Passions in any form

Last week I watched the CMA awards show. I love country music! Although I am not a Vols fan, one of my earliest memories was standing outside in our front yard on our 100 acre farm, and singing "Rocky Top" at the top of my lungs! Like it our not, there is a lot of soul in country.

While I love to watch Carrie Underwood perform, the hightlight of my CMA night was watching Kid Rock perform "All Summer Long." I love that song! Why? My goodness, you say, it mentions whiskey and sex and an unknown "smoking" substance! And, you would be right about that. I think the thing I like is the passion behind the song. The song is about a man looking back on a summer when it all came together....a summer full of passion.

Wouldn't we all like to live like that? Full of life and passion in our day? I believe Adam and Eve must have felt a similar passion in the garden. They had each other, a beautful place to live, their needs provided for without all of the stress of our current, crazy world. That was until they believed there was more than what they were experiencing.

Clyde and I have simplified our life in the last few months. We want no more of the facades of life. We want time for each other, time with our kids and time to fulfill the passions God has given us in our life. It is amazing how quickly life can become a rat-race, chasing down goals that rob us of today and the things that really matter. I am sure Adam and Eve would have loved to be back in the garden after they saw what they had traded it for: death, hard-work, and pain. Not that I am against hard-work! There has to be balance, right priorities, and joy! That's why "All Summer Long" is a favorite. Letting go and just enjoying........

Up and at it!

This morning we are back on a schedule after a 6 weeks hiatus where we moved our house , garage, 2 storage units and an office to our new home. Whew! We are ALMOST finished!

This morning from my office window, I see no other homes or buildings, just beautiful fall leaves and a gorgeous hard maple in the throngs of its fall color: gorgeous, bright, golden yellow. The cats are up of course and all over the place. I am thankful, but feeling overwhelmed. We have a lot of changes taking place right now in our home. Not just the move, but choices we are making regarding ministry. It is a hard place to be right now.

Years ago, while still in college, I changed my focus from pre-law to Education to accommodate what I thought would be potential seminary training after college. Instead, I went right into ministry, placing myself in Tahoe as a youth minister after being sent there in college as a summer missionary. I loved Tahoe. I loved ministering to the kids there. It was there I met Clyde and we married. After discovering we were expecting after only three months into marriage, I knew my future in ministry would be different than I had thought. From that point my life became a balance of marriage, motherhood, and ministry. Ministry outside of my family became last.

It is still this way today. I have been a youth minister, a women's ministry leader (even serving as the president of the Wives Fellowship, Metochai, in seminary....a group of over 250 women). I have taught bible studies, led 301 and Imprints classes where we discovery our giftedness, personality and Strengths.....even led children's church. I have been a volunteer for Compassion International. In the last three years, I have helped get 35 kids sponsored through Sunday adoption programs. Yet through all of this, I find myself currently with no ministry, no group to share with, no impact. It is disheartening. It is a sad place to be. Funny how others choices affect everything around you. I guess it is that way with all of us, with my choices as well. Here's hoping that my choices today and yours, will leave others for the better. Amen.

Democrat or Republican?? What's your platform??

I find this whole political race very interesting. As my friends and I have gotten older, so many of the issues surrounding the debates are more applicable to my life than ever. Some of us vote the way we vote because that is how we were raised, others have a particular issue that keeps them adhering to one party, others may vote by the man that best they identify with. I have friends on both sides of the party line. Some are Democrats because they are concerned about the environment and the issues surrounding that. Some of these people are vegans or vegeterians....and they want peace at all cost. Others are Democrats because of the economic and social issues the Dems. stand for. They might know first hand about rough economic times and want relief. Some Democrats, like many of the celebrites you see supporting Obama, want rights for all. They are not neccessarily economically strapped after all, they just believe abortion and homosexuality should be allowed to exist and be maintained without rights being infringed. They are about limiting what they believe is the Republicans "moral police" reputation. On the Republican side of things you have your Pro-lifers, your corporate leaders, and your higher income bracket wage earners anxious to keep their money in their pockets and out of the governments hands via taxation. They want to invest thier money to stimulate the economy, not be taxed to death. Also on this side, the millions of evangelical Christians who believe we are a God fearing nation and want to keep it that way. They appose gay marriage and the moral decay they believe our country is in.

