value he places on one soul, I wouldn't be surprised. And imagining the splendor of heaven, I know [the sufferer will not be] complaining.

"A season of suffering is a small assignment when compared to the reward.

"Rather than begrudge your problem, explore it. Ponder it. And most of all, use it. Use it to the glory of God."

Easy for me to say, I know.

You've probably read it but it's worth repeating. I need to paste this everywhere in my house.

The Point

A new verse for me. Well, maybe not a new verse but new insight.

John 5: 39-40. Jesus says, "You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that they can give you eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life."

The Jewish leaders worshipped Scripture itself. But Scripture tells about HIM... and there HE was, standing right before them. Even today, it's true. How many times do we find ourselves holding up Scripture itself and then missing the POINT?!

Pray for Christal

Well, parts of this week have been hard. Mostly just my attitude (and a little hormone stuff) but several yuck times during the week. Then, I get an email that puts it all into perspective.

Four years ago a daughter of a friend of several friends, Christal Reynolds, was diagnosed with a brain tumor. I don't know the exact details but she had several surgeries then a clean scan in November 2004. Three months later, it was back. More surgeries, etc. Back and forth until a stable scan in March of this year. Then, a blood infection. And in July, scans showed four tumors. At this point, she is/should be in the second grade. She has had at least 20 surgeries.

The email I got tonight said that Christal's not doing well so I checked the website. http://www.christalinfo.com/default.htm Look how many people have signed her guestbook JUST TODAY!

"Christal is lovingly being held by her family, praying together, making sure that she knows that it is ok for her to go. She is not in pain. Her breathing is difficult, but does not seem to be troubling her at all. We have prayed, we have hugged, we have loved, and we have cherished this time we have had with her, but her journey is ending."

We all have "stuff" to deal with but this...there are no words. I only have tears.

Please pray for the Reynolds family tonight but also, count your blessings...and go kiss your little ones.

(And for anyone reading this who HAS lost a child, please forgive me. I do not mean to be insensitive. I just truly needed the slap in the face this week.)