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.