I mentioned I had friends on both sides.....I find it interesting that there is no "one size fits all" Democrat or Republican. Let me explain. While many of the Democrats are pet lovers, some are not. I have one friend who HATES cats and dogs, but is a solid Obama supporter. I also have Republican friends who love cats and dogs....they are their babies. They are also pro-life. I was raised in the home of two Independent Mid-westerners. My parents voted on both sides of the party line, though I will say Ronald Reagan became a hero in our home. I myself, have voted mostly Republican. After working in inner city Dallas-Fort Worth, I am a pro-lifer. I believe women have a right to their own bodies, but have seen the devastion abortion causes in the lives of women. I do not try to take away the rights of the mother, but to protect the rights of the child who's heart started beating at 20 days after conception and the soul of the woman who might be haunted for the rest of her days by the ghost of abortion. I am all for women's rights, esp. if that female is inside her mother's womb without a voice. My pro-life stance goes further. Recently, I went to the "Fix For Life" clinic to have my sweet girl fur- babies spayed. I was told there was a three week waiting list. I expressed concern that one of them might be in heat at that moment and what could I do. I was told that when I came in 3 weeks later, they could "take care of that little problem" if it existed!! They would abort my cats kittens if she were pregnant!! What?!! Would a Democrat-pet-loving-environmentalist stand for that?? What about the cats right to choose?? The cat had no rights according to the clinic. Hmm.....just makes me wonder, doesn't it you???

I did it MY way

We are in the middle of moving. Can I get any sympathy?? Anyway, it has been on ongoing process for the past 12 days. Are we close to being done? Hardly!! I am weeding through clothes, toys and misc. pieces of whatever that I have been hanging onto for the last 5 years, or AKA, the last move. Moving just stinks. Well, we are making the best of it in the process. Today, we moved most of the school room. The hundreds of books, and boxes of supplies made it along with the bookshelves and school table. We are so glad to have the extra room, but I am afriad of filling it up!! Tonight, I got a great lesson in life and faith from my little 3 year old. It seems for the past 12 days, that this adventure we are on has been just one big opportunity for him to get into everything. Everything we have drug out to move has been a target for his little hands. Tonight I was working hard to get the books in the school room organized again. He kept taking them out of their respective piles to look at. Then, we had the chairs stacked up and he was unstacking them to use them. On and on it has gone, us with our agendas and plans and him with his. He just wasn't working with the system!! I thought about that tonight has I told him again, that he can't have his own agenda here, we are in a mode of operation he does not understand. I laughed as I thought about the Lord looking at me smiling. How many times have I had my own agenda, and operated against the Lord's plan? All of us at times, working on what we thought was important, were actually disturbing the plans of the Lord. That's how it is when we operate on our own, apart from his leading. We just get mess it all up. Something to think about. Do we want to be like toddlers, or mature believers?

This Little Light of Mine.....

Wow. I sure wish I could update this daily. It is difficult to find the time. Clyde was out of town last week. Weston has started football. Hannah has started back in 4-H. The other boys will be starting soccer soon, and the fair is next week. It is THE Fair for those who don't know. The Wilson CO. Fair is one of THE things to do in TN. Clyde is on the fair board for the first time this year. We are just busy..... It is hard to remember in the midst of it all the priorities of life. This week I was reminded of them. My friend David, and his wife Krista, who live in Texas have a 10 year old son, Chapman, who was involved in a motor bike accident this week. He will be fine and is going to be released to go home tomorrow. Another "Yeah, God!" moment. Yesterday at practice Weston got knocked around pretty good and received a neck injury at football practice. "Here we go!," I thought. I can only imagine the injuries he will sustain in this sport he loves so much, and there is nothing I can do about it. It reminds me of a scene in Finding Nemo where his dad Marlin tells Dory that he promised Nemo that nothing would ever happen to him. Dory says, "Well, that's a strange thing to promise." Marlin says, "What do you mean?" And Dory replies, "Well, if nothing ever happened to him, then nothing would EVER happen to him....no fun for little Nemo." Hmm....By the way, tomorrow WED. morning on Good Morning America at 7 AM tune in for the interview with Steven C. CHapman and his wife Mary Beth following the loss of their daughter Maria Sue. Bring a tissue or two.

Yeah God!

Well, my test at the gastroentologist went well and the Lord gave me peace throughout the ordeal! I am relieved. Today the kids and I went to see the free movie at Providence. It was really cute. (Thanks Katrina for calling to remind us!!) We are also in the last days of buying the house and need to think about packing!! I really dislike packing, but I am excited about setting up housekeeping at the other home. Pray for us!!

Oh, What Fun!

Today was a colon cleansing day. You read that write. I am having a colonoscopy tomorrow morning AM. Doesn't that sound like loads of fun? It reminds me that I am not getting any younger. I have had some issues and I do have family history, so let's just get it over with. Pray for my test...that all will be well.

To Be Organized!!

Well.....today was a good day to get organized. We spent most of yesterday cleaning this messy house, after spending most of last week at the realtors office and the bank. We are in the process of buying a house. We have had a piece of land and had intended to build for the last three years. Last week we looked at a house that would fit our needs and it is in a great location for Clyde's business and for the Journey locations. It is zoned for West and Rutland elementaries...why both I don't know but that is what the information said. The Journey is currently meeting at West and the new church plant will be at Rutland.....so it is a great location for either one. The house is pictured above. Let me know your thoughts on it!!!

Jesus and Wine

OK.....I will admit it right here, I drink wine. Yep, the real thing, not grape juice. Over the years of living in different cultures, Northern California, London, England, Texas, and Missouri, I grew to appreciate various wineries across the country. The Napa Valley has a myriad of wineries that are world renowned. While living in London and traveling in Europe, I tasted Italian wines for the first time and love the taste of Lambrusco (a cheap table wine actually!). In my two visits to Paris, I sampled wines from Frances' many wine regions. Did you know that Champagne, Bordeaux and Burgundy, are names of three of Frances wine regions?? Obviously, that's were the names are derived. Texas has wineries; as well as Eastern Missouri where I grew up. If you want to visit an area steeped in tradition, visit St. Genevieve, Missouri. This area was settled by the French and still contains the largest group of French Colonial homes in the country. In fact, my Dad's friend was from here, Pierre Charbonnay.....a French descendant and storyteller to the tourist in the area. He gave me a gold ring when I was born. I still have it. Also, my grandmother's people were French from this same region. St. Gene (as it's called) has a host of wineries in its historical region. Many are made from fruit, as the weather is harsher here than in France to make the standard French wines. Apple, Pears, Blueberries and Blackberries are not only made into wines, but are quite good. Quite frankly, I had not had wine in some time, but while we were home visiting my Dad over Memorial Day, I sampled some of the local wines. My Dad had very low platelets, and was drinking a glass of elderberry wine once a day for his blood. After a few months of Elderberry wine, his platelets went from 62 to 109!! Yeah!! No wonder Paul told Timothy in 1 Timothy to take a little wine for his "stomachs sake." (It is not clear what was ailing Timothy). When we got home from our trip, I had an apt. with my doctor. You see, my iron has been very low for some time. I had had my blood taken before our trip and went to find out the results. My iron was even lower. If I can't get them to come up in a few months, I am having an iron transfusion. Yikes!! So, I figured, if the wine helped Dad with the platelets, maybe it could help me!! I recently found an article about this, it says: "Red wine in particular is often directly prescribed for patients suffering with anemia. The beneficial vitamins and nutrients in red wine, empowered by that small serving of alcohol, can help reduce the incidence of anemic blood cells and make your blood richer and more able to do it’s job in your body." Well, that was enough for me. So, coupled with vitamins, spinach, greens and nuts, I am having a glass "for my blood." It reminds me of a funny story: my great-great aunt who lived in MO was also anemic. This was back in the day, mind you....she wore a long black dress down to her feet and black work boots. Her long hair was pulled back in a bun and she smoked a pipe. Yep. Well, when the doctor told her to drink a glass of wine once a day, she had to go in her house, close up the door and turn out the lights so no one would see her. Then she would go back out on the porch and smoke her pipe. She was a God-fearing Missionary Baptist after all!

***(By the way, some may find it interesting that I speak of wine after yesterdays post......in my opinion, wine consumption and alcoholism is to each other as food and gluttony are. Both are an abuse and both as wrong as the other. In no way am I condoning abuse or alcoholism.)

Sin and Sorrow

I know I am in no position to judge....and please believe this is not directed at one church or group of people, and I am just as much a sinner as the next guy, but yesterday as I was vacuuming, a thought occurred to me. "What do we do with those in the church who have a lifestyle of sin?" (Why that came about as I vacuumed I don't know.) I am not talking about non-Christians who are visiting the church and who don't know better. They don't know the Lord or his life of abundance he offers. We should feel for them and pray for them. But, what do we do with those leading and teaching who claim Christ, yet their lives are far from His ways? What about those new to the faith, who honor Christ with their lips and sing praises to his name, but yet have yet to change their life? Do we speak up? Do we ignore it and turn our head? My kids have asked me several times about things they have seen in churches, wondering why so many people live their lives so similar to those in the world. There doesn't to be any sorrow for sin. Just acceptance for the sinner. Shouldn't Christians be sorrowed by their sinful state?? My answer to my kids is always, "Well, they are young in the faith." Or, "They will change has they grow in the Lord." But, they have been around enough to see these same people not only not change, in fact, some have gone on to divorce, or drop out of church, or get involved in with pre-marital relationships, or start abusing drug and alcohol. I think I have counted 11 couples that Clyde and I have known as friends or who we've ministered to since coming to TN that have since divorced. What is up?? In some cases, their were troubles brewing below the surface that someone in the church should have caught. And, sometimes they were not obvious to anyone except the couple. Hmm....when is it our responsibility to speak up?? Or, is it? Sometimes, people are really good at hiding their failings to the church for fear of being "exposed." I know of several men who were closet smokers. They didn't want anyone to know they smoked!! Why not come out and say, "Hey, I am addicted to cigarettes (or pornography....men, or food.....women, or ?) and it drives my wife crazy. Pray for us!!" I think we are all too concerned with apprearances. Appearances are just a facade.......who cares?!! A failed marriage, poor financial decisions, addiction of any kind and loose sexuality, coupled with pregnancy or disease, those things are REAL!! Why not pray when it is just a temptation. Who hasn't sinned anyway? We all know what it's like to fail. Let's be honest with each other. Let's pray for each other. On Sundays were are looking at the spiritual warfare that we are in. Satan wants to ruin our life! Only by the power of the Lord will we succeed. Let's not walk around with our eyes closed, and our mouth and ears covered. Step up and step out. Pray for your church family. Intervene when it is needed. Make a difference.

Oh, The Hats I Wear!!

Today is Tuesday. Clyde and Slater left for Cub Scout Camp yesterday. Within hours of arriving they were rained on. Sort of a "baptismal" to camp life! They are spending their nights in tents that look very much like "army guy camp" as Grant Justice put it. The rest of us are humming along. As I look at my to do list, I am overwhelmed as usual with all there is to do. I have a few hours of cleaning to do, several loads of laundry, 4 hours of schoolwork and three tests to get in the mail to send to Calvert. I have to work on my Orphans and Widows table and get it ready for this next months emphasis and then spend about an hour contacting my hostesses for July that are having jewelry shows. Sometime in there we must eat, exercise and get baths. Aagh! I need a clone of me....or two or three. Fortunately, I have my two helpers: Hannah and Weston. They are "licensed To kill" in the way of house cleaning!!(Dirt and Germs that is!!) Weston's wife will be very grateful!! They are well trained, BUT I will say, they sometimes struggle with motivation.......I have to remember they are only 12 and 13, and would much rather sleep OR sing in front of the mirror to a Jonas Brothers song (Hannah that is....). Hee...hee! Speaking of the kids, I am very proud of them. On the 4th, we spent the evening helping at our churches booth at a local 4th of July festival. All of my kids were in the booth making snowcones. They had a blast!! John Griffin (our churches administrator), gave them a glowing acknowledgement during the church services Sunday. That was very sweet. All in all, the church sold 350 snowcones. Not bad. By the way, continue to keep my Dad in prayer. He is doing some better. The major problem right now is getting him to eat. Four or five bites fills him up, and the medicine he is on has really messed up his taste buds. Everything tastes bad to him. Please lift him up as you feel led.

Trust or Worry?

Many of you know that my Dad is been in and out of the hospital for the last month. He was in for heart surgery and has developed many other issues and infections since. Please pray for him as you feel led. His name is Tim Eye. It is hard for me to just "let go and let God", as they say. I think I trust the Lord, but when the going gets a little tougher, it is easy to panic!! It reminds me of when we were kids and we played a game that required us to close our eyes and wait to be tagged, led around by a friend, or just to wait for the inevitable...whatever that was to be!! It was so hard to not peek. After all, what might become of us if we put all of our trust in this person, or in this game?? We might get hurt or be made a fool of!! With God, there is no "peeking." God very rarely gives us a glimpse of what is ahead. He literally reveals Himself in his time and in his time only. If we can't trust Him, who can we trust? God is our ONLY hope.

Seasons

Wow....for awhile there I was doing so well on the blog. Here is a run down of the last 6 weeks that I missed: We took a trip to MO to see my Dad and step-mom. Dad was getting ready for heart surgery which he had two weeks ago. He is better, but boy was it a rough ride. Dad has low platelets (which are what help your blood clot). He has a form of leukemia that has lowered them. The surgery was difficult, and he had to be in ICU for awhile. They actually had to go back in because of internal bleeding. All in all, it went well and the doctor was pleased with his performance and the results. On a side note, on our trip home from MO we lost two bags from the roof of the truck. Obviously, they were not tide down well, so I was miffed with Clyde for about a week!! One was all of my stuff, including my favorite jeans from Old Navy (Bummer!) I had to go shopping when I got home. The other bag was all of our dirty clothes.....some personal favs in that bag too. Since that trip, it has been camps and jewelry parties!! Did I mention I am now a jeweler with Premier Jewelry?? I really like it and have been focused this month on getting my 6 shows in to pay for my new jewelry for the fall. I also get paid 50% on what I make...what a deal, right? I really appreciate all of my friends who had shows for me. They are GREAT!! I mentioned we had camps? JFFC camp, Boy Scout camp, Art camp, we were scheduled for football and baseball camp too. Enough was enough, so I cancelled those! Whew!! Did I mention we do school all year round?? Yep, I have been trying to get school done too. Maybe I can be better with a little consistency. Those of you who are starting new blogs, please let me know!! Love you all!!

Monday, Monday...

Well, here it is Monday after a great Sunday!! The Spirit really moved yesterday and I can't say I have ever seen anything like it. I also have to wait a whole year for Mother's Day to roll around. Shouldn't every day be Mother's Day??

Tonight is my first show with Premier Jewelry. I am super-excited to get started!! It is fun to have my own business and get to work in retail again. Thanks to my good buddy Teresa for hosting my show tonight!!

Mother's and the Holy Spirit

Happy Mother's Day to all of the Mother's out there!! I am enjoying a quiet day after Hannah slaved away in the kitchen just for me. We enjoyed roast and sour cream mashed potatoes, steamed broccoli with cheddar sauce, and homemade biscuits. All prepared by my 13 year old daughter! What a blessing she is. I still am getting a full "spa experience" provided by Hannah, and have my Lilac candle from the three younger boys and my box of chocolates from Weston to enjoy.

Today has been a great day, but not just because of my Mother's Day experience. We had a fantastic day at the Journey. The Holy Spirit just really moved today. Today was our celebration Sunday and after our baby dedication and communion, we had a Baptism service. There was one girl that was "officially" getting baptized. (She recently found the Lord), but Erik opened it up to others who might want to be saved, or those who had never been baptized. Not only was the young lady baptized, but 4 more!! Included were a young lady who knew the Lord, but who had never been baptized, another guy who had been baptized as a child, but who questioned his understanding, and two people came forward to accept Christ and be baptized. One of them was a self-described atheist as of a few weeks ago. What a day!!

Check out my Slide Show!

Baseball

I am a lifelong Cardinals fan after growing up in Missouri. ........I remember the 1982 World Series. Tommy Herr, Kieth Hernandez, Darrell Porter, Ozzie Smith, Lonnie Smith.....the manager Whitey Herzog. I remember those players and the ball games like they were yesterday. My sister and I wrote to our favorite Cardinal that summer and got back a signed photo. Tommy Herr was my favorite....I thought he looked like the guy from "The Greatest American Hero!" (Remember that show?) After his name he penned the verse "Prov. 3:5-6." Being a good little Baptist girl (so called) I knew that verse by heart. "Trust the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and he will direct your paths."



Tonight, I sat and watched two ball games...the Cardinals/Rockies game. (The Cards won 6-5). Albert Pujols had a great game scoring after stealing third and coming home after Rick Ankiel's RBI. The second game was my 9 year olds Little League game. (We lost 11-0). Like most parents, we can only hope our children live their lives to fulfill all of our lost dreams........I'm kidding, of course, but who doesn't want their son to start for the Cards some day, making some serious cash to send home to mom! Hee...hee! Parents have two things working against them here....thier own childs dreams and hopes and the plans that the Lord himself has for them. Hmm......how do we find that? Tommy Herr found it: Trust the Lord...and acknowledge Him in all you do. He will take it from there. No matter how much I would love to see my son out there in a Cardinal uniform, I most want him to be Godly and following the Lord's leading. Can I still hope for him to be a fan anyway?? Ha!!

True love

How many times have you been in love?? I thought I was in love a couple of times (is that a song?) but I can say I did not know true love until I became a parent. There is something so pure about the love for a child. After reading the book, The Shack, I can say that I see God's love for me in ways I never thought of before. God, or Papa, as he is called, loves all of us with a love that sees through the prism of all that we are: our DNA, our genetics, our experiences, our habits, our education, our families, the list goes on and on. Jesus gave up not only his physical life on the cross, but limited himself on purpose, much like we would if we sat down to play with a child. We don't talk to that child as an adult and tell him all we know. We come to him using the terms of a child. Jesus still allows God to work through him as he is still fully human. Imagine, the word becoming flesh and limiting himself to the same power of God that we are capable of having! Please read this book. It is life-changing material.

The Shack part II

Wow....that is all I can say about the book "The Shack." It is one of those life impacting books that acts as a line in the sand in ones spiritual life. There is a fork in the road, so to speak, as you finish the book. Which way will you go? It challenges every fundamental paradigm ones holds dear, shaking the foundation to all of ones core beliefs about God, the Trinity and life in general. I challenge you to read this book. To experience the book......it is a journey to go on that's for sure.

The Story of Stuff

The Shack continues to be a thought provoking book, if not a spiritual experience. There is a web-site link in the back of the book we went to. I would like to share it with you today. Be warned, if you like to shop, it could change your world!! Go to www.thestoryofstuff.com. I would love to have your thoughts. Continue to pray for Clyde. He has a chest x-ray today. Love you all.

Pneumonia and The Shack

Right now, Clyde is on the couch reading The Shack. This book has been recommended by several friends. I began reading it, but had to skim through to find the "sad" part (I was warned) to see if I could handle it. Clyde has been on the couch since Sunday, suffering from pneumonia. His temp. has been hovering between 100 and 102 degrees. I am praying for a quick recovery and wisdom in the days ahead to take care of ourselves and take some time off. Pray for him if you would.

Slater's Birthday

Today is my Slater's 9th birthday. He is super excited, getting Legos and Star Wars figures this morning. It is almost like Christmas around here on birthdays, because we wrap the presents and leave them out on the dining room table the night before.....they wake up early to see how many gifts are there. Now that the kids are older, they buy for each other, so it looks like quite a pile!! I can't believe how time flies. He was only 18 months old when we moved to Tennessee. How can it be that he is 9!! Surely I am not getting older too?? Hee...hee!! He has been playing baseball and is enjoying the time in the dugout with the other guys. He is quite a talker. (Just like his Daddy!!). He enjoys his baseball "community." I will say that I enjoy community as well. I've noticed as we are older how our friends are our kids friends parents!! We enjoy community, and it often rallies around a common interest, kids, ministry, or our jobs. Here is to community today!!! And to my special middle child who is always full of drama!!

Future Hooters Girl

Yep.....I saw this sign today: FUTURE HOOTERS GIRL. Guess where it was? No, not a bumper sticker. Not on a ball cap...but on the shirt of a three year old girl. Talk about your lofty life goals. Not that I am judging her parents harshly......maybe to them that would be life's crowning acheivement. I felt sorry for them actually. I wondered about them as we both walked about the park with our kids. What have been their lives experiences? What did they view as successful? What made them happy? There are so many people who need Jesus, they just don't know it. They look for pleasure instead of service, they try to get, not give, they don't know the sensation of giving yourself away to the high glory of God. I will pray for them today.....I don't know their names...but I can pray that their daughter with the long blond hair and blue eyes does not end up thinking that the attention she gets at Hooters is worth shooting for.

Oprah, Jesus and the Only Way.....

Many women are fans of one of the most powerful women in the world: Oprah. I, actually, really enjoy the show and I know many woman who follow the program. Oprah is known for her great generosity and I have no doubt that she has a genuine, generous heart. Recently, a video was sent to me that made me more than pause!! I had often guessed at Oprah's spiritual leanings, because she never makes it quite clear her position. This video will end all of the guessing as to this powerful ladies' postion on God and Jesus. Please follow this link: http://youtube.com/watch?v=JW4LLwkgmqA. I look forward to hearing everyone's comments!

Sports and Scouts

Today we have had baseball, football, Scouts and a wedding!! I knew these days would come....lots of running around and busyness. I do enjoy being busy...after all, we make our choices...how we spend our time, etc. It requires a lot of planning and time management, and also some just letting go. We must manage priorities. It is important that we as a family have fun together, it is also important that we take care of the important details of life. Sometimes the busyness becomes a distractor to the important....like time in the word and in prayer, and time to snuggle with your loved ones on the couch. Right now, it's baseball and a movie on the couch. The dishes can wait......

Compassion and Idol

I am a big American Idol fan. Last night on the show, they talked about their Idol Gives Back Campaign, where they raise money for the poor in Africa. Did you know that over 3,000 children a day die of malaria?? A DAY! That is only from malaria. How many more from poor drinking water, malnutrition and other disease.

I am a Compassion International sponsor. I have been for 17 years. Right now, we have two children we sponsor in Central America, Kevin and Elsy. They live in two separate countries, but their lives are similar. The $32.00 a month we send provides them food, clothing, an education, health care and a Christian environment to grow and be nurtured in. Not bad for the amount I spend on coffee every month.

Please consider being a Compassion sponsor. Follow the link at the bottom of this page to start your journey of changing the world one child at a time.

Countertops

"The New Look"

Yeah!! After only 5 years, we are getting new countertops today!! Lest you think of me waxing my new granite by tonight, I should inform you its only new laminate tops. We are putting the house up for sale, and I didn't want to drop the change to install nicer ones. Maybe in the new house!! Originally, we were going to install new counters when we first moved in. The others were already outdated and ugly and the house was only 4 years old then! Why did it take us 5 years?? Have you ever been in the midst of a chaotic environment and found that you were sort of motionless due to just not knowing where to start? Life here at the Rountrees is sometimes crazy, always messy, but never boring! It is often hard to know which way is up! We have become busier as the kids have gotten older with all of the activities. I literally have to carry my calender with me from room to room daily just so I won't forget what is next. Without a list, I am toast! (And, I do not have alzehimers no matter what the kids say!). There are just too many details. Originally, the countertops were a priority, but the soon got pushed down the list by life. Clyde and I talk often about the goals we have for our family and for us individually. Those conversations have steered us toward homeschooling, the Journey and Clyde's owning his own business. Each of those areas require goals, lists and choices. Sometimes, what may seem like a priority at the time, will need to be delayed due to more presssing concerns. Sometimes, the lack of goals will cause us to never get anything done! Just like the counter-tops! It is all a matter of lists and priorities and tackling those goals one at a time.

Star Wars

The kids love the Star Wars movies. They have spent most of the night watching the hardest one to watch... Return of the Sith.... Star Wars 3. It is so difficult to watch young Anakin become evil due to the lies and deception of the Emperor. With his mind full of hate, pain and his thirst for power he destroys other Jedi's, his friends and himself. What Satan would do to destroy us with our fear, anger, self-preservation and lust. It is so important to check our pride at the door. What often seems like "rightness" and "fairness" is actually self-concern. The Jedi's fought the power of the dark side, not with revenge in mind, but with the truth and the power of the force. Something to think about....

Motivation: part 2

Every morning we have staff meeting at our house. Just like a business or corporation, we sit with our organizers and coffee and plan the days activities. Unlike a business, we also read from the Bible before we start. Our son, Weston has always hated reading. He has been complaining for awhile that he wants a new Bible. Well, Monday I stopped by the bookstore and bought three new Bibles for the older kids. Now, he wants to read every morning from his new Bible! Just like yesterdays post, it is amazing the motivation when you get "a fire under you." (As my Dad would say...). What motivates us as people? Our scripture today was from Mark where Jesus silences the demons because he doesn't want anyone to know who he is. Weston thought perhaps the demon possessed people fell to their knees because they wanted to be delivered. I think that the demons knew that they were under Jesus authority and fell prostrate in fear and respect. It is interesting, the demons proclaimed in this verse that "You are the Son of God!", yet, they were destined for hell! The presence of Jesus will drive evil away. As I sruggle daily with the demands of life, how comforting to know that the more we seek the presence of Jesus, the more he will cast away the shadows and help us see clearly. That in turn should keep us motivated!!

Motivation:part 1

Today was a great day. We had a beautiful time at the park, and came home to do school. Tonight was our 4-H Awards banquet and I was so proud of Hannah as she earned her her 4-H award for her great participation this year. It's funny, Weston didn't really want to participate this year in 4-H although he is a member. After seeing the awards handed out, he told us on the way home that he really wants to step it up in 4-H this year!! Isn't it something how often we aren't motivated to accomplish something until we see the rewards for it? Like exercise!! I know I need to do it, but sometimes I don't want to. I remember watching the Miss America pageant before, and being very motivated for about a month! Why can't I do that everyday? And I often have we been driven to our knees in times of crisis, and yet forget to pray on a "normal" day?? May we all grow in our spiritual maturity and self-discipline.